"So if you are
presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the
The manner in which we approach God is more important to Him than any sacrifice we might make. Hosea was another minor prophet of God who delivered a similar message to God's people:
I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6 (NLT)
He wants to know you beloved. God desires a relationship with you, not a religion. He has left His Word with us so that we can learn from the mistakes made by the people of God during the days of Amos, Hosea, and Jesus. The church is now also the chosen people of God. We need to be careful today that our words match up with our lives. That we are not more about solemn assemblies than taking care of the widows and orphans. That as what was wrong in the days of Amos and the days of Jesus. The most religious people were also the ones who were taking advantage of the neediest in society. They devoured widows' homes in one breath and offered long flowing prayers out of the other side of their mouths. The poor were taken advantage of not taken care of. Woe to us if that pattern occurs today!
But God didn't leave these points without reinforcing what He does desire from us. The key verses close with God reminding His people that what He does want to see is a mighty flood of justice and an endless river of righteous living. Justice and righteousness beloved. Not just part time justice and righteousness either! A mighty flood and an endless river! Our justice towards others should be overwhelming and our striving for righteousness in our lives should never end! Once Jesus was being tested by an expert of law who asked Him what the greatest commandment was. Here is Jesus reinforcing the importance of a flood of justice and a never ending river of righteousness:
Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22: 37-40 (NIV)
All of the law and prophets hang on these two directives. Without them, the law becomes religion instead of relationship. If you love the Lord with all of your heart, mind and strength, then you will be seeking that endless river of righteous living! The more you strain towards Him in sincere love, the less you will want the things of this world which only serve to corrupt you. Likewise, if you truly love your neighbor as yourself, then you become that mighty flood of justice God so desires. You will not want to deprive the widow and orphan but rather to help them. With these two things corrected, you can approach God with your sacrifices and praise. Micah, another minor prophet summed it all up from God Himself to our hearts today:
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6: 8 (NIV)
