Who was Amos?
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A shepherd from Tekoa
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A fearless prophet
-
A prophet of justice
The Jewish Nation divided into two kingdoms:
Israel the Northern Kingdom
Judah the Southern Kingdom
Amos
Amos lived during the reign of Jeraboam II and overlapped with King Uzziah
God Called Amos to preach to the Kingdom of Israel and to
share with them the message they needed to hear
His work was 2 years before the earthquake and most scholars
date it at 760 – 755
From 805bc to 740bc the
Jewish nations were enjoying a period of expansion, peace and prosperity.
Israel - the Northern Kingdom -
under Jeroboam II
Judah – the Southern Kingdom
- under Uzziah
The Jewish people were enjoying a good time of peace and
prosperity. The wealthy were getting richer. They lived in big comfortable
mansions with all kind of luxuries. They eat and drink and party all the time. With
prosperity, the people lost sight of their need for God. They forgot their roots.
The poor getting poorer. They were exploited by the rich.
God sent Amos to warn them. In Chapter 2 Amos turned his
attention to Israel and Judah. Chapter 2:6 – 8.
The Jewish nations of Israel and Judah were in grave dangers
of being destroy because of their great sins against humanity as against God. Like Sodom and Gomorrah.
Warnings to Israel:
1.
Israel’s sin exposed v 6-8
2.
The aggravation of Israel’s sins V 9-12
3.
Warning of the consequences to sins v 13-16
What a Dreadful and fearful warning !
God had given them victory, but now they trusted not in God
but in their own strength. They thought and believed that the peace and
prosperity were the work of their own hands and they deserved it.
They were religious outwardly, but inwardly, they despised
God. Outwardly they appeared to be very religious, but inwardly, they were very
far away from God. They relied on their
own strength and forgot their God.
What about us?
We live in a great country.
When the British came, they were God fearing people.
Now we have forgotten God.
Today
Corruption and injustice is headline news in our paper/media
almost everyday. Are we any different from the society in Amos’ days? The rich
getting richer and they also exploit the poor.
Father and son having sex with the same woman.
Warning
Amos gave to the Israelites is also the warnings for us
today.
Repent and return to God or else…
Many have turned their back on God and walked their own way.
There is no God, this is my life and I can do what I like
and want.
Are you called to be an AMOS
?
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