Amos
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| Amos | |
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| SERMONS, ESSAYS AND OPINIONS |
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| CONTENTS | Contents |
Amos was one of the twelve minor prophets in the Old Testament. The only direct information about him comes from the Book of Amos. He preached that God desires justice and that the Kingdom of Israel would fall in the eighth century BC
Amos
Amos was one of the twelve minor prophets in the Old Testament. The only direct information about him comes from the Book of Amos. His prophetic ministry occurred some time near 765 BC, in a time when there was increasing corruption in society, and an increasing gap between the rich and poor. He had a strong focus on social justice.
Amos 1:1 says that Amos was "among the shepherds of Tekoa". This is likely to refer to modern Tekua, about 12 miles south-east of Bethlehem. He is often assumed to have been a rich shepherd.
He prophesied in the days of Jeroboam II of Israel, while Uzziah was king of Judah. The writer of the book remembers that two years after he spoke an earthquake struck the area (1:1). Amos was contemporary with Isaiah, Micah and Hosea. Under Jeroboam II, the kingdom of Israel rose to the zenith of its prosperity. The gulf between rich and poor widened at this time. Amos was called from his rural home to remind the rich and powerful of God's requirement for justice (e.g. Amos 2:6-16). He claimed that religion that is not accompanied by right action is anathema to God (Amos 5:21), and that the kingdom of Israel would be destroyed (e.g. Amos 8:2).
Book of Amos
Quotes
Links
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