NEITHER PROPHET NOR PROPHET’S SON

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#112                      NEITHER PROPHET ‍NOR PROPHET’S SON

AMOS

Tekoah - 12m south Jerusalem

·         Only Amos in OT

·         Name means "burden" or "with aburden" see 2:13

·         Prophet - see 7:10

Words

·         "pledge" 2:8 Lev. 25:35-45 see see 2:6

·         "known" 3:2 consider Clinton

Outline

·         1:1-2 intro 1:3-2:5

·         The demands of justice (8 burdens) Damascus/Gaza/Tyre ///Edom/Ammon/Moab

·         Judah 2:6-16 Israel

·         3:1-5:27 words of the Lord v27 into captivity

·         6:1-14 day of reckoning

·         7:1-9:10 Visions

·         9:11-15 "I will bring again the captivity of my people".

1. Sin is worse in contrast with grace.

2. Mere ritual is offensive to God. 4:4,5;5:21f 3. Prosperity offers greater peril than poverty. 4. Abuse of the poor is contemptible to God 2:6;4:1;5:11,6:6

5. God's dealings are for men's discipline, not doom.

6. Discipline unheeded hastens doom. 6:3-7

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Scripture         Amos 7:10-17, NIV                                                                                                  

Orig.     7/29/1964 (2/1976)

Rewr.    5/29/1989

Passage:           10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel: “Amos is raising a conspiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words. 11 For this is what Amos is saying:

‍ “‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land.’”

‍12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. 13 Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom.”  14 Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. 15 But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ 16 Now then, hear the word of the Lord. You say, “‘Do not prophesy against Israel, and stop preaching against the descendants of Isaac.’

17 “Therefore this is what the Lord says:

“‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be measured and divided up, and you yourself will die in a pagan[a] country. And Israel will surely go into exile,
away from their native land.’”

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Purpose: Continuing a series from the Prophets, here sharing the first of two parts on Amos as the voice of God’s judgment.

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Keywords:      Bible Study                 Judgment

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Series, Old Testament Prophecy       Series, Book Study    

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Timeline/Series:         Sequential

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Introduction

              An overview is all we have time for tonight.  Amos is our prophet of note.  In his confrontation here with Amaziah, “the priest of Bethel,” he makes the point that he has come into Samaria at the behest of God only.  He had no prior experience as a prophet nor was  his father a prophet.  Judah, you remember, was said (II Kings 14:25) to be a prophet who was the son of a prophet.

              In fact, some scholars perceive that these chapters supply the sum of Amos’ ministry.  He seemed to have been called out of the fields of Tekoa to come to Samaria to speak only this message.  His entire stance as a prophet lasted only a few days.  We do know where he came from.  We do not know where he went after this time.

              We do know that he lived during the reign of Jeroboam (7:9).  Uzziah was on the throne in Judah.  He was contemporary with Joel.  Isaiah was a young man, being groomed for a later day in the courts and temple in Jerusalem, [and] in reasonable proximity to the time that Jonah would be heaved upon the beach leading to Nineveh.

              Following Jehu’s stormy reign came Jehoahaz and Jehoash. Samaria suffered severely from the Syrians.  Jeroboam brought strength.  Fred Wood (Bib. Illus. Sp85) says that he was “the strongest king of any who sat on the throne of Israel during her stormy history.”

              His reign, however, was devoid of moral uprightness and spiritual significance.  There was injustice, oppression, and violence.  Amos, himself, tells us how the people were exploited, “Panting after the dust of the earth on the heads of the poor,” (2:7).

I.           First, There are the Eight Burdens of Amos.  1:3, “Thus saith the Lord, for three transgressions of  Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away . . . because. . . .”

              Seven times this is similarly stated. 1:3 (Damascus), 1:6 (Gaza), 1:9 (Tyre), 1:11 (Edom), 1:13 (Amon), 2:1 (Moab), 2:4-6 [(Judah and Israel)].

              In every instance he uses the same format.  It was a word from God.  It certified their guilt.  1/N, 2,3/W, 4,5/E, 6/S.  God  is sovereign over all.  Jeremiah 12:14, “Thus saith the Lord against all mine evil neighbors, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit.”  It forewarned them of judgment.  It leaves no [opportunity to revoke].

              The sin pictured is past that which offers prospect of repentance.  Every believer should see any sin as with potential to break the spirit.  Every believer unbeliever should ask at what point repentance is no longer possible.  [James] Moffatt1 captures the spirit of this by translating “for crime upon crime.”               “Transgression” is not a strong enough word.  The idea is rebellion.  Leviticus 26 describes punishment.  Five times “If ye will not yet.”  Each time punishment is extended.  Leviticus 26:41, “If their uncircumcised hearts be humbled . . . then will I remember my. . . [covenant]. . . .”

              In every case except one, the symbol of this impending judgment is fire.  Fire can purify or putrefy.  Later they will be forewarned (5:6) of “like fire . . . devouring . . . and none to quench it in Bethel.”

              Fire is often used to describe God.

·         Exodus 3:2, symbol of God’s presence

·         Deuteronomy 4:24, “For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire.”

·         Isaiah 33:14, “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?”

·         Jeremiah 23:29, “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord.”

              Destruction of Israel will take another form.

II.          Next, Come Five Short Messages from Amos.  3:1, “Hear this word that the Lord has spoken.”

              He speaks of a nation chosen.  Their relationship is affirmed.  V2, “You only have I known.”  It is to know intimately.  Their responsibility is adjudged.  V2, “Therefore will I punish you for all your iniquities.”  Different from transgressions (rebel).  Perverseness, guilt.

              He speaks of a nation covenanted.  Chapter 3:3-15; v3, “Can two walk together except they be agreed?”  Again, relationship affirmed.  God reaches out to His people through His servant, the prophet.  God works so diligently with Jonah.  He takes a southern prophet to speak to the northern tribes.  The individual must be moldable to God’s plan.  Again, responsibility is adjudged.  They are to prepare themselves for eventualities of God’s design.  They will be surrounded, held captive, exiled.  Amos is the first to prophesy exile: 4:12.  3:14, “The horns of (Bethel’s) altar shall be lopped off.”

              Next, he speaks of a nation chastened, Chapter 4.  Still again, the relationship is affirmed.  He speaks of Bethel, Gilgal, places of spiritual significance—Amos 3:14, 4:4, 5:5; Hosea 4:15, 5:8, 10:5,15 (Beth Aven).  And, responsibility is adjudged.  God announces expectation—what He will do to them—five times: 4:6,8,9,10,11.  He says, “Ye have not returned to me.”  There is an ultimate warning. V12, “. . . Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.”

              Then, he speaks of a nation charged.  Chapter 5, even here the relationship is affirmed.  V4,6, “Seek the Lord, and ye shall live.”  Not Bethel, Gilgal, Beersheba.  The judgment is clear and settled.  Justice will prevail:  They have lived in [a] fine house, feasted from fine vineyards—both will stand idle.  Judgment is announced. 

·         Fire, not mentioned in 2:6f, is mentioned in 5:6.

·         Darkness is announced in terms of the “day of the Lord,” v20.

·         Judgment upon their feast days: feast days are not at fault, abuse of them is problem.

·         Captivity is pronounced.

              Finally, he speaks of a nation confronted.  There is little talk of relationship.  There is much of affliction (sheber).  28 of 45 Old Testament uses are in prophets of impending political disaster.

III.         The Book Concludes with Five Visions from the Lord.

              Four of these begin similarly:  7:1,4,7; 8:1.  “Thus hath the Lord showed.”

·         A vision of locusts, 7:1-3—destruction, v1; a cry for forgiveness, v2; destruction averted, v3.

·         The vision of fire, 7:4-6—judgment, v4; an appeal for restraint, v5; the appeal granted, v6.

·         The vision of the plumb line, 7:7-9—truth brought to bear, v7; no intercession; judgment is determined, v9.

·         Vision of summer fruit, 8:11-14—judgment is imminent; it will affect them where they will be the most hurt, v11.  (The prophet’s voice will be stilled.)

              There is a parenthetical confrontation with the “priest of Bethel” (7:10-17).  The false spokesmen have much to lose.

              A final vision of Jehovah, 9:10-17.  Judgment will be executed, v1-10.  A remnant will be spared and restored in time, v11-15.  V11, “I will raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen.”

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LINKS/REFERENCES‍‍ ‍

1https://www.britannica.com/search?query=james+moffatt

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