Monday, October 21, 2024

Amos 5: the day of the Lord and the return of Jesus

Today, we Christians long for the return of Jesus: it will be a day of victory, where the King will establish the kingdom of the Lord here on earth.  It will be a bad day for non Christians, but Christians will celebrate on this future day.
Reading Amos 5, it seems to me that "God's Judgement Day" is very similar, if not equal to the return of Jesus. We read:

18-20
Woe to all of you who want God’s Judgment Day!
    Why would you want to see God, want him to come?
When God comes, it will be bad news before it’s good news,
    the worst of times, not the best of times.
Here’s what it’s like: A man runs from a lion
    right into the jaws of a bear.
A woman goes home after a hard day’s work
    and is raped by a neighbor.
At God’s coming we face hard reality, not fantasy—
    a black cloud with no silver lining.

In Amos 5, the prophet warns that Israel is not prepared to Judgement Day.

4-5 God’s Message to the family of Israel:
“Seek me and live.
    Don’t fool around at those shrines of Bethel,
Don’t waste time taking trips to Gilgal,
    and don’t bother going down to Beer-sheba.
Gilgal is here today and gone tomorrow
    and Bethel is all show, no substance.”


The Lord wants that his people seek him, but where? In Bethel, Gilgal or Beer-sheeba? No.
Does it have to do with sacrifices? or attending religious meetings?


21-24
“I can’t stand your religious meetings.
    I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions.
I want nothing to do with your religion projects,
    your pretentious slogans and goals.
I’m sick of your fund-raising schemes,
    your public relations and image making.
I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
    When was the last time you sang to me?
Do you know what I want?
    I want justice—oceans of it.
I want fairness—rivers of it.
    That’s what I want. That’s all I want.

"Seek the Lord" has much more to do God's will:

14
Seek good and not evil—
    and live!
You talk about God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
    being your best friend.
Well, live like it,
    and maybe it will happen (that the God-of-the-Angel-Armies becomes your best friend indeed).

Certainly Jesus want his people doing his will when He returns, as the Lord wants his people doing his will in Judgement Day.

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