The Prophecy of Amos

I. Background (Chart 1)

A. Historical Setting

B. During the reign of Jeroboam II in Israel and Uzziah in Judah; a 14 year overlap in their reigns.

C. Israel

D. Politically, it was a great time in Israel’s history.

E. In Jeroboam’s time (Jeroboam II), Israel was strong enough to expand the borders of the kingdom greatly, even conquering Damascus and Hamath. Charles Pfeiifer, in his book The Divided Kingdom, says that Israel and Judah were enjoying physical prosperity not realized since the initial division after Solomon’s death (32).

F. Spiritually, Israel was still in decline.

G. They had not cast off the idols that Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, set up to worship Jehovah. Though they enjoyed great material prosperity, spiritually they were bankrupt. In less than fifty years after the death of Jeroboam, the Assyrians would take Israel into captivity.

H. Judah

I. Politically, Judah was becoming stronger.

J. Previous kings, Joash and Amaziah suffered crushing defeats at the hands of the Syrians and Israel. However, Uzziah had great victories over the Philistines and the Edomites and was able to control much of their territory. He also fortified Jerusalem and designed catapults and other siege weapons to protect the city.

K. Spritually, Judah was sickly.

L. Joash and Amaziah, the previous kings, worshipped foreign gods, forsook the Lord’s house, and ignored the prophets sent to warn them. In contrast to these kings, Uzziah set himself to seek God. However, often when the king served God, the people still worshipped on the high places.

M. Amos

N. The Lord sent Amos during this time of physical prosperity and spiritual poverty. He was a herdsman of the region of Tekoa and tender of sycamore trees. While keeping the flock, God commanded him to prophesy to His people, (Amos 7:14-15).

O. The prophecy (Chart 2)

P. Uselessness of false and hypocritical worship Foolishness of ignoring and minimizing God’s chastisement and warnings Condemnation for exploiting their poor brethren Warning of God’s impending judgment Hope for the new kingdom built on the ruins of the old kingdom.

II. Condemnation of the Nations (Amos 1-2)

A. Amos begins with a condemnation of the nations that surround His people, and concludes with condemnations for Judah and Israel.

B. His primary complaint against the nations is their ill treatment of His people in a time of weakness.

C. They violently attacked the people of God, 1:3; 1:11; 1:13. They sold captives of God’s people to the Edomites, 1:6; 1:9. As punishment for their wickedness, the nations would be taken captive, defeated, or destroyed completely.

III. The Case against God’s People (Amos 3-8) (Chart 3)

A. God would punish his people for disobeying His commandments, exploiting their brethren, and idolatry.

B. God felt burdened with them, 2:13-16. God reminded the people, starting in 2:9, that He destroyed the great Amorite nation before them so they could inherit the Promised Land. However, since that time they had ignored the will of God.

C. We must learn this lesson, Romans 11:19-22.

D. Though God cast our the Amorites for Israel to enter the Promised Land, and cast out Israel to establish His new kingdom, the church, He will cast us off if we are not faithful. We can have confidence in our salvation, but we must not get comfortable or arrogant.

E. Amos condemned their trust in prosperity.

F. He would destroy their luxurious homes filled with ivory, 3:15; 6:3-8. He would lead the oppressive women captive with fishhooks.

G. Amos condemned their false and hypocritical worship

H. He would destroy the detestable golden calves that Jeroboam set up in Dan and Bethel that led Israel into false worship, 3:14 .He condemned their hypocritical worship in which they multiplied transgression instead of pleasing God, 4:4-5 .

I. He hated their worship, 5:21-27.

J. He would not accept their sacrifices, peace offerings, or songs.

K. He wanted them to practice justice and righteousness. (Quote)

L. Hosea 6:6: “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” Samuel’s rebuke to Saul: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” 1 Samuel 15:22-23 Jesus regarding the Pharisees: “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.” Matthew 15:7-8 Matthew 23:23: ““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.”

M. They did not heed God’s punishment (Quickly)

N. God gave them famine, but they would not repent, 4:6. God withheld the rain from them but they would not repent, 4:7-8. He sent blight and locusts, but they would not repent, 4:9. He sent plagues upon them, but they would not repent, 4:10. He defeated them with other nations, and they would not repent, 4:11. God used the figure of a plumb line to show that they were wicked. Therefore, God would bring judgment upon them, 4:12-13.

IV. “Prepare to Meet Your God O’ Israel”

A. They could not hide from God’s judgment.

B. They were foolish to seek the day of the Lord, 5:18-20. God would not allow them to escape punishment, 9:2-4. Calamity would overtake them, as foretold by Moses, 9-10, Deut 28:15.

C. They needed to repent

D. God would withhold His word from them, 8:11-12. He called the people to seek Him and live, 5:4. They had to bring fruits of repentance, 5:12-15.

V. Lessons for Us

A. We must be careful that we do not repeat Israel’s mistakes.

B. We can trust in our prosperity.

C. Jesus tells us to “seek first the kingdom of God.” All the wealth of the world will be destroyed, what will be left? If we have gained the world but lost heaven, we’ve lost it all.

D. We can worship falsely and hypocritically.

E. We can come to worship and yet be unacceptable. Our minds and hearts must be focused on praising and serving God. We must avoid the danger of bringing worship to God when our hearts are far from Him, of thinking that our service on Sunday will cancel out wickedness during the week.

F. We can ignore the chastisement of God

G. Rebuke of the word and brethren can be ignored. Bad consequences and inner turmoil can be ignored.

VI. God would establish His tabernacle and His people on the ruins of Israel

A. Gentiles would be part of this new temple, 9:11-15.

B. This is talking about the church, Acts 15:13-17.

C. We prosper spiritually as God’s people, with no lack of wisdom, knowledge, and help from His hand when we are faithful to Him.

D. When we devote ourselves totally to Him, we realize the peace and prosperity illustrated here, and look for complete satisfaction and peace in heaven.