Godly Justice – Amos 5
This is an excellent commentary on justice that goes along well with Amos. The issues talked about in this ancient book are just as applicable today.
It was a time of peace and plenty. The northern kingdom of Israel in 770-750 BC, under the rule of King Jeroboam II had risen to the pinnacle of her prosperity. Dramatic social change had taken place, predominantly brought about by, as Marsh writes: “…the cynical opportunism of the nouveaux riches in expropriating the small peasant farmer whenever occasion presented itself, as it would, for instance in a year of bad harvest. The Israel that Amos came to know was thus a state where large fortunes were being quickly made, great estates being developed, summer houses and winter residences being built in fabulous luxury for the wealthy, and where, at the same time, there was quite a new class of poor, who were virtually, and sometimes actually, slaves of their rich landlords.”
The wealthy elite believed that if they continued to offer sacrifices, God would not allow them to be overthrown and their privileged position would be preserved. The reality of course was that these religious formalities were no substitute for genuine worship of God.Continue Reading