4-15-2021

 Good Morning All!

          Amos 5:24; “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

   The prophet Amos is the prototypical prophet when we think of Old Testament prophets.  He really lets them have it.  He pronounces God’s coming wrath and judgment to the people of Israel and Judah.  He likes to use the phrase “for three transgressions and for four.”  He repeats this phrase numerous times in the first couple of chapters.  He does this to indicate that things are getting worse.  The people are in a downward spiral and God’s wrath is coming.  Amos keeps repeating the warning, but the people will not listen.

    God, through Amos, even tells the people of Israel and Judah that He “hates and despises their feasts, He takes no delight in their solemn assemblies, He will not accept their offerings or even look at them, He calls their singing ‘noise,’ and they should take it away.”  What causes this?  Why is God so angry?  Because the people of Israel and Judah have denied justice to those who are most vulnerable in their land, the widows, the orphans and the strangers in their land.”  They are abusing the weak and the defenseless and the wrath of God is coming.

    God continually called to the children of Israel to have compassion and mercy on the weakest in their midst.  He reminds them of how cruelly the Egyptians treated them and how they must not treat others in this fashion.  So, when God’s wrath is to come, a failure of justice and righteousness is the sign of their apostasy.

    This truth continues to be revealed in the New Testament as Jesus calls for compassion and mercy.  In His description of the final judgment, it is the failure to give water, or food or clothing to “these the least of my brothers” that is the sign of a lack of faith.  As Christians, we are to be merciful to our neighbor, especially the most vulnerable among us.  As Christians, we should never say, “not my problem” or “let someone else worry about them” or “call me when you are an American.”  These are sinful and despicable phrases that should never come from the lips or the heart of a believers. 

    Justice is to roll, like a river from people of faith.  And this justice is not only retributive, that is punishment; but it is also distributive, that is we are to make sure everyone has a place at the table.  We are to seek this for all people, not only the wealthy and the popular, not just those who look like me, talk like me and act like me but to all, regardless of who they are.  In Deuteronomy 10:18 we are told, “He (God) executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner (the stranger or the alien), giving him food and clothing.”  God calls us, as His people, to be the active agents to work His mercy, His grace, His righteousness in this world which is in such dire need of His love.  Let justice roll down like waters that we may walk in God’s way.

Father of all mercies, your mercies are new to us every day and they roll down upon us like waters.  Guide us to do justice in our land. Break our hearts as we see others in misery.  Move us to that gut-wrenching compassion that Jesus has.  Lead us Father by your Spirit that we may be your faithful servants.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret