Readings for today: Amos 1-5
It’s one thing to commit a crime. it’s another to transgress God’s covenant. For “three crimes - make it four” - the nations surrounding Israel and Judah are judged. Their crimes include violence and murder. Enslaving others and desecrating the dead. Failure to honor treaties and invading their neighbors territory. But the people of Israel and Judah are judged according to a different, higher standard. “For three covenant transgressions - make that four.” Covenant transgressions are violations of the sacred order. The rejection of God’s law. The worship of false gods. The practice of injustice. Why the double standard? Because God has set apart His people for Himself. He chose them out of all the nations of the earth. They are called to represent God’s nature and character to the world around them. Their failure to do so reflects poorly on God and they are judged accordingly.
This double standard remains in force today. God’s people are still called to reflect God’s nature and character and live for His glory. We are called to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We are called to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are called to love even our enemies. In this way, we reflect the heart of God for the world. The love God Himself demonstrated for us while we were still sinners. And we invite those who do not yet know Him to enter into a covenant relationship with Him. When we fail to live up to this calling, we invite the Lord’s judgment into our lives. The Lord disciplines those He loves. Israel. Judah. Christians. He disciplines us not in anger but in patience, persevering with us even in our sin so that we might become more like Him. This is what God has always wanted for His people which is why He always reveals His plan to His prophets (Amos 3:7 NET) and why He always gives us an opportunity to repent (Amos 5:6 NET).
At the end of the day, God’s vision for the world is for “justice to flow like torrents of water, righteous actions like a stream that never dries up.” (Amos 5:24 NET)
Readings for tomorrow: Amos 6-9