"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 27 December 2012, from Cindi, a daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords."
Today's Blog Title: "An Introduction into the Book of Amos"
Today we will start the third book of the Minor Prophets, the Book of Amos. The prophecy of Amos is characterized by great boldness coupled with great tact. The prophet gains the attention of his audience by pronouncing judgment on Israel's enemies before delivering the main burden of judgment against Israel herself. In the delivery of his prophecy, he is very courageous while being stern and severe.
The purpose of the ministry of Amos, is to awaken Israel, and its surrounding nations, to the fact that the nation is both responsible and accountable for its sins. His theme, then, is national accountability for national sins.
We see in Amos 7:10 that his prophecy was issued primarily at Bethel, the seat of idolatry in the northern kingdom. He attacks Satan's stronghold, Bethel, and when he is opposed by the idolatrous priest, Amaziah, he becomes even bolder in his preaching.
Throughout his prophecy, it is filled with references to rural life, indicating the background of Amos as a shepherd. The prophet never never put on pretenses. He was what he was, God's messenger for his hour, to call the nation of Israel to awaken to her responsibility and accountability for the national sins that she has committed against God. In the process of this, he shows himself to be an oratorical giant, in spite of the fact that he had no formal training.
The prophecy of Amos is his great burden from the Lord concerning the national sin of God's chosen people, as well as the judgment that MUST fall upon them unless they repent. No better testimony could be given concerning Amos than his own in Amos 7:14-15, where he said, "I was no prophet, neither was I a prophets son; but I was a herdsman and a gatherer of sycamore fruit: And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophecy unto my people Israel." We learn in these verses, that Amos was a simple shepherd who also gathered sycamore fruit, and who in obedience to God was used mightily to deliver God's message of judgment against Israel, the northern kingdom.
KEY PEOPLE IN THE BOOK OF AMOS
Amos: God's angry man, who denounces injustice in Israel, and expresses God's concern for the poor and oppressed of every age
Amaziah: The high priest of Bethel who rejects the message of Amos and tries to drive him out of Israel.
KEY THEMES IN THE BOOK OF AMOS
The plight of the poor: God is deeply concerned about the economic oppression that characterizes Israel's society.
Judicial corruption: Judgments favored the rich and ignored dishonesty and fraud.
Idolatry: The worship at Bethel and Dan is in violation of Old Testament Law and thus idolatrous. However, enthusiastic worship marked by idolatry, and offered by a personally and social immoral people, is never acceptable to God.
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. ALWAYS remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in you life, and you yell out "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you. "BUT I CAN."
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
Today's Blog Title: "An Introduction into the Book of Amos"
Today we will start the third book of the Minor Prophets, the Book of Amos. The prophecy of Amos is characterized by great boldness coupled with great tact. The prophet gains the attention of his audience by pronouncing judgment on Israel's enemies before delivering the main burden of judgment against Israel herself. In the delivery of his prophecy, he is very courageous while being stern and severe.
The purpose of the ministry of Amos, is to awaken Israel, and its surrounding nations, to the fact that the nation is both responsible and accountable for its sins. His theme, then, is national accountability for national sins.
We see in Amos 7:10 that his prophecy was issued primarily at Bethel, the seat of idolatry in the northern kingdom. He attacks Satan's stronghold, Bethel, and when he is opposed by the idolatrous priest, Amaziah, he becomes even bolder in his preaching.
Throughout his prophecy, it is filled with references to rural life, indicating the background of Amos as a shepherd. The prophet never never put on pretenses. He was what he was, God's messenger for his hour, to call the nation of Israel to awaken to her responsibility and accountability for the national sins that she has committed against God. In the process of this, he shows himself to be an oratorical giant, in spite of the fact that he had no formal training.
The prophecy of Amos is his great burden from the Lord concerning the national sin of God's chosen people, as well as the judgment that MUST fall upon them unless they repent. No better testimony could be given concerning Amos than his own in Amos 7:14-15, where he said, "I was no prophet, neither was I a prophets son; but I was a herdsman and a gatherer of sycamore fruit: And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophecy unto my people Israel." We learn in these verses, that Amos was a simple shepherd who also gathered sycamore fruit, and who in obedience to God was used mightily to deliver God's message of judgment against Israel, the northern kingdom.
KEY PEOPLE IN THE BOOK OF AMOS
Amos: God's angry man, who denounces injustice in Israel, and expresses God's concern for the poor and oppressed of every age
Amaziah: The high priest of Bethel who rejects the message of Amos and tries to drive him out of Israel.
KEY THEMES IN THE BOOK OF AMOS
The plight of the poor: God is deeply concerned about the economic oppression that characterizes Israel's society.
Judicial corruption: Judgments favored the rich and ignored dishonesty and fraud.
Idolatry: The worship at Bethel and Dan is in violation of Old Testament Law and thus idolatrous. However, enthusiastic worship marked by idolatry, and offered by a personally and social immoral people, is never acceptable to God.
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. ALWAYS remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in you life, and you yell out "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you. "BUT I CAN."
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
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