Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,
Amos 5:7 stands as a condemnation of Israel for corrupting justice and abandoning righteousness in the land. The charge fell especially on the religious leaders, who had twisted justice into bitterness like wormwood and left righteousness aside in the earth. The accompanying call to seek the Lord and live was joined to a practical demand to seek good, hate evil, and establish justice in the courts. That same corruption was displayed in action in the treatment of Jesus through false accusation, cruelty toward Him, and rejection of what was upright.
Amos 5:7 stands as a condemnation of Israel for corrupting justice and abandoning righteousness in the land. The charge fell especially on the religious leaders, who had twisted justice into bitterness like wormwood and left righteousness aside in the earth. The accompanying call to seek the Lord and live was joined to a practical demand to seek good, hate evil, and establish justice in the courts. That same corruption was displayed in action in the treatment of Jesus through false accusation, cruelty toward Him, and rejection of what was upright.