"And Amos answered and said to Amasias: I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet: but I am a herdsman plucking wild figs."—Amos vii. 14.
Certainly Amos was a prophet. He was the first that wrote down his prophecy; but he makes the point that he is not one by profession, he was not groomed in the system, nor paid to advocate certain accepted thoughts. He was a voice of ethics, and social justice in corrupt times. Actions mattered more than religious practices.
The job of a prophet is as it is said to-day "to speak truth to power". Amos was forced to leave the northern kingdom (Israel), but he wrote from exile so they would know his words. In the book, Lives of the Prophets, Amasias' (the priest at Bethel, who persecuted him) son kills Amos in Judah. There are prophets (Moses, Jeremias) who are given the job by God, refuse at first. They knew what was involved. Some of the prophets were martyred. Their lives would be troubled.
"And Amasias the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying: Amos hath rebelled against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words."—Amos vii. 10.
To-day, in America we have a corrupt president who calls the press "the enemy of the people". Republicans continue to complain against the main stream media, and have set up their own alternatives. Still, they wish to silence those who speak against their corruption. Rudy Giuliani, working for Trump, says "truth is not truth". Trump is going about the country and inciting his followers to attack. Trump is a fascist demagogue. We need prophets. Trump has a large contingent of Evangelical clergy in his thrall. Hypocrites who benefit in corruption, yet pose as knowing the will of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment