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I often find that reading Old Testament prophecy makes me uncomfortable. Here’s a bunch of guys who aren’t afraid to tell it like it is on behalf of God to people who, frankly, should know better. I find that a lot of what they say easily echoes through the centuries and Amos is possibly the strongest of these echoes.
In a time when a Labour Government at Westminster taxes the poorest in a way that the better off become even better off Amos is much more than a clanging cymbal. Amos pulls no punches as he tells those in authority that God is unhappy and is coming after them, that the gravy train will come to an end. Lest we think that God is Communist in Amos he also has a lot to say about the apathy of the people towards their God and they’ll get theirs too. Overall, however, Amos is mightily concerned with social justice, the plight of the power and the powerless. Amos would remind us that those in authority only have that authority if their concern is to help those that need it. I wonder what Amos would say to Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling today? Probably something along the lines of ‘You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted vineyards, you will not drink their wine. For I know your offences and how great your sins’ Amos 5:11-12
Powerful, scary stuff I’m sure you’ll agree