Justice Demanded
Text: AMOS 5:16-27
Key verse: “But let judgment run down as waters and righteousness as a mighty stream” (Amos 5:24).
It is bad to sin. It is worse to keep sinning and yet keep masquerading as righteous. There are evil people in our world who have perfected acts of wickedness while ostensibly doing good to men.
In expression of intense disappointment over Israel’s willful disobedience to His commandments, the Almighty God told Prophet Amos what he intended to do to the erring people. God was particularly unhappy that despite Israel’s intimidating sins, they were still pretending to serve Him. In their hypocrisy, they were still carrying out all manner of offerings. While they were busy observing feasts and making melodies, injustices and unrighteousness were the order of the day. They were given to idolatry. God determined to send them “into captivity beyond Damascus” because they, among other transgressions, built tabernacles for Moloch and other graven images.
Curiously enough, Israel did not seem to realize the seriousness of their sinful lifestyle. In their sinful state, they were even expecting the day of the Lord. To this end, God had to remind them of the foolishness of doing so. “Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord, to what end is it for you ? The day of the Lord is darkness and not light.”
In our text, God spoke about justice and righteousness. These two ingredients are lacking in most societies today, even in religious circles. The world today is characterized by social, political, economic and religious oppressions. People’s rights are being denied with impunity. Justice is for the rich and those who are well connected in society. In the midst of all these, people still parade themselves as righteous. But God cannot be deceived for He knows the works of every man. Believers must show a distinction between the world and the church (the called out). We must eschew evil and walk humbly with the Lord.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God is of purer eye than to behold iniquity.