They
sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals (Amos 2:6).
Whereas
Hosea prophesied to Israel regarding its spiritual adultery, Amos (a guest from
Judah) preaches about Israel’s disregard for social justice. He was about as
welcome as Billy Graham preaching a crusade in Tehran.
First
he starts off with rants against… (the audience gets ready to be offended) …Aram.
Now let me tell you about… (they grit their teeth) …Philistia. Let me tell you
about Tyre (the mood is changing and people are starting to get on board). Let
me tell you what I think about Edom and Ammon and Moab. By this time Amens are reverberating through the
assembly. This guy can preach! And
then the real crowd pleaser: Let me tell
you what I really think about Judah! The crowd goes wild! Preach it, my southern brother from another
mother!
If
he’d left it there, people would be slapping him on the back, buying him
drinks, and signing him up for the Israeli lecture circuit at 40K drachmas a
speech.
But
Amos couldn’t let it go. And now let me
say a word about Israel. He goes on to regale them with examples of their
own oppression of the poor and the weak. He lets them know that the Egyptians
and the Philistines could take lessons from them in how to kick people when
they’re down.
More
tomorrow…
Do
you treat people like you’d want to be treated?
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