The Book of Amos
About AmosA shepherd and dresser of sycamore trees from the town of Tekoa in Judah
Prophesied in Israel at Bethel
Frequently references and mentions scenes from his country life
Had no formal schooling
The Time Period
During the reigns of Uzziah (aka Azariah) in the southern kingdom and Jeroboam II in the northern kingdom
Amos is usually dated between 760 and 750 B.C., which is after Jeroboam’s military successes in Gilead and before the rise of Tiglath-Pileser III.
Prophesied from approximately “two years before the earthquake” to “two years after the earthquake”
Israel was at the height of its power politically
People were corrupt spiritually and morally, forgetting about God
The rich and powerful were oppressing the poor
Amos in General
Other than the few facts already stated about Amos, not much is known about him
Most of the dates of when he prophesied are speculated
Possible issues:
Southerner preaching change to a well-off northern kingdom
Possibly beaten
“Amos… is usually pictured as a blunt rustic, compared with intellectual urbanites.”
Message
The Main Message
God was planning on destroying Israel because they refused to repent of their social injustice
“Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
-- Amos 5:23-24
God wants justice and fairness
Amos is Rejected
Most people rejected Amos’s message
In Amos 7:12, the priest Amaziah in Bethel tells Amos,
“Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there.”
He was kicked out of Israel for “raising a conspiracy.”
No one wanted to believe what was coming.
Other sources:
Frequently references and mentions scenes from his country life
Had no formal schooling
The Time Period
During the reigns of Uzziah (aka Azariah) in the southern kingdom and Jeroboam II in the northern kingdom
Amos is usually dated between 760 and 750 B.C., which is after Jeroboam’s military successes in Gilead and before the rise of Tiglath-Pileser III.
Prophesied from approximately “two years before the earthquake” to “two years after the earthquake”
Israel was at the height of its power politically
People were corrupt spiritually and morally, forgetting about God
The rich and powerful were oppressing the poor
Amos in General
Other than the few facts already stated about Amos, not much is known about him
Most of the dates of when he prophesied are speculated
Possible issues:
Southerner preaching change to a well-off northern kingdom
Possibly beaten
“Amos… is usually pictured as a blunt rustic, compared with intellectual urbanites.”
Message
The Main Message
God was planning on destroying Israel because they refused to repent of their social injustice
“Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
-- Amos 5:23-24
God wants justice and fairness
Amos is Rejected
Most people rejected Amos’s messageIn Amos 7:12, the priest Amaziah in Bethel tells Amos,
“Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there.”
He was kicked out of Israel for “raising a conspiracy.”
No one wanted to believe what was coming.
Other sources:
Lives of The Prophets
“He was from Tekoa. Amaziah (the priest of Bethel) had often beaten him, and at last Amaziah’s son killed him with a cudgel, striking him in the temple. While still living, he made his way to his land, and after some days died and was buried there.”
God’s Role in Amos
God’s primary role is to be the judge and the executioner of those who have refused to obey the standards of justice
Many verses of God killing, destroying, or sending fire and plagues among His people
“I will send fire on Judah that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem.”
-- Amos 2:5
2:10-11 - God rescued His people out of Egypt
4:12-13 and 5:8 - God is creator and rule of all
The Exile of Israel
Amos is perhaps the first biblical prophet to deliver God’s threat of exile against His people.
“Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end.”
-- Amos 6:7
Judgment Day
Evil Confronted:
Idols
Murder
Slaves and treating people bad
Theft
Turning from God
Only those who are faithful will survive judgment day
There is no future for Israel
“Surely the eyes of the Sovereign Lord
are on the sinful kingdom.
I will destroy it
from the face of the earth.
Yet I will not totally destroy
the descendants of Jacob,”
declares the Lord.
are on the sinful kingdom.
I will destroy it
from the face of the earth.
Yet I will not totally destroy
the descendants of Jacob,”
declares the Lord.
-- Amos 9:8
Israel’s Restoration
At the end of chapter 9, Amos explains that God’s grace will prevail and Israel will be restored
God brings judgment to Israel in order to restore them to a right relationship with Him
“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...'"
I will repair its broken walls
and restore its ruins—
and will rebuild it as it used to be...'"
-- Amos 9:11
Application
Social Injustice
We tend to look down on those who have sinned, thinking that we are better than them
This is also considered sin
God believes that the sins of His people are worse than the sins of others because His people should know better
Chapter 1-2 of Amos
God’s Grace
In Amos chapter 4, God waited to bring judgment to Israel and gave them an opportunity to repent of their sins first
God does the same in our lives
It is important to not abuse God’s grace
God’s Perspective
It is important to see things through God’s eyes
In chapter 7, Amos thought God’s judgment was not fair
When he saw things from God’s point of view, he did not protest any longer and understood God’s judgment
Personal challenges
The power that God has
Healthy fear of God
Loneliness (8:11)
The frustration God feels when we turn away
God’s “Just-A’s”
God can use anyone
Amos was “just-a” shepherd, but God was able to use him to bring his message to the people of Israel
It is important to remember that God uses these “just-a’s” to do great things
The Book of Hosea
Background
Hosea is the son of Beeri
“Hosea” means “Salvation”
Hosea probably ministered in the Northern Kingdom of Israel from 750 to 722 B.C.
Book of Hosea was possibly written around 715 B.C.
He ministered during the reign of Jeroboam II
Unstable monarchy, assassinations, and unpredictable policies with Assyrians and Babylonians
The Northern Kingdom fell to the Assyrians in 722 B.C.
Effectively ended Hosea’s official ministry
Setting
Political/Social
Corruption
Assassinations
Stealing and lying
Destruction of Israel’s social and economic structure
Religious
Disregarding God and His demands
Rejected God and worshiped Baal
Sexual orgies, perverted sacrifices, and a lot of prostitution
Background
It was a very dark time in Israel
Northern Kingdom declined in the 8thCentury
People had turned away from God and began worshiping idols and calves of Jeroboam II
People were very sinful and Hosea threatened that God would destroy their nation and send them to Assyria if they did not repent
Context
Because of this dark time of idolatry, Hosea’s message revolves around redemption
He uses the analogy of marriage to describe Israel’s relationship with Yahweh
Israel was the whore looking to be satisfied and “get the pay off” from whatever would supply her satisfaction
Baal and Asherah
Hosea’s Message
Return to the LORD and receive redemption
The odd command
Hosea was commanded by God to marry a whore
After he married her, she took off and went back to whoredom
So God tells Hosea to buy her back again and love her
“Go again, love a woman who is beloved of a paramour and is an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the people of Israel, thought they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.”
-- Hosea 3:1
Symbolic of Israel’s relationship with the LORD at this time
Israel is the bride of God who runs to other gods like a prostitute runs to other men
Hosea on Gomer
“The primary purpose of Hosea’s message was to provide a testimony that God would affect reconciliation between Yahweh and Israel – during and beyond judgment.”
His prophecies condemned the behavior of the Israelites:
“The pride of Israel testifies to his face…” (5:5)
“But like Adam they transgressed the Covenant…” 6:7
“…You [Israel] have played the whore, forsaking your God.” (9:1)
Talks about God’s punishment for Israel
Also, God’s love for Israel
Ultimately delivers messages of guilt, retribution, and redemption
Redemption
Redemption is the overarching message of Hosea
Hosea continually expresses the need to return to the LORD to receive redemption for sins
If the Israelites believe the prophecy and return unto the LORD, He will remove His anger from them and redeem them
Like Hosea bought back the prostitute Gomer, God wanted to “buy” the Israelites back with the blood of the coming Messiah. This buying back is a custom of redemption in Bible times.
So what can we learn from Hosea?
Should we also marry prostitutes?
Why would God command Hosea to do such a thing?
“This may work for you, but I do not think that God is calling us to marry anyone named ‘Cinnamon’ or ‘Bubbles.’”
God is paralleling Israel’s behavior to that of a “promiscuous woman… for like an adulterous wife [Israel] is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD.” (1:2)
This is obviously a demonstration of God’s unfailing and unconditional love towards His people.
What else did Israel do?
They were guilty of faithlessness, cursing, lying, murder, stealing, adultery, and violence (4:1-2)
Biggest slam against God was Baal worship (4:12-13, 6:6-11, 8:4-6)
Baal worship involved a lot of sex which was believed to increase the land’s fertility
Hosea on a personal level
One of many redemption stories in the Bible
Proof that we can get into some pretty hairy situations and God will still take us back
What sort of things are we idolizing in today’s culture?
The Book of Jonah
Background
Jonah, the Man
Between 786 and 746 B.C.
He is referenced in 2nd Kings 14:25, which helps to date his ministry
Name
“Jonah son of Ammitai”
“Jonah” means “Dove,” represents peace
“Ammitai” means “my truth”
Jonah, the Book
Written sometime between 8th century and 3rd century B.C.
Probably composed well-after the life of Jonah.
The Book of Jonah assumes Nineveh was a great and wicked city
Nineveh was the capital of Assyria
Destroyed by the Babylonians in 612 B.C.
Jonah was sent to Nineveh by God
Jonah’s ministry was before the rise of Assyria later in the 8th century under the powerful Tiglath-Pileser III.
Historical Setting
The reign of Jeroboam II
There is no reference in the Book of Jonah to any event that would help us know what particular time in history the story of Jonah took place, but according to 2nd Kings 14:25 the prophet Jonah lived during the reign of Jeroboam II of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Political Setting
During the reign of Jeroboam II, there was a lot of political instability.
This time period saw the assassinations of rulers and unpredictable foreign policy in Israel.
Religious Setting
During this time, Israel’s religion was corrupted through Baal worship and idolatry.
They looked to Baal as the provider of agricultural productivity and flocks.
They would partake in drunkenness, sexual orgies, and child sacrifice in order to benefit from Baal’s “procreative power.”
Even Israel’s priests were promoting idolatry in the land.
Effects of historical and political setting
The call and rebellion of Jonah
Some theorize that Jonah’s flight is in response to “the specter of the potential destruction of the Northern Kingdom of Israel at the hands of Nineveh/Ashur.”
God’s chosen people versus surrounding tribes
The Hebrews were God’s chosen people at the time and it was uncharacteristic of them to follow God’s command to bring in the other nations to Himself.
Nineveh
God sees Nineveh and hears their cries. God is always at work.
God calls Jonah to go to Nineveh. This is hard because even though most prophets are called to preach to heathen cities, they are still surrounded by their own people the whole time.
Jonah is called to go by himself to the heart of the people that he was prophesying against and preach to the heathens face-to-face, alone.
Jonah Flees
Jonah loved his country
Israel was under threat from Assyria and its capital of Nineveh
Similar to asking a Jew to go preach forgiveness to Nazis during the time of Hitler
Jonah goes in the opposite direction from Nineveh
He was too concerned for his own safety as well as the safety of his people
He goes down to Joppa and boards a ship bound for Tarshish
Modern day Spain, the edge of the known western world
He goes down below deck to sleep
The Storm
God intervenes and sends a storm
The crew casts lots to see who is to blame and the lot fell to Jonah
The pagan sailors refuse Jonah’s request to throw him to the sea and instead try to row to land, but fail
Only when they submit to the will of God and throw Jonah overboard is the storm calm
The LORD provided a large fish to swallow up Jonah as he sank down to the depths
God was gracious to save Jonah
Jonah describes this experience as being swallowed up by “Sheol,” or death itself
God is present even in Sheol
Jonah’s Prayer
“In my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.
You hurled me into the depths,
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
swept over me.
I said, ‘I have been banished
from your sight;
yet I will look again
toward your holy temple.’
The engulfing waters threatened me,
the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.
To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, Lord my God,
brought my life up from the pit.
and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.
You hurled me into the depths,
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
swept over me.
I said, ‘I have been banished
from your sight;
yet I will look again
toward your holy temple.’
The engulfing waters threatened me,
the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.
To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, Lord my God,
brought my life up from the pit.
“When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, Lord,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple.
I remembered you, Lord,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple.
“Those who cling to worthless idols
turn away from God’s love for them.
But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”
turn away from God’s love for them.
But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”
After three days, God causes the fish to vomit Jonah up onto dry ground.
The Sign of Jonah
"He answered, 'A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.'"
-- Matthew 12:39-41
Second Calling
God once again calls Jonah to go to Nineveh
God’s plans will not be thwarted
Jonah preaches enthusiastically now
They believed - from the lowly to the high - and all were repentant
Who are we like? The Ninevites or the Israelites?
The Ninevites fasted humbly, but the Israelites did it to show off and complained the whole time
The LORD is quick to show mercy to those who repent. God takes no pleasure in death.
God delights to do the impossible, and any conversion is impossible without God. Nineveh is a vast example of this.
Revival begins with hearing, which leads to faith, which leads to action, repentance, and turning away from specific sins.
The Vine
Jonah sits outside Nineveh waiting for God to destroy the city.
Jonah wants some shade, so God causes a large vine to grow up over him.
In the morning, God destroys the vine.
Jonah freaks out, starts complaining and begging God to kill him.
God’s Final Word to Jonah
"But the Lord said, 'You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?'"
-- Jonah 4:10-11
Going Deeper: Exercise Questions
Chapter 1:
Why does Jonah run away from God?
Why does Jonah think that God won’t know where he has gone?
What might the significance be of the text describing Jonah as “going down” to various places in chapter 1?
Does the writer of Jonah believe that casting lots is actually a trustworthy way of determining the guilty party?
Why does Jonah think that his suicide will make everything all right?
Chapter 2:
How was the sea understood in the minds of ancient peoples?
If the fish is a symbol of Sheol, how might Jonah being swallowed by it be significant?
In what ways might Jonah’s prayer relate to Psalm 139?
If the fish is symbolic of Sheol, why might it be significant that it vomits Jonah onto dry ground?
Chapter 3:
How does the attitude of the Assyrians (people of Nineveh) when they hear Jonah’s message compare to the way they are portrayed elsewhere in the Bible?
Why does the king of Nineveh make people and animals both wear sackcloth?
Chapter 4:
Why does Jonah want to die in the end?
Why might Jonah be afraid of being accused of being a false prophet?
What does God mean when He says that Nineveh contains over 120,000 people who “do not know their right hand from their left”?
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Special Thanks
Kristin Weaver
Emily Sheldon
Kelly Lickteig
Kelsey Vihnanek
Becca Mooi
Trey Ballard
Merlin Hinkley
Allie Hodges
Karisa Sabisch
Jessica Ellison
Alex Phillips
Robin Funk
Camilo Giraldo
Cameron Brewer
Breanna Coffman
Alyscia Whitley
Sarah Johnson
Bobbie Eggert
Jordan Nugent
Jordi Fry
Emily Fernette
Ashley Sarver
Kara Hewett
Breanne Putney
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