Thy Strong Word — Amos 5:18-27: Woe to You Who Desire the Day of the Lord!

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Amos challenges the complacency of those who mistakenly believe that the Day of the Lord will bring them victory over their enemies. Instead, he warns of impending darkness and judgment due to their hypocrisy. Despite their religious festivals and offerings, God rejects their empty rituals because they neglect justice and righteousness. Amos urges the people to let justice flow like a mighty river, highlighting the futility of their false worship. This encourages us to reflect on our own worship to ensure we live out our faith in sincerity.

The Rev. Steven Cholak, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church and School in Houston, TX, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Amos 5:18-27.

Amos, a simple shepherd and fig tree farmer from Tekoa, was called by God to deliver a powerful message to Israel—a nation steeped in corruption, injustice, and complacency. Unlike the professional prophets of his time, Amos was an outsider, chosen to proclaim a divine warning against the moral decay and social inequalities that plagued the northern kingdom. Through vivid imagery and uncompromising language, Amos called out the wealthy elite for their exploitation of the poor, condemned the nation’s empty religious practices, and foretold the impending judgment that would come if they did not repent.

Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: [e-mail].

Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.

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Amos 5:18-27

Let Justice Roll Down

¹⁸ Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord!
Why would you have the day of the Lord?
It is darkness, and not light,
¹⁹ as if a man fled from a lion,
and a bear met him,
or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall,
and a serpent bit him.
²⁰ Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light,
and gloom with no brightness in it?

²¹ “I hate, I despise your feasts,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
²² Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,
I will not look upon them.
²³ Take away from me the noise of your songs;
to the melody of your harps I will not listen.
²⁴ But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

²⁵ “Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings during the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? ²⁶ You shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god—your images that you made for yourselves, ²⁷ and I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts.

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English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv.org