Like a never-failing stream

“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24)

 

It is not included an intention to call the Judgment or disaster in this Bible text. Rather, that phrase has a meaning to make people win and enjoy peace. Many people expect and pursue stability of future, but neglecting to do one’s own present duty. There is a real hope only after changing such wrong attitudes entirely. The day of the Lord’s Judgment has two the sides, peace and disaster. It depends on one’s own life that which of the two things will encounter with. The matter of interest for the lazy people of no ability is if possible to take urgent refuge from current situation or to use wrong methods. But to do a right path is never difficult, or complicated.

 

Amos was a prophet who prophesied the righteous judgment of God during Jeroboam II of Israel the northern kingdom in the 8th century BC. At that time, contrary to the political prosperity of nation, the whole society of politics and morality was corrupt and unrighteous on the whole. Amos was a shepherd of livestock, but he spread God’s message to people and pointed out the sins of them. The role of preaching the gospel is a task assigned to anyone through the Holy Spirit. For instance as a layman, consoling a patient in pain and deliver encouragement with Christ’s salvation to them is a very beautiful act under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

For everyone, the barriers of the Judgment, large and small, appear frequently in life. Christian people have much concern to when and how the Millennium Kingdom, First Judgment, and Second Judgment, written in the Book of Revelation will be. Because those are the matters wanting to know, we need to pray, study, and find it out hard if possible. But it’s still a prophecy of secret about the end of the world, so nobody can say the answer with certainty. Yet, to be anxious and fearful about that, is undesirable. Jesus taught people that even if the day of Judgment came suddenly, it would not be a great problem for the awake.

The phrase “Woe to you, ~” said at the first of Amos 5:18 by the prophet Amos is an expression toward the pitiable people who expect to refuge to the Lord, but not living in the right way of life. Some among the people who think themselves believers in God, they are escaping to the afterlife being with neglecting the duties of present life, or they expect to be saved regardless to doing evil. For them, God’s judgment will come with darkness, not light. They will not be able to meet Judgment peacefully, if without a life of waking up and praying according to the words of Christ. Then what does it mean by waking up and praying? It means the soul always lives alive in the salvation of Christ and the word of God. As if a ‘Bread without jam’, there is nothing that can be fulfilled just by calling God’s name by lips.

The people had kept well the religious events, holy gatherings, burnt offering, grain offering, peace offering, singing, playing of mandolin, and etc according to rules. But the Lord God said He does not accept such the things. That is because there was no with their actions something to be premised importantly. So what should had been premised in the actions? It was the justice and the righteousness. Human life regards important the history and tradition, in general. The so-called ‘a noble family’ meaning ‘a fine family with culture’ sets manners and laws in their own way, and practices sacrificial rites according to the dates, and educates for family members including children. But sometimes, when the times and situations change and interests become entangle, all the traditional manners would be stopped and even destroyed. Like that, law and order changed without inner vitality will be neglected, and become useless someday.

In ancient Israel that was prosperous in politics and economy, several events of seasons were observed and various rites and cultural events were held. But any of those things was not accepted by God the Lord, so they were in pity and misfortune. The important reason was for they had not justice and righteousness in the inner of those.

 

Justice refers to a social situation in which a suitable and harmonious relationship occurs. And righteousness is the right moral act that allows justice to be carried out. Justice and righteousness are the images of real love shown by the Crucifixion of Christ. Therefore, the images are the virtue and goal that Christians should show through the church. Will you not fulfill your mission as a Christian, to make a society where justice and righteousness like a never-failing stream?

 

(Written by Koonoh, Pastor of JDO Presbyterian Church in Korea, on July 18th 2021)