Overview of the Book of Amos

Judgment on Injustice, Corruption, and Moral Decay in Amos

The overview of the week for this Sunday is the book of Amos. Amos was written sometime in the 8th century B .C. and he was a contemporary of Isaiah, Jonah, and Hosea. So the theme of Amos' prophecy is judgment upon injustice, corruption, and moral decay.

His prophecy was mainly directed at the northern kingdom of Israel, which was really experiencing a time of peace and prosperity. But, as is often the case, when things are going well, what do people do?

They tend to take things for granted, and they begin to forget God, and that is what happened. So because of this, the Israelites became corrupt, and while they praised God with their lips, their hearts were far from Him.

Restoration After Judgment and the Promise of the Davidic Kingdom

And their worship became ritualistic and vain. Because of this, the Lord says in chapter 5 of Amos, verses 21 -24, and just know, this is God speaking to them about their worship. He says,. So Amos preached to the nation, but unfortunately the nation did not listen, and because of this, the northern kingdom was destroyed.

But, because of God's love for His people, and because God keeps His word, and is faithful, even when they were unfaithful, the Lord promised in this book that Israel's greatness would one day be restored.

The Lord makes the following statements in chapter 9, referring to the second advent of Christ and the kingdom age. He says,. On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its damages, and I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old, and I will bring back the captives of My people Israel, and I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land which I have given them, says the Lord your God.