For He Is Small

Throughout the book of Amos, Israel has been preening herself over her wealth, her privilege, her status, her security. But Amos sees how vulnerable she is and pleads that way — Lord God, show mercy for Jacob is small. “Lord God of hosts, have mercy on the United States for we are tiny.” The fact that such a plea would stick in our throats reveals a large part of our problem — the same, incidentally, as Israel’s.