In the first two chapters of the Book of Amos, Amos is prophesying to several different cities about future punishments that are coming because of their transgressions. Each city is rebuked for a specific offense they have committed against God, but it turns out that there is a common thread to each of these transgressions-they all have to do with how people (probably the poor and needy) were being treated in their respective cities (see the table in Old Testament Student Manual). The rebuke that stood out most to me was in Amos 1:9 where it says "[they] remembered not the brotherly covenant." (italics added)
I've spent some time this week thinking about what this "brotherly covenant" means. It’s the only place this phrase shows up in all of our canon of scripture. A quick search in the topical guide under the words "brotherhood and brotherly" gives some deeper context to the phrase. The word brotherly is often connected to words like love, compassion, kindness and mercy. The scripture Mosiah 18:8 is also referenced which is part of our baptismal covenant to be "willing to bear one another's burden."
So what I'm beginning to understand is that the brotherly covenant is a commitment we make to Jesus Christ that we will take care of others. And, based on the writings of Amos, its a covenant that God takes very seriously. That if we don't treat others with kindness and take care of the poor and needy then there are severe punishments in store for us.
Sister Sharon Eubank spoke recently during General Conference and said the following: "The Church of Jesus Christ is under divine mandate to care for the poor.2 It is one of the pillars of the work of salvation and exaltation...As baptized members of the Church, we are under covenant to care for those in need."(I Pray He'll Use Us). I was grateful that the book of Amos provided me with a reminder of my covenantal responsibility to care for and treat others as Jesus Christ would do.
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