Amos 1:1-2; 5:14-15, 21-24 on November 9th, 2025
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Amos is not the most familiar prophet for many of us, and today we get his, probably his most famous line, "let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." It was a verse and a theme commonly used by Martin Luther King Jr., which may be why it sounds so familiar. But there is a lot going on before we get to that line, so let's take a look.
We start with Amos's first prophecy, and it isn't good news for the Israelites. The Lord roars. God is like a lion. The pastures of the shepherds wither. I mentioned a few weeks ago that shepherds are often stand in four kings in Scripture, so it seems like a king's rule is about to wither away. Carmel, the mountain at the border of Israel's territory, is about to dry up. All in all, things are not looking good.
Next, we jump to chapter 5, verses 14 and 15. Here Amos encourages Israel to repent. "Seek good and not evil. Hate evil and love good establish justice." That kind of stuff is always good to do, but it is particularly good to do in Amos's context. See, the wedge of inequality was being driven through society. The wealthy exploited the poor. Truths are rejected. Bribery kept in justice going. Amos pleads with Israel to repent, to turn toward God and away from those ways.
And then we get to the last section for today. Starting at verse 21, God starts to speak. And if you thought that the first two sections were harsh, hold on to your hats. God is not happy. "I hate. I despise. I take no delight in. I will not accept. I will not look upon them with favor. I do not listen to the noise of your songs, your himnity, out." And God is berating the Israelites over their worship. The Israelites love worship. They really enjoy it. They aren't pouty or solemn, nor are they doing anything wrong. No idols. They aren't being insincere. They have their festivals. They have their solemn assemblies. They offer up the prescribed sacrifices and sing all the old, favorite hymns. They love it. But God is so remarkably harsh. So what's the problem, God? The problem is that worship doesn't affect their lives. They do all the proper things, but their daily lives are not shaped by God's justice and righteousness, which genuine worship enforces, teaches, proclaims, and instills. And the inequality present in society is case in point. This issue I now bring before you. God says that worship should change us, shape us, mold us into living out justice and righteousness. God says that what we do in worship, what we are doing right now, should influence our quote-unquote regular lives. In short, God wants worship to make such a difference in our lives that justice rolls and righteousness flows forever. Amen.