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Amaziah’s sin

Amos 7:10-17 (JDV)

Amos 7:10 Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent word to King Jeroboam of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you right here in the house of Israel. The land cannot endure all his words,
Amos 7:11 for Amos has said this: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will certainly go into exile from its homeland.'”
Amos 7:12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Walk off, you “seer!” Go through to the land of Judah. Eat your bread and give your prophecies there,
Amos 7:13 but don’t ever prophesy at Bethel again, because it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal temple.”
Amos 7:14 So Amos answered Amaziah, “I was not a prophet or the son of a prophet; instead, I was a herdsman, and I took care of sycamore figs.
Amos 7:15 But Yahveh took me from following the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'”
Amos 7:16 Now hear the word of Yahveh. You say: Do not prophesy against Israel; do not preach against the house of Isaac.
Amos 7:17 Therefore, this is what Yahveh is saying: Your wife will be a prostitute in the city, your sons and daughters will fall by the sword, and your land will be divided up with a measuring line. You yourself will die on pagan soil, and Israel will certainly go into exile from its homeland.

Amaziah’s sin

Amaziah thought that he had dealt shrewdly with his opponent — that prophet with his negative words. He sought government approval to send Amos away to prophesy to neighboring Judah. Problem solved. But then Amos predicts that misery and death will come to that priest as well.

Jesus taught his disciples not to turn on each other, but to welcome one another as equals. He set a child at his side and told them that whoever welcomes this child, welcomes him. We are not helping ourselves when we turn against our brothers and sisters. We are committing Amaziah’s sin.