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DECEMBER 14
DAY 13:Who was the prophet Amos, and what is the background behind his messages?
Amos was from Tekoa, a small village 10 miles south of Jerusalem.He was the only prophet to
give his occupation before declaring his divine commission. He was not of priestly or noble
descent, but worked as a “sheepbreeder”(1:1; 2 Kin. 3:4) and a “tender of sycamore fruit”(7:14) and
was a contemporary of Jonah (2 Kin. 14:25), Hosea (Hos. 1:1), and Isaiah (Is. 1:1).
Amos was a Judean prophet called to deliver a message primarily to the northern tribes of
Israel (7:15). Politically, it was a time of prosperity under the long and secure reign of Jeroboam II
who, following the example of his father Joash (2 Kin. 13:25), significantly “restored the territory of
Israel” (2 Kin. 14:25). It was also a time of peace with both Judah (5:5) and her more distant neigh-
bors. The ever-present menace of Assyria was subdued earlier that century because of Nineveh’s
repentance at the preaching of Jonah (Jon. 3:10). Spiritually, however, it was a time of rampant cor-
ruption and moral decay (4:1; 5:10–13; 2 Kin. 14:24).
Amos addresses Israel’s two primary sins:1) an absence of true worship and 2) a lack of justice.
In the midst of their ritualistic performance of worship, they were not pursuing the Lord with their
hearts (4:4,5; 5:4–6) nor following His standard of justice with their neighbors (5:10–13; 6:12). This
apostasy, evidenced by continual, willful rejection of the prophetic message of Amos, is promised
divine judgment.Because of His covenant,however,the Lord will not abandon Israel altogether,but
will bring future restoration to the righteous remnant (9:7–15).

Yet you have not returned to Me,”
Says the LORD.
December 14 7 “I also withheld rain from you,
When there were still three months to
Amos 4:1–5:27 the harvest.
I made it rain on one city,
4 Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, I withheld rain from another city.
who are on the mountain
of Samaria, One part was rained upon,
And where it did not rain the part
Who oppress the poor, withered.
Who crush the needy, 8 So two or three cities wandered to
Who say to your husbands, “Bring another city to drink water,
wine, let us drink!”
The Lord GOD has sworn by His Yet you have not returned to Me,”
2 But they were not satisfied;
holiness: Says the LORD.
“Behold, the days shall come upon you
When He will take you away with 9 “I blasted you with blight and mildew.
fishhooks, When your gardens increased,
And your posterity with fishhooks. Your vineyards,
You will go out through broken walls,
3 Your fig trees,
Each one straight ahead of her, And your olive trees,
And you will be cast into Harmon,” The locust devoured them;
Says the LORD. Yet you have not returned to Me,”
Says the LORD.
4
“Come to Bethel and transgress,
At Gilgal multiply transgression; 10 “I sent among you a plague after the
Bring your sacrifices every morning, manner of Egypt;
Your tithes every three days. Your young men I killed with a sword,
5 Along with your captive horses;
Offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with
leaven, I made the stench of your camps come
Proclaim and announce the freewill up into your nostrils;
offerings; Yet you have not returned to Me,”
For this you love, Says the LORD.
You children of Israel!” 11 “I overthrew some of you,
Says the Lord GOD.
As God overthrew Sodom and
6
“Also I gave you cleanness of teeth Gomorrah,
in all your cities. And you were like a firebrand plucked
And lack of bread in all your places; from the burning;

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