WEEKLY
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An
international Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday March 1, 2020
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A CALL TO ACCOUNTABILITY
(Warning of the coming judgment)
(Amos 5:18-26)
The events in the Book of
Amos take place during one of the most prosperous times in northern Israel’s
history. Their dynamic King, Jeroboam II, had led the nation to successful
victories over their hostile neighbors in war, and as a result, had won control
of the lucrative trade routes that now poured tremendous wealth into Samaria,
northern Israel’s capital.
It was a golden age for the wealthy who
built grand homes and proud public facilities near the worship centers of
Bethel and Dan. Even the fertile land of northern Israel presented bumper crops,
year after year, in those days. Unfortunately, beneath the glitter, glamor, and
prosperity of this golden society, lay the dark tragedy of social injustice and
economic disparity.
The rich in Israel, at that time, had
little regard for GOD, nor, any of HIS sacred laws. The poor in Israel, were
mercilessly oppressed by merchants who regularly used unjust weights and
measures in the marketplace, and, by the judges (“dayyaneh Gezeloths”) in the
court system, whose justice was for sell to the highest bidder.
And so, it is against this backdrop of “prosperity”
and “wickedness”, that we find the Prophet Amos, a farmer from nearby Judah,
being called by GOD to deliver a series of resounding messages to his wayward
kinsmen of northern Israel. In this deeply penetrating prophesy, Amos exposes
the very underbelly of this, seemingly, upright society.
Here
in Amos chapter 5, we see a continued denunciation by GOD, through Amos, of the
legal injustice that is being perpetrated by “robber judges” who sold their
court decisions to the wealthy, and, against Government workers who overtaxed
the poor. Here Amos also cites the landlords who overcharged for rent in subpar
housing, while all the time they claimed to be children, or followers of GOD. All
this displays the kind of “religious hypocrisy” that we still see in today’s
society (Vs.10-13).
In verses 14-15 we see that the possibility
still exists for the people of Israel to separate themselves from these evil
practices. Here Amos urges them to repent and begin to do that which is good
and just and right in the eyes of the LORD. However, history now tells us that
they, instead, chose to continue on in their sin and revelry.
In verses 16-17, Amos concludes this, his
third message of his prophecy to northern Israel, by returning to his opening
plea, and reminding the people of the severe death penalty that is inevitable,
if they failed to heed GOD’s warnings.
Over in the New Testament, JESUS was still
warning the people of Israel to discontinue the “hypocrisy” of “religious
pretense” and “public show” (playing church) that had become so deeply engrained
in their worship services in the church (Matthew 6:5-8, and Matthew 23). Here in
verses 21-24, we see Amos reminding the Israelites of that same fatal flaw.
Like the Christian Church today, the Israelites
of the 8th century B.C., and in the 1st century, had developed
a tendency to live in “religious hypocrisy”. GOD’s anger has always been
directed largely at those of us who choose to live in such a manner. It is this
kind of “empty worship” that GOD simply will not tolerate, and especially from
Church leadership.
GOD makes it quite clear, throughout the
history of HIS Word, that HE strongly detests our “showing off in public”, while
continuing to live an unGODly life in private. HE will not ever accept our
tithes and offerings, and nor will HE accept our hymns of praise, and in fact,
songs from the disobedient are like “noise to HIS ears and HE simply will not
even listen to such “melodic hypocrisy”. Amos tell us here that GOD, instead,
wants to see “a mighty steam of justice” flowing from among us, and a “river of
righteous living” that will never run dry (Vs.23-25).
Money and riches are not intrinsically
evil. However, too often wealth promotes “self-indulgence”, and makes us “indifferent”
toward others. Remember, JESUS, WHO was GOD’s greatest human representative on
earth, ever, also preached and clearly understood the dangers of prosperity
better than anyone ever has. HE taught that, the more we gain in life, the more
we need GOD, not the opposite. When the Israelites were poor, they were humble
and full of worship. However, the fuller their pockets became, the emptier
their worship became.
To go with everything in life, we need GOD,
and with wealth and prosperity, we need HIM all the more. It is very possible
to be wealthy, and also have a heart for GOD, and King David, the first GODly
king of Israel, stands as a wonderful example of this. However, history also
tells us that “most people refuse to pursue, both, GOD, and money. In fact, it
is overwhelmingly proven throughout world and Church history that most people
will choose “empty worship and prosperity”, over GOD.
A
Sunday school lesson by,
Larry
D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official
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