I.
With this week’s lesson we begin a journey with the Prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures.

When your mind turns to the Hebrew Prophets, what is the first thing that comes into your consciousness? Fear? A message of judgement? A message of hope? Redemption? Punishment? Exile? The loss of the Temple? Defeat?

All those might be possibilities, but stands out to you?

II.
Let’s read this week’s passage from Amos. Pay attention to the tone of his pronouncements.

Amos 5:18-24 (New Revised Standard Version)

Alas for you who desire the day of the Lord!
Why do you want the day of the Lord?
It is darkness, not light;
as if someone fled from a lion,
and was met by a bear;
or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall,
and was bitten by a snake.
Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light,
and gloom with no brightness in it?
I hate, I despise your festivals,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
I will not look upon.
Take away from me the noise of your songs;
I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

III.
Let’s see – “… fled a lion … met by a bear … rested a hand … bitten by a snake … the day of the Lord [is] darkness, not light”

How would you characterize Amos’ message?

So is this negative of a “sermon” ever a good thing?

Has it ever been more redeeming for you to hear a message of judgement rather than a message of hope?

Or, is it misleading (in part or in whole) to call these words “a message of judgement”?

Think that over for a while, and let’s talk again later.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}