Totally Lacking #5

 Read Amos 5

Background: Apparently, Amos' confrontation of the people of Israel about their sin drew some response - just not the right response.  Having set aside the worship of the true and living God at the temple in Jerusalem, they just brought more offerings more often to the false temple of the golden calf at Gilgal. Rather than changing their ways, they "gave their change," thinking they could buy God's approval and forgiveness.  

Key Verses: 4 For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel:
“Seek me and live;
5     but do not seek Bethel,
and do not enter into Gilgal
    or cross over to Beersheba;
for Gilgal shall surely go into exile,
    and Bethel shall come to nothing.”
6 Seek the Lord and live,
    lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph,
    and it devour, with none to quench it for Bethel,
7 O you who turn justice to wormwood
    and cast down righteousness to the earth!

Thoughts: What God wanted was what He always wants: for them to seek Him and to live by His holy standards of righteousness and justice.  He wanted them to stop worshipping the stars and worship the One Who made them.  He then points out that He been sending them prophets to remind them, but they kept refusing to listen to them.  After another call to seek Him, he goes on to tell them that judgment was coming, and it was not going to be pretty.  Though they spoke of the "Day of the Lord" with anticipation, waiting for God to come judge their enemies, that Day would also be for them. They were looking at things completely wrong.  He was tired of hearing all their supposed songs of worship when their hearts were so far from them.  There soon would be singing no more.