1. November 8, 2015
February 14, 2016

4. Shoot Not The Messenger
November 8, 2015
February 14, 2016
Amos
Introduction – or
Shoot Not The Messenger

7. Timeline of Old Testament Prophets

8. Amos (Strong; Burden Bearer)*
Author
Amos – rancher; farmer
Date
767 – 753 BC
Theme
Even though the nation would be destroyed, God would still preserve a repentant remnant and one day this remnant will be restored
Christ in this book
Christ is the One who will rebuild David’s dynasty; the One who will restore His people
* Prophet to Israel (N. kingdom)

9. 1The words of Amos, who was among the sheepbreeders of Tekoa...

11. “The men of Tekoa look out upon a desolate and haggard world.”
Dr. Adam Smith

15. God was to use the things Amos learned as a sheep breeder
and “fig pincher” to good purpose.

16. two years before the earthquake.
1The words of Amos, who was among the sheepbreeders of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah
king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel,
two years before the earthquake.

17. (Syria)
(Jereboam)
Tekoa
(Uzziah)

18. Both Israel and Judah were at peace with their neighbours, which meant that their wealth and energy could be used for developing their nations instead of fighting their enemies. Both kingdoms were prosperous; their cities were expanding rapidly; and a new wealthy merchant class was developing in society.
W. Wiersbe
Tekoa

19. The Kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam
World power
Great wealth
Luxurious living
Physical security
Arrogant
Tekoa

20. The Kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam
Formal worship of false gods
Morally decadent
Oppressing the poor
Tekoa

21. …God had to bring Amos from way down south in the southern Kingdom in order to get a man who would give the kind of message [that the northern Kingdom needed to hear]. The paid preachers up there in Bethel and Samaria were saying only what the people wanted them to say.
J.V. McGee
Tekoa

22. Shepherd Prophet

23. Accuser

24. Fearless Messenger

25. Amos’ Messages Message 1 (3:1-15) Excessive Luxury Message 2 (4:1-13)
Exploitation the poor and
religious hypocrisy
Message 3 (5:1-17)
Legal injustice

26. Legal Injustice
Turning aside the needy at the gate

27. Legal Injustice Turning aside the needy at the gate
Closing the courthouse to the poor

28. Legal Injustice Turning aside the needy at the gate
Closing the courthouse to the poor
Accepting bribes to pervert justice

29. Amos’ Messages Message 4 (5:18-27) Religious hypocrisy
Complacency and
self indulgence

30. Twenty-one times, we read phrases
such as:
“Thus says the LORD…”
“Hear the word of the LORD…”
“This is what the LORD showed me…

31. Chiastic Structure of the Book of Amos
Chiasm
A repetition of similar ideas in the reverse sequence

32. Chiastic Structure of the
Book of Amos
A Judgment of the Land (1:2)
B. Judgment of the Nations (1:3–2:3)
C Judgment of Judah and Israel (2:4–9:10)
C ́ Restoration of Judah and Israel (9:11)
B ́ Restoration of the Nations (9:12)
A ́ Restoration of the Land (9:13–15)

33. “For three…and for four”
A total of eight times in the book.
“N and N+1”
Also used in other ancient Near Eastern cultures
Often the second item is enumerated
Context of “enough, more than enough”

34. “For three…and for four”
1,2 – (Job 33:14; Psalm 62:1)
2,3 – (Job 33:29)
3,4 – Proverbs 30:15; 18; 21; 29)
6,7 – (Job 5:19; Proverbs 6:16)
7,8 (Micah 5:5)

35. “For three…and for four”
“16 These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19  A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
Proverbs 6:16-19

36. The words “transgress” and “transgression” occur 12 times.
Key Words
The words “transgress” and “transgression” occur 12 times.
This highlights one of the key elements of the book, the judgment of God on Israel for her sinful ways. A key phrase of the book is “I will not revoke its punishment because . . .”
J. Hampton Keathley III

37. Key Verses
Hear this word which the LORD has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the entire family which He brought up from the land of Egypt, “You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth; Therefore, I will punish you for
all your iniquities.
Amos 3:1-2.

38. Key Verses “I overthrew you as God overthrew
Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like
a firebrand snatched from a blaze;
Yet you have not returned to Me,”
declares the LORD. “Therefore, thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I shall do this to you, Prepare to meet your God,
O Israel.”
Amos 4:11-12.

39. to seek the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.”
Key Verses
11 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “When I will send a famine
on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, but rather for hearing
the words of the LORD. 12“And people will stagger from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; They will go to and fro
to seek the word of the LORD,
but they will not find it.”
Amos 8:11-12

40. Key Chapter
Chapter 9 is a key chapter because of its focus on the restoration of Israel. Set in the midst of the harsh judgments of Amos are some of the greatest prophecies of restoration of Israel anywhere in Scripture.

41. Key Chapter Within the scope of just five verses
(11-15) the future of Israel becomes clear, as [all of] the [Lord GOD’s] covenants are focused on their
climactic fulfillment
in the return of the Messiah.
J. Hampton Keathley III

42. The LORD will be faithful to keep all of His covenant promises!
What Next?
The LORD will be faithful to keep
all of His covenant promises!

43. What Next?

44. What Next?
“…prepare
to meet
your God!”

45. What Next?
Can you say,
“I am not going to stand before Him as !
I am in Christ, and God is going to
see Christ. I have been made acceptable in the beloved.”??