PART II: HEAR THIS WORD AND LIVE. A SERIES ON AMOS 3–6.
Idolatry always leads to Injustice
The Christian life must recognize this deep connection between true worship and right ethical actions in the world. They cannot be separated.
Unfortunately, many who claim to follow Jesus and boast about being “Bible-believing” Christians do not live a life of justice, righteousness, and love of neighbor. And sadly, the people of God have fallen to this pattern before — and God sent the prophets. Amos was one of those prophets.
Amos was a shepherd and fig-tree farmer who lived in Judah, near the border of Israel. In 1 King 12, Israel had split into two different nation-states with different kings — Israel in the North and Judah in the South. (Note that the Jeroboam in 1 Kings 12 is Jeroboam I). About 150 years after this event, in the 8th Century BC, we find Amos, who God compels to confront the Northern Kingdom’s corruption and their unjust ruler Jeroboam II.
Jeroboam II won many battles, took new territory, and generated a lot of wealth for Israel — but the prophets viewed him as one of the worst kings in Israel’s history. Moreover, his wealth led to religious apathy allowing idolatry to run wild, leading him (like wealth…
