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Prophet of Social Justice
AMOS
INTRODUCTION
AMOS – SHEPHERD IN TEKOA, 12 MILES SOUTH OF JERUSALEM AND 6 MILES SOUTH OF BETHLEHEM• From southern kingdom but prophesied
in Israel• Dated himself during reigns of Uzziah
(Judah) and Jereboam II (Isa.)• 30 years before captivity of north• Chapter 7:10-17
TYPICAL APPROACH USED IN AMOS
•Speaks out against neighboring countries
•Addresses Israel’s sins
•Declares there is hope
SINS OF NEIGHBORING NATIONS
• Chapters 1 and 2
WHY PUNISH OTHERS?
• They have treated God’s people unjustly
• They did not have law?! Rom. 1:18-20
SOME NATIONS MENTIONED• Damascus – threshing Gilead• Gaza – Delivered captives to Edom• Tyrus – delivered captives to Edom• Edom – pursuing his brother without pity• Ammon – cruelty to Gilead (ripped open
pregnant women)• Judah – rejected God’s law
ISRAEL• In same context, Israel condemned for sin
• Materialistic• Oppress poor• Incest• Fraud – clothes by pledge, have to be returned by night
• What God has done• Destroyed their enemies• Delivered them from Egypt• There were prophets and from Israel• They responded by rejecting them
ISRAEL (CONT)
• God is hurt, but has to punish them
• “Weighted” down by all this
•God’s just nature requires him to punish injustice
CHAPTERS 3-5
• Israel: Addressed
CHAPTER 3:2-8, ISRAEL CHOSEN
• Got more will surely be punished more, Luke 12:41-48• God knows all – certainty of justice –
only right!!• Chapter 3:11-15 – certainty of justice
– only right!!
CHAPTER 3:11-15
• Foretells captivity
CHAPTER 4 – CONDITIONS OF ISRAEL
• V. 1-3, heathen wives will leave to captivity• V. 4-5, go through rituals• V. 6-11, God had tried to motivate
Israel to come back• V. 12-13 Powerful
CHAPTER 5:4-15, TOLD TO SEEK GOD• V. 4-5, anywhere else is trouble• V. 6-7, Do it before it is too later• V. 8-9, God made all and will initiate destruction• V. 14-15, Seek God by seeking Good• V. 16-20, no hope in evil• They wanted God to come but if not ready…
CHAPTER 6
• Earthly pleasures/prosperity will become curse
V. 1
• Woe/beware if you are “at ease” – satisfied, complaicent
SEVERAL THINGS MENTIONED AND PUT INTO THEIR PLACE• Furniture• Food idle entertainment• Alcohol• Oils • Parties• Houses
V. 11
• Destruction
CHAPTER 7:1-9:6
• 5 visions
CHAPTER 7:1-3 – LOCUST
• Amos prayed
• God changed his mind
CHAPTER 7:4-6
• Fire – again Amos prayed and God changed mind
CHAPTER 7:7-9
• Plumbing
CHAPTER 7:10-17
• Authorities tried to stop Amos
CHAPTER 8: ISRAEL “RIPE” OR READY FOR DESTRUCTION
• V. 4-10, Israel’s sins
• Trample needy
•Dishonest scales
• This all will end
CHAPTER 8:11-14
• Famine of God’s Word
CHAPTER 9:1-4
• No escape
• Lesson for today? A day of reckoning will happen!
STILL HOPE – IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING! • God has been good to his people – out of
Egypt• Identity of people or nation will be lost –
remnant left• Jeremiah 30:11• Jeremiah 31:36• Joel 2:32
PEOPLE SIFTEN
SINNERS WILL “DIE”
• By sword
• Will try to deny inevitable
PERMANENT MESSAGES IN BOOK• God’s diving nature• 4:13, 5:8, 9:5-6
• Sincere worship• 5:21, 5:23
• Social justice• 5:24, 2:6-8, James 1:27
PERMANENT MESSAGES (CONT)• Responsibility comes with privilege • Meaning of adversity• God will never stop warning • Need for all to have personal conviction• 7:14-15, even a prophet• Cannot be done by proxy