Let justice roll
on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! (Amos 5:24).
Boxing great
Mohammed Ali is credited with the rope-a-dope: drawing in opponent George Foreman by leaning
against the ropes in a protective stance (above), allowing Foreman to hit him
repeatedly, his competitor effectively tiring himself out. Once the other boxer
was worn down, Ali went to work, eventually knocking Foreman out in the eighth
round.
After Amos
flawlessly executed the same maneuver, drawing
in his audience for the knockout punch (yesterday), perhaps the people defended
themselves by pointing to their extravagant worship. Israel had two centers for
worship: Bethel and Gilgal, the homes of its golden calves. Wouldn’t that
please God twice as much as Judah, which had only one… the temple in Jerusalem?
Didn’t her lavish worship cancel out her treatment of the poor and the weak?
God spoke through
his prophet: I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your
assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and
grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship
offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I
will not listen to the music of your harps (5:21-23).
We learn from Amos
that the most beautiful praise is rendered null and void by the absence of
justice; that God’s favorite worship is the practice of righteousness and
compassion; and that love for God is best demonstrated in how we love his
children.
TODAY’S MEDITATION
How will you worship God
this week?
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