So greedy for wealth were the leaders that they could hardly wait for the end of the traditional holy days to resume their corrupt, money-making activities. The Global Message of Amos. They were denying the true essence of the Faith, and replacing it with elaborate ceremonies and traditions. The book ends unexpectedly (9:8–15) with a promise of restoration for Israel. And the sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great, and deal deceitfully with false balances, that we may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, and sell the refuse of the wheat?" So long as modern politicians can be bought and sold, corrupted by political ambition, or induced to tread on the rights of the poor, they are no better than the "cows of Bashan" or the "husbands in the gates" described by Amos. He was neither scholar nor Levite, yet God used him mightily to bring a powerful message of warning to his own people. For that, I’m burning down the walls of Gaza, and what’s left of the Philistines will die.”. who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils” (6:1, 4, 6). God sent a herdsman from Tekoa to warn ancient Israel to help them get their priorities straight. . So long as Catholic "Christians" are willing to bomb, maim and kill Protestant "Christians" (and vice versa), their religion is vain and empty. Therefore thus says the Lord: 'Your wife shall be a harlot in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be parceled out by line; you yourself shall die in an unclean land, and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land'" (verses 16-17). The fall of the House of Israel was not far distant. It was also a time of pay-offs, hush money and political corruption. Religious practices are changing daily. The record is clear. All Show, No Substance - Listen to this, family of Israel, this Message I’m sending in bold print, this tragic warning: “Virgin Israel has fallen flat on her face. The national conscience was seared and no sense of guilt seemed to exist. Understanding Amos’ message is tied up in these four contextual factors: Generally speaking, Amos proclaimed a message of doom, that “Yahweh was moving upon the land to devastate a sinful people” (Flanders, People of the Covenant, 344). And just what were these sins? He would not be intimidated by the priest's threats and false charges. Amos delivered his message sometime around 760 or 750 B.C. Amos' Message — For Us? Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. ( Log Out /  In all these respects he is Isaiah's spiritual progenitor. "Pride," wrote wise King Solomon centuries earlier, "goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. “Because of the three great sins of Ammon    —make that four—I’m not putting up with her any longer.She ripped open pregnant women in Gilead    to get more land for herself.For that, I’m burning down the walls of her capital, Rabbah,    burning up her forts.Battle shouts! For that, I’m burning down her capital, Teman, “Because of the three great sins of Ammon. 29:13). Through this restoration God’s people will be reinstated in the land, and “the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it” (9:13). For that, I’m setting the palace of Hazael on fire. . If these frightening parallels between ancient Israel and our peoples today hold true, then it might be best to close this article with yet another message from Amos: "Prepare to meet your God, O Israel! No one seemed to be sufficiently concerned to take action. He said: "About 75% of the American people think religion is losing its influence" (ibid.). As always, "John Q. Of course they didn't listen. The church must never presume upon God’s favor. She hunts down her brother to murder him. This is an arresting passage in Amos’s prophecy because it describes precisely what took place when Jesus hung on the cross seven centuries after Amos lived: the earth grew dark at noon, for three hours, signifying God’s judgment, as an only son, God’s only Son, perished (Mark 15:33; John 3:16). Amaziah attempted to inflame the king's emotions against this unqualified upstart who presumed to represent God and to prophesy against the nation. Cause and Effect    Why didn't Israel heed the messages of her prophets? “Because of the three great sins of Damascus    —make that four—I’m not putting up with her any longer.She pounded Gilead to a pulp, pounded her senseless    with iron hammers and mauls.For that, I’m setting the palace of Hazael on fire. 25:3). He brought about a devastating round of famines, droughts, disease epidemics and insect-induced crop failures (Amos 4:6-10). Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one..." (Rom. I have spoken persistently to you, but you have not listened" (Jer. "It is not hyperbole to say that we are witnessing a remarkable erosion of consensus within the citadel of belief" ("Ferment in Our Churches," Saturday Review, July 12, 1975). Eat, drink and be merry — for tomorrow will never come, was the national philosophy. Israel’s misuse of prosperity. the House of Israel had been lulled into a false sense of security. a shift in structures of land ownership and exploitation within the new structure, an increasing gap between the wealthy elite and the poor peasant class, covenantal disobedience with hypocritical religious ceremonies, "The Lord your God is with you, Why the Quartet of the Vulnerable? "Politics as usual" is an admission of corruption that is ultimately destined to exact a heavy national price. After all, were they not the leaders of the "chief of the nations" — Israel? 1-3 God’s Message: “Because of the three great sins of Moab. Tous deux sont les premiers prophètes dont l'enseignement figure dans les Livres saints. From 721-718 B.C., the northern house went captive to the murderous Assyrians under the leadership of the dreaded Shalmaneser (II Kings 17). Years later, Jesus Christ in His famous Olivet prophecy also referred to this time in Matthew 24:21: “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Matt Erickson is married to Kelly and the father of three boys. 26:14-46; Deut. 9:11). "Yet you did not return to me," says the Lord. He conspired! In King James terminology, "Their sins waxed worse and worse." “Why would you have the day of the Lord? Spiritually, that ancient nation was bankrupt. 8:9; compare 2 Cor. National borders had been extended to their maximum and the country was basking in comparative opulence and prosperity. The key idea in Amos is that God is just and impartial and will judge not only the nations but also his own people for their life of ease and apathy amid human suffering. Discover the path to victory over the trials you face in your life. The sheer volume of violence in today's "civilized" societies is as much an odor in the nostrils of God today as it was when the herds man of Tekoa walked the trails of the northern kingdom. For that, I’m burning down her capital, Teman, “Because of the three great sins of Ammon. He spoke out even more pointedly: "Now therefore hear the word of the Lord. How much mercy, true justice, honesty and purity of heart and intent? Chapters 3 through 6 of the book of Amos specifically list the many sins of which the northern house was guilty. The Soviet Union, with an atheistic government, claims 3%! In his prophetic oracles, Amos joins mišpat and tsedeqah in parallelism three times (Am 5:7; 5:24; 6:12b), emphasizing that the two concepts are inseparably related. It came to him in visions during the time that Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam II son of Joash was king of Israel, two years before the big earthquake. While material prosperity is a blessing from the Lord (Prov. Yet, lazily indulging in God’s gift of prosperity, their worship of God had turned hollow (5:21–23; compare 4:4–5) and heartfelt concern for one another had withered (2:6–7). 3:29). For that, I’m burning down the walls of her capital, Rabbah. Every man had his price. "The land is not able to bear all his words"! The first word, mišpat, is usually translated as “justice” or “judgment.” Mišpat “connotes a complex of meanings like equal, fair, right, good, which, however modulated, constitute a focus of value that is understood to be essential to social well-being” (James Luther Mays, “Justice: Perspectives from the Prophetic Tradition,” in Prophecy in Israel: Search for an Identity, 145). In the days of Moses, when God had brought Israel out of slavery in Egypt, He had entered into a covenant relationship with her. And did not its citizens come respectfully to these great sages for advice and counsel? It is the justice, holiness, and purity of God that calls for justice, holiness, and purity in the common life of Israel. ( Log Out /  To prosperous nations around the world today, and particularly prosperous Christians in those nations, the prophecy of Amos is a clear call for active engagement with the poor and afflicted, especially among God’s people. Amos' message must not be lost on our modern generation! —make that four—I’m not putting up with her any longer. . They were willing victims of their own self-deception! Discover the path to victory over the trials you face in your life. ( Log Out /  J. du Preez further illumines the relationship of mišpat and tsedeqah as seen in Amos 5:24, writing that “the two words together express a specific idea which, to a large extent, amounts to what may be called social justice” (J. du Preez, “Social Justice: Motive for the Mission of the Church,” Journal of Theology for Southern Africa 53, 37). Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. He indicated that Israel’s pending devastation was primarily due to the utter absence of justice and righteousness within the nation as demanded by covenant relationship with Yahweh. He spoke of "great tumults" and "oppressions" within Israel (Amos 3:9). They allowed themselves to become preoccupied with the pleasures of high living and personal self-indulgence. The key idea in Amos is that God is just and impartial and will judge not only the nations but also his own people for their life of ease and apathy amid human suffering. The prophecy of Amos carries an urgent message for the global church in the twenty-first century. “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion,” say the Lord in Amos 6. The thunderclap voice withers the pastures tended by shepherds, “Because of the three great sins of Damascus. Judgment for Israel’s lack of mercy. Thus when his people “trample on the needy and bring the poor of the land to an end” (Amos 8:4), God will certainly not exempt them from the judgment that such selfishness deserves. She has no pity, she has no heart.Her anger rampages day and night. For that, I’m burning down the walls of Gaza, and what’s left of the Philistines will die.”. Yet in light of massive worldwide needs such as poverty, lack of clean water, malnutrition, and inadequate medical care, material blessing granted to some believers must go out to those parts of the world where help is needed. He will deal in perfect justice with those who claim his love and compassion but fail to extend that love and compassion in concrete ways to others. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Matt Erickson and Renovate with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. (Amos 8:4-6.) 11:1-4; 22:9; 31:32; Ezek. . . These believers “from all tribes and peoples and languages” (Rev. Church leaders are beleaguered by new, bold, persistent demands — from their clergy no less than from their congregations. Political leaders could be bought and sold. Indeed, God’s covenant relationship makes justice and righteousness in the lives of his people all the more crucial, for they are representing the Lord to the nations (see Rom.