Amaziah confronts Amos
December 3, 2019
Commentary
In today’s passage we are introduced to a new character, the pagan priest Amaziah. He served at the high place at Bethel built by Jeroboam I. Instead of trusting in God, Amaziah trusted in the power of King Jeroboam II and in his kingdom. He saw Amos’s words as a threat to that power. Upon hearing Amos’s prophesy of coming destruction, Amaziah immediately sent word to the king, claiming that Amos was guilty of conspiracy. He reported Amos’s words, that Jeroboam would die by the sword, and the people of Israel must go into exile in a land outside of their home. Amos’s message was sure to upset the stability of the kingdom (vv. 10-11). When Amaziah confronted Amos, he told him to flee to Judah and to never again prophesy in Bethel (vv. 12-13). Amos, however, was not driven by a political agenda but by his calling as a prophet of God. Instead of fleeing, Amos told Amaziah his story (vv. 14-15). Amos’s father was not a prophet. Amos used to be a herdsman and a farmer, but the Lord called him to serve as a prophet to Israel (not to Judah).
Amos’s message for Israel was not a pleasant one. It was horrible in fact (v. 17). It can be hard for us today to read this passage and make sense of it. Our God sent His own Son, Christ Jesus to show us His love. So how can our God of love allow women to be raped, children to be slaughtered, and his own people to be dragged into exile? Such is the sad result of a life lived in rebellion against the God of love. God’s desire is to give us the only thing we need, access to Himself, through the blood of Christ Jesus shed for sinners. A life lived apart from God is spent on hell’s doorstep, but for believers in Jesus, this life is just a taste of all God has in store for us in his presence. Amos lived in step with God, but Amaziah and the people of Israel lived for their own selfish ends. “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:14).
Application
Thank you, Lord, for saving me from my sin! I was heading down a road that seemed right in my eyes, but the destination was hell. You plucked me off that path and showed me your grace and truth. Now I’m heaven bound, and my life will never be the same again. Thank you!
Amos 7:10– 17 (NET)
10 Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent this message to King Jeroboam of Israel: “Amos is conspiring against you in the very heart of the kingdom of Israel! The land cannot endure all his prophecies. 11 As a matter of fact, Amos is saying this: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword and Israel will certainly be carried into exile away from its land.’”
12 Amaziah then said to Amos, “Leave, you visionary! Run away to the land of Judah. Earn your living and prophesy there! 13 Don’t prophesy at Bethel any longer, for a royal temple and palace are here.”
14 Amos replied to Amaziah, “I was not a prophet by profession. No, I was a herdsman who also took care of sycamore fig trees. 15 Then the Lord took me from tending flocks and gave me this commission, ‘Go! Prophesy to my people Israel.’ 16 So now listen to the Lord’s message! You say, ‘Don’t prophesy against Israel! Don’t preach against the family of Isaac!’
17 “Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the streets and your sons and daughters will die violently. Your land will be given to others and you will die in a foreign land. Israel will certainly be carried into exile away from its land.’”