For the little bit of Cow in all of us.

Scripture Verse that Caught my attention today: Amos 4:1 Hear this word, you cows of Bashan
who are on Mount Samaria,
who oppress the poor, who crush the needy,
who say to their husbands, “Bring something to drink!”

Observation: Gotta love the directness.

Application: Personally, this is not the kind of language/tone that I would normally use. It’s also not the kind of tone that I would recommend that others use. It’s the kind of sentiment that, when heard in the political realm, almost instantly turns me off. It sounds like pointing the finger. And as most of us learned when we were young, when we point one finger at another, there are three more fingers pointing back at us!

Still, since God chose Amos to be a prophet, I guess we can cut him a little slack. He speaks a harsh word to be sure, but he does so in order to bring people back, to turn them around. And his cause, his passion, is that the poor and needy might no longer be so poor and needy. Amos takes direct aim at those who he believes have built their wealth on the backs of the poor and needy and/or completely ignored them. Going through the motions of sacrifice impresses neither Amos nor the Almighty. Instead pure hearts are desired…and compassion…and justice.

With all due respect to cows, sometimes they do not pay a whole lot of attention in regard to where they are going or who they crush against a wall in the process. According to Amos, God is not impressed if we try to emulate them.

Prayer: Lord, sometimes we don’t see that adverse affect we have on others by our words, our actions, or even our economic dealings. If we are those to whom Amos might speak in this age, help us to take his message to heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(readings today included: Amos 4-6, Psalm 86, Titus 1)