Covenantal concerns are central to the yahwehs accusations e. Book of amos, the third of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in one book under the jewish canon titled the twelve. Following gods call august 7, 2005 join me in turning to the book of amos. I never really have spent much time in the book of amos even after reading through it a few times this past week i found it to be a difficult read. An instant new york times bestseller a timely and passionate call to action for engaging with our current political moment, from the grammynominated and multiplatinum singersongwriter and new york times bestselling author tori amos. The ethical teaching of amos, its content and relevance. This summary of the book of amos provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of amos.
In the prophecy of amos, as in the other books of the old testament, gods son, the lord jesus christ, is reflected in his glory and power. In one of the bibles terrible ironies, the northern kingdom itself evolved into the kind of nationstate that god had delivered the hebrews from. The book of amos is the third of the twelve minor prophets in the tanakhold testament and the second in the greek septuagint tradition. In chapters 1 and 2 of amos, there is a unique phrase, for three transgressions of x and for four set against the nations 1. The poetry of amos, who denounces the hollow prosperity of the northern kingdom, is filled with imagery and language taken from his own pastoral background. Biblical prophetic literature begins with the book of amos during the final years of the northern kingdom of israel in the eighth century b. Aug 02, 2010 amos was from judah and was called to the northern kingdom to proclaim the word of god. Editors and copyists added comments to the prophets original oracles that they deemed appropriate in light of events that occurred after his death. He said, strike the top of the pillars so that the thresholds shake.
The book is an anthology of his oracles and was compiled either by the prophet or by some of his disciples. Society for promoting christian knowledge, 1929, p. The first verse of this book identifies the author as amos, who was among the herdsmen of tekoa 1. He is from the kingdom of judah, but god called him to prophesy in the northern kingdom of israel. Not a lot is known of amos, we do know that he was a farmer from tekoa which was a town about 6 miles southeast of bethlehem and about ten miles south of jerusalem in judah or the southern kingdom. It uses the new international version of the bible but provides many other translations.
See the book notes on amos for a verse by verse study of this book. For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what ishis thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, the. Despite the fact that he lived in the southern kingdom of judah, god sent him as his prophet to the northern kingdom of. In the book of amos, we find two uses amos performed. Apr 12, 20 the first three chapters of the book are a love story gone awry and i am initially drawn to the character of gomer. Though its style is a little unusual to people unfamiliar with prophetic writings, it is easily read at one sitting.
Isaiah entered the scene at the time of the death of king uzziah, whose long reign ended around 742, and continued his work until at least 701, during the kingship of hezekiah. The book of amos is named after the prophet whose words are collected in this book. A sick day for amos mcgee evokes emotions of warmth and sympathy. Trailer studying the book of the prophet amos is an excellent way to begin a study of the prophetic tradition of israel. The third vision has no such intercession by amos and the judgement names the high places and the house of jeroboam as the focus. Sep 12, 2011 in chapter nine of amos, his vision included the lord standing by the altar, and. Lewis johnson who once said, amos is the kind of book that rewards constant study. Gods relationship with his people includes judging them in righteousness when they sin and restoring them in grace. God called amos to prophesy to israel, and it seems that he did most of his work at bethel amos 7.
In four ways, the old testament book of amos is essential for a robust understanding of the gospel. He writes about the terrible things that they have done. Reflections on old testament prophets amos peace theology. One of the things to cherish about the book of amos is its exquisite language. Amos introduction united states conference of catholic bishops. The prophet amos critique of israel how its neglect of the poor had hollowed out its worship of god is timely for the church today, writes bill. I taught preaching for twentyeight of the thirtythree years i spent on the faculty of. Amos meaning burden or burdenbearer was an inhabitant of the rugged region of tekoa, located in the territory of judah about 12 miles south of jerusalem. Resistance succeeds at allowing us to observe, through amos reflections, the experiences, events, stories, and feelings that resulted in some of her most beloved works and, to a small extent, her upcoming album.
Mays, words about the words of amos, interpretation. The first reading is brief but contains the key points or commands for living life as god wants us. I have heard and preached a lot of sermons in my life. Reflections and questions amos 5 and mark 10 presbyterian. Learning from the book of amos number 1 opening reflections the words of amos, one of the shepherds of tekoa what he saw concerning israel two years before the earthquake, when uzziah was king of judah and jereboam son of jehoash was king of israel. At the heart of this message is the covenant between yahweh and his people. One thing i can identify with is who amos was, he was a regular guy who had a regular job and was called out of that life by god to a specific. If you can find the book of daniel in the ot, keep turning through hosea, joel, and then to amos. Then he says something to his own people who live in israel and judah. I n this, the third contribution to cambridge university presss old testament theology series, john barton investigates the theology of both the prophet and the book of amos. He prophesied during the reign of jeroboam ii in the northern kingdom and king uzziah in the southern kingdom. Reflections on 911 from the book of amos god reports. And such a story could only be penned by an author, who himself was capable of intense and passionate love. Amos contains all of the literary types he described.
About 150 years separate habakkuk from the first of. Tori amos new book resistance is absolutely perfection. Atlanta journalconstitution amos comes across as thoughtful, likable, and witty. Commentaries describe the area as somewhat rugged, rocky, and with sparse grazing fields. Not all of the material found in these chapters came from amos himself. Amos was from tekoa, a small town in judah about 6 miles south of bethlehem and 11 miles from jerusalem. It is primarily a prophecy against edom, a mountainous country southeast of israel. Van gorder obadiah this little book is one of the shortest in the bible. He was not a man of the court like isaiah, or a member of a priestly family like jeremiah and ezekiel. Resistance book by tori amos official publisher page. Much has been made of the fact that amos was a shepherda man more comfortable among hills and dales than on city streetsa man more comfortable in the company of sheep than of peoplean. Since the release of her first, careerdefining solo album little earthquakes, tori amos has been one of the music industrys most enduring and ingenious artists. He was a shepherd and tended to sycamore fig trees.
A teaching outline for the book of amos expository. Woe to the complacent woe to you who are complacent in zion, and to you who feel secure on mount samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of israel come. The chapter begins with two oracles which initially convey judgement on the people because of the unjust behaviour cited in amos 36, but when amos intercedes the mind of god is changed. Amos mission is directed to his neighbor to the north, israel. The book of amos amos was a sheepbreeder of tekoa in judah, who delivered his oracles in the northern kingdom during the prosperous reign of jeroboam ii 786746 b. Saint lawrence giving riches to the poor, by palma giovane, c. However, it should be clearly understood that none of these four prophets was more interested in ethics than in religion. When reading the prophets at large, there are three or four. The first verse of this book also tells us when amos served as a prophet.
But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like. The book of amos was likely written between 760 and 753 b. Seek is often a term for religious activity in the bible. A sick day for amos mcgee is a caldecott award picture book written by philip c. Amos was a shepherd in a region called tekoa, about six miles south of bethlehem. She is called a whore by none other than god himself. Sep 24, 2015 the book of amos clearly indicates that these are his words and it even starts out by saying, the words of amos, who was among the shepherds of tekoa, which he saw concerning israel in the days. Nov 15, 2010 other posts this month are on 2 kings, joel, amos, obadiah, jonah, 2 timothy, titus and philemon. Amos says things that no one wished to hear 2800 years ago, things no one much wishes to hear today. Amos introduction to amos the author reveals himself from the beginning to be amos.
Okay my friends, here is a place to dialogue regarding the book of amos. Shepherds in that region had to make extensive trips to feed their flocks. The people said, in so many words, our music must be all right. Jan 14, 2015 reflections founded on the book of amos as a whole. Cripps, a critical and exegetical commentary on the book of amos london. One hundred fifty years later, jeroboam ii was on the throne.
The seventh, eighth, and ninth chapters contain visions, with their explanations. Scholars have emphasized the importance of amos among the great prophets of the old testament by means of various expressions. Thus the lord god showed me, and behold, there was a basket of summer fruit. He has been referred to as the first of the classical prophets, 1 philip hyatt, the book of amos, interpretation, iii, no. The book of amos, which is the earliest of the prophetic writings to be preserved in book form, consists of nine chapters. The book of amos 08 april the prophet amos was a shepherd by trade. Amos was a sheepbreeder from tekoa and not a lifelong prophet. The short book of amos is a collection of short prophetic speeches attributed to. My own context for the preaching i have heard and done offers. Though he lived in the southern kingdom of judah, the prophet amos was sent north by god to preach to the northern kingdom of israel. Although he was from judah the southern kingdom, he was sent to israel, the northern kingdom, with a message of judgment, not just for israel as are so many of the books of prophecy, but also for the nations around israel.
Reflections, this 48page, squarebound book delivers with a collection of previously unpublished stories, pages and artwork. Reflection notes on the book of amos 855 words bartleby. The tallest buildings would be no refuge in the day of judgment. He was given this one assignment of which we read in this book.
As it should be with the prophets, i will reflect on what they are saying in their context and relate it to ours. Reflections on old testament prophets 1 isaiah peace. He speaks and acts with such grace and beauty there is clarity in all that he says. At one point, amaziah the priest had commanded amos to go south to speak his words of doom, yet the prophet answered by a thus saith jehovah amos 7. The book of amos the prophet amos was a shepherd by trade.
Featuring a peek inside macks sketchbook, stepbystep commentary about his painted artwork, and loads of art and extras youve never seen before. A real relationship with god should show in social justice and righteousness. The books of 1 and 2 kings or 1 and 2 chronicles do not mention this prophet, and he should not be confused with amoz, the father of isaiah the prophet. Redactions in the book of amos the redactions or continued growth of the book of amos has a richer complex literary history that extends into the sixth and fifth centuries b. There were no major military conflicts and according to amos it was a time of prosperity, at least for a few at the expense of the many. Key to unlocking the book understanding the literary devices used, isolating each unit. Van gorder amos during the time of great spiritual decline in israel, god chose elijah, an obscure man from the mountains of gilead, and used him to turn the nation from its idolatry. Feel free to share your questions, comments and reflections from the daily readings. A comprehensive database of book of amos quizzes online, test your knowledge with book of amos quiz questions. Todays first reading from the book of leviticus one of the books of the torah, the law of moses and the gospel speak of love and how we should love one another. A well designed online version of amos can be found on the bible gateway site. For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, the lord, the god of hosts, is his name amos 4.
Amos lived in the kingdom of judah but preached in the northern kingdom of. Jan 12, 2020 the main themes of amos and lessons that we learn from this book are. It had been settled by the descendants of esau, jacobs brother. Amos 6 woe to the complacent woe to you who bible gateway. Amos 7 visions of judgment and the power of the prophets prayer a. With undoubted appeal to amoss legion of fans, piece by piece could offer additional interest to artists of all stripes, who may find reflections of their own experiences in hers. In this book, for the first time in canonical history, gods relationship with israel is described in terms of a marriage arrangement.
Sep 03, 2009 amos was a sheepbreeder from tekoa and not a lifelong prophet. Amos, an older contemporary of hosea and isaiah, was active c. This book of the prophet amos is the only mention we have of this man in the old testament. No, thats not quite right, god instructs hosea to marry a whore. At the outset, it should be said that the designation of a prophet as either major or minor is not a reflection of the prophets significance or importance, but refers to how many columns of texts in the scroll the prophet receives. The reigns of uzziah and jeroboam were relatively peaceful. He prophesied in israel at the great cult center of bethel, from which he was finally expelled by the priest in charge of this royal sanctuary 7.
Each week hopefully, i will look at a chapter in a book of the minor prophets, moving through them chronologically. Our online book of amos trivia quizzes can be adapted to suit your requirements for taking some of the top book of amos quizzes. Amos is a shepherd and a fruit picker from the judean village of tekoa when god calls him, even though he lacks an education or a priestly background. He was a shepherd and farmer, but had the special commission to proclaim gods message to the people of israel more precisely, to the northern kingdom of israel, since the people of israel had split into two kingdoms some 150 years before amos days. He prophesied in israel at the great cult center of bethel, from which he was finally expelled. In my morning quiet time, ive been reading through the daily walk bible this year, which offers a daily devotional along with a guide to read through the bible in one year.
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