Amos: Introduction (1)

Pray Psalm 29.7-9.
The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire.
The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness;
The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!”

Sing Psalm 29.7-9.
(Toulon: I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art)
God speaks and lightning streaks across the sky;
by His decree He shakes the desert dry.
Speak, LORD, and life to beasts and men is giv’n.
Forests dissolve, and glory rings in heav’n.

Read Amos 1.1, 2; Hosea 4.1-6; meditate on Amos 1.2.

Preparation
1. Who was Amos?

2. To whom did he address his message?

Meditation
We begin our study of the book of Amos with a question: What shall we make of Amos’ reference to “the earthquake”?

That there was a memorable earthquake in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, is recalled by Zechariah, long after Uzziah’s day: “You will flee by the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel; yes, you will flee just as you fled before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah” (Zech. 14.5).

Did Amos wait to write his book after the earthquake had occurred? That is, did he preach to the people of Israel and Judah beforethe earthquake, but only wrote his messages down two years after it happened? Is there another option?

I think there is. Hosea prophesied at the same time as Amos (cf. Hos. 1.1), but he did not mention an earthquake. Perhaps he didn’t need to. Perhaps he was a real prophet, and everybody knew it, unlike Amos, a keeper of flocks from a two-bit village in Israel (see Amaziah’s rebuff and Amos’ response in Amos 7.10-17).

Is it possible that Amos was foretelling the earthquake, so that, when it happened, his words would be vindicated? We don’t know. But the words this unlikely prophet brought to the people of God warned them that the earth was about to quake under their feet because the wrath of God had reached a boiling point with these wicked, ungrateful people.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
As we happily hum a few bars of “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”, let us consider His earthquakes, weather, anger, and power—used to show His sovereignty, His majesty, His glory and His use of the same against wickedness—and for righteousness and forgiveness.
“Hear attentively the thunder of His voice, and the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
He sends it forth under the whole heaven, His lightning to the ends of the earth…
God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend
…snow…gentle rain…heavy rain…whirlwind…scattering winds…ice…
they do whatever He commands them on the face of the whole earth.
He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for His land, or for mercy” (Job 37.2-13).

“Indeed, the LORD will throw you away violently, O mighty man, and will surely seize you.
He will surely turn violently and toss you like a ball into a large country; there you shall die…” (Is. 22.17, 18)

“The mountains saw You and trembled…” (Hab. 3.10).

“Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
because He was angry” (Ps. 18.7).

“The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You, they were afraid; the depths also trembled.
The clouds poured out water; the skies sent out a sound; Your arrows also flashed about.
The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; the lightnings lit up the world;
The earth trembled and shook” (Ps. 77.16-18).

“He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes;
He casts out His hail like morsels; who can stand before His cold?” (Ps. 147.16, 17).

“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split…” (Matt. 27.51).

“And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow” (Matt. 28.2, 3).

Every small scrap, every jot and tittle, every leaf and blade of grass, the majestic heavens, the fruitful earth, all the aspects of weather speak of God—His Omnipotence, Omnipresence, Omniscience—and declare His glory through the earth to the end of the world (Ps. 19.1-4).

We will do well to listen to the earthquake, the still small voice (1 Ki. 19.11, 12), and the humble words of a sheepbreeder from Tekoa (Amos 1.1).

Reflection
1. Is Amos’ mention of an earthquake here a kind of literary device? Does it create any kind of mood or expectation in you?

2. God often uses the humble, the unlikely, and the looked-down-upon to carry His message. How can you see that in Amos’ pedigree? How about in yours?

3. God sent Amos to the people of Israel. To whom is He sending you today?

Amos, by saying that he was a shepherd, pours contempt on the pride of the king of Israel, and of the whole people; for as they had not deigned to hear the Prophets of God, a keeper of sheep was sent to them. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Amos 1.1

Pray Psalm 29.1-6, 10, 11.
Rejoice and give praise to God for His sovereign rule over all things. Seek His blessings and strength for the day ahead, and thank Him for His peace.

Sing Psalm 29.1-6, 10, 11.
(Toulon: I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art)
Give praise to God, you children of the earth!
Tell of His strength, proclaim His glorious worth!
Give to the LORD the glory due His Name!
Worship in holiness; His grace proclaim!

Over the waters, over thunder’s roll,
God’s voice creation’s mighty pow’rs controls!
Cedars collapse at His majestic Word;
nations are shaken by our mighty LORD!

Sovereign, the LORD sat o’er the raging flood;
Sovereign forever rules our gracious God!
God will His people bless with strength and peace:
LORD, may Your holy Word to us increase!

T. M. and Susie Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.