Oppressing the Poor (Amos 5:11-12)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/2/2015 11:42 PM

My Worship Time Focus: Oppressing the Poor

Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Amos 5:11-12

Message of the verses: "11 Therefore because you impose heavy rent on the poor And exact a tribute of grain from them, Though you have built houses of well-hewn stone, Yet you will not live in them; You have planted pleasant vineyards, yet you will not drink their wine. 12 For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great, You who distress the righteous and accept bribes And turn aside the poor in the gate."

As we have been looking at the different chapters in the book of Amos we have learned that he is a champion of the poor as we have seen in 2:6-7; 4:1; 8:6; and what we are reading about in the verses for today. What we see here is that Amos is asking for justice in the land and Dr. Wiersbe has an endnote explain the word justice: "The Hebrew word mishpat is translated ‘justice’ in most modern translations and usually ‘judgment’ in the KJV. The NIV uses ‘justice’ in Amos 2:7; 5:7, 12, 15, 24; 6:12. The root word of mishpat is shapat, which means ‘to govern.’ The aim of the government is justice for all people. The Prophet Isaiah also pleaded for justice in the land."

What we can see from these verses is that the rich were actually taking food from the mouths of the poor who were tenants of the rich people. James has something to say about this in his letter and the following verses all are from the book of James and have the word "rich" in them: "Jas 1:10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. Jas 1:11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. Jas 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? Jas 2:6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? Jas 5:1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you." James goes on in chapter five: "2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! 4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you." These seem to me as similar to what Amos is writing about.

These wealthy people were taking advantage of the poor and we know that God will take care of them. Dr. Wiersbe writes: "God knew what these weatlty exploiters were doing, just as He knows what sinners are doing today; and though He appeared to be unconcerned, He would judge these evil people in due time. God had warned in His covenant with the Jewish people, ‘You shall build a house, but you shall not dwell in it; and you shall plant a vineyard, but shall not gather its grapes’ (Deut. 28:30 NKJV). God always keeps His promises, whether to bless when we’ve obeyed or to chasten when we’ve rebelled." 10/3/2015 12:13 AM