175 - Amos

Prophet Amos by Gustave Dore

Kathleen's thoughts

Amos 4: 1-5 Israel is reproved
Amos 4: 6-13 Israel's impenitance shown
Amos 5: 1-6 The call to seek the Lord.
Amos 5: 7-17 Exhortations to repentance
Amos 5: 18-27 Warnings of judgment
Amos 6: 1-7 The danger of luxury
Amos 6: 8-14 Punishments for sins
Amos 7: 1-9 Amos's visions
Amos 7: 10-17 Amos and Amaziah
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Amos I went onto the web about Amos and thought I would share this what I found. It's a simplar version of the study.

Amos

by Wayne Blank

Amos was one of the so-called "minor prophets" of The Bible (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi), not because their ministries were somehow less important, but because their written accounts in the Scriptures are much shorter than the "major prophets" (Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and Jeremiah).

Amos was a shepherd from Tekoa, a town in Judea between Bethlehem and Hebron. In describing his calling, he said, "I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, and The Lord took me from following the flock, and The Lord said to me, 'Go, prophesy to My people Israel.'" (Amos 7:14-15 RSV)

Amos was a prophet of the southern kingdom of Judah with a prophetic message that moreover included the northern kingdom of Israel (see Jews At War With Israel). He was active during the reigns of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam II of Israel (see Kings of Israel and Judah), around the same time as the prophets Isaiah and Hosea.

Under Jeroboam II the kingdom of Israel reached its peak of power and wealth, but as has always been the case with great nations and empires through human history (see also Daniel's Statue), all of whom eventually were either conquered by foreign invaders (e.g. Nazi Germany during the Second World War), or collapsed into chaos from within (e.g. the Soviet Union, a former world "superpower"), their human-centered arrogant pride and self-perceived greatness that ignored the God that made it all possible, made them a very violent, idolatrous and immoral society, to which God said, "I abhor the pride of Jacob, and hate his strongholds; and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it." (Amos 6:8 RSV)

Amos was sent by God to warn them to repent before it was too late. They didn't listen.

The Book of Amos consists of three parts:

• The judgment of Israel's neighbors for their sin: Damascus (Syria today), Gaza (the "Palestinians" today), Tyre (Lebanon today), Ammon and Moab (Jordan today) (Amos 1-2)
• The spiritual corruption of Judah and Israel (Amos 2-6)
• Five prophetic visions:
• The first two of locusts and fire (Amos 7:1-6).
• The next two (Amos 7:7-9 and 8:1-3) warn of impending catastrophe against the sinful nation.
• The fifth describes the overthrow and ruin of Israel (Amos 9:1-10) which was eventually completed by the Assyrians (see Ancient Empires - Assyria), but it also promises a future restoration of Israel (not just Judah) after the coming of the Messiah (Amos 9:11-15).

Interesting read.

Blessings

Kathleen.

175 - Hate the evil and love the good

Amos by James Tissot

Chareen's Thoughts

• From Jonah we move to the book of Amos.  It's the 30th book of the Old Testament and eighth book of prophecy.
• The word of the Lord came to Amos in judgement of the nations,  Israel and Judah.
• The Lord speaks about His hand on them and how they still did not return to Him. He calls them to seek Him. To turn and repent. He warns them of the impending judgement.
• He declared the anger of the Lord over those in luxury who did not concern themselves with the plite of Joseph.
• He speaks of the punishment of sin and gives Amos visions. Through these visions we see the Lords justice and compassion working hand in hand.  He speaks of a plumb line
• Amaziah tries to banish Amos because of his prophesies.

  Therefore he who is prudent will keep silence in such a time, for it is an evil time.  Seek (inquire for and require) good and not evil that you may live, and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said.  Hate the evil and love the good and establish justice in the [court of the city’s] gate. It may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph [the northern kingdom]. Amos 5:13-15 Our God is an Awesome God.

Blessings
Chareen