Amos
Please read all of Amos. Cite a verse or two that particularly shows why Amos' message was a burden or why it was a burden worth bearing. Please explain your choice.
posted by Ancient Art at 5:26 PM
Monday, March 27, 2006
Please read all of Amos. Cite a verse or two that particularly shows why Amos' message was a burden or why it was a burden worth bearing. Please explain your choice.
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- Name: Ancient Art
- Location: Aberdeen, South Dakota, United States
Professor of History, NSU
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5 Comments:
I just have to mention that Amos 4:11 uses the word Elohim for God and Yehovah for Lord which indicates two distinct persons.
Chapter 8:8-14 seems to be discussing the end times. Chapter 9:9-15 reminds me of the holocaust and the creation of modern Israel.
The whole book seems to be a burden on Israel until 9:15 when the people return. The burden was not just for the generation that Amos was speaking to but to all Israelis through subsequent generations.
Amos, an insignificant shepherd from Tekoa, was given the burden of proclaiming the judgment of the Lord. After condemning the neighbors of Israel and Judah, Amos concentrates on the judgment against both nations because they did not follow God.
After pronouncing that multiple natural disasters will descend on both Israel and Judah, God through Amos states in 4:12 "Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel." Amos is stating that Israel will be held accountable for their false piety and their worship of the golden calves.
To some, Amos's message was a burden because it pronounced harsh punishment for both Judah and especially Israel. However, the book of Amos ends on a high note with the promise of restoring to Israel the past glory of David's reign. Amos 9:14 states, "I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them." Some refer to this passage and others in the book of Amos being fulfilled through the creation of the present-state of Israel.
Amos 4:11, God says that he treated Isreal the way he treated Sodom and Gamorrah, but they never returned to Him, meaning they never learned their lesson. Because of this, God says he is going to bring far worse punishments on Israel. I guess this is a burden because for those who truly do try to return to the God of Abraham, they may feel that nothing they do will be right, and they may start to feel some hopelessness for gaining favor in the eyes of their God. Also they may not know what to do or how to do. After all, it is clear the several generations of Israelites have been worshipping idols. This would be a hard burden to bear for those who try to live by the laws of Moses.
Amos became a prophet and was told to let the people know of God's wrath which was to come because of their sin. This is not an easy job because people do not like hear something bad that's going to happen to them. For example: Amos 8:11-12 "The days are coming," decalres the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine through the land - not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. Menc will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, seraching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it" This verse does not say of something that will destroy the people in a way such as war, fire or flood. Instead, this illustrates how if people keep in their ways, they will lose God's word.
The burden Amos is carrying it a burden worth carrying though. In the end, Amos prophesies that good will come, 8:17 "Then you will know that I, the LORD your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her."
I definitly think it was a burden worth bearing. I know people are going to think differntly of you when you proclaim that God is speaking with you, but if you are for real God will prevail for you. My favorite part is the final chapter starting with verse 11. He talks about how the reaper will take over the sower, and the mountains will drip with sweet wine. To me it reminds me of a halftime pep talk to the people. Something to show that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, you just can't give up. These speeches and pep talks are key to keeping the people's eyes on the goal.
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