Key Text: The Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel (Amos 7:15).
During the reign of Jeroboam II, Amos, a poor herdsman in Judah, who cared for sycamore trees (whose fruit was food of the poor), traveled to the worship centers of Israel, where the rich idled, to proclaim God’s condemnation of their distorted values. Class distinctions crystallized with the rich bent on piling up profits at the expense of their poorer brothers. A heartless unconcern for the sufferings of the oppressed marked the well-to-do.
In Judah, the cause of the judgment announced on Israel and Judah seems simple: “Because they have rejected the Law of the Lord and have not kept His decrees” (Amos 2:4). The focus of God’s concern is placed on social injustice, as the breakdown of morality, and as repudiation of God and His Word 2:6-8. This institutionalized injustice had turned away the “humble” from following God’s way of love and obedience as “they sell the righteous.” In flagrant violation of God’s command to worship only Him, there was use of temple prostitutes involved in pagan worship. The ritual, even when performed in God’s supposed honor, horrified the Lord (5:12). The Law demanded that if a poor man’s cloak were taken as a pledge against a loan or debt, it was to be returned to him before night, since the cloak was also his blanket. But in Israel, such cloaks were piled around the altars as resting places for wealthy worshipers. Wine that had been extorted as taxes or fines from the poor was set aside to worship God. God’s demand focused not on restoring the appropriate forms of worship, but on returning again to His values (5:14 – 15). Thus even God was made to seem a part of oppression. This cause of judgment sets the stage and draws attention to the causes of God’s wrath. The indifferent attitude of men and women concerned with only profit and their own pleasures deeply offends God.
The prophet Amos skillfully brings out the cause-and-effect relationship about the calamity that was about to come upon Israel: With advance warning, the Lord will reveal His intentions to those who are in fellowship with Him–His servants and prophets v 7. The prophet is only doing God’s bidding and delivering His message v 8. But Amos’ message was not well received. Amaziah, the priest of the sanctuary at Bethel where calf worship was practiced, became the leader of the opposition: He complained to Jeroboam that Amose conspired against him, he was making a personal attack against him in the midst of Israel, and he was upsetting a peaceful land. Amos had prophesied that God would bring the sword against the house of Jeroboam v 9. But Amaziah twisted the prophet’s word, saying that Jeroboam would die by the sword. However, Amaziah did not gain a sympathetic ear from Jeroboam. So, Amaziah tells Amos to prophecy in Bethel no longer because it is King Jeroboam’s place of worship and residence – implying that the minister of God is not worthy of being there. Amos completely ignores Amaziah’s injunction to “prophesy not again any more at Bethel” v 13, and instead, delivers a prophecy against Amaziah personally, as well as his family. V 16: His wife will become a harlot; his sons and daughters will be slain; his land would be taken from him; and he himself would die “in a polluted land” as a captive in Assyria. Further, Israel itself will be taken captive and led away in exile v 17. AMEN!
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