‘Those who follow God must show mercy’ Amos 1-2

 

In the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Susan is about to meet Aslan.  But she hadn’t realized that Aslan was a lion.  ‘Lion … Is he quite safe?  I feel nervous about meeting a lion!’  Mr. Beaver replies, ‘Who said anything about safe?  Course he is not safe.  But he is good!’

The first time I read Amos I was a bit shocked at the idea of God being pictured as a lion.  It didn’t fit my sentimental view of him.  The word translated ‘roar’ is that of a lion about to pounce.  The roar was meant to paralyze the victim.  Yet God’s warnings are always a call to repent.  He has not yet pounced, so there is time to let his word change you.

Amos teaches us that God loves justice and mercy and that those who follow him must be merciful.

We follow a merciful God

Amos was not a prophet or the son of a prophet.  He was a shepherd and fig tree farmer.  This meant that he was from the lower classes.  Here is a man speaking truth to power.

At the time Amos the kingdom of God’s people is divided in two—Amos is from Judah in the south, and he is called to speak to Israel in the north.  At this time the northern kingdom was going through a time of prosperity and yet also a time of corruption.

‘The Lord roars from Zion.’  That was from Jerusalem in the south, where the temple was. 

When the kingdom was divided Jeroboam the first, king of the north, didn’t want his people travelling down to Jerusalem to worship.  So, he set up shrines in Bethel and Dan.  There he put golden calves, to represent Yahweh, and over time further idols gathered at these places.  These shrines become the center for the worship of gods associated with sex, power and money.

God speaks from the temple.  Our temple is Christ.

‘For three transgressions of Damascus or four, I will not revoke my punishment.’  God repeats this for Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Amon, Moab, Judah and Israel.     

God could have brought judgement after the first transgression, but has given the nations time to repent.  Psalm 103:8, ‘The Lord merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love’

As those who have received mercy we must show mercy

Amos is called to go to Bethel and speak God’s words.   His words are a genius way of gathering a crowd.  He starts with the surrounding nations—their enemies of Gaza and Tyre.  It was pleasurable for them to hear their enemies denounced.  Then he moves to their cousin nations—Edom (from Esau), Ammon (from Lot), and Moab (from Lot).  These were nations who had turned their back on God.  Again, the people love hearing them being denounced.  After that Amos sites Judah—their sister nation and bitter rival.  They nod their head in agreement as he lists their evils.  But then, he points the finger at them.  ‘You are as bad as they are.’  He is greeted with silence!

What was it that God condemned with these people?

‘They sell the righteous for silver, the needy for a pair of sandals’ (2:6).  This was the practice of debt slavery.  A practice still common and behind some of the goods that we import.  Including in the chocolate, tea and coffee industries.

‘You take bribes and deprive the poor of justice in the courts’ (5:12).  God cares about the vulnerable.  What is our attitude to those who come to our country looking for asylum?

‘You are in your winter and summer homes, and houses of ivory, while ignoring the poor’ (3:15).  Are we aware of the homeless in our towns and cities?

‘A father and son go into the same girl’ (2:7).  This probably refers to ritual prostitution.  Imagine the exploitation that must have taken place in that industry.  God’s design for sex and marriage is actual designed to protect against emotional scars and broken trust.

Mercy is rooted in the gospel

‘Are you the people I rescued from oppression and slavery in Egypt?’ (3:10).

When we forget the conditions of workers; when we react to migrants with harshness, when we are tempted to think that the homeless are simply getting what they deserve, when we see people simply as sexual object, then preach the gospel to ourselves.

You see we were salves, not in Egypt, but worse, to condemnation, guilt and death.  Yet God stepped in and rescued us.  He showed his mercy to the underserving.  He sent his Son into this wicked world to rescue us.  As people who have been shown mercy, we must show mercy.

Conclusion

The lion has roared!  He thunders against exploitation and injustice.  He is calling us to be people of mercy!

I want to finish with another illustration from Narnia.

Lucy hasn’t met Aslan for a long time.  He greets her.  ‘Welcome, child’. 

‘Aslan,’ she replies, ‘you’re bigger.’  ‘

That is because you are older little one.’ 

‘Not because you are?’

‘I am not.  But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.’

You don’t have to choose between social justice and the gospel.  The gospel motivates us with compassion towards the vulnerable.  Our God is big.  He is our personal Savior who calls all people to come to him.  He is the transforming savior who changes the hearts of those who love him.  He is the God who sees the nations.  He is the God who will bring judgement.  He is the God who calls us home.