The Prophetic Critique of the Priority of the Cult: A Study of Amos 5:21-24 and Isaiah 1:10-17

by Theresa V Lafferty

When Jesus overturned the carts of the merchants in the temple, he was just the latest in a long line of people who decried the activities that took place there. To understand his actions better, one must go back in history to the eighth century BCE, to the first two prophets to criticize the temple Amos and Isaiah. Their criticism of all worship activities came as a result of the people setting wrong priorities in their lives. What happens in the temple should extend into regular everyday activities in the home, in the market, in business dealings, at work, and at the city gate. Amos and Isaiah present similar oracles that address the prioritization of worship over real life. This book looks closely at their oracles, comparing and contrasting them, and analyzes what they were trying to teach the people. ""Lafferty shows that Amos and Isaiah seek neither mere social justice nor an abolition of the cult but a reprioritization of interpersonal activities in favor of justice and righteousness. This is a major original contribution to scholarship."" --Francis T. Gignac Ordinary Professor and Area Director of Biblical Studies The Catholic University of America About the Contributor(s): Theresa V. Lafferty is Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.

108 pages, Hardcover

First published April 9, 2012

Reviews

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an intriguing read as I reflected on the failings of the 8th century BC Israeli people in their relationship with God and how they find similarity or reflection to many of the church's practices and social habits today. While I hungered for deeper apologetics into the issues presented, it left room for imaginative trailings into my own contextualizations.