I just finished my month of reading the bible every day. Toward the end of the month, we were to read the book of Amos. As I did a few weeks ago, I read these two chapters, and wrote down anything that stood out to me. Then, I went back and tried to identify what the verses said to me as a whole. Here are the verses that stood out to me:

Amos 1:2 – “The Lord’s voice roars from this temple”

Amos 1:3 – “I will not let them go unpunished any longer. They beat down my people.”

Amos 1:7 – “So I will send down fire.”

Amos 1:11 – “They showed them no mercy”

Amos 1:13 – “They committed cruel crimes”

Amos 2:4 – “They have rejected the laws of the Lord, refusing to obey him.”

Amos 2:7 – “They trample helpless people in the dust and deny justice to those who are oppressed.”

Amos 2:12 – “You said to my prophets, ‘Shut up!'”

Given my heart for abused parents to be treated fairly in custody court, and protected by their churches, I was bowled away. The stories I hear of courts taking away children from abuse survivors, and giving them to the abusive parents would surprise and shock most people. The stories I hear of pastors who tell abuse victims to “forgive” their abusers, and to continue to accept the abuse, which often happens in front of their children, would turn your hair.

I believe these verses speak to both abusers and those who let them get away with it, church and court officials and judges. It describes what abusers have done: They have committed cruel crimes and beat down my people. The others that should have protected them showed no mercy, they trampled the helpless people in the dust and denied justice to those who were oppressed. They rejected God’s laws and refused to obey them. They told those who cried out against them to “Shut up!” To these people, God’s voice roars out from his temple, “I will not let them go unpunished any longer. I will send down fire upon you.”

Lord, I pray the day will come when your justice will reign on earth as it does in heaven!

Then, today in church I heard a new song that made me cry. It is the perfect answer to these verses. It is No Longer Slaves by Bethel Music. Here is the link. So powerful! Here are the lyrics:

“No Longer Slaves”

You unravel me with a melody
You surround me with a song
Of deliverance from my enemies
‘Til all my fears are gone

[2x]
I’m no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God

From my mother’s womb
You have chosen me
Love has called my name
I’ve been born again
Into your family
Your blood flows through my veins

[4x]
I’m no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God

I am surrounded
By the arms of the father
I am surrounded
By songs of deliverance

We’ve been liberated
From our bondage
We’re the sons and the daughters
Let us sing our freedom

You split the sea
So I could walk right through it
My fears were drowned in perfect love
You rescued me
And I could stand and sing
I am a child of God…

You split the sea
So I could walk right through it
You drowned my fears in perfect love
You rescued me
And I will stand and sing
I am a child of God

Yes, I am
I am a child of God
I am a child of God
Yes, I am
I am a child of God
Full of faith
Yes, I am a child of God
I am a child of God

[3x]
I’m no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God

No, we are no longer slaves. We are surrounded by the arms of You Father. You split the sea, so we could walk right through it. You have rescued us. We are your children Lord. We are children of God.

Let us walk in His power as we face the injustice of this world. Blessings my friends.

Caroline

P.S. If you have had trouble getting help from your church, please check out my Domestic Violence Guide for Churches. This guide describes the dynamics of abuse from a Christian perspective, then educates church leaders how to help those who experience it. Click here to see a preview of the written and video guide.