Amos' Image of the God of Justice

AMOS’ IMAGE OF THE GOD OF JUSTICE

Let us look at the picture of God which the prophet Amos gives us in the Old Testament.

Amos came originally from the southern kingdom but spent most of his working life in the northern kingdom in the middle of the eighth century BC. He lived at a time when Uzziah was king of Judah in the south and Jereboam II was king of Israel in the north. It was a time of political stability. The coming Syrian menace was still but a little cloud on the horizon. The Assyrian lion was still confined to its distant lair.

As a result of this political stability, the economy of Israel prospered. The rich grew richer but the poor grew poorer. In fact, there developed an economic and social pyramid with the royal courtiers and merchant class at the apex with the mass of the people being ground into poverty at the bottom.

This then was the political, economic and social background against which Amos delivered his prophecies. He was a "herdsman and dresser of sycamore trees" from Tekoa, a small village a few miles south of Jerusalem.

Unlike many of the other prophets, whose words were first passed on by word of mouth before being committed to writing, the words of Amos were actually recorded by Amos himself, or by his disciples at the time of their utterance. The book of Amos consists of a compilation of little units, or "oracles", as spoken by the prophet himself over a brief period of time.

Throughout these oracles he speaks fearlessly in the name God.

As he looked around, he saw wealthy merchants, lusting for economic power, trampling the heads of the poor and defenceless. Public leaders, revelling in luxury on their beds of ease, unconcerned about the consequences of their actions.

"Alas for those who are at ease in Zion,

and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria,

the nobles of the first of the nations,

to whom the house of Israel resorts" (Amos 6.1)

"Alas for those who live on beds of ivory

and lounge on their couches,

and eat lambs from the flock

and calves from the stall:

who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp,

like David in praise on instruments of music,

who drink wine from bowls,

and anoint themselves with the finest oils,

but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph." (Amos 6.4-6)

In his message, he also addressed the sophisticated ladies who selfishly urge their husbands on in their ruthless greed. Using crude language he likens them to the fat cows of Bashan.

"Hear the word, you cows of Bashan

who are on Mount Samaria,

who oppress the poor, who crush the needy,

who say to their husbands,

'Bring me something to drink"' (Amos 4.1)

He also accused the local shopkeepers of being crooked by giving short measure, over charging and selling inferior goods.

“Hear this, you that trample the needy,

and bring to ruin the poor of the land,

saying, 'When will the new moon be over

so that we may sell grain;

and the Sabbath,

so that we may offer wheat for sale?

We will make the ephah small and the shekel great,

and practice deceit with false balances,

buying the poor for silver

and the needy for a pair of sandals,

and selling the sweepings of the wheat." (8.4-6)

Unfortunately the exploitation of the poor was not helped by the courts which supported the exploiter.

"They hate the one who reproves in the gate,

and they abhor the one who speaks the truth.

Therefore because you trample the poor

and take from them levies of grain,

you have built houses of hewn stone,

but you shall not live in them:

you have planted pleasant vineyards,

but you shall not drink their wine.

For I know how many are your transgressions,

and how great are your sins -

you who afflicted the righteous, who take a bribe

and push aside the needy in the gate." (Amos 5.10-12)

As far as Amos was concerned, the life of the affluent at the top of the economic and social pyramid had become one great party. They covered over their corrupt practices by a veneer of religious respectability. So Amos says,

“I hate and despise your festivals,

and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and your grain offerings,

I will not accept them;

and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals

I will not look upon.

Take away from me the noise of your songs;

I will not listen to the melody of the harps.

But let justice roll down like waters,

And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.(Amos 5.21-24)

And here is the key to the picture of God which Amos seeks to give us. It can be summed up in the one word, "Justice". For Amos, God is a God of justice. "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

Although Amos may sound like a prophet of doom and gloom, he is in fact a prophet of hope. Despite the widespread corruption he sees around him, he still believes that there are some good people. Good people who are capable of seeing the folly of their ways and are prepared to repent.

So he says to them,

"Seek good and not evil,

that you may live;

and so the Lord, the God of hosts,

will be with you,

just as you have said.

Hate evil and love good,

And establish justice in the gate;

it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts,

will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” (Amos 5.14-15)

It is this same God of justice whom we see revealed in Jesus of Nazareth. A God who chose to be born of a poor family and brought up in the home of a carpenter. A God who allowed himself to be rejected by the powerful and influential people of his day, choosing rather to spend his time with the poor and oppressed, the marginalised and powerless people of his day. A God who had little time for those who covered over their corrupt practices with a veneer of religious respectability.

Like Amos, the Christian Church has continued to proclaim a God of justice throughout its history. It has deliberately chosen to stand beside the poor and helpless in society; those who find themselves in positions of powerlessness. So it has been instrumental in the abolition of slavery and the use of child labour, the establishment of trade unions, the care of orphaned children and of single mothers. Today in South America it stands beside the poor and homeless, and in South Africa by those who are down-trodden because of the colour of their skin. It continues to speak of the dignity of all human life as being made in the image of God and to decry anyone who would seek to reduce and mar that image to their own political, economic or social advantage,

In doing this, the church always runs the risk of being accused of being involved in politics. But it can do no other if it is to proclaim a God of justice and live a life which reflects that belief. The church, like Amos, and like Jesus, cannot rest until “justice rolls down like water and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream”.

Let us then, recapture this picture of the God of justice and thank Him for all those who in their life revealed such a God in their attitude towards those who are down-trodden by the powerful. And let us pray that we may have the courage to work towards a more just society where all men and women are afforded their true dignity as people made in the image of God.