BiographyBiography Born in the early 8Born in the early 8thth Century B.C. Century B.C. Came from a small town in Came from a small town in

Jerusalem called Tekoa (south of Jerusalem called Tekoa (south of Bethlehem)Bethlehem)

One of the twelve prophets in the One of the twelve prophets in the Hebrew BibleHebrew Bible

Amos means “Burden-Bearer”Amos means “Burden-Bearer” Two main jobs before becoming a Two main jobs before becoming a

prophet was being a shepherd and prophet was being a shepherd and a tender of sycamore fig treesa tender of sycamore fig trees

He was an intellectual and He was an intellectual and educated maneducated man

Biography Cont.Biography Cont. He preached 2 years before a very large earthquakeHe preached 2 years before a very large earthquake A contemporary of Hosea and IsaiahA contemporary of Hosea and Isaiah Amos wrote a book in the Bible using vivid, forceful, and expressive Amos wrote a book in the Bible using vivid, forceful, and expressive

language language He gave a message at Bethel which was the most important place in the He gave a message at Bethel which was the most important place in the

north where people worshipednorth where people worshiped Traditions says that Amos died a vicious death at the hands of JeroboamTraditions says that Amos died a vicious death at the hands of Jeroboam II II

Historical ContextHistorical Context The kingdom of Israel had already been divided up into 2 parts for over 170 yearsThe kingdom of Israel had already been divided up into 2 parts for over 170 years

During the time of Jeroboam II the nation of Israel had become rich for reasons During the time of Jeroboam II the nation of Israel had become rich for reasons including:including:– The Assyrians defeated the Syrians in WarThe Assyrians defeated the Syrians in War– Jeroboam expanded bordersJeroboam expanded borders– Syrians became weakSyrians became weak– Assyrians did not try to take authority over Israelis peopleAssyrians did not try to take authority over Israelis people– Israelites controlled trade routesIsraelites controlled trade routes

Jeroboam introduced Idol-worshipJeroboam introduced Idol-worship

In Israel Baal worship was also popularIn Israel Baal worship was also popular

Historical Context Cont.Historical Context Cont. It is said that he delivered most of It is said that he delivered most of

his messages during 760 B.C.his messages during 760 B.C.

Scholars believe most of Amos’ Scholars believe most of Amos’ messages were recorded after he messages were recorded after he delivered them to the Northern delivered them to the Northern Kingdom, upon returning to his Kingdom, upon returning to his southern homeland Tekoa southern homeland Tekoa

The reign of Uzziah , king of The reign of Uzziah , king of Judah, and Jeroboam II, King of Judah, and Jeroboam II, King of Israel, was probably when most Israel, was probably when most of his activities took placeof his activities took place

Amos’ CallAmos’ Call

Tekoa was the center for a large sheep farming Tekoa was the center for a large sheep farming district. Amos in context was considered to be a district. Amos in context was considered to be a shepherd, a herdsman, or a person that tends to plants, shepherd, a herdsman, or a person that tends to plants, like a farmer. While following his flock in the like a farmer. While following his flock in the wilderness of Judah, God called him for a special wilderness of Judah, God called him for a special mission: "Go, Prophecy to My people of Israel." In mission: "Go, Prophecy to My people of Israel." In the eyes of the humble shepherd this must have the eyes of the humble shepherd this must have appeared a most difficult mission. At the time when appeared a most difficult mission. At the time when the call came to him, he was not a prophet, nor the the call came to him, he was not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet.son of a prophet.

His CallHis Call (Amos 7:15 NASB) (Amos 7:15 NASB)

“But the LORD took “But the LORD took me from following the me from following the flock and the LORD flock and the LORD said to me, ‘Go said to me, ‘Go prophesy to My prophesy to My people Israel.’”people Israel.’”

Responds to God’s Responds to God’s call by telling call by telling everyone that he was everyone that he was no prophet, just a no prophet, just a shepherd following shepherd following God’s word.God’s word.

He roughly accepted his call from He roughly accepted his call from God although he had no experience God although he had no experience in the field and was dirt poor.in the field and was dirt poor.

Go Amos and preach to the people of the North about their wrong ways!

Uhmm but I don’t

really want too, I have

no expierence

Go now!

fine

His MessageHis Message Oppression of the Oppression of the

PoorPoor– Wanted rich Israelites Wanted rich Israelites

to start caring about to start caring about the poor people of the poor people of their nation.their nation.

False ReligionFalse Religion– Against false idols of Against false idols of

God, and urged God, and urged people to practice people to practice sacrifice only in the sacrifice only in the city of Jerusalem.city of Jerusalem.

A Quick Summary of Amos’ A Quick Summary of Amos’ MessageMessage

There is only one God and he is our judge. There is only one God and he is our judge. God does not play favorites.God does not play favorites. We are always invited into God’s We are always invited into God’s

kingdom, however we must behave in a true kingdom, however we must behave in a true way, not in falseness or with hypocrisy.way, not in falseness or with hypocrisy.

God will not save the ones that act with God will not save the ones that act with selfishness, immorality, ostentation, and selfishness, immorality, ostentation, and

oppress the poor.oppress the poor.

His MissionHis Mission

(Amos 4:1 NASB) “Hear this word, you cows (Amos 4:1 NASB) “Hear this word, you cows of Bashan who are on the mountain of of Bashan who are on the mountain of Samaria, Who oppress the poor, who crush Samaria, Who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, Who say to your husbands, the needy, Who say to your husbands, ‘Bring now, that we may drink!’”‘Bring now, that we may drink!’”

His main mission was to return Israel to His main mission was to return Israel to their God and help the poor and oppressed.their God and help the poor and oppressed.

http://www.gcfweb.org/institute/prophet/amos.html

Amos’s vision displayed God Amos’s vision displayed God with a plumb line, standing by with a plumb line, standing by a wall that had been built to a wall that had been built to plumb.plumb.

The wall, most likely is the city The wall, most likely is the city wall, which was built to protect wall, which was built to protect the people of Israel. God used a the people of Israel. God used a plumb line as a test to show plumb line as a test to show how sinful the people were.how sinful the people were.

God said, "I will spare them no God said, "I will spare them no longer.“longer.“

The Plumb LineThe Plumb Line

A plumb line tests whether what was erected is perpendicular to the square, that is, if it is straight up and down, if it is upright. it provides a standard against which one can measure what he has built. Metaphorically, when God draws near with the plumb line, He is looking for those people who are living and abiding in His grace and His law. The Israelites' moral standards had degenerated, so their religious profession was not verified by the right kind of works. They were not upright; they failed the test.

Locusts were considered Locusts were considered uncontrollable by the uncontrollable by the people of Palestine people of Palestine because the locusts were because the locusts were believed to be an act believed to be an act from God.from God.

Amos pleaded to God to Amos pleaded to God to relent, proclaiming that relent, proclaiming that the people will change the people will change from their greed to giving from their greed to giving to the people in need.to the people in need.

God gives in.God gives in.

LocustsLocusts

““The people who look after sheep have green fields now.The people who look after sheep have green fields now.But these fields will become brown and the grass will die.”But these fields will become brown and the grass will die.”

(Amos, Chapter 1, Verse 2)(Amos, Chapter 1, Verse 2)

Sheep pastoral moments show that God Sheep pastoral moments show that God wants the Israelites to follow him and be wants the Israelites to follow him and be as faithful following a sheep would be with as faithful following a sheep would be with his shepherd. his shepherd.

Amos tells only the word of God to the Amos tells only the word of God to the Israelites. In this verse Amos is Israelites. In this verse Amos is stating that if they are not f stating that if they are not f faithful to God they will be faithful to God they will be punished.punished.

“‘“‘I struck your gardens and fields of grapes many times.I struck your gardens and fields of grapes many times.I made your crops die from heat and disease.I made your crops die from heat and disease.

Locusts ate your fig trees and olive trees.Locusts ate your fig trees and olive trees.But still you did not return to me.’ The Lord says these But still you did not return to me.’ The Lord says these

things.”things.”(Amos Chapter ?, Verse 9).(Amos Chapter ?, Verse 9).

Meadows and fields are a sign of Meadows and fields are a sign of God’s love for us and the beauty God’s love for us and the beauty in having a relationship with God.in having a relationship with God.

The Lord tried to make the The Lord tried to make the Israelites come back to him, Israelites come back to him, believe in him, but they still did believe in him, but they still did not listen. They kept doing not listen. They kept doing ungodly things. He says that he ungodly things. He says that he has done good things for them, has done good things for them, and, when they did not listen, did and, when they did not listen, did bad things to them. All to teach bad things to them. All to teach them a lesson, but it did not work. them a lesson, but it did not work. Finally God had had enough. Finally God had had enough.

God showed Amos a God showed Amos a vision of soon to be vision of soon to be rotten fruit.rotten fruit.

God says to Amos, “The God says to Amos, “The end has come for My end has come for My people Israel. I will spare people Israel. I will spare them no longer.”them no longer.”

Amos saw the ripe fruit Amos saw the ripe fruit becoming brown and becoming brown and squishy.squishy.

The basket of fruit The basket of fruit reveals the end of the reveals the end of the summer season, Israel summer season, Israel had arrived at the end of had arrived at the end of God’s patience with God’s patience with them.them.

The Basket of Summer FruitThe Basket of Summer Fruit