Understanding the book of amos

God sent the prophet amos to the nation of israel saying, time is running out. This book is an excellent resource for students of amos because it gives a great overview, as the subtitle indicates, of the basic issues in current interpretations and a wonderful bibliography. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like. Amos wanted to tell the people that they were not obeying gods law. The theology of the book of amos in modern times, amos has come to be considered one of the most important prophets, mainly for his uncompromising message about social justice. The term canon, from a hebrewgreek word meaning cane or. By studying this book, students can gain a greater understanding of the critical role prophets perform in the lords work and a greater appreciation for the calling. We find two quotations from the book of amos in the acts of the apostles. The prophecy of amos should simplify the choices in our lives. This summary of the book of amos provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of amos. The numbers are of course to be understood not literally, but typically, a concrete number being chosen for the sake of assisting the imagination.

The day of the lord tradition also appears in isaiah, ezekiel, obadiah, joel, and malachi. Amos was a sheepbreeder of tekoa in judah, who delivered his oracles in the. Most of this title is given over to making the authors reasonable case that the book of amos has three distinct authorsproduced by a process taking almost two hundred years. This summary of the book of amos provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of amos. Nevertheless, this is a great book with a significant.

The book of amos, which is the earliest of the prophetic writings to be preserved in book form, consists of nine chapters. How does the message of an out of step sheepherder relate to america at this critical moment in history. God has called christians not only to be in relationship with him but also to be in relationships with others. And he said, the lord will roar from zion, and utter his voice from jerusalem. Therefoe the event would have been fresh in the mid of the people when amos wrote in amos 8. Aug 08, 2019 from now on serious studies of the prophet amos will need to commence with this volume. The book of amos is not an easy work to read and understand. Although the prophet amos spoke gods message many years ago, it still is very applicable to us today. Deuel july 12, 2011 volume 3, number 1 spring 1992 read article. Amos, an older contemporary of hosea and isaiah, was active c. More than almost any other book of scripture, the book of amos holds gods people accountable for their illtreatment of others. Amos is, in my words, the country preacher who came to town. Book of amos read, study bible verses online bible study tools. It is a stirring warning to all of the dangers of apostasy, rebellion and complacency.

The book is ultimately addressed to all israel hence the references to judah and jerusalem. Then they will explain to other people all that he is going to do. So amos goes to bethel, which was functioning as the capitol of israel. The book of the prophet amos the prophet amos lived in the eighth century bc and was a common herdsman and keeper of sycamore fig trees 7. Amos was a contemporary of hosea, isaiah, and jonah. What do we know for sure about the prophet, his time, and his. His theme then, is national accountability for national sins. Understanding the book of amos gerhard hasel is 20% off every day at. The book of amos introduction to the book of amos in the bible. Amos meaning burden or burdenbearer was an inhabitant of the rugged region of tekoa, located in the territory of judah about 12 miles south of jerusalem. May 07, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of amos, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. He prophesied during the reigns of jeroboam the second in israel, and uzziah in judah.

Amos s job was to remind people about what they already knew. How some scholars have divided the book of amos amos the eighth century prophet of tekoa a sociological detour the seventh century scribe of jerusalem the final author of the book of amos when a book of the bible has three authors spiritual truth from the authors of amos. The book of amos is so interesting because it could have easily been written to the church in america today. Amos 12 contains a great example of this entrapment technique, and recognizing what amos is doing here really helps us to understand what is being said and what is the theme of the book. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original. And we must never forget that amos is speaking to us, the church of god, the israel of god. As it is presented in this book, amoss message is one of almost unrelieved. May 18, 2017 besides the prophetic genre, the book of amos has shown itself to be useful in a variety of ways, as theologians and historians have used the work to discuss and analyze the history of the composition of the biblical texts, the understanding of the minor prophetic books of the bible, and recently, even the exodus out of egypt itself. Describing the genre of a written work that reinvigorates older oral speech forms, in m. The book of amos amos was a sheepbreeder of tekoa in judah, who delivered his oracles in the northern kingdom during the prosperous reign of jeroboam ii 786746 b. As you read this book, ask god to allow you to learn biblical lessons. The books of reference used for this study of the book of amos were the bible, king james version, called the companion bible, publisher kregel. The book of amos is the earliest of the book of the twelve prophets, and is relevant today, as it addresses social injustice, so prevalent in our world. He warned the israelites that destruction was impending, and he described god as angry, crouching, and focused like a lion stalking the sinful, carefree nations.

Tekoa was located about twelve miles south of jerusalem. He is not so much interested in presenting to his people what god is like as he is in announcing what god is about to do. The purpose of amos s prophecy is to awaken israel and its surrounding nations to the fact that the nation is both responsible and accountable for its sins. The book of amos is the third of the twelve minor prophets in the tanakhold testament and.

Throughout the book, the prophet speaks to the people of israel about the critical situation that developed during the. God was going to punish israels people for these crimes. I want us to get acquainted with him personally, because to get acquainted with amos is to love him and to understand his prophecy better. Watch our overview video on the book of amos, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Instead of choosing between prayer and service, the book of amos teaches us that both are essential. The theological implications of the prophecy of amos. Summary of the book of amos the story of the bible. The kings and inhabitants of the northern kingdom had turned their back on jehovah and therefore could no longer be entitled to his promises. We will find that he was born in judah, the southern kingdom, but he was a prophet to the northern kingdom. Astronomical calculations indicate that a solar eclipse occurred in israel on june 15, 763 b. Unlike some of the prophetsjonah or hosea amos doesnt tell a story that is easy to remember.

Although he hailed from judea, amos preached in the northern kingdom of the neighboring nation, israel. The book of zephaniah is probably best known for being the least known book of the entire bible. For three transgressions of damascus, and for four similarly amos 1. By ted grimsrud lets now look at a place where the bible uses the explicit language of justice.

They were not looking after the poor people, they were not remembering the sabbath, and other things. In this book, amos accuses israel of breaking their covenant with god and. Basic issues in current interpretations hasel, gerhard f. An easyenglish commentary 2800 word vocabulary on the book of amos. The book of amos was likely written between 760 and 753 b. Sep 03, 2019 although the prophet amos spoke gods message many years ago, it still is very applicable to us today. The prophet amos lived in the eighth century bc and was a common herdsman and keeper of sycamore fig trees 7. He prophesied in israel at the great cult center of bethel, from which he was finally expelled by the priest in charge of this royal sanctuary 7. More consistently than any other prophetic book, zephaniah focuses on the day of the lord, developing this tradition from its first appearance in amos. The book of amos is the third of the twelve minor prophets in the tanakhold testament and the second in the greek septuagint tradition. Amos free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. Amos with book summary versebyverse bible commentary.

The fullest discussion of justice in the old testament shows up in the book of amos. Despite the fact that he lived in the southern kingdom of judah, god sent him as his prophet to the northern kingdom of. God raised up the prophet amos, as an act of his great mercy to a people who repeatedly shunned and disobeyed him. Not all of the material found in these chapters came from amos himself. The book of amos is a stinging rebuke of a nation that has rejected and forgotten god. The persons concerned in the prophecy of this book. It repeatedly points out the failure of the people to fully embrace gods idea of justice. Amos is a shepherd and a fruit picker from the judean village of tekoa when god calls him, even though he lacks an education or a priestly background.

Amos lived in the kingdom of judah but preached in the. Nov 04, 2016 god sent the prophet amos to the nation of israel saying, time is running out. Five messages describing the reasons for the judgment and just how bad they were. He was a shepherd, and a dresser of sycamore trees by trade. However, amos treatment of justice echoes what we also find elsewhere in the bible. Understanding the book of amos the masters seminary. The seventh, eighth, and ninth chapters contain visions, with their explanations.

He was a shepherd and tended to sycamore fig trees. Amos presents no ontological, teleological, or cosmological arguments for the existence of god. The book of amos is a prophetic book in the old testament. The book identifies the author as the prophet amos, who wrote probably between 760 and 753 bc, during the reign of jeroboam ii in israel. Amos 1 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. May you know our great god better and have a better understanding of his grace and love. The only drawback is that hasel died before he could update this book. The book of amos is one of the least understood in the holy scriptures. The prophecy of amos is characterized by great boldness coupled with great tact. Unlike some of the prophetsjonah or hoseaamos doesnt tell a story that is easy to remember.

He writes about the terrible things that they have done. Amos was from tekoa, a small town in judah about 6 miles south of bethlehem and 11 miles from jerusalem. Amos and hosea were coworkers and may even have gone on preaching tours through the land together, although hosea continued his work after amos passed from the scene. His prophecy was by inspiration of god, and lasted a very short time.

Its fourteen chapters contain both a warning concerning future events and an interpretation of these events meanings. Some scholars believe he prophesied just a few days. For those christians whose tendency has been to focus more on the. Traveled north to israel bethel to preach as one called of god 7. How does the message of an out of step sheepherder relate to america at this c. Then he says something to his own people who live in israel and judah. Editors and copyists added comments to the prophets original oracles that they deemed appropriate in light of events that occurred after his death. He was not a man of the court like isaiah, or a member of a priestly family like jeremiah and ezekiel.

Spoke in bethel center for idol worship in israel and then in judah. It is a small book, nestled in the midst of the minor prophets, toward the end of the old testament. This book provides a detailed exploration of this theme and other important elements of the theology underlying the book of amos. In four ways, the old testament book of amos is essential for a robust understanding of the gospel.

He brings prophecies against neighbors of israel, mentioning names and places one can only recognize with the help of maps and reference books. The main purpose of a summary is as a simplification highlighting the major points from the original and much longer version of the subject. Strongs exhaustive concordance of the bible, numbered to the hebrew, chaldee, and greek, and english, coded to the strongs concordance numbers. Amos 7 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on. This summary of the book of amos provides information about the title, authors, date of writing. The book of amos is not a closely reasoned book on the nature of god, man, sin, and salvation. Book of amos overview insight for living ministries. The book of amos is a series of prophecies by the prophet amos, who predicted the fall of judah by the invading assyrians. The words of amos reveal jehovahs mercy towards an unworthy people. Basic issues in current interpretations 9781532686481 by gerhard f. Transcribed and edited by david sielaff, february 20. Book of amos, the third of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the. Hasel, a wellestablished old testament theologian, has written an insightful and helpful analysis of the most important critical issues surrounding the book of amos.

Among the minor prophets, we are certainly much more familiar with jonah and hosea. Book of amos summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of amos for bible study or sunday school lessons. An explosion of scholarly treatments of the book of amos leaves one wondering. As with each of the minor prophets, the title comes from the name of the prophet to whom god gave his message 1. Though amos himself is not ashamed to own that he was a herdsman, yet others ought not to upbraid him with it nor think the worse of him for it. The purpose of the book of amos was to announce gods holy judgment on the kingdom of israel the northern kingdom, call them to repentance, and to turn from their selfrighteous sins and idolatry.