Hate the Evil and Love the Good Amos 5:15

As Amos the prophet continued to share the LORD's words toward Israel, he included the exhortation for them to “seek good, and not evil” so they could “live” and “the LORD” would “be with” them. In chapter five and verse fifteen of his prophesy, Amos repeats his charge for the people of Israel to “hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment” to receive God's “grace” where we read:

Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

The verse begins, “Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate:” Amos began with the word, “Hate” or “treat as utterly odious and as an enemy or foe” “the evil” which refers to “bad, disagreeable, unpleasant, unhappy, miserable and displeasing”, “and love” or “have strong affection for” “the good” which means “the pleasant, agreeable, excellent, rich, appropriate and becoming”, “and establish” or “set in place, make present, stand and set” “judgment” which means “justice, procedure, litigation and right process” “in the gate” or “the city door, port or entrance”. The LORD's command is to “treat” “evil” like an enemy, and “be passionate about that which is pleasing and agreeable” to Him along with making sure proper “justice” is performed in the “gate” or “meeting place for judgment” in the city.

The verse goes on to say, “it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.” Amos continued, “it may be” or “there is a possibility” “that the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the one true God” “God” or “divine ruler and judge” “of hosts” which means “those who go forth as a spiritual army, company, service and soldiers ” “will be gracious” or “show favor, pity, have mercy upon and be considerate” “unto the remnant” which means “rest, remainder and descendants” “of Joseph” whose name means “Jehovah has added” and was “a reference to Ephraim or Israel's northern ten tribes”. If the people of Israel were to “hate evil, and love the good”, God's promise was He may “show favor upon” those who remained after destruction came upon them.

When we consider these words of Amos, we see the LORD's advantageous exhortation toward the people of Israel. If they would only “hate evil” things and passionately cling to things that are “good”, they would see His “grace” extended. The LORD does not delight in bringing judgment upon His people. He desires to “save”, preserve and bless them. Jesus Christ came into the world to demonstrate the passionate love of God toward people, and He desires to save them from their “condemned” state. He gave His life on the cross and was raised from the dead to prove it. Let us hear the cry of Amos and be motivated to “hate evil” and “love the good” in the same manner as Jesus who demonstrated this for us.

Next time Amos refers to “wailing and Alas”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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