Empty Rituals

EMPTY RITUALS

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HOME BIBLE STUDY
EMPTY RITUALS OF THE RICH, RELIGIOUS & SELF-RIGHTEOUS

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Amos is God’s spokesman. However, the God for whom Amos speaks is God of more that Israel. He is the God that governs all nations, bringing them into being and calling them to account. He is the God that also uses one nation against another to carry out the divine purpose. He is the Great King who rules over the whole universe. He is all-sovereign and thus holds the histroy and destiny of all peoples and of the world in his hands.
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Amos, as God’s spokesman, proclaims that Israel must know not only that God is Lord of her future, but also that God is Lord over all things, places and people and that God’s purposes and concerns reach far beyond Israel’s borders. Amos reminds the people of Israel that although they have a unique claim to God as being God’s chosen people, this unique relationship is not exclusive claim on God.
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However, the people of Israel are in danger of believing that their unique relationship with God allows them to perform ritualistic worship without commitment. They are dangerously close, right on the line, perhaps one foot over the line where their worship is an empty ritual devoid of any commitment to their covenant relationship.
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They believed that as long as they ‘performed’ their ritual sacrifices that was all that God required of them. Amos reminds them that this is a worldly, pagan point of view and that God not only demands that they worship him, but that they do so with both their hearts and not just their lips speaking empty meaningless words. Without commitment to God’s word, and especially the Covenant Commandments, they thought they could offer their ritual worship and then go off what ever they pleased - a very worldly notion even today.
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Amos, as God’s spokesman, condemns such actions - especially this worship without commitment that leads to injustice and lack of righteousness. Amos condems all who make themselves powerful and rich at the expense of others.
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Amos roundly condemns those who had acquired two splendid houses (3:15) and expensive and richly furnished homes and tables at the expense of others by cheating, perverting justice, and crushing the poor. Amos warns that such injustices would be righted and the rich would lose ever.ything they had.
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Of course, when Jesus arrives on the scene many of those who opposed him were from among the ranks of the rich and the powerful. Jesus would spend most of his ministry with the outcasts and the poor of society while denouncing the rich, religious and powerful who offered only empty ritual words and actions. Amos warned that the rich would be overturned and justice restored.
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M. AMOS 1 & 2 ----GOD’S JUDGEMENT ON THE NATIONS AND ISRAEL
T. AMOS 3 & 4 ----WITNESS SUMMONED AGAINST WAYWARD ISRAEL
W. AMOS 5 & 6 ---CALL TO REPENTANCE - WARNING TO COMPLACENT
T. AMOS 7 & 8 ----POWERFUL METAPHOR - BEING MEASURED UP -
F. AMOS 8 ---------POWERFUL METAPHOR - BASKET OF ROTTING FRUIT
S. JOHN 2:12-25 -JESUS CLEARS THE TEMPLE OF ROBBERS & THEIVES