If the oppression of the poor message in Amos seems like a broken record, you’re right in that assessment.
Amos has one major complaint that will bring God’s judgment upon the people. That is the immigrant, the orphan, and the widow, who are representatives of historically the most vulnerable people on Earth, are being oppressed by the wealthy.
It is easy to take potshots at America’s billionaire class. They seem to fill the news media, and often not for good reasons.
I seriously doubt any billionaires are reading my blog articles, so we’ll have to settle for looking at our own lives. How do we respond to the message of Amos to the people of his day?
Proclaim to the strongholds in Ashdod
and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt,
and say, “Assemble yourselves on Mount Samaria,
and see what great tumults are within it
and what oppressions are in its midst.”
They do not know how to do right, says the Lord,
those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.
Therefore thus says the Lord God:
An adversary shall surround the land
and strip you of your defense,
and your strongholds shall be plundered. (Amos 3.9-11)
Two words should catch our attention in these verses. One of them is “strongholds,” and the other is “oppression.”
Let’s first look at the subject of oppression. Oppression speaks of control by the relatively powerful over the relatively powerless.
In Amos’ day, Samaria was a city whose great wealth was controlled by and for an upper class, exploiting the masses who were kept in check by fear.
During the coronavirus pandemic, meatpacking workers, predominantly immigrants, continued working despite having COVID-19, fearing job loss. Meanwhile, in today’s warehouses, workers’ productivity is closely monitored through computers.
In contrast, the owners of these meatpacking industries and warehouses often lead lives of lavish luxury.
I believe we are unlikely to alter the systems that perpetuate business models keeping the poor impoverished and the wealthy affluent. However, one step we can take is to vote for a living minimum wage. We can befriend and support those who work in low-paying jobs.
Rudy Ross and I create YouTube Bible study videos. I am grateful for Rudy because he is an employer who sincerely values his service industry employees.
He often sacrifices his own time and energy to offer them a living wage and healthcare benefits. They respond with loyalty and dedication as employees.
I recently heard of a major company in Kansas City that had a Christmas party. Every employee got a $1,000 year-end bonus. Rudy and companies like the one I heard about are positive examples of what should have been happening in Amos’ day.
Strongholds
A common trait among the powerful is their belief that they are untouchable and won’t be held accountable for their behavior. Yet, they often overlook or disregard God’s wish for the care of the most vulnerable.
What the powerful possess is not solely for their benefit; it is entrusted to them to be shared with others. Their strongholds, which they cling to, exemplify their desire to hold on to what they have.
However, God declares that these strongholds will ultimately fail them.
In his book, Isaiah strongly warns the people across 32 of the 66 chapters: Do not trust the powerful or form alliances with them. Place your trust solely in God.
We do well to meditate on the words of the hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”
A mighty Fortress is our God
A Bulwark never failing
Our Helper He amid the flood
Did we in our own strength confide
Our striving would be losing
We’re not the right Man on our side
The Man of God’s own choosing
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He
Lord Sabaoth His Name
From age to age, the same
And He must win the battle
We thank God for the economy, military strength, good jobs, and good health. However, we only have one stronghold – God Himself.
Pride, Power, and Ignorance
Samaria’s leaders were so accustomed to their ability to lord it over the poor that they did not know what “right” meant.
They do not know how to do right, says the Lord, (verse 10).
The English word “right” refers to that which is just, honest, decent, and proper.
The Israelites had learned from the Canaanites and chose to live selfishly and in splendor. It didn’t bother them to exploit others, to increase their holdings without limits, and to engage in virtually any personal or sensual pleasures.
The Canaanites were religious, but their service of Baal had no demands on their personal or social morality.
We don’t want to be categorized with those who don’t know how to do what is right.
I am thankful that I know people who know the Lord and His ways. That fact is reflected in the way they care for other people.
If I’m broken down on the side of the road, they’re the ones I want driving by. If I need a hand up, they’re the ones I want to see reaching out their hand to me.
May we all be like that today.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
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