ニューイングランドの母校からアドヴェントメッセージの便り　その10

2015 Gordon-Conwell Advent Devotional
Day 11

Amos 6
Amos is an 8th-century prophet who strikes us with his simplicity, freshness and straight-forward
way of addressing the moral decay in his nation. He is convinced that if Israel does not repent and renew the covenantal relationship with their God, an impending destruction as divine judgment is on the horizon. Although they are outwardly religious and the temple is filled with worshippers, the Lord is not pleased with them because they have divorced their faith from morality.

In this chapter he addresses specifically the sin of complacency and false security (6:1), moral indifference and lack of solidarity with those who suffer (6:6), luxurious and careless living (6:7) and pride (6:8). His denunciation of their idolatry, religious hypocrisy, careless material prosperity and arrogant self-sufficiency is clear. With his brave prophetic finger he points to widespread apostasy and immorality with corruption at all levels of society. He challenges them with a call to social responsibility along with renewal of authentic spirituality. The two should never be separated because our social behavior (doing) grows out of our purity and strength of character (being). God is a God of grace and forgiveness, but also of judgment against perversion of religion and morality.

Amos shows us that apart from repentance, God will inevitably judge the morally sick society. He is the Holy One who has elected his people to live authentically and to credibly display His glory and holiness among other nations. A powerful word of the Lord for our times and for our uniquely blessed and yet increasingly immoral nation.
Dr. Peter Kuzmic
Eva B. and Paul E. Toms Distinguished Professor of World Missions and European Studies