The Roaring Prophet

The Roaring Prophet

(Amos)

Yearly Theme:  “Goodness is… Governing”

Series Title:  “Goodness in G minor”

May 12^th, 2024

Something to think about:

The Old Testament book of Amos is the earliest of the prophetic books and was written when the nation of Israel was split into a northern kingdom (Israel/Ephraim), and a southern kingdom (Judah).  Its author, Amos, wasn’t raised as a prophet but was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamore fig trees by trade from the southern kingdom of Judah in the small village of Tekoa just outside of Bethlehem.  However, when GOD called him to prophecy, He called Amos to speak against the northern kingdom, Israel. 

The northern kingdom during the time of Amos was ruled by two different kings:  the first one was Jeroboam II and the second was Uzziah.  Amos’ time of prophecy lasted between the years 767 BC–753 BC respectively.  His contemporary was the prophet Hosea (whom we will discuss in another message).  Under the reigns of kings Jeroboam II and Uzziah, the northern kingdom grew in power and size close to what it was under the reigns of David and Solomon when the kingdom was unified.  However, this growth wasn’t due to GOD’s blessing, but rather because of the nation of Assyria’s weakening during this period (which was short-lived), as well as the ruthless, wicked practices that widened the socioeconomic gap that oppressed the poor within the kingdom.  It was for this reason that GOD sent the prophet Amos to the northern kingdom to warn them of the coming judgment. 

According to Biblical scholars Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, “…Only two broad categories of sin [needed to] be denounced:  syncretistic religion (2:7-8; 4:4-5; 5:21-23, 25-26; 8:10, 14) and social injustice (2:6-8; 3:9-10; 4:1; 5:7, 10-13, 15, 24; 6:12; 8:4-6) … It is this combination of oppression of the poor in a context of distorted religious enthusiasm that leads to Yahweh’s judgment in the form of [eventual] exile.”[1]

The Greek philosopher Plato once said, “To do injustice is more disgraceful than to suffer it.”

Amos’ prophecies would come to pass in 722 BC when the Assyrian Empire had gained enough power and strength to subdue and overthrow the northern kingdom of Israel and completely wipe out its holy places of worship.  Today, we explore what led to this judgment from GOD upon the northern kingdom.

Key Point:  GOD judges all people with fairness and mercy.”

How does He do this?  To answer that question we need to take a closer look at what the northern kingdom was doing that caused GOD’s judgment to come, and what GOD’s plan was to bring them back into alignment…

•  religion.

Amos 2:8 (NLT),  At their religious festivals, they lounge in clothing their debtors put up as security. In the house of their god, they drink wine bought with unjust fines.

Syncretism, n.  the combination of different forms of belief or practice.[2]

•  toward the poor.

Amos 8:4-6 (NLT),  ⁴  Listen to this, you who rob the poor and trample down the needy! ⁵  You can’t wait for the Sabbath day to be over and the religious festivals to end so you can get back to cheating the helpless. You measure out grain with dishonest measures and cheat the buyer with dishonest scales. ⁶  And you mix the grain you sell with chaff swept from the floor. Then you enslave poor people for one piece of silver or a pair of sandals.

Injustice, n.  violation of the rights of others; unjust or unfair action or treatment.  an unjust or unfair act; wrong.[3]

•  for the future.

Amos 9:11-15 (NLT),  ¹¹  “In that day I will restore the fallen house of David. I will repair its damaged walls. From the ruins I will rebuild it and restore its former glory. ¹²  And Israel will possess what is left of Edom and all the nations I have called to be mine.” The LORD has spoken, and he will do these things. ¹³  “The time will come,” says the LORD, “when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested. Then the terraced vineyards on the hills of Israel will drip with sweet wine! ¹⁴  I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again. They will plant vineyards and gardens; they will eat their crops and drink their wine. ¹⁵  I will firmly plant them there in their own land. They will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God.

Something to take home:

The late Timothy Keller wrote “There is a standard for our lives that we must all deal with. And here is our dilemma.  If the Bible is wrong and there is no God, if there is no bar of justice, and if violence and injustice are just natural, then what hope is there for the world?  But if there is a bar of justice, then what hope is there for you and me?  No one lives up to even his or her own moral standards, let alone God’s.”[4]  And this was the problem and the dilemma in which Ancient Israel found themselves.  Living in constant compromise to GOD’s commands always puts us on the wrong side of justice and mercy.  The key to living in a just society is its willingness to be in complete surrender to GOD’s will and ways.  The only truly just societies that the world has ever known are those that have been rooted in Judeo-Christian laws and beliefs.

Key Point:  “GOD judges all people with fairness and mercy.”

[1] Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible Book by Book, (Zondervan:  Grand Rapids, Michigan; 2002), 224.

[2] “Syncretism Definition & Meaning.” Merriam-Webster. Accessed May 2, 2024. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/syncretism#:~:text=1,more%20originally%20different%20inflectional%20forms.

[3] “Injustice Definition & Meaning.” Dictionary.com. Accessed May 2, 2024. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/injustice.

[4] Timothy Keller, Encounters with Jesus, p. 135.