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 Bible study(Amos) |
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2010-04-12 16:23:14, H : 1,087, V : 31 |
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The message from Amos......
(Written for the bulletin of English Congregation Church – The Ecumenical Family)
‘Seek the LORD and live,(Amos 5:6a). How happy and comfortable we are to hear such words from Amos, the 8th century B.C. prophet!
"he sweep through the house of Joseph like a fire:...(Amos 5:6b). How disturbed and frightened we are by such words of Amos!!
To whom was Amos preaching such a strong message?
Was he preaching to those who do not know God? No!
He was preaching to the Northern Israelites, people who were worshipping Yahweh God!
The background of Amos
The Israelites appeared to be very faithful religious people, much more than what we are. They not only attended the Sabbath service (like we attend Sunday Service), but they also participated in various rites and rituals with a great zeal. It was a time of political stability and economic prosperity for the middle and upper classes of Israelite society, similar to what we are experiencing in Mizoram today. The King of the northern kingdom then was Jeroboam II who ruled for 41 years(787-746 B.C
Amos was a shepherd from the southern kingdom of Judah. Amos 7:15 shows us that he received a direct call from God to prophesy to the northern kingdom of Israel. So Amos goes to Bethel where Jeroboam II lived. Bethel had special significance in Israel's history (Genesis 28). But now it had become the center for idol worship in the Northern Kingdom. Jeroboam set up golden calves in Bethel and Dan for the Israelites to worship, because he didn't want the people worship God in Jerusalem.
As mentioned above, Israel was enjoying prosperity economically and politically during Amos’ time, but was very corrupt spiritually and morally.
Hence the warning in Amos 5:6 that God is going to sweep through the house of Israel like a fire. Elsewhere it is said, “The Lord roars from Zion.” (Amos1:2). The Israelites are familiar with the image of God as a shepherd who cares his sheep tenderly (Psalm 23 etc.).
However Amos now presents God to the people not as a shepherd but as a “Lion”. The lion was the most feared animal of that time. It could attack and devour a flock of sheep while the shepherd watched helplessly. So this imagery sets the stage and lets the people know that God is angry. Why is He angry? That is the theme of the book of Amos.
The Structure of the Book of Amos
I Introduction : 1:1,2
II Judgment Against the Nations 7 nations and Israel (1:3-2:5)-
"For three sins of _____, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath."
(Damascus 1:3-5, Gaza 1:6-8, Tyre 1:9-10, Edomites 1:11-12, Ammon 1:13-15,
Moabites 2:1-3, Judah 2:4-5, Israel (2:6-16)
III. The Reasons for Judgment (Amos 3-6) – Five Messages
A. The First Message : God's chosen people (3:1-15)
Israel was chosen, but because of their rebellion judgment was certain.
B. The Second Message : Hypocrisy and not return to God(4:1-13)
1. Economic Exploitation 4:1-3,
2. Religious Hypocrisy 4:4-13
C. The Third Message : God's Sovereignty (5:1-17)
1. Description of certain judgment (5:1-3)
2. Call for individual repentance (5:4-6).
3. Accusation of legal injustice (5:7)
4. Portrayal of a sovereign God (5:8-9)
5. Accusation of legal injustice (5:10-13)
6. Call for individual repentance (5:14-15)
7. Description of certain judgment (5:16-17)
D. The Fourth Message : No Repentant(5:18-27)
1. Description of certain judgment (5:18-20).
2. Accusation of religious hypocrisy (5:21-22).
3. Call for individual repentance (5:23-24)
4. Accusation of religious hypocrisy (5:25-26)
5. Description of certain judgment (5:27)
E. The Fifth Message; Complacement / Pride (6:1-14)
1. Their Boastful Complacency 6:2
2. Their Luxurious Indulgence 6:4-7
3. The Complete Devastation 6:8-13
IV. The Results of Judgment - Five Visions
A. The Vision of the Locust Swarm (7:1-3)
B. The Vision of the Fire (7:4-6)
C. The Vision of the Plumb Line (7:7-9)
D. The Vision of Ripe Fruit (8:1-14)
E. The Avenging Lord (Destruction/Judgment) (9:1-10)
V. Restoration (9:11-15)
A. Of Israel - Political Renewal (9:11)
B. Of All Nations (9:12)
C. Prosperity, Peace and Permanence (9:15)
Three important of Amos Idea.
1. The righteous God does not compromise with immorality, injustice and unrighteousness. (Amos 2:6-8; 3:9-11)
2. The most unique and revolutionary idea of Amos is "the idea of Worship"
True worship is not ritualistic performances but worship that is integrated with justice.(Amos 5:21-24)
3. The day the LORD which the religious but unjust and unethical Israelites were looking forward to as their day of glorification (like many Christians who look forward to the day of the second coming of the Lord) is going to be a Day of Terrible Judgment for the so-called chosen people of God (Amos 5:18-20)
The message of Amos for us today.....
The problem in Israel was the sin of materialism. We can see how the Israelites compromised God's laws and principles to achieve success (wealthy). When Israel became materialistic, their theology said that a wealthy person was a righteous person. Even today many people believe that their prosperity is a God’s sign of approval. We need to be careful that we do not fall into the same trap.
The book of Amos is a message of divine judgment targeted against the rich and unjust, who have neglected the covenant relationship with God. We live in a world of injustice and social imbalance in wealth, where there is ease and complacency while the oppressed continue to suffer. We can learn from the book of Amos that God cares for the poor and powerless. Those who call on the name of the Lord must seek to understand the reason why God send judgment on Israel and the foreign nations. He is the same God of the Lord Jesus Christ who loves and cares for the poor, needy and oppressed.
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