I hate, I despise your feast days.
The Divinely abhorrent and the Divinely demanded
I. The Divinely abhorrent. The same aversion from the ceremonial observances of the insincere and rebellious Israelites which Jehovah here expresses He afterwards employed Isaiah to declare to the Jews (Amos 1:10). The two passages are strikingly parallel, only the latter prophet amplifies what is set forth in a more condensed form by Amos. It is also to be observed, that where Amos introduces the musical accompaniments of the sacrifices, Isaiah substitutes the prayers: both concluding with the Divine words, “I will not hear.” “Take thou away from Me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.” The singing of their psalms was nothing more to God than a wearisome word which was to be brought to an end. Singing and playing on harps was a part of the worship of the temple (1 Chronicles 16:40; 1Ch 23:5; 1 Chronicles 23:25.). Nothing seems more abhorrent to the holy eye and heart of Omniscience than empty ceremony in religion. No sacrifices are acceptable to Him, however costly, unless the offerer has presented himself.
II. The Divinely demanded. “Let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.” We prefer to see justice rolling on like mighty waters, and righteousness as a swelling and ever-flowing stream, to crowded churches. “Show me your faith by your works.” Show me your worship by your morality; show me your love to God by your devotion to your fellow-men. “ If we love one another, God dwelleth in us.” (Homilist.)
But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.
A prophet of righteousness
This is one of the commonest ideas all through the prophets, but it is the sole idea of Amos.
I. The prophet. Amos is probably the oldest prophet whose writings have come down to us. Once only the Divine inspiration descended on him, and constituted him the messenger of heaven. Amos was the prophet of a single occasion.
II. His prophecy. Amos opened his message in a way that must at once have riveted the attention of the crowd. Be began with a series of brief oracles about the neighbouring nations. He denounces their sins, and announces the punishments that were about to fall on them for their sins. Notice the peculiarity of the sins which this prophet denounces. This is the speciality of Amos. They are not sins against God, but against man. The oppression of the poor is the subject of Amos. The prosperity of the country was only illusory. The righteousness which the righteous God requires is not something in the air. It is not an abstraction, it is conduct between man and mall, and there is no righteousness of any account that does not embrace that. (James Stalker, D. D.)