What is the meaning of Amos 5:15? Hate evil Amos opens with a straight command: “Hate evil.” That’s decisive language, not passive. God expects an active revulsion toward everything that opposes His character. • Psalm 97:10: “You who love the LORD, hate evil!” Loving God and hating evil travel together. • Proverbs 8:13 shows the same link: “To fear the LORD is to hate evil.” Reverence for God cannot coexist with tolerance for wickedness. • Romans 12:9 confirms the theme for believers today: “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” and love good Not only must evil be rejected, good must be embraced. Love here is practical devotion. • Psalm 34:14 urges, “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” • Micah 6:8 defines what good looks like: “He has shown you, O man, what is good—and what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” • Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “Let us not grow weary in doing good.” Goodness is to be habitual, not occasional. Establish justice in the gate The city gate in ancient Israel functioned as the courthouse and town hall. “Establish justice” means set up an unbiased, righteous legal system. • Deuteronomy 16:18 commands, “Appoint judges and officials for your tribes… and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.” • Isaiah 1:17 adds, “Learn to do right; seek justice, correct the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.” • Jeremiah 22:3 echoes, “Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from his oppressor.” Justice is a public matter. God wants fairness, protection of the vulnerable, and rejection of bribes imbedded in civic life. Perhaps the LORD will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph “Perhaps” signals hope mingled with urgency. Mercy is available, but repentance must be genuine. • Joel 2:13 encourages, “Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate… and He relents from sending disaster.” • Isaiah 10:21–22 speaks of a “remnant” returning: a small but purified group spared through judgment. • Romans 11:5 applies the principle: “So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.” “Joseph” represents the northern kingdom (Ephraim/Israel). Even after repeated rebellion, God still longs to extend grace to any who will turn. The command to hate evil, love good, and restore justice is the pathway to that grace. summary Amos 5:15 calls for decisive moral action—reject evil, embrace good, and reform public justice—so that God’s gracious favor might fall on a repentant remnant. Obedience is practical proof of genuine repentance, and it opens the door for the LORD of Hosts to show mercy even in times of looming judgment. |
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