INTRODUCTION
He came from the humblest of professions: Caring for the sycamore-figs
and the sheep. His town was an obscure village called Tekoa at the edge of the
Judaean wilderness. No formal training, no recognised credentials, no great
connections. Yet God appointed, anointed, and sent him to a neighbouring nation
with heavy tidings. Their bribery, corrupt legal system, and failure to righty
distribute wealth - not to mention their gross idolatry - was causing them to head towards judgment. He
accurately predicted the exile of that nation (7:11; II Kings 17). His prophecy
and writings have an honour place among the Old Testament prophets and have
greatly influenced our attitude towards justice - God’s way.
The man and the book is called Amos. We are going to learn why this book
is worth studying.
‘Justice’ is a notion being thrown around in our age. Though it speaks
about fairness and equality, it has all the hallmarks of redistribution of
private property and retribution for the ‘sins of the fathers.’ True justice
must be all the way, God’s way. In Amos, we will see how that plays out.
HEBREW NAME
Amas and it means the ‘burden-bearer.’
AUTHOR
Amos is the author of the prophetic book that bears his name. He came
from the Judean village of Tekoa, 20 kilometres south of Jerusalem, not far
from Bethlehem. Tekoa was at the edge of the Judean wilderness. He tended sheep
and as a vine-dresser, he punched holes in the sycamore figs so that the bugs
would come out. From this humblest of professions, God raised up Amos to visit
the Northern Kingdom of Israel and deliver a heavy word of judgement. Though
Israel was prosperous, it was heading towards famine, plagues, conquest, exile,
death and destruction. Why? Because of their various sins, including idolatry
and injustice.
In addition to the ‘call of God,’ Amos had something else going for him:
he knew the Word of God and, more importantly, He knew God Himself. This alone
makes all the difference, giving him authority to deliver a word that lasts
forever.
PORTRAIT OF CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the restorer of His people.
THEME
When prosperity is accompanied by apostasy, then judgement will come,
despite the illusion of peace. The Northern Kingdom’s idolatry, apostasy,
materialism, greed, injustice, and arrogance, was causing them to race towards
the proverbial brick wall.
KEY VERSES
Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of
Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt,
saying, 2You
only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you
for all your iniquities — Amos 3:1-2
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto
his servants the prophets — Amos 3:7
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in
the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the
words of the LORD: 12And
they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they
shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it — Amos 8:11-12
DATE
The early part of the 8th Century BC, a few decades before the
deportation of Israel by the Assyrians in 722 BC. Estimates are from 775-755
BC. It was the time that Amos’ king, Uzziah, ruled in Judah and Israel’s king
Jeroboam II ruled from Samaria. Both kingdoms were prospering economically and
under Jeroboam II Israel’s borders expanded greatly, even beyond Damascus (II
Kings 14:25). Yet both kingdoms were in serious trouble with the LORD and
Israel’s peace and prosperity would turn into a nightmare of conquest and
deportation.
HOSEA & AMOS
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HOSEA
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AMOS
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Israelite
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Judean
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Anti-idolatry
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Anti-injustice
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Spiritual sin
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Social sin
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National prophecy
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International prophecy
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Invited to know God
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Invited to seek God
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Familial prophecy
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National prophecy
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Wrath
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Tender mercies
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Grace
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Righteousness
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