AMOS “Prepare to Meet Thy God!” 4:12

Who Wrote the Book? Prophet Amos Lived among a group of shepherds in Tekoa, a small town approximately 10 miles south of Jerusalem Not from family of prophets, nor did he consider himself one; “A grower of sycamore figs” as well as a shepherd (Amos 7:14–15) Connection to the simple life of the people; showed a heart for the oppressed and the voiceless in the world Some content from:

Where and When? Amos prophesied “two years before the earthquake” (Amos 1:1; also Zech 14:5), during the reigns of Uzziah, king of Judah, and Jeroboam, king of Israel. Reigns overlapped: 767 BC to 753 BC From southern kingdom of Judah, Amos delivered his prophecy against the northern kingdom of Israel and the surrounding nations (Bethel) – Resistance from the prideful Israelites (Amos 7:12) – Jeroboam’s reign - quite profitable for the N kingdom materially; moral decay counteracted any positives

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Why is Amos So Important? Amos was fed up: Most interspersed redemption and restoration: – Amos only final five verses-consolation (Judah) God’s word through Amos – privileged people of Israel: – No love for their neighbor – Took advantage of others – Only looked out for their own concerns Amos holds God’s people accountable for their ill-treatment of others. Failure of the people to fully embrace God’s idea of justice: – Selling off needy people for goods, – Taking advantage of the helpless – Oppressing the poor – Men using women immorally (Amos 2:6–8; 3:10; 4:1; 5:11–12; 8:4–6) Pursuing $$$: People lost the concept of caring for one another Pursuing “their lifestyle”: Israel had forgotten God

What’s the Big Idea in Joel? Israel (North) – unparalleled success God calls a quiet shepherd and farmer to carry message of judgment Used Amos’s status as a foreigner as an excuse to ignore his message of judgment for a multiplicity of sins Outer lives: gleamed; inner lives: moral decay Rather than seeking opportunities to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly, they embraced their arrogance, idolatry, self-righteousness, and materialism God’s utter disdain for hypocritical lives of His people (Amos 5:21–24) 3/4 Formula: 7 Oracles, then Surprise! THEME: Luke 12:48

How Do I Apply This? Sin of Materialism Injustice: Turn a blind eye to the suffering? – Are we ignoring them or ministering to them? Don’t compare sin; total depravity, need Restoration: punish to bring back to Him