Justice and righteousness

Every day we’re asking four questions about part of the Bible. Today Liz Nixon answers:

What did I like about today’s passage?

I love seeing God’s heart and His passion, seeing what matters to Him and what doesn’t. Justice for the poor and righteousness (acting in line with His Holy nature) are some of the main characteristics of God that are expressed through this book.

Amos is critical of the religious hypocrisy of the leaders and the wealthy. They dutifully attended religious ceremonies but ignored the poor and the oppressed. Outwardly, they looked successful, like they had the favour of God on their lives due to their roles in society, their wealth, the way they dressed, the houses they owned and lived in.

Yet inwardly, they were wasting away. God was not impressed with their neglect of basic human rights of people and He hated their religious routines. He tells them He will not accept their offerings and their songs – He declares what He does want: “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”

When the people reject what Amos says, they are rejecting God Himself for a final time and bring judgement on themselves, despite His numerous attempts to draw them back to Himself.

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

Chapter 4 is called “Israel has not returned to God” and lists the things God did to encourage the Israelites to turn back to Him. I can feel God’s desperation and sadness as Amos says, “yet you have not returned to me”. Five times God says “you have not returned to me” – it’s heart-breaking.

I’m reminded of the Prodigal Son: the Father must have been heartbroken, waiting and longing for his son, hoping to see him on the horizon returning back home. We see in Amos that, despite God giving the Israelites many opportunities, they didn’t return home to Him.

I’m reminded that God is a Father first, one who dearly loves His children and eagerly desires those who are far away to return home to Him. He longs for us to turn back to Him and return to His home, His presence, His family.

What am I going to do differently as a result?

I’m going to keep an eye out for the Father heart of God throughout the Bible and build a collection of where I see God’s heart towards His people.

Who am I going to share this with?

As part of our course The Gold, we spend time focussing on the story of The Prodigal Son, so I hope to be able to further share the Fatherly heart of God from a more unexpected book of the Bible.