An Introduction to the Old Testament - Amos

Dillard, Raymond B. & Longman, Tremper III. "Amos."  An Introduction to the Old Testament.  Grand Rapids: Zondervan. 1994. 373-384.

The relatively short book of Amos has tended to attract a great deal of attention, being the subject of a great deal of scholarly writing, especially in recent years.  Amos was active sometime during the first half of the eighth century B.C., so he is among the earliest of the writing prophets.  Amos' preaching is set in the northern kingdom though Amos himself is from Tekoa, in Judah.  Though on the surface Amos may appear to be a humble manual laborer, the term he uses of himself actually belongs to a more influential man, such as a breeder or broker of herds.  Amos refers to himself as not being particularly a prophet.  His brief book may well bear this out.  We don't know if these oracles were gathered over a long period of time or if they were possibly written in a very brief time period.  Either is entirely possible.  Regardless, it does not appear that Amos saw himself primarily as a prophet, but rather as someone engaged in his stated business.

We see that Amos has been subject to the higher critical methodology during the twentieth century, trying to pull the text apart and assign it to various authors, indicating various stages of growth.  This is, as usual, fairly unsatisfactory.

Amos is easily divided into three sections.  In chapters 1-2 he issues oracles against the surrounding nations, using a numerical formula to identify their sins.  Many readers are familiar with phrases like, "for three sins, even for four."    In chapters 3-6 Amos speaks judgment against Israel, typically using the pattern of a lawsuit, though also using a variety of other literary devices.  In chapters 7-9 Amos recounts five visions he received.  In the first four visions God brings judgment on sin, while in the fifth vision God brings salvation from sin.  

Amos' theology seems to be centered around five different themes.  He speaks of divine sovereignty and judgment, idolatry and social injustices, the covenant of God and the remnant people, the day of the Lord's judgment, and the power and efficacy of God's word.

As we approach the New Testament we see that Amos has blazed a trail for us in dealing with social injustice and God's covenantal gathering of all nations together in Christ.

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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com and http://alex-kirk.blogspot.com