Israel and Judah both found themselves in a time of great prosperity. The rich were getting richer, the military was quite the force to be reckoned with, and comfort and extravagance abounded. But there was a price. There is always a price. The middle class had disappeared and the poor were paying for the rich lives of those at the top. Justice was absent from the courts and making a buck in business trumped any moral concerns. Idolatry was on the rise and those who "kept the commandments" were doing so out of habit and rite; their hearts missed the point. Clearly nothing at all like America in the 21st Century.
Last week we talked about the opulence of the rich and the oppression of the poor. Tomorrow we'll talk about the complacency of God's people and the corruption of the religious folk that contributed to Israel's fall from God's favor. God has some nasty things to say about the "church folk" and their "worship services."
I thought I'd post Eugene Peterson's introduction to Amos from The Message. Heavy stuff for us church folk. (Emphasis mine...)
More people are exploited and abused in the cause of religion than in any other way. Sex, money, and power all take a back seat to religion as a source of evil. Religion is the most dangerous energy source known to humankind. The moment a person (or government or religion or organization) is convinced that God is either ordering or sanctioning a cause or project, anything goes. The history, worldwide, of religion-fueled hate, killing, and oppression is staggering. The biblical prophets are in the front line of those doing something about it.
The biblical prophets continue to be the most powerful and effective voices ever heard on this earth for keeping religion honest, humble, and compassionate. Prophets sniff out injustice, especially injustice that is dressed up in religious garb. They sniff it out a mile away. Prophets see through hypocrisy, especially hypocrisy that assumes a religious pose. Prophets are not impressed by position or power or authority. They aren't taken in by numbers, size, or appearances of success.
They pay little attention to what men and women say about God or do for God. They listen to God and rigorously test all human language and action against what they hear. Among these prophets, Amos towers as defender of the downtrodden poor and accuser of the powerful rich who use God's name to legitimize their sin.
None of us can be trusted in this business. If we pray and worship God and associate with others who likewise pray and worship God, we absolutely must keep company with these biblical prophets. We are required to submit all our words and acts to their passionate scrutiny to prevent the perversion of our religion into something self-serving. A spiritual life that doesn't give a large place to the prophet-articulated justice will end up making us worse instead of better, separating us from God's ways instead of drawing us into them.
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