Amos 8 (2)

Pray Psalm 52.1-4.
Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man?
The goodness of God endures continually.
Your tongue devises destruction,
Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
You love evil more than good,
Lying rather than speaking righteousness.
Selah
You love all devouring words,
You deceitful tongue.

Sing Psalm 52.1-4.
(Warrington: Give to Our God Immortal Praise)
Why do the mighty boast in sin? God’s love endures, it knows no end!
They with their tongues vain boasts repeat, and like a razor, work deceit.

Men more than good in evil delight, and lies prefer to what is right.
They utter words both harsh and strong with their devouring, deceitful tongue.

Read Amos 8.1-6; meditate on verses 4-6.

Preparation
1. What was happening to the poor and needy?

2. What were the wealthy merchants doing?

Meditation
Paul wrote that those who turn from God enter a downward spiral of sin, where corruption increases as God gives them up to their sinful desires (Rom. 1.18-32). This is what had happened to the people of Israel, especially those who had wealth and power.

The poor were for these people just a means to an end, the fattening of their bellies. They worked them to death and taxed them into poverty as they “swallowed up” the needy and poor to satisfy their own desires (v. 4).

The Sabbath for the wealthy and powerful had become a burden because they could not engage in money-making. And when they did, they shorted their customers—small measures, high prices, and rigged scales (v. 5). And again, it was the poor they bilked by overcharging and underdelivering on the basics of life. The poor to them were little more than a bit more silver or a new pair of sandals. So what if the wheat they overcharged them for was blighted and moldy (v. 6)? Hey, they were just the poor, you know?

Self-interest breeds habitual sin. Habitual sin hardens the heart. A hard heart scorns all love but love of self. Love of self leads to more habitual sin, more corruption, and more self-love.

Sort of like what we see rampant in our own society. Ours is a “culture of narcissism” (Christopher Lasch), in which everyone’s theme song is George Harrison’s, “I, Me, Mine”. But like Solomon in Ecclesiastes 2, such a life is vanity and feeding on the wind. And, as in the case of Israel, it can hasten an entire nation to its end.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
It is true, as Jesus said, “you have the poor with you always” (Matt. 26.11); but He was saying this in contrast to the fact that He was going to be crucified, rise from the dead, and return to His rightful home in heaven. He was not denigrating the poor nor taking a “ho-hum” attitude as if they were just a pervasive problem or nuisance. God said, “For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land” (Deut. 15.11).

“He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes—with the princes of His people” (Ps. 113.7, 8).

God also had a lot to say about how to conduct business with honesty and fairness:
“You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measurement of length, weight, or volume. You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin: I AM the LORD your God…” (Lev. 19.35, 36).
“Honest weights and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are His work” (Prov. 16.11).
“Diverse weights and diverse measures, they are both alike, an abomination to the LORD” (Prov. 20.10).
“Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, and dishonest scales are not good” (Prov. 20.23).

He also clearly spelled out His word on the treatment of the poor:
“Do not rob the poor because he is poor, nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;
for the LORD will plead their cause, and plunder the soul of those who plunder them” (Prov. 22.22, 23).

Thus the people should not have been shocked when Amos told them of God’s mighty displeasure regarding their treatment of the poor and needy (Amos 8.5, 6).

There is a more mindful, kind, and better way to treat the poor and needy:
“He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,
but he who honors Him has mercy on the needy” (Prov. 14.31).
“There is one who scatters, yet increases more;
and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty.
The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself” (Prov. 11.24, 25).

“To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice…
It is a joy for the just to do justice…” (Prov. 21.3, 15).

Is it any wonder that God was violently opposed to the behavior of His people?
They were breaking His commandments with impunity and were not sorry. Not one little bit.

What He wanted was for them to “let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream” (Amos 5.24); but instead, they were damming up all justice and righteousness so that not even a trickle was forthcoming. And it led to their demise.

We dare not do the same, for it will hasten the end. And there are still so many who need the LORD (Matt. 9.37, 38).

Reflection
1. How can you, as an individual believer, help the poor and needy?

2. How would you counsel a new believer to pray for the poor and needy?

3. What can you do to keep self-seeking and dishonesty from sneaking into your life?

The rich and powerful of the land were the most guilty of oppression, as well as the foremost in idolatry. They were weary of the restraints of the Sabbaths and the new moons, and wished them over, because no common work might be done therein. This is the character of many who are called Christians. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Amos 8.4-10

Pray Psalm 52.5-9.
Pray that God will keep you from corruption, that you will be firmly rooted in His Word, and that you will seek His Kingdom and righteousness throughout the day.

Sing Psalm 52.5-9.
(Warrington: Give to Our God Immortal Praise)
God will forever break them down, uproot, and cast them to the ground!
He from their safety tears them away, no more to know the light of day.

The righteous see and laugh and fear, and say, “Behold, what have we here?
Such are all who at God conspire, and wealth and evil ways desire.”

But as for me may I be seen in God an olive ever green!
Ever in God, most kind and just, shall I with joy and gladness trust!

Thanks evermore to our Savior be raised! His faithfulness be ever praised!
Here with Your people, loving God, I wait upon Your Name, so good!

T. M. and Susie Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.