Well, for my last post this month and to wrap up the book of Amos, I thought I'd do something different. So here goes...
Every time I read Amos 5:24 - "Let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream" - I thought, "There's a song in that verse!" One day, as I sat down to write some thoughts for a blog post, I just couldn't get anything to come out right. So I decided to divert and play around with some musical ideas for that verse. Sure enough, less than 48 hours later, I had this song written and a demo recorded.
"Let Justice Roll Down Like Water"
My creativity was spurred along by some teens from a friend's church who are going to Haiti on a missions trip soon. So with thanks and a prayer that God will use them greatly on this trip, I'm dedicating this song to the youth group and youth leaders of Hope Community Church in Mt Joy, PA. I hope they like it, and I hope you do, too!
See you in a few days for Obadiah!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Social (In)Justice
You oppress the poor and crush the needy.
You turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground.
You hate the one who reproves in court and despise him who tells the truth.
You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain.
You oppress the righteous and take bribes.
You deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
You have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness.
Sounds like a timely tirade for 2012, right? Well, yes, it actually does. But these words were actually written closer to 750 B.C. by the prophet Amos. It seems things haven't changed much in the world over the last 2,762 years.
A key theme of Amos' message was social justice… or the lack thereof in the nation of Israel. Along with perversion of worship (see previous post!), oppression of the helpless was a major reason God's judgment was about to be poured out. Even without giving specific examples, the accusations from Amos cited above paint a sufficiently sordid picture of the corrupt culture into which the prophet sopke.
Now, for some steppin' on toes… There is really no need arguing that America, like ancient Israel, often turns a blind eye and deaf ear while the poor get poorer and the rich get richer… at the expense of the poor. However, what is more disturbing is that, also like ancient Israel, those who should be the first to rise up and stop the abuse are often the most loathe to do so… and are occasionally even party to the injustices.
It has been my experience that "conservative evangelicalism," or at least the more "fundamentalist" segment of it to which I have long been exposed, seems almost afraid to "take up the cause of the poor." My personal opinion is that this is due primarily to knee-jerk overreactions against what is often called the "social gospel." Without doubt, there are those (often labeled "liberal") who substitute physical sustenance for substitutionary atonement or replace repentance with rehab. The sad truth is that there will be a lot well-fed, clean & sober people in hell, and simply meeting physical needs without ultimately sharing the gospel does a great disservice to the very people we're trying to help.
Nevertheless, it seems to me that the time has come for more of those who espouse a conservative theology to recognize the very real physical needs of people around them and serve up the Gospel with a healthy side of meat & potatoes… or coats & shoes… or clean water… or rebuilt houses… or, you get my point! Obviously it's just as much a disservice to the hungry to let them starve to death while we try to figure out how to get the Gospel to them!
You turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground.
You hate the one who reproves in court and despise him who tells the truth.
You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain.
You oppress the righteous and take bribes.
You deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
You have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness.
Sounds like a timely tirade for 2012, right? Well, yes, it actually does. But these words were actually written closer to 750 B.C. by the prophet Amos. It seems things haven't changed much in the world over the last 2,762 years.
A key theme of Amos' message was social justice… or the lack thereof in the nation of Israel. Along with perversion of worship (see previous post!), oppression of the helpless was a major reason God's judgment was about to be poured out. Even without giving specific examples, the accusations from Amos cited above paint a sufficiently sordid picture of the corrupt culture into which the prophet sopke.
Now, for some steppin' on toes… There is really no need arguing that America, like ancient Israel, often turns a blind eye and deaf ear while the poor get poorer and the rich get richer… at the expense of the poor. However, what is more disturbing is that, also like ancient Israel, those who should be the first to rise up and stop the abuse are often the most loathe to do so… and are occasionally even party to the injustices.
It has been my experience that "conservative evangelicalism," or at least the more "fundamentalist" segment of it to which I have long been exposed, seems almost afraid to "take up the cause of the poor." My personal opinion is that this is due primarily to knee-jerk overreactions against what is often called the "social gospel." Without doubt, there are those (often labeled "liberal") who substitute physical sustenance for substitutionary atonement or replace repentance with rehab. The sad truth is that there will be a lot well-fed, clean & sober people in hell, and simply meeting physical needs without ultimately sharing the gospel does a great disservice to the very people we're trying to help.
Nevertheless, it seems to me that the time has come for more of those who espouse a conservative theology to recognize the very real physical needs of people around them and serve up the Gospel with a healthy side of meat & potatoes… or coats & shoes… or clean water… or rebuilt houses… or, you get my point! Obviously it's just as much a disservice to the hungry to let them starve to death while we try to figure out how to get the Gospel to them!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Worthless Worship
My nine-year-old daughter has recently developed a great love for doing personal devotions. She's genuinely excited about spending time each day in God's Word and journaling what she learns. It makes a daddy happy! But it has also led to a couple of conversations with her about the book of Amos. You see, from time to time, my wife or I will tell her to do something and her response will be, "But I have to do my devotions!" Uh huh…
If there was a font that could somehow communicate sarcasm, I'm sure Amos 4:4-5 would be written in it. "Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years. Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings. Boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do."
The northern kingdom of Israel, at the direction of King Jeroboam, had established an "alternative worship center" at the city of Bethel. The main reason was to prevent Israelites from traveling to Jerusalem (in the southern kingdom of Judah and God's prescribed location for worship) and potentially renewing their allegiance to the South… and to the Lord! Worse yet was that in what they called "worship" of Jehovah, they had incorporated the perverse, cultic rituals of the pagan nations around them.
So less sarcastically and more to the point, God's word through Amos continues: This is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: "Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing… I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. 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. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps." (Amos 5:4-5, 21-24)
The point… Worship, divorced from obedience, is not worship at all. Like when "doing my devotions" becomes an excuse for not doing what she's been told by her parents. Or when sacrifices at Bethel becomes an excuse for sexual immorality and disregard for God's clear instructions regarding the where & how of worship. Or, as we'll see in the upcoming chapters of Amos, when the alleged "blessings of God" on a few become an excuse for "social injustice" toward the many.
The Bible is FULL of references to this issue. 1st Samuel 15:22, Proverbs 21:3, Isaiah 1:11, Matthew 5:23-24 and Matthew 9:13 are just a few worth digging into. What they all bring me back to is that "worship" is not just singing some songs about or to God. It's not even the sum of all that we do on a Sunday morning in a "worship service." It is a lifestyle. Our daily obedience is what really shows God what we think of Him… how much He is worth to us. Without it, our liturgies, rituals, disciplines, ordinances and the like become meaningless. With it, they become the celebration of who God is and what He is doing in our lives.
So go have your devotions. Go to church. And in between… WORSHIP!
If there was a font that could somehow communicate sarcasm, I'm sure Amos 4:4-5 would be written in it. "Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years. Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings. Boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do."
The northern kingdom of Israel, at the direction of King Jeroboam, had established an "alternative worship center" at the city of Bethel. The main reason was to prevent Israelites from traveling to Jerusalem (in the southern kingdom of Judah and God's prescribed location for worship) and potentially renewing their allegiance to the South… and to the Lord! Worse yet was that in what they called "worship" of Jehovah, they had incorporated the perverse, cultic rituals of the pagan nations around them.
So less sarcastically and more to the point, God's word through Amos continues: This is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: "Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing… I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. 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. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps." (Amos 5:4-5, 21-24)
The point… Worship, divorced from obedience, is not worship at all. Like when "doing my devotions" becomes an excuse for not doing what she's been told by her parents. Or when sacrifices at Bethel becomes an excuse for sexual immorality and disregard for God's clear instructions regarding the where & how of worship. Or, as we'll see in the upcoming chapters of Amos, when the alleged "blessings of God" on a few become an excuse for "social injustice" toward the many.
The Bible is FULL of references to this issue. 1st Samuel 15:22, Proverbs 21:3, Isaiah 1:11, Matthew 5:23-24 and Matthew 9:13 are just a few worth digging into. What they all bring me back to is that "worship" is not just singing some songs about or to God. It's not even the sum of all that we do on a Sunday morning in a "worship service." It is a lifestyle. Our daily obedience is what really shows God what we think of Him… how much He is worth to us. Without it, our liturgies, rituals, disciplines, ordinances and the like become meaningless. With it, they become the celebration of who God is and what He is doing in our lives.
So go have your devotions. Go to church. And in between… WORSHIP!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
I Know You Are, but What Am I?
When Amos arrived in Bethel to deliver his message from the Lord to Israel, I imagine the initial response of God's people may have been, "It's about time!" Amos was one of a handful of prophets who pronounced judgment on Israel's enemies. In this case, the surrounding nations of Syria, Philistia, Phoeneica, Edom, Ammon and Moab were all on God's naughty list. Each had perpetrated various assaults and abuses on the Jewish nation and now Amos declared that God's retribution was on the way and could not be turned aside.
But Israel's gloating over her neighbors' condemnation was surely short-lived as Amos' message continued, following exactly the same pattern of censure against the sister kingdoms of Judah and Israel. The difference was that the Jews had not simply broken "natural law" or violated "human rights" but had "despised the law of the Lord" (2:4). Their privileged position as God's chosen people did not exempt them from God's wrath. Much to the contrary, it held them to a higher standard of accountability and led to a greater degree of culpability.
In reflecting on what implications these first two chapters of Amos might have for my life, I've been reminded of my own, sometimes out-of-whack, sense of justice. I must admit that I'm often quick to condemn the attitudes and actions of those I consider "unbelievers" or "pagans." I find myself thinking, "Why does God let them get away with that?" or, "Just you wait… you'll get yours!"
As He did with the heathen nations in Amos' day, God will judge the sins of "the world." But that's His business, not mine. In fact, my heart should be broken over that judgment and go out in compassion to those who need to repent and be spared from condemnation. Moreover, pointing fingers at others doesn't do anything except prevent me from focusing on my own accountability before God.
So as I spend the month in Amos, I'll try to bear in mind the words of Peter: "It is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good."
But Israel's gloating over her neighbors' condemnation was surely short-lived as Amos' message continued, following exactly the same pattern of censure against the sister kingdoms of Judah and Israel. The difference was that the Jews had not simply broken "natural law" or violated "human rights" but had "despised the law of the Lord" (2:4). Their privileged position as God's chosen people did not exempt them from God's wrath. Much to the contrary, it held them to a higher standard of accountability and led to a greater degree of culpability.
In reflecting on what implications these first two chapters of Amos might have for my life, I've been reminded of my own, sometimes out-of-whack, sense of justice. I must admit that I'm often quick to condemn the attitudes and actions of those I consider "unbelievers" or "pagans." I find myself thinking, "Why does God let them get away with that?" or, "Just you wait… you'll get yours!"
As He did with the heathen nations in Amos' day, God will judge the sins of "the world." But that's His business, not mine. In fact, my heart should be broken over that judgment and go out in compassion to those who need to repent and be spared from condemnation. Moreover, pointing fingers at others doesn't do anything except prevent me from focusing on my own accountability before God.
So as I spend the month in Amos, I'll try to bear in mind the words of Peter: "It is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good."
Thursday, March 1, 2012
What do you get when you play a country song backwards?
You get your wife back. You get your house back. You get your truck back. You get your dog back.
Yeah, I know… it's a tired, old joke. But I couldn't help thinking of it when I read Joel 2:25 – "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you."
The key verse of hope in the book of Joel. Repentance would bring restoration.
I've been digging into that word "restore." It shows up over 100 times in the Old Testament, almost always in the context of "paying back for a wrong done." The actual Hebrew word is shalam, and yes, it is very much like a more familiar word, shalom. It carries the idea of making peace. So the big picture is that when a wrong is done, restitution is made so that peace can be restored.
The intriguing thing about Joel's use of this word is that God would be the one to restore what was lost due to Israel's sin. Can you say, "foreshadowing"?
Romans 4:25-5:1 says, "He (Jesus) was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
God is still in the business of making right that which He did not make wrong. Years wasted in sin, unbelief, rebellion, "back-sliding"… He can restore them. But the requirement, as it was for Israel, is repentance.
I have a good friend who claims Joel 2:25 as a sort of life verse. As long as I've known him, he's been walking the path of restoration. It's a tough journey, but he's an inspiration to me. I have an uncle with a similar story. I have wasted years of my own. How about you?
"Even now, declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing." (Joel 2:12-14)
Thanks for stopping by!
Lee
P.S. Yes, I realize it's March 1st and I should be on to Amos. But February – even with leap day thrown in there – just got away from me, and I wanted to make sure I wrote about this verse!
Yeah, I know… it's a tired, old joke. But I couldn't help thinking of it when I read Joel 2:25 – "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you."
The key verse of hope in the book of Joel. Repentance would bring restoration.
I've been digging into that word "restore." It shows up over 100 times in the Old Testament, almost always in the context of "paying back for a wrong done." The actual Hebrew word is shalam, and yes, it is very much like a more familiar word, shalom. It carries the idea of making peace. So the big picture is that when a wrong is done, restitution is made so that peace can be restored.
The intriguing thing about Joel's use of this word is that God would be the one to restore what was lost due to Israel's sin. Can you say, "foreshadowing"?
Romans 4:25-5:1 says, "He (Jesus) was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
God is still in the business of making right that which He did not make wrong. Years wasted in sin, unbelief, rebellion, "back-sliding"… He can restore them. But the requirement, as it was for Israel, is repentance.
I have a good friend who claims Joel 2:25 as a sort of life verse. As long as I've known him, he's been walking the path of restoration. It's a tough journey, but he's an inspiration to me. I have an uncle with a similar story. I have wasted years of my own. How about you?
"Even now, declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing." (Joel 2:12-14)
Thanks for stopping by!
Lee
P.S. Yes, I realize it's March 1st and I should be on to Amos. But February – even with leap day thrown in there – just got away from me, and I wanted to make sure I wrote about this verse!
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