Old Testament Survey The Book of Amos Background

Old Testament Survey: The Book of Amos

Background • The name Amos means “burden bearer. ” • Amos was a humble man who had a deep sense of justice and right. • He preached a severe and strict message. • Israel’s sins lay heavily on this prophet’s heart. • A fearless man who had great courage.

Background • Home was Tekoah, 12 miles south of Jerusalem. • A herdsman of sheep and a “dresser of sycamore trees. ” (7: 14) • Under the rule of Jeroboam II, king of Israel, the nation become wealthy and wicked. • Worshipped the idols of Jeroboam I and the Baals. • False worship systems led people away from God—there was widespread

Background • Sustained great material wealth. • Outwardly prosperous but spiritually bankrupt. • Two classes of people—the wealthy who lived in luxury and the poor who were in extreme poverty. • Ruler and judges were also corrupt. • Social relationships had become immoral. • God sent Amos to Bethel to warn the

Background • The prophet of woe declared that Israel would not escape punishment for her sins. • Judah was also warned of divine retribution, but promised the Messianic kingdom. • Denounced by the idolatrous priest, Amaziah, who complained to the king. Amos was forbidden to continue his preaching. (7: 10 -17) • Israel was speeding toward certain destruction; Amos and Hosea made a final effort. • The book’s tone was imminent disaster, but the people answered, ”We are God’s chosen

Keys to the Book • Key words – Judgment – Punishment – Captivity – Restoration • Key verses: 3: 1, 2 “Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying: ‘You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore, I will punish you for all your

Keys to the Book • Key words – Judgment – Punishment – Captivity – Restoration • Key verses: 3: 3; 4: 12 • “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? ” • “Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”

Keys to the Book • Key words – – Judgment – Punishment – Captivity – – Captivity Restoration – restoration • Key verses: 5: 14, • Key 15 verses – 5: 14, 15 “Seek good and not evil, that you may live; so the LORD God of hosts will be with you, as you have spoken. Hate evil, love good; establish justice in the gate. It may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. ”

Keys to the Book • • Keywords – Judgment ––Punishment ––Captivity Punishment – Restoration – Captivity • Key verses: 8: 11, – restoration 12 • Key verses – 8: 11, 12 “Behold, the days are coming, " says the Lord GOD, "that I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, but shall not find

The Book’s Message • Pronouncing judgments on neighboring heathen cities and countries —cruelty – – – Damascus Gaza Tyre Edom Ammon Moab “Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime. But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth; Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting and trumpet

The Book’s Message • Israel’s own sins • Results of idol worship – Political – Social – Moral “Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals. They pant after the dust of the earth which is on the head of the poor, and pervert the way of the humble. A man and his father go in to the same girl, to defile My holy name. They lie down by every altar on clothes taken in pledge, and drink the wine of the condemned in the house of

The Book’s Message • Condemning the sins of the ruling class. • • “Proclaim in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say: Lawlessness went 'Assemble on the mountains of Samaria; unpunished. see great tumults in her Plunder had been midst, and the taken dishonestly. oppressed within her. For they do not know to do right, ' says the LORD, 'Who store up

The Book’s Message • In the capital city of Samaria, they were living in luxury. • Demanding money for oppressing the poor. “Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, ‘Bring wine, let us drink!’ The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness: ‘Behold, the days shall come upon you when He will take you away with fishhooks, and your posterity with

The Book’s Message • Refused to hearken to God’s previous judgments. – Food and water – Smitten fields – Slain young men – Overthrown cities – Ignored God “I overthrew some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand plucked from the burning; yet you have not returned to Me, says the LORD. Therefore, thus will I do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, ‘Prepare to meet

The Book’s Message • Prophet to denounce “love of pleasure” in both Samaria and Jerusalem – Listen to empty songs. – Consume best meats and wine. – Sleep in rich, silkcovered beds. “Who lie on beds of ivory, stretch out on your couches, eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall; who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments, and invent for yourselves musical instruments like David; who drink wine from bowls, and anoint yourselves with the best ointments, but are not grieved for the affliction of

The Book’s Message • God will destroy the sinful nation of Israel. “On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its • Raise up the damages; I will raise up tabernacle of David. its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old; that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the LORD who does thing. ” (9: 11, 12)

Great Lessons from Amos • Condemnation of the nations—sin and sorrow. – Chapters 1, 2 • Condemnation of Israel. – Chapters 3 -6 • Five visions concerning Israel—calling her to repentance. – Chapters 7: 1 --9: 10 • Oracles of hope, promise of a better day to dawn.