What caused a shepherd from Tekoa to say these famous words, “Prepare to meet your God” from Amos 4:12? The prophet Amos of the Old Testament was a shepherd from Tekoa, a small town about eleven miles from Jerusalem. Amos was not a paid preacher or professional prophet (Amos 7:10-15). Instead, Amos was a layperson sent by God to warn Israel’s northern kingdom to pursue true worship of the true and living God. Israel was carrying on token or surface religious performances, but they had no true heart love, honor, and worship of God. Even worse, Israel had no commitment to God’s Holy Word.
During Amos’ brief ministry to Israel, the rich were getting richer and the poor were getting poorer. Israel prized wealth, power, and self-indulgency while abusing the powerless and neglecting the faithful worship of God. Luxury and extravagancy flourished in Israel (Amos 3:10-15; Amos 5:1-6) and superficial religious rituals were popular. The Israelites lived beneath an appearance of religion without genuine spiritual integrity and sincere obedience toward God. The people gave God their lip service and outwardly religious rituals but not their wholehearted obedience and love. Making money and self-indulgence were more important than genuinely worshiping God (Amos 8:5). Israel worshipped idols, oppressed the poor, and corrupted the judicial system (Amos 5:11-15, 24; Amos 8:4-6). Mistreatment of the poor ran rampant throughout the land (Amos 2:6; Amos 3:10; Amos 4:1; Amos 5:11; Amos 8:4-6). The wealthy Israelites were getting rich at the expense of the poor. Justice was one-sided and corrupt. Businesses were dishonest and fraudulent. The people did not obey and follow God’s Word. Even worse, some people of Israel trusted their money, houses, or fortifications and not the true and living God (Amos 6:1-14). They believed their wealth and success were signs of divine favor. But, Israel’s prosperity increased their religious and moral corruption.
Moreover, God sent natural disasters to the people — through famine, drought, locusts, plagues, and war — to warn the people to turn from their sin and evil but they still ignored God (Amos 4:6-13). Five times God asked the people to return to Him but the continued their hypocritical religion and ignore true worship of God (Amos 4:6, 8, 9, 10, and 11). God warned the people to pursue righteousness — a sincere heart worship of God that yields social justice and kindness towards others — and turn from sin and wickedness. The prophet Elijah had a similar message to Israel as he also challenged the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel to choose whether they would worship the true and living God or Baal (1 King 18:21, 24).
After Amos’ announcement of judgment and warning on Israel, the book concludes with a message of hope (Amos 9:11-15). God promised to restore everyone who humbly turned from sin and turned their whole hearts to God. Most important, God wants everyone — individuals and nations from generation to generation — to pursue justice, righteousness and mercy, especially for the poor, oppressed, and powerless (see, e.g., Deuteronomy 24:10-22). True worship of God yields love, mercy, and kindness towards others (see also Hosea 6:6; Luke 10:25-37; John 13:34-35; Ephesians 2:8-10; James 1:27). God made all people (Genesis 1:26-27) and He is the Great King who rules the entire universe (Amos 4:13; Amos 5:8; Amos 9:5-6). He wants everyone to wholeheartedly love Him as God, to do good, and to love one another (Matthew 22:34-40). Even more, God wants everyone to be doers of His Holy Word and not just hearers only (James 1:22-25). Superficial religion and rituals never impress God without wholehearted love, obedience, and commitment to Him as the true and living God (1 Samuel 15:22-23; Matthew 7:21).
Amos encouraged the people to “let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everlasting stream” (Amos 5:24). For those who reject God’s ways, only judgment remained and “prepare to meet your God” (Amos 4:12).
References
Life Application Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005.
New Student Bible. New York: Zondervan,1992.
NLT Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2008.
Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary. Victor Books, 1989.
Zondervan NIV Study Bible. New York: Zondervan, 2008.
During Amos’ brief ministry to Israel, the rich were getting richer and the poor were getting poorer. Israel prized wealth, power, and self-indulgency while abusing the powerless and neglecting the faithful worship of God. Luxury and extravagancy flourished in Israel (Amos 3:10-15; Amos 5:1-6) and superficial religious rituals were popular. The Israelites lived beneath an appearance of religion without genuine spiritual integrity and sincere obedience toward God. The people gave God their lip service and outwardly religious rituals but not their wholehearted obedience and love. Making money and self-indulgence were more important than genuinely worshiping God (Amos 8:5). Israel worshipped idols, oppressed the poor, and corrupted the judicial system (Amos 5:11-15, 24; Amos 8:4-6). Mistreatment of the poor ran rampant throughout the land (Amos 2:6; Amos 3:10; Amos 4:1; Amos 5:11; Amos 8:4-6). The wealthy Israelites were getting rich at the expense of the poor. Justice was one-sided and corrupt. Businesses were dishonest and fraudulent. The people did not obey and follow God’s Word. Even worse, some people of Israel trusted their money, houses, or fortifications and not the true and living God (Amos 6:1-14). They believed their wealth and success were signs of divine favor. But, Israel’s prosperity increased their religious and moral corruption.
Moreover, God sent natural disasters to the people — through famine, drought, locusts, plagues, and war — to warn the people to turn from their sin and evil but they still ignored God (Amos 4:6-13). Five times God asked the people to return to Him but the continued their hypocritical religion and ignore true worship of God (Amos 4:6, 8, 9, 10, and 11). God warned the people to pursue righteousness — a sincere heart worship of God that yields social justice and kindness towards others — and turn from sin and wickedness. The prophet Elijah had a similar message to Israel as he also challenged the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel to choose whether they would worship the true and living God or Baal (1 King 18:21, 24).
After Amos’ announcement of judgment and warning on Israel, the book concludes with a message of hope (Amos 9:11-15). God promised to restore everyone who humbly turned from sin and turned their whole hearts to God. Most important, God wants everyone — individuals and nations from generation to generation — to pursue justice, righteousness and mercy, especially for the poor, oppressed, and powerless (see, e.g., Deuteronomy 24:10-22). True worship of God yields love, mercy, and kindness towards others (see also Hosea 6:6; Luke 10:25-37; John 13:34-35; Ephesians 2:8-10; James 1:27). God made all people (Genesis 1:26-27) and He is the Great King who rules the entire universe (Amos 4:13; Amos 5:8; Amos 9:5-6). He wants everyone to wholeheartedly love Him as God, to do good, and to love one another (Matthew 22:34-40). Even more, God wants everyone to be doers of His Holy Word and not just hearers only (James 1:22-25). Superficial religion and rituals never impress God without wholehearted love, obedience, and commitment to Him as the true and living God (1 Samuel 15:22-23; Matthew 7:21).
Amos encouraged the people to “let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everlasting stream” (Amos 5:24). For those who reject God’s ways, only judgment remained and “prepare to meet your God” (Amos 4:12).
References
Life Application Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005.
New Student Bible. New York: Zondervan,1992.
NLT Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2008.
Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary. Victor Books, 1989.
Zondervan NIV Study Bible. New York: Zondervan, 2008.
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