Happy Friday!
Today, we’re continuing our October series by looking at one of the minor prophets in the Old Testament, Amos.
God gave Amos, a shepherd, a vision of the future which included Israel’s judgment if they didn’t repent. We find our key verse in Amos 5:21-24:
“I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
God is speaking here and boy, does He use some strong language! Israel had brought the optional offerings known as the burnt, grain, and praise offerings, but they had not brought the mandatory offering for atoning sin, known as the guilt and sin offerings (see Leviticus for more on offerings and God’s specific instruction to the Israelites). Without the forgiveness of sin, God could not accept the praise of the people or these other offerings.
Again, we see that God wants our sincere worship and not the empty religious acts we seek to make us look good or pacify Him.
What stood out to you from the reading in Amos today?
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