Word of the Week: Amos

This past Sunday we covered our first “minor prophet”.  I love what we are doing in giving you a sample of this often neglected portion of the Bible - the Minor Prophets. Remember, they are not minor in importance, but lesser in length and perhaps, notoriety.

Amos has a lot more to offer if you want to really dig in and study. A great resource to use when encountering a challenging book like Amos is the New Bible Commentary. It has good background information and a few paragraphs of comments on the entire bible. It is one step beyond a Study Bible, but less difficult to follow than the typical commentary.

Things to remember about Amos - He wasn’t a professional religious leader- he was a shepherd. He primarily addressed the rebellious northern tribes, though he was from the south. He pronounces judgment on many nations as well - anticipating the wreckage the Assyrian hordes would unleash on this region.

If you have an interest in social justice issues like poverty, human trafficking, or racial issues, Amos is a good book to look into more closely. Personally, I read of the ministry of John the Baptist in Luke 3:1-20 this morning, and he had similar concerns as Amos.

Coming up this Sunday - God is portrayed as a jilted husband, complete with all the emotional descriptions! Read Hosea to get an advance look!

In Him,

Don