APRIL, 1946
157
The Book of Amos
John A. Hubbard, D. D.
I N THIS ISSUE we begin the study of a few of the Old Testament prophetic books. For the most part, these prophets were raised, up to deliver to His own people the message given them of God. All the writing prophets appeared after the division of the kingdom (1 Kings 12). The message of some was primarily for Judah, of others for Israel (the north ern kingdom), and in some instances it was for both kingdoms. It has been said that the presence of the prophets was always a sign of apostasy or spir itual declension. Theirs was a two fold mission, the nature of which must be understood in order to comprehend their writings. Primarily, their min istry was to the people of their own time; they were sent of God to rebuke them for their sins and unfaithfulness to God, to warn them of the judgment or punishment that was to come upon them, and to exhort them to repent and get right with God. ‘‘Think of the prophet as he was—a godly Israel-' ite filled with the Holy Spirit and with patriotic zeal—in the midst of the peo ple living in violation of covenant ob ligation (see e. g. Jer. 11:9, 10; Hosea 8:1); in the heartless and irreverent observances of religious forms (see e. g, Isa. 1:10-17; Amos 5:21-24); or in open idolatry (Jer. 1:16, 2:26-28)” (Scofield). The second phase of the prophets’ work was to foretell future events, especially the glorious reign of the Messiah over all Israel and the world, in other words, the establishment of His kingdom: This month, we present a brief study of the book of Amos. Amos was one of the earliest of the writing prophets; his book is one of the sim plest and easiest to understand, and well illustrates the twofold mission of the Old Testament prophet. Amos was a herdman, shepherd
(1:1). He was also a “gatherer of sycomore fruit,” supplementing this work (7:14, 15). His n a t i v e home was in Tekoa (1:1), about twelve miles south of Jerusalem; that is, he came from the southern kingdom of Judah although his mission was pri marily to the northern kingdom of Israel.
(1) Chs. 1, 2—The burden (punish ment) of the nations. (2) Chs. 3-6—3 Addresses to Israel. (3) Chs. 7-9—A series of 5 visions, with explanations, warnings, and promises. In his rebuke of, and warning to Israel, Amos used a most skillful method. First he pronounced judg ment upon the surrounding heathen nations (Syria, Philistia, Tyre, etc. (l:3-2:3). He then gave utterance to a rebuke of Judah (2:4, 5), and, last of all, to Israel (1:6, etc.). Thus, he got the attention and, no doubt, the approval of the people of the northern kingdom, for they were happy to learn of punishment being meted out to the heathen and to their enemy, Judah. But at this point, he turned upon Israel, and his argument against them has been stated thus: “If the heathen nations were to be punished, how much more Judah, with greater light; if Judah, how much more Israel, who had the same light as Judah, but who had sinned more deeply.” This is an illustration of the oft-repeated truth that the greater the light, the greater the responsibility. See the words of our Lord in Matthew 11: 20-24. Amos then proceeded to rebuke them for their cruel, heartless oppression of the poor, gross immorality, etc. (2:6-8). The people were then reminded of God’s loving kindness to Israel and their unfaithfulness to Him (2:9-12), and then warned that there could be no escape from the punishment-which was to come upon them (2:13-16). This thought on the certainty of punishment was then reiterated and enlarged upon in the first of the three addresses (ch. 3). The second ad dress (ch. 4) was largely one of rebuke and warning. The wopien were rebuked (Continued on Page 1731
Dr. Hubbard Amos appeared about 800 B. C., dur ing the reign of Uzziah (ninth king of the southern kingdom). As to the condition of the people to whom he was sent, there was great outward or temporal prosperity. “Un der the reigh of Jeroboam II, material prosperity rose to a height it had never previously known. The inward condition was one of terrible corrup tion. The country was, in fact, spoiled by prosperity which no healthy public morality any longer controlled or di rected. This deplorable moral and spir itual condition is described throughout the book of Amos. Dr. W. G. Moorehead suggests the following outline for the book;
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