INTRODUCTION
He came from the humblest of professions: Caring for the sycamore-figs and the sheep. His town was an obscure village called Tekoa at the edge of the Judaean wilderness. No formal training, no recognised credentials, no great connections. Yet God appointed, anointed, and sent him to a neighbouring nation with heavy tidings. Their bribery, corrupt legal system, and failure to righty distribute wealth – not to mention their gross idolatry – was causing them to head towards judgment. He accurately predicted the exile of that nation (7:11; II Kings 17). His prophecy and writings have an honour place among the Old Testament prophets and have greatly influenced our attitude towards justice – God’s way.
The man and the book is called Amos. We are going to learn why this book is worth studying.
‘Justice’ is a notion being thrown around in our age. Though it speaks about fairness and equality, it has all the hallmarks of redistribution of private property and retribution for the ‘sins of the fathers.’ True justice must be all the way, God’s way. In Amos, we will see how that plays out.
HEBREW NAME
Amas and it means the ‘burden-bearer.’
AUTHOR
Amos is the author of the prophetic book that bears his name. He came from the Judean village of Tekoa, 20 kilometres south of Jerusalem, not far from Bethlehem. Tekoa was at the edge of the Judean wilderness. He tended sheep and as a vine-dresser, he punched holes in the sycamore figs so that the bugs would come out. From this humblest of professions, God raised up Amos to visit the Northern Kingdom of Israel and deliver a heavy word of judgement. Though Israel was prosperous, it was heading towards famine, plagues, conquest, exile, death and destruction. Why? Because of their various sins, including idolatry and injustice.
In addition to the ‘call of God,’ Amos had something else going for him: he knew the Word of God and, more importantly, He knew God Himself. This alone makes all the difference, giving him authority to deliver a word that lasts forever.
PORTRAIT OF CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the restorer of His people.
THEME
When prosperity is accompanied by apostasy, then judgement will come, despite the illusion of peace. The Northern Kingdom’s idolatry, apostasy, materialism, greed, injustice, and arrogance, was causing them to race towards the proverbial brick wall.
KEY VERSES
Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, 2You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities — Amos 3:1-2
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets — Amos 3:7
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it — Amos 8:11-12
DATE
The early part of the 8th Century BC, a few decades before the deportation of Israel by the Assyrians in 722 BC. Estimates are from 775-755 BC. It was the time that Amos’ king, Uzziah, ruled in Judah and Israel’s king Jeroboam II ruled from Samaria. Both kingdoms were prospering economically and under Jeroboam II Israel’s borders expanded greatly, even beyond Damascus (II Kings 14:25). Yet both kingdoms were in serious trouble with the LORD and Israel’s peace and prosperity would turn into a nightmare of conquest and deportation.
HOSEA & AMOS
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HOSEA
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AMOS
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Israelite
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Judean
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Anti-idolatry
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Anti-injustice
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Spiritual sin
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Social sin
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National prophecy
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International prophecy
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Invited to know God
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Invited to seek God
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Familial prophecy
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National prophecy
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Wrath
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Tender mercies
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Grace
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Righteousness
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