Amos 5: 21, 23-24 – I hate, I reject your festivals; I don’t enjoy your joyous assemblies. Take away the noise of your songs; I won’t listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.” Famous writer and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel is remembered for this quote. I thought of it as I was pondering our liturgy from this past Sunday.
The prophet Amos wrote our focus verses to the Israelites in roughly 760-750 BC. Amos wrote these harsh words from God as a strong admonition to the people. It is hard to imagine God stating that he hated the festivals, assemblies, and music of the Israelites! Why such rebuke?? On Sunday, Pastor Caroline spoke of the complacency of the Israelites during this time period. The business class was flush with money as Israel enjoyed a period of peace, enabling the business community to expand their wealth and influence. It was a great time to be an entrepreneur in both the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel!
This measure of extravagant wealth, however, greatly angered God – not because of the wealth itself, but because of the indifference of the wealthy. Too much was spent on opulent furnishings and ornamental buildings. Way too little trickled down to the poor and marginalized. God was displeased with the indifference of the Israelites to the point where he “hated” their joyous assemblies, songs, and festivals. God’s plea to the people? That “justice would roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” And what was just and righteous in God’s eyes? The flow of financial and emotional support from the wealthy class down to those who struggled. Indifference was to be replaced with activism.
Dear Lord, open our eyes to our own indifference! May we fully see those in need within our community – those who are hungry and those who suffer on the fringes of society. May your light shine through us in acts of kindness that we do in your name!
Blessings to each of you this week, as you bless the life of another.
Diana
Recent Comments