Seek good, not evil
Amos 5:14 - The evidence of a true relationship with God is a life lived in seeking good and abhorring evil.
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“Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.”
Amos 5:14 NIV
As much as I love studying the Gospel, the epistles, the Psalms, and the Proverbs, it’s always a joy to have God point me at a verse from a lesser-known prophet. Amos is one of the Twelve Minor Prophets of the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament, and he prophesied during a very short and well-defined period of time: 760 - 755 BC.
Before being called by God to be a prophet, Amos was a shepherd and a farmer of sycamore figs, proving that God finds worth and talent in unexpected places and people! He lived in the southern kingdom of Judah, but his preaching targeted the northern kingdom of Israel, specifically Samaria and Bethel.
Amos’s writings contain some common themes:
Prayers and sacrifices do not make up for bad deeds
Behaving in a just manner is more important than ritual
He never once referred to any of the other deities worshipped in the region, choosing to write and preach only about Yahweh
The covenant between God and His people is a moral contract. Should Israel fail to meet God’s moral requirements, He will dissolve that contract
In order to live a fulfilling life, one must show unwavering dependence on God
God has given Amos a solution to do away with the sin of Israel, and it’s fairly straightforward. They must “seek good, not evil.” Even today, the goal of all of God’s people should be to pursue righteousness and reject wickedness. The Israelites were guilty of social injustice and idolatry — sounds a lot like today, doesn’t it?
The Bible contains many entreaties to “seek good.” Back in Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Moses pointed out the two paths available to the people — life and prosperity, or death and destruction. By actively pursuing righteousness intentionally and diligently, God’s chosen people would achieve fulfilled and prosperous lives. Fast-forward to the New Testament and we are reminded to defeat evil with good — think of Romans 12:21, which says “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
What is the outcome if the people “seek good, not evil?” The people will live. This might seem like odd wording, since the people Amos preached to were alive. What he’s doing is warning Israel of God’s judgement as a response to their sinful ways, and advising the nation that repentance could keep them from that disaster. The life promised by God isn’t just survival; it’s flourishing with God’s blessing. For Christians, this promise of life is the promise of eternal life through Christ, the exemplar of goodness and life.
Let’s look at the last sentence of this verse from the back forward… By using the words “just as you say he is” as a qualifier to the statement “Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you,” Amos is pointing out that the Israelites professed to be God’s people, yet they were living in a way totally contrary to His character. Simply stated, Amos is calling Israel out as hypocrites who followed empty rituals and didn’t follow through with what God really wanted — justice and righteousness.
In the New Testament, Jesus similarly criticized the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, particularly in Matthew 23:23, where He says:
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”
If Israel truly repented and pursued good, Amos said “Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you.” God had promised to be present with His people as far back as Exodus 33:14, when He promised Moses “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Being in the presence of God is central to our belief. As Christians, we are blessed with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit through our belief and faith. The evidence of a true relationship with God is a life lived in seeking good and abhorring evil.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to “seek good and not evil,” so that I may live in Your presence. Teach me to love what is good and to maintain justice in my life and community. Guide me to pursue goodness in every aspect of my life, and give me the strength to turn away from thoughts and actions that lead to harm. AMEN.