Amos
Social Injustice
In a time of prosperity and peace Amos hits the scene as God’s mouthpiece… speaking harsh words of inescapable wrath because of their indignation of those who are without. Israel at this time had restored its borders, had peace from all sides, had more wealth than they knew what to do with, and ultimately saw themselves as blessed by the gods. The harsh reality is that God did not see them as they did… for God saw their oppression and abandonment of the poor and needy and his wrath was kindled in severe fury because of it. They thought that the blessings upon their nation were because they were doing something right… while in God’s eyes they couldn’t have been more wrong. The continual word against Israel is that they have trampled the poor, sold the righteous for money, and destroyed the needy. They had gained their wealth through oppression… the rich grew richer while the poor grew poorer. This God held against them in the fullness of his fury… abandoning them to exile with no hope of return… his word against them was complete annihilation of his former people. They failed to keep the 2nd most important commandment which was rooted in the first… they failed to love their neighbor. This is where they failed… this is what God hated… this brought the full force of his wrath. God loves his people and sees in them his own image… Israel essentially destroyed those who God valued and God was going to bring his justice and his righteousness upon Israel for their sin.
For Israel who heard these words the reality was that they were hardened against God’s voice and were more than blinded by their materialism. Those with resources only wanted more and those without were continually oppressed. The disparity between the wealthy and the needy mattered not to those who could have brought change… and this is why God’s wrath was going to come without question. They had already chosen to be hardened to the needs of those who were lacking… in fact they simply oppressed them more by taxing them and selling them like slaves. The righteous remnant in Israel, if there even were any, would realize that these words were falling on deaf ears and see that God’s heart burns in jealousy over the people who are lacking.
Today this word from God should have special significance… for there are many suffering and dying in this world due to poverty and other social injustices. The reality today is that these are not small injustices but complete atrocities that simply should not be. In wealthier nations the disparity between the wealthy and the poor is appalling… as the wealthy spend money without hesitation… walking right by the homeless lying on the street. Those with resources put a minimal amount of investment, if any, into the needs of those who have nothing. In many ways western society has fallen into materialism so heavily that we are so deceived by our own greed and selfishness that we can see an injustice and in a moment be completely distracted by something else that we “need” or “desire” or are “entertained” by. Today God’s word against the severe injustices in this world would remain the same as they were spoken by Amos…
Amos 5.15 “Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice…”For Israel who heard these words the reality was that they were hardened against God’s voice and were more than blinded by their materialism. Those with resources only wanted more and those without were continually oppressed. The disparity between the wealthy and the needy mattered not to those who could have brought change… and this is why God’s wrath was going to come without question. They had already chosen to be hardened to the needs of those who were lacking… in fact they simply oppressed them more by taxing them and selling them like slaves. The righteous remnant in Israel, if there even were any, would realize that these words were falling on deaf ears and see that God’s heart burns in jealousy over the people who are lacking.
Today this word from God should have special significance… for there are many suffering and dying in this world due to poverty and other social injustices. The reality today is that these are not small injustices but complete atrocities that simply should not be. In wealthier nations the disparity between the wealthy and the poor is appalling… as the wealthy spend money without hesitation… walking right by the homeless lying on the street. Those with resources put a minimal amount of investment, if any, into the needs of those who have nothing. In many ways western society has fallen into materialism so heavily that we are so deceived by our own greed and selfishness that we can see an injustice and in a moment be completely distracted by something else that we “need” or “desire” or are “entertained” by. Today God’s word against the severe injustices in this world would remain the same as they were spoken by Amos…
This is the harsh reality today... materialism IS evil when others die every day while we chose to spend $20 dollars on a 50th T-shirt that we will wear once every two months... because that money could have saved 20 people from dying of thirst this year. Our world today, unfortunately, has fallen into the same materialistic and selfish form of thinking which carries with it the harsh weight of social injustice. This is truth = people need help and today there are more than enough resources to go around… but we just don’t care enough to do anything to make things right. This is the greater reality… that everything has a cost… and today there are too many suffering this cost unjustly because of the selfishness of many.
(International Justice Mission is one of a vast many organizations who are trying to make a difference against the world of social injustice... please... check out their website along with Blood Water Missons... I have seen these ministries at work and read much about them... they are a few organizations that we can literally help make a difference with... there are links to both on the right hand column in my links portion.)
(International Justice Mission is one of a vast many organizations who are trying to make a difference against the world of social injustice... please... check out their website along with Blood Water Missons... I have seen these ministries at work and read much about them... they are a few organizations that we can literally help make a difference with... there are links to both on the right hand column in my links portion.)
