Amos-A Lowly Shepherd Called to be a Prophet

By Mary Vee
Amos 1-4

From the Journals of Amos

Photo Courtesy

I have been a shepherd watching my sheep near Bethlehem in Judah for quite some time.

One day as I looked out at the pastureland, the great God of Israel spoke to me, telling me to take His message to the people.

The messages needed to be delivered right away because God wanted the people to know He saw their evil deeds.

First, the Lord said He will destroy the house of Ben-Hadad in Syria for attacking Gilead.

Second, the Lord said He will destroy the Philistines for taking whole communities of His people and selling them as slaves in Edom. 

Third, the Lord said He will destroy the great city of Tyre for taking whole communities of His people and selling them as slaves to Edom--disregarding the treaty of brotherhood.

Fourth, the Lord said He will destroy the fortress of Bozrah in Edom for continuing to attack His people. Edom's rage overwhelmed the country so much there was no compassion at all.

Fifth, the Lord said He will destroy Rabbah in Ammon for killing the women of His people just to make their cities bigger.

Sixth, the Lord said He will destroy Kerioth in Moab for disrespecting the burial place of Edom's king.

Seventh, the Lord said He will send fire on Jerusalem in Judah for worshipping false gods.

Eighth, the Lord said He will destroy Israel because in their time of prosperity the people have not worship Him. They are filled with greed, selfishness, and immoral deeds. They harm the poor and have no justice in the courts.

The Israelites have witnessed God stopping the Amorites, they knew He was the one who rescued the nation from Egypt, led them through the desert for forty years, and gave them a new land. He even provided prophets to instruct them. Yet they have commanded the prophets not to give their messages.

Because the Lord has chosen, Israel, as His own, He will punish them for their sins. All they had to do was turn to Him to avoid these troubles.

All the Lord asks is that you seek Him instead of the false gods. Then you will live.

Again I say, seek good and not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you. Hate evil, love good; be fair to all people. 

Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph, Israel.

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1. What did God say He would do first? ___________
2. What did God say He would do second? ____________
3. What did God say He would do third? _______________
4. What did God say He would do fourth? _______________
5. What did God say He would do fifth? _______________
6. What did God say He would do sixth? _______________
7. What did God say He would do seventh?_________________
8. Why did God say He would destroy Israel? ___________________
9. What did God really want from the people? _____________________