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.
The Israelites had been instructed to pursue justice and justice alone (Deut. 16:18-20) but they had turned their back on this divine command. What we see then in Amos chapter 5 is a decadent and corrupt society that has rejected justice.
What can be done to stem this tide of oppression and lawlessness? Does God care about justice?
Enter Amos: an unqualified southern goat herder. God called Amos out of obscurity to remind the Israelites that He cannot condone injustice or accept religious hypocrisy. Amos was neither accredited nor trained as a prophet; it must have taken great courage to obey God and highlight the sins of Israel as he pronounced God’s case before them as a prophetic lawsuit in chapters 3-6.
What is distinctive about Amos is that whilst the other prophets emphasise Israel turning to other idols, he is keen to show the moral and social decline that results from people turning away from God. Israel had grown hard and callous in her dealings with others; Israelite society had exchanged a Godly compassion for a form of selfish and decadent existentialism. Amos teaches that God in His mercy offers an escape from punishment but it demands a reformed lifestyle and a return to Godly standards of justice and right conduct in public as well as private life.
In using the Bible responsibly we must first understand its word to the culture of the time before seeking to understand its application to ours. It is clear, however, that neither God nor humankind in its perception of greed (or justice for that matter) has changed much in approximately 2,750 years. In fact the prophecy of Amos has startling relevance to our 21st century western society (as it protects itself at the expense and deprivation of others).
The purpose of this Bible study is to (hopefully) enthuse you about the way the Bible speaks to us about justice (especially if you’re a lawyer in training) and secondly to highlight the calling we have to make a difference for God in a Godless society.
Please read Amos chapter 5, especially verses 10-15.
1. In view of the reference in verse 10 (and see Deut. 18:16-20, Lev. 19:36-37, Prov. 22:22-23) how does God feel about the justice system?
2. Is there a connection between the mansions and lush vineyards mentioned in verse 11 and the deprivation of justice in verse 12? If so, do the same elements exist in contemporary society and is there any discernable way in which justice today could be compromised?
3. Verse 13 mentions the prudent man keeping quiet in such evil times. Why then is Amos speaking out? What factors prevent us form speaking out and are they different from the prudent man to whom Amos makes reference?
4. Looking at verse 14, what is the hallmark of a Godly person and of a State where God is glorified? We often hear the UK described as a Godly country, largely because of the Anglican State church, but are we a Godly country? Can you give examples of laws or societal norms that indicate something to the contrary?
5. Consider this quote from Gary Haughen in ‘Good News About Injustice’: “In fact the knowledge of God‘s great anger toward and condemnation of injustice is what gives me hope to seek justice in this world. Standing with my boots knee deep in the reeking muck of a Rwandan mass grave where thousands of innocent people have been horribly slaughtered, I have no words, no meaning, no life, no hope if there is not a God of history and time who is absolutely outraged, absolutely furious, absolutely burning with anger towards those who took it into their own hands to commit such acts.” Why is God’s view of justice not simply a spiritualised and remote theological notion? (see Ezekiel 22:25-31, Jeremiah 21:12). List the ways you could actively counter-balance the impact of injustice.