Amos 1

Study Guide 70: Amos LET JUSTICE ROLL Overview Amos was a herdsman in Judah when called by God to preach against the social and economic sins of the Northern Kingdom, Israel. He spoke in the reign of Jeroboam II, near 760 b.c.Amos, a poor man who cared for sycamore trees (whose fruit was a food of the poor), traveled to the worship centers of Israel, where the rich idled, to proclaim God’ s condemnation of their distorted values. The Book of Amos is a rich source for Christians today. In the words of this ancient prophet we catch a very special glimpse of God as One who cares intensely for the poor. We also sense His deep commitment to personal and social justice. The emphasis of the New Testament on personal relationship with God and individual salvation does nothing to lessen God’ s deep concern for justice and holiness in society.

Outline I. Judgment Coming1:1-2:16 II. Indictment Entered3:1-6:14 III. Visions of Warning7:1-9:10 IV. Kingdom VisionsAmo_9:11-15JUSTICE. This vital Old Testament term is also translated “ righteousness” in our English versions. Its basic meaning is that of harmony with a standard by which right and wrong can be measured. In the Old Testament this standard is God’ s revealed Law.

Commentary The fitful warfare with Syria, which had flared up time and time again since the days of Elijah and Elisha, was over. The 100-year feud was settled and the military threat ended when Damascus came under the sovereignty of Jeroboam II. Israel’ s territory almost reached the borders of the United Kingdom of David’ s day. An economic explosion accompanied the military success, as spectacular as the stunning revival of West Germany and Japan after World War II. Israel now controlled ancient trade routes, and expansion gave rise to a new social class of wealthy merchants. Wealth created a demand for the many luxuries available from all over the known world. Pressured by the influx of wealth, jolting social changes took place. The population began to shift from farms to cities and towns. Class distinctions crystallized, with the rich bent on piling up profits at the expense of their poorer brothers. Exorbitant prices were charged; poor farmers were dispossessed so that the rich might build up great estates. A heartless unconcern for the sufferings of the oppressed marked the well-to-do. Homer Harley, writing in his Commentary on the Minor Prophets (Baker), portrays the social conditions sketched by Amos: The luxury of the wealthy class in Israel is clearly indicated by the prophet as he speaks of their “ couches” and “ silken cushions” (Amos 3:12), of their “ winter house” and “ summer house,” and the “ houses of ivory” (ivory inlay and ornamentation), and of “ the houses of hewn-stone” (Amos 3:15; Amos 5:11). The voluptuous women were spoken of as “ kine [cows] of Bashan,” who insisted that their husbands provide ample wine and other luxuries for their feasts, even if the poor had to be crushed in order to provide them (Amos 4:1-3). Their feasts were characterized by revelry, songs, music, choice meats, and the best of wines to satiate their lusts, and by cushions and silken tapestries upon which to recline (Amos 6:1-7). These luxuries were enjoyed by the wealthy, whose eyes were closed to the afflictions and needs of the poor (Amos 6:6). The moral condition of the nation was clearly revealed by the prophet’ s shock at the cruel treatment of the poor by the rich, at the covetousness, injustice, and immorality of the people in power, and at the general contempt for things holy (Amos 2:6-8). Trampling on the poor, taking exactions of wheat (Amos 5:11), afflicting the just, taking a bribe, and turning aside from the needy (Amos 5:23) stirred the indignation of the prophet, and gives us insight into the morals of the day. These people were ready to “ swallow up the needy” and “ to do away with the poor of the land” — that is, to let them die (Amos 8:4). In political circles there was tumult and oppression, violence and robbery (Amos 3:9-10). People hated any judge who would reprove them or speak uprightly (Amos 5:10). Then suddenly, against this background of prosperity and oppression, a man who knew poverty appeared from Judah. For a few short months, he denounced the sins of Israel and promised judgment. Amos was a native of Tekoa, a town about 12 miles south of Jerusalem. A farmer and herder, he had spent his life caring for sheep and harvesting the sycamore fig, the “ food of the poor.” He was used to hard work and accustomed to a frugal life. He stood in sharp contrast to the “ beautiful people” of Israel. Shocked by the moral, social, and religious situation in the Northern Kingdom, Amos stood at Bethel (the center of worship established over a century before by Jeroboam I) and denounced the lifestyle of Israel. In a series of scathing sermons, he confronted the wealthy and ruling classes, exposed their sins, and pronounced in flaming anger the punishment that God was to impose. Amos’ anger was but a pale reflection of God’ s own wrath. Yet the prosperous of Israel were unmoved. To these proud and selfish men, unconcerned about the misery of those they oppressed, Amos must have seemed some wild fanatic. He was out of touch with modern times — perhaps simply jealous that he was himself poor and not one of the favored few! Later, Jesus would comment to His disciples, “ How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” (Luke 18:24) Prosperity promotes values in deep conflict with what God Himself says is important. How hard it is to have wealth and status, and retain perspective! LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT To launch your group meeting give out 8 x 11 sheets of paper and pens or crayons. Ask each person to draw a cartoon depicting an “ injustice.” When cartoons are completed, let each person show and briefly describe his or her sketch. Then discuss: “ What is injustice? Do we see injustice in our society? Where?” Explain that in the Book of Amos we see reflected an unjust society, and in the prophet’ s message learn much about God and a holy lifestyle.

The Book of Amos Our Old Testament Book of Amos is a carefully organized compilation of the message which Amos, God’ s spokesman to the rich society, delivered in the Northern Kingdom. An outline helps us see its development, and guides us in reading it today.

Outline I. Judgment Announced A. On surrounding nations1:3-2:3 B. On Israel and JudahAmo_2:4-16 II. Sermons of Indictment A. First sermonAmo_3:1-15 B. Second sermonAmo_4:1-13 C. Third sermon5:1-6:14 III. Declarations of Judgment A. Judgment averted: locustsAmo_7:1-3 B. Judgment delayed: fireAmo_7:4-6 C. Judgment determinedAmo_7:7-9 D. Amaziah’ s oppositionAmo_7:10-17 E. Judgment imminentAmo_8:1-14 F. Judgment executedAmo_9:1-10 IV. Restoration PromisedAmo_9:11-15As you and your group follow this out line, the pattern of Amos’ preaching becomes sharp and clear. Outlining. Outlining is one of the basic methods of Bible study, and is particularly helpful here. The goal in outlining is to trace a writer’ s thoughts, and also to highlight what is important. For instance, in the first chapter of Amos each of Amos’ pronouncements against the nations follows a particular pattern: (1) Declaration of judgment (2) Cause of judgment (3) Description of judgment. In speaking against Damascus and Gaza, and then Judah and Israel, this pattern is consistently followed. What seems to be the underlying cause of the judgment pronounced on God’ s own people? In Judah, the cause is simple: “ Because they have rejected the Law of the Lord and have not kept His decrees” (Amos 2:4). For Israel, the cause is expressed in much greater detail. There the focus of God’ s concern is placed squarely on similar violations expressed as social injustice, as the break down of morality, and as repudiation of God and His Word. How graphic the words of Amos are: For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back My wrath. They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane My holy name. They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In the house of their god they drink the wine taken as fines. Amos 2:6-8What specifically do these charges reveal? “They sell the righteous.” The rights of the poor, carefully protected in the Old Testament Law, were regularly violated. This institutionalized injustice had turned away the “ humble” from following God’ s way of love and obedience. It is hard for the oppressed to love the oppressor! “A father and his son.” This may be a reference to use of the same temple prostitute. If so, it was a flagrant violation both of God’ s command to worship only Him, and a revelation of the gross immorality involved in pagan worship. “Garments taken in pledge.” Here Amos returns to his central theme of injustice. The Law demanded that if a poor man’ s cloak were taken as a pledge against a loan or debt, it was to be returned to him before night, since the cloak was also his blanket (Deuteronomy 24:12-13). But in Israel, such cloaks were piled around the altars as resting places for wealthy worshipers! “The wine taken as fines.” Wine that had been extorted as taxes or fines from the poor was used in the very centers (wrongly) set aside to worship God! Thus, even God was made to seem a party to oppression. This explanation of the cause of judgment on Israel sets the stage for our reading of the book, and it immediately draws attention to the causes of God’ s wrath. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT We learn much about a person’ s character by discovering what makes him or her angry. It is the same with God. We can gain great insight into the character of our Lord by seeing what moves Him to wrath. Ask teams of three or four group members to look at the following verses. What qualities of our God do these verses reveal? (Amos 3:7; Amos 4:2, Amos 4:6-11, Amos 4:13; Amos 5:4, Amos 5:6, Amos 5:8, Amos 5:21-22; Amos 6:8; Amos 7:2-3, Amos 7:5; Amos 9:2-4, Amos 9:7) When each team has worked through and discussed the verses, come together and share insights. What common portrait of God might you develop together?

Amos Today The Book of Amos, expressing as it does God’ s outrage against a society that had become insensitive to justice — a society that materialistically exalted profit over people — has been identified as one of the most significant of prophetic books for us today. Certainly we too experience unequaled prosperity. Surely, there are great class distinctions in our society. And surely too there is oppression — oppression that has not been touched by institutionalizing a financial dole to the poor. Perhaps most important, Amos helps us review our own values. He asks the question: Do our lifestyles reflect the heart of God? Or do we share the selfish heart of the indifferent of Amos’ day? Oppression. Reading through Amos, we realize that God’ s anger constantly flashes out against those who oppress others. The poor of the land seem very precious to Him. The indifferent attitude of men and women concerned with only profit and their own pleasures deeply offends God. The Old Testament Law made careful and explicit provision for meeting the needs of all God’ s people. When a man sold himself or one of his family into servitude, it was not slavery. He would later be released and restored to his ancestral land (Leviticus 25:1-55). Widows and others without means of support were provided for. Each farmer was to allow gleaning, the gathering of part of his harvest by the poor. All grain that fell to the ground was to be left for the poor. Fruit of the vine and tree was not to be completely harvested by the owner. There was no welfare roll in Israel; the poor maintained their self-respect and worked for what they received. The man who had plenty made the excess available to the less fortunate. No wonder the Old Testament promised that, should Israel obey God’ s Law “ there should be no poor among you” (Deuteronomy 15:4-5). God’ s Law was a charter for a truly just society. Those laws, and God Himself, were now being denied by God’ s people. Love for neighbor and respect for the poor had long been forgotten. In their place had come deep social cleavage; brutal oppression was undertaken for material gain. Justice. Significant also is the insight Amos gives us into the nature of justice and righteousness. Too often we think of these qualities as related to rules of behavior — to what a person does or does not do. Amos, reflecting the Old Testament Law, focuses our attention on God’ s concern for people. The purpose behind the laws governing society takes on fresh meanings. The laws were given that each person, rich and poor alike, might be treated with fairness and compassion. In essence, Amos helps us see that the concept of God being just is in fact an affirmation that God is committed to do right by all people. What is more, God’ s own deep commitment to justice leads Him to require that in human society we also maintain a commitment to do right by all. Ritual. The thrust of Amos’ message is the announcement of God’ s judgment on Israel for injustice. Israel had never abandoned the worship centers erected by Jeroboam I in violation of God’ s Law. She still bowed down before golden calves. What is more, Baal worship had again crept into the land. Altars were built on high ridges of land in honor of the ancient nature gods, and around them the old immoralities were practiced still — in the name of religion. The ritual, even when performed in God’ s supposed honor, horrified the Lord. For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins. You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts. Amos 5:12God’ s demand focused not on restoring the appropriate forms of worship, but on returning again to His values. A people who worship God acceptably must share God’ s commitment to do right by all. Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say He is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph. Amos 5:14-15It is the heart of man with which God is concerned. In turning away from God, Israel lost touch with the divine values. Rejecting righteousness and justice, God’ s people abandoned themselves to wealth and pleasure and to oppression of the poor. And to punishment. Israel had passed beyond the edge of judgment.

Teaching Guide Prepare Read through Amos at one sitting. How much of God’ s indictment of Israel might be included in an indictment of our society today?

Explore

1. Have your group members draw cartoons representing “ injustice.” See “ link-to-life” above.
2. Give a minilecture on Amos and his concern for justice. Then work in teams of three or four to see what God was concerned about — and to discover what His concerns tell us about God’ s own character. See “ link-to-life” above.

Expand Outlining is a basic and very helpful approach to Bible study. What a person does is to try to summarize the major though of a paragraph or even a sentence, and state that thought in such a way that with other summary sentences it can actually trace the thought of a passage. Begin by explaining outlining and putting the outline of Amos found above on the chalkboard. Then have your group members work in pairs to outline in detail one of these three passages: Amos 3:1-15; Amos 4:1-13; or 5:1-6:14. When completed, let each pair discuss what they discovered about Amos’ message through this study approach.

Apply Go back to the cartoon activity. How might group members change their cartoon renderings of “ injustice” after studying Amos? Conclude by agreeing on a clear and powerful statement on justice that will reflect the commitment of group members to God’ s values. Begin, “ We care about justice, and so we will. . . .”