Amos 7:10-17

Then Amaziah the priest of Beth-el sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words. 11 For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land. 12 Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: 13 But prophesy not again any more at Beth-el: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court. 14 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: 15 And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel. 16 Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac. 17 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.

The Culprit

Then Amaziah the priest of Beth-el sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words. 11 For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.

There is always an antagonist

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Antagonist

one that contends with or opposes another: ADVERSARY, OPPONENT

In storytelling the antagonist is the villain of the story

You will have people that oppose you too:

Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

People that practice falsehood hate the Truth

How was Amaziah practicing falsehood?

How was Amaziah showing his disdain for the Message and Messenger of God?

Much persecution comes from people who are religious but reject the truth of God

Who were Jesus’ adversaries?

History has taught us that religious persecution multiplies when there is no separation of church and state?

Amaziah has no power to harm Amos

Then Amaziah the priest of Beth-el sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.

Our enemy (Satan) has no power to harm us as believers without God’s permission (from Job Chapters 1-2)

The Casting Out

Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: 13 But prophesy not again any more at Beth-el: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court.

The Enemy tries to Intimidate

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Nebuchadnezzar tried to intimidate the 3 Hebrew boys in Daniel

The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

We Serve a Higher Authority

But prophesy not again any more at Beth-el: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court.

The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

The Calling

Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: 15 And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.

A calling comes from God

Ambition is not God’s calling, ambition will get you into trouble

Stay humble or you’ll stumble

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Ambition

desire for rank, fame, or power

Lineage

Amos had no thought of ever becoming a prophet

Generally a son followed in his father’s occupation

Amos was called while Working

And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.

The Lord always calls people who are doing something (check it out)

Just following orders

Life is simple when you just follow orders

The Condemnation

Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac. 17 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.

The enemy never wants you to know about about the bad outcome following sin

The Bible may tell you things that you don’t like, but at least it is the TRUTH

Men love darkness rather than light ()

No Condemnation for believers ()