The book of Amos is only nine chapters long, but it is packed full of judgment against Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah and Israel. He makes no bones about the reasons for this judgment or what this judgment will entail. He also talks about restoration.
Amos, as he says in the first chapter, was a shepherd from Judah who received the message he writes in visions two years before the earthquake during the time Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam II was king of Israel. This earthquake is also mentioned in the book of Zechariah.
As in all cases where the Lord warns people, also calls them to repent. In Amos 5:4, he says: “Now this is what the Lord says to the family of Israel: Come back to me and live!” In verse 6, he repeats: “Come back to the Lord and Live! In verse 15, he says “Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice.”
Amos os the first prophet to mention the “day of the Lord.” In fact, he says “the day of the Lord will be dark and hopeless, without a ray of joy or hope.” He promises to send Israel into exile.
Tomorrow, we’ll be reading Amos 6 - 9.
Until next time…
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