Unit: Minor Prophets (Amos, Hosea, Micah)
Theme: I’ve Been Unfaithful
Lesson text: Amos 5:6-15, 21-24
Supplemental texts: Isaiah 45:5-8; James 2:21-26
Aim: Live out righteousness like a never-failing stream.
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Download a PDF of this week’s lesson material (the study by Mark Scott, the Application by David Faust, and Discovery Questions by Michael C. Mack): LOOKOUT_March26_2023.
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By Mark Scott
The beauty of Amos 5:24 is hard to surpass: “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.” Two of the most significant words in the Hebrew Bible are in the verse, namely justice (right judgment) and righteousness (rightness and conforming to a standard). The water metaphor also stands out. One of the most famous uses of the verse was in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Amos continued to plead with Israel to embrace righteousness and to jettison unrighteousness.
Unrighteousness that Needs to Be Eradicated
Amos 5:6-7, 10-13, 21-23
The farmer prophet pleaded with Israel to seek (inquire or pursue with care) the Lord and live. Heeding Amos’s plea might just avert God’s judgment. Several unrighteous deeds were identified as needing to be eradicated. The most pronounced was idolatry. Bethel is mentioned. The name of the city means “house of God,” but Bethel was not acting godly. Bethel became the seedbed of disobedience. Jeroboam II had built a false sanctuary there and urged Israel to worship there instead of Jerusalem. God said he would sweep through the idolatrous tribes like fire.
In addition to worshiping idols, the people disregarded justice and righteousness. Justice was turned into bitterness (wormwood or bitter pulp), and righteousness was being cast to the ground (cf. Daniel 8:12). The casting aside of these great standards showed up in people who disdained those who sought justice. Some also detested truth tellers.
Mistreatment of the poor was further evidence of unrighteousness. They were being unduly taxed. The judges who should have defended them were accepting bribes and depriving justice to the poor. God had little patience for such abuse. Some people had built fancy and expensive houses (stone mansions), but God would see to it they would not live in them. Some also had planted lush vineyards, but God would see to it they would not drink wine from them. Even prudent people (wise or those who acted circumspectly) were hesitant to speak up. The times were just too evil.
A final unrighteousness was religious hypocrisy. This was a constant problem in pre-exilic Israel. They were just going through the religious motions. Their hearts were far from God (Isaiah 29:13). The religious festivals and assemblies that God had commanded were offensive (a stench) to him. They were obeying Leviticus 1–7 about the sacrifices and offerings but not in ways acceptable to God. He would not accept them or have regard for them. Even the songs that were part of these religious festivals were odious to God. All of these had to be eradicated if Israel was to be led to righteousness.
Righteousness that Needs to Be Vindicated
Amos 5:8-9, 14-15, 24
At day’s end, God will always have the last word. He will be vindicated even if every person were held to be a liar (Romans 3:4). After all, he is Creator. He made Pleiades (a constellation in the heavens that signaled spring when it was high) and Orion (a constellation that signaled winter when it was high)—see Job 9:9; 38:31. Daylight becomes longer or shorter based on how God arranged the seasons. Another aspect of his creative genius is what he does with the earth’s waters. God can certainly make a flood if he so chooses (Genesis 6–9). In a moment, God can bring down strongholds and fortified cities with water or fire.
So, the only thing that makes sense is to seek good, not evil. This would guarantee life and the presence of the Lord God Almighty. (This phrase can also be translated “the God of hosts” or “the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.”) To love the things God loves requires that his people hate the things God hates. Evil is to be hated and good is to be loved. Justice in the courts for all will bring mercy from God to the remnant of Joseph (a rare occurrence of Joseph’s name as a metonymy for Israel).
God is more than pleased when his people long for his righteousness. When this happens, God reverses his judgment and vindicates his people and their cause in the world. And when that happens, justice and righteousness will roll down on creation and people like a river and a never-ending stream.
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