Prophet of Social Justice

AMOS

INTRODUCTION

AMOS – SHEPHERD IN TEKOA, 12 MILES SOUTH OF JERUSALEM AND 6 MILES SOUTH OF BETHLEHEM• From southern kingdom but prophesied

in Israel• Dated himself during reigns of Uzziah

(Judah) and Jereboam II (Isa.)• 30 years before captivity of north• Chapter 7:10-17

TYPICAL APPROACH USED IN AMOS

•Speaks out against neighboring countries

•Addresses Israel’s sins

•Declares there is hope

SINS OF NEIGHBORING NATIONS

• Chapters 1 and 2

WHY PUNISH OTHERS?

• They have treated God’s people unjustly

• They did not have law?! Rom. 1:18-20

SOME NATIONS MENTIONED• Damascus – threshing Gilead• Gaza – Delivered captives to Edom• Tyrus – delivered captives to Edom• Edom – pursuing his brother without pity• Ammon – cruelty to Gilead (ripped open

pregnant women)• Judah – rejected God’s law

ISRAEL• In same context, Israel condemned for sin

• Materialistic• Oppress poor• Incest• Fraud – clothes by pledge, have to be returned by night

• What God has done• Destroyed their enemies• Delivered them from Egypt• There were prophets and from Israel• They responded by rejecting them

ISRAEL (CONT)

• God is hurt, but has to punish them

• “Weighted” down by all this

•God’s just nature requires him to punish injustice

CHAPTERS 3-5

• Israel: Addressed

CHAPTER 3:2-8, ISRAEL CHOSEN

• Got more will surely be punished more, Luke 12:41-48• God knows all – certainty of justice –

only right!!• Chapter 3:11-15 – certainty of justice

– only right!!

CHAPTER 3:11-15

• Foretells captivity

CHAPTER 4 – CONDITIONS OF ISRAEL

• V. 1-3, heathen wives will leave to captivity• V. 4-5, go through rituals• V. 6-11, God had tried to motivate

Israel to come back• V. 12-13 Powerful

CHAPTER 5:4-15, TOLD TO SEEK GOD• V. 4-5, anywhere else is trouble• V. 6-7, Do it before it is too later• V. 8-9, God made all and will initiate destruction• V. 14-15, Seek God by seeking Good• V. 16-20, no hope in evil• They wanted God to come but if not ready…

CHAPTER 6

• Earthly pleasures/prosperity will become curse

V. 1

• Woe/beware if you are “at ease” – satisfied, complaicent

SEVERAL THINGS MENTIONED AND PUT INTO THEIR PLACE• Furniture• Food idle entertainment• Alcohol• Oils • Parties• Houses

V. 11

• Destruction

CHAPTER 7:1-9:6

• 5 visions

CHAPTER 7:1-3 – LOCUST

• Amos prayed

• God changed his mind

CHAPTER 7:4-6

• Fire – again Amos prayed and God changed mind

CHAPTER 7:7-9

• Plumbing

CHAPTER 7:10-17

• Authorities tried to stop Amos

CHAPTER 8: ISRAEL “RIPE” OR READY FOR DESTRUCTION

• V. 4-10, Israel’s sins

• Trample needy

•Dishonest scales

• This all will end

CHAPTER 8:11-14

• Famine of God’s Word

CHAPTER 9:1-4

• No escape

• Lesson for today? A day of reckoning will happen!

STILL HOPE – IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING! • God has been good to his people – out of

Egypt• Identity of people or nation will be lost –

remnant left• Jeremiah 30:11• Jeremiah 31:36• Joel 2:32

PEOPLE SIFTEN

SINNERS WILL “DIE”

• By sword

• Will try to deny inevitable

PERMANENT MESSAGES IN BOOK• God’s diving nature• 4:13, 5:8, 9:5-6

• Sincere worship• 5:21, 5:23

• Social justice• 5:24, 2:6-8, James 1:27

PERMANENT MESSAGES (CONT)• Responsibility comes with privilege • Meaning of adversity• God will never stop warning • Need for all to have personal conviction• 7:14-15, even a prophet• Cannot be done by proxy