Amos — Introduction & Outline

The authorship of Amos is seldom questioned. He is named first in 1:1 and consistently throughout the book as the originator of the prophecy. The first verse discloses he was from Tekoa, a rural area in Judah ten miles south of Jerusalem. There he was a herdsman or cattleman (cf. 7:14) and a farmer of sycamore figs. The word used in 1:1 is a rare word used only once more in the Old Testament (2 Kings 3:4) and has the sense of "sheep breeders." Amos was evidently responsible for large herds of livestock. His rural roots and knowledge of the wilderness is evident in the book (3:4-5,12; 5:8,19; 9:9). Though he had no training or heritage as a prophet, God commissioned him to be a missionary prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel (7:14-15). Amos is noted for his courage and deep sense of social justice.

According to the first verse, Amos ministered during the reigns of Uzziah in Judah (767-739 B.C.) and Jeroboam II in Israel (782-753 B.C.). In 7:11 Amos anticipates the Assyrian captivity of 722 B.C. and indicates that Jeroboam is not yet dead. Another clue in 1:1 is that he wrote "two years before the earthquake" (cf. Zech. 14:5). Josephus connects the quake to the events of 2 Chronicles 26:16-20 and archeological evidence has uncovered evidence of a violent quake about 760 B.C. Amos probably ministered no more than one year and wrote the prophecy about the same time, or about 760 B.C.

During the reigns of Uzziah and Jeroboam II the territory of Palestine enjoyed a "golden age" of peace and prosperity. The two kingdoms, which had fought one another were at peace. With the relatively weakened conditions of Assyria, Babylon, Syria, and Egypt commerce thrived and borders expanded. Uzziah in Judah was able to subdue the Philistines, Ammonites, and Edomites and in Israel Jeroboam II occupied Damascus.Israel's prosperity in particular is the focus of Amos' preaching for with it came immorality, materialism, and social injustice (2:6-8; 3:10; 4:1; 5:10-12; 8:4-6). Amos preached his messages in Bethel, the residence of the king and the center of Israel's calf worship. It was located 22 miles north of Tekoa, only two miles north of Judah's border.

Though Baal worship had been purged previously by Jehu (c. 841 B.C.), calf worship flourished as the religion of Israel (4:4-5; 5:5,21,23; 8:3,10). Corruption had taken over the religious leaders with prophets and priests serving for the sake of material gain. Amos' ministry in Bethel, the home of the high priest Amaziah, was a direct confrontation and accusation against the king and high priest as the source of Israel's corruption (7:8,17). With the prevailing atmosphere of peace, Israel felt immune to disaster or invasion. Yet Amos sought to awaken the nation to their sins and God's righteous requirements.

Amos wrote to warn Israel of the impending judgment of God caused by the oppressive sins of the upper class and call them to repentance. God's righteousness required punishment for their violation of the covenant, yet His faithfulness would bring final restoration.

The written prophecy of Amos is mainly composed of three series of messages. The first series pronounces judgment on eight nations (Chs. 1-2). The second series is three sermons of judgment on Israel (chs.3-6). The final series consists of five visions of judgment for Israel (chs. 7:1-9:10). The book ends, however, with the positive promise of restoration (9:11-15).

Besides giving the historical and biographical background, the introduction (1:1-2) also discloses the theme of God's wrath in judgment (1:2) developed in the messages.

In each of the eight prophecies of judgment on the nations (1:3-2:16) Amos follows a simple pattern: 1) a general proclamation of irrevocable judgment, 2) the specific sin that brings judgment, and 3) a description of God's specific judgment. The nations are also addressed in a tightening circle according to their relationship to Israel so that the noose of judgment closes on Israel in the end. This demonstrates that God is just and impartial in His judgment.

All judgments of the nations involve mention of fire and destruction except Israel's, which seems to picture an invasion. The first nation, Damascus, is condemned for their persecution of Gilead (1:3-5). The second, Philistia, engaged in slave trade (1:6-8) as did the third, Tyre (1:9-10). Edom is next condemned for persecution of their "brother", perhaps a reference to their close relationship to Israel (1:11-12). The fifth nation, Ammon, murdered innocent people in Gilead (1:13-15). The sixth nation, Moab, was related to Israel by blood, but sinned by disrespectfully desecrating Edom's royal graves (2:1-3). Judah, Israel's true brother, sinned by despising the covenant of law (2:4-5). Finally, Israel is given extended treatment (2:6- 16). Their sins were great: They transgressed the covenant by acts of injustice, immorality, and hypocritical worship, and they perverted the leaders God provided them (2:6-12). Therefore God's judgment of an apparent invasion is inescapable (2:13-16).

Amos continues his focus on Israel with the three sermons of judgment (3:1-6:14). The theme of the first is the destruction of Israel (3:1-15). It is deserved because they abused God's special favor and ignored His warnings (3:1-10). His destruction is therefore described as thorough and specifically devastating to their idolatry and prosperity (3:11-15). The second sermon addresses the depravity of the nation (4:1-13) listing specifically the oppression of the poor by the rich and their hypocritical worship (4:1-5). Their judgment is well deserved (4:12- 13) because they refused to repent when God sent various calamities upon them in the past (4:6- 11). The final sermon is a dirge over the demise of Israel (5:1-6:14). There is mourning because of God's judgment (5:1-3) and a final call to repentance from their many sins (5:4-15). This sermon ends with a pronouncement of woes on Israel (5:18-6:14). The woes are upon those who practice false religion (5:18-27) and those who are boastfully complacent (6:1-14). All are rebuked for their false security which will be shattered by the coming invasion (5:18-20; 6:1-3,

7-14).

The five visions also convey the message of judgment on Israel (7:1-9:10). In the first, Amos sees a swarm of locusts, pleads for mercy, and God relents (7:1-3). In the second, the same happens after a vision of consuming fire (7:4-6). The third vision is of a plumbline which indicates that Israel does not measure up to God's standards and therefore deserves judgment (7:7-9). At this point there is a historical interlude describing the high priest Amaziah's opposition of Amos (7:10-17). Though Amos is told to leave Israel, he answers with

the prediction of Amaziah's fate together with the destruction of the nation. This event highlights Israel's rejection of God's warnings.

In the fourth vision, Amos sees a basket of summer fruit (8:1-14) used to picture the end of Israel. Again, the sins of the rich are listed and judgment is described. The final vision is of God standing at the altar in Bethel (9:1-10) which indicates the end of their calf worship.

None in Israel will escape His judgment, but they will be judged as certainly as the other nations. Their destruction will be total as God disperses them among the nation.

The book ends with a promise of Israel's restoration (9:11-15) which demonstrates God's graciousness and faithfulness to His eternal covenant with Israel. This promise includes the restoration of the Davidic dynasty, triumph over enemies, productive land, and a return of the exiles to dwell in the land forever. Though Israel's sin has brought irrevocable judgment, it will not prevent God from fulfilling His covenant to ultimately bless His people.

1. Introduction 1:1-2

   1. The author and occasion 1:1
   2. The theme of judgment 1:2
2. Eight Prophecies of Judgment on the Nations 1:3-2:16

   1. The judgment on Damascus 1:3-5

      1. Because they persecuted Gilead 1:3
      2. God will send fire and captivity. 1:4-5
   2. The judgment on Philistia 1:6-8

      1. Because they enslaved people 1:6
      2. God will send fire and destruction. 1:7-8
   3. The judgment on Tyre 1:9-10

      1. Because they delivered slaves to Edom 1:9
      2. God will send fire. 1:10
   4. The judgment on Edom 1:11-12

      1. Because they persecuted their brother 1:11
      2. God will send fire. 1:12
   5. The judgment on Ammon 1:13-15

      1. Because they murdered in Gilead 1:13
      2. God will send fire and captivity. 1:14-15
   6. The judgment on Moab 2:1-3

      1. Because they desecrated Edom's royal graves 2:1
      2. God will send fire and destroy their leaders. 2:2-3
   7. The judgment on Judah 2:4-5

      1. Because they despised the Law 2:4
      2. God will send fire. 2:5
   8. The judgment on Israel 2:6-16

      1. Because they commited many sins 2:6-12

         1. They transgressed the covenant. 2:6-8

            1. Injustice to the poor 2:6-7a
            2. Immorality 2:7b
            3. Hypocritical worship 2:8
         2. They abused God's gracious leadership. 2:9-12

            1. God deliverance from their enemies 2:9-10
            2. God's provision of leaders 2:11
            3. Israel's perversion of God's leaders 2:12
      2. God will judge them. 2:13-16

         1. Their sins burden God. 2:13
         2. They will not escape the coming judgment. 2:14-16
3. Three Sermons of Judgment on Israel 3:1-6:14

   1. The destruction of Israel 3:1-15

      1. Israel's destruction is deserved. 3:1-10

         1. They enjoyed God's special favor. 3:1-2
         2. They ignored God's warnings. 3:3-8

            1. Examples of cause preceding effect 3:3-6
            2. God's previous warning 3:7-8
         3. They do not do right. 3:9-10
      2. Israel's destruction is described. 3:11-15

         1. God promises a plundering adversary. 3:11
         2. God promises a thorough destruction. 3:12
         3. God promises specific judgment. 3:13-15

            1. On idolatry 3:13-14
            2. On prosperity 3:15
   2. The depravity of Israel 4:1-13

      1. Their sins 4:1-5

         1. The rich women oppress the poor. 4:1-3

            1. Their oppression 4:1
            2. Their judgment 4:2-3
         2. The Israelites practice hypocritical worship. 4:4-5
      2. Their refusal to repent 4:6-11

         1. They did not repent after famine. 4:6
         2. They did not repent after drought. 4:7-8
         3. They did not repent after destroyed crops. 4:9
         4. They did not repent after bloodshed. 4:10
         5. They did not repent after near destruction. 4:11
      3. Their deserved judgment 4:12-13

         1. They are told to prepare for judgment. 4:12
         2. They are reminded of God's sovereignty. 4:13
   3. The dirge over Israel 5:1-6:14

      1. The mourning because of God's judgment 5:1-3

         1. The nation is destroyed. 5:1-2
         2. The army is decimated. 5:3
      2. The call to repentance 5:4-15

         1. Repent because of His coming judgment. 5:4-9

            1. Israel's cultic worship 5:4-5
            2. God's coming judgment 5:6-7
            3. God's sovereignty in judgment 5:8-9
         2. Repent because of Israel's great evil. 5:10-13

            1. Their hatred of justice 5:10
            2. Their oppression of the poor 5:11
            3. Their perversion of justice 5:12
            4. Their overall evil 5:13
         3. Repent because of God's graciousness. 5:14-15
      3. The mourning because of God's coming 5:16-17
      4. The pronouncement of woes on Israel 5:18-6:14

         1. Woe to those who practice false religion. 5:18-27

            1. False security in the Day of the Lord 5:18-20
            2. God's hatred of false religion 5:21-27

               1. Their present hypocrisy 5:21-23
               2. God's preference of justice 5:24
               3. Israel's past idolatry 5:25-26
               4. God's punishment of captivity 5:27
         2. Woe to those who are boastfully complacent. 6:1-14

            1. False security of wealth 6:1-6

               1. Their complacency in the face of doom 6:1-3
               2. Their luxurious carnality 6:4-6
            2. God's hatred of boastful complacency 6:7-14

               1. The captivity of the city 6:7-8
               2. The destruction of the people 6:9-11
               3. The end of boasting 6:12-14
4. Five Visions of Judgment on Israel 7:1-9:10

   1. The vision of the locusts 7:1-3

      1. Amos sees swarming locusts 7:1
      2. Amos pleads for mercy for Israel. 7:2
      3. God relents from judgment. 7:3
   2. The vision of the fire 7:4-6

      1. Amos sees a consuming fire. 7:4
      2. Amos pleads for mercy for Israel. 7:5
      3. God relents from judgment. 7:6
   3. The vision of the plumbline 7:7-9

      1. Amos sees the Lord with a plumbline. 7:7
      2. God predicts judgment on Israel. 7:8-9
   4. The interlude of Amaziah's opposition 7:10-17

      1. Amaziah opposes Amos. 7:10-13

         1. He complains to the king about Amos's message. 7:10-11
         2. He tells Amos to leave Judah. 7:12-13
      2. Amos answers Amaziah. 7:14-17

         1. He defends his prophetic call. 7:14-15
         2. He predicts Amaziah's and Israel's judgment. 7:16-17
   5. The vision of the basket of summer fruit 8:1-14

      1. Amos sees a basket of summer fruit. 8:1-2a
      2. God predicts judgment on Israel. 8:2b-14

         1. God predicts the end of Israel. 8:2b-3
         2. God explains the reasons for judgment. 8:4-6

            1. Oppression of the poor 8:4
            2. Violation of religious regulations 8:5a
            3. Dishonest trading 8:5b-6
         3. God promises retribution. 8:7-8
         4. God describes judgment. 8:9-14

            1. Darkness and mourning 8:9-10
            2. Famine of hearing God's word 8:11-12
            3. Failing of strength 8:13-14
   6. The vision of God at the altar 9:1-10

      1. Amos sees God standing at the altar. 9:1a
      2. God predicts judgment on Israel. 9:1b-10

         1. None will escape judgment. 9:1b-4

            1. Worshipers are killed in the temple. 9:1b
            2. Escapees are hunted by the Lord. 9:2-4

               1. In Sheol and heaven 9:2
               2. On Carmel and the sea 9:3
               3. In captivity 9:4
         2. God is the sovereign Judge. 9:5-6
         3. God describes judgment. 9:7-10

            1. Israel will be judged like other nations. 9:7
            2. Israel will not be totally destroyed. 9:8
            3. Israel will be dispersed among the nations. 9:9
            4. Israel's sinners will be slain. 9:10
5. A Promise of Restoration for Israel 9:11-15

   1. David's dynasty will be restored. 9:11
   2. Israel's enemies will be overcome. 9:12
   3. Israel's land will be productive. 9:13
   4. Israel's people will be returned. 9:14-15

      1. They will rebuild and restore. 9:14
      2. They will remain in the land forever. 9:15