Uncommon Book: Amos!

Today we will look at the uncommon book of Amos. So, we can start off with that Amos was the third prophet. As I read that Amos was the first prophetic book in the Bible. He preached the kingdom of Israel but lived in the Judah kingdom.

There are three major themes of Amos. The first is social justice and looks to the Bible to see why. 11 Therefore because you trample on the poor and you exact taxes of grain from him, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. 12 For I know how many are your transgressions and how great are your sins— you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate. 13 Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time, for it is an evil time. 14 Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. 15 Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. Amos 5:11-15 ESV.

The second theme of Amos is God's Omnipotence. To start off with we need to know what omnipotence is, so I look it up. Omnipotence is according to dictionary.com says, the quality or state of being omnipotent. This led me to look up omnipotent and it says in Dictionary.com, almighty or infinite in power, as God or having very great or unlimited authority or power. He who made the Pleiades and Orion, And changes deep darkness into morning, Who also darkens day into night, Who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the surface of the earth, The Lord is His name. Amos 5:8 NASB.

The third theme of Amos is Divine Judgement. let's look at Amos 1 in its entirely and it says, 

Judgment on Neighbor Nations

1 The words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders from Tekoa, which he saw in visions concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

2 

And he said,

“The Lord roars from Zion,

And from Jerusalem He utters His voice;

And the shepherds’ pasture grounds mourn,

And the summit of Carmel dries up.”

3 

This is what the Lord says:

“For three offenses of Damascus, and for four,

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because they threshed Gilead with iron sledges.

4 

So I will send fire upon the house of Hazael,

And it will consume the citadels of Ben-hadad.

5 

I will also break the gate bar of Damascus,

And eliminate every inhabitant from the [c]Valley of Aven,

As well as him who holds the scepter, from Beth-eden;

So the people of Aram will be exiled to Kir,”

Says the Lord.

6 

This is what the Lord says:

“For three offenses of Gaza, and for four,

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because they led into exile an entire population

To turn them over to Edom.

7 

So I will send fire on the wall of Gaza

And it will consume her citadels.

8 

I will also eliminate every inhabitant from Ashdod,

As well as him who holds the scepter, from Ashkelon;

And I will direct My [power against Ekron,

And the remnant of the Philistines will perish,”

Says the Lord God.

9 

This is what the Lord says:

“For three offenses of Tyre, and for four,

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because they turned an entire population over to Edom

And did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.

10 

So I will send fire on the wall of Tyre,

And it will consume her citadels.”

11 

This is what the Lord says:

“For three offenses of Edom, and for four,

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because he pursued his brother with the sword

And stifled his compassion;

His anger also tore continually,

And he maintained his fury forever.

12 

So I will send fire upon Teman

And it will consume the citadels of Bozrah.”

13 

This is what the Lord says:

“For three offenses of the sons of Ammon, and for four,

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead

In order to enlarge their borders.

14 

So I will kindle a fire on the wall of Rabbah,

And it will consume her citadels

Amid war cries on the day of battle,

And amid a storm on the day of tempest.

15 

Their king will go into exile,

He and his princes together,” says the Lord. Amos 1 NASB.

These are the themes of Amos and Bible verses that talk about the themes of Amos. This like all the books in the Bible is important. The Bible is not some ancient book that we read and do not use but today we are facing social justice and It's in the Bible. It's a main theme in Amos but how many times have we looked to Amos for this topic in my mind not at all for me that is. I cannot speak for you but can I say that I have not seen it used. So, let's to Amos for the answer to this and all the themes it talks about today.

Let's have an Amos Day!