Amos

Amos, a shepherd and fig tree farmer from Tekoa in Judah, prophesies against Israel's northern kingdom during a time of prosperity, exposing social injustice beneath religious ritual and warning of coming judgment. God calls this unlikely prophet to condemn Israel at Bethel's royal sanctuary. Amos begins by pronouncing judgment on surrounding nations—Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab—for specific atrocities. Then, unexpectedly, he pronounces judgment on Judah for rejecting God's law.

This rhetorical strategy catches Israel's attention before Amos declares that Israel's sins are worst of all. Despite prosperity under Jeroboam II, Israel's moral corruption runs deep. The wealthy oppress the poor, selling the needy for silver and a pair of sandals. They trample the heads of the poor and deny justice to the oppressed.

Dishonest merchants use false scales, mixing chaff with wheat. The rich live in luxury—lounging on ivory beds, drinking wine, using fine oils—while ignoring the nation's ruin. Women are condemned as 'cows of Bashan' who oppress the poor while demanding more luxury. Israel maintains religious observances—festivals, assemblies, offerings, songs—but God despises their worship because it coexists with injustice.

God demands 'let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.' Religious ritual without righteousness is abomination. Amos pronounces five visions of judgment: locusts, fire, a plumb line revealing Israel's crookedness, a basket of ripe fruit indicating Israel is ripe for judgment, and God standing beside the altar declaring none will escape. Amaziah, Bethel's priest, tells Amos to leave, but Amos insists he's no professional prophet—God directly commissioned him. Israel will go into exile beyond Damascus.

Yet the book concludes hopefully: God will restore David's fallen tent, bring exiles home, and renew the land so abundantly that plowmen will overtake reapers. God will plant His people in their land permanently.