Amos was a prophet in the Old Testament who lived and prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah king of Judah and Jeroboam II king of Israel (Amos 1:1). Though originally from the southern kingdom of Judah, Amos’ prophecies focused primarily on the northern kingdom of Israel and its idolatry and social injustice. Here are some common questions people have about the prophet Amos and the book that bears his name:
Who was Amos?
Amos identified himself as a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore figs (Amos 1:1, 7:14-15). He was from the Judean town of Tekoa, about 6 miles south of Bethlehem. Unlike other prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah who came from priestly families, Amos came from a humble background as a shepherd and farmer. His lack of official religious training shows that his prophecies flowed directly from divine inspiration rather than formal education.
When did Amos live and prophesy?
Amos gives clear time markers that he delivered his messages during the reigns of Jeroboam II of Israel (786-746 BC) and Uzziah of Judah (792-740 BC). His ministry can be dated between 760-750 BC. This was a period of relative peace and prosperity but also increasing social injustice and idolatry in Israel. Amos spoke against the sins of Israel at a time of national optimism, warning that judgment was coming if the people did not repent.
What was the purpose of the Book of Amos?
Amos contains prophecies of judgment against the northern kingdom of Israel, Judah, and the surrounding nations for their sins against God and mistreatment of people. Amos condemned empty religious ritual, idolatry, greed, oppression of the poor, and social injustice. His purpose was to call both Israel and Judah to account before God, to warn them of coming judgment if they did not repent, and to urge them to renew their commitment to the Mosaic covenant. The book also contains visions of future restoration for Israel.
What are some key themes in Amos?
– God’s judgment for sin and injustice
– The need for justice and righteous living
– Empty/false religion vs. true devotion to God
– God’s sovereign control over the nations
– The Day of the Lord: judgment and restoration
– God’s special relationship with Israel
– God’s dislike for pride and self-sufficiency
What do we know about Amos’s ministry and preaching?
The Book of Amos depicts him boldly confronting the northern kingdom of Israel for its sins:
– Amos was not afraid to deliver unpopular messages of judgment to the people of Israel (Amos 7:10-17).
– He condemned the nation’s religious hypocrisy, idolatry, social injustice, and moral decay.
– Amos had to defend his role as prophet even though he was not a trained prophet or priest (Amos 7:14-15).
– His preaching took place at the temple in Bethel, one of Israel’s major religious sites (Amos 7:10-13).
– He boldly proclaimed that God detested Israel’s religious feasts and assemblies because of how they defrauded the poor and needy (Amos 5:21-24).
– Amos pronounced God’s judgment on Israel for its sins, warning of coming exile for the people if they did not repent.
How does Amos portray God?
Amos highlights several attributes of God:
– God is sovereign Lord over all nations (Amos 1-2)
– God is holy and righteous, hating sin and injustice (Amos 5:21-24)
– God expects His people to live justly and rightly (Amos 5:14-15, 21-24)
– God is patient but still judges/punishes sin (Amos 7:1-9)
– God cares about the poor and marginalized (Amos 2:6-7; 5:11-12)
– God is personal (“You only have I known” – Amos 3:2)
– God can restore and bless His people again (Amos 9:11-15)
Overall, Amos presents a God who relates closely to His people but who also hates their sin and will judge it impartially. Yet remarkably, God still holds out the hope of future redemption and restoration for those who turn to Him.
What caused the exile of Israel that Amos predicted?
Amos prophesied that because of Israel’s sins, the people would be taken into exile beyond Damascus (Amos 5:27). This prophecy came true when the Assyrian empire under Tiglath-Pileser III conquered Israel and deported many Israelites around 722 BC, bringing an end to the northern kingdom.
The sins of Israel that Amos condemned included:
– Idolatry and false worship (Amos 5:26; 8:14)
– Social injustice and oppression of the poor (Amos 2:6-7; 5:11-12)
– Sexual immorality (Amos 2:7)
– Pride and self-sufficiency (Amos 6:1, 8)
– Religious hypocrisy (Amos 5:21-23)
– Hard-heartedness and unresponsiveness to prophets (Amos 2:11-12)
Israel’s defiance of God’s law and persistence in gross sin eventually brought about the judgment Amos had warned of. The exile showed the truth of Amos’s prophecies.
How is the “Day of the Lord” portrayed in Amos?
The “Day of the Lord” can refer both to God’s judgment on sin and His future restoration of His people. Amos highlights the judgment side:
– It will be darkness, not light (Amos 5:18, 20)
– It means judgment for Israel’s sins, not vindication (Amos 5:18-20)
– It will bring wailing and disaster (Amos 5:16-17)
– It will not be an occasion of joy and celebration (Amos 8:9-10)
At the same time, the “Day of the Lord” will bring about the restoration Amos envisioned (Amos 9:11-15). While judgment was imminent, ultimate redemption was also assured for God’s people in accord with His covenant promises.
How does Amos connect social justice and worship?
Amos forcefully condemns those who participate in empty religious rituals but who also tolerate injustice and fail to protect the needy. He pronouns that God detests their false worship and calls them to align their worship with righteous living:
– “I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies…But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:21, 23-24)
– “Spare me the din of your songs…But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:23-24)
Clearly Amos teaches that going through religious motions is inferior to actively pursuing justice and righteousness in society. Our treatment of fellow humans matters greatly to God.
How does Amos reflect God’s care for the poor and marginalized?
In his indictments of Israel, Amos specifically highlights the people’s oppression of the poor as a major reason for God’s judgment:
– “They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals.” (Amos 2:6)
– “Hear this word, you cows of Bashan…who oppress the poor, who crush the needy.” (Amos 4:1)
– “They afflict the righteous, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the needy in the gate.” (Amos 5:12)
– “Hear this, you who trample on the needy and bring the poor of the land to an end.” (Amos 8:4)
God cares deeply about injustice against the vulnerable. As His people, we must care about the same issues He cares about.
What are some important messianic prophecies in Amos?
While Amos focuses heavily on coming judgment, there are also several important messianic prophecies that point to future redemption:
– God will restore the “fallen booth of David” – a reference to the messianic lineage (Amos 9:11-12)
– The Lord will plant His people back in the land of Israel where they will never again be uprooted (Amos 9:15)
– The mountains will drip sweet wine in days of restoration (Amos 9:13)
– Ruined cities will be rebuilt and flourish (Amos 9:14)
– Abundant food, harvest, and fruitfulness will mark the restored land (Amos 9:13)
These glimpses of hope reminded Israel that God still planned to fulfill His covenant promises despite their sin and coming exile.
How does Amos relate to modern Christians?
While aspects of Amos focus on a specific time and place, many of his themes remain very relevant:
– Need to seek justice and righteousness rather than just perform rituals
– Condemnation of oppression, greed, pride – sins common today
– God’s care for the poor and downtrodden
– Need to heed prophetic voices calling us to repentance
– Coming judgment on sin and injustice
– God restoring blessings to the repentant
Like Amos, Christians are called to live holy lives defined by justice, compassion, humility, and obedience to God’s word. Amos calls all who follow God to align their lives with His values.
What was the plumb line vision about (Amos 7:7-9)?
In Amos 7:7-9, God shows Amos a vision of Himself standing by a wall with a plumb line, which is used in construction to make sure a wall is straight up and down. God says He is placing the plumb line in Israel to see if it is “plumb” or if it needs to be torn down.
The plumb line represents God’s unchanging standard of righteousness. Israel’s spiritual walls were warped and crooked, having strayed far from God’s righteous standards. The plummet or plumb line vision shows God’s commitment to judge and correct Israel’s sins. He would not leave them in a crooked, warped spiritual condition. Through punishment and purging, God would fix their crookedness so they stood upright before Him again.
What is the significance of the locust visions in Amos? (Amos 7:1-6)
Amos has a series of visions showing God ready to judge Israel, but holding back His hand in response to Amos’s intercession:
1. Swarm of locusts about to devour crops – Amos prays, God relents (7:1-3)
2. Judgment by fire – Amos intercedes, God relents (7:4-6)
3. The plumb line – No intercession, God will spare them no longer (7:7-9)
The progressively intensifying locust visions show God’s patience in waiting to punish Israel, giving them opportunities to repent. But their persistence in sin eventually precipitated inescapable judgment. God’s sovereignty and power to raise up adversaries to judge sinful nations is clear. The visions highlight God’s patience and the intercessory role of prophets like Amos.
What is the significance of the basket of summer fruit vision? (Amos 8:1-14)
God shows Amos a vision of a basket of ripe summer fruit (8:1-2). This signaled that Israel was ripe for judgment like the fruit was ripe for eating.
Verses 11-12 describe famine of God’s word coming on Israel because they rejected the prophets. Just as food nourishes the body, God’s word nourishes the soul. By rejecting God’s word, Israel would starve spiritually.
The basket of ripe summer fruit was a vivid object lesson that the time was ripe for God to judge Israel’s sins. Yet the people’s indifference only hastened judgment. They failed to heed Amos’s warnings to realign with God’s plumb line.
How important was Amos among the Minor Prophets?
Amos played a vital role among the 12 Minor Prophets of the Old Testament:
– His was the first prophetic book in the Minor Prophets, establishing key themes of Israel’s covenant unfaithfulness, God’s righteous judgment on sin, and the call for justice and right living.
– Amos powerfully confronted idolatry and social injustice – sins which other Minor Prophets like Hosea and Micah also railed against.
– His messages of judgment prepared the way for prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah who would soon confront Judah with a similar message.
– The Minor Prophets as a whole served as God’s messengers to warn His people of the consequences of sin and idolatry. Amos initiated this prophetic tradition.
– Amos shows that God could call anyone – even humble shepherds – to serve as His prophetic spokesmen.
For these reasons, Amos established a crucial foundation among the 12 Minor Prophets in calling Israel and Judah back to faithfulness. His bold preaching and dire warnings of coming exile offered a sobering message of repentance that the rest of the Minor Prophets echoed.