Introduction to Amos
Keith Sharp
Amos wrote the book named for him (1:1). He bore the burden of rebuking apostate Israel for their corruption and announcing their destruction. Amos explained of himself: I was no prophet. Nor was I a son of a prophet (7:14).
Rather he was a "herdsman" (keeper of sheep) from the village of Tekoa, six miles south of Bethlehem, in the rugged hill country of Judah (1:1). The Lord called him from following sheep and tending sycamore trees and commanded him, "Go, prophesy to My people Israel" (7:14-15). He was a rugged, rustic, hard-working citizen of Judah sent to cry out against wealthy, urbane, corrupt Israel.
The Lord sent Amos "in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake" (1:1; cf. Zechariah 14:5). This was about 755 B.C., at which time Judah and Israel were at the height of their power and wealth (2 Kings 14:23 - 15:7; 2 Chronicles ch. 26; Amos 3:15; 4:1; 6:1,3-6).
Israel was exceedingly wicked. At the heart of their corruption was religious apostasy, the
substitution of elaborate ceremony for faithfulness to God (2 Kings 14:23-24; Amos 2:4,12; 4:4-5; 8:14). Religious apostasy had led to moral corruption. They oppressed the poor through violence and civil corruption (2:6-8; 3:10; 4:1-2; 5:7,10-12), committed adultery and drunkenness (2:7-8; 4:2; 6:6), gave elaborate feasts with wealth stolen from the poor (6:3-7), and were covetous (8:4-6).
Amos indignantly demanded for the Lord: Take away from Me the noise of your songs,
For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.
But let justice run down like water,
And righteousness like a mighty stream (5:23-24). Amos is the prophet of divine justice. He sternly warned, "Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!" (4:12)
The theme of Amos is the Final Judgment of National Israel (4:12 - 5:2; 9:8). Amos cried, "Prepare to meet your God, O Israel" (4:12). Israel would meet the Almighty God in battle, as He is to an impenitent nation "The LORD God of hosts" (4:13), the Commander of His armies.
The restoration promised by Amos has been realized in the church (9:11-12; cf. Acts 15:14-
19).
Outline
I. Introduction - 1:1-2
II. The Judgment of Nations - 1:3-2:16
III. The Crimes and Punishment of Israel - chapters 3-6
IV. Five Visions - 7:1-9:10
V. The Restoration of the Tabernacle of David - 9:11-15
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