Background:
1. Amos dates his ministry during the reigns of Jeroboam II, king of Israel who reigned from 793-753 BC; and Uzziah, king of Judah, who reigned from 790-737 BC. He also says that he received this message in visions two years before the earthquake (1:1). Seismic events are not uncommon in that region so this must have been a significant event and there is archeological and historical evidence of an earthquake sometime around 760 to 755 BC. So his ministry is dated between 760-750 BC.
2. Amos ministered in the north, in Israel, though his home was in the south, in Judah. He was from the village of Tekoa (1:1), about ten miles south of Jerusalem. Priestly families lived close to Jerusalem but Amos was not from a family of priests nor was he trained in a prophetic school. He was a herdsman and a gatherer of sycamore fruit (1:1, 7:14). This was marginal land and what meager living the people derived from their sheep was supplemented with the fruit of the sycamore, which was a staple in the diet of the poor.
3. Amos ministered in a time of national power and prosperity both in the north where he prophesied and in the south where he lived. Military conquest had resulted in expansion of the nation’s borders and the acquisition of important trade routes. This led to prosperity and luxury for some, economic injustice and oppression for many.
The worship of false gods had deeply corrupted the nation and had broken any sense of accountability to the holy God. This resulted in a pervasive spiritual and moral decay. Bribery was common and justice was perverted. A large gap had developed between rich and poor, with the poor being sold as slaves over trivial debts (2:6). We must remember that in God’s eyes, greed — the worship of money — is considered to be idolatry (Col. 3:5). This was a very materialistic, self indulgent society with a false sense of security.
Even those who worshipped the true God with outward observance of the proper ritual were often guilty of lives inconsistent with true, inner righteousness. Jesus condemned His own generation for this outward profession and inner corruption, quoting the prophet Isaiah, This people honors Me with their lips but their heart is far from Me (Mark 7:6).
The Lord wanted His covenant people to understand that right relationship with Him is far more than merely ritual observance. It is lived in loving obedience to the Lord and compassion and justice to other people. If we truly love God, we will express that love to those around us. Economic injustice reveals broken relationship with people and with God. When sin permeates our lives and our interaction with others, God does not receive our songs or rituals of worship.
However, in their prosperity, the wealthy and the powerful assumed the blessing of God was upon them and tended to identify God’s purposes with the purposes of the nation. They equated material prosperity with the favor of God. The people, especially the wealthy and the powerful, were at ease in Zion (6:1), complacent, rather than repentant. In reality, they had broken covenant with God and the Lord’s response was to warn them that He will overthrow the purpose and prosperity of any nation that sinfully separates itself from Him, even the covenant nation.
Amos the Man
1. The name Amos means burden-bearer. As we said, he was born in the south, in Tekoa.
2. He emphasizes that he was not a professional prophet (trained in a prophetic school) nor was he from a priestly family. He was an ordinary working man called into prophetic service (7:14,15).
3. Character:
a. Amos must have been a man of spiritual integrity. God passed over full time prophets and priests to call him. God saw him as a choice vessel, holy, prepared for service.
1) We see his integrity in his willingness to prophesy judgment in a time of prosperity.
2) We see his integrity in his willingness to proclaim the word of the living God in the midst of a multitude of false priests, lying prophets and and false gods.
b. He was a hard working man who made his living by the sweat of his brow. He was a blue collar worker, a shepherd and farmer.
c. He was courageous, going to another country, standing before a powerful, successful king and delivering a hard message in a time of prosperity and success.
d. He was knowledgeable. He understood the world of his day.
1) He understood secular political reality: his prophecies include Damascus (1:3-5), Philistia (1:6-8), Tyre (1:9,10), Edom 1:11,12), Ammon 1:13-15) and Moab 2:1-3)
2) He understood spiritual reality. He had a good knowledge of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) and was able to relate the word of God to the reality of his generation. He discerned clearly the spiritual condition of the people, understood that relationship with a righteous God required righteous living. He understood that material prosperity is not necessarily synonymous with the blessing and favor of God.
e. He was dedicated to God, willing to go wherever God sent him. This enabled God to choose him for service in Israel.
f. Amos understood that he was not speaking his own thoughts or ideas nor was he prophesying in his own authority. Five times in chapter one and three times in chapter two he says, Thus says the Lord (1:3,6,9,11,13 2:1,4,6). In chapter three, Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you (3:1) and Therefore, thus says the Lord God (3:11). He continually uses the pronoun I in reference to the Lord, signifying that God was speaking through Him (example: Thus says the Lord, ‘I will…’ (1:3).
He attributes his visions to the Lord, Thus the Lord God showed me (7:1). Amos was confident that the living God was the source of his message.
Work and Message:
God called Amos to the northern kingdom to warn the people concerning the consequences of their sin. He also spoke prophetic warnings to the nations around Israel. The message was simple and direct:
1. Forsake your sin, turn from sin through sincere repentance.
2. Seek the Lord, heed His commands.
3. There is a day of judgment coming for all who will not turn and repent.
Amos was a contemporary of Hosea, a man of Israel who ministered powerfully in Israel. God called Amos, a man from the south to speak to the people of the north which gave him a different perspective — looking at the spiritual and moral values of the culture from outside. Amos was sent to Bethel, a spiritual center of the northern kingdom. It should also be noted that in prophesying to Gentile nations, Amos revealed that God is sovereign over all people groups and kingdoms, that His compassion extends to everyone as does His justice.
Exposition:
1:1 “The words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders from Tekoa, which he envisioned in visions concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
Amos establishes his ministry in the historical context of time and place. He was a shepherd from Tekoa ministering during the reigns of Uzziah king of Judah, and … Jeroboam … king of Israel. Two years before the earthquake adds historical authenticity to his ministry.
Note the words, The words of Amos … which he envisioned in visions (which he saw in visions). He was given visionary insight into the mind and message of God for his generation. His prophetic ministry was not based on opinions or theories but on the word of God which he saw in visions. He sees the truthful reality of the word which he hears from God, the word which he is commanded to speak to his generation.
1:2 “He said, ‘The Lord roars from Zion and from Jerusalem He utters His voice; and the shepherds’ pasture grounds mourn, and the summit of Carmel dries up.’”
The Lord roars — the God of Israel speaks with unmistakeable clarity. He is not hiding truth. It is not impossible to hear Him or to know His truth. The problem, as Paul reveals in Romans 1:18, is that people suppress the truth and invent false gods whose message they can control.
Who is this roaring God? The God who is known and worshipped in Zion, Jerusalem. This is Yahweh, the mighty God of the covenant people. Though He was worshipped in Jerusalem, His voice thunders all the way to Carmel to the north. Indeed, as we will see in the following verses, His voice thunders to the surrounding nations. He is God of all the earth, even if the nations do not honor Him as God.
The name Carmel means orchard planted with vine and fruit trees / orchard of God. But even the fertile vineyards of the Promised Land wither when the judgment of God is poured out. Creation responds to the voice of Creator God: The shepherd's pasture grounds mourn. The prophet announces that the present season of drought is nothing other than the judgment of God.
In the following prophecies of judgement, notice the repetition, like the tolling of a bell: for three transgressions ... and for four. This may be a poetic device — three representing the fulness of divine wrath and four representing the overflowing of wrath. This also speaks of the continuous, unending nature of the transgression. It is unceasing. The word transgressions — pesa — refers not merely to sin but to revolt, rebellion against authority.
1:3 “Thus says the Lord, ‘For three transgressions of Damascus and for four I will not revoke its punishment, because they threshed Gilead with implements of sharp iron.’
Yahweh speaks a Word against Damascus. This city was the capital of Aram, present day Syria. Though this was a foreign people, nevertheless, they existed as a people by God’s sovereign will and purpose. Though the Arameans were generational enemies of Israel and were not in covenant with Yahweh and worshipped false gods, they were still accountable to the true God. God judges the nations whether or not they know and recognize His authority. But God also warns them, calls them to repent, because He is a God of mercy and prefers grace to judgment.
I will not revoke (or turn back) its punishment: judgment seems inevitable, as if it is already released. However, if the people of Damascus had heard the Word and truly repented, would not God have forgiven, restrained His judgement? Certainly He would and He does. But God knew their hearts, knew they would not repent, so now judgement is inevitable.
Why? They had threshed Gilead with implements of sharp iron. Gilead was the territory east of the Jordan, occupied by the Israelite tribes of Manasseh and Gad. There had been constant wars between Israel and Aram over the years and evidently, the Arameans had not only defeated Israel but had also carried out atrocities on a conquered people. God had allowed their victory as a judgement against His wayward covenant people but the Syrians had exceeded what God purposed and committed abominations. In doing so, they had expanded beyond the boundaries God had set for them and God, under whose sovereign rule they existed, will judge them.
1:4 “So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael and it will consume the citadels of Ben-hadad.”
Ben-hadad may have been a royal title, meaning son of Hadad (Hadad was an Aramean god.) However, there is also evidence that a king of Aram named Ben-hadad had been murdered by a man named Hazael who then seized the throne. But whoever is sitting on the throne and how he got there is not relevant. Yahweh says, I will send fire... I will consume. The sovereign God takes responsibility for exercising judgment over the Arameans.
1:5 “‘I will also break the gate bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the valley of Aven, and him who holds the scepter, from Beth-eden; so the people of Aram will go exiled to Kir,’ Says the Lord.”
I will break the gate bar — the defenses in which they trusted are powerless before God. God will cut off the inhabitant, which speaks of death and exile. They are not owners of the land, only stewards. It is God’s land. The Lord will cut off him who holds the scepter — the king. Whoever sits on the throne is not sovereign. God is. God is sovereign over all nations, governments and people. Though the nations worship other gods, the true and living God will still hold them accountable.
Paul speaks to this in Acts 17:26, reminding us that God made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation.
This prophecy of judgment on Damascus was accomplished in 732 BC by the Assyrian army, only a few years after the ministry of Amos. But it is worth noting that an interval of 20 years or more between the prophetic warning and final destruction demonstrates the grace and mercy of God. Yahweh announced judgment but gave the people time to respond.
1:6-8 “This is what the Lord says: ‘For three offenses of Gaza, and for four, I will not revoke its punishment, because they led into exile an entire population to turn them over to Edom. So I will send fire upon the wall of Gaza and it will consume her citadels. I will also cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him who holds the scepter, from Ashkelon; I will even unleash My power upon Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines will perish,’ says the Lord God.”
The Lord pronounces judgment over the Philistines living in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon and Ekron. They had acted cruelly in selling people into slavery. They may have been an instrument of God’s judgement but exceeded God’s purpose or they may have acted entirely outside the will of God. But again, God says I will not revoke its punishment (1:6). Judgment is certain because the people have sinned and evidently, are unwilling to repent.
I will send fire on the wall .. consume her citadels, speaks of the destruction of the defenses in which they trusted, their military power and strength. Nothing is sufficient to withstand the judgment of God, other than sincere, humble repentance.
I will cut off the inhabitant speaks of the death and deportation of the inhabitants. The entire nation shared in sin, sin rooted in the worship of false gods, which idolatry always results in corruption. The entire nation will share in the judgment of God.
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I will unleash My power (hand) speaks of God’s personal involvement in the process of judgement. History will record this as a military defeat, a chapter in the history of nations. But it is the hand of God moving in human history.
The remnant … will perish. God establishes the times and seasons of nations. God lifts up one and pulls down another.
1:9,10 “Thus says the Lord, ‘For three transgressions of Tyre and for four I will not revoke its punishment, because they delivered up an entire population to Edom and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood. So I will send fire upon the wall of Tyre and it will consume her citadels.’”
Yahweh pronounces judgment over the people of Tyre (a city still existing in modern day Lebanon, just to the north of Israel). They sold people into slavery, probably including Israelites. They may or may not have been instruments of judgement but they exceeded the bounds of God’s judgement and violated the covenant of brotherhood. This covenant is probably a reference to the long standing relationship between Tyre and Israel, going back to the time of King David and King Hiram, who supplied building material for the Jerusalem temple.
God will destroy their wall, their citadels — their defenses. This did not happen until 330 BC, when Alexander the Great destroyed the city. Nevertheless, judgment was pronounced and eventually carried out, though centuries later.
1:11,12 “Thus says the Lord, ‘For three transgressions of Edom and for four I will not revoke its punishment, because he pursued his brother with the sword, while he stifled his compassion; his anger also tore continually, and he maintained his fury forever. So I will send fire upon Teman and it will consume the citadels of Bozrah.’”
The Edomites were descended from Esau, brother of Jacob and grandson of Abraham. For centuries there had been war between Edom and Israel but at some point, the Edomites had acted with a fury that violated God's boundary for them. They acted without any compassion, evidently against their brother nation. God has not only sets physical and historical (time) boundaries but also moral boundaries for nations. Though nations and people violate the moral will of God, God is still Lord of history and Judge of the nations.
The Edomite defenses will be consumed. Teman was the chief city in the south of Edom, Bozrah in the north. Judgment will be poured out on the entire nation from south to north. Again, there is only one defense against the judgment of God and that is repentance. Notice that God is speaking to people who are not in covenant with Him. Whether they recognize His Lordship or not, God is still Lord, Sovereign and Judge of all people groups and nations.
1:13-15 “Thus says the Lord, ‘For three transgressions of the sons of Ammon and for four I will not revoke its punishment, because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their borders. So I will kindle a fire on the wall of Rabbah and it will consume her citadels amid war cries on the day of battle, and a storm on the day of tempest. Their king will go into exile, he and his princes together,’ says the Lord.”
The Ammonites were a people group who lived east of the Jordan, in proximity to the tribes of Gad and Reuben (the area known as Gilead). Over the centuries there had been constant warfare between the Israelites and the Ammonites. At some point, the Ammonites committed atrocities against the Israelites. As a result, the Lord promises to destroy her defenses and abolish the government in a storm of judgment. The leadership of the nation, though ungodly idol worshippers, will be held accountable to the moral law of God.
The king and his princes will go into exile — they will lose the privilege of government. All authority is from God and God can remove a king's authority at any time. As Daniel said in reference to the Lord, It is He who changes the times and the epochs (seasons); He removes kings and establishes kings (Daniel 2:21).
For not from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert comes exaltation; But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another (Psalm 75:6,7).
An angel proclaimed to King Nebuchadnezzar, that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. He gives them to anyone he chooses— even to the lowliest of people (Dan. 4:17).
The Lord destroyed the defenses of the Ammonites, removed the king and his princes from the land. It is not their land. It is God's land and God sets the time of their habitation.
This is still true in our day. God is Lord over nations, governments, presidents and prime ministers. God is still calling to nations and to the men and women who comprise the nations. We may wonder at the patience of God but He is still sovereign and almighty, Lord of all lords and King of all kings. In the fullness of His timing, He will fulfill His purpose.
Study Questions:
1. How would you describe the character of Amos’?
2. Amos has a word of judgment even for nations that do not know or worship the Lord. What does this tell us about God and the world we are living in ?