My Bible study and discussions on the Minor Prophets continue this week on the book of Amos.
Amos:
-An unlikely 8th century B.C. prophet b/c he was:
from the South (Judah) prophesying in the North, not a professional nor
seminary trained (7:14), he was a shepherd (1:1; 7:14), he took care of
“sycamore-fig trees” (7:15).
“Israel’s past
is stained with disobedience and rebellion, Israel’s future holds the ominous threat of calamity, and Israel’s present demands an immediate and
complete change of heart if that calamity is to be averted” (Overview in The
Daily Walk Bible,” pg. 1152).
“Among the minor prophets, none was inspired to pay more
attention to the needs of the poor than Amos. The relationship of social
justice to economic issues was surely a notable emphasis of his preaching” (D.
Stuart, Word Biblical Themes: Hosea – Jonah, 67).
1.
The condemnation
of the nations, then Judah and Israel –2:4-8; 8:11-14.
a.
If we can assume the condemnation in 2:3 is
just as true for Israel as it is for Judah, then how do we see the actions of
2:3, and the reality of 8:11-14, leading to actions like the ones found in
2:6-8?
b.
Imagine Amos standing in your neighborhood
condemning your neighbors and as he moves from house to house he then mentions
you and your family (DWB, 1165). What
sin(s) is God convicting you of right now?
c.
“There’s
no need to wait for fire to fall – or a prophet to knock – before you tend to
an area of your life overdue for change” (DWB, p. 1165). Silent Reflection
2.
God sovereignly
judges the nations and Israel – chs. 1-2; 3:6-7, 4:6-15; 7:1-9
a.
What are some of the proper responses to His pending judgment?
i. See
2:10 and 3:1 – Remember!
ii. See
4:6, 8-12 – Repent!
iii. See
7:2, 5 – Intercede!
b.
How might the Lord be trying to get our
attention here in the U.S.?
3.
A
call for justice and true religion – 5:10-24; Prov. 31:8-9; James 1:27; 5:1-6
a.
What do these texts say?
b.
For the next 5 days on your calendar, write
down 1 thing you could do to serve someone you know you will cross paths with
on that day (DWB, 1167).
c.
See also Amos 8:1-8
“Naturally,
one emergency or disaster cannot automatically be converted into the voice of
God, for there are more factors at work in this world than reducing them all to
a single factor; there is, however, that which is sinful and wicked. … when
these tragedies start coming in a series, such as Amos 4:6-12 illustrated, then
it is high time for the believers to sit up and take notice. Be sure that God
is calling a nation away from unrighteousness and back to himself” (W. Kaiser, Revive
Us Again, pg. 231).
*In this devotional I’m not trying to
make a one-to-one correlation between 6th – 8th century Israel
and 21st century America. Nevertheless, God “is the same yesterday,
today and forever” and God’s Word is Truth and applicable to our individual and
corporate lives today as we live here in the U.S.
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