Prophet Amos

Prophet Amos (Amos 7:14-15)

(760 - 750 BC) Situation: - This prophet was a native of Tekoa in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. -He prophesied in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which experienced prosperity under the rule of Jeroboam II. -However, a disparity existed between the rich and the poor, who were being exploited. -Assyria was growing in power and threatened other nations in the region. Call: He was not a professional prophet. He was called by God from his former way of life as a herdsman and dresser of sycamore trees to be a prophet of the Lord.

Oracle against the nations: Philista

Crime: Because they exiled an entire population handing them over to Edom. Punishment: The Lord said, I will send a fire upon the wall of Garza and devour its stronghold. From Ashdod I will cut off the one enthroned and the scepter ruler from Ashkelon I will turn my hand against Enron, and the last of the Philistines shall perish.

Oracle against nations: Aram

Crime: They threshed Gilead with sledges of irons. Punishment: The Lord said I will send fire upon the house of Hazael, and it will devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad. I will break the barred gate of Damascus. From the valley of Aven, I will cut off the one enthroned, and the sceptered ruler from Beth-eden. The people of <tribe name> shall be exiled to Kir.

Oracles against the nations: Edom

Crimes: He pursued his brother (e.g. fellow vassal or subject of Israel) with a sword; suppressing all pity, persisting in his anger and wrath raging without end. Punishment: The Lord said: I will send fire upon Teman, and devour its strongholds of Bozrah.

Oracles against the nations: Moab

Crimes: The people burned the bones of Edom's king to ashes. To the people of the near east, burning the bones of the dead was a particularly heinous crime, as it was believed to cause the spirit of the dead to wander without any hope of internment in their graves. Punishment: The Lord said I will send fire upon Moab and devour its strongholds of Kerioth; Moab shall meet death amid uproar in battle. I will cut off the ruler from its midst and all the princess I will slay with him.

Oracles against the nations: Tyre

Crimes: They handed over an entire population to Edom, and did not remember their covenant of brotherhood. Punishment: God said I will send fire upon the walls of <tribe name> and it will devour its strongholds.

Oracles against the nations: Ammon

Crimes: They ripped open the pregnant women in Gilead. Punishment: The Lord said: I will kindle a fire upon the wall of Rabbah and devour its strongholds when they go into battle. Their king and his princes shall go into exile.

Oracles against the nations: Judah

Crimes: They spurned the instructions of the Lord, and did not keep his statutes. Their ancestors worshipped false gods which have led them astray. Punishment: I will send a fire upon <tribe name>, and will devour the strongholds of Jerusalem.

Oracles against the nations: Israel

Crimes: They took advantage of the innocent. Debtors were sold into slavery because they could not pay some trifling debts; Committed acts of incest, profane God's name; Creditors kept the garments taken from the poor instead of returning them before nightfall as the law commanded. The Lord expressed his anger reminded them of all the good things he had done for them, e.g. destroyed the Amorites, brought them out of Egypt, raised prophets among their children. Punishment: The Lord said, you will not be able to escape the punishment or devastation coming your way. You will not be able to recover from your battle. No one will be able to escape and the ones that do survive will lose everything in battle.

Judgement Against Israel (Amos 3-4;7:1-9)

God was upset at Israel's ingratitude for all that He had done for them. Israel thinking they had a special status with God that guaranteed them protection, despite all the injustice, oppression, and abuse they inflicted on the poor and needy. There were three symbolic visions announced: - The locust swarming/devouring the crops; Amos pleaded, God relent. - The rain of fire consuming deep and withering part of the land; Amos pleaded, God relent. - The plummet, Amos did not intercede this time, for God was fed up with Israel's perversity. So destruction was announced.

Social justice connected to basic human rights, religious observance, and the very spirit of the covenant (Amos 2:6-8; 4:1; 5:10-15; 6:4-6; 8:4-6)

Israel didn't not expect an oracle to be directed towards them. People of power and wealth would bribe officials to condemn the poor/destitute and sentenced or sold them into slavery. They misused power, committed acts of prostitution, idolatry, They bought wine with money of those whom were fined unjustly. The women were called cows of Bashan because they were pampered. Amos was telling the judge officials that what they were doing was wrong but they ignored him. So greedy are they of unjust gain that they cannot spare a single day, however sacred, from pursuing it. They are strangers to God and enemies to themselves, who love market days better than sabbath days; and they who have lost piety will not long keep honesty.

Day of the Lord as a day of judgement, darkness, and gloom (Amos 5:18-20; 8:9-10)

Normally, this is day when God's enemies would be defeated. Amos tells the people of Israel that they have become God's enemies by refusing to heed the prophetic word. It would be a day of darkness and not light for Israel. Amos tells them they too would experience the divine wrath on that faithful day that only the Lord knows.

Empty Worship; Symptom of complacency and self satisfaction (Amos 5:21-27;8:4-6)

The Israelites' solemnities, worship, and their sacrifices of burnt offering were not acceptable to God, because they proved to be empty(e.g. their hands were uncleaned from the oppression of their fellow Israelites). The Israelites thought by making sacrifices of burnt offering and worship, that would please God, despite how they treated the poor and afflicted. Religion w/ out justice for the poor was not pleasing to God. In addition they worshiped star deities (e.g. Sukuth & Kaiwan)

Remnant presented in the form of a threat, that is, all that will remain after God's judgement are scattered fragments of a people (Amos 3:12; 5:3,15)

The deliverance from the invasion of the enemy is not really an escape, it is a disaster. For only a small group of the Israelites will survive the invasion (e.g. a remnant). Thousands will be equipped for war, but only a hundred will survived. That hundred will eventually die by the sword or pestilence and ten will be survive. Amos then explains to them that God wants those remaining to Hate evil/love good, treat everyone fair. Then God may have pity on them [remnants].