Lesson 4

Amos the Prophet Amos was a native of Tekoa Located about 5 miles from Bethlehem The city was built on a hill looking over the wilderness of Judah He was a herdsman of sheep A gatherer of sycamore fruit (1:1; 7:14) Amos understood the history and attitudes of the nations around him.

Tekoa

Amos God called Amos to go preach to the kingdom of Israel. God used the prophets to convey the message they needed. Amos lived during the reign of Jeroboam II He overlapped with the reign of Uzziah His work in Israel was 2 years before the earthquake. This does not pinpoint the date for us Most scholars date it 760 to 755B.C.

Amos outline Chapters 1-2 God’s judgment on all nations Chapters 3-6 Basis for God’s judgment Chapters 7-9 Judgment is Inevitable

Amos 1-2 Judgment on nations Theme of the book is judgment and doom The Lord announces judgment against the various nations around Israel: Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab. Turning closer to home he condemns Judah because they rejected the Lord. Their lies caused them to stray just like their fathers did.

Ammon Judah Moab Edom

Judgments Damascus - I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because you have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron: v3 Gaza - I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because you carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:  v6

Judgments Tyrus - I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because you delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant: v9 Edom - I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because you pursued you brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and your anger did tear perpetually, and kept his wrath for ever: v11

Judgments Ammon - I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because you have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that you might enlarge your border: v13 Moab -I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because you burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime: 

Amos 1-2 God’s message was He would send fire upon Judah and consume the palaces of Jerusalem. Israel is next on God’s list to consume. This was because of her sins: social injustice, forsaking Jehovah, idolatry with sacred fornication, ritualistic, formalistic worship.

Judgments Judah - I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because you have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and your lies caused them to err, after the which your fathers have walked:  2:4 Israel - I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;  7That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name:  2:6

Amos 1-2 God would not turn away their punishment because of selling righteous for silver, needy for a pair of shoes, pant after the dust of the poor, a man and his son use the same prostitute. God had done so much for Israel Destroyed: Amorites, brought them out of Egypt, led them through the wilderness, raised up prophets and nazarites from among their own children. All of this yet they despised the Lord

Amos 1-2 They had forbidden the prophets to prophesy Given Nazarites wine to drink Judgment could not be avoided now Israel had sinned to the fullest God would wait no longer No matter how fast or strong the army it would flee naked You will be pressed down as a cart loaded You will not escape

Amos 3-6 Basis for judgment God blessed Israel and Judah above any other nation They had more responsibility to obey Him They did not fulfill their responsibility so God would punish them for their iniquities. Amos ask questions pertaining to judgment Shall two walk together unless they agree? Will a lion roar before he sights his prey? Can a bird be caught in a snare with no net?

Amos 3-6 Basis for judgment The Lord has revealed His plans for destruction to His prophets Who can refrain from telling it? God urged His people to return to Him. They ignored His plea Now God is warning of destruction which they continue to ignore. Call Ashdod and Egypt to witness Israel is no better than the heathen. They do not know how to do right anymore.

Amos 3-6 Basis for judgment I am sending an adversary who will pull down your fort, palaces will be plundered. I will bring upon Jacob the consequences of his evil. I will destroy the winter-house and summer-house and those decorated with ivory. God had to chastised them to try to awaken them to repentance but nothing helped. The Creator, the All-knowing God will come against them.

Amos 3-6 Basis for judgment Hear the message, you cows of Bashan who live in the mountains of Samaria Those who crush the poor and say to your husband, “Bring us another drink” The day is coming when you will be taken away with hooks. I caused famine but you did not turn to me I gave you drought but you returned not I struck you with blight and locusts

Amos 3-6 Basis for judgment I sent diseases such as were in Egypt I caused your young men to be slain I have overthrown certain cities as I did to Sodom and Gomorrah but you repented not. I plan to deal with you now, O Israel Prepare to meet your God!

Amos 5-6 Cry from Jehovah through His prophets Hear the message of lamentation O Israel Seek Jehovah and you will live. Do not seek the idols of Bethel, Gilgal and Beersheba. Seek Jehovah or He will break out like fire in the house of Joseph You are the people who hate those who reprove you in the gates You have trampled the poor & extorted his wheat

Amos 3-6 Basis for judgment You will not live in the fine houses you built You will not drink wine from your vineyards I know everyone of your transgressions therefore Seek good not evil. Hate evil and love the good. There is a chance the Lord will show kindness Woes are placed against all classes of society I hate and abhor your feasts Your worship means nothing to me

Amos 3-6 Basis for judgment You have not worshiped me from the days of wandering. You have served your images which you made yourselves. You will go into captivity beyond Damascus Woe to those who are at ease and those who think they have it made in the mountains. I will raise up a nation O Israel to afflict you

Amos 7-9 Judgment is Inevitable God shows Amos in visions the destruction pending against Israel. The first was of a locusts swarm Amos prayed: Forgive, the land cannot stand it. God listened & refrained The second was a fire to destroy the land Amos prayed: Please stop, how can Jacob stand such a thing? God refrained

Amos 7-9 Judgment is Inevitable The third one God showed Amos a wall that was leaning and had Amos to measure it with a plumbline. God was showing Amos how much Israel had drifted from God God said “I will not pass by them again” Amos did not plead for Israel again He could tell why judgment was inevitable Israel had gone too far.

The message from Amaziah a prophet of the golden calves at Bethel tries to stop Amos Amaziah told Jeroboam that Amos was causing trouble and then told Amos to go back to Judah to prophesy Amos tells him “his wife will be a harlot in the city, your sons & daughters will die by the sword and you will die in an alien land and Israel will be led captive

Amos 7-9 Judgment is Inevitable The Lord shows Amos a basket of ripe summer fruit The time is ripe for Israel I will spare them no longer Songs of the palace will be wailing There will be many dead bodies and they will be cast out in silence The nation is ripe for plucking

Amos 7-9 Judgment is Inevitable The people had rejected His word from the time He began speaking to them Now He would cease to speak I will send a famine in the land but not of bread or thirst but of hearing the words of Jehovah People will wander all over seeking the word of Jehovah and shall not find it.

Amos 7-9 Judgment is Inevitable Amos said, “I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and He said strike the pillars of the temple and break them in pieces on the heads of all of them. The rest I will slay with the sword If they dig to Sheol, I will take hold of them If they climb to heaven, I will bring them down No matter where they go I will command the sword and it will slay them

Amos 7-9 Judgment is Inevitable You are as the Ethiopians to me, O children of Israel. His eyes are upon you to destroy you from the face of the earth He will not completely destroy Jacob Israel will be sifted like grain among all nations All sinners of my people will die by the sword

Amos 7-9 Judgment is Inevitable At the close of Amos there is a ray of hope A remnant will return The tabernacle of David will be rebuilt Amos could see the remnant of all men and nations that bear the name Jehovah would become a part of that house. James quotes this in Acts 15:16-17 This passage shows that Gentiles were included in the blessings This is the spiritual blessing in Christ