What Lies Beneath: Amos 5:1-3
God teaches us to look past the surface of our life and find out what truly exists in the depth of our heart. God is always interested in what motivates us. His concern is as much about our why as our what. Sin and righteousness are not just determined by what we do, but why we do.
It is difficult to go against the crowd. Having truth is on your side makes it easier. Even so, going against the crowd is not easy. It takes courage to stand up and do or say what nobody else can see.
Examine several examples of crowd behavior. If someone falls in a large group of people, are they not more likely to get trampled than to have people rush to help? If a beggar sits outside of a busy grocery store, do people not walk by and pretend they aren’t there? On the other hand, if someone falls and only one or two people are near, is it not common for someone to help them? If a beggar walks down the street and meets a random individual, is it not easier to get attention?
Israel is not Amos’ home country. He brings a lamentation from God. God is not pleased with their choices, so God asks Amos to explain it to them. God wants the people to see a reason to mourn.
The problem, though, is Israel feels secure. The elite in society store up wealth, celebrate in parties, and live the high life. The army of Israel feels strong; they have been able to hold the power of their neighbors at bay. Their priests tell the people all is well because the offerings are bountiful. Israel doesn’t look sick. The powerful and socially elite can see no reason for concern.
God asks Amos to stand in the gap. God directs Amos to perform a lamentation amid a people who see no reason to mourn. It’s about getting the people to see what God sees.
Imagine living in a house with foundation issues. One of the first signs is doors and windows start to stick. People usually sand or plane the objects so they move well again. The next sign is cracks appear in the walls and ceilings, especially along stress points like the corners of doors or arches. People grab spackle and paint and cover it up.
We can always make things look pretty from the outside. We can easily cover over the problems, presenting a glorious image. The people of Israel saw their glorious life and were content. They weren’t willing to look at the foundation of their society and recognize the problems. They weren’t willing to see how their prosperity was built atop sinful practices. Through Amos’s lamentation, God teaches us the importance of looking past the pleasant surface of our life and find out what truly exists in the depth of our heart.
