As we begin the
study of the book of Amos, we will discover something unique about
this prophet of God. Amos was an ordinary person like many of us. He
was not a prophet by birth or prodigy, but was a “herdsman”
and a “fig picker” who was called upon God for a special duty of
service. We learn about Amos “the herdsman” as we begin
reading the first verse in the first chapter of
his prophesy:
The words
of Amos, who was among the herdsmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning
Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of
Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the
earthquake.
The
verse begins, “The words of Amos, who was among the
herdsmen of Tekoa,...” Amos
began with words, “The words”
which means “speech, speaking or utterance” “of Amos”
whose name means “burden” and was “a prophet of the Lord who
prophesied in the northern kingdom of Israel. He was a native of
Tekoa in Judah near Bethlehem and a shepherd by trade”,
“who was among the herdsmen”
which is all one Hebrew word “noqed” and means “sheep-raiser,
dealer or tender” “of Tekoa”
which means “a stockade” and was “a town in the hill country of
Judah near Hebron built by King Rehoboam of Judah where Amos was
born”. Amos declared his name, profession and location at the
beginning of his prophesy.
The
verse goes on to say, “...which
he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in
the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years
before the earthquake.” Amos
continued, “which he saw”
or “perceived, looked upon, beheld, prophesied and provided”
“concerning Israel” which
means “God prevails” and was “the name and nation of the
descendants of Jacob” “in the days”
or “at the time as defined by a period or division” “of
Uzziah” whose name means “my
strength is Jehovah” and was “the son of king Amaziah of Judah
and king of Judah himself for fifty-two years; he is also known as
Azariah” “king”
or “royal ruler” “of Judah”
which means “praised” and refers to “the kingdom comprised of
the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which occupied the southern part of
Canaan after the nation split upon the death of Solomon”, “and
in the days” or “at the time
as defined by a period or division” “of Jeroboam”
whose name means “the people will contend” and was “the first
king of the northern kingdom of Israel when the kingdom split at the
death of Solomon and the ten tribes split off from Judah and Benjamin
under Solomon's son Rehoboam” “the son”
or “male child” “of Joash”
whose name means “given by the Lord” and was “a descendant of
Shelah or Jokim the sons of Judah” “king”
or “royal ruler” “of Israel”
which means “God prevails” and was “the name and nation of the
descendants of Jacob”, “two years”
or “two divisions of time” “before the earthquake”
which means “toward, in front
of, forward and beforetime the quaking, rattling, shaking and
trembling of the earth”. Amos declared the time period in which his
prophetic words were written, and they were appurtenant for the
times in which he lived.
When
we consider these opening words of Amos, we understand a framing for
the time period in which his prophesy went forth. Sometime before or
after Eight Hundred Ten (810) B.C. and seven hundred ninety two (792)
B.C. there was a great earthquake that shook the whole region. Amos
prophesied just before Isaiah and since his words were “two
years” before the “earthquake”, his prophesy was
given around eight hundred (800) B.C.. While we consider Amos and the
timing of his prophesy, we should keep in mind that God Almighty
knows the times and the seasons, and He chooses whom He will for His
purposes. Just as Jesus Christ arrived on the scene “in due
season” or at the “perfect time”, so Amos was used
in God's timing as well. Let us pay attention to the details of
judgments pronounced by God through Amos, and as we do, may we yield
our lives and times to Jesus Christ as LORD.
Next
time Amos
will share how “the
LORD will roar”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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