1. Amos and Hosea

2.  1.Name comes from the Hebrew word amas, which means to lift or carry a burden. So, Amos was the burden bearer Amos

3. Background Info A.From Tekoa: 6 miles south of Bethlehem and 12 miles south of Jerusalem. Lived in Judah, but spoke both to Judah, Israel and other nations. B. Not a prophet by trade; did not live in a school. He was a shepherd and a herdsman

4.   1. Jeroboam II had expanded Israel’s borders significantly  2. Wide gap between the rich and poor. Cultural Background

5.   1. Chapters 1-2: Announcement of Judgement  2. Chapters 3-6: Reasons for judgment  Chapters 7-9: 5 Visions of judgment The Message of Amos

6.   a. Swarm of locusts  b. Fire  c. Wall and plumb line  d. Basket of ripe fruit  e. God standing by the altar Visions of judgment

7.   Amos is characterized by his bold and blunt message; he wasn’t afraid to speak the truth, even when it didn’t make him friends. Amos’ Message

8.   A. Name is similar to Joseph and Joshua, meaning salvation.  B. His ministry immediately followed or overlapped Amos’.  C. Warned people about the rising threat of Assyria.  D. In the final years of the Northern Kingdom, 6 kings ruled during a 25 year period. 4 of them were assassinated. 2. Hosea: The prophet and the Prostitute.

9.   1. Hosea’s wayward wife  a. Description of an adulterous wife and a faithful husband.  b. His wife Gomer left him and his 3 children to live the live of a prostitute. Hosea goes to great lengths to restore their marriage.  c. Hosea’s marriage was supposed to be a reflection of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God.  d. The Marriage promise represents Israel’s covenant with God. The Message of Hosea

10.  1.Jezreel—meaning “God Scatters,” symbolizes the dynasty of Jehu, to remind King Jeroboam that his power comes from God and can be taken away. 2.Lo-ruhamah—which means “not pitied”, condemning the social injustice of Hosea’s time 3.Lo-ammi—which means “not my people”, revoking Israel’s identity as God’s people; also because that child was not actually Hosea’s. Hosea’s Children

11.   a. Israel’s sinfulness  b. Israel’s punishment  c. God’s love for Israel 2. God’s Wayward People

12.   5 “Will they not return to Egypt  and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent? Hosea 11:5

13.  4. Hosea’s message is characterized by the love God still had for His people. There would still be judgment, but ultimately that would lead to the redemption of Israel. Hosea’s Message