Tonight we began looking at the book of Amos, written just before Isaiah’s ministry began. Some prophets (e.g. Ezekiel) were priests; others were of noble lineage (e.g. Daniel), but Amos was a shepherd, an ‘ordinary’ person called by God to speak out His word. God can use us, no matter what our background or profession!
The opening verses about the lion roaring and thundering (Amos 1:2) are reminiscent of the end of Joel (Joel 3:16), and it’s possible that Joel’s words, spoken about 60 years previous to this, were still echoing throughout Israel’s history. The book of Amos begins with God’s judgment on the nations surrounding Israel (see the map here). We might ask why these nations were judged by God when they did not have God’s law, but as Rom 1:18-23 makes plain, God has revealed Himself in various ways and man’s conscience is from Him, giving us an indication of right from wrong (even if, as these verses explain, we choose to ignore this to the point of no longer hearing His voice.) The surrounding nations were acting with great violence and aggression, selling people in slavery, savaging even pregnant women and showing no compassion or mercy at all. It must have seemed a relief to Israel to hear that God would not overlook such sin, but would judge the nations for their actions.
The God of justice will not let sin have the last word, and this is encouraging to know. But as the rest of Amos makes clear, judgment is not reserved simply for those who do not know God. Judgment begins with God’s household, Peter tells us (1 Pet 4:17), and Amos makes it plain that with a knowledge of God comes greater responsibility.