The Book of
Amos
Quick Survey
Jesus is the champion of Social Justice and God's Justice, the Heavenly Husbandman
The Jerome Bible Commentary
Jesus Christ and His Church in each book of the Bible
Expanded commentary
1,093 prophecies and types of the Old Testament fulfilled in Jesus
The Book of Amos is the champion in the OT of social justice and the justice of God...
condemning idolatry and social injustice.
Oppression of the poor by the wealthy is a particular problem. Sacrifices do not mask injustice,
for God wants justice to roll down like waters and righteousness like an everflowing stream (5:24).
The chief thought of Amos is that true worship of God necessarily entails protection of the poor
and the weak in society. Not even God's people can hope to escape the wrath of God if the social
responsibilities that go with election are neglected... Amos preached especially against hypocritical
worship, oppression of the poor, and immorality. Not surprisingly, he was ordered to cease his
preaching.
It is the first prophetic book we have, in the eight century BC, the golden century of prophecy,
with Amos and Hosea in Israel, Isaiah Joel and Micah in Judah, and Jonah in Ninive.
The Day of the Lord is mentioned three times (5:18,20, 6:3)... it is not a day of joy, but a terrible
day of punishment of God, Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord ! Why do you long for the
day of the Lord ? That day will be darkness, not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion
only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a
snake bite him. (5:18-19).
To Israel, he foretold his destruction and exile to a foreign land... but a "remnant" of Israel, is
mentioned for the first time, some of them will be saved... and a promise restoration concludes the
book, giving hope to readers (8:8-14).
Jesus is our Judge... and restorer.
Amos was a herdsman and a simple dresser of sycamore-trees of Tekoa, a village in the
Southern Kingdom, twelve miles south of Jerusalem (1:1, 7:14)... but he prophesied in the northern
kingdom of Israel.
In the first two chapters, he went to the great cult center of Bethel in Samaria and spoke of God's
judgment upon the greed and brutality of Israel's enemies, Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon,
Moab... God will destroy them with fire... and he was applauded!.
Then he spoke about the chastisement and destruction of Judah and Jerusalem with fire... and
they applauded even loudly!...
But then he started to talk about the idolatry and social injustices of Israel, and its terrible
chastisement... and they threw him out of Samaria!...
His prophetic work lasted about a week, but it was like an earthquake!. (1:1).
All his prophecies were fulfilled to the letter, including the personal ones:
- To Amaziah, the priest of Bethel who threw him out, he foretold his death in a foreign land,
his wife shall be made a harlot, his sons and daughters shall fall to the sword, and his land given to
others... and it did happened! (7:10-17).
- He told to King Jeroboam he will die by the sword, and Israel shall be exiled... and it did
happened!. (7:11).
The Book, in Four Parts:
1- God's Judgement and Punishment of 8 nations (chapters 1-2).
- Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab... Judah... and Israel.
- I will send fire upon Judah that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem. (2:5).
- To Israel: I will crush you as a cart crushes when loaded with grain (2:13).
2- Condemnations of Israel, 3 sermons (chapters 3-6).
1- Sin of Irresponsibility (3).
When disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it? Surely the Sovereign Lord does
nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets (3:6-7)... same thing God is doing
today in many apparitions and visions...
2- Sin of Idolatry (4).
God punished in different ways Israel to get its repentance... however, 5 times repeats the Lord,
yet you have not returned to me," declares the Lord (4:6,8,9,10,11)
3- Sin of moral and ethic decay (4:1, 5-6).
You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built
stone mansions, you will not live in them (5:11)
Do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba... (5:5)
5:21
"I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies.
5:22
Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them.
5:23
Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
5:24
But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
3- Five Visions of Judgement of Israel (7-9).
1- Vision of the locusts (7:1-3).
2- Vision of the fire (7:4-6).
In these first two visions, the foretold destruction is stayed by divine interposition.
3- Vision of the plumb Line (7:7-9).
In this third vision, the destruction is permitted to become complete
- Amaziah throws Amos out of Samaria... and prophecies against Amaziah and King Jeroboam
(7:10-17).
4- Vision of the Summer Fruit (8:1-14).
A vision of fruit in the late summer shows that the end is near.
5- Vision of the Fall of the Sanctuary (9:1-10).
The Lord standing beside the altar and threatening Israel with a chastisement from which
there is no escape.
4- Five Promises of Restoration of Israel (9:11-15).
9:8
"Surely the eyes of the Sovereign Lord are on the sinful kingdom. I will destroy it from the
face of the earth- yet I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob," declares the Lord ... a remnant
will be left!.
9:11
"In that day I will restore David's fallen tent...
9:14
I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them.
They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.
9:15
I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given
them," says the Lord your God.