24<\/strong>. Justice, between man and man, is what Jehovah demands: no ceremonial, however punctiliously observed, is a substitute in Jehovah’s eyes for moral duties. The argument is exactly that of Isaiah 1<\/span>, where Jehovah rejects similarly the entire body of ritual observances, celebrated at the Temple of Jerusalem, on account of the moral shortcomings of the worshippers; and where the exhortation is similarly to observe the elementary duties of civic morality “Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes: seek judgement, set right the oppressor, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow” (Isa 1:10-17<\/span>).<\/p>\n run down<\/em> ] roll on<\/strong>; R.V. roll down<\/strong>: let justice, which has hitherto been too often thwarted and obstructed in its course, roll on<\/em>, as waters, in one perpetual flow; and righteousness as an<\/em> overflowing<\/strong> stream<\/em>. Stream<\/em> is in the Heb. naal<\/em>, a word for which there is no proper English equivalent, but which corresponds really to the Arabic wdy<\/em>, so often found in descriptions of travel in Palestine. The naal<\/em>, or wdy, is a torrent running down through a narrow valley, which in the rainy season forms usually a copious stream, while in summer it may be reduced to a mere brook or thread of water, or may even be entirely dry. Righteousness, Jehovah claims, should roll on like a perennial<\/em> (or ever-flowing<\/em>) wdy<\/em>, like a wdy which is never so dried up, but flows continuously. The word rendered ever-flowing<\/em> ( thn<\/em>) is the term applied specially to characterize such a perennial wdy. It is one of the words (like hibhlg<\/em>, Amo 5:9<\/em><\/span>), of which the true meaning was lost by the Jews, and was recovered only when Arabic began to be compared systematically with Hebrew, some two centuries ago. The renderings strong, mighty, strength<\/em>, are in reality guesses made from the context by the medival Jewish commentators, whom the translators of the Authorised Version often followed as their guide. Examples of the word: Exo 14:27<\/span> (see R.V. marg<\/em>.), Psa 74:15<\/span>; and in a metaphorical sense, Jer 5:15<\/span> (of a nation whose numbers are never diminished), Jer 49:19<\/span> and Num 24:21<\/span> (of an abiding, never-failing habitation).<\/p>\n Others understand judgement and righteousness here of God’s punitive<\/em> justice (cf. Isa 1:27<\/span>; Isa 5:16<\/span>; Isa 28:17<\/span>; and for the figure, Isa 10:22<\/span> “a consumption, overflowing with righteousness<\/em> ”); but the former interpretation, which is the usual one, is more agreeable with the context.<\/p>\n But – <\/B>(And) let judgment run down (Literally, roll English margin) like water. The duties of either table include both; since there is no true love for man without the love of God, nor any real love or duty to God without the love of man. People will exchange their sins for other sins. They will not break them off unless they be converted to God. But the first outward step in conversion, is to break off sin. He bids them then let judgment, which had hitherto ever been perverted in its course, roll on like a mighty tide of waters, sweeping before it all hindrances, obstructed by no power, turned aside by no bribery, but pouring on in one perpetual flow, reaching all, refreshing all, and righteousness like a mighty (or ceaseless) stream. The word ethan may signify strong or perennial. Whence the seventh month, just before the early rain, was called the month Ethanim 1Ki 8:2<\/span>, that is, the month of the perennial streams, when they alone flowed. In the meaning perennial, it would stand tacitly contrasted with streams which fail or lie. True righteousness is not fitful, like an intermitting stream, vehement at one time, then disappearing, but continuous, unfailing.<\/P> <\/p>\n Verse 24<\/span>. Let judgment run down<\/B><\/I>] Let the execution of justice be everywhere like the showers<\/I> that fall upon the land to render it fertile; and let righteousness in heart<\/I> and life<\/I> be like a mighty river, or the Jordan, that shall wind its course through the whole nation, and carry every abomination into the Dead Sea. Let justice<\/I> and righteousness<\/I> prevail everywhere, and sweep their contraries out of the land.<\/P> <\/p>\n But, <\/B>Heb. And<\/I> <\/P> judgment:<\/B> some interpret this of penal judgment, by God threatened against these hypocrites; but it is better understood of justice to be administered by rulers, whose office it was to determine between party and party. <\/P> Run down as waters; <\/B>freely, constantly, speedily, and for common benefit of all, as waters run. <\/P> Righteousness; <\/B>equity, relieving justice, the want of which hath been notorious among you. <\/P> As a mighty stream, <\/B>which bears down all that opposeth it: be hindered by none from doing every one right; do this, and you may yet be accepted. <\/P> <\/p>\n 24. judgment<\/B>justice. <\/P> run down<\/B>literally,”roll,” that is, flow abundantly (Isa48:18<\/span>). Without the desire to fulfil righteousness in theofferer, the sacrifice is hateful to God (1Sa 15:22<\/span>;Psa 66:18<\/span>; Hos 6:6<\/span>;Mic 6:8<\/span>).<\/P><\/p>\n But let judgments run down as waters<\/strong>,…. Or “roll” o; in abundance, with great rapidity, bearing down all before them, which nothing can resist; signifying the plenty of justice done in the land, the full and free exercise of it, without any stoppage or intermission:<\/p>\n and righteousness as a mighty stream<\/strong>; the same thing expressed in different words; though some think that not the execution of judgment and justice by men is here exhorted to, but the vindictive justice of God is threatened; which like a mighty torrent of water should come down, overwhelm, bear away, and destroy all before it, even all the transgressors in Israel.<\/p>\n o “volvatur”, Munster, Mercerus, Liveleus, Drusius; “volvat se”, Montanus, Vatablus; “revolvet se”, Piscator; “provolvatur”, Cocceius.<\/p>\n Interpreters variously expound this verse. To some it seems an exhortation, as though the Prophet said, “Ye thrust on me victims of beasts and various ceremonies; but I regard not these things; for the interior purity of heart alone pleases me: take away then all these things, which are of no moment with me, and bring what I especially require and demands even a pure and sincere heart.” <\/p>\n Some also think that newness of life is here described by its fruits or its evidences: for the Prophet mentions not purity, speaks not of faith and repentance, but by the fruits sets forth that renovation, which God always chiefly regards, and for the sake of which he had required sacrifices under the law. The meaning then is, that hypocrites are here recalled to true worship, because they vainly and absurdly tormented themselves with their own fictions: and by requiring from them righteousness and judgment, he required a holy and pure life, or, in a word, uprightness. <\/p>\n Others think that the Prophet turns aside here to celebrate the grace of Christ, which was to be made known in the gospel: and the verb יגל, igel, is rendered by many “shall be revealed;” but others more correctly derive it from the root גל, igel, to roll. Let justice then as it were, roll. But I will return to the second exposition. Most think that there is here a prediction of that righteousness which God was to make known by the coming of Christ; and some retain also the proper meaning of the verb גל, gal, to roll. They then say that the gospel is here compared to an impetuous river and a violent stream, because the Lord would rush on and penetrate through all hindrances, how many soever Satan might attempt to throw in his way. But this meaning seems not to harmonize with the Prophet’s words and is in my judgment, too refined. <\/p>\n Some again regard the verse as a threatening, and think that God here reproves the Israelites, as though he had said, that since they were trifling with and mocking him, he would at length show what was true righteousness and what was true judgment: for hypocrites think that they come not short of a perfect state, when they are veiled by their ceremonies, inasmuch as they flee to these lurking holes, when they would cover all their flagitous deeds. Hence they think not that they are guilty, for they hide their sins under their ceremonies as under Ajax’s shield. Seeing then that they thus trifle with God, some interpreters think that God here sharply reproves them and says, that they were greatly deceived, for he would himself at length make known what was true righteousness. Righteousness then shall run down or be rolled; and by this verb he expresses impetuosity; but he sets it forth afterwards more clearly by איתן, aitan, “Judgment shall be a violent stream.” But hypocrites amuse themselves as children do with their puppets. Inasmuch then as they do nothing seriously, and yet desire to pacify God as with baubles, the Prophet here shakes off such delusions, as though he said, “Do you think that God is like a child? Why do you set up these trifles? Do you think that righteousness is a fictitious thing, or that judgment is a vain figment? The Lord will certainly show to you how precious righteousness is. It shall therefore run down as violent waters, as an impetuous stream. “Judgment,” he says “shall rush upon you and overwhelm you.” This is the third meaning. <\/p>\n But the verse may be again explained in a different way, as though God obviated an objection; for hypocrites, we know, always raise a clamor, and make no end of contending; “What! Have we then lost all our labor, while endeavoring to worship God? Is all this to go for nothing? And further, we have not only offered sacrifices, but sought also to testify that the glory of God is to us an object of concern. Since then we have had a care for religion, why should God now reject us?” The Prophet here shortly answers, — that if only they brought forth true righteousness, their course would be free; as though he said, “God will not put a check to your righteousness and rectitude:” and this must be referred to the fruit or remuneration; as though the Prophet said, “Only worship God in sincerity, and he will not disappoint you; for a reward will be laid up for you; your righteousness shall run down as a river.” As it is said in another place, ‘Your righteousness shall shine as the dawn,’ so it is also in this, ‘Your righteousness shall run down as violent waters.’ There was therefore no reason for hypocrites to expostulate and say that wrong was done them by God, or that their performances were lightly esteemed, since God openly testified, that he would provide for righteousness, that it might have a free course, like an impetuous river: and this seems to be the genuine meaning of the Prophet. While I do not wholly reject the other expositions, I do not yet follow them; but show what I mostly approve. (37) <\/p>\n Then the Prophet, after having bidden them to throw aside all their fictitious and spurious forms of worship, does not now simply exhort the Israelites, as some think, to exhibit righteousness and rectitude, but expresses this in the form of a promise, “Run down shall your righteousness as impetuous waters, provided it be true, and not an empty name. Whenever God shall see in you sincere rectitude, there will certainly be prepared an ample reward for you.” It follows — <\/p>\n (37) There appears here a great candor in our Author: but the first view of the passage seems the most natural and obvious, as presented in our version, with which that of Newcome and Henderson agrees. Having before exhorted them to “take away” what they thought much of, the Prophet now exhorts them to attend to judgment and justice. The two verses, 23 and 24, may be thus rendered: — <\/p>\n 23. Remove from me the multitude of thy songs, And the music of thy harps; I will not hear them. <\/p>\n 24. And let judgment roll down like waters, And righteousness like a mighty stream. <\/p>\n I prefer rendering המון, “multitude,” with Calvin, rather than “noise,” with our version and Newcome, or “sound” with Henderson. It forms a variety as to the next clause. In idiomatic English the expressions would be—”thy many songs and thy harmonious harps.” The two verses ought to be read as connected; and the 24 th should begin with “And,” ו, and not “But.” — Ed. <\/p>\n CRITICAL NOTES<\/strong>.] <\/strong><\/p>\n Amo. 5:24<\/span><\/strong>. Run<\/strong>] judgments like a flood over the land [Keil<\/em>]. Others take it as an exhortation to practise justice and truth. <\/p>\n HOMILETICS<\/em><\/p>\n JUDGMENTS LIKE A FLOOD.Amo. 5:24<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n The verse is to be explained according to Isa. 10:22<\/span>, and threatens the flooding of the land with judgment, and the punitive righteousness of God [Keil<\/em>]. In this sense the judgments of God are like a flood.<\/p>\n I. In the method of coming<\/strong>. Terrors and troubles are often compared to waters in Scripture. <\/p>\n 1. They come suddenly<\/em>. All at once they burst upon men in sin and carnal security. When they say peace<\/em> then sudden destruction cometh upon them. <\/p>\n 2. They come supernaturally<\/em>. God, and not any second cause, sends them. God hath broken in upon mine enemies like the breaking forth of waters. <\/p>\n 3. They come violently<\/em>. They carry away all opposition, and roll direct to their place. <\/p>\n 4. They come abundantly<\/em>. One after another in dreadful succession upon individuals and nations, until the purpose of God is accomplished. <\/p>\n II. In the mischief they create<\/strong>. Floods and mighty streams are fearful in themselves, but when sent by Almighty power to chastise who can resist them? <\/p>\n 1. They create consternation<\/em>. Men are terrified and seek every possible way of escape. The late floods in England and France illustrate this. Divine judgments are intended to rouse men from slumber and lead them to God. For when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. <\/p>\n 2. They cause universal devastation<\/em>. They sweep the city and the country, and spread destruction on every hand. The mansions of the rich and the dwellings of the poor are overcome with the rolling stream. So Gods fierce anger goes over men as mighty waters, to drown their possessions and take their comforts. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts; all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.<\/p>\n Wide oer misfortunes surging tide<\/p>\n Billows succeeding billows spread;<\/p>\n Should one, its fury spent, subside,<\/p>\n Another lifts its boisterous head.<\/p>\n (24) Mighty stream.<\/strong>Or rather perennial stream. Amo 5:24 But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.<\/p>\n Ver. 24. But let judgment run down<\/strong> ] Heb. roll down freely, plentifully, and plainly, ut devolutus monte praecipiti torrens,<\/em> as the great billows of the sea, or as waves rolling over rocks, so let judgment and equity be constantly and vigorously administered and executed. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n And righteousness as a mighty stream<\/strong> ] That comes with a force, and bears down all before it. Fiat iustitia, runt orbis,<\/em> Let justice be done whatever come of it. The sun might as soon be turned out of his course as Fabricius out of the track of truth and justice, saith the historian. How much better might this have been said of Job, Moses, Phineas, Nehemiah, &c., famous in their generations for brandishing the sword of justice against the friends of Baal, Balaam, and Bacchus, for turning the wheel over all such roaring monsters, such lewd and lawless Belialists, as, hardened with impunity, dare oppose with crest and breast whosoever or whatsoever standeth in the way of their wicked lusts and practices. Oh this was better than burnt offerings without this; this was that actual, magisterial, and majestic kind of devotion, that pleased God far better than an “ox that hath horns and hoofs.”<\/p>\n rundown = roll on. Reference to Gilgal <\/p>\n mighty = inexhaustible. <\/p>\n stream. Hebrew. nahal = a wady, or intermittent stream; not nahar, a constant-flowing river. <\/p>\n Amo 5:24<\/p>\n REVOLUTION OR REGENERATION<\/p>\n Amo 5:24<\/p>\n INTRODUCTION<\/p>\n I. MANS REDEMPTION, TRANSFORMATION, REGENERATION IS TO BE ACTED OUT OR EXPRESSED IN SOCIAL RELATIONS<\/p>\n A. God created man; He created this world order<\/p>\n 1. He has not abdicated His sovereignty over this order<\/p>\n 2. He maintains His sovereignty and moral government by holding the world responsible to His revealed Will<\/p>\n B. All men and nations are responsible to God for moral uprightness and just social behavior<\/p>\n 1. The O.T. prophets spoke principles and guidelines for social relations which are as relevant today as they were 2500 years ago . . .<\/p>\n 2. These same principles are amplified and confirmed by Jesus Christ and His apostles<\/p>\n II. GODS WORD JUDGES EVERY HUMAN CULTURE AND INSTITUTION<\/p>\n A. The U.S.S.R AND CHINA are as much under God as the U.S.A., because God is infinite, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. HE TRANSCENDS ALL POWERS AS WELL AS ALL THE LIMITATIONS OF HUMAN ABILITIES, INSTITUTIONS AND NATIONS. HE IS THE SOVEREIGN OF THE UNIVERSE<\/p>\n 1. Cf. Amos 1-2; Isaiah 13-23; Jer., Ezek., etc. Daniel<\/p>\n 2. “It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me . . . Jer 27:5<\/p>\n III. PRIVILEGE BRINGS RESPONSIBILITY<\/p>\n A. If God expected so much of Israel and Judah in Amos day in social justice because they were witnesses of the One True God,<\/p>\n B. How much more does he require of U.S.A. since we have so long had the glorious gospel and providential grace of God in material means?!<\/p>\n IV. GODS WAY OF BRINGING ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE<\/p>\n A. He did not call upon Israel to send a Senate Investigation Committee to discover the causes and recommend cures for the nations problem-HE REVEALED IT . . . SIN WAS THE CAUSE . . . REPENTANCE THE CURE<\/p>\n B. He did not send a Ph.D., an URBANOLOGIST, SOCIOLOGIST, OR SHEEPHERDER AND FRUITPICKER TO SIMPLY DECLARE WITH CONVICTION AND CLARITY THE REVEALED WORD OF GOD!<\/p>\n C. God did not call upon Israels government to provide a massive welfare war on poverty, to pass a sword-control bill. He called upon them to obey the Divine Law<\/p>\n 1. Amos did not preach civil disobedience to the poor, he preached obedience to God to all<\/p>\n 2. Israel did not need a great politician, organizer, economist, legislator . . . SHE NEEDED A GREAT PREACHER, A HEARLD OF THE TRUTH, A CONSCIENCE-STABBING CRYER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, A WARRIOR OF THE FAITH!<\/p>\n SO THIS MAN AMOS, NOT A PROFESSIONAL CLERGYMAN, NOT A SIGN-CARRYING RIOTER, NOT AN ORGANIZER OF MARCHES . . . BUT A MAN ALL ALONE, WHO BELIEVED GOD AND HAD THE COURAGE TO PREACH GODS MESSAGE, HAS A RELEVANT MESSAGE FOR OUR SOCIETY TODAY!<\/p>\n DISCUSSION<\/p>\n I. THE SOCIAL SICKNESS OF ISRAELS DECADENT SOCIETY CLOSELY PARALLELS THAT OF OUR OWN<\/p>\n A. “They have forgotten how to do right, says the Lord, They maintain their palaces by the fruit of violence and robbery. Phillips, Amo 3:10<\/p>\n 1. Violence and crime in our world is at an appalling level!<\/p>\n 2. 15 yr. olds commit more serious crimes than any other age group; 1\/6 boy is referred to the juvenile court; in 1965 more than 2 million Americans were sentenced to prison; 40% of all male children will be arrested sometime in their lives for something more serious than traffic violations; 3 million crimes reported in 1965 while in some places only 1\/10th of certain crimes are reported<\/p>\n 3. In all large cities no one is safe on the streets after dark; THERE ARE MANY WHO ARE ADVOCATING THE BURNING DOWN OF CITIES, RIOTING, CIVIL REVOLUTION! Gangs of wild, thrill-seeking, cruel, cold-blooded boys and girls roam the streets, even of Joplin!<\/p>\n 4. Organized Crime like the Mafia, etc., control great institutions and organizations and often city governments and political parties!<\/p>\n B. Indulgent luxury and sensual excess; . . . at ease in Zion lying upon beds of ivory, eat lambs from the flock . . . sing idle songs . . . drink wine in bowls . . . anoint themselves with finest oils . . . Amo 6:1-6 a.<\/p>\n 1. Indulgence and excess is rampant all over the world among the rich and poor, in every realm possible<\/p>\n 2. Indulgence in building expensive homes and clothes<\/p>\n 3. Excess in eating, obesity, have to take pills, etc.<\/p>\n 4. Excessive indulgence in frivolity, recreation, etc.<\/p>\n 5. Excess in alcohol are ruining us. Yale School of Alcohol Studies, drinking cause of 20% of all divorces, 25% of all insanity, 37% of all poverty, 47% of all child misery, 50% of all crimes, 50% of all traffic deaths; industry looses 60 million man hours and 1 billion a year in wages due to alcohol absenteeism; Hoover says 5 billion a year is spent to combat crime due to liquor drinking. This is 1 billion more than total revenue received by federal government for liquor sold!!!<\/p>\n 6. We have so indulged in sex it is openly perverted . . . homosexual wedding performed in Rotterdam by catholic priest . . . plays on Broadway now have naked women and men on stage and roaming through audience . . . a movie about the love of two lesbians for one another is being shown in New York.<\/p>\n In one play, Time describes, In full light, and facing the audience, the unclothed heroine knelt on a table throughout the play as a symbol of passive white idealism. A fully dressed Negro, symbolizing angry black nationalism, devours her. THE DECADENT CANAANITE, GREEK AND ROMAN THEATRES HAD NOTHING ON THOSE OF U.S.A.!<\/p>\n 7. We indulgently pay money to see such things . . . corrupt-minded movie stars make millions of dollars off indulgent society . . . sports heroes are paid fabulous salaries . . . so-called entertainers are millionaires over night simply for sitting and spouting obscenities on the T.V.<\/p>\n C. Oppression of the poor: . . . cows of Bashan, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy . . . trample the poor . . . afflict the righteous, turn aside the needy . . . (cf. Amo 4:1; Amo 5:11-12; Amo 8:4-6)<\/p>\n 1. Like it or not there are people all over the world who make their living by oppressing the poor . . . yes, even here in Joplin<\/p>\n 2. Loan sharks; those who exploit people by bring young girls into prostitution to escape poverty; criminals who exploit the poor by selling them numbers or other forms of gambling; people who pay less than fair wages simply because of a persons color or nationality<\/p>\n 3. Like it or not some people in America have been denied the opportunities others have simply because they were black-skinned, were Mexican nationality, were poorly dressed, etc. I have lived in the South, and the West and the North and it is all the same! Greed, prejudice, SIN causes men to oppress one another!<\/p>\n 4. GOD WILL NOT HOLD THE OPPRESSORS OF THE POOR GUILTLESS . . . NEITHER WILL HE HOLD GUILTLESS THOSE WHO KNOW IT AND DO NOTHING ABOUT IT! ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO OUGHT TO BE REGENERATING SOCIETY BY PREACHING REPENTANCE TO THE OPPRESSORS, AND HOPE TO THE OPPRESSED!<\/p>\n D. Perverting Justice and Righteousness: O you who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth . . . you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe . . . they hate him who reproves in the gate . . . abhor him who speaks the truth (Amo 5:7; Amo 5:10; Amo 5:12)<\/p>\n 1. Convicted criminals go unpunished because of political pressures on courts and judges or because of outright bribes<\/p>\n 2. Looters encouraged to rob, destroy because politicians want votes<\/p>\n 3. Rich and influential able to get by with flouting tax laws, and other laws the poor and middle class would not<\/p>\n 4. International criminals violate our sovereignty and we do nothing<\/p>\n 5. Our boys dying in V.N. while our so-called allies ship our enemies food and arms<\/p>\n 6. Those who stand for truth, justice, law and order, smeared as fanatics, extremists<\/p>\n E. Apathy-Indifference . . . but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph . . . Amo 6:6 b<\/p>\n 1. None seem to have the courage to speak out against evil and in favor of righteousness<\/p>\n 2. Too many have it too good . . . and those who do not have it so good want to change the situation only in terms of materialistic values!<\/p>\n Rolland Steever says in Christian Standard, July 6, 1968, Christ in the Ghettos . . . We cannot turn our faces away and fearfully hope that this situation will go away. It will not!<\/p>\n 3. People have made sin respectable by euphemizing it . . . the godless liquor traffic is now called tavern, grill, nightclub, cocktail lounge. Drunkeness is called illness of alcoholism. Youthful crime is called juvenile delinquency. Pornography is called realism, Divorce and sexual promiscuity are recommended as producing maturity for later marital relations, immodest dress is called fashionable. Dope addition is called escapeism.<\/p>\n 4. 10 or 12 people stand by and watch a pregnant school teacher attacked and raped in Kansas City. Others watch while a gang kick an old man to death in New York park.<\/p>\n LEGISLATORS AND JUSTICES SEEM UNCONCERNED OR PARALYZED BY FEAR TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE MORAL ANARCHY EXCEPT VOTE MORE MONEY HANDOUTS AS RANSOMS<\/p>\n POLITICIANS HAVE PROPOSED EVERY PANACEA POSSIBLE AND ALL THEIR SCHEMES ONLY ADD MORE PROBLEMS TO THE PROBLEM SCIENCES SOLUTIONS ARE SUPERFICIAL AND SHALLOW<\/p>\n EDUCATION IS EXTRANEOUS AND IRRELEVANT TO THE PREDICAMENT<\/p>\n WHAT ARE WE TO DO? WHERE ARE WE TO TURN? WHAT IS THE ANSWER?<\/p>\n II. THE CAUSE OF ISRAELS DECADENCE PARALLELS OUR OWN<\/p>\n A. Psychiatrist Carl Jung, in a letter to E. Stanley Jones, wrote, Those psychiatrists who are not superficial have come to the conclusion that the vast neurotic misery of the world could be termed a neurosis of emptiness. Men cut themselves off from the root of their being, from God, and then life turns empty, meaningless, without purpose. So when God goes, goal goes. When goal goes, meaning goes. When meaning goes, value goes, and life turns dead on our hands.<\/p>\n B. Sidney Cave, in his book, The Christian Way, says Right and wrong are, for many, words which have ceased to have any intellible content, and the sense of liberation from the restrictions of traditional morality has brought not the joy of freedom but the malaise which comes from lives lived without aim or meaning. We are all aware of the psychic injury suffered by a child if he finds that the one he has trusted as his father is not his father. That is the plight of many in the modern world. They have lost their heavenly Father and feel not liberated, but merely insecure . . . Many have lost the sense of a fathers care but not the sense of need.<\/p>\n C. Time, April 26, 1968, in an article on American authors, says they are viewing the world as a lunatic comedy . . . they work from an assumption that society is at best malevolent and stupid, at worst wholly lunatic. The gods are dead and their graves untended, morality is a matter of picking ones way between competing absurdities, and the only sane reaction to society-to its alleged truths and virtues, its would-be terrors and taboos-is a cackle or a scream of possibly cathartic laughter<\/p>\n WHAT IS THE CAUSE? MEN HAVE CUT THEMSELVES OFF FROM THE ROOT OF THEIR BEING, GOD . . . THEY HAVE LOST THEIR HEAVENLY FATHER . . . THE GODS ARE DEAD . . .<\/p>\n D. ISRAELS ROAD TO RUIN WAS PAVED WITH UNBELIEF, IDOLATRY, RITUALISM<\/p>\n 1. . . . because they have rejected the law of the Lord, and have not kept his statutes . . . Amo 2:4<\/p>\n 2. THEY EXCHANGED THE TRUTH OF GOD FOR LIES-Amo 2:4 . . . but their lies have led them astray, after which their fathers walked.<\/p>\n OUR NATION IS FILLED WITH POLITICAL LEADERS, INDUSTRIAL LEADERS, YES, EVEN RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO HAVE REJECTED THE WORD OF GOD . . . THEY HAVE SCORNED ITS ETHICAL PRECEPTS AS BEING IRRELEVANT . . . THEY HAVE EXCHANGED THE TRUTH OF GOD FOR THE SATANIC INSPIRED LIES OF HUMANISM, AND EVOLUTIONISM.<\/p>\n 3. The Israelites in Amos day were worshipping idols, golden-calves, star-gods and other images at Bethel and Dan (cf. Amo 3:14; Amo 5:25-27)<\/p>\n AND OUR NATION HAS ITS IDOLS AND IMAGES TO WHICH THEY PAY OBESIENCE . . . MOVIE STARS, ENTERTAINERS, SPORTS, TELEVISION, AUTOMOBILES, HOUSES, POLITICIANS, PHILOSOPHERS, THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR!<\/p>\n WE HAVE OUR SHRINES, THE MOVIE HOUSE, THE NIGHTCLUBS, THE STADIUMS, POLITICAL RALLIES, WHERE THERE ARE SET RITUALS WE ALL GO THROUGH, LAKESIDES, ETC.<\/p>\n 4. Ritualism . . . bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days . . . proclaim freewill offerings, publish them; for so you love to do, O people of Israel. Amo 4:4-5<\/p>\n 10 years ago in Christian Standard, Jan J. Erteszak said, in an article From Asylum to Powerhouse 12-5-59 . . . Our churches are increasing in membership and material well-being at an unprecedented rate. Religion has become popular. But, almost in inverse proportion to its popularity, it is losing its central place of commitment in the lives of the people. YES, WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE IN AMERICA WHO GO TO CHURCH AND GO THROUGH THE RITUALS . . . THEY LOVE TO DO THIS . . . IT SALVES THE CONSCIENCE . . . BUT GOD AND HIS WORD DOES NOT PERMEATE THEIR EVERYDAY LIVING!<\/p>\n THIS IS THE CAUSE . . . IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CAUSE OF EVERY SOCIETY WHICH HAS PERISHED FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH . . . REJECTION OF THE SOVEREIGNITY OF GODS REVEALED WORD!!!<\/p>\n EGYPT DID NOT DIE FROM LACK OF WEALTH OR POWER!<\/p>\n OLD BABYLON DID NOT DIE FROM LACK OF EDUCATION OR CULTURE!<\/p>\n ASSYRIA DID NOT DIE FOR LACK OF MILITARY MIGHT!<\/p>\n THE NEO-BABYLONIAN EMPIRE WAS THE RICHEST ON EARTH!<\/p>\n PERSIA WAS POWERFUL AND RICH!<\/p>\n GREECE WAS POWERFUL AND RICH!<\/p>\n ROME WAS POWERFUL AND RICH!<\/p>\n AND ON AND ON ONE MIGHT GO . . . NONE OF THEM WERE OVERTHROWN AS A RESULT OF ATTEMPTS BY ENSLAVED PEOPLE THYING TO HAVE A DEMOCRACY . . . SO DEMOCRATIC FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS OF NO ASSURANCE OF PERPETUATION OF SOCIETY!<\/p>\n ALL SOCIETIES, GOVERNMENTS, PEOPLES, INDIVIDUALS STAND OR FALL ACCORDING TO THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE UNIVERSAL AND ETERNAL PRINCIPLES OF DIVINE MORAL GOVERNMENT!<\/p>\n MORAL ANARCHY BREEDS POLITICAL ANARCHY . . . WHICH WILL IN TURN PRODUCE POLITICAL DICTATORSHIP AND MORAL DICTATORSHIP.<\/p>\n IT IS PRAGMATICALLY PROVEN CORRECT . . . A PERSON OR A NATION CAN ONLY BE FREE SPIRITUALLY, MORALLY, AND POLITICALLY IF IT KNOWS AND DOES THE TRUTH OF GOD!<\/p>\n III. THE CURE FOR ISRAELS DECADENCE IS THE SAME CURE NEEDED TODAY . . . REGENERATION<\/p>\n A. Cecil Todd said in his last Revival Fires magazine, Our nation has strayed from God! Our problem is not the color of peoples skin: our problem is the color of peoples hearts, The heart of our problem is the problem of our hearts! Our problem is not the poverty-stricken ghettos-the slum areas; our problem, rather, is the poverty-stricken souls-the slums of peoples hearts . . . What we need in this country more than a war on poverty is a war on sin.<\/p>\n B. Amos said it this way: Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord the God of hosts will be with you . . . Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate . . . let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever flowing stream. Amo 5:14-15; Amo 5:23-24<\/p>\n C. The prophets taught and Jesus confirmed that all social morality finds its roots, its spiritual source and compelling power over the consciences of men in the character of God Himself. To seek God is to seek good; to love God is to love good, and, conversely, to hate evil because God hates evil.<\/p>\n 1. The solution is even as it was in the days of Jeremiah . . . restoration of the old paths wherein is the good way (Jer 6:16-21) . . . the solution is REGENERATION, not REVOLUTION.<\/p>\n 2. Social injustice cannot be corrected by simply renovation and reorganization of the social structure. NO MATTER WHICH POLITICAL PARTY REORGANIZES!<\/p>\n 3. Social injustice can only be overcome when men are recreated in the image of God. SOCIETY WILL NEVER BE CHANGED EXCEPT AS INDIVIDUAL MEN ARE CHANGED! AND MEN WILL NEVER BE CHANGED UNTIL THEY ARE UNITED WITH GOD THROUGH HIS REVELATION WHICH IN THESE DAYS IS MADE IN HIS INCARNATE SON<\/p>\n D. The FAITHFULNESS OF GOD is the great motivating power appealed to by the prophets. GOD HAS KEPT HIS PROMISES IN THE PAST . . . HE WILL KEEP THEM IN THE PRESENT AND FUTURE!!<\/p>\n 1. History is appealed to.<\/p>\n 2. So, what God did through Jesus Christ in time and in history is confirmation of the FAITHFULNESS OF GOD (2Co 1:20) . . .<\/p>\n THIS BECOMES THE BASIS OF MORALITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE, EVERYTHING . . . BECAUSE IT IS THROUGH THESE EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ESCAPE THE CORRUPTION THAT IS IN THE WORLD AND BECOME PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE . . . REGENERATED (2Pe 1:3-4)<\/p>\n CONCLUSION<\/p>\n WHAT THEN CAN THE CHURCH DO IN OUR AGE OF SOCIAL UPHEAVEL . . . HOW IS THE CHURCH TO BE INVOLVED . . . HOW MAY IT BE MADE RELEVANT FOR THIS GENERATION?<\/p>\n I. THE CHURCH MUST START BY OUT-COMMITTING THOSE WHO, BY THEIR OWN ADMISSION, ARE DETERMINED TO DESTROY OUR SOCIETY<\/p>\n A. A committed church is a fellowship of believers which accepts the following premises and acts upon them:<\/p>\n 1. The basic teachings of Christ are universal in time, space, and every situation of life . . . as significant in London, Berlin, Moscow, Paris, Peking as U.S.A.<\/p>\n 2. They are just as pertinent to our interdependent and complex society of today as they were in the first century<\/p>\n 3. They are applicable to the totality of our problems-business, home, public life, international relations<\/p>\n 4. Those who practice the Christian precepts in their daily lives are blessed themselves while, at the same time, they bring blessings to their society.<\/p>\n B. The church must come to grips with the following tasks:<\/p>\n 1. Of involving men in her message for today and in her activity . . . SHOWING MEN THAT THE WORD OF GOD IS RELEVANT FOR THEIR PROBLEMS . . . EVANGELIZE THOSE WHO ARE SEARCHING TODAY<\/p>\n 2. Become skillful in building a lasting conviction in its members. WE MUST CONVINCE MEN THAT CHRISTS RULE OF LOVE REALLY WORKS . . . THAT IT WILL ENRICH THEM IN THE GREATEST POSSIBLE WAY . . . SPIRITUALLY<\/p>\n 3. It must learn to generate commitment in its entire membership . . . IN A COMMITTED CHURCH THERE ARE NO SPECTATORS: EVERYONE IS A PARTICIPANT . . . EVERYONE HAS A TASK<\/p>\n THE CHURCH CAN ONLY IMPART WHAT IT POSSESSES, AND THE EXTENT OF ITS INFLUENCE WILL DEPEND ON THE SINGLE-MINDEDNESS, THE SPIRITUAL MUSCLE, THE DEPTH OF CONVICTION, AND THE WILLINGNESS TO WITNESS OF THOSE WHO ARE FULLY COMMITTED.<\/p>\n IT IS USUALLY AT THE CROSSROADS OF DESTINY THAT REAL PROGRESS IS AFFECTED, WE ARE AT SUCH A CROSSROAD, IF WE UNDERTAKE TO BRING THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH TO GRIPS WITH THE 20TH CENTURY, WE CAN, AND WE WILL CHANGE THE COURSE OF THE HISTORY OF DISSOLUTION WHICH IS NOW IN THE MAKING<\/p>\n II. IT ALL STARTS WITH YOU AND WITH ME AS INDIVIDUALS<\/p>\n TO BE A CHRISTIAN IS NOT SO MUCH DOING THIS OR THAT, BUT ALLOWING GOD TO CREATE IN YOU HIS OWN IMAGE-JESUS CHRIST!<\/p>\n NATIONS MAY CRUMBLE, BUT GODS PROMISES ARE CERTAIN TO ENDURE!!<\/p>\n let: Amo 5:7, Amo 5:14, Amo 5:15, Job 29:12-17, Pro 21:3, Hos 6:6, Mic 6:8, Mar 12:32-34 <\/p>\n run: Heb. roll <\/p>\n Reciprocal: 2Sa 8:15 – David executed Isa 48:18 – then had Eze 18:9 – he shall Hos 12:6 – keep Zec 1:4 – Turn Zec 7:9 – saying Zec 8:16 – execute the judgment of truth and peace Act 24:25 – righteousness<\/p>\n Amo 5:24. Judgment is from mishpat, which Strong defines, “Properly a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially.” Since the term is connected with righteousness as a mighty stream, we know the word means a favorable verdict. The leaders had imposed upon the poor and decided matters unjustly against them. This verse is an exhortation for them to reverse that practice and render decisions that are just.<\/p>\n 5:24 But let judgment run down as {m} waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.<\/p>\n (m) Do your duty to God, and to your neighbour, and so you will plentifully feel his grace, if you show your abundant affections according to God’s word.<\/p>\n Instead of feasts and fasts, instead of offerings and sacrifices, instead of singing and playing musical instruments, the Lord said He wanted justice and righteousness (cf. Amo 5:7). Instead of a constant stream of blood flowing from sacrifices, and an endless torrent of verbal and ritual praise from His people, He wanted these ethical qualities to flow without ceasing from them. The Israelites were inundating Him with rivers of religiosity, but He wanted rivers of righteousness.<\/p>\n "Only when the personal concern of the law is incorporated into their social structure and ’rightness’ characterizes their dealings with others will their worship be acceptable. A token practice of justice and righteousness will not do." [Note: McComiskey, p. 316.] <\/span><\/p>\n This is the key verse in the book since it expresses so clearly what God wanted from His people. It is a clear statement of the importance of moral and ethical righteousness over mere ritual worship.<\/p>\n "With Hos 6:6 and Mic 6:8 this text stands as one of the great themes in prophetic literature with regard to the nature of sacrifices and true religion. God is not pleased by acts of pomp and grandeur but by wholehearted devotion and complete loyalty." [Note: Smith, p. 115.] <\/span><\/p>\n But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. 24. Justice, between man and man, is what Jehovah demands: no ceremonial, however punctiliously observed, is a substitute in Jehovah’s eyes for moral duties. The argument is exactly that of Isaiah 1, where Jehovah rejects similarly the entire body of ritual observances, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Amos 5:24”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22458","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22458"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22458\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22458"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22458"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22458"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
<\/em><\/p>\nFuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"