Unit 3, Lesson 7

Amos and Hosea

1. Name comes from the Hebrew word amas,

which means to lift or carry a burden. So, Amos was the burden bearer

Amos

Background InfoA.From Tekoa: 6 miles south of

Bethlehem and 12 miles south of Jerusalem. Lived in Judah, but spoke both to Judah, Israel and other nations.

B. Not a prophet by trade; did not live in a school. He was a shepherd and a herdsman

1. Jeroboam II had expanded Israel’s borders

significantly 2. Wide gap between the rich and poor.

Cultural Background

1. Chapters 1-2: Announcement of

Judgement 2. Chapters 3-6: Reasons for judgment Chapters 7-9: 5 Visions of judgment

The Message of Amos

a. Swarm of locusts b. Fire c. Wall and plumb line d. Basket of ripe fruit e. God standing by the altar

Visions of judgment

Amos is characterized by his bold and blunt

message; he wasn’t afraid to speak the truth, even when it didn’t make him friends.

Amos’ Message

A. Name is similar to Joseph and Joshua,

meaning salvation. B. His ministry immediately followed or

overlapped Amos’. C. Warned people about the rising threat of

Assyria. D. In the final years of the Northern

Kingdom, 6 kings ruled during a 25 year period. 4 of them were assassinated.

2. Hosea: The prophet and the Prostitute.

1. Hosea’s wayward wife a. Description of an adulterous wife

and a faithful husband. b. His wife Gomer left him and

his 3 children to live the live of a prostitute. Hosea goes to great lengths to restore their marriage.

c. Hosea’s marriage was supposed to be a reflection of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God.

d. The Marriage promise represents Israel’s covenant with God.

The Message of Hosea

1. Jezreel—meaning “God Scatters,”

symbolizes the dynasty of Jehu, to remind King Jeroboam that his power comes from God and can be taken away.

2. Lo-ruhamah—which means “not pitied”, condemning the social injustice of Hosea’s time

3. Lo-ammi—which means “not my people”, revoking Israel’s identity as God’s people; also because that child was not actually Hosea’s.

Hosea’s Children

a. Israel’s sinfulness b. Israel’s punishment c. God’s love for Israel

2. God’s Wayward People

5 “Will they not return to Egypt    and will not Assyria rule over them

   because they refuse to repent?

Hosea 11:5

4. Hosea’s message is characterized by the love

God still had for His people. There would still be judgment, but ultimately that would lead to the redemption of Israel.

Hosea’s Message