AMOS

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AMOS
sAm
Dr. Rick Griffith, Singapore Bible
College www.biblestudydownloads.com
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Chart of OT Kings Prophets
342
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Chart of OT Kings Prophets
342
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Book Chart
Amos
583
Judgment for Social Injustice Judgment for Social Injustice Judgment for Social Injustice Judgment for Social Injustice Judgment for Social Injustice
Eight Judgments Eight Judgments Three Sermons Five Visions Promise of Restoration
Chapters 12 Chapters 12 Chapters 36 7197 98-15
This is what the LORD says (13, 6, 9, 11, 13 21, 4) This is what the LORD says (13, 6, 9, 11, 13 21, 4) Hear this word (31 41 51) This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me (71, 4, 7 81) In that day The days are coming (911, 13)
God's Impartiality God's Impartiality God's Justice God's Judgments God's Grace
Pronouncements of Judgment Pronouncements of Judgment Provocations of Judgment Future of Judgment Promises after Judgment
Judgment Judgment Judgment Judgment Renewal
Horror Horror Horror Horror Hope
Neighbor Nations Northern Nation Northern Nation Northern Nation Northern Nation
767-753 BC (before the fall of Samaria) 767-753 BC (before the fall of Samaria) 767-753 BC (before the fall of Samaria) 767-753 BC (before the fall of Samaria) 767-753 BC (before the fall of Samaria)
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Summary
583
Key Word Injustice Key VerseBut let justice
roll on like a river, righteousness like a
never-failing stream (Amos 524). Summary
Statement Amos' message of judgment upon social
injustices of Israel and the surrounding nations
warns of the coming exile and declares God's
promise to restore a remnant in faithfulness to
the Abrahamic Covenant to urge the nation to
repent.
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Authorship and Date
584

• Amos not known outside of his writings
• Native of Tekoa
• Shepherd (11) or possibly businessman
• Fig farmer (714)
• Lived during the prosperous reigns of Uzziah,
  king of Judah (779-740 BC) and Jeroboam II, king
  of Samaria (783-743 BC)

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Where is Tekoa?
584
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Historical Background
584

• A Hebrew prophet's ministry and message were
  intimately bound up with the conditions in which
  the people to whom he preached lived, and Amos'
  book is no exception.
• Israel under Jeroboam II had economic prosperity
• But they abused the peasant class
• Social conditions in Samaria affected religious
  habits

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Characteristics
585

• The most negative of the prophets with only 8
  positive verses (98-15)
• Blunt businessman-like language
• First prophet to condemn not only Israel and
  Judah, but also the surrounding nations
• The object of intense study (60 different
  commentaries)

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Judgment Against the Nations (Amos 1-2)
591
11
Eight Nations Denounced by Amos
591
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Eight Nations Denounced by Amos
591
13
Perils of Prosperity
592
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Ivory Comb
Ivory comb from Megiddo, representative of the
wealth and luxury assailed by Amos (315 64)
--Oriental Institute, University of Chicago
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Sins of Injustice
585
510   How you hate honest judges!How you
despise people who tell the truth! 511 You
trample the poor, stealing their grain through
taxes and unfair rent. Therefore, though you
build beautiful stone houses, you will never live
in them. Though you plant lush vineyards, you
will never drink wine from them. NLT
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Sins of Injustice
585
512 For I know the vast number of your sins
and the depth of your rebellions. You
oppress good people by taking bribes and
deprive the poor of justice in the courts. 513
So those who are smart keep their mouths shut,
for it is an evil time. NLT
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Sins of Injustice
585
64 How terrible for you who sprawl on ivory
beds and lounge on your couches, eating the meat
of tender lambs from the flock and of choice
calves fattened in the stall. 65 You sing
trivial songs to the sound of the harp and fancy
yourselves to be great musicians like David. 66
You drink wine by the bowlful and perfume
yourselves with fragrant lotions. You care
nothing about the ruin of your nation. 67 Therefo
re, you will be the first to be led away as
captives. Suddenly, all your parties will end.
NLT
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Literary Structure
585

• The text of Amos is well preserved
• It falls into four parts
• 11-216
• 31-614
• 71-910
• 911-15

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Theological Themes
585

• Divine SovereigntyAmos emphasizes God's rule
  over Israel's history
• JudgmentAmos has the most material on judgment
  of any prophet, proportionally
• Idolatry and Social InjusticeAmos' message of
  divine judgment is directed at these two
  particular areas

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Theological Themes
585

• The Day of the LORD - Israel saw this as time of
  victory over her enemies, but Amos adds that
  Israel herself will be judged
• God's Word - Amos had confidence in the power of
  the divine word revealed through the prophets
  (31 41 51 714-16 812)

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Amos Applies the Mosaic Law
592a
Amos Phrase or Concept Pentateuchal Reference
11 The words of Amos Deut. 11
19 Remember covenant Gen. 915 Exod. 224 65 Lev. 2642-45
24a Keep statutes Exod. 1526 Deut. 440
24b Walk after Deut. 43 1128 135 4
27 Pervert justice Exod. 236
210 97 Brought you up from Egypt Gen. 5024 Exod. 38
210 Inherit the land Gen. 157 Num. 3353 Deut. 231
31 Hear this word Deut. 41 51 64
37 His servants the prophets Deut. 345, 10
44 Tithes every three days/years Deut. 1428 2612
45 Burn sacrifices Lev. 19
Leavened bread as a thank-offering Lev. 211 712-15
Freewill offerings Lev. 2217-25
Love Deut. 65
46 Return to Yahweh Deut. 430 302
49 Blight and mildew Deut. 2822
Vineyards, olive trees Deut. 2830, 39-40
410 I sent a plague among you Lev. 2625 Deut. 2820
412 Prepare to meet your God Exod. 1915-17
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Amos Applies the Mosaic Law
592a
Amos Phrase or Concept Pentateuchal Reference
413 On the heights of the earth Deut. 3213
54 Seek Yahweh Deut. 429
56 Yahweh like a consuming fire Deut. 424
511 Futility curse on houses Deut. 2830a
Futility curse on vineyards Deut. 2830b, 39
520 Gloom as a covenant curse Deut. 2829
Accept offerings Lev. 14 718 197 2227
526 Images that you fashioned for yourselves Exod. 204 321, 23 Deut. 58
527 Exile far from home Deut. 2836, 64-68 2927 28
61 First of the nations Num. 2420
611 99 Yahweh is commanding Exod. 3411 Deut. 2616
72 Locusts eating the vegetation of the land Exod. 1012, 15
79 Desolation waste of high places sanctuaries Lev. 2630-31
711, 17 Exile away from the land Deut. 2927 28
716 Preach (drip) Deut. 322
84 Needy and oppressed Deut. 1511 2414-15
85 Open the granaries Gen. 4156
False weights Lev. 1936 Deut. 2514
89 Noon is dark Deut. 2829
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Amos Applies the Mosaic Law
592a
Amos Phrase or Concept Pentateuchal Reference
811 Famine Deut. 2848
Scarcity of Yahweh's words Deut. 428-29 3220
98 Destroy from the face of the land Deut. 2810
912 Over whom my name is pronounced Deut. 2810
915 Land that I have given to them Num. 2012, 24 2712
Yahweh your God Gen. 2720 Exod. 824 28 Lev. 1144 Num. 109 Deut. 110
Source unknown
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Amos 911-15
593

• Some critical scholars view this as a late
  insertions (no other elements of hope found in
  Amos)
• questioned whether Amos 911-15 is part of the
  original work
• inconsistent with the rest of the book, according
  to critical scholars
• To answer this objection, one key question must
  be answered on the "booth of David that is
  fallen" (v. 11)

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Applications
583

• Prosperous Christians must not wink at social
  injustice
• What social injustices so you see in your
  country's society?
• What responsibility does the church have to
  correct these wrongs?
• 3. What is God telling you to do about a social
  inequity?

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Social Justice in the New Testament

• The NT has a lot to say about social injustice
  and abuse of the poor
• You should not show favoritism in your treatment
  of rich and poor (1 Cor. 1122 James 21-10)
• True religion requires that we care for the poor
  (James 127, 51-6)
• Jesus showed great concern for the needy

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A Key Problem Passage

• Amos 714
• Most widely written about text in the entire book
  of Amos and one of the most disputed.
• Written in third person
• Is the Hebrew best rendered as past or present?
• Various suggestions have been made with regards
  to the debate

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Tense in Amos 714

• Is the past tense translation best?
• Is the present tense translation best?
• Is the Hebrew negative particle lo' ("not") an
  interrogative particle?
• Is the first particle lo' an emphatic negative?
• Such questions are based on modern role theories

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Contrasting Hosea and Amos
590
HOSEA AMOS
Professional Prophet (11) Nonprofessional Prophet (714)
National from Israel (75) Missionary from Judah (11)
Concern Religious Idolatry (Worship) Concern Social Injustice (Walk)
Israel's Unfaithfulness Israel's Injustice
God's Faithfulness God's Justice
God's Grace God's Righteousness
God's Loyal Love (Hesed) God's Judgment
Sympathetic Tone Stern Tone
Compassionate (111) Coarse (41)
Difficult Structure Simple Structure
Israel Lacks Knowledge Israel Lacks Morality
Know God (41, 6 66) Seek God (54, 6)