Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, open my ears to hear what you have to say to me; open my heart to love your word, and open my mind to understand your truth.
In Amos 2 we see the warnings directed at Judah and Israel, who have received God’s law. A big part of this is to show that hypocrisy is not accepted by God. God will judge the nations around Israel but he will also hold Israel up to those standards.
The main complaint against them in these warnings is that they have rejected God and that their practices are unjust; they trample the poor and deny the oppressed justice. Israel knew their position as God’s people and expected God to punish their enemies. However, they had been overlooking the injustice against the marginalised members of their own society.
Amos hadn’t been a prophet for long – he was a shepherd and farmer – and so while the priests may have been blind to it, he was in a position to see what really went on.
If we place ourselves in Israel’s shoes for a minute, can we recognise hypocrisy in our own lives? Are we quick to judge others and want punishment for them, while ignoring our own flaws? Amos highlights that being God’s people doesn’t mean that we can simply condemn others, but that we need to act in a way that honours God – through justice and mercy. As readers of this text today, we need to see these warnings as invitations to ask ourselves whether we suffer from the same flaws as others, and how we can fix those flaws.
Dear Lord, I know that knowing and understanding your word makes me responsible for doing my best to uphold your righteousness. Please help me to see any hypocrisy in my own life and to change my behaviour to do what pleases you.
This reflection was written by Hannah Stevens who is part of Bible Society's Publishing team
Read the Bible 
Processing...