"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Monday, 19 September 2016 with Scripture Amos 6:1a, 4-7

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Monday, 19 September 2016 with Scripture Amos 6:1a, 4-7
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Amos 6:1 Woe to those living at ease in Tziyon
and to those who feel complacent on the hills of Shomron,
renowned men in this foremost of nations,
to whom the rest of Isra’el come.
4 You lie on beds of ivory
and lounge sprawled out on your couches,
dining on meat from lambs in the flock
and from calves fattened in stalls.
5 You make up wild songs at your parties,
playing the lute and inventing other instruments —
[imagining that you’re] like David!
6 You drink wine by the bowlful
and anoint yourselves with the finest oils,
but feel no grief at the ruin of Yosef.
7 Therefore now they will be the first
to go into exile with those being exiled,
and the revelry of those who lounged,
sprawling, will pass away.[Complete Jewish Bible]
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What does it mean to speak truth to power? For Amos it was called life as a prophet. Amos was a poor shepherd called to speak out against the great injustices that were taking place in Israel. As the rich sat on their ivory beds with food abundantly available, other people were dying in the streets from hunger. These dying people weren't just any people, though. These people were Israelites. These were God's chosen people.
This situation speaks also to our time. In a time when there is such a division of wealth both in the US and across the world, it is clear there are still many who "lie on beds of ivory" while the chosen people of God are starving not only for food but for acceptance, love, safety, shelter, etc. All are God's chosen people and we are called to speak against injustices and care for them.
Loving God, you call us to get up off our ivory beds and tend to your chosen people. You have made us prophets to speak against injustices. Grant us the eyes to see and the courage to answer that call. Amen.
Katie Emery, '12
Pastor, Hope American Lutheran Church, Fallon, Mont. and Community Presbyterian Church, Terry, Mont. 
Amos 6:1a, 4-7 (NRSV)
1 Alas for those who are at ease in Zion, and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria...
4 Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the stall;
5 who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David improvise on instruments of music;
6 who drink wine from bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!
7 Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile, and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away. [New Revised Standard Version]
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