John Calvin Commentary Amos 5:7

"Ye who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth," — Amos 5:7 (ASV)

Here the Prophet, after having spoken strongly against superstitions, comes to the second table of the law. The Prophets are sometimes accustomed to shake off self-satisfaction from hypocrites, when they spread their external veils before God, by saying that all their ceremonies are useless unless accompanied by integrity of heart. But in this place, the Prophet expressly condemns two things in the Israelites: first, that they had corrupted the true worship of God, departed from the doctrine of the law, and polluted themselves with ungodly superstitions; and second, he also reproves them for their wicked and dishonest conduct towards men—for their disregard of what was right and equitable, for plunder, cruelty, and fraud. This second subject the Prophet addresses when he says, that they converted judgment into wormwood and allowed righteousness to fall on the ground. But the rest I must defer until tomorrow.

Grant, Almighty God, that as you see us to be so entangled, not only by depraved desires, but also by the allurements of Satan, and by our own ignorance and blindness—O grant, that being roused by your word we may at the same time learn to open our eyes to your wholesome warnings by which you call us to yourself. And since we cannot do this without your Spirit being our guide and leader, grant that he may enlighten our eyes, so that, being truly and from the heart turned to you, we may know that you are gracious and ready to hear all who sincerely seek you. And, being reconciled to you in Christ, may we also know that you are to us a gracious Father, and that you will bestow on us all kinds of blessings, until you at length gather us to your celestial kingdom, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

You who convert judgment into wormwood, and leave righteousness on the ground. We stated yesterday why the Prophet added this sentence: he wished in every way to prove the Israelites guilty. Having spoken strongly against their superstitions, he now adds that they also acted falsely and unjustly towards men. And he attacks the leaders who ruled the people, not because they alone were blameworthy, but because they drew the whole community with them.

We know that diseases descend from the head to the whole body, and this is the reason why the Prophet directs his address especially to the rulers. He says that they turned judgment to wormwood. This comparison often occurs. Nothing, we know, is sweeter than justice, when everyone gains his own right, for this greatly serves to preserve peace.

Hence, nothing can be more gratifying to us than when uprightness and equity prevail. This is the reason why the Prophet calls that unjust state of things bitterness, when no regard is paid to justice and rectitude. He also says that righteousness was cast down on the ground, or thrown to the ground. Now, the judges ought to have defended what was right among the people, for this, we know, is the duty assigned to them. And the Prophet now charges them with this: that they left justice on the ground—that they allowed it to lie prostrate. We now perceive the Prophet’s design.