AMOS 5:21-27 “HAVE IT YOUR WAY.”

AMOS 5:21-27 “HAVE IT YOUR WAY.”

21 “I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. 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 forty years in the desert, O house 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.

The Prophet’s words, “You have…Therefore I will…” are echoed by the 20th Century apologist for the Christian faith, C. S. Lewis, in his description of the difference between heaven and hell.

“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’” (The Great Divorce, p.69).

Jesus supports the same dynamic when he teaches that it is the merciful that are blessed by receiving mercy (Matthew 5:7). And he does so again when he includes in his model prayer the line, “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us” (Luke 11:4).

Through Amos, God is telling the people that ritual observance, and even prescribed sacrifices will not bring about the justice and righteousness they desire. They will only realize such justice and righteousness in their midst when they practice justice and righteousness in all their dealings. How we live our lives and how we submit to God reveal the true nature of our relationship with him. Our worship of God is not confined to the ritual or corporate liturgy and prayers on the Sabbath, but is the exclusive offering of our life every day to God. The sentence that God delivers against Israel through Amos is nothing more than his pronouncement that he will give them what they want. God is telling the people that if they want to worship idols then he will send them to a place where idol worship is expected.

Come Holy Spirit and guide me into the way of divine justice and righteousness. Empower me to live my life, not according to a “justice” or a “righteous” defined by man, but the righteousness and justice that come only from God. Guide my steps and my decisions along the path of your desire. May I want only that which you want and live only to reflect your nature to the world. Amen.