Most Americans are familiar with “Let Justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1963 “I Have A Dream” speech. While a great place to remember it from, we should realize it was one of Dr. King’s favorite quotes. It would be impossible to count the number of times he made the statement in sermons and speeches beginning as early as 1955, if not earlier, and continuing until his murder in 1968. Considering his effort to end the injustice of legalized segregation here in America it was an appropriate application of the statement, even though it did not originate with Dr. King.

The quote comes from the OT prophet Amos in the middle of a text condemning the nation of Israel for living a lie. Like America, Israel was a prosperous nation. However, Israel’s prosperity was stained by their active mistreatment of the poor and needy. Even those who were not actively engaged in the mistreatment but benefited from it were guilty of indifference and subject to the same condemnation and coming judgment. That’s why Amos was an unrelenting prophet of gloom and doom. He even rebuked those Israelites who called for a day of judgment because it would be “darkness instead of light, even gloom with no brightness in it” (Amos 5:21).

He then rebuked the religiously active Israelites. Like America, they were busily “worshipping” God with their festivals, assemblies and sacrifices, but their religion was hollow. No amount of “worship” could hide the reality of their disdain for God, which is why God said things like, “I hate” and “I reject” and “I do not delight” and “I will not accept” their religious services (Amos 5:21-23). Not only was their faith a mockery of the greatest command, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind”, it was also a mockery of the second greatest command, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:36-40).

As Jesus said when quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, “On these two commands depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” Amos understood that, which is why he finished his rebuke of their religiosity with “But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24).

Unlike Israel, America is not God’s chosen nation. Despite the claims of many, it is not a Christian nation. However, like Israel, this nation will be brought down because of pervasive false religion and injustice. Our only hope for this nation is that there are enough righteously religious people who uphold justice to turn away His wrath. But that requires practicing the two greatest commands. And that’s a do, or do not choice. Which is it for you?