Amos

MEMORY VERSE: “But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.” —Amos 5:24

AMOS 7:12-15; 5:14,15,18-24

AMOS was one of the Lord’s holy prophets. He was a native of Tekoa in Judah, which was about six miles south of Bethlehem. He was originally a shepherd and “dresser” of sycamore trees. As he explains, he was not originally a prophet, nor the son of a prophet. His statement in this connection may refer to the fact that he had never been associated with any of the groups known as “the sons of the prophets.”—II Kings 2:3

At the time of Amos’ ministry the nation of Israel was divided into two kingdoms. The northern kingdom was known as the kingdom of Israel, and the southern as the kingdom of Judah, and many times referred to simply as Israel and Judah. The territory of Israel was also known as Samaria.

The center of religious worship in Israel was Bethel, but heathen gods were almost exclusively the objects of worship. While Amos was a native of Judah, he was sent to deliver a message to Israel. His message was a forecast of the dire calamities which were to come upon Israel, including their being taken away captive into Assyria.

Amaziah was the priest of Israel, serving at Bethel, and he implored Amos to desist from prophesying against Israel, and to return to Judah. But Amos continued to prophesy against Israel. He summed up the meaning of his message, saying, “Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the Lord.”—ch. 9:8

“Hate the evil, and love the good,” said Amos, “and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.” (ch. 5:15) These sentiments are similar to those expressed in our memory verse. While the Lord had made it plain that because of Israel’s sin the nation was to be taken into captivity, a sincere turning to him even at this late date might well have caused the Lord to look favorably upon the people, in keeping with the lesson he taught Jeremiah. See Jeremiah 18:6-8.

“Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord!” said Amos, “to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light.” (vs. 18) Desiring “the day of the Lord” is evidently a reference to the desire of the people for the Lord to show his hand in their midst. Because of their idol worship and other sins, the Lord could only do this in terms of punishment for their wrongdoing, and this would bring woe upon them. This, indeed, is what did ultimately happen.

The expression, “the day of the Lord,” is used in the Bible with respect to divine intervention in the affairs of men at the time of the Lord’s second presence. The Prophet Joel wrote, “The day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains.” (Joel 2:1,2) The Apostle Paul expressed a similar prophetic thought. We quote: “Of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”—I Thess. 5:1-3

The “dark” day of the Lord which came upon Israel resulted in the destruction of the kingdom of Israel. Now this “day of the Lord” will result in the destruction of all the kingdoms of this world, and thus the way will be prepared for the full establishment of Messiah’s kingdom. Then, all the people will have an opportunity to receive the long-promised blessings of that kingdom.

One of the prophetic evidences that Christ’s kingdom is at the door is presented in Amos’s prophecy. It pertains to the regathering of Israel to the Promised Land. He wrote, “I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord God.”—ch. 9:14,15

QUESTIONS

Who was Amos?

Explain the circumstances under which he served as the Lord’s prophet.

What does the expression, “day of the Lord” imply?

What is one of the evidences that we are now approaching the full establishment of the kingdom of Christ?

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