Robert Jackson and Amos: Holding Nations Accountable
July 1, 2024 - Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Amos 2:6-10, 13-16
The city of Nuremberg is renowned for the trials of twenty-two leaders of Nazi Germany. According to Wikipedia, the Soviet Union leaders wanted a show trial, while the United Kingdom leaders preferred summary executions. Ultimately, these leaders were charged by the International Military Tribunal with war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Tribunal sentenced twelve to death, gave prison sentences to seven, and acquitted three. In his opening speech, Justice Robert Jackson spoke about "the forces of international law, its precepts, its prohibitions and its sanctions" (search for Jackson's speech on the Internet).
Today, we hear a fragment from the Book of Amos. During that time, people were not aware of "the forces of international law." It was an era when might made right, and leaders who committed crimes against humanity did not stand trial. Yet, Amos, representing the voice of the Lord, condemns the nations for their crimes. He begins with Damascus (Syria), then moves to Gaza, Tyre, Edom, the Ammonites, Moab, Judah, and Israel. Their crimes range from excessive cruelty and violating treaties to enslaving conquered nations, abusing the poor, and disregarding God's law.
The God of Amos is a God of justice. Robert Jackson, in his opening speech, claimed that the Nuremberg trial was "the first trial in history for crimes against the peace of the world." Long before that, however, the Lord conducted His trial for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the abuse of the most vulnerable people. In his doctoral dissertation on the prophets, later published as a book, Abraham Heschel asks what the grounds were for condemning the nations in the absence of international law. Amos suggests that there is an unwritten law that forbids one nation from committing crimes against another. This unwritten law was later defined by the Catholic Church as "natural law," written into the fabric of the universe and society by the Lord, the ultimate Lawgiver.
When it comes to Israel, however, things are different. Among all the nations of the world, Israel has been God's chosen and treasured "possession." Moreover, unlike the nations around them, Israel had the Torah, God's given law that instructs them on how to live in this world as human beings created in the image and likeness of God. Thus, their failure to uphold the law and their acts of injustice are more grave than the crimes of other nations. Israel is answerable to higher standards than the nations of the world.
Amos proclaimed God's word when the Northern Kingdom of Israel was at its peak of military and economic development. This development is similar to our contemporary world, where all its benefits go to a select few while the rest of the population remains poor. Amos speaks about the lack of justice in the country, the exploitation of the poor, and the corruption of the judicial system (see Amos 2:6-8; 3:10; 5:12). Such a society will not last long and, sooner or later, will disintegrate. Those prosperous years lasted from around 786 to 746 BC. Twenty years later, the Assyrians came and in 721 BC put an end to the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Reading Amos should be obligatory for all the leaders of the nations. They should be aware that with enormous power comes enormous responsibility. This is particularly applicable to the leaders of powerful nations, the so-called empires of the world. Let them not think that their power will protect them from justice. Even if no International Court brings charges against them, the Lord, the ultimate Lawgiver, is taking notice and, in due time, He will execute justice.