In every culture in every century, the rich and the strong have oppressed the poor and weak for their own gain. How long until God calls them into account?

When a nation loses its morals, people feel free to take advantage of one another, especially the poor. God hates seeing the poor oppressed.

Israel rejected God's truth, rejecting God Himself. In this way, God became their enemy. When they refused to repent, His wrath was not long in coming.

Amos indicts rampant, dishonest practices, placing gain above honesty, morality, or ethics, and arrogantly and covetously exploiting the needy for profit.

Corruption in the courts is a fact of life. We should not be surprised by this curse, realizing that God is aware and is allowing it for a purpose.

Those entrusted with power within the community and nations are taking advantage of their positions, metaphorically raping those who have no power.

Amos severely chides Israel for exalting symbolism over substance, superstitiously trusting in locations where significant historical events occurred.

Amos, like a circling hawk, makes dire pronouncements on all of Israel's enemies but reserves the harshest judgment for Israel, who should have known better.

The people to whom Amos writes have the mistaken assumption that because they have made the covenant with God, they can bask in a kind of divine favoritism.

Ancient Israel had at the core of its religion an obsession to please the self at the expense of justice and the best interests of the disadvantaged.

God, through His prophets, warns that He will chasten His people with increasing severity until they repent and begin to reflect His characteristics.

God is very much against the idea of His people either bribing or abusing and exploiting their neighbors for personal gain. His people should be generous.

Amos gives a series of dire warnings, beginning with Israel's enemies, but concluding with a blistering indictment on Israel herself for her hypocrisy.

God fills the first 15 verses of Isaiah 1 with a laundry list of sins, but He provides only two direct, uncomplicated verses on how to correct the problems.

Isaiah 58 is like the foreground of a picture puzzle. But it only really becomes clear when we add the background—the edge pieces—found elsewhere.

The twelve books of the Minor Prophets—including Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah—are often overlooked in favor of the Major Prophets and the four gospels.

Godly principles are timeless, and though the application may not be the same, honest weights and scales are still crucial for a smooth and peaceful society.