Amos 5:18-21
“(The Day of the Lord) is darkness, not light; as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake.” vss. 18b-19
The people of Israel were supremely arrogant as they enjoyed their unprecedented economic prosperity. They knew that they were God’s people and that God had even greater things in mind for them. One day the Lord would come and establish their nation above all other nations. And then the prophet Amos showed up with his words of doom and gloom. He told them with powerful metaphorical images that the day of the Lord would come, but that it would be a disaster for Israel. What had gone wrong? Amos believed that Israel had departed from her historical core values. The leaders had abandoned their commitment to justice by exploiting the needy and the poor and by embracing luxury and wealth. Their elaborate religious festivals and celebrations had become a joke, and God was fed up. Of course Amos was pretty much ignored in Israel…that’s how it always is when prophets challenge the status quo. We see it in our time too. Those who raise their voices on behalf of the poor are quickly marginalized by those who worship wealth and power…and it’s all covered up with a facade of religiosity. If Amos is right, such scenarios are a recipe for disaster, and things will get worse before they get better. We can only pray that such will not be the case among us!
Thought for the Day: What lies ahead for our country?
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