1. Name comes from the Hebrew word amas,
which means to lift or carry a burden. So, Amos was the burden bearer
Amos
Background InfoA.From Tekoa: 6 miles south of
Bethlehem and 12 miles south of Jerusalem. Lived in Judah, but spoke both to Judah, Israel and other nations.
B. Not a prophet by trade; did not live in a school. He was a shepherd and a herdsman
1. Jeroboam II had expanded Israel’s borders
significantly 2. Wide gap between the rich and poor.
Cultural Background
1. Chapters 1-2: Announcement of
Judgement 2. Chapters 3-6: Reasons for judgment Chapters 7-9: 5 Visions of judgment
The Message of Amos
a. Swarm of locusts b. Fire c. Wall and plumb line d. Basket of ripe fruit e. God standing by the altar
Visions of judgment
Amos is characterized by his bold and blunt
message; he wasn’t afraid to speak the truth, even when it didn’t make him friends.
Amos’ Message
A. Name is similar to Joseph and Joshua,
meaning salvation. B. His ministry immediately followed or
overlapped Amos’. C. Warned people about the rising threat of
Assyria. D. In the final years of the Northern
Kingdom, 6 kings ruled during a 25 year period. 4 of them were assassinated.
2. Hosea: The prophet and the Prostitute.
1. Hosea’s wayward wife a. Description of an adulterous wife
and a faithful husband. b. His wife Gomer left him and
his 3 children to live the live of a prostitute. Hosea goes to great lengths to restore their marriage.
c. Hosea’s marriage was supposed to be a reflection of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God.
d. The Marriage promise represents Israel’s covenant with God.
The Message of Hosea
1. Jezreel—meaning “God Scatters,”
symbolizes the dynasty of Jehu, to remind King Jeroboam that his power comes from God and can be taken away.
2. Lo-ruhamah—which means “not pitied”, condemning the social injustice of Hosea’s time
3. Lo-ammi—which means “not my people”, revoking Israel’s identity as God’s people; also because that child was not actually Hosea’s.
Hosea’s Children
5 “Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them
because they refuse to repent?
Hosea 11:5