Famine in the Land (Amos 8-9)

I. Review

The Lord wants his people to seek good, not evil (5:14) and to let justice to roll down like waters (5:24). Instead, Israel worshipped idols (4:4), trampled the poor (2:6-8), and grew fat (4:1; 6:4-6). God gave repeated warnings, yet still the people did not listen (3:6-12). God even sent a prophet, but the leaders only called him a troublemaker (7:10). Now Yahweh Adonai (6:8) is about to unleash judgment through a deadly army invasion (3:11) that will lead many into exile (6:7). The final chapters of Amos give several visions of destruction: locusts (7:1-3), a devouring fire (7:4-6), a plumb line (7:7-9), a basket of fruit (ch. 8), and the Lord standing by the altar (9:1-10).

II. The Fourth Vision: A Basket of Ripe Fruit (8:1-3)

A. A bit of wordplay here. “Summer fruit” (קַיִץ - qayiṣ) is very similar to “end” (קֵץ - qēṣ). In other words, “the time is ripe” for God’s judgment. Cf. Matt. 3:12.

B. “I will never again pass by.” God will spare them no longer. The time for mercy is up.

C. Paul said something similar in Acts 17:30-31. How do the people respond? (17:32-34)

III. The Cost of Religious Perversion (8:4-14)

A. Shall not the land tremble? (8:8; 9:5). “Their Warrior-God would advance against them and the land would tremble under His steps. The quaking tremors would be so violent that the whole land would rise … and then sink” (BKC)

B. The famine of God’s Word is a threat now as it was then (Dt. 32:20; 1 Sam. 28:6)

C. Social justice is a theme we have seen throughout this book (2:6-8; 4:1; 5:10-12; 8:4-6). The NT also emphasizes the need for love of neighbor and mercy toward the underprivileged - especially fellow believers (Lk. 9:36-37; Gal. 2:10; 6:10; 1 Tim. 5:3; 6:18; Jam. 2:1-9).

D. The modern social justice movement is trying to divide everyone into two groups: oppressor and oppressed. Sometimes this is called cultural Marxism. Guilt and shame is heaped on the oppressor, while reparations are expected for the oppressed. This approach to justice fails to view sin as a universal problem and is devoid of the gospel. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do anything at all to help minorities. It is easy to turn a blind eye toward those who suffer, or to exploit the poor and favor the rich. What are some ways we might be tempted to do this? Think about at church, in your neighborhood, in the community. If Amos has taught us anything, it is that God cares about justice, and we ought to also.

IV. The Fifth Vision: Israel to Be Destroyed (9:1-10)

A. A terrifying description. Just as God promised, Assyria conquers Samaria in 722 BC (30 years later). The event is described in detail in 2 Kings 15:29-18:12 (see esp. 18:9-12). Archaeology confirms these events. There are still ruins in Samaria dating back to the Iron Age period. And there is a very interesting inscription in Iraq from King Sargon II: “At the begi[nning of my royal rule, I … the town of the Sama]rians [I besieged, conquered]… I led away as prisoners [27,290 inhabitants of it (and) [equipped] from among [them (soldiers to man)] 50 chariots for my royal corps.… [The town I] re[built] better than (it was) before and [settled] therein people from countries which [I] myself [had con]quered. I placed an officer of mine as governor over them and imposed upon them tribute as (is customary) for Assyrian citizens.” This was the start of the despised “Samaritans” of the NT (Neh. 4; Jn. 4).

V. Israel’s Restoration (9:11-15)

A. James quotes this passage in Acts 15 to show God always had a plan for the Gentiles

B. Eden-like conditions will occur when Messiah comes! (Ac. 1:3; 3:19-21; Rom. 11:25-26)

C. What does this section communicate about the heart and character of God?

VI. Works Cited

Zondervan NIV Biblical theology Study Bible; Bible Knowledge Commentary; Life Change Bible Studies: The Minor Prophets; Ancient Near Eastern Texts