Amos 7: 7-17 “You Ain’t No Carpenter” July 14, 2019
Rev. Jerry W. Krueger Boardman United Methodist Church
I enjoy watching skilled people in any facet of work that perform their tasks with skill, precision, and competency. Whether it is an electrician making wiring look simple, or plumbers who cut, fit, and attach piping in a seemingly effortless fashion, to the carpenter that measures twice, cuts once, and is correct. Levels and plumb lines are designed to provide markers for precision. To line up correctly. To have level, sound, and well-fitting corners and angles for strength of structure.
Amos is one of the 12 minor prophets in the OT. Minor does not mean “less than,” it means served for a specific time frame, in a specific place, at God’s command. Amos is a southerner from Tekoa in Judah, who is sent north to prophesy to the northern people in neighboring Israel. He is not a priest or a prophet by his own claim. Rather, he is a man of the land who makes his living tending and dressing sycamore trees, considered to be the poor man’s fig tree, and shepherding sheep.
This week’s lectionary text speaks to past events in Israel and to current events in America.
Amos addresses an economically sound, political, and military powerhouse in Israel. Israel is a regional power, yet the people and political system suffer from idolatry, indulgence in luxurious living, political occupation, injustice, and oppression of the poor and foreigners in their country.
God instructs Amos to address social injustices where they’re found, which does not make him well liked. He is the bothersome voice from the back of the room, that paper cut that reminds you of its existence when you bump it or irritate it. Amos understands God’s instructions to speak prophetically as an indispensable part and expression of true piety.
The Lukan text that was read earlier this morning describes an answer by the Christ to the question, “Who is my neighbor?”
The man asking the question, actually wanted to get off the hook with Jesus. When asking “who is my neighbor,” he’s implying, “Jesus, who do I NOT have to call my neighbor?”
Yet Jesus says, “Everyone is your neighbor.”
Let’s sit with that people of God. There are people in this world that we may not care for. But they are your, and my neighbor.
The prophet Amos was an advocate, one who pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court, or the person who speaks for you on your behalf. An attorney, a friend, teacher, coach, or Savior can be your advocate.
An advocate gives voice to those whose voice may be shunted off to the side, or who remind us again that there are those who need to be heard. We have an advocate in Jesus Christ who speaks on our behalf before the Father. The Holy Spirit is Christ’s advocate with us daily.
Amos addresses the people of Israel as plumb line failures because they are not standing upright for those they are to help.
Amos advocates for the powerless and weak and reminds Israel that at one time they were small and not very powerful, so why do they neglect and mistreat the poor and the alien among them?
The prophetic word is not a one way street. Amos brings the word of God to the people but also brings a word TO GOD on behalf of the people.
Now, shift to the year 2019 in July. Has anyone seen on the news that there are some issues with our immigration process? Do you reject the premise outright?
Does the US government or the migrants have a side? Do you think about any side at all?
Immigration is complex. As is the debate on a myriad of social, racial, political and economic justice issues. Even knowing that, Amos addressed the concept of neighbor for the Israelites.
Recall that Amos the advocate was speaking for all of the people. Amos tells the people in Amos 5:21-24, that to “do justice” is the call to act as advocate for the powerless.
Amos, as Israel’s prophet, doesn’t beat up on Israel. Although he does call the citizens into accountability, he advocates for the people he prophesies to.
Our world is complex, people of God. There are no simple answers, only simple statements. We profess to be a Christian nation. Do we advocate for NEIGHBOR and live out that belief, as Christians? Do we love neighbor even when we may not care for them? Do we ask, “Lord, do you really want me to love this one?”
I ask of each of you today, “Is there an issue that you struggle with in our society that is frustrating to you, confusing to you, perhaps perplexes or just maybe, ANGERS you?”
People of God, that is an active prophetic word that you are possibly hearing, God calling you to examine, re-examine some old thoughts, or to hear other ways of responding.
How many here have cell phones? Did it take you a while to learn how to use it? Change takes effort. An example of recent change is The Vindicator soon to close. Market St. School is closing, due to shifting demographics, as did Idora Park. We may not like it, but change comes to us each and every day.
Amos is advocating for the voiceless, for the foreigner, for the citizen, the poor, the wealthy, the powerful. He brings God’s word to the people and shares with God the people’s prayers.
Amos acts as advocate for the people, all the people in Israel. And Amos points to another Judean, who said, “but if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1
People of God, God is calling each of you, each of us, to examine your own lives. How upright and righteous are we?
Look to Jesus Christ, the forgiver of our sins, the stalwart defender of our faith, the one who calls us to love God unconditionally and to love our neighbor, no matter how uniquely different they may be, according to Jesus, to also love them unconditionally.
And all God’s people proclaimed, Amen.
