Amos
Restoration of Israel
The prophet Amos closes his book on a note of hope, describing a rebirth for the nation of Israel (vv. 11- 15). God had promised to judge His people, but He did not intend to destroy them. In the future He would “restore David’s fallen tent,†“repair its broken places,†“restore its ruins,†and …
Judgment on False Religion and Corruption
In the past a walled city was a protected city, and a city without walls was vulnerable. A walled city could be taken only with great difficulty. A military leader seeking to take a walled stronghold would require (1) a large army and a willingness to take many casualties, (2) superior tactics, …
Authority of the Prophet’s Message
The people of Israel had experienced a unique, covenant relationship with the Lord because He had elected them from among all the nations to be His people (v. 1). The nation of Israel also had the privilege of having a unique “family relationship.†Along with the nation of Judah, they had …
Judgment on Israel’s Sinful Neighbors
The northern Israelites were living beneath a pious veneer of religion, worshiping idols, and oppressing the poor. Amos is identified as a sheep-breeder (vv. 1-2). He is a fiery, fearless, and honest shepherd from the south who confronts the people with their sin and warns them of the …
Amaziah confronts Amos
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 …
A Call to Repentance
Amos shocked his listeners by singing a funeral song for the northern kingdom of Israel (vv. 1-3). The Israelites believed that their wealth and religious ritual made them secure but they were doomed for an untimely destruction. Furthermore, those who attempted to pro …
Destruction of Israel
In today’s passage, Amos has a vision of the Lord standing next to the alter. This is either the alter in Jerusalem or more likely, the alter in Bethel (Amos 7:12). The Lord makes a proclamation of top to bottom destruction upon the religion and the people of Israel (v. 1). The top of the temple …
Judgment on Moab and Judah
In today’s passage, the Lord passes judgement upon Moab (vv. 1-3) and Judah (vv. 4-5). Moab was situated east of the Dead Sea between Ammon and Edom (vv. 1-3). They had descended from an incestuous relationship between Lot and his oldest daughter. Balak, king of Moab tried to hire
The Day of the Lord
Failure to honor the dead was considered horrible in Israel, so loud wailing was common at funerals. Paid mourners, usually women, cried and mourned loudly. Amos said there would be so many funerals that there would be a shortage of professional mourners, so farmers would be ca …
The Vision of Summer Fruit
Amos saw a basket of summer fruit gathered, and ready to be eaten, which signified, that the people were ripe for judgment, that the year of God’s patience was drawing towards a conclusion (vv. 1-3). Like this fruit Israel was ripe for judgment (v. 2). God had appointed a day of judgment for …