If you were in God’s place, who would you send to Israel to rebuke their tragic, sinful condition? When God called Amos, a shepherd and dresser of trees to go from Judah up to Israel and preach to greedy, rebellious, materialistic people, He sent him just as he was, an ordinary fellow: a “blue-collar” preacher. He was not from one of the schools of the prophets. Nor had he come from a family of a prophet. He had a tough task ahead of him, but his credentials were exactly the ones needed for this assignment—great courage, tenacity, boldness and a thick skin.
He did not merely accuse Israel and Judah of “generic” sin, but he was so specific in his accusations that the priest of Bethel, Amaziah, said “the land is not able to bear all his words,” Amos 5:10. Eventually, he was “invited” to go back to where he belonged, Amos 5:12. When a preacher gets specific, some folks get nervous. As long as he is just poking around the woods, pointing the finger of guilt at everyone in general, he can survive. But if he becomes specific, referring to adultery, stinginess, laziness or divorce, he can be on dangerous grounds. That’s what Amos did! And Israel did not like it even a little bit.
They were greedy
Even modern readers are appalled at the greed and callous attitude of Israel. “They sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes,” Amos 2:6. They were so obsessed with silver and shoes that they would do whatever it took to possess them. They had a “winter house and a summer house,” and their “houses of ivory” were more important to them than human life, 3:15. They longed for the end of the sabbath or a feast day so they could accumulate more, chapter 8:5. If I didn’t know better I would think Amos was writing about our own nation in this 21st century.
They encouraged sin
Notice the words of Amos 2:12: “Ye gave Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.”
A Nazarite was one who vowed not to partake of the fruit of the grape, Numbers 6:2, but Israel was characterized as encouraging them to violate their vow, and discouraging the preaching of God’s truth. How like 2003 this is. Our society gives encouragement to sin by advertisement, subsidy and tax deductions. Try to take a Bible into a public school, however, and you might find yourself in jail!
The words of the prophet, found in Isaiah 30:9-10, are still appropriate for some people today:
- “This is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: Who say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceit.”
Amos wrote, “they abhor him that speaks uprightly,” 5:10. They did not want their sin to be rebuked!
They did not care
It is bad enough to be part of a nation guilty of such wickedness, but even worse to discover that no one really cares. In Amos 6:1-6 they are described as a people who were feeling very secure, filled with trust in their powerful position among the nations, and were able to ignore the plight of the poor and the eventual threat of God’s wrath. They truly did not care for anyone but themselves.
“They lie in beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches...drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.”
Note: “they are not grieved..,” Amos 6:6. They were preoccupied with today’s pleasures. They had neither time nor interest in the future. They could not be bothered with such things. It is hard today to get some Christians to be concerned with Christ’s church in light of modern thinking. How callous can we be, to be unconcerned about the future of God’s kingdom? Amos said they would be among the first to go into captivity, and those who show little concern today will be the first to be taken by those who would destroy that which our fathers and mothers treasured so much.
They were not grateful
God had brought them out of the slavery of Egypt, Amos 2:9-11. He provided food and protection in their 40 years of wandering. He had given them the land He had promised. He had driven away their oppressors, but they were only interested in, “What have you done for me lately?” They had much and wanted that much more.
I am alarmed to see the similarity between Israel in 750 BC and Christ’s church in America today. If Amos were to stand in our pulpits today, he would likely say the same things to us:
“Can two walk together except they be agreed...Hate the evil and love the good...Woe to them that are at ease in Zion,” 3:3, 5:15, 6:1.
Would God hate our worship as He did that of Israel, 5:21f? Amos was a prophet whose message of truth is still needed today.
