ODJ: rotten fruit

June 27, 2014 

READ: Amos 8:1-7 

O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).

There’s a ‘quick sale’ area in my local supermarket where fruit is offered at a huge discount. If not sold quickly, the fully ripened edibles will become soft, flabby and infected with fungus.

In Amos’ day Israel was militarily strong and economically rich. But prosperity increased the gap between the wealthy and the poor. In fact, being prosperous gave the rich even more opportunities to exploit the needy. Businesses were maximising profits through dishonest means, cheating on the quantity and quality of their products and using price fixing to exploit the people. To pay for grain the poor sold themselves into slavery, only to be further exploited and given inadequate payment—just enough to buy a pair of sandals! (Amos 8:4-6).

The basket of ripe fruit represented Israel’s wickedness (v.1). It included greed, dishonesty, social injustice and exploitation of the powerless. Angry with His people, God warned, “Like this fruit, Israel is ripe for punishment! . . . I will never forget the wicked things you have done!” (vv.2,7). That’s scary! God said His people would have to account for their wickedness—something He remembered clearly.

God spoke of horrifying punishment. The Assyrians would slaughter them, destroy their cities and exile the survivors. There would be much death, devastation and destruction. Instead of rejoicing, there would be wailing (v.3).

Ancient Israel had refused to do what God told them to do and so He punished them. Today, we have the opportunity to “do what is right” and live out the instruction of Micah 6:8. Our great God loves mercy and commands us to be merciful! —K.T. Sim
Mark 2:23-3:19 ‹365-day plan

MORE
Read Deuteronomy 15:7-11 to see how God wants His people to help the poor and needy in the community. 
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Is there “a basket full of ripe fruit” in your life? What will you do to bring it to God in repentance?