The Words of Amos

Amos is unique. He did not go to seminary to study and prepare for ministry. His education was neither formal nor in a relatable field with what he knows. After all, these are all relative once the LORD calls. We don’t know if Amos struggled with being called. One can imagine though the unorthodox approach God takes with Amos. I say unorthodox meaning unusual. A major reason has to do with Amos being a cattle-rancher from Tekoa belonging to the Southern Kingdom of Judah is sent to the Northern Kingdom in the region of Bethel. Bethel is where one of the two major worship centres in Israel was stationed. Hearing of Amos’ background in pasturing cattle and probably some sheep too is reminiscent of Israel’s first King David. Recall that David was minding sheep and was anointed by God to do His work. Or think of Moses who was a shepherd of his father-in-law Jethro’s sheep. He too would be called (while on the job) through encountering an un-consuming bush. The other observation about Amos’ ministry will be its duration. It ends up spanning two years before the earthquake (Amos 1:1). This earthquake is documented to have happened in 750 B.C.E. This will uniquely show Amos’ impact on prophetic ministry.

The book of Amos begins with “the words of Amos” and ends with the covenant formula (used only one time in the entire book) “says the LORD your God.” The relationship between the two is inseparable. God has bound Himself to His people and the prophet’s words function as God’s very own words. The major contest to take place in Amos happens in 7:10-17. There the prophet Amos is in Bethel and a temple priest by the name of Amaziah confronts Amos. He calls on Amos to get out of Israel and go and make his money down south in Judah. Amaziah says to the king that the land is weary of the words of Amos. In this action, we find that Amos’s words are rejected. The rejection of Amos’ words means the rejection of the word of God too. The outcome of this will be a seismic tectonic plate shift. The impact of the land being unable to endure Amos’ words will be to writhe and shake. This is Amos’ prophetic legacy. Many other prophets pick up on this theme like Isaiah 2:19, 21; Joel 3:16 and Haggai 2:6, 21. Matthew’s Gospel narrates an earthquake at Jesus’ crucifixion and on Easter morning (Matthew 27:51; 28:2). The earth is part of God’s creation that human beings who are God’s image-bearers are called to care and serve. When Israel rejects God’s words through his appointed prophet, the earth will shake. Such is the devastating consequences of unbelief and rejection of the wisdom of God. Israel will intend head into exile and not return. That is, until a unique Galilean prophet from Nazareth named Jesus comes on the scene and seeks out his lost sheep. 

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