Read:
Chapter 4 and as much of Amos as possible.
Name:__________________________________________Date:______________________
Vital
Statistics:
PURPOSE:
To
pronounce God’s judgments upon Israel, the Northern Kingdom, for their
complacency, idolatry, and oppression of the poor.
AUTHOR:
Amos,
of the tribe of Judah, citizen of Tekoa, a herdsman and harvester of sycamore
fruits. His name means “Burden” or “Burden bearer”.
TO
WHOM WRITTEN:
Israel, the Northern Kingdom, and God’s people everywhere.
DATE
WRITTEN:
Covers
a period of about 10 years during the reign of the Jeroboam II of Isreal and
Uzziah of Judah. Possibly written between ________B.C & __________B.C.
SETTING:
The
wealthy people of Israel were enjoying peace and prosperity. They were quite
complacent and were oppressing the poor, even selling them into slavery. Soon,
however, Israel would be conquered by Assyria, and the rich would themselves be
made slaves.
KEY
VERSE:
"I
have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as
a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith
the Lord. Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do
this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.” (Amos 4:11,12)
KEY
PEOPLE:
Amos,
Amaziah, Jeroboam II
KEY
PLACES:
Bethel,
Samaria
SPECIAL
FEATURES UNIQUE TO AMOS:
Amos uses striking metaphors from his shepherding and farming experience – an overloaded wagon (2:13), a roaring lion (3:8), a torn lamb (3:12), fat cows (4:1), and a basket of fruit ( 8:1,2)
THE
BLUEPRINT:
A.)
ANNOUNCEMENT OF JUDGMENT (1:1-2:16)
B.)
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT (3:1-6:14)
C.)
VISIONS OF JUDGMENT (7:1-9:15)
MEGATHEMES
FOUND IN THE BOOK OF AMOS:
Everyone answers to God – God is in supreme control of all the nations everyone
is accountable
to Him
Complacency – The people were complacent in the midst of their prosperity (the rich were at least). The poor were
oppressed and mistreated. The rich had a false sense of security amid their luxury and comfort. But
prosperity brought corruption and destruction.
Oppressing the poor – The wealthy and powerful people of Samaria had become greedy and unfair. Illegal and
immoral slavery came as a result of overtaxation and land-grabbing. There was cruelty and
indifference
towards the poor. God is weary of the greed and will not tolerate injustice.
Superficial Religion – Although many people had abandoned real faith in God, they were carrying on nominal
religious performances instead of having spiritual integrity and practicing heartfelt obedience toward
God.
QUESTIONS:
1.)
Where was Amos when God called him?
____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
2.)
What was the significance of the plumb line found in Chap. 7?
_____________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
3.)
What did God think of Israel’s
pride? ______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
4.)
What was Amos’ reaction to the coming judgment upon Israel?
___________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
SUMMARY:
Amos
was a herdsman, as we already learned, and was not educated in the school of the
prophets, neither was he of the priestly or kingly lines. Nevertheless he was
chosen to be a prophet of Divine justice, upholding the righteousness of the
law, and declaring judgments upon the sinful nations. His ministry deals
particularly with the relationships between nations, denouncing their sins of
inhumanity. Amos also gives the notable prophecy of the restoration of the
Tabernacle of David and the Gentiles coming into blessing under Messiah’s
times (Acts 15: 15-18)
CHRIST
SEEN:
Christ is seen as our “Burden-Bearer”, not only bearing our sins (Isaiah 53:12), but also the burden of the Word of the Lord (John 1:1,2). He is the final Judge and Punisher of all nations (II Thessalonians 1:7-9) and he is the Builder of the Church (Matthew 16:18,19), the spiritual Tabernacle of David.
Thank
you for studying with us today. At this point you may choose to either save an
unfinished assignment or submit it to the Pastor’s office for review and
feedback.
See
you next lesson: J
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