“I Want You To Treat Others Fairly”

The Lord says, "I hate your holy feasts. I can't stand them. I hate it when you gather together.

You bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings. But I will not accept them. You bring your best friendship offerings. But I will not even look at them.

Take the noise of your songs away! I will not listen to the music of your harps. I want you to treat others fairly. So let fair treatment roll on just as a river does! Always do what is right. Let right living flow along like a stream that never runs dry!

"People of Israel, did you bring me sacrifices and offerings for 40 years in the desert?

Yes. But you have honored the place where your king worshiped other gods. You have carried the stands the statues of your gods were on. You have lifted up the banners of the stars you worship as gods. You made all of those things for yourselves.

So I will send you away as prisoners beyond Damascus," says the Lord. His name is God Who Rules Over All.

Amos 5:21-27

The prophet Amos used the metaphor of a stream to illustrate the transforming power of righteousness. Appalled at Israel’s dead religious ritual and their exploitation of the poor, he called for justice and righteousness to prevail.

Righteousness follows when truth springs into action.

Our Daily Bread – March 3, 2010