Today’s passage: Amos 1:1-2:3
Helpful thoughts:
- Amos, the shepherd from Tekoa (About 10 miles south of Jerusalem) became a prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel around 760 B.C.
- The earthquake mentioned is said to have occurred in 760.
- Judgments are prophesied against six of Israel’s neighbors; The Arameans, Philistines, the city of Tyre (The home of Jezebel), the Edomites (Descendants of Esau and therefore brothers of Israel), Ammonites, and the Moabites (Both the Ammonites and Moabites are the descendants of Lot).
- There will be more to read about tomorrow. Today’s judgments are on those outside of Israel, tomorrow turns to Judah and Israel.
- The use of “three…and for four…” is a rhetorical device which carries the meaning of a large (An innumerable) amount of transgressions.
Questions to consider:
- If you are Israel hearing these prophecies, what might you be thinking thus far? If God is promising judgment on all these surrounding enemies, what would you be thinking/feeling?
- What was the cause of judgement? What had these people groups done? What does God judge against?
- Back in verse 2, where is the northern kingdom reminded as to where judgment comes from? What location and what God? From whom does rescue and salvation from our sin come?