Amos 1:1-2

2. Amos 1:1-2 The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

3. And he said: “The LORD roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the top of Carmel withers.”

4. A Brief Introduction Before we delve into Amos, it might be a good idea to consider a few things for context In particular, authorship, date, location, and themes “Themes” because there are many themes within Amos that we will see Also, this introduction will be as basic as possible, otherwise it would take weeks to go through these things! Authorship It is accepted that these are prophesies from Amos We cannot be sure if Amos himself wrote them, or like Jeremiah, Amos had a scribe Their authority comes from the fact that Amos was a prophet of God, which means they present God’s word

5. A Brief Explanation (2) Date There is around a 30 year or so period that tends to be discussed from 768-740 BC The reason for this gap has much to do with the earthquake mentioned It has been estimated that the earthquake occurred around 750 BC plus or minus 10 years That would place these prophecies within that timeframe Also the kings who are mentioned, which we will see shortly

6. A Brief Explanation (3) Location The location for many of these prophecies seem to be made in Samaria which is in Israel After the death of Solomon there was a civil war leading to the split kingdom between north and south In the north it was Israel, with Samaria its capital In the south it was Judah, with Jerusalem as its capital

7. Courtesy of ESV Study Bible

8. Courtesy of ESV Study Bible

9. A Brief Explanation (4) Themes Two in particular The first is the Sovereignty of God The second is social justice Though I would be hard pressed to name any theme more important than another, these are still significance

10. The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. Amos 1:1, ESV

11. Introduction The book begins with an introduction First we learn the name of the author, or at least the prophet who spoke these prophecies We also learn that he was a shepherd from Tekoa The word for shepherd Does not necessarily mean he was a “shepherd” but can be someone who works with animals We cannot be sure if Amos was the owner of the animals, or a hired worker Because of this we should not assume that Amos was poor, as it is just as possible he was wealthy

12. Introduction (2) We learn he was from Tekoa Tekoa was south of Jerusalem and Bethlehem Which means that he was a Judean “words of Amos” “which he saw” This is an odd saying for us in English But it fits in context as one who has received revelation or special perception It reminds us that these revelations do not belong to Amos, instead it reminds us that the words Amos will reveal belong to God

13. Introduction (3) More on time We learn that they occurred in the days of Uzziah king of Judah (II Chronicles 26), and Jeroboam son of Joash king of Israel (II Kings 14:23, 17:21) It is important to learn that Jeroboam was the son of Joash since it differentiates between Jeroboam II from Jeroboam I (I Kings 12-14), the latter of which was the first king of Israel Jeroboam began to reign in Israel around 793 BC and Uzziah died in 739 BC This information helps us further understand when the prophecies took place

14. And he said: “The LORD roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the top of Carmel withers.” Amos 1:2, ESV

15. The First Prophecy This is the first prophetic statement by Amos We noticed a few things, first being the use of “LORD” This is how English translations translate the covenantal name for God which is Yahweh The fact that it is Yahweh who is the one speaking reminds us it is His judgments which are being placed He “Roars” The concept of roaring is reminiscent of a lion, but it also connotes thunder God is not coming in peace, instead it is a clear alarming, or even frightening, experience to hear God in this way

16. The First Prophecy (2) This voice has a starting location in Jerusalem This is fitting, since Jerusalem is the city where the temple of God was located (II Chronicles 3) Likewise it may be further condemnation against Israel and Judah Israel because they erected new places to worship at Bethel and Dan (I Kings 12) Along with the many places in Israel that became religious places of worship, which sadly included Judah Normally with thunder comes hope for rain However this is not the case of the judgment from God Instead, this thunder does not bring rain but drought One which the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and even Carmel withers

17. The First Prophecy (3) Carmel has a few thoughts with it It could be that because Carmel was elevated, it was forested with many orchards and vineyards Thus the drought will be one which is complete Neither highlands nor lowlands will be able to escape the drought which is to come Ultimately, the first prophesy does not look good for those whom it is directed Judgment is coming, and this judgment, these curses, are coming from God Himself

18. Main Point The main point of these two verses are to open the book of Amos In this they inform us of the prophet chosen by God Likewise it informs us of the coming judgments The first prophetic utterance is not one of hope, but one of coming judgment against nations

19. Application Points Concerning Prophets Something we should notice is that there is a bit of vagueness when it comes to Amos We learn a few things, yes, but besides that there isn’t much information This isn’t only true of Amos, but the majority of the prophets There isn’t much focus on the prophets themselves What, then, is the focus for them? God God is the focus for the prophets Whether it be specific words, or the Law All in all the prophets greatest care is not for self, but for the holy God they represent

20. Application Points Concerning Prophets (2) This causes me to reflect on my childhood Many times I thought as a child, “I wish I had that gift! I wish I could be a prophet!” But as I grew up I began to realize the life of the prophet was not always kind It can be easy for us to think, “Who wouldn’t believe the prophet during that time?” We can have this assumption that they were turning nations by their proclamations which came from God

21. Application Points Concerning Prophets (3) Yet, we find that the prophet was more often rejected than accepted Consider what Jesus says, “[37] “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! [38] See, your house is left to you desolate. [39] For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matthew 23:37-39 ESV)

22. Application Points Concerning Prophets (4) Yet, we find that the prophet was more often rejected than accepted Consider what Jesus says, “[37] “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! [38] See, your house is left to you desolate. [39] For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matthew 23:37-39 ESV)

23. Application Points Concerning Prophets (5) This city of God, that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it That is often the life of a prophet, not one who is necessarily accepted, but very often rejected What would cause them to continue? To be faithful? Again, the answer is God God is their motivation God is the reason they continued on God is the reason they stood firm

24. Application Points Concerning Prophets (6) Likewise, we should consider this from Amos Not often are those who are of greatest renown called by God Like many of us who are in the faith, are like Amos, like the prophets

25. “[26] For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. [27] But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; [28] God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,

26. [29] so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. [30] And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, [31] so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31 ESV)

27. Application Points Concerning Prophets (6) Likewise, we should consider this from Amos Not often are those who are of greatest renown called by God Like many of us who are in the faith, are like Amos, like the prophets So like the prophets, who we know little about, let us be of like mind to honor God and be faithful “Preach the Gospel, die, and be forgotten.” The point was, our greatest contribution to the world is our faithfulness to God Let’s be like the prophets, who gave themselves to the message God gave them, and like them let’s be faithful to God with our lives

28. Application Points Concerning the Prophetic Something we need to consider is that when we proclaim the Gospel we are being prophetic When we proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, we are prophesying to those who hear us When we proclaim repentance and faith, it is the same message proclaimed by the prophets, “Turn to God!” Often, we have this tendency to believe that “prophecy” only relates to future events A prophecy does not necessarily need a future event in mind Consider what we read from Amos, ““The LORD roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the top of Carmel withers.”

29. “[15] “But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. [16] Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field.

30. [17] Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. [18] Cursed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. [19] Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out.” (Deuteronomy 28:15-19 ESV)

31. Application Points Concerning the Prophetic (2) What makes this significant is that this is the first curse for those who are disobedient and unfaithful to God We can see how Amos’ first prophetic message goes back to the Law It reflects the reality that the prophets were always calling people back to the Law Whether it was to warn them of the repercussion of being a law-breaker, or a call to repentance So again we have this realization that prophecy does not need to tell the future A prophetic message can be simply a calling back to God, to what He has done, to remember His Word, and encouragement to faithfulness

32. Application Points Concerning the Prophetic (3) As we read through Amos, let us remember that the words which Amos prophesies are not his, they belong to God Second they will reflect on the Law of God in some capacity, either in the curses found within the Law for disobedience, or a call to return to the Law and faithfulness Third, that true prophetic messages are those which lead back to God, and though they can have future elements, it is not necessary

33. Application Points Concerning the Prophetic (4) Finally, a warning for all of us When we read the prophets we will encounter many things dark and terrible The prophets were individuals who were acutely aware and understood the darkness around them God raised them up because of this reason Thus when we read the prophets we will encounter much darkness, and encountering this darkness we will find a reasonable response to evil, which is that God will not let the guilty go unpunished

34. Application Points Concerning the Prophetic (5) Thus as we read through Amos, prepare yourselves for what we will face There will be times when we want to yell with Amos against the evil we find There will be times when we wonder how on Earth these societies could go so wrong But before we do that, we must always remember the future generations after us In this way, it is good for us to go through the hard things we hear in the prophets Because then we can discuss the ills of our own society, and contemplate the best course as the people of God

35. Application Points Concerning the Prophetic (6) By reading the prophets we can learn how to be more prophetic to our own culture and society By considering the evil the prophets faced, it can inform us of the evils our own generations face By seeing evil, calling it evil, and encouraging others to step away from it and turn toward God, we can be prophetic to those around us

36. Application Points The Gospel This all reminds us of the Gospel Though we are only two verses into Amos, we see judgment Judgment of God on humanity, and it reminds us of the Gospel which saves us from our sins, and how through Christ we can live prophetically in a world in need of light The Gospel begins with our origins God created all things by the power of His Word He who is the Cause of the cosmos Last of all He created humanity to be His Image Bearers Because God is a God of love, reason, knows, can be known, has personhood, and shows Chesed, we can as well It is here we find the sanctity, dignity, and worth to human life

37. Application Points The Gospel (2) Like God, however, we were able to choose We could choose obedience to God and life, or disobedience in sin and death, we chose and continue to choose the latter Because of this our relationships with God, within ourselves, each other, and the world are broken It is also because of this we accrue a greater moral guilt before our God which makes us worthy of judgment Thankfully, God did not leave us in this state forever, instead He sent His Light and spoke His Word into the darkness, that is Jesus Christ His Son

38. Application Points The Gospel (3) Jesus lived, died, and rose again in time, space, history, and flesh By Him we are justified before our holy and righteous God By His blood we are cleansed of our sin In His victory we find our own victory in life and over death

39. Application Points The Gospel (4) All that is required of us is obedience in two things The first is repentance, we are to turn away from sin and turn toward God We are to live a lifestyle in accord with the Scriptures, with Christ revealed by the Scriptures, and in step with the Spirit according to the Scriptures for the glory of God The second is faith in Christ We recognize our dependence upon Christ for our salvation It is not about what we do, but what Christ has done We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to the Scriptures alone, for the glory of God alone

40. Application Points The Gospel (5) For those who are disobedient there is only condemnation None can stand before God with only their deeds because even their greatest deeds are as filthy rags Therefore there is only judgment for those who are outside of Christ For those who are obedient there is no longer condemnation We experience the love of God reserved for His Son We are able to have victory in this life and victory over death We become coheirs of an eternal kingdom of peace with our God forever