Amos - (The book of Amos) – Burden Bearer
Author: Amos himself
Amos The Man
Amos lived in a small town called Tekoa about 6-10 miles from Bethlehem.
Amos was a Sheepherder (7:14). And a collector of figs
Amos prophesied the same time as Hosea
Amos prophesied during King Uzziah’s Reign in Judah, and the latter part of king Jeroboam 2 reign approximately 60-80 years before the captivity of Israel.
Amos prophesied mostly from Bethel during his life. The center of worship in Israel + Samaria
Amos was very well acquainted with the world of his day
He names 38 ancient towns or districts in the ancient near east his writings
He understood the history of the surrounding nations as well as Israel & Judah’s
Most Scholars believe the ministry of Amos was very short. Possibly only up to two years in length
After a short time he was kicked out of the Northern Kingdom and sent back to the southern kingdom, where he wrote chapters 8+9 of Amos.
Because of Amos being originally from the Southern Kingdom of Judah, his prophecies were rather hard at times on the Northern Kingdom for their sins against Jehovah.
The people of Israel were highly religious but corrupt.
They would pack out the temples of Bethel and Gilgal and Dan, entering into the Golden Calf worship of Jeroboam, speak of the day of the lord, yet they lived very immoral.
Amos’ Message:
Amos condemns Israel for taking advantage of Jehovah’s Favor turning toward sin,
He pronounces the harsh judgment of Jehovah upon them for their sin is worse than the pagan nations. For they had walked with God and had forsaken him were the surrounding nations had never known God.
Amos’ prophecies were – The message of Judgment and restoration to follow.
Through Amos & Hosea’s writing we can see the clear condition and prosperity of Israel. Israel was so prospering under the rule of Jeroboam that it increased the materialism & greed of the nation.
The rich were strongly inflicting the poor.
Amos’s messages contain key phrases – Hear this word – Woe- yet you have not returned to me!
(3:1, 4:1, 5:1) – (5:18, 6:1) – Chapter 4
Outline of Amos’ messages
Judgment of the surrounding nations
Judgment of Israel
Restoration of Israel
Amos prophesied against Israel’s 10 tribes and the surrounding nations.
Surrounding nations he spoke against
Edom – Slave trade and harbored Hatred towards Israel with whom it had a treaty
Ammon- Slaughter of mothers & unborn babies in Gilead, no pity on Isreal
Moab- burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime, desecrated a corpse
Damascus (Syria) – Threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of Iron
Philistia – Slave trade with Edom
Phoenicia – Slave trade with Edom, Broken sacred covenant with Israel
Judah- Idolatry and despising, and dismissing the truth of God
Israel- covetousness, immorality, heartlessness, hypocrisy
Chapter 4 The Judgments of Israel
Famine
Drought
Blight (a scorching east wind off the desert withered their crops)
Pestilence and War
Earthquake
Israel Prepare to meet your God! (the most famous quote of Amos)
The Two Woes Of Amos (5)
By Chapter 5 Amos is pleading with Israel to Repent – or disaster was about to befall the nation
He mourns the fall of the Virgin Israel (had never been conquered)
That a Virgin should Die – Premature National Death
Amos presents mercy and Pardon to a remnant that would repent – The final Judgment Israel would be lost forever
Judgment for Hatred of Reproof, Oppression of The poor, multiple transgressions, evil times
Amos cries out Hate Evil and Love Good – Israel thought they were ok with God because of their biological relationship not based on worship.
The 1st woe is pronounced against those awaiting the coming of the day of the Lord
They thought it would be a day of Judgment on the heathen
He tells Israel the Day of Judgment would be a dark day for them
(Illistration) Amos 5:18-20- 18 Alas, you who are longing for the day of the LORD, For what purpose will the day of the LORD be to you? It will be darkness and not light; 19 As when a man flees from a lion And a bear meets him, Or goes home, leans his hand against the wall And a snake bites him. 20 Will not the day of the LORD be darkness instead of light, Even gloom with no brightness in it?
Amos makes 3 charges against Israel’s Worship
Unacceptable gatherings – I hate and Despise your feast,
Worshiped the golden calf, drunkenness,
Unacceptable Offerings
The burnt offering was a sign of consecration in worship, to burn offerings in Israel was hypocritical.
Unacceptable Music – their hearts where far from Jehovah
2nd woe – was for in-difference in leadership & the living of the rich against the poor
He declares the judgment and destruction of Israel by war and plague until none remain, Blame is put on a foreign nation, and pride of the people, ungodly leaders but ultimately God is the one who will destroy Israel.
The 5 Visions of Amos (7)
The locust – tells of a actual locust attack upon the harvest fields of Israel at a time they could not have recovered the losses – Amos intercedes for Israel and God turns
The Fire – the fire for told of a drought God would send upon Israel and consume her again Amos interceeded
The plumb line – Amos sees a plumb line in the hand of god as he declares I will not pass by Israel any longer, they must be destroyed – He tells of the judgments by Assyria, against the kings and Israel leaders, against the places of false worship
Amos is attacked by Amaziah that he has conspired against the house of Jeroboam 2,
Amaziah confron`ts Amos and he is ordered to go back to Judah
Amos prophesies against Amaziah –
his wife would become a Harlot by choice to pay for her luxuries,
sons would die by Assyrians & Daughters would also die by Assyrians,
he would lose his land and be taken into captivity.
4. The Basket of Fruit – revealed the ripeness of Israel for Judgment. The picture showed Is real was ripe and would swiftly by taken away
The Judgment of covetousness, Jehovah prophesies against the unrighteous dealings of Israel with the poor. Political bribes and unjust dealings
5. Destruction of the Temple – (9) saw Jehovah beside the alter and commanded and Angel to destroy the capitols- the pillars that supported the temples structure so it would fall in on all who worshiped their
Amos 8:4 Hear this, you who trample the needy, to do away with the humble of the land,
Promise of a Restoration for the Faithful- (9)
God promises after the sifting of the sinners of Israel that God would rise up the tent of David and restore the Davidic line again to the throne – Christ is promised
The Messiah’s kingdom would be one of Blessing and ever lasting – the curses would be reversed with in the Messiah’s Kingdom.