In the last blog, I mentioned my preference for Habakkuk among all the “minor” prophets. Second in my preference is Amos. Why? Because he was not a prophet or the son of a prophet. He lived in a small town southeast of Bethlehem. He was a shepherd and a dresser of fig trees. He was a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea. He made allusions to nature but also his writing indicates he was a student of the law.
And then he had a way with words as the passage quoted below demonstrates:
“I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies.
Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them.
Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
(Amos 5:21-24 NIV)
There is no record that Israel, to whom he ministered, heeded his advice. So was he a failure? Not as long as we heed his advice and “let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.”
