April 9, 2008

 

   The 8^th Century BC saw important changes taking place with God’s people, Israel.  After the division between Judah and Israel following Solomon’s reign,

See I Kings 12:16-19—Jeroboam schemed to create a worship center for

Israel (north)- I Kings 12:26-33—in Dan.  Jeroboam’s sin of leadership would

influence Israel in a profound, but evil way—I Kings 13:33, 14:9,16, 20.

   But this moral and spiritual decay found in Judah and Israel would be met by

a reformation under a seven prophets of Jehovah--- these would be called

“pre-exile” prophets:

 

prophet            approx.dates         Kings of Judah       Kings of Israel

Obadiah                845                   Jehoram                 Joram

Joel                      835                   Joash                       Jehu

Jonah                   782            Amaziah & Uzziah           Jeroboam 2^nd

Hosea                 760-720          Uzziah, Jotham,         Jeroboam 2^nd, Zech.

                                              Ahaz, Hezekiah           Shallum, ……Hoshea

Amos                  760                    Uzziah                   Jeroboam 2nd

Isaiah               739-685               Uzziah, Jotham        Pekah, Hoshea

                                              Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manass.  

Micah                737-690              Jotham, Ahaz,            Pekah, Hoshea

                                                  Hezekiah

   Not only did these prophets call Israel & Judah to obedience to the covenant

with Jehovah, but their proclamation was written, producing a body of material

of moral and instructive value.

 

        Most of these prophets have a two-fold message:

1) Condemnation of the sins of that generation with warnings as to God’s

   punishment

2) Hope extended to them due to God’s mercy and faithfulness to His

  plan for Israel;  such hope was both temporal and eschatological.  This

  hope often was connected with Messiah’s coming (both 1^st and 2^nd).

 

        Circumstances of Amos’ preaching merits our consideration:

1)  As Jeroboam 2^nd (793-753 BC) came to power, Syria, as a conquering

  nation had been defeated- II Kings 13:22-25, including Damascus- 14:28.  With

  this was the capturing of Hamath (Num.13:21, I Kgs.8:65) which as the

  northern most boundry of Israel.  Likely with this was the subjection of Moab

  and Ammon- see 1:3, 13, 2:1.

 2)   As a by-product of this military position, commerce flowed freely in

  northern Israel, resulting in prosperity for them—

  “houses of hewn stone”-5:11;          financial prosperity- 8:5; 4:1-3;

   expensive homes- 3:15, 5:11, 6:4-6

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   abuse and injustice to the poor- 2:6-7, 5:7, 10, 12,13;

   slavery of  the poor- 2:6, 8:6   gross immorality- 2:7     Cross referencing

   to Isaiah and Hosea reveal other ungodliness and injustice during this period.

 

3) Ritual (empty) had replaced genuine worship- 5:21-24--- already his

 father, Jeroboam 1^st, had placed golden calves in Dan and Bethel- I Kg.12:28-30

 Apparently, other gods were placed at Gilgal -8:14.  Jeroboam 2^nd’s dynasty

 was under divine judgment-7:9.  Amos is denounced for his preaching in

  7:10-11 by Amaziah, a priest.