Major Lessons from the Minor Prophets Amos Hosea Zephaniah Zechariah
Israel was ripe for God's judgment of doom Theme of Amos Israel was ripe for God's judgment of doom Thus the Lord GOD showed me: Behold, a basket of summer fruit. And He said, "Amos, what do you see?" So I said, "A basket of summer fruit." Then the LORD said to me: "The end has come upon My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore.” Amos 8:1-2
Outline of Amos Judgment on Eight Nations, "For three transgressions and for four“ (1:3‑‑2:16) On Damascus (1:3‑5) On Gaza of Philistia (1:6‑8) On Tyre (1:9‑10) On Edom (1:11‑12) On Ammon (1:13‑15) On Moab (2:1‑3) On Judah (2:4‑5) On Israel (2:6‑16)
Outline of Amos II. Three Sermons Pronouncing the Judgment of Israel (3:1‑‑6:14) Sermon to the "whole family" of Israel ‑ A sermon of present warning (3:1‑15) Sermon to the "cows of Bashan" ‑ Past judgments have gone unheeded (4:1‑13) Sermon of "lamentation" and "woe" ‑ The future judgment of God on Israel would be overwhelming (5:1‑‑6:14) III. Five Visions of the Judgment of Israel (7:1‑‑9:10) Locust (7:1‑3) Fire (7:4‑6) The plumb line (7:7‑9) [Historical Parenthesis] (7:10‑17) The summer fruit (8:1‑14) The door posts of the sanctuary (9:1‑10) IV. Promises of a Bright Future for Spiritual Israel (9:11‑15)
The “cows of Bashan” are the wives who demanded to live in luxury through the oppression of the poor (4:1-3) Bashan is northeast of the Sea of Galilee, an area noted for fertile pastureland (Deut. 32:14; Ezek. 39:18). The women of Samaria were like the fatted cows who grazed there. They would be forcibly removed from their places of ease, as with fishhooks, marched through the breaches in the walls, and cast out. A Sermon to the “Cows of Bashan” Past judgments have gone unheeded (4:1‑13)
A Sermon to the “Cows of Bashan” Past judgments have gone unheeded (4:1‑13) In light of the impending Judgment upon her, Israel is sarcastically encouraged (double-dog-dared) to multiply transgression through worship designed to please the worshippers instead of God (4:4-5). What was wrong with the places where sacrifices were offered? What was wrong with offering the thanksgiving sacrifices with leaven? (Leviticus 2:11; 6:17, esp. 7:12) What was wrong with proclaiming and announcing the freewill offerings? (cf. Matthew 6:3) What can WE learn from Israel about UNACCEPTABLE WORSHIP?
“Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!" (Amos 4:12) A Sermon to the “Cows of Bashan” Past judgments have gone unheeded (4:1‑13) Five past punishments: “Yet you did not return to Me” Famine (4:6, cf. 2 Kings 8:1) Sporadic rains (4:7-8) Blight and locust plagues on vegetation (4:9, 7:1; Joel) War and pestilence (4:10) Fire (4:11) “Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!" (Amos 4:12) HE is the creator, the all-powerful, all-knowing, exalted “the LORD God of hosts is His name” (4:13) The Lord is described as the “God of hosts” NINE TIMES in Amos (3:13; 4:13; 5:14, 15, 16, 27; 6:8, 14; 9:5) Unrepentant Israel was unprepared to meet Him. Are we? (Luke 12:45-47; Romans 2:4-6) 2 Kings 8:1 Then Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, "Arise and go, you and your household, and stay wherever you can; for the LORD has called for a famine, and furthermore, it will come upon the land for seven years.“ Luke 12:45-47 But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. Romans 2:4-6 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who "WILL RENDER TO EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS":
A Sermon of Lamentation and Woe Future judgments would be overwhelming (5:1‑‑6:14) Each of the 3 sermons in this section begins with “Hear this word…” (5:1, cf. 3:1; 4:1) “Israel has fallen” (5:2-3) She was once like a pure “virgin” The past tense indicates future certainty Only a tenth will remain in each city (perhaps a reference to the remnant, 5:15) They could seek God and live or seek their idolatrous cities and experience captivity and destruction (5:4-6; Isaiah 55:6-7) Note: Though far to the south, Beersheba was renowned as a city of idolatry (cf. 8:14; 2 Kings 23:8) 2 Kings 23:8 Josiah, “brought all the priests from the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba…”
Gilgal
A Sermon of Lamentation and Woe Future judgments would be overwhelming (5:1‑‑6:14) God’s power and justice contrasted to the unrighteousness and vulnerability of Israel’s rulers They made justice a bitter thing and buried righteousness as one buries something dead (5:7) God is the all-powerful Creator (5:8) He has made Orion and the Pleiades and controls nature for His purposes (cf. Job 9:9) He rains ruin on strong men and their fortresses (5:9) Job 9:9 He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;
“He made the Pleiades and Orion…” - Amos 5:8 NOTE: These constellations are visible from every part of the globe. (Psalm 19:1-3)
Additional charges of sin (5:10-13) A Sermon of Lamentation and Woe Future judgments would be overwhelming (5:1‑‑6:14) Additional charges of sin (5:10-13) They hate the one who rebukes and speaks uprightly (5:10; Proverbs 9:8; 15:31-32; 29:1) They oppress the poor (5:11; Proverbs 14:31) The Lord would not allow Israel to enjoy the fruits of this oppression (5:11b; Proverbs 22:16) They had afflicted the just, taken bribes, and perverted justice for the poor (5:12) In such an evil time, the prudent would not even complain or seek justice (5:13) Proverbs 9:8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Proverbs 15:31-32 The ear that hears the rebukes of life Will abide among the wise. 32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding. Proverbs 29:1 He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. Proverbs 14:31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy. Proverbs 22:16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.
Additional call to repent and seek God’s grace (5:14-15) A Sermon of Lamentation and Woe Future judgments would be overwhelming (5:1‑‑6:14) Additional call to repent and seek God’s grace (5:14-15) What do we learn from the prophets about the availability of God’s grace even to the vilest sinners who repent? (Joel 2:12-13; Jonah 4:2) Lamentation will permeate the land when the Lord passes through (5:16-17) From the city streets to the highways, from farmers to professional mourners, and in all the vineyards. Joel 2:12-13 "Now, therefore," says the LORD, "Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. Jonah 4:2 So he prayed to the LORD, and said, "Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.