Amos 1-9

Introduction to the book

• Amos means “burden bearer.”

• Message of the book: doom.

• The book was written approximately 760-750 B.C.

Four major divisions of prophecy in the book:

• Judgment on six nations around Judah

  • Damascus (Amos 1:3-5) – for cruelty in war

  • Gaza (Amos 1:6-8)

  • Tyre (Amos 1:9-10)

  • Edom (Amos 1:11-12) – for hatred of Israel

  • Ammon (Amos 1:13-15) – for cruelty to people

  • Moab (Amos 2:1-3) – for burning the bones of the king of Edom

• Judgment on Judah (Amos 2:4-5) – for religious apostasy

• Judgment on Israel (Amos 2:6-9:10)

  • Amos 2:6-8 – God rebukes Israel for injustice, immorality, and idolatry.

    • See I Kings 12:30.

  • Amos 3 – Israel no longer walked with God.

  • Amos 4:12 – Summation of the book: “prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”

  • Amos 5:23; 6:5 – Some try to misuse these verses to show that instrumental worship is not approved.

    • II Chronicles 29:25 – Instrumental music was approved for worship under the Old Covenant.

    • Doing the right thing with wrong motives is not approved by God.

  • Amos 7:10-17 – Amos was ordered not to prophesy in Israel by Amaziah.

• Messianic hope (Amos 9:11-15)

  • See Acts 15:13-18 (quotation of Amos 9:11-12).

  • This is the only optimistic message in the book!

Lessons for us:

• We are going to meet God in judgment, so prepare!

• God is righteous, both in punishment and blessing.

• Even right acts are an insult to God if done with wrong motives.

• All can be blessed in the restored tabernacle of David.