Amos preaches that god has to do with justice and righteousness, not with israel regardless of israels way of life. May 23, 2012 amos sees a basket of summer fruit 1, possibly symbolising that israel is ripe for consumption and will soon wither. Tekoa was located about twelve miles south of jerusalem. The terms justice and righteousness appear in 7 hosea, amos, micah, habakkuk, zephaniah, zechariah and malachi of the 12 books. Comprising only nine chapters of oracles, it was composed during the age of jeroboam ii, king of israel from 786 to 746 bce. We are living in days when people need to know what god is really like. What we know of amos derives solely from the book that he himself authored. This book is a powerful revelation that when recieved will enable a person to stand upright in christ and know who heshe is. He has always been admired for the purity of his language, his beauty of diction, and his poetic art. Amos, the first hebrew prophet to have a biblical book named for him. Since much of the book is addressed to the northern kingdom, it is clear that the book was. Summary of the book of amos the story of the bible. A lament and call to repentance hear this word, israel, this lament i take up concerning you. Amos lived in the kingdom of judah but preached in the northern kingdom of israel.
The context of this powerful statement is a prophetic denunciation of the sacrifices and meal offerings of a people who have failed to keep the covenant, which is constituted by justice and fairness. As i studied amos i was able to see how it fits into the unity of these twelve books. That being the case, god is perfectly right to bring the overwhelming disaster of which amos speaks. The entire book of amos shines a powerful light on israelite society, revealing its dishonesty, corruption, and violence. Justice is fair treatment, not only in the courts but in every aspect of life. Lastly, chapter 5 looks at the concept of justice and righteousness and its contemporary relevance. There is nothing special about the exodus from egypt when israel is immoral rashi, rabbi joseph kara. The book of amos then concludes with a dramatic aboutface, in which gods eternal love of israel shines forth. In the north was assyria hanging like the sword of damocles ready to fall, and in the next half century it would destroy this little kingdom. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream. Justice and righteousness in hoseaamos anabaptistwiki. The book of amos, the third of the twelve minor prophets, has been one of the most significant and influential books of the bible from the time it was written 8th century bce down to the 20th century.
The book of amos jesse hendley sermon outlines and. Here, righteousness is pictured as a standard, flag, or banner thrown to the ground. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a neverfailing stream. At the heart of this message is the covenant between yahweh and his people. Amos says, i am no prophet, nor the son of a prophet 7. In chapters 1 and 2 of amos, there is a unique phrase, for three transgressions of x and for four set against the nations 1. The only ways we have to assign a date to amos are the superscription to the book 1.
New heart english bible but let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream. Amos declared that god was going to judge his unfaithful, disobedient, covenant. This strikes at the root of a major portion of gods judgment of israel isaiah 59. The terms are used individually in each book at least once in each book. We live in a time of corporate greed and domination. The only time the name of amos appears in the old testment is in the book of amos. Other major ideas proposed in the book of amos include. Amos is the first of the prophets to write down the messages he has received. I hate, i despise your festivalsbut let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream amos 5. Since justice and righteousness are the focus of amos message, it is important to look at how the words justice and righteousness are used by the prophet. Book of amos simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The words justice and righteousness are used together three times in two chapters of the book of amos amos 5.
When israel itself is unjust, god will judge israel. Only at the end of the book does he speak distinctly of restoration and blessing through the messiah and davids family amos 9. In course of the study, it was discovered that time and experience play an important role in the bible experience. Amos third message was an exhortation to turn to the lord, for he was predicting the overthrow of the kingdom, and the captivity chapters 4,5. The book of amos is one of the books of the neviim hebrew. The poor of the land and the pride of jacob desiring god. Other prophets, working in the sister kingdom of judah, are indignant about similar things. Amos not only indited the wealthy but threatened them with gods power and judgement, destruction of their social order, and loss of their political status and exile.
Amos ministered during the reigns of uzziah in judah 790739 b. Social justice in the book of amos the marcus j borg foundation. He accurately foretold the destruction of the northern kingdom of israel although he did not specify assyria as the cause and, as a prophet of doom, anticipated later old testament prophets. His prophecy concludes with only a brief glimpse of restoration, and even that is directed to judah, rather than the northern kingdom of israel 9. A real relationship with god should show in social justice and righteousness. The book of amos then concludes with a dramatic aboutface, in. Let justice roll down like waters amos 56 bible odyssey. Amos is a devastating book for people who give token attention to god through assemblies and songs, but whose hearts are much more genuinely engaged by sports, or business, or family, or hobbies. In all these respects he is isaiahs spiritual progenitor. The concept of justice in the book of amos heartwell. Fallen is virgin israel, never to rise again, deserted in her own land, with no one to lift her up. The book of amos is a stinging rebuke of a nation that has rejected and forgotten god. And we must never forget that amos is speaking to us, the church of god, the israel of god. Chapter 4 focuses on the concept of justice and righteousness in amos 5 and also in the entire book of amos.
Amos was one of the great prophets of god and he, together with hosea, prophesied about the same time. O you who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth amos 5. The goal is to 1 understand the overall theme of each book and 2 see what lessons there are for us. In this lesson, we are going to see what we can learn from the book of amos. You must be logged in to view your newly purchased content. Amos shows god demanding justice from them rather than worship.
Jan 17, 2016 the bible verse martin luther king jr. Jeroboam the son of joash not to be confused with jeroboam the son of nevat, the first king of the northern kingdom of the ten tribes reigned over the ten tribes of israel for forty years from the year 3114 till 3153 after creation. A righteous person tsadiq, was one who was loyal to the moral and religious customs of his community. The average christian has been kept under condemnation, as.
In another oracle amos speaks for god against the lavish orthodox worship practiced by the wealthy and instead asks for justice and righteousness. Anyone who desires to understand the message of amos should read the book in light of amos emphasis on social justice. Hitzig, keil, with many ancient commentators, find in it a threat of chastisement, the flooding of the land with. But let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream amos 5. Prophetic understanding of justice and righteousness.
The prophet amos was sayingas most of the hebrew prophets were sayingthat what god wants is justice and right living rather than religious ceremonies for their own sake. I recently taught on the book of amos during a study of the twelve minor prophets. The church has been very strong in teaching man his need of righteousness, his weakness and his inability to please god. The israelites had a unique and privileged relationship with god. Marcus borg speaks on the topic of social justice in the bible, specifically book of amos, he looks at the societal context and world orders contemporary to jesus and his disciples to help understand their views of social justice.
These messages were followed be a series of five visions, culminating with a view of the lord standing upon the altar, ready to. Book of amos overview insight for living ministries. To begin, marcus tells a parable about cows who are confined by an electric fence. Prophecies against the nations amos chapters 1 and 2 three discourses against israel amos chapters 3 to 6 five symbolic visions of israels condition amos 7. Their oppressions, their faithlessness, their immorality it had become too much. Amos is a man who reminds us what god is really like. The books longest and grimmest prophecy of doom then follows. Gods relationship with his people includes judging them in righteousness when they sin and restoring them in grace. The superscription, or heading, was probably added by a later editor, but it. Justice must flow like torrents of water, righteous actions like a stream that never dries up.
Hendley amos the book of amos is a very wonderful book. He had endured enough from the hands of the israelites. Editors and copyists added comments to the prophets original oracles that they deemed appropriate in light of events that occurred after his death. Youll get this book and many others when you join bible gateway plus. It could be described as virtue in action or the intent to do the right. Your city that marches out a thousand strong will have only a hundred left. Mar 11, 2017 the concepts of justice and righteousness in amos. The end has indeed come for israel and great woe is in hand 23. Amos communicated gods utter disdain for the hypocritical lives of his people amos 5. It is a stirring warning to all of the dangers of apostasy, rebellion and complacency. New living translation instead, i want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river.
The redactions or continued growth of the book of amos has a richer complex literary history that extends into the sixth and fifth centuries b. Amos was a stern prophet of righteousness and uncompromising justice. Because of its past history as the recipient of gods gracious acts, israel uniquely knew gods concern for the vulnerable. As were other old testament prophets, amos was a firm opponent of religious formalism and ritual without righteousness. Amos, hosea and habakkuk used the word pair which emphasizes the right ordering of society within the covenant community. Amos, an older contemporary of hosea and isaiah, was active c.
The context of this powerful statement is a prophetic denunciation of the sacrifices and meal offerings of a people who have failed to keep the covenant, which is constituted by justice and. Amos lived during the time of two other prophets,hosea and isaiah, around 750 bc while jeroboam was king of israel and uzziah was king of judah. Oct 03, 2007 but you have turned justice misphat into poison and the fruit of righteousness sedaqa into wormwood amos 6. The main themes of amos and lessons that we learn from this book are. In that post i studied the ways in which the word justice was used in amos. Amos explains the only way that israel can set things right again. Not all of the material found in these chapters came from amos himself.
Amos declared that god was going to judge his unfaithful, disobedient, covenantbreaking people. May 16, 2018 redactions in the book of amos the redactions or continued growth of the book of amos has a richer complex literary history that extends into the sixth and fifth centuries b. The book of amos, which is the earliest of the prophetic writings to be preserved in book form, consists of nine chapters. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.
Covenantal concerns are central to the yahwehs accusations e. In a previous post, amos and social justice, i wrote that justice and righteousness were the focus of amos message. Amos begins with the justice of god, then, and shows how that relates to justice in society. In this series, we are going to do an overview of the minor prophets. Social justice in the book of amos the marcus j borg. Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice misphat in the gate amos 5. Aug 26, 2015 amos begins with the justice of god, then, and shows how that relates to justice in society. Chapter 5 verse 24, but let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. Oct 01, 2007 since justice and righteousness are the focus of amos message, it is important to look at how the words justice and righteousness are used by the prophet. There are some well known verses in the book of amos that religious leaders and people who work for justice have used in speeches about modern problems such as racism. Amos was a vigorous spokesman for gods justice and righteousness, whereas hosea emphasized gods love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like. But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream amos 5. In the present post, i will discuss how the niv uses the word justice in the book of amos.