Amos – for three

transgressions and for four

1) In the days of Uzziah and

Jeroboam

A change in heading (1)

“Changes in the heading of this feature of THE

CHRISTADELPHIAN have reflected developments in the

Jewish sign. It began in 1875 as ‘The Jews and their

Affairs’, varied from 1880 onwards by ‘Palestine and the

Jews’, which indicated the increasing interest in

movements for re-colonization. A grievous chapter in

Jewish history was marked in 1891-94 by the headings,

‘The Jewish Persecution in Russia’ and ‘The Jewish

Crisis’; a brighter prospect in 1895 being suggested by

‘The Jews and the Holy Land’. After a break, the page

was resumed in 1899 as ‘The Jews and Zionism’ – a

reflection of the growth of the political movement from

the days of Herzl’s The Jewish State and the first Zionist

Congress.”

A change in heading (2)

“In recent years the heading ‘The Jews and

Palestine’ has focussed attention on events in

the Land itself; but the time has come for one

more change to mark the emergence of both

land and people into national life and a

recognized place in world politics. The headings,

therefore, form something of a history in little

over 75 years of the greatest of all signs of the

times, and show the earnestness with which that

sign has been watched as part of the work of

helping the preparation of a spiritual ‘people for

the Lord’.” (From The Christadelphian, January 1950)

Amos the herdman

(Amos 1:1)

Amos means ‘bearer’ or ‘burden’.

Amos 1:1 – “Herdman” (Hebrew, noqed) –

“sheepbreeder” (NKJV); “sheepherder”

(NASB).

Note the same word in 2 Kings 3:4:

“Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster.”

Amos – a gatherer of

sycamore fruit (Amos 7:14)

“Gatherer” – “dresser” (RV) – A dresser of

sycamore trees which were cultivated for

their fruit and wood.

Hebrew, balac. Strong says: “to pinch

sycamore figs (a process necessary to

ripen them)”.

Tekoa – about

twelve miles south

of Jerusalem and

six miles south-

east of Bethlehem.

Tekoa in the hill country of Judah

Judah (Amos 2:4,5)

“Despised” (RV, rejected) God’s law.

“Lies” (Hebrew, kazab). Strong:

“falsehood; literally (untruth) or figuratively

(idol)”.

“After which their fathers have walked”

(note Deut. 8:19).

“A fire” – Literally fulfilled when

Nebuchadnezzar invaded (2 Kings 25:8,9;

Jeremiah 17:27).

Israel (Amos 2:6-16)

Vs. 6-8 – The indictment on 4 counts:

injustice, hardness of heart towards the

poor, widespread immorality, and self-

indulgence.

Vs. 9-12 – Lack of gratitude for God’s

favour to them.

Vs. 13-16 – The sentence of judgement to

come.

A summary

“The whole picture in this section is of a

self-indulgent society preserving the forms

of religion, but intent on personal pleasure

and gain, quite heedless of the clear

commands of the Law to act in justice and

mercy, especially to the ‘fatherless and

widow.’” (From Hosea to Zephaniah, page 57)

The danger of idolatry

“Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of

them …” (1 Cor. 10:7,11).

“Covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col.

3:5).

“Stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry”

(1 Sam. 15,22,23).

A comment on Isaiah 2:6-9

“Here is the picture of a busy, active, energetic

population, finding pleasure in the things that

please natural men, and greatly interested in

strangers who had no interest in God, and

conforming great and small to the religion that

was fashionable in the surrounding countries.

That the population so exhibited should have

been a nation that God brought out of Egypt and

organised for Himself, made it specially

criminal.” (Bro. Robert Roberts, Ministry of the Prophets, p. 63)

The reign of Uzziah

A wealthy nation – Isa. 2:6-9; 3:16-23.

Idols – Isa. 2:8 (2 Kings 15:3,4).

“Ships of Tarshish” – Isa. 2:16 – expanding

trade.

Military preparations and trusting in human

strength – Isa. 2:7,15; 3:2,3.

Uzziah’s transgression when “his heart was lifted

up to his destruction” (2 Chron. 26:16) – in pride

he sought to exalt himself. Note: Isa.

2:11,12,13,14,15,17; 3:16; 5:15,16; 6:1.