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God’s Judgement: Amos 7: 10-17
death by the sword, and the people of Israel being exiled. Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do
your prophesying there. Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the tem-
ple of the kingdom.” Prophets like Amos were
often seen as traitors because they spoke out against the king (Jeroboam II) and his advisors and priest (Amaziah), undermining their authority and exposing their sin. The kings often saw the prophets as enemies rather than as God’s spokes- men who were really trying to help him and the nation.
Amos spoke against those who exploited or ignored the needy.
Amaziah was the chief priest in Bethel, representing Israel’s official religion. He was not concerned about
hearing God’s message; he was only worried about his own position. Maintaining his position was more impor- tant than listening to the truth and told Amos to leave Israel.
Is it that those who are only concerned about their own lusts and greed always see the messengers of God’s truth as enemies?
AMOS’ MESSAGE AUTHENTICATED (Amos 7:14-15)
Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees.
But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’
Without any special preparation, education or upbringing, Amos obeyed God’s call. Obedience is the test of a faithful servant of
God. More often than not, God calls ordinary people to accomplish His will (Amos 7:14-15; I Corinthians 1:26-31).
AMOS’ MESSAGE REINFORCED (Amos 7:16-17)
Now then, hear the word of the Lord. You say, “‘Do not prophesy against Israel and stop preaching against the descendants of Isaac.’
“Therefore this is what the Lord says: “‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be measured and divided up, and you yourself will die in a pagan country.
Successful servants speak only by God’s authority and not their own. People may re- ject God’s judgment, but that won’t stop it. If God said it, that settles it (Amos 7:16- 17).
Amos was one of the many prophets whom God raised up during the period of the divided monarchy (931-722 BC) in Old Testa- ment history. His ministry took place during the reigns of Uzziah as king of Judah and Jeroboam II as king of Israel (Amos 1:1).
King Uzziah was a good and obedient king. Jeroboam II was the opposite.
Israel was enjoying eco- nomic prosperity and peace. But this had caused her to
become a selfish, materialis- tic society. Those who were well-off ignored the needs of the less fortunate. The people were self-centered and indif- ferent towards God.
AMOS’ MESSAGE CHALLENGED (Amos 7:10-13)
Priest Amaziah sent a message to King Jeroboam II: “Amos is raising a con- spiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words.
Amos spoke of the king’s
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