Page 41 - The Minor Prophets - Student textbook

Study Section 7: The Book of Amos

7.1 Connect

Have you ever felt that you were basically a “nobody?” You might not come from a wealthy
family, or have any kind of title. You are just a plain person who is doing the best he can to
serve the Lord. Our prophet today was not a priest or the son of a priest. He was just a
shepherd and a common fruit picker. He never went to “Bible School” and really was
basically unknown. Yet God called him to direct His Words of warning to the Northern
Nation of Israel. His ministry was to call sinners to repent, but unfortunately, very few did.
He prophesied that judgment was coming to Assyria, to Judah, and finally to Israel if they refused to
repent of their wicked ways. And as we studied in the history section, few listened and the judgment
came as foretold.

7.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to describe the purpose of the writing of Amos.

2. The student should be able to state the audience to whom the book was written.

3. The student should be able to answer the key questions presented in the lesson.

7.3 The Book of Amos

From https://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-
Amos.html

Author: Amos 1:1 identifies the author of the
Book of Amos as the Prophet Amos.

Date of Writing: The Book of Amos was likely written
between 760 and 753 B.C.

Purpose of Writing: Amos is a shepherd and a fruit picker from the Judean village of Tekoa when God
calls him, even though he lacks an education or a priestly background. Amos' mission is directed to his
neighbor to the north, Israel. His messages of impending doom and captivity for the nation because of
her sins are largely unpopular and unheeded, however, because not since the days of Solomon have
times been so good in Israel. Amos' ministry takes place while Jeroboam II reigns over Israel, and Uzziah
reigns over Judah.

Key Verses:

Amos 2:4, "This is what the LORD says: 'For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not turn back [my
wrath]. Because they have rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept his decrees, because they
have been led astray by false gods, the gods their ancestors followed."

40