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21 “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. 22 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. 23 Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. 24 But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!

 

Amos was a shepherd and fruit farmer who ministered in the northern area of Israel in and around the year 750 BC. He called out Israel to be mindful of worshiping God by providing social justice to all. Israel was prosperous during this time but there was a dark undercurrent in the land. Idolatry, extravagant indulgence and a corrupt judicial system threatened God’s people. In these four verses Amos provides God’s message to Israel that he is not happy with their conduct. He does not like their festivals to him, and he rejects their offerings. These warnings fall on deaf ears. I wonder today if we do not fall into this same type of behavior. We celebrate our loving Father, but we reject our neighbor. We read and contemplate his teachings, but we still sin and brush off our sin. So today, tomorrow and the next days I will ask God to help me be a better messenger of his love by seeking his guidance and help in all that I do.

Let us pray: Father, forgive us our sin against you and our neighbors. Help us to see all people as part of your family while we spread the good word of love. Amen.

Robert Carrothers

robert.carrothers@gmail.com