II Kings 14:23-29.       Amos was a native of Judah who prophesied principally to Israel. About 25 years before the fall, Israel was enjoying its peak of peace and great prosperity. This false comfort had generated spiritual idleness and decay. Amos was appalled that the wealthy nation was ignoring their poor citizens and warned of their upcoming exile. Amos was not trained to be a man of God, but was called out of his humble life to be the Lord’s bold voice.

1. Who is the king of Judah at this time?

   Who is the king of Israel?

2. "The Lord roars from Zion…." Amos was a fiery prophet who evaluated people’s religion through their conduct in society. Damascus (Syria) is accused of awful cruelty in war. Gaza (Philistia) is condemned for enslaving a whole people. Tyre (Phoenicia) is judged for cruelty in slavery. Edom is accused of not showing pity, but of maintaining a constant hatred. Ammon is judged for bitter cruelty and selfish greed; Moab for cruelty to Edom; and Judah for rejecting the Law of God. What kind of responsibility do we as individual Christians have for our nation’s conduct?

3. It must have pleased the Israelites at Bethel to hear Amos "roaring" about their neighbors (chapter 1 – 2:5). The rich Northern Kingdom may have been temporarily lulled into a sense of spiritual superiority. If so, discuss a New Testament teaching of Jesus that would apply to the nation.

4. From 2:6-12; 3:10 and 5:12, list Israel’s sins.

5. What do 3:12 and 5:3 suggest?

6. What sin of Israel is God denouncing in 4:4-5 and 5:21-24?

   Apply this to today’s world.

7. Amos ends his message with five visions which discloses to him what God will do to the nation. God discusses destruction by locusts or fire in the first two visions, but Amos intercedes. What is the third vision and what does it represent?

8. What happens after the third vision?

9. From 7:14, what was Amos’ occupation?

   Why would God have sent this kind of man to the nation of Israel with this kind of message?

10. The vision of the summer fruit (chapter 8) is better understood from the Hebrew text. The words for "fruit" and "end" are spelled and pronounced similarly. What is the message?

11. Where is God standing in the final vision (chapter 9)?

    Why?

12. Amos closes with a prophetic note of victory (9:11-12). How does James apply this prophesy in Acts 15:14-18?

13. "At ease in Zion" (6:1) The nation that God had brought out of Egypt as slaves had been living in the lap of luxury. In their eyes, they were living the privileged life because they were God’s chosen people. But with privilege comes responsibility that they were not fulfilling.
    1. What responsibilities did they have?

    2. What responsibilities do we as a prosperous Christian nation have today?

    3. What responsibilities do we as prosperous Christian individuals have?

Women IN God's Service

Minor Prophets - lesson 3
Ladies Bible Class Lesson, Spring 1998
West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, Arkansas

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