Amos the Herdsman Fig Picker Amos 7:14

Amos was being accused by Amaziah the priest to Jeroboam King of Israel concerning prophesies he was making about the king and Israel itself. Amaziah desired for Amos to “flee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there”, and he did not want Amos to “prophesy any more at Bethel” because it was where King Jeroboam's “chapel” and “court” were located. In chapter seven and verse fourteen of his prophesy, we come to know in addition to Amos being a “herdsman”, he was also a “fig picker” in his response to Amaziah. We read:

Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son;

but I was an herdsman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:

The verse begins, “Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son;” Amos began with the words, “Then answered” or “at that time responded, testified, spok or shouted” “Amos” who was “the prophet of the Lord who prophesied in the northern kingdom; native of Tekoa in Judah near Bethlehem and a shepherd by trade”, “and said” which means “uttered, declared and proclaimed” “to Amaziah” who was “a priest of Bethel under Jeroboam II”, “I was no prophet” which means “Amos was not an inspired spokesman or speaker”, “neither was I” or “nor was Amos” “a prophet's son” which means “the son of an inspired spokesman or speaker”. Amos referred to himself and his heritage as he defended against the words of Amaziah.

The verse goes on to say, “but I was an herdsman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:” Amos continued, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was previously stated, “I was a herdsman” which means “a shepherd or cattle tender”, “and a gatherer” which literally means “to pinch” or “to cultivate or tend to ripen” “of sycomore fruit” which refers to “fig fruit”. Amos stated his profession as a “cattleman” and adds that he was a “fig picker”.

When we think through these words of Amos, we discover another profession of Amos. Not only was he a “herdsman”, but was also a “fig picker”. This should further help us to realize God uses people from all stations in life. A rancher or fruit farmer may not have been who we thought the LORD would use to declare His judgments, but He did. Jesus came to show people their “value” in God by receiving Him as Savior and LORD. When Jesus went to the cross, He paid the ultimate price, His life, for our salvation, and in exchange, we receive that opportunity to live with Him eternally. Though Amos may not have thought himself very valuable, God gave Him great value as His prophet. What does the LORD have in mind for us?

Next time we see more of Amos' answer to Amaziah, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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