Jesus replied, a man was going down from jerusalem to jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. The concept of justice in the book of amos heartwell. And we must never forget that amos is speaking to us, the church of god, the israel of god. The impact these laws had on the book of amos is monumental. In the old testament book of amos, the basic message of prophet amos stresses the divine demand for social justice and concern for the oppressed in 8th century israel.
The book of amos was written during the era of divided kingdoms of israel but in an age which is much prosperous than the previous times especially the northern kingdom of isreal with ruler jeroboam ii reached at such a level of growth and prosperity as was not seen after david and solomon. The fifth chapter of amos contains some of the most striking and most famous justice language in the bible. Amos mission is directed to his neighbor to the north, israel. Here are seven bible verses that directly relate to social injustice. For amos, most foundationally, justice links inextricably with life. Later in the book of amos it relates that the oppressed couldnt even get a defense in many situations. Read more in the illustrated online bible study project. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, who bore witness to the word of god and to the testimony of jesus christ, even to all that he saw. By vic gill the book of amos is short, exciting, snappy and full of themes which make out for a popular war movie. Other prophets, working in the sister kingdom of judah, are indignant about similar things. And the northern kingdom of israel is guilty of social injustice and empty religious ceremony. Another major theme which amos addresses is the social injustice of a particular sex.
The prophet amos as a model for addressing issues of. Social justice in the book of amos the marcus j borg foundation. Amos message of god s opposition to injustice, his criticism of the peoples worship of material things, and his witness of gods special concern for the poor and oppressed, affirm that the worship of god in any age is worthless if social oppression and injustice are ignored. Also includes a pic of the list of the social injustices of israel. Rather, for amos true religion had to come out from the bottom of the heart, and to arise from true faith to the lord. The times of absolute monarchy of these two kings coincided from 767 753 bc so that amos ministry is to find during this period mainly. The book of amos is the earliest of the book of the twelve prophets, and is relevant today, as it addresses social injustice, so prevalent in our world.
While israel was prosperous at the time, it was also a time marked by social injustice a time similar to our own. Micah admonishes the people, telling them that they should have known better. The book of amos is the third of the twelve minor prophets in the tanakhold testament and the second in the greek septuagint tradition. Amos not only indited the wealthy but threatened them with gods power and judgement, destruction of their social order, and loss of their political status and exile. O you who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth amos 5. Jun 24, 2009 the rich were getting richer and more powerful at the expense of the vulnerable, poor and oppressed, a society which god despised. Literature concerning social injustice and human suffering fiction only books about social injustice and human suffering. Jun 11, 2015 the book of amos forecasts disaster for the northern kingdom of israel in the form of assyrian invasion and exile as a result of entrenched religious hypocrisy and social injustice. Bible verses related to social justice from the king james version kjv by relevance sort by book order isaiah 1. Amos is a shepherd and a fruit picker from the judean village of tekoa when god calls him, even though he lacks an education or a priestly background. Aug 26, 2015 amos has much to say about oppression and the plight of the poor in israel, so it is only natural that his book has become a focal point for discussions about social justice. Social injustice bible verses in the king james version kjv about social injustice. The first verse of this book identifies the author as amos, who was among the herdsmen of tekoa 1. Social justice in the book of amos essay 1445 words.
Dangers of economics injustice, nature and source of riches. One of the efforts of the great organized systems of churchianity has always been to make it appear that the bible and the teachings of christianity support their politicoreligious ideologies, thus debasing the true teachings of christ to the level of a mere moral philosophy and, through the various manmade organizations. The description of this group indicates that it was made up of those who had become rich through the exploitation of the poor. Seven passages on social justice 5 the gospel coalition. Pdf social justice and the minor prophets of the scriptures. Jul 06, 20 later in the book of amos it relates that the oppressed couldnt even get a defense in many situations. What were the issues of social injustice addressed by amos, and how did he address them. One can safely assume that amos committed his revelations to writing and. But jeroboam ii did evil in the sight of the lord and did not turn the country from idolatry and injustice. Amos does not see justice as an abstract principle but rather as a life force. Much has been made of the fact that amos was a shepherda man more comfortable among hills and dales than. No justice amen ethics, social aliens, believers duty oppression, nature of strangers orphans justice gentiles, in ot responsibility, for gods world oppressing foreigners foreigners widows cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow.
Amos has much to say about oppression and the plight of the poor in israel, so it is only natural that his book has become a focal point for. Social injustice the bible is filled w examples of what god wants. Amos prophesied during the reigns of uzziah over judah b. Social justice in the book of amos the marcus j borg. He prophesied in the northern kingdom of israel somewhere. It is a stirring warning to all of the dangers of apostasy, rebellion and complacency. As much as can be discerned, amos was the first prophet to write down his book. Amos, thus, was no professional prophet nor a member of a prophetic guild. Amos and social justice the caffeinated theologian. Social justice in the book of amos assignment free sample. The days are coming, declares the sovereign lord, when i will send a famine through the land not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the lord. The book of amos was likely written between 760 and 753 b.
The rich and clever in israel treated the poor like dirt and denied them justice because they were not wealthy enough to bribe the judges v. The book of amos reveals that many social injustices were practiced in israel during the reign of jeroboam, the time when this herdsman prophet was used by the lord to warn the nation against its. The prophet amos as a model for addressing issues of economic. This particular verse in the book of amos captures. The bible has a lot to say on the subject of injustice. See more ideas about bible, bible verses and bible scriptures. Much later in the book, god condemns the fasting of the people, declaring their fasts unacceptable because there is. The kingdom of david is like a fallen tent, but in. What were the issues of social injustice addressed by amos. Israels sins, though, largely involve national and personal deceit, disobedience to gods commandments, and creating social injustice by being faithless toward fellow man to get for the self. Sep 30, 2016 here are seven bible verses that directly relate to social injustice. Then the second part of these verses discuss all out injustice and cruelty to the poor in regards to taking garments. Amos castigated the extravagance of the northern kingdom, who trampled the head of the poor into the dust of the earth 2. The book of amos forecasts disaster for the northern kingdom of israel in the form of assyrian invasion and exile as a result of entrenched religious hypocrisy and social injustice.
The only ways we have to assign a date to amos are the superscription to the book 1. Then you command your husbands, bring us something to drink. The key to the book of amos lies in its final few verses 9. The days are coming, declares the sovereign lord, when i will send a famine through the land not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a.
With this background, we can understand why amos 5 calls attention to bethel. This list is intended to be wide in scope and should include everything from the personal hardships of immigrant families to the american slave trade to the horrific crimes against humanity during wwii. In a series of short poems, israels neighbors are accused of violence and injustice. The biblical books bearing their names suggest that amos, isaiah, and micah talked a lot about economic and social justice, often announcing. Many among israels wealthy members of the society at the time of amos chose to be unjust and to treat the disadvantaged as they wished. The new testament is chock full of isaiah quotations and allusions.
Not only within israeljudah, but also in the foreign kingdoms around them. Amos, herdsman of tekoa, was sent from god with a powerful message of correction for the ancient house of israel. Much has been made of the fact that amos was a shepherda man more comfortable among hills and dales than on city streetsa man more comfortable in the company of sheep than of peoplean unsophisticated man shocked at urban excess. By ted grimsrud lets now look at a place where the bible uses the explicit language of justice. Apr 29, 2010 slowly but surely ill make it through this intermittent series on social justice. His book should be first if the listing was chronological, as he lived just prior to hosea. Often, they were included in their writings and homilies scathing rebukes towards those who would impose injustice upon the masses. At least three aspects of the issue dealt with by amos concern the nature of god, the role of the individual, and the role of the social system. The lord rebukes his people for turning justice into wormwood 7, for hating the one who speaks the truth 10, for trampling on the poor 11. What the prophet amos had to say about economic justice.
Bible verses about social injustice bible verses related to social injustice from the king james version kjv by relevance sort by book order. Like amos, micah calls the peoples injustice to light. The bible journey amos denounces social injustice in israel. Amos ministered according to his own indication during the time of king uzziah of judah 791 740 bc and king jeroboam ii of israel 793 753 bc. Amos lived during the reign of jeroboam ii, who was a successful king economically and politically. In spite of withering opposition, he fearlessly indicted the nation for its hollow, meaningless piety, social injustice and general immorality. In chapters 6 to 8, amos has a vision of the destruction of jerusalem, followed by visions of locusts, fire, a plumb line and ripe fruit all indicating destruction on account of immoral living. In the bible it is the social world of the premodern or ancients. The major themes in the book of amos judgment, injustice, lament, the sin of gods people, repentance are not easy subjects. Composed of seven chapters, the book is similar in many ways to the book of amos. The superscription, or heading, was probably added by a later editor, but it may nevertheless give accurate information. The words justice and righteousness are used together three times in two chapters of the book of amos amos 5.
The justice discussed in amos is primarily about distributive justice as opposed to punitive or criminal justice. And in light of the other old testament documents they had at the time, they indeed should have known better. Amos with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The most popular bible verses from amos found 146 verses amos 4. Amos was a vigorous spokesman for gods justice and righteousness, whereas hosea emphasized gods love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. Amos reminds us that prayer, although central to a believers life, rings hollow when we dont love and serve others.
Injustice permeates our world, yet as christians we often turn a blind eye to the suffering of others except saying, i will pray for you them. Economically israel had never had it so good since the times of solomon. Amos was the earliest prophet whose words are preserved in the form of a book. Social justice in amos the good book blog biola university. I hate, i despise your festivalsbut let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream amos 5. The most popular bible verses from amos top verses bible. This passage levels the charge of injustice against still another group in israel which shared responsibility for the evil that existed within the nation.
The fullest discussion of justice in the old testament shows up in the book of amos. Marcus borg speaks on the topic of social justice in the bible, specifically book of amos, he looks at the societal context and world orders. Despite the fact that israel certainly had problems with idolatry in his time, amos never explicitly condemns itnor any other sin pertaining to. Their strength, their horses their privilege, nothing will save them. Arguably, the book of amos is exclusively about morality and social justice.
Amos, an older contemporary of hosea and isaiah, 2 was active c. However, amos treatment of justice echoes what we also find elsewhere in the bible. Amos is known as the prophet of social justice, writing during the preexilic period. But underneath this veneer of material prosperity was idolatry that led to empty religious ritual, mistreatment of the poor, and other forms of social injustice. Amoss writings showed that he had a heart for the oppressed and voiceless. But the books of the prophets also contain visions of society without injustice. Hear this word, you cows of bashan on mount samaria, you women who oppress the poor.
The economically weak could find no redress in the courts and no one to champion their causeuntil the coming of amos, a shepherd from tekoa in judah, who also said that he was a dresser of sycamore trees. The gospel in amos topical studies search, find verses. Sep 15, 2012 the prophet amos as a model for addressing issues of economic injustice 07162012 02. The book of amos is a stinging rebuke of a nation that has rejected and forgotten god. Pdf amos motive for social justice joshua stewart academia. The book of the prophet amos the prophet amos lived in the eighth century bc and was a common herdsman and keeper of sycamore fig trees 7. Amos shows god demanding justice from them rather than worship.
In amos s view these feasts could not accomplish anything religious. Micah attacked the corruption of those in high places and social injustice, and the book is divided into two sections. Why has god become so angry with a people that he has so richly blessed. The revelation of jesus christ, which god gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. Amos teaches that guilty nations get punished, whether those nations are the enemies of israel or are israel itself. This post looks at the two sides of the social justice debate, and then suggests a third middle way on social justice issues. Amos as a way to understand the need for social justice in order to worship, amos 5. We are first introduced to the sins of israels neighbors in amos chapters 1 and 2, which the lord has found unfavorable which include. The quick view bible big ideas in amos big ideas in amos this book is just as applicable today as it was when it was written. The straightforward answer to this question has to do with the social injustice that was perpetrated by elite israelites against the poor, weak, and vulnerable in their midst. Still sadder is her condition when she turns so heartlessly away from judgment and justice verses 7, 10. Literature concerning social injustice and human suffering.
Amos, advocate for social justice bible characters. All of the identified social justice passages in amos 2. Social justice and the minor prophets of the scriptures. Studying the book of the prophet amos is an excellent way to begin a study of the prophetic tradition of israel. But instead of fearing god, he worshiped idols and tolerated social injustice. Amos connects the injustice he sees around him to a society bent on wealth and prosperity.
Social injustice denounced 8ah, you who join house to house, who add field to field, until there is room for no one but you, and you are left to live alone in t. They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals 2. God would no longer tolerate such social injustice. Due to their social injustice and cultic religion, what came next was the day of the lord.
The book of kings does not refer to this great change. We can almost hear the sadness in gods voice as, through amos, the lord speaks out about the lack of compassion shown by the rich people of israel for the plight of their poor fellow countrymen. Isaiah is a topic we could spend months and months studying. Oct 01, 2007 amos message of gods opposition to injustice, his criticism of the peoples worship of material things, and his witness of gods special concern for the poor and oppressed, affirm that the worship of god in any age is worthless if social oppression and injustice are ignored. Amos great innovation on the biblical landscape is that israels moral state directly affects its national destiny. It is a short book full of passion and anger whose subject matter is a protest in the name of god against social injustice, complacency and hypocrisy. Critique against social injustice in the book of amos. What a weighty burden of sinfulness she has to bear verses 11, 12, so that the prudent are rendered dumb verse.
Amos continues in verse 15, exhorting the israelites to hate evil and love good. Amos denounces social injustice in israel the bible journey. The social world of the bible meaning the economic and political systems of the world. Social injustice was rampant during amos s time 93. Even as verses of amos 5 are a dirge, verses 89 are in the form of a hymn praising the true god, the transforming god.