• Download Video
• Download Audio
• Print
• Email
• Save As PDF

"But let justice run down like water"

Text: Amos 5:24

WHAT GOD TRULY DESIRED

Israel had thought that all God cared for was the keeping of the Feasts and offerings! They could not be more wrong!

“Take away from Me the noise of your songs,
For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.
But let justice run down like water,
And righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Amos 5:23-24

1. “Your songs”

a) Songs were meant to be expressions of love and devotion to God.

b) They were composed for the purpose of enhancing worship.

c) These would be of great cultural and national significance.

2. “Take away from Me the noise of your songs”

a) To God, these songs were just so much “noise”.

b) God rejected the presentation of these songs entirely.

3. “I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments”

a) It would take much skill to compose instrumental songs.

b) But no matter how melodious they may be, they were still rejected by the Lord.

4. What God desired His people to bring to Him

a) Justice

i) This was meant to prevail in the country.

ii) Instead there was severe miscarriage of justice.

iii) The practice of justice was well compared with essential water.

iv) Just as water was vital for life, so justice was critical for the nation.

v) No amount of worship can replace justice in the land!

b) Righteousness

i) God expected His people to practise righteousness.

ii) This was tied in closely with the pursuit of the practice of justice.

iii) Where both were sorely missing, then the country was in terrible straits.

iv) Righteousness was meant to be powerful as a mighty stream.

It cannot be replaced by the singing of moving songs and instrumental music!