Thursday, July 2, 2020          (today’s lectionary)
Refresh your soul
Tuesday was Mom’s birthday. Then Wednesday, the great pain she’s had in her hip for a few days requires surgery. Surgery when she is 98 years old (and a day). Wow.
At St. John’s hospital in Springfield, patients are allowed to see one visitor at a time. I think. So I hope we will get to see her. As of now, we are praying she will recover from surgery.
I could use a prophet, and I could use a priest. What’s going to happen, and will you please intercede with God for us?
The Hebrews in Israel thought they could also use a king, so beginning with Saul there was always a tripartite division of power and opinion, three voices which often confused each other. Amos ran headlong into this scree of competition.
Amos was the prophet, called out of his farming life. Although he lived in Judah, God told him to travel north and speak out to Israel, where King Jeroboam in Bethel had established a religious system of his own. The head priest of that system, Amaziah, cautioned the king against Amos and his negative words.
Israel’s national mood of pride and security (sounds like the good old USA when you put it like that) was threatened by Amos’ calls to purify their offerings and purify their hearts. Of course Amos, like any good prophet, refused to back down. In fact he doubled down, as we say these days. The priest Amaziah was destined for doom.
Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city.
Your sons and daughters will be killed with a sword.
You yourself will die in an unclean land.
What stories will Amos tell in his old age? Do these confrontations change his character? Will he return to his quiet life of shepherd and gardener? As he settles down for sleep each night, I hope Amos  is refreshed by thoughts of God’s grace and the praise and worship of his people. Surely, even as he rails against evil by day, as night falls he will be still and know God’s peace.
The law of the Lord is perfect
Refreshing the soul
The fear of the Lord is pure
Enduring forever, and
The statutes of the Lord are true and just
More desirable than gold
Purest gold
Sweeter also than honey
Honey from the honeycomb
Rest easy, Mr. Amos Prophet. The Lord grants sleep to those he loves. Tomorrow will bring whatever it brings.
Couldn’t Amos have toned down his words and sought reconciliation with Jeroboam and his court? That’s always a question, now and then.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have, but do so with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15-16).
Peter makes it sound easy, but it isn’t. Although Amos had no trouble speaking out, he sounds neither gentle nor respectful toward Amaziah.
But Amos also made it clear he was not speaking his own words. He spoke only what he heard God tell him to say.
Jesus too, got into lots of trouble when he spoke only what his Father told him to say.
Your sins are forgiven you.
Is that God speaking or just you, Jesus? You take too much into your own hands.
OK, just to show you I have the authority to forgive sins, let me just heal this guy while I’m at it.
You sir, yes you, the one who has never been able to walk, yes, you.
Jesus got his attention, then leaned down beside him and touched his hand.
Rise, pick up your stretcher and go home.
And of course he did, and of course the scribes were humiliated, and Jesus went on his way. But I’m sure Jesus slept well that night.
The Lord grants sleep to those he loves.
(Amos 7, Psalm 19, 2 Corinthians 5, Matthew 9)
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