Series: Dog Daze
Amos 4:1-3 MSG (Revisiting)
Amos 4:4-5 MSG
First things first…what is idolatry?
In the initial definition of scripture it is worshipping someone or something other than God. The point was reiterated in the Ten Commandments when the first commandment stipulated, “no other gods before me” and “no graven images” which meant no physical images that would make it so people worshipped the image instead of worshipping God.
Today idolatry is thought of in a different way. According to Martin Luther in the 16th Century idolatry is “Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God, your functional savior. ”
There was no graven image but Luther recognized that the sin or lack of sin happens in the heart.
According to Merriam Webster idolatry today is “the worship of a physical object as a god or immoderate attachment or devotion to something”.
The implication today is that if we worship our really beautiful shiny expensive car to the point that we are attached or devoted to it, it could mean we worship it (emphasis on could). In other words, there might be a fine line between actually worshipping and really liking it.
The common element that remains with every definition is how we view worship in our heart.
Whether that be worship of a deity or an object or attachment, whatever we focus on can become our idol.
The central point is that we need to be mindful of where our heart lies. In other words what are we devoted to?
In Amos 4:1-5 the prophet Amos told Israel using the ‘ultimate in’ sarcasm.
It begins with the prophets words in Amos 4:1-3, “Listen to this, you cows of Bashan grazing on the slopes of Samaria.You women! Mean to the poor, cruel to the down-and-out! Indolent and pampered, you demand of your husbands, ‘Bring us a tall, cool drink!’
“This is serious—I, God, have sworn by my holiness! Be well warned: Judgment Day is coming!They’re going to rope you up and haul you off, keep the stragglers in line with cattle prods.They’ll drag you through the ruined city walls, forcing you out single file, and kick you to kingdom come.” God’s Decree.
Amos goes on in Amos 4:4-5, “Come along to Bethel and sin! And then to Gilgal and sin some more! Bring your sacrifices for morning worship. Every third day bring your tithe. Burn pure sacrifices—thank offerings. Speak up—announce freewill offerings!That’s the sort of religious show you Israelites just love.”
Notice the word sin (often translated to transgress). Amos’ blatant sarcasm continues as if to say, “go ahead Israel…sin and then sin some more!”
Amos was telling Israelites in the 8th Century their actions speak much louder than their words. He reminds them they are mean and cruel to the poor and the ‘cows’ (women) demand to be served.
Amos was not making light of their transgressions.
He poured the sarcasm on thick.
He knew exactly what he was saying!
He wanted them to wake up and return to God. He knew they would not turn unless they DID wake up.
So consider what a transgression really is. A transgression occurs when we go beyond the limits set or the limit of what is prescribed. In scripture a transgression is a sin when we go beyond the limits that have been outlined, say for example in the Ten Commandments. In other words, put God first and foremost and don’t try to “dummy” that down.
In Amos’ day they were way beyond that. They weren’t even trying to look like they cared about the poor. The Prophet knew because of their actions their “show” of pretending to care by showing up with their filthy tithes, their pure (unpure) sacrifices and their thankful (UNthankful) offerings was just a “show” for their neighbors.
Can’t you see the ‘Amos Show’ on the stage? We would see the women dressed in an elaborate gaudy gown followed by her husband carrying their tithes and offerings in a golden colored bag so everyone would notice their great and beautiful gifts. As they enter the stage she glides to the altar and when they arrive at the altar she takes the bag and holds it high in the air. She gives it a shake so everyone can hear the ‘clank’ from the contents inside the golden bag. She tries to appear to be humble and caring but her wink and glance at the audience makes it perfectly clear this is just for show. All the while we see off to the side the poor and lowly are bone thin and they are dressed in shabby plain soiled threadbare frocks. The children are so thin they do not play or smile.
The wealthy couple do not even notice the poor. They only want everyone to notice their offering. As they exit the stage they pass the poor but they hold their noses and look the other way because of the fowl odor they emit.
All the while the gaudily dressed woman and her husband did not once think about the offering being an act of worship that was presented to God.
They did not worship.
They did not think of God.
Their focus was entirely on ‘the show’ so everyone would know they paid their tithe.
Without a doubt these were dog daze for Amos. He saw the hypocrisy. He knew with their tithes they were ‘fakin’ when they acted like they cared about God or what God wanted from them.
See…what God wanted was their heart. God wanted their love. God wanted them to care.
As the curtain comes down the stage slowly goes dark. The altar is empty. The poor are still lying there hungry.
There is no hope for Israel because they did not return to God.
That’s exactly what Amos fears most.
Spiritual Practice: Turn to God
Give God your heart.
In God, Deborah
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