April 25, 2021: Tov! – Michael Hidalgo

When Amos, a shepherd, came around the people of Israel were enjoying the good life (6:1-7). Well, not all of them. The ones enjoying the good life were on the “top” of the social order; the ones oppressing those on the bottom. And those on the bottom were the ones working to ensure the good life remained for those at the top. They enjoyed safety, security, wealth and allowed their places of worship to become pagan centers of worship. The women even told the men, “Bring us some drinks!” (4:1), while others went hungry and thirsty. Of course, they did all of this with impunity believing that as long as they worshipped God and performed some religious rites, they were pretty much good to go. 

God’s response? ““I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them …” (5:21,22). You see, God never says, “I reject your justice because of your lack of worship!” Rather God insists, “I reject your worship because of your lack of justice.” This is what the people of God got backward, and what unhealthy religion gets backward constantly. Religion is not to serve our comforts, but to lead us to seek the healing and justice of our world. This is why Amos cries out, “Let justice roll down like a river!”