In this chapter we see God's continuing call to repent being described to the Israelites by Amos. I think it's important to note first that the attitude which God approaches this is described as a "lamentation" in verse 1. To me this paints the picture of a father reluctant to punish His child but willing to do so in the hopes that the child will mature and return to commune with the father. And what a Father it is in these verses! I love the description of God we find in verses 8 and 9. These words are so eloquent, both describing how awesome and mighty He is while illustrating the good things He does for us. I particularly enjoy the description of God as the one "who made the Pleiades and Orion". This stems from my enjoyment of the macrocosm that surrounds us: the planets, the galaxies, the stars, etc. The sheer vastness of the universe we live in is often overwhelming to contemplate for me. It is a humbling thought experiment that severely diminishes my sense of pride. Simultaneously, it fills me with a feeling of being loved because this same being who created and filled the vastness of the universe loves me and wants a relationship with me. It makes me sad that the Israelites, who were so intimately connected to God as His chosen people, turned their backs on Him even when confronted by all the things He does for them and His awesomeness.
While there is still another half of Amos Chapter 5 where God details the fruitlessness of Israel's sacrifices and offerings due to their emptiness and where Amos declares that Israel is deserving of what is about to befall them (calling it justice), I want to focus instead on verse 14 and 15. In these verses we see a clear command that is applicable in today's world as well as the times described in Amos. "Seek good and abhor evil". Such a simple command, but one that is not so easily followed or fulfilled because it ultimately requires a person to have the ability to discern between good and evil first in order to know which path to follow. This requires that a person has a decision making paradigm aligned with God's idea of Good and Evil. The best way to do this is by studying the Bible. Doing so allows a person to come to know God and to better think about the manner in which God calls us to act in given situations. Matthew 22:37-40 is a great place to start, but this knowledge isn't limited to the New Testament solely. Studying the Old Testament allows us to see different aspects of God's character, especially through the lens of His relationship with Israel. While this is no easy task, it is a task that will enrich your life and make you a better servant of God to the point where "the Lord, God of Hosts, will be with you." This phrase always reminds me of the story of Elisha praying to God to open the eyes of his servant so that he may see the Heavenly Host that surrounds them. A part of me imagines that same host surrounding me because that paints an amazing picture in my mind. Who wouldn't want their own personal guard of angels with flaming chariots and swords?
The second section of this chapter had some big themes in it. The question of why we are excited for the day of the Lord was interesting. This just seemed like a different perspective, The other part that took me aback was God talking about the noise of our songs, this just showed the futility of some of the ways we attempt to worship, but only when were are truly worshiping God does he find it pleasing, otherwise it is almost annoying to Him.
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