These gods simply don’t require the same degree of justice and righteousness as the God of Israel, and they were actually immoral themselves. In the prophets’ view, the worship of these gods always leads to injustice. 12)? Since then, Israel had only accumulated more idols, representing the gods of sex, weather, and war. Remember when the northern kingdom broke away from southern Judah and their king built two new temples to rival Solomon’s one in Jerusalem, placing a golden calf in each (1 Kgs. The next theme explored is Amos’ repeated accusations of Israel’s idolatry, which is connected with the previous themes about worship and justice. Both of these values are to permeate the life of God’s people like a rushing stream fills a dry riverbed. ![]() And mishpat, or “justice,” refers to concrete actions you take to correct injustice and create righteousness. Tsedaqah, or “righteousness,” refers to a standard of right, equitable relationship between people no matter their social differences. Amos’ call to true worship is to “let justice flow like a river, and righteousness like a never-failing stream” (Amos 5:24). God says that a real relationship with him will transform a person and how they treat others. Chapters 7-9 contain a series of visions Amos experienced that visually depict God’s coming judgment on Israel.Īmos says that it’s all a sham and that God hates their worship because it’s totally disconnected from how they treat other people. Chapters 3-6 are a collection of poems that express Amos’ message to the people of Israel and its leaders. Chapters 1-2 are a series of messages to Israel and the other nations. They were later compiled to give God’s people a sense of his divine message to the northern kingdom-a message we still need to hear today. This book is a collection of his sermons, poems, and visions uttered over the years. He sensed God’s call to trek up north to Bethel, an important city with a large temple, to start announcing God’s word to the people. It got to the point where Amos couldn’t take it anymore. ![]() His wealth had led to social apathy, and he had allowed idol worship of the Canaanite gods, all of which led to injustice and neglect of the poor. But in the eyes of the prophets, he was one of the worst kings ever. He won battles and new territory for Israel, which generated lots of new wealth. 12) and was currently being ruled by Jeroboam II, a successful military leader. The north had seized its independence about 150 years earlier (1 Kgs. Amos is the third book of The Twelve.Īmos was a shepherd and fig tree farmer (Amos 7:14) who lived right near the border between northern Israel and southern Judah. One important aspect of the ancient TaNaK order of the Hebrew Bible is that the 12 prophetic works of Hosea through Malachi, sometimes referred to as the Minor Prophets, were designed as a single book called The Twelve.
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