Rolling Justice
“But let justice roll down like waters,and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”—Amos 5:24
God is righteous and just. While we divide the two terms in English, in Hebrew and Greek (the languages of the Old Testament and New Testament), the terms are intimately related. God is righteous, which means that God always acts in accordance with what is right, because He is the final standard and authority that defines and enforces what is right. And influencing or directing what is right or wrong is the determination of whether something is declared just. Justice, then, is when someone receives according to what he or she deserves after having done right or wrong. As Moses said, "The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He”—Deuteronomy 32:4.
God is impartial when it comes to whether a person has done right or wrong. Since He is perfect and has complete knowledge, He knows a person’s heart and is capable of judging without partiality or prejudice. In Amos’ day, the people of Israel experienced a time of political stability and economic blessing unheard of since the days of King Solomon. They believed these blessings to be a sign from God because of their favored status, but it wasn’t. In actuality, all of their supposed blessings came at the expense of the poor and destitute. God sent Amos to pronounce the coming judgment of God, not just to the wicked nations around them, but for themselves as well. As God’s chosen people, the nation of Israel had the responsibility of being a light to the nations, showing themselves to be God’s representatives on earth, demonstrating by their lives that God was and is the only God. But, through Amos' ministry, they were able to see that their worship of God was little more than viewing God as a divine genie whom they could manipulate to do their bidding.
Amos prophesied of the coming “day of the Lord” when God would judge the nations, but He would judge the nation of Israel as well. And because of their unique relationship to God, they would receive an even greater judgment because they knew the good they should be doing and failed to do it. Our passage comes at the end of a rebuke to the nation, when God would have His justice come and wash away all of the hypocrisy, bringing the purity of life and justice that comes from God.
As believers in Christ, we look forward to the day when God will judge the world, and all wrongs will be righted, and the justice that had been delayed will no longer be denied (cf. Revelation 6:10, 11:18, 19:2). Yet we know that we too will be judged, and we must be careful to stand in Christ and His righteousness alone, for it is only in Him that we have any standing whatsoever. As Peter wrote, “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”—1 Peter 4:17.
God’s salvation is greater than we can know or understand, and we must do as the author of Hebrews has written:
“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”—Hebrews 2:1-3a.
May God help us to be aware of our own faults and sins, to be careful how we live and conduct ourselves during the time of our sojourn here on earth (cf. 1 Peter 1:17). Knowing that we will have to give an account for everything we have ever done, may we stand in the righteousness of Christ, with all humility and courage, modeling the life and charge of the one who gave Himself for us. Amen.
God is righteous and just. While we divide the two terms in English, in Hebrew and Greek (the languages of the Old Testament and New Testament), the terms are intimately related. God is righteous, which means that God always acts in accordance with what is right, because He is the final standard and authority that defines and enforces what is right. And influencing or directing what is right or wrong is the determination of whether something is declared just. Justice, then, is when someone receives according to what he or she deserves after having done right or wrong. As Moses said, "The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He”—Deuteronomy 32:4.
God is impartial when it comes to whether a person has done right or wrong. Since He is perfect and has complete knowledge, He knows a person’s heart and is capable of judging without partiality or prejudice. In Amos’ day, the people of Israel experienced a time of political stability and economic blessing unheard of since the days of King Solomon. They believed these blessings to be a sign from God because of their favored status, but it wasn’t. In actuality, all of their supposed blessings came at the expense of the poor and destitute. God sent Amos to pronounce the coming judgment of God, not just to the wicked nations around them, but for themselves as well. As God’s chosen people, the nation of Israel had the responsibility of being a light to the nations, showing themselves to be God’s representatives on earth, demonstrating by their lives that God was and is the only God. But, through Amos' ministry, they were able to see that their worship of God was little more than viewing God as a divine genie whom they could manipulate to do their bidding.
Amos prophesied of the coming “day of the Lord” when God would judge the nations, but He would judge the nation of Israel as well. And because of their unique relationship to God, they would receive an even greater judgment because they knew the good they should be doing and failed to do it. Our passage comes at the end of a rebuke to the nation, when God would have His justice come and wash away all of the hypocrisy, bringing the purity of life and justice that comes from God.
As believers in Christ, we look forward to the day when God will judge the world, and all wrongs will be righted, and the justice that had been delayed will no longer be denied (cf. Revelation 6:10, 11:18, 19:2). Yet we know that we too will be judged, and we must be careful to stand in Christ and His righteousness alone, for it is only in Him that we have any standing whatsoever. As Peter wrote, “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”—1 Peter 4:17.
God’s salvation is greater than we can know or understand, and we must do as the author of Hebrews has written:
“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”—Hebrews 2:1-3a.
May God help us to be aware of our own faults and sins, to be careful how we live and conduct ourselves during the time of our sojourn here on earth (cf. 1 Peter 1:17). Knowing that we will have to give an account for everything we have ever done, may we stand in the righteousness of Christ, with all humility and courage, modeling the life and charge of the one who gave Himself for us. Amen.
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