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THEBOOKOFAMOS
Lesson1,IntroductionandChapter1
AsisourcustominTorahClass,Iwillgetusstartedonourstudyoftheprophetic
BookofAmoswithanintroductiontothismostinterestingandenlighteningbook
ofScripture.AftertheintroductionwewillbeginChapter1.
ThesettingforAmosisthis:AmoswasaJudeanmanwholivedintheKingdom
ofJudahbuttraveledfromtheretotheKingdomofEphraim/Israeltomake
knowntheprophesythatGodgavetohim.Thisoccurredduringthetimethat
KingJeroboamIIwasinpowerinEphraim/IsraelwhilesimultaneouslyKing
UzziahwasinpowerinJudah.Fromacalendarperspectivethiswouldhavebeen
sometimeinthemid-8
th
centuryB.C.,likelybetweenthedatesof786and746
B.C.So,atthelatest,Amos’sprophecieswerecompletedatleast2decades
beforeAssyriaroseupandconqueredEphraim/Israel,sendingitspeopleinto
exile.TheProphetHoseawasacontemporaryofAmos,andverylikelytheywere
(attheleast)awareofoneanother,andprobablywerepersonallyacquainted
(althoughnothingisrecordedtopositivelyconfirmthatlikelihood).Isaiahand
Jonahalsoprophesiedwithinthistimeframesoweseethatprophecywas
flourishingandbeingpouredoutataveryheightenedpace,meaningthatmuch
wasabouttohappentoIsraelthatYehovehwantedHispeopletoknowitwas
imminent,whyitwasoccurring,whytheyshouldrepentfortheirsins(thatwas
thecauseforthecomingevents),andtogivethemtimetoprepareinpractical
waysfortheirjudgmentofwarandexile.ThispunishmentwasGoddirectedand
wouldnotbedelayedorcalled-offnomatterhowsorryorrepentantthepeople
ofEphraim/Israelmightbecomeinresponsetohearingofthishorrificjudgment
fortheirunfaithfulnesstowardsGod.
KingJeroboamwouldbethefinalkingofaparticulardynastyofkingsthathad
begunwithJehuinthemid-9
th
centuryB.C.Perhapsoflargestsignificancefor
Amos’spropheticbodyofworkwasthatEphraim/Israelhadbecomeathriving,
wealthykingdom.Atthesametime,moreandmorefarmerssoldtheirlandto
largerlandownersandmovedintothecitiestofindwork.Greedymerchants
boughtupthefoodsupplyfromtheselargefarmersandsoldthemtothecity
dwellersatexorbitantprices,reapingnearlyunconscionableprofitsfor
themselveswhiledrivingthepoorercitydwellersfurtherintopoverty.This

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disparitybetweenrichandpooronlyheightenedthetendencyofallsocietiesto
elevatethestatusoftherichanddiminishthestatusofthepoorsuchthatthe
richoppressedthepoor.Thus,ofprimaryfocusforAmoswastheissueofsocial
justice,andGod’sgreatdispleasureatafewIsraelitesbecomingwealthyonthe
backsofthehelplesspoor.
TheresultofthisamazingwealthwasanewclassofpeopleinEphraim/Israel
thatgreatlyresembleswhatweseeintheworldtoday:aleisureclassofelites.
Personalpleasures,decadence,andindifferencetotheplightofthepoorledto
widespreadimmorality(especiallyofasexualnature).Yetatthesametimethe
religionoftheEphraim/Israeliteswasquitepopular;therichespeciallywentto
greatextremesintheirreligiouspractices,andthepoordidasmuchasthey
couldevenifitmeantdepravationfortheirfamilies.Trulyitwastheearliest
exampleofaProsperityDoctrineatwork,anditdemonstratesallthedisastrous
consequencesitbringswithitbecauseitisantitheticaltoGod’scharacterandto
Hisinstructionstous.Thecoreissuewasthatthereligionthatwascurrently
beingpracticedbyEphraim/IsraelhadlittleresemblancetothebiblicalHebrew
faithaslaidoutintheTorahasgiventoMoses.Ithaddegeneratedintoa
pervertedhybridofTorahlaw,paganrituals(involvingpagangodsystems),with
manmadedoctrinesandtraditionsmixedin.ThepeopleofEphraim/Israel,
however,wereblindtoit,anddismissedGod’soraclessenttothemthroughHis
prophets…oraclesthatcondemnedtheiridolatryandunfaithfulnesstoHim…all
thewhileinsistingthattheywereinfullallegiancetotheGodofIsraelandtoHis
commandments.
PleasenoticemycontinuingreferencetoEphraim/Israel.Onlyrarelywillwesee
BiblecommentatorsandBibleteachersrefertotheNorthernKingdomofthe
ancientIsraelitesinthisway.Itisperhapshelpfultorememberthatatthistime
inhistoryIsraelhad,throughcivilwar,becomesplitinto2independentand
separatelygovernedkingdoms.Thesadrealityisthatonlyforaperiodofabout
80years,underthereignsofKingsDavidthenSolomon,wasIsraelaunited
nationunderasingleking.UponSolomon’sdeaththeunitedkingdomdescended
intochaosandthenoutrightarmedconflictasvariouspower-hungrypeoplevied
forthethrone.Shortlyafterthemid-pointofthe10
th
centuryB.C.,theresultwas
asplittingofIsraelinto2kingdomseachruledbyitsownking:theKingdomof
Judahtothesouth,andtheKingdomofIsraeltothenorth.However,inreality

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thenorthernkingdomwasmostlyknowntothepeopleastheKingdomof
Ephraim(andwefinditstatedasmuchintheBibleeventhoughsomeversions
obscurethisbysubstitutingtheword“Israel”wheninfacttheHebrew
manuscriptssay“Ephraim”).Thereasonforthisnamewasthatthetribeof
Ephraimhadbecomethelargestandmostpowerfulofthenorthern10Israelite
tribesandso(aswascommoninthatera)theterritoryandkingdomwasnamed
forthem.Ihaveaddedtheword“Israel”tothekingdom’snameinordertohelp
youtobetterunderstandthisdynamicandwhoitis,exactly,thattheBible(and
I)aretalkingabout.Thus,IwillalternatecallingtheNorthernKingdomIsrael,or
Ephraim,orEphraim/Israeltoaddressthissomewhat-confusingsituation.
AnotherfactorthatplaysanimportantroleinourstudyofAmosisthis:even
thoughitwouldeventuallybethenationofAssyriathatwouldattack,conquer
andexiletheresidentsoftheNorthernKingdomofEphraim/Israel,duringmost
ofthetimethatAmosprophesiedAssyriawasarathertameregionalpowerand
soofnothreattoIsrael.TiglathpilserIIIwaskingofAssyriaduringthatera,and
althoughlikemostMiddleEasternpotentateshe,fromtime-to-time,attempted
territorialexpansiontoaddtohishoped-forempire,notuntilthelastpartofthe
8
th
centuryB.C.didhefinallyturnhisambitionstothewestandthenationsthat
residedthere(withtheKingdomofEphraim/Israelamongthem).Thisrealityhad
muchtodowithEphraim/Israel’sincreasingwealthastheywereina
several-decadesperiodofrelativepeacewiththeirneighbors,andsodidn’thave
tospendhumancapitalandtreasurymoneytofightexpensivewarsexceptwhen
theysoughttoacquiremoreterritoryforitself(whichtheydid).Butthisalso
leadsustothefactthatAmoswassilentaboutAssyria.Althoughhesaysthata
foreignnationwilldecimateandexileIsrael,heneversayswhichnationitwillbe.
Amos,wearetoldinthefirstverseofhisbook,wasasheepbreederfromTekoa;
asmalltownjustafewmilessouthofJerusalemintheKingdomofJudah.
AlthoughsomeBibleversionswillcallhimashepherd,Amoswasmuchmore
thansomeonewhomerelytendedsheepinthefields.InHebrewthewordused
isnoqedanditdenotesaknowledgeablepersoninchargeofsheepbreedingand
thereforehewasprobablyprettywelloff.We’retoldinAmoschapter7thathe
alsohadtodowithcultivatingsycamoretrees.However,thisparticulartypeof
treethatatthetimewascalledsycamorewasactuallyavarietyoffigtree.We
knowlittleelseabouthim.Wedon’tknowhisage,howlonghemighthavelived,

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whetherhehadafamily,orwhenhehadcometobeaprophet.Weonlyknow
thathedidnotgotoanykindofprophetacademy,norwashetrainedbyanother
prophet,andinfactclaimsonlythatGodcalledhimtothisoffice.Somethingwe
oughttodrawfromthisisthatGod’scallinguponourlivesforthepurposeof
ministryfarsurpassesanyamountofpriorexperience,academictrainingor
honorsbestoweduponusbyhumaninstitutions.Hopefullythisisan
encouragementtoallofyou.Arecurringquestionaskedofmeiswhatschool
someoneneedstoattend,orwhatkindofdegreeisneeded,tobecomeaPastor
oraBibleteacher.Andwhilebynomeansisitmyintenttodemeanformal
trainingintheseareas,atthesametimewefindsomeofthegreatestfiguresin
BiblehistoryhadnotrainingintheministryvocationGodassignedtothem.
Rather,whateverabilityandunderstandingtheyneededwasmerelygiftedto
thembytheFather,intheformofwhatwemightcallspiritualgifts.Amongsuch
greatBiblestalwartsasthesewefindtheoriginal12disciplesofChristandeven
YeshuaHimselfwhohadnoformalreligioustraining.Attheotherendofthe
spectrum,wefindPaulwhowashighlytrainedatthebestrabbinicalacademyin
theHolyLand;butinrealityhewastheexceptionandnottherule.
So,atGod’scallingifAmoslefthislucrativecareerasasheepbreederandexpert
infiggrowing,whatdidhedotomakingaliving?Inhiseraprophetswerepaid
eitherbythelocalgovernmentorbydonationsfromthoseheprophesiedto.This
ismadeclearbythewordsofAmos7:12whereweread:
CJB
Amos7:12Amatzyahalsosaidto'Amos,"Goaway,seer!Gobacktothe
landofY'hudah!Earnyourlivingthere;andprophesythere;
SinceAmos’spropheticcallingwasmostlyabouttakingamessageofdoomto
Ephraim/IsraelinconsequenceoftheirterriblefailingsbeforeGod,thenitisn’t
surprisingthatheissimilartoHoseainthathisperspectiveonIsrael’ssins
closelyfollowedtheCovenantofMoses.Thatis,wherebythespecificcrimes
againstGodthatAmosspeaksof(bymeansofdivineoracle)arethoseaslisted
intheLawofMoses,soarethepunishmentsforthosecrimeslisted.Thisisnota
trivialissue.ForIsrael,eversincetheTorahwasgiventothemonMt.Sinai,their
civillawandmoralitycodewastobeonlytheLawofMoses.Thus,somethingwas
definedasasin(acrimeagainsttheirfellowmanoragainstGod)onlywhenit
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onlyweeksaftertheirexodusfromEgypt.Further,eachcrime(eachsin)as
specifiedanddescribedbytheLawofMosesalsowasaccompaniedbyaspecific
consequencefordisobedience(usuallycalledacurse).Thisisimportantenough
thatI’llexpoundonthisimportantprincipleforjustamoment.
AfterMt.Sinai,uponwhichMosesreceivedtheTorahfromGod,theLawthatwas
giventherebecameIsrael’srock-solidmoralcode;theirconstitution,ifyou
would.Rightandwrong,goodandevil,wasdefinedforthem.Justicewasdefined
forthem.Righteousness,mercy,compassion,love,andsomuchmorewerealso
definedforthemaccordingtothelawgiver’s(God’s)viewpointandstandard.In
otherwords,justasthevariouscivillawcodesofatleastthedevelopedWestern
nations,today,aremeanttobeobjectivelistingsofrightsandwrongs,crimes
andpunishments,soistheLawofMosesmeantasGod’soneandonlyobjective
writtencodeofmorality(rightandwrong)forHiselect.Whatdoesitmeanfor
somethingtobe“objective”?Objectivemeansthataruleorajudgmentoran
outcomeisnotaffectedbyemotionsandopinions;nordoesthatrule,judgment
oroutcomechangeandvacillatesituationbysituationorcasebycaseor
accordingtothesocialstatusofthepersonsinvolved.Ontheotherhand,the
term“subjective”hasthepolaroppositemeaning.Tobesubjectivemeansthat
emotionsandopinionsareatthecoreofrules,judgmentsandoutcomes.Thatis,
tobesubjectiveindeedmeansrules,judgmentsandoutcomesDOchangeand
vacillateandeffectivelyfollowlittletonofixedordiscernablepattern.Andthat
thepersonswhomakethedecisionshavethelatitudetodoso.Thus,aso-called
“subjective”morallawcodeisbydefinitionanoxymoronandafantasy.Howcan
a“code”alsobesubjectivewhenrules,judgmentsandoutcomescan,
theoretically,changeinfinitelyandneverbeappliedinthesamewaytwice?We
seenowhereintheBible,OldorNewTestaments,thattheLawofMoses…God’s
moralcodeforhumanity…islegitimatelyappliedsubjectively.Ratheritisapplied
uniformly,evenhanded…objectively…andGodinfactwarnsagainstdoing
otherwise.InAmos(asinHosea),wewitnessGodbeingfullyfaithfultoHisown
moralitycodeasHejudgesIsraelfortheirfailuretofollowit.
WhatEphraim/IsraelhadunwittinglydonewastoeffectivelytransformtheLaw
ofMosesandturnitfromobjectivetosubjectivebyaddingandchangingrules
andlawsaseachreligiousleadercameandwent.Bymixingever-changing
humandesiresandtrendswithevolvingreligiouscustomsandtraditions,and

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thenattemptingtostitchtheLawofMosesandthesecustomsandtraditions
togethertoformanewfabricwithwhichtoclothetheirreligiouscultinaphony,
manmadereligiositythattheypreferredandenjoyed,Israelhadessentially
removedtheneedlefromtheirmoralcompasses.About1000yearslater,
beginninginthe4
th
centuryA.D.,thenewlyformedgentileChristianitycentered
inRomedidthesame.Attheinfamousandwell-documentedCouncilsofNicaea
andLaodicea,theonlyobjectiveanddivinely-givencodeofmoralityofferedin
HolyScripture(theLawofMoses)wasofficiallybannedandabolishedbyChurch
leadership.Initsplace,newmanmadedoctrinesandcustoms(atthattimethey
werecalledcanons)wereinstalled.Asameanstorationalizethisaction,overthe
centuriessomebranchesofChristianityadoptedthetheologicalphilosophythat
theHolySpirithadreplacedtheLaw.Otherbranchesdecidedthatloveand/or
gracehadreplacedtheLaw.Orboth.Nowitwasleftuptolocalsocietyorthe
ChurchortheindividualBelievertodefinelove,justiceandmorality.Evenmore,
iftheHolySpiritwantsyoutoknowwhatsinis…whatmoralsHewantsyouto
display…He’lltellyou…individually.AndifHedoesn’t,thenforyouabehavioris
notsineventhoughthatsameactionmightbesinforsomeoneelse.Sinbecame
notonlyentirelysubjectiveandevolutionarybutalsocustomized
person-by-person.Moralitywasnolongermeasuredagainstauniversal
standard.Irepeat:thisisexactlythesameasEphraim/Israel’scrimeagainst
God;acrimeGodsummarizedasidolatry.Stronglanguage?Ageneral
indictmentofsomeofthecoredoctrinesofmodernChristianity?Yes.Itis
importantforeveryseriousseekerofScripturaltruthtorealizethatmodern
Christianityingeneralrefusestofaceourerroranddenouncethesemany
centuriesofanti-Scripturalreligiouscustomsandtraditionsfoisteduponusby
deceivedChurchauthorities,andinsteadtoputtheLawofMosesbackintoits
rightfulplaceasouruniversal,divine,objectivecodeofmorality.Thisisprecisely
whatIsraelhaddoneandAmoswenttogreatlengthstoexplainthistothem
(eventhoughitlargelyfellondeafearsandhewouldevenbetoldbyIsrael’s
leaderstostopprophesyingbecauseespeciallythereligiousleadersdidn’tlike
it).
ItookyouonthisshortdetourbecauseOldTestamentprophesyremainsentirely
relevantandapplicabletomoderndayBelievers(gentileandJew)andtotheway
wearetoproperlypracticeourfaithandofferourworshipjustasitwasfor
ancientIsrael.Whenwepretendthatitnolongerapplies,andinsteadhas

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morphedintosomethingelseduetoanerroneousdoctrinethattheadventof
JesuserasedallthatGodhadestablishedbeforetheCross,wesetourselveson
theroadtodeceptionandruin…evenifunintentional.Itwouldtakeafewyears
fromthetimeofAmos’swarningsfortheHeavenlyshoetofinallyfall,butfallit
didandthecatastrophicconsequenceshaveplaguedIsraelformillennia,andnot
merelycenturies.Amos,therefore,wasnotactuallyamanoftheological
innovation;ratherhewasamanoftheologicalreform.WhatAmossaidwasnot
neworreworked;itwasareiterationofalready-establishedancienttruthsas
giveninGod’sTorah.
ThebiblicalscholarKlausKochmadeanastuteobservationinhisworkonthe
BiblicalProphets.ItisthatGod’swarningtoEphraim/IsraelthroughAmosand
otherprophetshighlightstheunmistakablerelationshipbetweenYehoveh’s
revealedcodeofmoralityandworldhistory…especiallyasitconcernedIsrael.He
calledthebiblicalprophets“moralfuturists”andpointedoutthebiblicalprinciple
thatmoralbehaviorhasadirectconnectionto,andadirecteffectupon,what
happenswithinanygivensociety.Whenthoseofusinourmodernworld…and
IpointafingerdirectlyatAmericaandespeciallytheWesternChurchand
Synagogue…observethechaosandconfusionandfearsandanxietiesthathave
adeath-gripuponusasacollectionofsocieties,itisimpossibletoignoreasthe
rootcauseofthisdevastatingeffectthefeverishattemptbymanyinboththe
secularandreligiousspherestocompletelyre-writeandre-definemoralityto
betteragreewiththepreferencesofoursocieties.Godcannotbe
compartmentalizedandset-apartfromoureverydaylivesanddecisionsasa
recentAmericanPresidentopenlysuggestedwedo.Wecannotbelieveand
behaveimmorallyandaccordingtoourownstandards6daysand23hoursper
week,butthenfor1houronaweekendworshipHiminaChurchorSynagogue
asanantidoteorimmunizationagainstthebiblicallyordainedconsequencesfor
ourunfaithfulnessanddisobediencetoHismoralcode.God’sdefinedmorality
isnotonlyacodeforrighteousness,itisthefoundationuponwhichHecreated
everything.OurUniverseonlyoperatesproperlyasitwasdesignedwhenGod’s
humancreaturesobeyHisrules.
Anotherstrongthemethatwe’llencounterinAmos’sbookisthis:Yehovehis
sovereignoveralltheearthandnotonlyovertheLandofIsrael.Yehovehisthe
Godofallnationsandthefirstfewchaptersofthebookdemonstratethisat

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length.JustasHeistheGodofalltheHeavenlyHostsinthespiritualrealm,He
isalsoGodoverallHiscreationandcreaturesinthephysicalrealm…andnotjust
some.ThisisanotionthatmodernBelievers,ofcourse,havenotrouble
understandingandacceptingsinceitisfundamentaltoourfaith.So,itishardto
communicatetoyouwhatanovelthoughtthiswasforthe8
th
centuryB.C.
PagansandIsraelitesalikesharedthebeliefthatthereweremanygodsformany
purposes.EventheheathensdidnotdenytheexistenceofYehovehGodofIsrael.
AncientIsraelwouldclaimmonotheismbutthemindsetwasthatthismeant
YehovehwasGodONLYoverIsraelandnowhereelseandovernootherpeople,
andwassovereignovernoothergeographythanIsraelbecauseeachnationor
peoplegrouphadtheirownseparategodandsetofgodsofnature.Theterm
“monotheism”toaChristianmeansthatthereisonly1godinexistence.Ancient
Israelclaimed“monotheism”,whichfromtheirperspectivemeantthatYehoveh
wasIsrael’sonlygod.Yet,inpracticeeventhatwasashambecauseIsraelhad
muchearlieradoptedsomeoftheirneighbors’godsintotheirworshippractices
andinthedoingrelegatedYehovehintothejoboftheirownperfunctoryNational
Godthateachnationwasthoughttohave.
BecauseIsraelhadbecomesointertwinedwiththeaffairsofthegodsandgod
systemsoftheirneighbors,theyforgotthatYehovehwasnotatypicalgodand
moreenvisionedHimastheydidthevariousBa’als.Thegodsoftheregions’
variousgodsystemsdemandedsacrificemostlyforthesakeofbeingservedto
satisfytheirownnarcissism.Thosegodscouldcarelessaboutthemoralityor
ethicalbehavioroftheirworshippers.ButtheGodofAbraham,IsaacandJacob
brookednocompromisewhenitcametotherequirementofHischosentoobey
Hisordainedandwrittendownethicalandmoralstandards.Amosclaimsthat
God’ssovereigntyextendsbeyondgoverningpeopleandnationsandalso
includesevents.Thingsonearthhappen(ordon’thappen)becauseYehoveh
willsit.
AnotherthingtowatchforishowAmosexplainsthatjustbecauseGodchooses
anationoranindividualasset-apartforHim,thisdoesn’tautomaticallyinclude
divineprotectionorsecurity.God’sprotectionofHispeoplewasdirectlylinkedto
theirobediencetoHim.Andthatobediencewasdirectlylinkedtotheterms
containedintheLawofMoses(theCovenant).Inrealitytheonefactorthat
separatedIsraelfromeventhePhilistineswasthatCovenantmadebetween

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IsraelandYehovehonMt.Sinai.HemadeaCovenantwithIsraelandnooneelse.
And,letmeassureyou,theso-calledNewCovenantthattheChurchbelieves
brokethepatternofGodmakingcovenantonlywithIsrael,andsoitwasmade
forgentileChristians(theChurch)isanerroneousbeliefthatinnowaycomports
withScripture.
WhenaPastororBibleteacherwantstopointtotheplaceintheBiblewherewe
aretoldofthisNewCovenant,theyinvariablypointtoJeremiah31.Let’stakea
momenttoseewhatitactuallysays.
CJB
Jeremiah31:30-33
30
"Here,thedaysarecoming,"saysADONAI,"whenI
willmakeanewcovenantwiththehouseofIsra'elandwiththehouseofY'hudah.
31
ItwillnotbelikethecovenantImadewiththeirfathersonthedayItookthem
bytheirhandandbroughtthemoutofthelandofEgypt;becausethey,fortheir
part,violatedmycovenant,eventhoughI,formypart,wasahusbandtothem,"
saysADONAI.
32
"ForthisisthecovenantIwillmakewiththehouseofIsra'el
afterthosedays,"saysADONAI:"IwillputmyTorahwithinthemandwriteiton
theirhearts;IwillbetheirGod,andtheywillbemypeople.
33
Nolongerwillany
ofthemteachhisfellowcommunitymemberorhisbrother,'KnowADONAI';for
allwillknowme,fromtheleastofthemtothegreatest;becauseIwillforgive
theirwickednessesandremembertheirsinsnomore."
WhodidGodsayHewouldmakethis“newcovenant”with?DidHesay:“withthe
gentileChurch”?No.Hesaid:“withthehouseofIsraelandwiththehouseof
Judah”.Prettydefinitive.Christindeedmadeawayforgentilestobemadepart
ofthecovenantpeople…tobegraftedintoitasPaulsays.Certainly,nowhere
doestheBiblesaythecovenantspokenofbyJeremiahwastakenawayfrom
IsraelandhandedovertothegentileChurch.
BecauseIsraelvowedtoobeythetermsoftheCovenantofMt.Sinaibutwere
unfaithfultothoseterms,(theCovenantwasthecordthatboundthemtogether
withGod)thenGodreservedtherighttoexterminatethementirely.Thiswasthe
unheededmessageofdoomthatAmosdeliveredtoEphraim/Israel.Israelhad
beenthreatenedwithharshpunishmentsbyearlierProphets;butAmoswasthe
firsttowarnoftheirpossibleextinction.ThisthreatincludedtheideathatGod
wouldatHisowndiscretionadministerHisattributeofjusticeuponHisown

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peopleevenwhenHisinclinationandmoreusualbehaviorwasinsteadto
overridethatwithadministeringHisattributeofmercy.So,theconceptisthat
Yehovehhadfinallyreachedaconclusionthatnoamountofintercessionon
behalfofHispeoplewouldsufficebecausetheirsinsweretooblatantlyrebellious.
NotevenasuddenradicalchangeinthebehaviorofHispeoplewouldholdoff
judgment.Alinehadbeencrossedandtherewasnoretreatingfromit.Evenso,
Israeldidn’tbelievethepropheticmessages.Theytrulythoughtthatbecause
GodhadcenturiesearlierdeliveredthemfromEgypt,andjoinedinCovenant
withthem,thatwhilesomelevelofHisdisciplinemightoccurfordisobedience,a
judgmentassevereaswhatAmosprophesiedwasunthinkable.Itwassortof
Israel’stheologicalequivalentoftheonce-saved-always-saveddoctrinethathas
becomeprevalentinEvangelicalChristianity.Bothbeliefscenterarounda
manmadeprinciplethatisanythingbutbiblical,andbotharedangerousbecause
theybringonanunwarrantedcomplacency.Deliverancefromoppressionandsin
hasalwaysbeenconditionalonourfaithfulnesstoGodandtoHisCovenant.
OpenyourBiblestoAmoschapter1.
READAMOSCHAPTER1all
Verse1givesusmoredetailabouttheauthorofthisbook(Amos)thandoother
booksofprophecygiveabouttheirauthors.Hewaspartofthesheepbreeding
profession(notashepherd),helivedinTekoa(a3or4hourswalkfrom
Jerusalem),andhegivesustheerainwhichhereceivedGod’soraclesand
presentedthemtovariousfolksinEphraim/Israel.Heevengoessofarasto
betterpinpointthattimeas“2yearsbeforetheearthquake”thatseemstohave
occurredduringUzziah,theKingofJudah’sreign.Thisisprobablythe
earthquakementionedinZechariah14:5.
CJB
Zechariah14:1-5Look,adayiscomingforADONAIwhenyourplunder,
[Yerushalayim],willbedividedrighttherewithinyou.
2
"ForIwillgatherallthe
nationsagainstYerushalayimforwar.Thecitywillbetaken,thehouseswillbe
rifled,thewomenwillberaped,andhalfthecitywillgointoexile;buttherestof
thepeoplewillnotbecutofffromthecity."
3
ThenADONAIwillgooutandfight
againstthosenations,fightingasonadayofbattle.
4
Onthatdayhisfeetwill
standontheMountofOlives,whichliestotheeastofYerushalayim;andthe

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MountofOliveswillbesplitinhalffromeasttowest,tomakeahugevalley.Half
ofthemountainwillmovetowardthenorth,andhalfofittowardthesouth.
5
You
willfleetothevalleyinthemountains,forthevalleyinthemountainswillreach
toAtzel.Youwillflee,justasyoufledbeforetheearthquakeinthedaysof
'UziyahkingofY'hudah.ThenADONAImyGodwillcometoyouwithalltheholy
ones.
IshouldnotbypassthispassagewithoutmentioningthatBiblepropheciestend
tohappen,andthenhappenagainatalatertime…sometimesmorethanonce.
God,throughZechariah,highlightsthispointbylikeningtheearthquakeandthe
reasonsforittotheonethathappenedinthedaysofKingUzziahofJudah.
Clearlytheearthquakewasofsuchmagnitudeandconsequencethatitwas
rememberedlongafterwardandneedonlybereferredtoas“theearthquake”for
peopletoknowwhichofthemanyearthquakesthatshookIsraelratherregularly
thatAmoswastalkingabout.ItalsoneedstobereiteratedthatalthoughAmos
wasaresidentoftheKingdomofJudah,hispropheticmessagewasaimedatand
giventothepeopleoftheKingdomofIsrael.
Verse2isessentiallythepreambletoallthatwillfollow,anditisgiveninthe
formofpoetry.ItamountstotheannouncementofGod’sjudgmentoverthe
KingdomofEphraim.SinceeverythingabouttheAmosprophecyisdirectly
relatedtoviolationsoftheCovenantofMoses,thenitwouldbemostappropriate
tospeakofverse2employingthemoreancienttermof“curse”whenspeakingof
thepunishmentIsraelwassoongoingtoreceive.I’llremindyouthatthe
CovenantofMoses(akatheLawofMoses)consistedofblessingsandcurses.
Blessingsforobedience;cursesfordisobedience.
HiddenwithinthewordsofthisverseisanimportantIsraelitecultural
understanding.Thechoiceoftheword“roars”ismeanttoconjureuptheimage
ofalion.Hoseadoesthesame:
CJB
Hosea5:14FortoEfrayimIwillbelikealion,andlikeayoungliontothe
houseofY'hudah-Iwilltearthemupandgoaway;Iwillcarrythemoff,andno
onewillrescue.

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WhereasintheBookofHosea,Hoseagoesontodescribewhataliondoestoits
preyasanillustrationofwhatGodcandotoanation,Amossimplyusestheword
“roars”tomakethesamepoint.Lionsarevicious,powerfulcreaturesthatstrike
fearinallwhoencounterthem;onlythefoolishignorearoaringalion.Thennext
sayingthatGod“thunders”fromJerusalemmakes2quickpoints.First,to
thunderisastandardbiblicalmetaphoricalwayofdescribinghowGodspeaks.
Thundercomesfromabove,andsodoGod’swords.Itissuddenandstartling,
anditcreatestheoverwhelmingeffectofanearlyparalyzingfearthathappens
withaudiblespeechthatcomesfromtheGodofIsrael.
CJB
Exodus20:15-16
15
Allthepeopleexperiencedthethunder,thelightning,
thesoundoftheshofar,andthemountainsmoking.Whenthepeoplesawit,
theytrembled.Standingatadistance,
16
theysaidtoMoshe,"You,speakwithus;
andwewilllisten.Butdon'tletGodspeakwithus,orwewilldie."
FurtheritissaidthatthiswordfromGod(asgiventoAmos)comesfromthe
locationofJerusalem.ThisisbecauseJerusalemisGod’searthlyhome(actually
itisintheTemplelocatedthere).So,fromAmos’sviewpoint,God’sprophetic
revelationscomingfromtheJerusalemTemplemeanthatthisisGod’sonly
earthlyabodeandthuseventhoughEphraim/Israelhasestablishednumerous
placesofworshipthatclaimtobeholysitesforYehoveh,theyareall(by
definition)illegitimate.ThisoracleismeantforIsrael,eventhoughaJudean
prophetisbringingittothem.ThispointisagainmadeinAmos9:3.
CJB
Amos9:3
3
IftheyhidethemselvesonthetopoftheKarmel,Iwillsearch
themoutandcapturethemthere;Iftheyhidefrommeatthebottomofthesea,
Iwillordertheserpenttobitethemthere.
Mt.CarmellieswithintheKingdomofEphraim/Israelsotheideaisthatthe
Lord’sroaringandthunderinghasareachallthewayfromJerusaleminJudahto
thenorthinCarmel.
Thementionofshepherd’spastures“mourning”isapoeticwayofsayingthe
neededgrassforthesheepwillwitherawayfromdrought,allthewayupintothe
lushandforestedmountainslopesofCarmel.Thisliterarystructureiscalleda
merismthatbehaveslikebookends.So,theideaisthegrasslands,themountain

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heights,andeverywhereinbetween.Allinclusive.AlloftheterritoryofEphraim
willbeequallyaffectedsotherewillbenoplacetotakethelivestocktofeedthem;
livestockthatissocentraltotheireconomyandfoodsupply.Thisisbutanother
sidetothepromisedjudgmentthatisapproaching.
Verse3shiftsgearsandmarksthebeginningof8individualoraclesofjudgment
againstvariousnationsthatsurroundIsrael.Inotherwords,theseareoracles
specificallyagainstcertainforeignnations.Inoneformoranothervirtuallyall
propheticbooksincludejudgmentsagainstforeignnations,evenifitisonlya
verygeneralreferencesuchasjustreferringto“nations”ingeneral,asopposed
towhatwefindinAmoswherebycertainnationsarecalledoutbyname.Thekey
wordineachofthese8oraclesis,inHebrew,pesha,whichisinvariably
translatedintoEnglishas“transgressions”.Whatiskeyistounderstandwhat
thattermmeantwithinthecontextofthatera.First,justasloveandhateare
usuallypoliticaltermsintheBiblethathavetodowithallegiance(orthelackof
allegiance)toakingoralord,soisthetermpesha(transgressions)couchedin
thelanguageofthepoliticalsphere.Itmeanstorevoltortothrow-offthe
authorityofagovernment.Itmeanstointentionallyandtreacherouslybreak
allegiancewithsomeoneaboveyou.So,inthissectionofAmoswhoisbeing
transgressedagainst?SomeBiblescholarsthinkitisreferringtomistreatmentof
Israelbytheseforeignnations.Thatis,itisabouttreatiesandagreementsthat
thesenationshadwithIsrael,butthenbrokethemandinsteadharmedor
attackedIsraelinsomeway.However,thereisnorecordofsomeofthese
nationshavingsuchtreatiesorattackingIsrael.Theonlyotheroptionisthat
thesearetransgressionsagainsttheGodofIsrael.This,then,iswhatIwas
referringtoinourintroductionwherebyAmosputforththenotionthatYehoveh
issovereignnotonlyoverIsraelbutovertheothernationsaswell,evenifthey
don’trecognizeit.Therefore,thisuniversalGodoverallnationswillnottolerate
severeunrighteousnessnomatterwhothetransgressormightbe.Andwhatisit
thataretheytransgressing?Whatisthemeasureoftheirtransgression?They
aretransgressingGod’smoralitycode.
We’llcontinuewithAmoschapter1nexttime.