Expository Sermons On Amos Series

PREACHING THROUGH AMOS

Copyright 1978

by Bob Marcaurelle

bmarcaurelle@chrter.net

Outline Studies in Amos – 1 Amos 1:1-2

AMOS - THE LION OF JUDAH

In the Eighth Century before Christ something new happened in the history of Biblical religion. When Amos marched north to Bethel in Israel, delivered his messages from God, and then wrote them down, he became the first of the writing prophets. Like a thunderstorm from heaven his main message to a decadent Old Testament church was that we prove our faith, not by our worship but by our works. We prove our love for God by the love we show our fellow man. The religion of Israel, he said, was worthless because it was heartless and cruel. Like our Lord (Jn. 2:12-17) Amos came to church with a whip in his hands. Like our Lord he was un-welcomed.

I. THE TIME (1:1)

Amos ministered when Uzziah was King in Judah (783-728?), and Jeroboam (786-746) was King in the northern kingdom of Israel (2 Kings 14; 2 Ch. 26). The phrase “two years before the earthquake” puts his appearance around 760 B.C.

II. THE TIMES

1. Of Peace from 805 to 740 B.C.

Assyria, Israel’s old enemy, had lost her strength and both Uzziah and Jeroboam II rebuilt much of the former glory of the land (2 Kings 14:25).

2. Of Prosperity (6:1-6).

Freedom of commerce built an ever increasing wealthy upper class. The people rested on beds of ivory, dined on fine wines and choice calves, and were enjoying a high standard of luxury. These good conditions were not so good for in such times people forget God and worship pleasure.

On the other extreme it was a time

3. Of Poverty.

Amos spoke often of the poor and needy (2:6). The calloused heart of the rich made it a time

4. Of Persecution. The rich sold the poor like cattle (2:6) and cheated them in court (5:12-13). This was the sin that angered Amos the most - the apathy (2:7; 6:6) and antagonism (4:1; 6:3) of the wealthy who called themselves the people of God. Though Amos doesn’t mention it much, this was a time

5. Of Moral Perversion.

There was illicit sex as a father and son went in to the same woman (2:7). There was the excessive use of alcohol (6:6). Israel needed to learn that a civilization built on dirt cannot stand. Worst of all it was a time

6. Of Religious Perversion.

These cruel, calloused people “were in church every Sunday.” The land “oozed” with religion. This is what infuriated Amos. It is always sickening to see injustice or immorality join hands with Christianity and make it appear they are friends. If sin is a welcome guest in your house, you will never be welcomed in God’s house in heaven (Rev. 22:14-15). These folk went to church but didn’t carry church with them back into the world. Finally, it was a time

7. Of Probation (9:1-4).

The end was coming for the Northern Kingdom and Amos knew it. The Judgment of God was about to fall and Amos preached it (7:8-9; 8:9-14; etc.) Forty years after he preached, in 722 B.C., the Assyrians under Sargon, marched on Israel and removed the Ten Tribes from the face of the earth. To this day they are “the ten lost tribes of Israel.” If we choose sin we choose judgment.

III. THE TRUTH (5:21)

The sorry plight of the church in Israel made God sick and he sent Amos to tell them that He “hated” (5:21) their worship services.

1. The Man.

Amos was a farmer (7:14) on the outskirts of Jerusalem. He watched the situation described above until his inmost soul exploded in righteous outrage against the church. Note: Sometimes a call from God is a burning passion that something must be done, and the strong conviction one can and should do something. He had all the earmarks of a prophet.

He was called (7:15). We are all witnesses for the Lord but only a few are called for the task of saying “thus says the Lord” as a prophet (Old Testament times), an apostle (New Testament times) and a pastor-teacher (our times). He was concerned. His holy anger grew out of his passion and compassion. Amos carried this fierce ruggedness into his ministry. He was consumed with anger.

Application: I am sure this was his worst fault, but the world stands in need of men of righteous indignation over the hurts of others. We need men like the one who said, “I weigh 170 pounds but when I’m mad, I weigh 200.” We cannot escape the sternness of this man. One preacher says he probably never told a joke in his life. Listen to what John Patterson says,

“Amos is the first prophet of doom to Israel and he seems to deliver his message without a quiver in his voice. Such a message will break the heart of Hosea and melt the tender Jeremiah. . . No sobs shake his rugged frame and no tears stain (his pages).”