AMOS

There came one day to King Jeroboam's own shrine at Bethel a man in
the garb of a shepherd and speaking in the name of Jehovah, like the
prophets. But what strange words are these which he utters?

="I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight
in your solemn assemblies. Yea, though ye offer me your ...
meal-offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard
the peace-offerings of your fat beasts. Take away from me the
noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy
viols. But let judgment roll down as waters, and
righteousness as a mighty stream."=

What this shepherd prophet was proclaiming was a religion in which
burnt-offerings, or sacrificial ceremonies of any kind had little or
no place, but which expressed itself in justice and righteousness
toward one's fellow men. What Jehovah wants is not sacrifices at all,
he said, but to stop cheating the poor: to throw away your false
balances, and set free the slave.

=Amos' dire forebodings.=--In many addresses, as reported in the book
which bears his name, with bitter and thrilling eloquence Amos tried
to drive home this great message to the hearts of his fellow
countrymen. He warned them that unless they heeded, disaster would
come to the nation. For as surely as Jehovah demanded justice, so
surely would he punish injustice. Terrible are his pictures of the
calamities with which the guilty Israelites would be visited. Nor did
he appeal wholly to fear. There is now and then a pleading note in
Amos. Honest and burning indignation and threats are indeed most