Amos: Prophet of Justice

KEY VERSE: “Let judgment run down as waters, righteousness as a mighty stream.” —Amos 5:24

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Amos 2:6 to 3:2; 5:24

AMOS, A PROPHET of humble birth, a native of Tekoa in Judah, was occupied as a simple herdsman when God revealed to him some of the things that were going to happen to his nation, Israel. He held a passionate concern for the poor and oppressed and he seems to have traveled north into the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel about the year 760 B.C., and there exercised his ministry. During this period the country enjoyed great prosperity under Jeroboam II, one of Israel’s most able monarchs.

The Lord poured his spirit upon Amos, with mighty power, sending him to proclaim disaster upon Israel unless they were to turn away from their iniquities and return to harmony with God. Upon his arrival in the Northern kingdom, Amos first, however, pronounced judgment upon seven of its immoral enemy neighbors before stating his prophecy against Israel.—Amos 1:3 to 2:4

In Chapter 2:9-11, The Living Bible, Amos gives a brief account of Israel’s unmerited favor from Jehovah at the time of their settlement in Canaan under the leadership of Joshua. He says, “Think of all I did for them! I cleared the land of the Amorites before them—the Amorites, as tall as cedar trees, and strong as oaks! But I lopped off their fruit and cut their roots. And I brought you out from Egypt and led you through the desert forty years, to possess the land of the Amorites. And I chose your sons for prophets and your young men for Nazarites can you deny this, Israel?”

This gift of deliverance from bondage into a “good land flowing with milk and honey” (Exod. 3:8) should have produced obedience, but the result instead was one of ingratitude and perverse, rebellious behavior.—Amos 2:6-8

Amos’ low social status as a shepherd doubtless contributed to his sensibility of injustice toward the poor. In Amos 5:9-14, The Living Bible, he makes this statement: “The Lord, Jehovah … with blinding speed and violence brings destruction on the strong. … How you hate honest judges! How you despise people who tell the truth!

“You trample the poor and steal their smallest crumb by all your taxes, fines and usury; therefore you will never live in the beautiful stone houses you are building, nor drink the wine from the lush vineyards you are planting, for many and great are your sins. …

“You are the enemies of everything good; you take bribes; you refuse justice to the poor. … Be good, flee evil, and live! Then the Lord God of Hosts will truly be your Helper, as you claim.” Amos called for justice to “flow like a mighty stream.”—vs. 24

At its close, Amos’ prophecy assures the recovery of Israel and reveals the coming blessing of the Lord which will extend not only to that nation, but unto all mankind, including the Gentiles.

The Apostle James, in the Council at Jerusalem quoted Amos 9:11,12: “I will return and will build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up; that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.”—Acts 15:16,17

We are living in the time when this prophecy is about to be fulfilled. Natural Israel has returned to her land and God’s kingdom will soon be set up in the world—the one that was once typically represented in King David.

This kingdom is to be actually established by the greater David the ‘Beloved One’. Under that kingdom, established under more favorable conditions, the residue of men will be given an opportunity to seek the Lord, for the knowledge of the Lord shall fill the whole earth.

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