Amos 8:4–6 (ESV)

            Hear this, you who trample on the needy
                        and bring the poor of the land to an end,
            saying, “When will the new moon be over,
                        that we may sell grain?
            And the Sabbath,
                        that we may offer wheat for sale,
            that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great
                        and deal deceitfully with false balances,
            that we may buy the poor for silver
                        and the needy for a pair of sandals
                        and sell the chaff of the wheat?”

This passage doesn’t describe any punishment. It is all about the wrongs committed that will lead to the punishment. They trample on the needy and bring the poor of the land to an end. They’re taking advantage of vulnerable people.

While the double-dealings listed are obviously wrong, even to include buying the poor (that is enslaving them), it’s the timing that’s most wicked.

These things are suspended for the sabbath and the new moon festivals. They know that they can’t do them during these times. This means they are not ignorant of the law, and they know these things are crossing a line. So, they wait for the green light, when they assume that they’re okay.

That’s ridiculous. It’s wrong to cheat people on some days, but it’s okay on others?? Where did they come up with a screwball idea like that?

Sinful thinking, of course.

This is a deep dive into the nature of sin. Sin isn’t just about deceiving others; we deceive ourselves.

While today’s passage gives a clear example of self-deception, the take-away here is more about the less obvious cases. Those are the garbage we need to look for in ourselves.

We’re all geniuses at making excuses. Whether it’s like today’s passage, where timing is the issue, or it’s about which sins are more serious, we tend to see our own actions through rose-colored glasses.

Our sins aren’t heinous; they’re kinda cute, right? No harm, really. We pay lip-service to recognizing that we’re sinful, but could you say (just to yourself) what your worst sin this week was?

I like to say, “Denial isn’t just a river in Mississippi.” That’s goofy because sin is goofy.

Seeing our own sin is as difficult as it is important. A real friend is indispensable in this.

These Monday—Friday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Weekend DEEPs are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to all the DEEPs click here:

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The weekly study guides, which include the Monday–Friday devotionals plus related questions for discussion or meditation, are available for download here:

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.