Amos

Amos 1:1 What the Seer Saw

We know quite a lot about the prophet Amos in comparison with many of the other minor prophets. He was from a small town called Tekoa, ten miles south of Jerusalem and was a shepherd busily tending his flock when God called him to serve in about the same time frame as Hosea. In other words, he was early, around 750 B.C. and probably contemporary with Jonah and Elijah during the reign of Uzziah, pegged by the occurrence of a memorable earthquake.

Amos was a cross-over prophet for though he was from the southern kingdom of Judah, his prophecy was primarily to the Northern Tribes which had broken away some 200 years earlier under Jeroboam I and this warning was being given where the controversial calf worship had been set up at Bethel. It was, of course, a very unpopular message and was courageously delivered at a time when under Jeroboam II there was a period of prosperity (II Kings 14:23-29).

We are not told exactly how God’s message was communicated to Amos, but if we may consult the historic records we can gather some information as to how a seers sees. Balaam was a seer and despite his perverse character, he saw what God wanted him to see and report. "From the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him" (Num.23:9), so Balaam said, "the man whose eyes are open hath said," (24:3). In fact, with his eyes wide open he saw "the vision of the Almighty."

So Amos was called from his vocation as were the disciples who "left their nets" and Elisha who slew his yoke of oxen when he kissed his father and mother goodbye to follow Elijah. God said to him "Go, prophecy unto my people Israel" (Amos 7:15). Like the nameless prophet before him (I king 13) who rebuked the first Jeroboam at Bethel, he marched himself to the king’s court and announced the violent death of Jeroboam II as the Lord God had showed him (7:11). He had a lot of moxie.

Amos 2:11 Sons For Prophets

Obviously the first two chapters are a unit and basically detail for us Amos’ prophetic voice of

God’s judgement upon Israel and seven other named nations. The term, "for three transgressions and for four" are a colloquialism used to outline his introduction.

The word "captivity" in verse 15 is considered to be a key word for the whole book and is found 7 times throughout. Halley says that within 50 years all of these predictions were fulfilled.

Again I would recommend the use of the commentary produced by Jamison, Fausset and Brown for in- depth study of these prophetic books. This work is classified as "critical, experimental and practical" which means that it is a good source for background material. Like most of the older authors they are not dispensational in their method of interpretation but otherwise appear to take a literal approach to what they deem the authoritative Word of God. ( I have a 1945 edition produced by Moody Press, Chicago, IL.) They very nearly do a verse by verse study in layman’s language, with extensive cross-referencing and voluminous "remarks" at the close of these chapters. In the text, p.532 on the first verse concerning the king of Edom, Fausset writes over 300 words!

Finding nothing in this chapter of a devotional nature to write on after literally hours of contemplation, I resort to fantasy. Let us use our imagination for a few moments as we think of Amos and of what he might be doing just now. Since the thief on the cross was told by Jesus that he would soon "be with" him in Paradise, we can assume that he is also there with that "great shepherd of the sheep" (Heb.13:20), with David also who recognized the heavenly Father as his Shepherd as well in one of his special songs. Speaking of songs, being a shepherd himself, Amos might well be delighting in the companionship of those shepherds of the Christmas story whose workplace was not far from his own, those who heard the very angels of God singing the Glory Song. Soon we shall join them!

Amos 3:7 His SecretAs a shepherd Amos apparently had quite a bit of experience with lions. He knew just what the triumphant roar sounded like when one had successfully taken a lamb and carried it to his den to make a feast upon it. By the time the good shepherd would discover the cave in the rocks where the lion was hunkered down and feasting on one of his fat spring lambs it would be too late. Had he not managed to kill one such beast recently and all that was left of the carcass was a couple of legs and a piece of ear?

Tragic, yes, but not nearly so much so as what it would soon be like for Israel. As the alarm sounds to warn the city that the enemy is at its gates so the prophet as a faithful watchman would blow the trumpet and deliver his own soul (Eze.33:9) even though those in the city refused to flee from the wrath that came from an angry God (Jer.21:4-6).

Jehovah had indeed revealed a secret unto Amos (v.7). The lion had roared, the LORD GOD had spoken, he must prophecy. This people chosen from among "all the families of the earth" will now suffer punishment "for all your iniquities." The sovereign God of the universe had sought to walk together with them but they would not be agreed. Now He would assemble on the mountains of Samaria, the Assyrian and Egyptian adversaries who through violence and robbery would smite the ivory palaces of Israel and the altars of Bethel.

In such manner as that of a roaring lion did the prophet roar these judgements against Jereboam II and these were no idle threats though they might have sounded as such in the great houses of the king.

Who is this Tekoan sycamore fruit gatherer – what does he know? It is not what but Who! Who do you know?

Amos 4:12 Prepare to Meet Thy God

Amos, though a lowly herdsman, certainly was skilled as an orator and knowledgeable of his heritage. To call Israel’s leaders "bulls of Bashan" was reproachful as in Psalm 22:12 but he went a step further and used the feminine form, calling them "cows." He must have recalled with sadness the great spiritual connotations that both Bethel and Gilgal brought to mind. True they still liked the "free" sacrifices but avoided the sin offerings. He especially mentions the sacrifice of thanksgiving which significantly was the only one which used leaven. Amos must have felt that this bespoke their sinfulness.

Verse two is a reference to the fact that prisoners of war were often marched with fishhooks in their noses for control.

You will note that verse 6 begins a new section with five subpoints each expressing the fact that God had disciplined them these several ways and "yet ye have not returned unto me, saith the LORD."

"Cleanness of teeth" meant famine. Rain on specific cities showed God’s power over nature and reminds us of Zech.14:17. Neither pestilence, sword nor divine deliverance brought them back.

The conclusion of his argument is prefaced with the word "therefore" (v.12) and indicates the only alternative left which was to "prepare to meet thy God, O Israel." And what a mighty God He is as the last verse so wonderfully declares.

Is it possible to prepare for such a meeting? At the great white throne even the elements of earth and heaven will not be able to endure the vehemence of that wrathful moment (Rev.20:11) when only the wicked dead will be anchored to the spot. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb.10:31).

Amos 5:24 As a Mighty Stream

Two hundred and fifty (250) years after Amos’ day Daniel read the handwriting on the wall (so to speak) but we may say that our lowly sheep herding prophet was seeing the hand of Jehovah writing a message to Israel that told them that they were now in the "frying pan" but would soon be "in the fire." Things were indeed going from bad to worse!

Of course, they didn’t look that bad to Israel – it did look as though they were making good their escape from the lion – they hadn’t yet seen the bear but they soon would (v.19). It was like fleeing for safety into your house leaning against the wall and breathing out a sigh of relief – "phew, I made it" – only to be bitten by the cobra lurking there.

Israel was about to be bitten by the biggest snake in the grass that they had ever seen. True, they were afraid of Damascus (Assyria) – wasn’t everybody – but they hadn’t seen Babylon lurking in the shadows "beyond Damascus" (v.27).

Jehovah had made Amos very aware of His feelings about their feast days! The hypocrites. They would talk piously about the coming "day of the Lord" (v.18) as though that were something to be desired. Little did they realize what a dark day that would be!

Later Daniel would see four kings that "shall arise out of the earth" – the first "like a lion," the second "like to a bear" (Dan.7:3-5). In the "day of the Lord" there would be a fourth beast with ten horns, one of which was the Anti-Christ, Satan’s earthly representative, the latter pictured in Rev.12:15 as a serpent making war on "the woman" (Israel) who had run into the wilderness for safety (v.14).

The virgin of Israel is indeed fallen and the day when she shall be "raised up" is yet future. In that day she will "seek the LORD" and the "God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph" (v.15). Hallelujah! We look forward to it!

Amos 6:1 At Ease in Zion

The message of Amos was falling on deaf ears. The enemy is coming! He could see it if no one else did. "They shall afflict you" (v.14). Either you will be the first to go into captivity or you are all going to die, yet you put the thought of it out of your mind. You eat and drink and live as though nothing is wrong but Jehovah is about to deliver up the city and all that are in it for He hates what He sees going on here.

It is such a sad case when you know that everyone around you is heading for eternal hellfire and if you try to warn them it is to no avail. Woe, woe, woe cries the prophet but no one listens. Don’t talk to us about judgement we don’t like the medicine, it doesn’t taste good, the righteousness you preach is poison and we don’t want it.

In the next chapter we see the priest of Bethel telling Amos to pack up and go home (vs.10-17).

Timothy was told by the apostle Paul that "in the last days perilous times shall come" (II Tim.3:1). We lament what we see happening on the national scene, but it ought not surprise us. How else can the stage be set for the coming of the man of sin?

Praise God that those of us who are in Zion are "not in darkness that that day should overtake (us) as a thief." We are not appointed to wrath but to eternal life with our Lord Jesus Christ therefore "let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober" (I Thess.5).

Amos 7:15 The LORD Said Go

It seems to me that there may be some connection between the inauspicious beginning of Amos’ prophetic ministry and the blessed thoughts I have be experiencing in the last few days. I have been reminiscing a bit concerning a ministry in which I became involved a few years ago and perhaps this is the time to share it, hopefully, to the honor and glory of our great God Who brought E.B.T.I. into being.

The Evangel Bible Training Institute was carried on for some years by the church in Bucksport where I pastored. Its purpose was to train young men for ministry. Many of the men came to us after the one year of Bible school offered by the Church of the Open Bible in Burlington, MA. It began, however, as I recall with 5 men from our church who were willing to leave everything necessary to become enrolled in a full-time program taught by local pastors.

Of the nearly twenty graduates, five are now full time pastors, 3 are missionaries and at least six I know are serving effectively as laymen in their respective churches. Hopefully the few who, to my knowledge, are not at this time serving the Lord may yet find their way to do so.

Two of these men have served as pastors in the Bucksport church, Dennis Gonczy and Mike Donato and two men who grew up in that church have also become pastors, Tony Muniz and Dana Johnson. Doug Merrill is minister of music also in that church where he trained. Several young ladies were provided with husbands from among these men.

The three who are missionaries are: Ed Fitzgerald, Bob Depue and Mike Carey. They are godly servants and are doing exploits for Him. The similarity between Amos and these servants is suggested by the humble attitude and early background of the prophet (vs.14 &15). Most of the above students have been willing to obey God’s call to serve and have done so with humility considering the fact that E.B.T.I. was unaccredited. I am sure they would appreciate our prayers.

Amos 8:7 The Excellency of Jacob

Just as the visions in the previous chapters each spoke of judgement; locusts (grass hoppers) eating their crops, fire also eating up what it touched, a plumb line, measuring how far out of line they were, now, a basket of summer fruit signifying the end of summer (that Heb. word itself sounding like the word meaning the end) meant Jehovah was all done "passing by". As Amos had said at the close of chapter 7, "Israel shall surely go into captivity" which is really what this whole book is about. The sign carried by the little bearded prophet in the cartoon no longer reads "the end is near," the last word has been crossed out and substituted for it, the word, HERE!

And the symptoms of their corruptions are spelled out clearly. They couldn’t wait to take advantage of the poor (meek) of the land - 6 days of labor were not enough. Besides they were being totally dishonest in their dealings, less food for more money and for the poorest grade of wheat at that! Even the scales were rigged. What a bunch of crooks!

Jehovah’s patience requiring excellency from His people had been stretched to the limit. The law had particularly cited such perversions as affecting their length of days "in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee" (Deut.25:15).

Israel’s false priests would cast out the man who brought them the Word of God (7:12) and they would rue this day when in the future there would be such a famine of that Word that they would search the land in vain trying to find it (8:12).

How thankful we should be that the Word is brought to us by faithful pastors in our land on Sunday in S.S., regular services and Sunday nights. We meateaters intend to be always present, right? If not, when it is taken away what shall we say?

Amos 9:15 They Shall No More Be Pulled Up

In verses eight and nine Jehovah announces clearly his intentions with regard to Israel. It is rather a strange text as God states that he is going to destroy the sinful kingdom from off the face of the earth but adds that He "will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob." Here we see His sovereign grace revealed in a splendid figure. As He shakes the nation back and forth, He loses not a single grain of His elect people.

As God leads Amos through this final aspect of his message of judgement He brings him to that great theme to which most of the prophets eventually arrive, His kingdom blessing. It is interesting that he and Joel both speak of the mountains that "shall drop sweet wine" (3:18).

Of course, verse 14 could refer to the return to the land after the Babylonian Captivity, but verse 15 speaks of them being planted and "no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them saith the LORD thy God." This has to be the millennium! Hallelujah!

In this climactic vision Amos sees the Lord. Like Job he had been hearing the word of the LORD but now he sees Him, though not as Job who immediately humbled himself and repented in dust and ashes (42:5) nor like Isaiah who also saw the Lord (here the text uses the word similar to our word which is the same word Amos uses). Since this is the term in the New Testament that is usually used in referencing our Lord Jesus Christ, it is perhaps significant especially when we realize that whenever God was seen in the Old Testament it had to be Jesus for are we not specifically instructed that He is the visible expression of the invisible God (Col.1:15)?Just as the visions in the previous chapters each spoke of judgement; locusts (grass hoppers) eating their crops, fire also eating up what it touched, a plumb line, measuring how far out of line they were, now, a basket of summer fruit signifying the end of summer (that Heb. word itself sounding like the word meaning ) meant Jehovah was all done "passing by". As Amos had said at the close of chapter 7, "Israel shall surely go into captivity" which is really what this whole book is about. The sign carried by the little bearded prophet in the cartoon no longer reads "the end is near," the last word has been crossed out and substituted for it, the word, HERE! It seems to me that there may be some connection between the inauspicious beginning of Amos’ prophetic ministry and the blessed thoughts I have be experiencing in the last few days. I have been reminiscing a bit concerning a ministry in which I became involved a few years ago and perhaps this is the time to share it, hopefully, to the honor and glory of our great God Who brought E.B.T.I. into being.

The message of Amos was falling on deaf ears. The enemy is coming! He could see it if no one else did. "They shall afflict you" (v.14)It seems to me that there may be some connection between the inauspicious beginning of Amos’ prophetic ministry and the blessed thoughts I have be experiencing in the last few days. I have been reminiscing a bit concerning a ministry in which I became involved a few years ago and perhaps this is the time to share it, hopefully, to the honor and glory of our great God Who brought E.B.T.I. into being.Two hundred and fifty (250) years after Amos’ day Daniel read the handwriting on the wall (so to speak) but we may say that our lowly sheep herding prophet was seeing the hand of Jehovah writing a message to Israel that told them that they were now in the "frying pan" but would soon be "in the fire." Things were indeed going from bad to worse!Amos, though a lowly herdsman, certainly was skilled as an orator and knowledgeable of his heritage. To call Israel’s leaders "bulls of Bashan" was reproachful as in Psalm 22:12 but he went a step further and used the feminine form, calling them "cows." He must have recalled with sadness the great spiritual connotations that both Bethel and Gilgal brought to mind. True they still liked the "free" sacrifices but avoided the sin offerings. He especially mentions the sacrifice of thanksgiving which significantly was the only one which used Amos must have felt that this bespoke their sinfulness.We know quite a lot about the prophet Amos in comparison with many of the other minor prophets. He was from a small town called Tekoa, ten miles south of Jerusalem and was a shepherd busily tending his flock when God called him to serve in about the same time frame as Hosea. In other words, he was early, around 750 B.C. and probably contemporary with Jonah and Elijah during the reign of Uzziah, pegged by the occurrence of a memorable earthquake.