Slices
Prepare
Ask God to give you a soft heart as you read today’s challenging verses.
Bible passage
The day of the Lord
18 Woe to you who long
for the day of the Lord!
Why do you long for the day of the Lord?
That day will be darkness, not light.
19 It will be as though a man fled from a lion
only to meet a bear,
as though he entered his house
and rested his hand on the wall
only to have a snake bite him.
20 Will not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light –
pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?
21 ‘I hate, I despise your religious festivals;
your assemblies are a stench to me.
22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.
23 Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24 But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!
25 ‘Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings
for forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?
26 You have lifted up the shrine of your king,
the pedestal of your idols,
the star of your god –
which you made for yourselves.
27 Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,’
says the Lord, whose name is God Almighty.
Explore
In the first half of Amos, the roar of the lion has been building. Like music increasing in volume towards a crescendo, so the sound of God’s frustration with Israel has been dramatically increasing. In today’s passage, the roar reaches its loudest.
The language Amos uses is among the starkest of the book, with little room for misunderstanding. Through the prophet God says with disarming frankness ‘I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me’ (v 21). God has looked at their religious life and found it wanting. Why? Because, although Israel may be continuing with the right external practices, they are doing so while oppressing the poor and acting unjustly, even creating poverty (v 11). Amos blasts the people by telling them to silence their songs and stop their sacrifices and rather to ‘let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream’ (v 24). Justice and care of the poor are more important than external obligations and customs. Where do we see this in the life of Jesus?
This stark assessment is added to with a clear warning of the future: ‘I will send you into exile beyond Damascus’ (v 27). These are deeply challenging words to Israel but perhaps also to today’s church. Are there church practices that distress you?
Respond
Caring for the disadvantaged matters to God. What do you and your church do to care for those in poverty?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Isaiah 10–12; 2 Timothy 3
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray that God will strengthen the work of all our Mission Partners in schools, churches and communities, providing resources, unity and wisdom and enabling them to guide young people towards Jesus and grow lasting faith.
A child has started following Jesus. Help them keep growing.
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