Amos 1-2
Amos is a farmer. He calls himself a shepherd and a tender of fig trees (1:1; 7:14-15). Some might have looked down on him for his back country, hick town ways, but a stronger prophet would be hard to find. He prophesied just before Isaiah during a time when both the northern kingdom (Israel) and the southern kingdom (Judah) were experiencing material prosperity. God used Amos’ prospective to challenge the social injustices that seem to attach themselves to comfort and wealth. His words sting...down to this day!
Amos is a sneaky farmer. In chapters 1 and 2, he begins with strong judgments against the nations around Israel. I once plotted these out on a map of the Holy Land and saw that these judgments begin far away (Damascus) and circle ever closer until they hit home (Judah and Israel). At first, those listening might have been cheering the prophecies, but by the end of chapter 2, I bet there was silence. God repeats, “for the three sins of each nation, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath.” And God uses the same words for Israel, as He did for all the other nations!
Tomorrow, Amos focuses on Israel’s sins and desperate need for repentance!
Your fellow pilgrim through the Prophets,
Pastor Gary
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