The Prophet Amos

Amos was one of the twelve minor prophets mentioned in the Tanakh/Old Testament. His story begins during the 6th century B.C. when Jeroboam II was the reigning king of Israel. Other than being from the village of Tekoa [in the Kingdom of Judah] not much else is known about this ancient prophet. It is recorded that he was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore trees before the spirit of prophecy was bestowed upon him.

The ancient seer's prophecies began around 750 B.C. and were mainly directed towards the Kingdom of Israel. While Amos prophesied during a time of relative peace and prosperity, it was also a time when religion was neglected. He adamantly spoke against the disparity between the wealthy and the poor, as well as preach about the Creator's omnipotence and a divine judgment. Likewise, a promise of future restoration was promised, too.

In ancient Israel, during the reign of Jeroboam II, the social conditions had reached a proportional scale of inequality. There were two (2) classes of people: the rich and the poor. Amos clarified that those who had money and power treated those less fortunate very harshly. While some of the "poor" were not exactly destitute, they still had no standing in society. They were not able to change their situations or better themselves; the rich and powerful even manipulated the government to their advantage. Amos enumerated the crimes of the wealthy, stating:

1. Abuse of wealth - ignoring the humble; selling the needy and righteous (Amos 2:6)
2. Abuse of position - ignoring the humble; enjoying the "fruit" of taxes or fines (Amos 2:7; 2:8)
3. Abuse of family - engaging in sexual perversions and idolatry (Amos 2:7)

Those of wealth forced oppression upon the poor and the Creator opposed such arrogance and abuse of privilege... hence the judgments Amos proclaimed in the name of the God of Israel.    

Amos was very vocal in his admonitions towards the people of Israel. His fearless and outspoken words were like that of thunder and stirred the people. The ancient prophet showed this characteristic with his opening words:

“The Lord roars from Zion and thunders from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds dry up, and the top of Carmel withers.” - Amos 1:2

Most scholars interpret this above verse as "the shepherds" being the leaders of Israel [who failed their flock] and "the top of Carmel" referred to those same leaders sitting at the top [who will be stricken down]. 

But, before Amos actually began his formidable preaching to the ancient Jews, he sent out warnings to the surrounding neighbors [of Israel] - Damascus, Gaza, Tyrus, Edom, Ammon and Moab.

Amos warned they would suffer the consequences of their evil actions. While most of Amos' reprimands were directed towards the Kingdom of Israel, he also rebuked the Kingdom of Judah.

“This is what the Lord says: “For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not relent. Because they have rejected the law of the Lord and have not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods, the gods their ancestors followed, I will send fire on Judah that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem.” - Amos 2:4-5 

As noted, verses 1-4 are admonishments to the ancient Israelites, chapter 5 is a call to repentance. Chapters 6-9 are the judgments the Creator guaranteed will fall upon Israel if they did not repent. The following judgments were: nations will rise up against them, Israel would be destroyed, the Kingdom of Israel will fall and those left alive will be taken captive into a foreign land.

However, the end of Chapter 9 promises a glorious restoration for the children of Israel.

Amos taught that the future greatness of Israel was not to be sought through power and wealth, but was to be secured through justice and judgment. And while the "Day of the Lord" prophetically dawned and the Israelites were taken into captivity [as Amos had predicted], they were still given an olive branch of hope to cling to:

“In that day “I will restore David’s fallen shelter—I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins—and will rebuild it as it used to be" - Amos 9:11

The ancient prophet reminded the Children of Israel the many kindnesses which Yahweh (God) had shown them since the beginning of their history as His chosen people. Even though the majority of ancient Israelites ignored his exhortation of future glory and the reminders of the Creator's mercy, Amos ended his prophecies on a note of hope. 

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More than almost any other book of Scripture [in the Tanakh/Old Testament], the Book of Amos holds the chosen people of Yahweh accountable for their ill-treatment of others. The Book of Amos, which is attributed to the prophet, contains nine (9) chapters filled with severe admonitions; but, despite his reprimands, the Prophet Amos does finish his prophecies with the eternal hope of salvation for the wayward nation.