Social Injustice in Amos 5 and its Implications for the Contemporary Society

Abstract

Amos, a simple herdsman from Tekoa, asserted that he was not a professional prophet but had rather come to the norther state of Israel at the behest of Yahweh. This article is a biblical response to social injustice in the contemporary society through an exegetical study of Amos 5. The study drew inferences from Amos 5 as panaceas to the problems of injustice and deprivation of the poor. Injustice is one of the major problems that is confronting the society, because injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Amos thus rebuked the many sins of the people and he stated how the LORD would punish them. The aim of this study was to examine the concept of social injustice in Yahweh’s response in order to give the biblical understanding of the concept in promoting justice and peace. The approach for this study is exegetical. The findings reveal that any unjust act as well as its perpetrator will not go unpunished. Also, the LORD demanded righteousness, love and justice. This article recommends that nations, the Church and individual Christian should desist from any form of unjust act and live a righteous life.

Keywords

• social injustice
• yahweh
• amos
• righteousness
• judgement