Amos 1-9

Introduction to the book

Amos means “burden bearer.”

Message of the book: doom.

The book was written approximately 760-750 B.C.

Four major divisions of prophecy in the book:

Judgment on six nations around Judah

Damascus (Amos 1:3-5) – for cruelty in war

Gaza (Amos 1:6-8)

Tyre (Amos 1:9-10)

Edom (Amos 1:11-12) – for hatred of Israel

Ammon (Amos 1:13-15) – for cruelty to people

Moab (Amos 2:1-3) – for burning the bones of the king of Edom

Judgment on Judah (Amos 2:4-5) – for religious apostasy

Judgment on Israel (Amos 2:6-9:10)

Amos 2:6-8 – God rebukes Israel for injustice, immorality, and idolatry.

Amos 3 – Israel no longer walked with God.

Amos 4:12 – Summation of the book: “prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”

Amos 5:23; 6:5 – Some try to misuse these verses to show that instrumental worship is not approved.

II Chronicles 29:25 – Instrumental music was approved for worship under the Old Covenant.

Doing the right thing with wrong motives is not approved by God.

Amos 7:10-17 – Amos was ordered not to prophesy in Israel by Amaziah.

Messianic hope (Amos 9:11-15)

See Acts 15:13-18 (quotation of Amos 9:11-12).

This is the only optimistic message in the book!

Lessons for us:

We are going to meet God in judgment, so prepare!

God is righteous, both in punishment and blessing.

Even right acts are an insult to God if done with wrong motives.

All can be blessed in the restored tabernacle of David.