When we think of a prophet in the Old Testament, we have various understandings about who they were. Some of God’s prophets were simple people whom the Lord used to reveal profound truths. 

Amos was a shepherd and a sycamore fig farmer. He was a matter-of-fact kind of man. He wasn’t an educated priest or very religious. But he was faithful in delivering God’s message to the people, even if some thought his words were too harsh.

As I read through the book that bears his name, I came across some nuggets of truth that still apply today. Amos was speaking the words of the Lord as he confronted the nation about its spiritual condition.

“Those who are smart keep their mouths shut, for it is an evil time” (Amos 5:13).

We are living in a time where many opinions are being offered. It’s an evil time when impatience, not self-control, has some speaking words they will regret in the future. Some of those impatient opinions are working in concert with those who are hiding the truth. If we are smart, as Amos mentioned, we will keep our mouths shut until the whole truth is revealed.

“Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice. (vs. 15).

Our halls of justice have been corrupted. Knowing what true evil looks like has been expressed in corrupt courts where there is no justice. Those injustices have polluted our nation and divided the Church. Those in power and those who support their positions of power are being exposed revealing the depths of their corruption and compromise.

“I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living” (vs. 24).

A flood of justice has begun to flow in the last few days. That flood is confusing some who bought into the lies they were told to repeat. The Lord wants our faith to be expressed in real life and in real-time where we live. To call ourselves a spiritual person does not mean we ignore the violations of truth and remain cloistered in our churches not venturing out into the real world where pain and suffering are occurring hurting people and demeaning our nation. The half-truths, corruption, and attempts at censorship will dissolve in the flood of exposed truth. 

We are seeing that flood happening in the recent revelations of abuse in our government where the exposure of evil is apparent. It is being made very clear that the love of money is the root of all forms of evil.