In this lesson, we will be studying a passage from Amos, Amos 5:7-24. This is the third of three lessons describing the prophetic judgment of God. In the first lesson of these three lessons we learned how God judged Israel's leaders for their violation of the covenant. In the second lesson we learned how Israel was judged for failing to keep the laws concerning the land. In this lesson, we will learn how the people’s relationship to God was broken because they worshipped him, and at the same time, were violating the laws of the covenant. This reminds us of the statement of Jesus, "This people honor me with their lips, but their heart are far from me" (Matthew 15:8).
From the previous lesson, “Isaiah Five,” we may address the fundamental questions of our lessons. Where did we come from? We come from a people where the powerful rob others of land, worldly goods, and a living wage. Who are we? We are a people who, whether rich or poor, rob others in ways great and small, legal and illegal. Where are we now? We are in churches, communities, and nations that use each other financially. Where are we going? We are going toward judgment, hunger, thirst, and death. What must we do? Repent, believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, fulfill the covenant by acts of love, and we will be saved.
Before we begin this lesson, however, please do not forget to share with each other the many wonderful things that God has done for you, above all, your hope of eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Let us give him thanks with a prayer,
O living and eternal God, by your great mercies you have forgiven us of our sins and given us the hope of eternal life beyond all suffering, sorrow, and death. We thank you for each other, for your Scriptures, and for this opportunity to meet together, to share our burdens, to give you thanks, and to study your Word. Please lift us up that we might be your obedient servants forever. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Before reading this passage from Amos, it would be good to know something about him. Amos lived at about the same time as Micah. He was from Tekoa, a small town in Judah, near Jerusalem. He was a shepherd and he also took care of sycamore-fig trees (Amos 1:1, 7:14-15). God spoke to him and gave him a series of visions. After receiving the words of God, Amos went to the northern kingdom of Israel where he prophesied against Israel's violation of the covenant. Like Micah, he saw that God would judge Israel for her sins. Shortly after he spoke his prophetic words, the inhabitants of the Northern Kingdom of Israel was carried off into captivity by the Assyrians. Then, the Assyrians resettled the land with peoples from foreign nations. For their violations of the covenant, the Northern Kingdom ceased to exist.
There are several important words that occur in our passage from Amos, especially the words "justice" and "righteousness." As you will see from reading the passage, the word "justice" has to do with impartial decisions in the courts, or in counsels. Just decisions are those that uphold the covenant, fulfilling the laws of the covenant. The word "justice" is also connected to the word "righteousness," and both are connected to the covenant. Just and righteous persons fulfill the covenant.
The covenant was a personal relationship with God and among God's people. Fundamentally, a righteous person is one who restores those covenant relationships. They keep the laws of the covenant, but they not only keep the law, they fulfill the goal of the law. The goal of the law is blessed relations among God and his people. For example, Jesus was righteous because he restored our relationship to God. He was righteous because he brought Zacchaeus back into the covenant community (Luke 19:1-10). The Good Samaritan was righteous because he went out of his way to restore a man to health (Luke 10:30-37). Jesus and the Good Samaritan went beyond the actual laws to fulfill the intent of the law. Righteous persons maintain community, strengthen relationships among peoples, and go out of their way to establish peace and well-being. That is why Jesus would say, "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20).
Amos 5:7-24
Questions for Discussion
1. Amos 5:7 speaks of justice and righteousness. What are some of the ways that God has helped you to be just in your daily decisions, and how has God enabled you to restore broken relationships? How, in your family, your church, and in your community, have you turned "justice to wormwood and cast righteousness to the ground"? Let us give thanks to God who forgives our unrighteous lives through Jesus Christ our Lord.
2. What are some of the ways that Amos describes God as being great and powerful in verses 8-9? How will God use that power against strongholds and fortified cities? Do you see that happening in the world today?
3. What sins does Amos condemn in verses 10-13? Which commandments of the Ten Commandments do these sins violate? What will God do to those who cheat others and use this ill-gotten wealth to build stone mansions and plant vineyards? What should we do if we have wealth that we have received unjustly? What did Zacchaeus do with the riches he had unjustly obtained (Luke 19:8)?
4. In versus 14-15, God calls his people to repent. According to verse 15, it appears that the sins of Israel are so great that it is almost too late to repent. How do we know that it is never too late for us to turn to Jesus Christ and be saved?
5. The people of Israel did not repent, and God judged them by allowing the Assyrians to carry them off into captivity. How is this described in verses 16-17?
6. According to verses 18-20, the people of Israel believed that God would fight their battles for them and defend them against their enemies. The day in which God gave them victory over their enemies was called the "Day of the Lord." How does Amos understand that day? In John 16:33 Jesus says, "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." What are some of the troubles that afflict you? How has Jesus helped you? What do you need to do to receive this help? How have you helped each other in the name of Jesus overcome these afflictions? What else can you do?
7. In a previous lesson, Worship and the Covenant, we learned that God's saving acts, the law, and worship with sacrifices and a meal, belonged together. All persons are tempted to worship God, and at the same time, fail to keep his covenant. What does God say about this in Amos 5:21-24? What will happen to us if we worship God on Sunday and are not serious about keeping his commands? How can you, your small group, and your church work for righteousness and justice in your community?
8. In light of this lesson, how would you answer these questions: Where did we come from? Who are we? Where are we now? Where are we going? What must we do?
This has been an important teaching. God has chosen us, just as he chose Abraham, to be the people of God who work for justice and righteousness. Let us help each other do that. Pray together, asking God to show you how to be a force for good in your church and community. Believe in God. He will honor you. He will answer your prayer. If you find yourself unrighteous, do not be alarmed. Remember the first lessons we learned, the ones on forgiveness. As we repent, God forgives us in Christ, he considers us righteous, and he empowers us by the Spirit to walk in holiness. Let us do that. Let us become a force for good. Praise God that we have that hope in Jesus Christ.
We have now concluded our three lessons on the judgment of God announced by the prophets. This judgment shows us how deeply we have sinned, and how this sin affects all our relationships -- our relationship with God, with each other, with work and the land, and finally, this sin leaves us open to the work of the devil. In spite of the fact that the prophets saw deeply into the nature of sin, they also saw deeply into the nature of God. They came to believe that God would not be defeated by human sin. For that reason, they looked forward to a time when God would conquer sin, no matter how deep it may be. They wrote their prophecies down, words that were fulfilled in Jesus Christ our Lord who died for our sins and founded a new wife of life that restored all broken relationships. We will study these prophetic proclamations in our next three lessons. Then, in further lessons, we will discover how these prophecies were fulfilled in Christ Jesus. For now, however, looking back over the terrible landscape of our sin, let us give thanks to God that he had may a way for us in Christ Jesus our Lord.
O heavenly Father, we cannot thank you enough that you did not leave us alone in our sins, nor did you judge us with death as we so deserved. Rather, out of your great righteousness, you restored us to yourself, to each other, and to ourselves, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Rev. Robert J. Sanders, Ph.D.
February, 2013
