Amos 5:16-27: a reflection

16Therefore the LORD, the God of Armies, the Lord, says: “Wailing will be in all the wide ways. They will say in all the streets, ‘Alas! Alas!’ They will call the farmer to mourning, and those who are skillful in lamentation to wailing. 17In all vineyards there will be wailing, for I will pass through the middle of you,” says the LORD. 18“Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD? It is darkness, and not light. 19As if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him; or he went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a snake bit him. 20Won’t the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it? 21I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can’t stand your solemn assemblies. 22Yes, though you offer me your burnt offerings and meal offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat animals. 23Take away from me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. 24But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream. 25“Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, house of Israel? 26You also carried the tent of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which you made for yourselves. 27Therefore I will cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus,” says the LORD, whose name is the God of Armies.

Through Amos, God delivers a startling word: that he rejects the worship of a people who neglect justice, and calls instead for justice to roll down like a river. I hate, I despise your feasts, God says; I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Take away from me the noise of your songs. But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream. The people were keeping up their religious feasts, offerings, and songs; but because they neglected justice and righteousness, God rejected their worship. What he wanted was not more religious observance divorced from justice, but justice itself, flowing like a river. This shows that God desires justice, not empty worship divorced from it. God desires justice, not worship that neglects it. Let justice roll down like a river; God wants it more than ritual. Worship divorced from justice is rejected by God. God wants justice and righteousness, not just religious observance.

Notice the startling thing God says: that he hates and rejects the worship of a people who neglect justice. These were not people who had abandoned religion; they kept their feasts, brought their offerings, sang their songs. But God says he despises their feasts, will not accept their offerings, will not listen to their songs, because all this religious observance went on while they neglected justice and righteousness, oppressing the poor and perverting justice. And he tells them what he actually wants: let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. God desired justice, flowing abundantly and continually, more than all their religious observance. This is a searching word. We can suppose that God is satisfied with our religious observance, our worship, our songs and offerings, while neglecting justice, mercy, and righteousness in how we live and treat others. But God is not satisfied with worship divorced from justice; indeed, he rejects it. What he wants is not merely religious ritual, but justice and righteousness flowing through our lives, in how we treat the poor and vulnerable, in fair and right dealing. We do well to pursue justice and righteousness, not supposing that religious observance can substitute for them, but letting justice flow through our lives. God wants justice flowing through our lives, not just religious ritual. Worship cannot substitute for justice; God wants both. Let justice and righteousness flow through how you live. Do not neglect justice while keeping up religious observance.

That is worth taking to heart, for God desires justice, not worship divorced from it, and we do well to pursue justice and righteousness rather than supposing religious observance can substitute for them. We can suppose God is satisfied with our worship and songs while we neglect justice; but God said he despised the feasts of a people who neglected justice, and called for justice to roll down like a river. God wants justice. Do not neglect justice and righteousness while keeping up religious observance; let justice flow through how you live, as God desires. Pursue justice and righteousness in how you live, not supposing that religious observance can substitute for them, as God, through Amos, delivered the startling word that he hates and rejects the worship of a people who neglect justice, saying he despised their feasts and would not accept their offerings or listen to their songs, but calling instead, let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream; for the people were keeping up their religious feasts, offerings, and songs, but because they neglected justice and righteousness, oppressing the poor and perverting justice, God rejected their worship, and what he wanted was not more religious observance divorced from justice but justice itself flowing like a river, which is a searching word, since we can suppose that God is satisfied with our worship and religious observance while we neglect justice, mercy, and righteousness in how we live and treat others, but God is not satisfied with worship divorced from justice and indeed rejects it, wanting not merely religious ritual but justice and righteousness flowing through our lives, in how we treat the poor and vulnerable and in fair and right dealing, so that we do well to pursue justice and righteousness rather than supposing religious observance can substitute for them, letting justice flow through our lives.

Lord, through Amos, you deliver a startling word: that you reject the worship of a people who neglect justice, and call instead for justice to roll down like a river. I hate, I despise your feasts, you say; I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Take away from me the noise of your songs. But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream. The people were keeping up their religious feasts, offerings, and songs; but because they neglected justice and righteousness, you rejected their worship. What you wanted was not more religious observance divorced from justice, but justice itself, flowing like a river. Show me the startling thing you say: that you reject the worship of a people who neglect justice. These were not people who had abandoned religion; they kept their feasts, brought their offerings, sang their songs. But you say you despise their feasts, because all this religious observance went on while they neglected justice, oppressing the poor and perverting justice. And you tell them what you actually want: let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. You desired justice, flowing abundantly, more than all their observance. This is a searching word. I can suppose that you are satisfied with my religious observance, my worship, my songs and offerings, while neglecting justice, mercy, and righteousness in how I live and treat others. But you are not satisfied with worship divorced from justice; indeed, you reject it. What you want is justice and righteousness flowing through my life, in how I treat the poor and vulnerable, in fair and right dealing. Take that to my heart, for you desire justice, not worship divorced from it. Keep me from neglecting justice and righteousness while keeping up religious observance, supposing my worship can substitute for them; help me pursue justice and righteousness, Lord, letting justice flow through how I live and treat others, as you desire justice more than ritual.