To keep an attentive audience it is easier to speak of joy than of judgment.
If a church introduced a new worship song based on the words of this psalm I expect the congregation would readily respond to the first half, singing praise to God and worshiping with lifted hands,
Read More justice, praise, humility, double-edged sword
God exists whether we believe it or not. He has something to say about us, whether we ask him or not.
Amos has set a stage. The Judge has entered. Court is in session. Amos reads out the charges against Israel’s enemies, their “countless crimes.” They have mercilessly plundered, killed and sold “my people” into slavery.
Read More justice, honesty, everybodyWhy did he not warn us the banks would fail and the stock market crash? Why did he not warn us that we would not be able to finish the war we started?
Which crash, which war? That’s the point: there is nothing new under the sun. Greed begets poverty and violence begets violence.
If God does not do anything without telling us first, why do disasters engulf us?
Read More justice, warning, roaring lionWe are apocalyptic. We live in a culture of doom. Every other film is the End of The World, by asteroid, weather, aliens and now the dead.
How are Christians different? We embrace the End. We look forward to the “Lord’s return.” But should we? There will be no more tears, no more pain, no more mourning, no more suffering – but for whom?
Read More loving-kindness, idolatry, justice, the End
It is difficult to read passages like this, where God is angry and punishes. We think of God as a God of love, who forgives and will eventually take us to be with him in heaven. Perhaps we think this is just the Old Testament, and the New Testament teaches differently.
Take a closer look.
Read More judgment, justice, captivity
How are we to reconcile the picture of a God who appears angry and war-mongering in Psalm 76 with a God of love? The truth is that when a loved one is threatened the only good and right response is to fight to protect that person.
Read More victory, cosmic battle, justiceAs we draw to the end of the first section of Isaiah’s prophecies (chapters 1-12), we enter into a theme in his writing that will surface again and again. Issues of judgment take backstage but they are always there. Yet the covenant keeping LORD will bring new hope into this abysmal set of circumstances.
Read More justice, hope, covenant keepingThe second legal case (6:1-5) begins with the accusation of corporate ingratitude and the emptiness of the people’s religious rituals (6:6-8). Justice and loyalty are absent (6:9-7:6). Once again, the rib concludes with the certainty of pardon (7:7-20).
The first section of the litigation is a dialogue between the LORD and the people (Micah is the spokesperson).
Read More mercy, justice, humilityFew things irk us more than seeing someone getting away with something. “THAT’S NOT RIGHT!” we shout when we see a cheater not getting caught. We fume when a speeder blows past us on the highway. We boil when we hear of the distress caused when a child support order is ignored.
Read More right, judgment, justice, peace