1. Biography Born in the early 8 th Century B.C. Born in the early 8 th Century B.C. Came from a small town in Jerusalem called Tekoa (south of Bethlehem) Came from a small town in Jerusalem called Tekoa (south of Bethlehem) One of the twelve prophets in the Hebrew Bible One of the twelve prophets in the Hebrew Bible Amos means “Burden-Bearer” Amos means “Burden-Bearer” Two main jobs before becoming a prophet was being a shepherd and a tender of sycamore fig trees Two main jobs before becoming a prophet was being a shepherd and a tender of sycamore fig trees He was an intellectual and educated man He was an intellectual and educated man

2. Biography Cont. He preached 2 years before a very large earthquake He preached 2 years before a very large earthquake A contemporary of Hosea and Isaiah A contemporary of Hosea and Isaiah Amos wrote a book in the Bible using vivid, forceful, and expressive language Amos wrote a book in the Bible using vivid, forceful, and expressive language He gave a message at Bethel which was the most important place in the north where people worshiped He gave a message at Bethel which was the most important place in the north where people worshiped Traditions says that Amos died a vicious death at the hands of Jeroboam II Traditions says that Amos died a vicious death at the hands of Jeroboam II

3. Historical Context The kingdom of Israel had already been divided up into 2 parts for over 170 years The kingdom of Israel had already been divided up into 2 parts for over 170 years During the time of Jeroboam II the nation of Israel had become rich for reasons including: During the time of Jeroboam II the nation of Israel had become rich for reasons including: –The Assyrians defeated the Syrians in War –Jeroboam expanded borders –Syrians became weak –Assyrians did not try to take authority over Israelis people –Israelites controlled trade routes Jeroboam introduced Idol-worship Jeroboam introduced Idol-worship In Israel Baal worship was also popular In Israel Baal worship was also popular

4. Historical Context Cont. It is said that he delivered most of his messages during 760 B.C. It is said that he delivered most of his messages during 760 B.C. Scholars believe most of Amos’ messages were recorded after he delivered them to the Northern Kingdom, upon returning to his southern homeland Tekoa Scholars believe most of Amos’ messages were recorded after he delivered them to the Northern Kingdom, upon returning to his southern homeland Tekoa The reign of Uzziah, king of Judah, and Jeroboam II, King of Israel, was probably when most of his activities took place The reign of Uzziah, king of Judah, and Jeroboam II, King of Israel, was probably when most of his activities took place

5. Amos’ Call Tekoa was the center for a large sheep farming district. Amos in context was considered to be a shepherd, a herdsman, or a person that tends to plants, like a farmer. While following his flock in the wilderness of Judah, God called him for a special mission: "Go, Prophecy to My people of Israel." In the eyes of the humble shepherd this must have appeared a most difficult mission. At the time when the call came to him, he was not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet. Tekoa was the center for a large sheep farming district. Amos in context was considered to be a shepherd, a herdsman, or a person that tends to plants, like a farmer. While following his flock in the wilderness of Judah, God called him for a special mission: "Go, Prophecy to My people of Israel." In the eyes of the humble shepherd this must have appeared a most difficult mission. At the time when the call came to him, he was not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet.

6. His Call (Amos 7:15 NASB) “But the LORD took me from following the flock and the LORD said to me, ‘Go prophesy to My people Israel.’” Responds to God’s call by telling everyone that he was no prophet, just a shepherd following God’s word.

7. He roughly accepted his call from God although he had no experience in the field and was dirt poor. He roughly accepted his call from God although he had no experience in the field and was dirt poor. Go Amos and preach to the people of the North about their wrong ways! Uhmm but I don’t really want too, I have no expierence Go now! fine

8. His Message Oppression of the Poor Oppression of the Poor –Wanted rich Israelites to start caring about the poor people of their nation. False Religion False Religion –Against false idols of God, and urged people to practice sacrifice only in the city of Jerusalem.

9. A Quick Summary of Amos’ Message There is only one God and he is our judge. There is only one God and he is our judge. God does not play favorites. God does not play favorites. We are always invited into God’s We are always invited into God’s kingdom, however we must behave in a true way, not in falseness or with hypocrisy. God will not save the ones that act with selfishness, immorality, ostentation, and oppress the poor. God will not save the ones that act with selfishness, immorality, ostentation, and oppress the poor.

10. His Mission (Amos 4:1 NASB) “Hear this word, you cows of Bashan who are on the mountain of Samaria, Who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, Who say to your husbands, ‘Bring now, that we may drink!’” (Amos 4:1 NASB) “Hear this word, you cows of Bashan who are on the mountain of Samaria, Who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, Who say to your husbands, ‘Bring now, that we may drink!’” His main mission was to return Israel to their God and help the poor and oppressed. His main mission was to return Israel to their God and help the poor and oppressed. http://www.gcfweb.org/institute/prop het/amos.html http://www.gcfweb.org/institute/prop het/amos.html http://www.gcfweb.org/institute/prop het/amos.html http://www.gcfweb.org/institute/prop het/amos.html

11. Amos’s vision displayed God with a plumb line, standing by a wall that had been built to plumb. Amos’s vision displayed God with a plumb line, standing by a wall that had been built to plumb. The wall, most likely is the city wall, which was built to protect the people of Israel. God used a plumb line as a test to show how sinful the people were. The wall, most likely is the city wall, which was built to protect the people of Israel. God used a plumb line as a test to show how sinful the people were. God said, "I will spare them no longer.“ God said, "I will spare them no longer.“ The Plumb Line A plumb line tests whether what was erected is perpendicular to the square, that is, if it is straight up and down, if it is upright. it provides a standard against which one can measure what he has built. Metaphorically, when God draws near with the plumb line, He is looking for those people who are living and abiding in His grace and His law. The Israelites' moral standards had degenerated, so their religious profession was not verified by the right kind of works. They were not upright; they failed the test.

12. Locusts were considered uncontrollable by the people of Palestine because the locusts were believed to be an act from God. Locusts were considered uncontrollable by the people of Palestine because the locusts were believed to be an act from God. Amos pleaded to God to relent, proclaiming that the people will change from their greed to giving to the people in need. Amos pleaded to God to relent, proclaiming that the people will change from their greed to giving to the people in need. God gives in. God gives in. Locusts

13. “The people who look after sheep have green fields now. But these fields will become brown and the grass will die.” (Amos, Chapter 1, Verse 2) Sheep pastoral moments show that God wants the Israelites to follow him and be as faithful following a sheep would be with his shepherd. Sheep pastoral moments show that God wants the Israelites to follow him and be as faithful following a sheep would be with his shepherd. Amos tells only the word of God to the Israelites. In this verse Amos is stating that if they are not f faithful to God they will be punished. Amos tells only the word of God to the Israelites. In this verse Amos is stating that if they are not f faithful to God they will be punished.

14. “‘I struck your gardens and fields of grapes many times. I made your crops die from heat and disease. Locusts ate your fig trees and olive trees. But still you did not return to me.’ The Lord says these things.” (Amos Chapter ?, Verse 9). Meadows and fields are a sign of God’s love for us and the beauty in having a relationship with God. Meadows and fields are a sign of God’s love for us and the beauty in having a relationship with God. The Lord tried to make the Israelites come back to him, believe in him, but they still did not listen. They kept doing ungodly things. He says that he has done good things for them, and, when they did not listen, did bad things to them. All to teach them a lesson, but it did not work. Finally God had had enough. The Lord tried to make the Israelites come back to him, believe in him, but they still did not listen. They kept doing ungodly things. He says that he has done good things for them, and, when they did not listen, did bad things to them. All to teach them a lesson, but it did not work. Finally God had had enough.

15. God showed Amos a vision of soon to be rotten fruit. God showed Amos a vision of soon to be rotten fruit. God says to Amos, “The end has come for My people Israel. I will spare them no longer.” God says to Amos, “The end has come for My people Israel. I will spare them no longer.” Amos saw the ripe fruit becoming brown and squishy. Amos saw the ripe fruit becoming brown and squishy. The basket of fruit reveals the end of the summer season, Israel had arrived at the end of God’s patience with them. The basket of fruit reveals the end of the summer season, Israel had arrived at the end of God’s patience with them. The Basket of Summer Fruit