Post by professorc on Oct 8, 2015 6:01:10 GMT -5
The Book of Amos
“The Necessity of True Justice and Worship.”
Amos means “burden” or “burden-bearer”. Amos was from Tekoa, a small village 10 miles South of Jerusalem. He was the only prophet to give his occupation BEFORE declaring His divine commission.
He was not of priestly or noble descent, but worked as a “sheepbreeder” and a “tender of sycamore fruit (7:14) and was a contemporary of Jonah, Hosea, and Isaiah.
The Date of writing was mid-8th century during the reigns of Uzziah and Jeroboam II.
BACKGROUND AND SETTING:
Amos was a Judean prophet called to deliver a message primarily to the NORTHERN TRIBES of Israel (7:15).
Politically it was a time of prosperity under the long and secure reign of Jeroboam II who, following the example of his father Joash, significantly “Restored the territory of Israel.” It was also a time of peace with both Judah and her more distant neighbors; the ever-present menace of ASSYRIA was subdued earlier that century because of Nineveh’s repentance at the preaching of Jonah.
Spiritually, it was a time of rampant corruption and moral decay (4:1; 5:10-13; 2 Kings 14:12)
HISTORICAL AND THEOLOGICAL THEMES IN AMOS
Amos addresses Israel’s 2 PRIMARY SINS:
1. The absence of TRUE WORSHIP
2. A Lack of JUSTICE.
In the midst of their ritualistic performance of worship, they were not pursuing the LORD with their hearts, nor following His standard of justice with her neighbors. This apostasy, evidenced by continual, willful rejection of the prophetic message of Amos, is promised DIVINE JUDGMENT.
Because of His covenant, however, the Lord will not abandon Israel altogether, but will bring future restoration to the righteous remnant (9:7-15).
GOD’S CHARACTER IN AMOS:
1. Holy (4:2)
2. Provident (3:6)
“The Necessity of True Justice and Worship.”
Amos means “burden” or “burden-bearer”. Amos was from Tekoa, a small village 10 miles South of Jerusalem. He was the only prophet to give his occupation BEFORE declaring His divine commission.
He was not of priestly or noble descent, but worked as a “sheepbreeder” and a “tender of sycamore fruit (7:14) and was a contemporary of Jonah, Hosea, and Isaiah.
The Date of writing was mid-8th century during the reigns of Uzziah and Jeroboam II.
BACKGROUND AND SETTING:
Amos was a Judean prophet called to deliver a message primarily to the NORTHERN TRIBES of Israel (7:15).
Politically it was a time of prosperity under the long and secure reign of Jeroboam II who, following the example of his father Joash, significantly “Restored the territory of Israel.” It was also a time of peace with both Judah and her more distant neighbors; the ever-present menace of ASSYRIA was subdued earlier that century because of Nineveh’s repentance at the preaching of Jonah.
Spiritually, it was a time of rampant corruption and moral decay (4:1; 5:10-13; 2 Kings 14:12)
HISTORICAL AND THEOLOGICAL THEMES IN AMOS
Amos addresses Israel’s 2 PRIMARY SINS:
1. The absence of TRUE WORSHIP
2. A Lack of JUSTICE.
In the midst of their ritualistic performance of worship, they were not pursuing the LORD with their hearts, nor following His standard of justice with her neighbors. This apostasy, evidenced by continual, willful rejection of the prophetic message of Amos, is promised DIVINE JUDGMENT.
Because of His covenant, however, the Lord will not abandon Israel altogether, but will bring future restoration to the righteous remnant (9:7-15).
GOD’S CHARACTER IN AMOS:
1. Holy (4:2)
2. Provident (3:6)