AMOS was a shepherd, called by God, who wrote near the time of a major
earthquake. He wrote of coming destruction of Israel during a time of economic
prosperity. (Which made his message even less popular.) That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of
Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the
altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. Amos
3:14
He criticized the rich for abusing the poor at the time -
Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy,
even to make the poor of the land to fail...That we may buy the poor for silver,
and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of
the wheat? Amos 8:4,6
He called the coming
judgment the Day of the Lord - Woe unto you that desire the day
of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.
Amos 5:18
He posed the question - Can two walk together, except they be
agreed? Amos 3:3
Amaziah, the priest at Bethel, told
Amos to leave after he prophesied against King Jereboam II of Israel.
Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer,
go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy
there: Amos 7:12
In
summary - Behold, the days come,
saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of
bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
Amos 8:11 For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me,
and ye shall live: Amos
5:11
