“They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, They have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground. They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: They have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land. We see not our signs: There is no more any prophet: Neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.”
Psalm 74:7-9 KJV,https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.74.7-9.KJV
Reordering Our Priorities
The northern tribes of Israel in Amos' time seemed like they were doing all the right things. They offered sacrifices to God and were exact in their religious observations. And yet, the book of Amos is written to them as a warning—a warning that destruction that would befall them if they refused to change?
Why?
Because they had neglected the true heart of loving and worshiping God.
While they were doing many of the "right" things, it's what they weren't doing that God wanted to address. They failed to take care of the poor and needy. They turned their eyes away from injustice. Many had turned to idols for help and prayer.
Through Amos, God told the people of Israel that it is just as important to be righteous inwardly as it is outwardly. We cannot say we love God and others when we fail to help people who are within our power to help.
Just as James 1:27 tells us, true religion includes helping orphans, widows, and those who are in distress. James goes on to write ...