Amos - Introduction

Introduction:
  I. Amos – The name signifies “to bear”, “to place a load 
     upon”, “burdened”, or “burden-bearer”.
     1. Amos was from Tekoa, 1:1, a city twelve miles south 
        of Jerusalem.
     2. He was a herdsman and dresser of Sycamore trees.
        a. The sheep which he kept were called “naked” 
           which were a short-legged, ugly, and stunted 
           breed, but which had excellent wool.
        b. “The Sycamore was a species of fig of poor 
           quality, a cross between fig and mulberry.” 
           (Hailey)
           (1) The fruit of the Sycamore tree had to be 
               pinched or bruised before it would ripen.
           (2) Its fruit was eaten largely by the poor.
     3. Amos was from Judah, the Southern Kingdom, 7:12, 
        but the message of this prophecy was directed to 
        Israel, the Northern Kingdom. 1:1; 7:10-14.
        a. Amos was chosen by God to prophecy, 7:14-15, 
           possibly because he was of the common people and 
           not of the school of the prophets, who by this 
           time were prone to speak what the people wanted 
           to hear rather than speaking God’s message.
           (1) Read Jeremiah 23:16-32 for an example of 
               prophets speaking falsely.
           (2) See the message of the 400 prophets to Ahab 
               and Jehoshaphat in contrast to the message 
               of Micaiah – 1 Kings 22:1-40.

 II. Date – Amos prophesied during the reign of Uzziah, 
     King of Judah (787-735 B.C.), and Jeroboam II, king of 
     Israel (790-749 B.C.), 1:1.
     1. Josephus indicates that the earthquake of chapter 
        1:1 occurred at the time of the imposition of 
        leprosy to Uzziah. 2 Chronicles 26:16-21.
        a. Hailey suggests that if Josephus is correct this 
           would indicate that this prophecy was given 
           about 751 B.C.
        b. Hailey dates the prophecy about 755 B.C.
        c. Barnes suggests that the contention of Josephus 
           seems to be without sufficient historical 
           evidence and contrary to proper chronological 
           events.  See Barnes Notes on Amos. Page 225.
        d. Barnes dates the prophecy within a twenty five 
           year period between 809-784 when he says both 
           Jeroboam II and Uzziah reigned 
           contemporaneously.
     2. Chapter 7:10-14 indicates that the prophecy, or at 
        least a part of the prophecy, may have been 
        delivered on a visit to Bethel.

 III. Contemporaries:
     1. It is thought by some that Amos had probably known 
        both Jonah and Elisha, and that his work may have 
        briefly overlapped the work of both.
     2. Some think that the plague of locust, 4:9, was the 
        same as the locust plague of Joel 1:4.
     3. Isaiah and Micah are also thought to have begun 
        their work about the time Amos was closing his 
        work.
 IV. Condition of Israel at the time of this prophecy.
     1. During the reign of Jeroboam, Israel enjoyed the 
        greatest period of prosperity enjoyed during its 
        200 year history.
     2. Israel was, however, obsessed with brazen idolatry, 
        gross immorality, swearing, stealing, injustice, 
        oppression, robbery, adultery, and murder.
     3. Robinson gives a good summation of their wickedness 
        and spiritual poverty “but unfortunately, though 
        there was much wealth in the nation, there was 
        little wisdom.  Feasting and banquets took the 
        place of religious endeavor.  A spirit of greed 
        ruled society.  Corruption of justice was a common 
        sin.  Might became right.  Land seizure was an 
        everyday crime.  The landlords had all the legal 
        machinery at their command to oppress.  The result 
        was that the rich became richer and the poor became 
        poorer.  With scornful indifference men lived “at 
        ease in Zion” (6:1).  Love of luxury prevailed, as 
        prior to the downfall of Rome, and the breaking out 
        of the French Revolution.  Religion lost all its 
        vitality, and morals were completely ignored.  
        Insincerity and dishonesty, corruption and 
        licentiousness, criminal extravagance and blind 
        assurance took such a firm hold of the wealthy, 
        arrogant voluptuaries, that they became heathen in 
        everything but name. Robinson, The 12 Minor 
        Prophets, page 50.
     4. Surely each generation needs to learn a lesson from 
        God’s condemnation of such practices and attitudes.
     5. The wickedness of Israel was largely the outgrowth 
        of their prosperity and their idolatrous worship 
        which included their worship of the golden calves 
        and which part of the time had embraced the worship 
        of Baal with all of its abominable practices.
     6. The many abominable practices of heathen idolatry 
        which continued to be characteristic of the 
        children of Israel helped to hasten the time of 
        their overthrow.

  V. Central message of the prophecy of Amos.
     1. Israel’s apostasy and wickedness would bring 
        certain destruction. 5:2
        a. Amos was most probably the first of the prophets 
           to declare the certain destruction of Israel.
     2. The throne of David would be restored in a later 
        time over a world on Nations. 9:8-15
        a. This was fulfilled when Christ was raised up to 
           sit on David’s Throne. Acts 2:29-37
        b. David’s literal throne was typical of the 
           spiritual throne where Christ would rule and 
           reign at God’s right hand over a spiritual 
           kingdom. John 18:36; Luke 17:20-21
        c. Christ would sit and rule on his throne at the 
           time he was to be a priest on the throne. 
           Zechariah 6:12-13
        d. But Christ could not be a priest on earth. 
           Hebrews 8:1-4
        e. Therefore, the throne of David upon which Christ 
           would sit and reign was to be a spiritual throne 
           in heaven and he is now ruling and reigning in 
           the hearts and lives of those who submit to his 
           will.

Howard I. See