BULLSEYE!
ACCURATE BIBLE KNOWLEDGE!

“THE BOOK OF AMOS”
“THE PROPHET ON A SINKING BOAT” 

They would not predict the future, as this would imply guesswork on the part of the prophet.

God simply used these messengers, to tell what WOULD be happening. No guessing needed!

The books of the prophets, Isaiah to Malachi, cover about 400 years, 830-430BC approximately, when the Hebrew nation was in decline.

THEIR MISSION AND MESSAGE

1.  To try and save the Hebrew nation from IDOLATRY and wickedness.

2.  Failing this, to announce to the nation, that they will be destroyed.

3.  But not completely destroyed, as a remnant (a few left) will be saved.

4.   Out of this remnant will come a Person who will bring all nations to God.

5.  That person will be a great man who will one day arise out of the family tree of David. The prophets called him THE BRANCH. This family tree of David, once the most powerful family in the world, was cut down in the days of the prophets, and disappeared. But the family would comeback with this man called THE BRANCH - THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Rev 19:16)

Not even understanding the full meaning and importance of their words, the prophets were obedient.

There are three prophets whose mission were to other nations other than Israel (ten Northern tribes) and Judah (two Southern tribes), and these were JONAH to Assyria (Nineveh), OBADIAH to Edom (Esau) and NAHUM to Assyria (Nineveh). 

 
16 PROPHETS IN FOUR GROUPS

1. NORTHERN KINGDOM CALLED ISRAEL had the ten tribes, and lasted about 210 years, and the prophets during this period were Amos, Hosea.

The destruction and captivity Northern kingdom went from 734-721BC. They were taken to Assyria have simply disappeared from the face of the earth.

2. SOUTHERN KINGDOM CALLED JUDAH had the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and lasted about 320 years, and the prophets during this period were Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Habakkuk, Zephaniah.

The destruction and captivity of the Southern kingdom, went from 606-586BC. Taken to Babylon.

Invading armies didn’t kill and destroy everything at once, but slowly strangled their captive nations, with taxes, slaves and goods. Under their rule, they then left the very poorest in the land to struggle on.

3. RESTORATION OF THE NATION made up of only Judah and Benjamin, NOW CALLED ISRAEL, happened from 536-444BC, and the prophets during this period were Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

4. OTHER NATIONS were ASSYRIA (Nineveh) with the prophets Jonah and Nahum

                                  and EDOM (Esau) with the prophet Obadiah
 

THE 16 PROPHETS ARE GROUPED AS FOLLOWS
 

“TABLE OF KINGS AND PROPHETS”

AMOS

BACKGROUND

Amos was a Southern prophet from Judah, that went to the Northern Kingdom in the time of Jeroboam II (Amos 7:10-11), about 30 years before the Northern tribes went into Assyrian captivity.

This was also in the time of Uzziah, king of Judah (787 -735 BC), and coincides with the earthquake (Amos 1:1), being the result of Uzziah’s disobedience and leprosy (2 Chron 26:16-21).

Jeroboam’s reign had been very successful in a worldly sense, and had expanded in size and prosperity (2Kings 14:23-29). However, it had become a land of swearing, stealing, moral rottenness, injustice, oppression, robbery, adultery and murder. It had been about 200 years since the ten tribes had set up the Northern kingdom, with calf worship as its religion (1Kings 12:25-33). Baal worship, with the sacrifice of babies into fire, and the officially endorsed religious sodomy and prostitution ceremonies, became the norm.

Previously, God has sent Elijah, Elisha and Jonah, but to no avail. Israel was now speeding toward its ruin, and God, in a final effort, sent Amos and Hosea, to arrest it’s coming destruction before Assyrian captivity.

 AMOS 780-740BC

DAVID’S HOUSE WILL YET RULE THE WORLD
Wickedness of Israel, their doom and their restoration in David

Ch 1-2 Doom of Israel and surrounding nations
Amos starts with a general prophecy of doom for eight nations – Syria, Philistines, Phoenicians, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah and Israel by describing their sins and their transgressions with the same formula of “for three transgressions and for four…”. The word ”captivity” is repeated again and again, for that is where they will end up (1:5, 6, 9, 15; 5;5, 27; 7:17; 9:4, 14). The earthquake must have been very severe as it was remembered for about 200 years after it happened (Zechariah 14:5), and is mentioned as a demonstration of God’s wrath of their coming judgment day.

Ch 3. Luxury palaces
Samaria was the capital of the Northern kingdom, and was situated on a 300 foot high hill. It was surrounded by mountains on three sides and was impregnable. Its palaces were built with the blood of the poor (2:6, 7; 3:10; 5:11; 8:4-7) with such severity and cruelty, that would have shocked even the Egyptians and the Philistines (3:9-10).

Amos is speaking at Bethel (3:14; 7:13) which is 12 miles North of Jerusalem, and was the religious capital of the Northern kingdom. It was here that Jeroboam I had set up the Golden Calf for worship (1kings 12:25-33) about 180 years previous.

Amos came from Tekoa (Amos 1:1), ten miles South of Jerusalem, which also sat on a hill about 2,700 feet high. He was a layman, a herdsman and collector of fruit, and not a professional prophet or priest.

Ch 4. Prepare to meet God
(Verses 1-2) The cattle of Bashan, the pampered ladies, were taken away by Assyria, like fat cows with literal hooks through their lips (4:2). Israel intensely religious but exceedingly cruel (v 4-5). God’s repeated efforts to save them had failed and now destruction awaited them (verse 6-13)

Ch 5. Day of God
Lament over the fall of Israel (v1-3). Another appeal to turn to God (v4-9). Further denunciation of their evil ways (v10-27). Their may have been a desire to turn to God but Amos wanted their hearts not their actions (v18-26).

Ch 6. Captivity
Amos again contrast their luxury to their captivity that is to come.

Ch 7. Three visions of destructions
Locusts  (v1-3)
Fire (v4-6)
Plumb Line (v7-9). The city had been measured for destruction. Twice, God had relented, but no more.

The Bethel priest (v10-17) reported Amos to Jeroboam II. Amos told the priest he would soon be captive.

Ch 8. Basket of Summer fruit

This is the symbol of a sinful nation that was ripe for ruin.

Ch 9. Future glory of David’s kingdom (9:11-1) and the Millennial reign (9:13-15)

Future captivity (v1-9) which comes within 30 years. David’s restored throne (v8-15) which will rule over all nations.

 In summary

 AMOS 760-740BC

 
DAVID’S HOUSE WILL YET RULE THE WORLD
Wickedness of Israel, doom and restoration
 

Chapter 1-2 Doom
Chapter Luxury palaces
Chapter 4. Time to meet God
Chapter 5. Day of God
Chapter 6. Captivity
Chapter 7. Three visions
Chapter 8. Basket of Summer fruit
Chapter 9. Future glory.  
 

He sees  1. Return of Jews to God 9:11-12 

2. Millennium 9:13-15

**** ****

Harley Hitchcock

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