As a sheepherder, Amos was among the most humble of humble people; it’s amazing that God would use him as a prophet. Note that God sent him to warn Israel, the Northern Kingdom, in the very days about which we have been reading in Kings and Chronicles. How could He possibly use such a humble man as His voice; who would even listen to such a lowly person?
God had a brilliant way for Amos to get the attention of his intended audience: he opened by announcing judgement on all of Israel’s surrounding neighbors. All of the peoples mentioned in chapter 1 and into chapter 2 bordered Israel. Note that each “nation” is also referred to by its capital city, other chief cities, and/or its leader. Again, we should be able to relate to this, because people around the globe equate our nation with Washington D.C. and our President. The judgment announced was for behavior that was generally accepted in that day: kings habitually raided other kingdoms in order to gain whatever they could. Although it was generally accepted, that didn’t mean that it was acceptable to God. The same would be the case for our culture today.
A feature I like about the prophets is that their references to the people’s sin give insight into how the people were living. So it is with Amos. In chapter 4 He calls Israel’s women of status “cows of Bashan.” Bashan was a fertile area of Israel, obviously known for its flourishing livestock. The high society women would not appreciate being called prize cows; think about what that implied – fatness, lacking intelligence, animal-like….
Consider the reasons God gives for His anger toward the Israelites, for which He intends to judge them. Do you notice any parallels in our culture today? In our churches? In your life?
God’s Old Testament people were much like people today: they wanted the easiest life they could get. They built fine houses, accrued wealth, enjoyed their entertainments – in some of the same ways people enjoy their entertainments today. They were rather single-minded in their efforts to get what they wanted, and when God failed to indulge them with their every desire, they sought other ways to fulfill their desires. Turning to other ways meant turning away from God. God will not accept our split devotion, for devotion that He has to share is not devotion that is worthy of Him, and is less than the intimate relationship He wants to have with us.