Prophets and Politics

Prophets & Prophecy

• The prophets were men/women with a special anointing to proclaim God’s message to his people

• Prophecy comes in two ways:– Foretelling – here is what is GOING to happen

(future)– Forth telling – here is God’s perspective of you and

your behavior (present)

AMOS

• EXAMPLES of FORTH TELLING:– Damascus because of their ill treatment of Gilead

(1:3)– Gaza because they exiled an entire people to

Edom (1:6)– Tyre because they delivered up a people to Edom

and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood (1:10)

– Edom his violent treatment of others

AMOS

• Examples of FORETELLING (Future)– Damascus will be burned with fire, its strongholds

devoured, they will be exiled (1:4-5)– Gaza will be burned with fire, its strongholds

devoured, the remnant of the Philistines will be perish (1:7-8)

The Prophets Role

• “For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)

Big Issues in Amos against the People

• Reject God’s Law (2:4)• Oppress the poor (2:6; 4:1)• Sexually immoral (2:7b)• Syncretism (2:8)•

Ways God tried to get their Attention

• Hunger (4:6)• Thirst (4:8)• Finances (4:7, 9)• Death of youth (4:10)• Whole cities destroyed (4:11)

Micah

• His attitude was humble (1:8)• He was not afraid to confront sin (3:9-11)

God’s Perspective

• He gathers the humble (Micah 4:6-7)• He calls out a small city to announce the

messiah (Micah 5:2-5)• Not religion, or sacrifice, but a relationship

(Micah 6:6-8)

God’s Promise of Hope

• Forgiveness of Sin (7:18-19)• His delight in Love (7:18)• Faithful to keep his promises (7:20)

Politics??

• Both Amos and Micah were called by God to prophesy to nations and governments.

• Yet much of their prophecy seem to speak directly to the people

• What is your role as God’s servant in calling out sin?

• What is the churches role in calling out sin?