AMOS 5:18-20 SEEK THE LORD, NOT VINDICATION

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?

When you feel you are right it is natural to look forward to the “day of reckoning.” After all, that is when you will be publically vindicated and those who have questioned, ridiculed, attacked or otherwise abused you will “get what’s coming to them.” It is truly a delicious moment to contemplate.

In the Book of Esther, Haman the Agagite is so confident in his position and so excited about the prospect of paying back Mordecai the Jew that he built a high gallows in his yard for that day of vindication. As things work out, the day of reckoning comes and it is Haman who ends up swinging from his gallows.

Let’s face it, we all look forward to the “day of the Lord” for all the wrong reasons. First among those reasons is that we, like Haman, are so sure of ourselves that we cannot wait to access the privilege that comes with being on the right side. Associated with that reason is our insatiable appetite for vengeance. Whether it is the neighborhood bully who takes a licking from an older boy, the arrogant executive who ends up out of work, or the reckless driver who passes us on the right shoulder and then gets pulled by a trooper; there is a feeling of vindication that borders on joy. Yes, there is justice in this world.

Amos’ words remind us that the sword of justice has two edges. We do not define justice, God does. We would do well to remember Haman the Agagite. The very anger, pride and presumption that drive our hunger for “justice” will be the cause of our being under condemnation. Our self-centered attitude is the opposite of God’s command to love him and our neighbor. Unless we are willing to forgive those who wrong us and grieve for those who perpetrate evil, we would be better off praying that God delay the day of the Lord for as long as possible.

Thank you, Lord that in your mercy you have given us ample time to repent and believe in you as the way to an eternal relationship with the Father. Make my life-focus the positive activity of growing closer to your will rather than how far I think others have drifted from it. Amen.