December 6, 2009

December 6, 2009
Psalm 148, 149, 150; Amos 6:1-14; 2 Thess. 1:5-12; Luke 1:57-68

Amos’ prophecy is more concerned with justice than any other. His words are spoken to those who are at ease in their wealth and who care nothing for those who suffer. The covenant with the nation was built on social justice and the welfare of all. The nation was to model God’s loving concern for all the people. Just as God had chosen Israel out of all the nations on earth for His loving-kindness and mercy, so were those in Israel who had much to show loving-kindness and mercy to those who did not. In so doing, they were showing themselves to be godly. The nation was the family of God and they were to care for one another by providing for one another as the Lord had provided for them a land when they were slaves. Amos’ call is to remind them of this obligation.

A child is born to the barren! Elizabeth and Zechariah, in their advanced age, give birth to a son who, in obedience to the word of the Lord, is to be called John in spite of the fact that no precedent existed within the family for this name. Zechariah’s doubts have turned to faith in obedience and his mouth is now opened in praise, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has looked favourably on His people and redeemed them.” The old priest sees this birth as God’s movement on behalf of His people, not just the answer to the prayers long uttered on his own behalf for a son. The circumstances of this child’s birth tell Zechariah that something is happening, justice is being established in Israel.

Paul speaks to the Thessalonians of the judgment of God to come, the establishment of true justice, when the guilty are punished and the afflicted are comforted. It is easy to be discouraged in this life when it seems that justice is not done, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Paul promises that all this will be reversed in the day of the Lord, that there is judgment in the end. When we are in the midst of the struggle, it seems unfair, but when we consider eternity we can begin to see how brief this struggle truly is. We are called to establish the kingdom now, in our places, just as the Israelites were in their day. How do we care for and provide for one another in the body of Christ in such a way as to show the world what true sacrifice and justice are?

Praise the LORD!Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!