“Prepare to meet thy God” (Amos 4:12). This powerful phrase, delivered by the herdsman (Amos 1:1, 7:14, 15), is a stark warning to Israel. It signifies God’s fervent attentiveness to justice and His impending judgment. Amos, a herdsman who became a fearless prophet, delivered this message during the reigns of Uzziah and Jeroboam. His divine message, which took him from Tekoa to Bethel (Amos 7:10-17), put him at odds with Amaziah, the priest of Bethel. Yet, Amos remained steadfast, proclaiming the message God commanded him to preach – a message of punishment and eventual restoration. This overview is structured on the outline provided by M. F. Unger .
INDICTMENT OF GENTILES AND JEWS (Amos 1-2)
The Almighty levied charges against six Gentile nations and both Hebrew nations. Damascus was condemned for their cruelty in warfare (Amos 1:3-5); Gaza (the Philistines) and Tyre were guilty of selling slaves to Edom (Amos 1:6-10); Edom was guilty of holding a grudge (“his anger tore perpetually) against Israel (Amos 1:11-12); Ammon was guilty of war crimes, which included the killing of unborn children (Amos 1:13-15); Moab burnt the bones of an Edomite king (likely to prevent him for taking part in the resurrection – at least symbolically) (Amos 2:1-3); Judah committed apostasy against their God (Amos 2:4-5); and Israel was condemned because they acted like the nations God condemned (Amos 2:6-16). Israel sold the righteous and needy into slavery and abused the helpless through perversion, manipulation, and debauchery.
JUDGMENT ON THE TWELVE TRIBES (Amos 3-8)
The prophet turned his attention to his primary audience, Israel. God chose Israel when He promised that the families of the earth would be blessed through the Seed of Abraham (Gen. 12:3); thus, behaving as the heathen nations would have a more severe consequence. God took food (cleanness of teeth, Amos 4:6), withheld rain (Amos 4:7), killed vegetation (Amos 4:9), sent pestilence and war (Amos 4:10), and suffered destruction (Sodom and Gomorrah was often used as an analogy for destruction – Amos 4:11) – but the Lord notes five times, “yet you did not return to me” (Amos 4:6-11). What a dreadful statement, to be in such a state of apostasy and rebellion, to hear, “prepare to meet your God, O Israel” (Amos 4:12).
Amos 5 begins a lamentation of Israel’s fate, but the benevolent God offers a glimmer of hope – a proverbial lifeline. Amos conveys a message of redemption three times – Seek Him and live (Amos 5:4, 6, 14). The stubbornness of Israel is epitomized in the prophet’s exchange with the wicked priest, Amaziah (Amos 7:10-17). While the original language is ambiguous, Amos is likely claiming he has no financial reason to prophesy in Bethel; thus, a desire to obey God drove him to deliver His message of judgment. This message of hope and redemption should inspire us to seek God and live.
RESTORATION OF ALL ISRAEL (Amos 9)
The sovereignty of God shines through this final chapter. Though Israel may attempt to flee the judgment of God, the Supreme Ruler will keep His promise, and Israel will meet judgment. However, the other side of the coin is just as certain – God will restore the house of Jacob. No better place to see the dominance of the Almighty than in the captivities of Israel and Judah. God’s punishment transpires with no meaningful opposition, and His promise to restore is met with the same obstruction – none at all. This inevitability of God’s sovereignty should inspire us to accept and trust in His plan.
LESSON TAKEAWAY
No nation is too big for the Almighty God, nor is any nation too big to fall due to its disobedience to God’s commands. One should look no further than his own nation to find the atrocities and upheavals the sheep-herding prophet mentioned thousands of years ago. The slaying of innocent children under the banner of human rights, the perversion of marriage, and the mistreatment and ridicule of those seeking to live righteously according to God’s Word run parallel to the sins committed in the day of Amos. Thus, men like Amos are needed to proclaim the Gospel message, as God would have it proclaimed, not men (2 Tim. 4:1-5).