June 5 / Amos 5:16-9:15

Amos 5:16-9:15

But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Amos 5:24

Sound familiar? I’d like to think that we know this verse because we all read our Bibles all the time. But I suspect that our familiarity with this verse may come more from Martin Luther King, Jr.’s quoting of it in his “I Have a Dream” speech. Just a hunch…

Note that this verse starts with “but”, setting it in contrast with the preceding verses:

I hate, I despise your feasts,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,
I will not look upon them.
Take away from me the noise of your songs;
to the melody of your harps I will not listen.

Amos 5:21-23

All of that goes to say that no amount of religiosity, no amount of sacrifice, or tithing, or liturgy, or music or any other outward form of “worship” can substitute for true justice and righteousness. If our Sunday morning worship isn’t coupled with right relationship with others — in justice and righteousness — then we’re fooling ourselves.

But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.