"COWS OF BASHAN"

“Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, ‘Bring, that we may drink!’” Amos 4:1

I never read this passage without being amused initially by imagining some preacher today getting up and referring to the ladies of the congregation as cows. I don’t think it would go over to well in our politically correct culture. One may wonder from our cultural perspective if the prophet was just indifferent or frustrated or angry or compassionless or just plain rude or even all of the above. Calling them cows might be one thing, but calling them cows of Bashan is in a different class altogether.

Bashan was an extremely fertile land east of the Sea of Galilee. Rainfall was above normal for the region making its volcanic soil rich. It produced much of the grain consumed in that area of the world. Consequently, livestock bred and raised in Bashan were among the biggest (fattest) in the world because they were well-fed and watered.

Understanding the prophet’s geographical reference helps us to understand the content of his message. Today, if he were delivering the same message, especially if he wanted to be politically correct (and by all means let’s!), he would have referred to them as “fat cats.” He was not referring to their dress size when he called them “cows of Bashan!” He was referring to their insatiable lust and power as part of the ruling class who abused the poor and needy seeking more of what they had plenty of, when in fact, could have done with less (4:6). The underlying cause of their rampant materialism is the same as ours today – they had turned from serving God with their whole heart and were no longer seeking Him (“yet you did not seek me” see 4:6, 8, 9, 10, 11). Yet they would have denied it because they were relying on their rituals (see 4:4-5 – i.e. “going to church”). If we seek God with our hearts, honoring His will by obedience to His word, and our lights will shine for all to see. Is your light shining?

Are We as Good as We Think?

“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” (Romans 12:3)

I have a really good preacher-friend who tells the story on himself about golfing with another preacher. My friend was a better than average golfer and extremely competitive. One day he was not playing very well and was yelling at himself on the course after every shot. His golfing partner, catching my friend in a calmer moment, asked him, “Do you know why you get so mad playing golf?” My friend shot him a quick glance and grumbled, “No. Why?” His partner replied, “You are not as good as you think you are.”

I laugh every time I think about that story. Yet the reality is there are some in the kingdom of God that take themselves way too seriously – thinking they are better than what they really are. The Scriptures are too numerous to list that warn us against over-estimating our abilities and talents (Galatians 6:3; Romans 12:16; Philippians 2:3-5, et. al.). Who can doubt Peter “over-sold” his faith to his own shame, frustration and humiliation? (Luke 23:31-34) So, even we are warned, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1Corinthians 10:12)

We must take God seriously and not ourselves in worship. Who can doubt that some in Corinth had over-estimated their talents (taken themselves way too seriously) to the disruption of the assembly? The apostle chides them for such presumptuousness in their worship (I Corinthians 14:36-40). Those who over-estimate their abilities are often frustrated in their repeated attempts to do what they desire to do but lack the talent to do. It is equally frustrating, if not disruptive to the congregation’s effort to worship. Too often, those who overestimate their abilities assume that a leading role in our worship (i.e. giving a talk, leading the prayer or the singing, etc.) is about fulfilling their own desires. When that occurs, one has taken himself too seriously.

To give God the glory and let our light shine in worship we must not only offer the best but, we must humbly recognize our limits. May God give us the grace to make humility our first priority in worship that we might take Him more seriously. Only then can our efforts conform to our desire to giving Him our best.