Courts

Amos 5:6-15

6-7, Seek the LORD and live, lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, with no one to quench it in Bethel—You who turn justice to wormwood, and lay righteousness to rest in the earth!”

8 He made the Pleiades and Orion; He turns the shadow of death into morning and makes the day dark as night; He calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the face of the earth; the LORD is His name.

9 He rains ruin upon the strong, so that fury comes upon the fortress.

10 They hate the one who rebukes in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks uprightly.

11 Therefore, because you tread down the poor and take grain taxes from him, though you have built houses of hewn stone, yet you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink wine from them.

12 For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: afflicting the just and taking bribes; diverting the poor from justice at the gate.

13 Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time.

14 Seek good and not evil, that you may live; so the LORD God of hosts will be with you, as you have spoken.

15 Hate evil, love good; establish justice in the gate. It may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

WOW!  Written 2700 years ago to the United States today! (Actually to Israel, but very applicable to us.)  Verses 7, 10, 12 and 15 tell us that the focus of God’s anger is on the courts of the land.

First – seek God for life!  Life is not in a can, a pill, a bill, or a court – it is in God!

Then, God promises His wrath on those who pervert justice (make poisonous) and destroy righteousness (bury it).  Justice is giving a person their exact due which only comes when there are righteous witnesses (telling the whole truth – Commandment #9).  God wants people handled rightly regardless of wealth, color, station, IQ or heritage.  To not do so is promised punishment!

Should God be feared?  Verse 8 – He created the galaxies and constellations, He spins the globe causing day and night, and He rules the water cycle.  God is all-powerful and those sitting on benches of power stand no chance.  Such a God can ruin even a powerful court and nation (v. 9).

What angers God?  Verse 10.  Those who hate courts (in the gate) that tell them “No” and those who mock and reject truthful witnesses.  God knows such corruption and is not happy!

Verse 11 warns the leaders (judges) that their perks (stone houses and vineyards) will not be enjoyed if they step on the poor.  God notes the dealings of those who attack the just and not give the poor the justice due them.  (Note – not a condemnation of wealth but a condemnation of injustice and abuse of power)

In such a day, the voice of reason and the call to repentance will be silent, verse 13.  The voices calling for righteousness and warning of judgment will be muted partly out of fear and partly by God’s will.  Those doing evil will be stripped of a call to repent.

God’s call (verse 14):  Righteous witnesses leading to justice will bring on God’s favor.

Hate evil, do good, and be just that God might withdraw His wrath and restore blessings.

The call to Righteousness is a call to love the truth and to live the truth.

Justice is to love one’s neighbor – to practice the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12).

Truth and Love – with such God is pleased!