Hear This Word (Amos 3-5)

Introduction

A. Welcome and Prayer

B. Review: Last time, we were introduced to Amos, the “country bumpkin prophet.” Amos was a sheep breeder and sycamore fruit farmer from the little town of Tekoa. But God called him to another task -- to declare judgment to the northern kingdom of Israel. In the opening two chapters, Amos prophesied judgement to eight nations. Most of Israel’s neighbors were condemned for their violence and poor treatment of God’s covenant people, while Israel and Judah were called out for their disobedience (2:4), immorality (2:7), and injustice (2:7).

Witnesses Summoned Against Israel (ch. 3)

A. This passage begins by calling the entire nation to account (vv. 1–8), moves on to concentrate its attention on the capital city (vv. 9–12), and narrows its accusation further to the sanctuary at Bethel and the royal house (vv. 13–15). (Zondervan NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible.)

B. “Does disaster come…unless the LORD has done it? (v. 6; cf. Ps. 33:11; Jer. 10:12-13)

C. Phil Johnson said after Hurricane Katrina: “… One thing we ought to have learned with every major disaster of the past few years is that if you look closely at what is happening and what could have happened, there is nearly always more of God’s mercy than His wrath displayed in these calamities. If you define God’s purpose in terms of His wrath only, you miss the point.”

D. Discussion: Chapter 3 makes clear that Israel was about to reap the consequences of their own actions. Think of a time you had to suffer the consequences of a bad decision. Did it help you to avoid making the same mistake again?

Israel Has Not Returned to God (ch. 4)

A. This section begins with a judgment on the self-indulgent elite (vv. 1–3) and then points out how the nation’s religion ignored the losses the people had endured (vv. 4–11). A dreadful meeting with the Lord lay ahead (vv. 12–13). (ZNIV)

B. Cows of Bashan, grazing on the hills of Gilead, were well fed and known as being good beef and dairy. An example of satire, poking fun at the extravagant women of Samaria.

C. Light discipline, when ignored, gives way to heavier discipline (Heb. 12:10-13). I believe on Judgment Day, God will use this logic often – “yet you did not return to me.”

D. What five things are we told about God in vv. 12-13? (cf. 5:8-9; 9:5-6).

E. Discussion: The Bible regularly warns against the dangers of wealth (Mk. 4:18-19; 10:23; Prov. 30:8; Ecc. 5:10-12; 1 Tim. 6:10; 1 Jn. 2:15-17). How can we prevent our money, property, and toys from pulling us away from God?

Witnesses Summoned Against Israel (ch. 5)

A. This long section is composed of three long “chiasms,” or inverted structures with corresponding passages (5:1–17; 5:18–27; 6:1–14), the centers of which are their climax. Though there is a call to seek God and his ways (5:4–6, 14–15), there is no avoiding imminent punishment at God’s hand. (ZNIV)

B. V. 13 might better be translated, “the prosperous will be stunned into silence.”

C. Discussion: What does it mean to seek the Lord? How can we urge others to do so?