Israel was in a bad state. They were living in prosperous times but their religion had become rituals performed to invoke the blessing of God, much like the nations around them with their gods. Essentially, they had invented a god and God’s admonition to them is, “Seek me and live!” In addition, they were keeping the poor in poverty by stacking the decks against them. And God’s cry to them is: But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:24 (ESV)).

The book of Amos is a book of grace because it is God’s warning to Israel of impending exile if they don’t repent. He gives them every opportunity to turn to him and he gives us every opportunity to turn to him.