“I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.” AMOS 5:24

The Justice of God Amos 5:16-27

The book of Amos addresses the topic of social justice more than any other book in the Bible. For Amos, justice simply cannot be understood apart from the character of God, who alone understands the nature of righteousness and justice (5:7, 15, 24; 6:12). The Lord demands justice because he is the creator and sustainer of all things. He commanded that not just Israel but all nations uphold certain standards of conduct. The God of Israel can make such demands because he is the sovereign Lord over all nations. Nearly every description of wrongdoing recorded in Amos has to do with acts of oppression. It would be difficult to read this book and not conclude that the Lord is deeply angry when the powerful neglect or abuse the weak and vulnerable.

Joni Eareckson Tada agrees. When visitors enter the Joni and Friends International Disability Center, they see a beautiful hanging chapel with a gently flowing river beneath. The words of Amos 5:24—“I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living”—are engraved there and hold special meaning for Joni. Disability is a “justice issue” for her, she says, “because so many children with disabilities in developing nations are denied even the most basic of rights, the right to life; infants with disabilities are often abandoned or discarded. So as long as I have breath in my body, we at Joni and Friends will work hard to promote justice and the human dignity of all people with disabilities.”

Individuals in power who use social structures to take advantage of the weak and vulnerable corrupt the value system upon which society is built and—more importantly—profane the Lord’s holy character. Israel’s religious practices were no substitute for social justice. In fact, their religious practices became a burden to the Lord; in response, he rebuked them strongly and emphasized that what he really wants is justice, not sacrifices and offerings. These are comforting words indeed for those who experience injustice!