THE BOOK OF AMOS
OUTLINE
THEME: "The divine punishment" of sinful people. "The Lord roars from Zion" 1.2 and "will not change His decree" 1.3,6,9, etc.., 2.1,4,6, 3.2,11, etc.. which is the meaning of "I will not turn away its punishment."
MESSAGE: God is just and requires justice in men. People who practice injustice will come against divine judgement, unless they repent.
ANALYSIS:
The Sins of Eight nations 1.3 - 2-16: Syria, Philistia, Titus, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah and Israel. God is no respecter of persons or of nations. In Israel there was bribery, adultery, idolatry and sacrilege.
Three Speeches chapters 3-6: against Israel; each speech begins with "Hear this word...!" 3.1, 4.1, 5.1: social disorders, punishments of nature, corruption of leaders and prediction of ruin.
Five Views of Punishment 7.1 - 9.10: locusts, fire, plumb line, fruit and God.
Final Restoration 9.11-15: the promise of everlasting prosperity.
COMMENTS
Amos was born in Tekoa in Judah. Being sheepbreeder and gatherer of sycamore, he was sent by God to warn Israel (the 10 tribes separated from Judah) about the wrath to come.
He prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II, who brought a lot of material prosperity to Israel, but encouraged the people to idolatry. The prophet Jonah was a contemporary of Amos.
Having noted the signs of God's wrath: drought, locusts, plague and a total eclipse, Amos began his ministry two years before the great earthquake 1.1: see Zechariah 14.5, which he predicted himself 8.8, 9.5. Period: about the year 750 BC.
His message is ponderous. It demands that the people of God become holy and righteous, to avoid divine judgment. Each nation will answer to God; how much more so Israel, with its greater privileges?
AND HOW MUCH EVEN MORE THE CHRISTIAN, THE "SON OF GOD"?