Amos and the Word of God

Background

Amos ministered during the reigns of Uzziah in Judah (790–739 b.c.) and Jeroboam II in Israel (793–753), an age of affluence, luxury, and moral laxity, especially in the Northern Kingdom. Amos mentions that this was “two years before the earthquake.” This doesn’t necessarily pinpoint the date, but archaeology has unearthed evidence of a violent earthquake in about 760 b.c., which would fit in with the dates of the kings that Amos mentions.

Assyria under Adad-nirari III had defeated the Syrian confederacy, thus allowing Jehoash and Jeroboam II to appropriate new land. Israel made enormous gains as Samaria became a trade stop-off for caravans. Ivory palaces were built, and businessmen became impatient with Sabbath restrictions. The rich were oppressive and corrupt; the courts were unjust; the religious services were either a sham or consisted of idolatry. Superstition and immorality abounded.

Change in the prophetic voice – Hosea, Joel, Jonah & Amos start to prophesy regarding the coming Messianic age. Prophecy is starting to be written down, rather than just vocalised.

But these prophets were not the “normal” prophets – they were not from “prophet” families, or sons of high ranking officials. They were ordinary people whom God used to speak to his people.

Amos, whose name means burden, gives no family pedigree, hence we can assume he was not of noble or prominent stock, like Isaiah or Zephaniah. The word used to describe his regular livelihood is not the usual Hebrew word for “shepherd” but is used elsewhere only of King Mesha, who had a successful sheep-breeding business (2 Kgs. 3:4). 1 Amos was a sheep-breeder and tender of sycamore trees.

A. He had no natural authority.

His authority came from the Word of God. God had said it – he would proclaim it because God had said it.

Ch 1- v3,6,9,11,13, Five times in chapter 1 alone. ”Thus says the Lord”

Amos started with the countries round about Israel

“For 3 transgressions and for 4” –Hebrew idiom: The phrase is not to be taken arithmetically, to mean a literal three and then four, but idiomatically, as meaning that the measure was full, and more than full; the sin of these people had overreached itself; or, to put it in an allowable bit of modern slang, they had “gone one too many,” they had “tipped the scale.” 2

There comes a time when God says enough is enough.

Gods word comes to

Damascus (1:3–5), Gaza (1:6–8), Tyre (1:9, 10), Edom (1:11, 12), Ammon (1:13–15), Moab (2:1–3).

Then it comes closer to home.

B. Gods word to Judah and Israel – Now the Lord is getting uncomfortably close to home: The next two nations to be judged are Judah and Israel! It is startling that they should be listed along with six Gentile nations. To the Jews of Amos’s time, this would have been most degrading!

Judah and Israel are pictures of the church. This is not “replacement theology” -

God speaks to his family.

Christians seem to be getting very mixed up, they are confused by the mixed up teaching they receive from pulpits.

e.g. Pre-marital sex, now seen as the norm, even in Christian circles.

In Chapter 3 v1 God talks to the “whole family”, and in Chapter 7 v16 God speaks to the priests (They had rejected the word of God so God rejects them)

Don’t be afraid if you see Gods judgment on people or nations

Why God Judged Judah (Ch2, v4)

C. “Because they rejected the law of the Lord”

Law of the Lord – not the ten commandments. The purpose of the 10 was to show that no-one could be sinless

“Law” here means teaching or instruction, but on a personal relationship. It means a drawing near, it means a taking time.

It means spending time with the teacher, listening to him, hearing his words, taking his explanations and advice.

This is about our own QT with God. Judah had neglected this time. We neglect this time at our peril.

Do I fail to give time to my teacher? He wants to speak to me. He wants to spend time with me.

“Statutes” – to carve out, engrave. The imperishable word of God.

“Lies” – story of untouched tribes in Africa, Lying is wrong. Goes to the very consciousness of man, the route of sin into world was by lie and deceit.

To Israel He said

D. Visible acts of unrighteousness

Everything he judges them for has already been told to them.

e.g. v8, sleeping on a pledge cf Duet 24 v10-13

They would have/should have known. We need to read his book so that we know what we live like. If we don’t read his book we will never know.

v9-12. Challenge to live a life worthy of their history – “Remember what I did for you?”

We are challenged to live a full Christian life – What am I doing with his gift, i.e. Jesus and Holy Spirit, plus my other gifts.

What sort of life am I living? Do I walk according to the flesh or according to the Spirit?

E. The plumb line (Ch7, v 7-9)

Picture of a “purpose built” wall. Walls are built to keep things out or keep things in.

Gods plumb line is held against us – we are purpose built. Keep evil out, and the good in.

F. Basket of Summer Fruit (Ch8, v1)

The fruit is over ripe. What is new today? Am I living on yesterday’s fruit?

G. Famine (Ch8, v11-12)

We have suffered in this land with lack of Gods word

H. Time of plenty (Ch9, v13)

Gods provision for us.

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1 (Intro) The word for a shepherd is italic; the word for a sheep-breeder is italic.

2 (1:3–5) J. Sidlow Baxter, Explore the Book, p. 130.