I hate, I despise, your feasts!

I hate, I despise, your feasts!
I can’t stand the stench
of your solemn assemblies.

Even if you offer me
your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
I will have no regard
for your fellowship offerings of fattened cattle.

Take away from me the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.

But let justice flow like water,
and righteousness, like an unfailing stream.

Amos 5:21-24

I’ve never spent a whole lot of time in Amos but wow…it’s poetry and fire in there.

I’m not one that would lay ancient Bible verses on top of modern day happenings and say “Look what God is telling us!” However, I think chapters like this do reveal God’s heart and we would be remiss not to consider modern applications. You know what really jumped out to me here?

The word “hate.” He *hates* it? I’m no theologian, but when God says “here’s something I hate” as a layperson I definitely take notice.

Woe to those who would offer up songs while withholding justice. 🙏🏻