AmosThe Prophet of the North
Around 750 BCE, Amos, a shepherd from Judah, goes north to preach against the sinful kingdom of Israel. Amos was a prophet from the town of Tekoh in Juda. He was unassuming, but bold and fearless when called to bear witness against the evils of his day. Prior to his call to the prophetic office, Amos was a shepherd who devoted a part of his time to tending sycamore trees and gathering their fruit. Amos is sometimes called the "gloomy shepherd." He was not known for his sympathy or warmth, but for his sense of justice and of pride. Amos directed his message to the wealthy people who oppressed the poor. His primary audience was the Northern Kingdom . . .
God's law was designed to protect people and share justice for all. Amos' message is largely a "cry for justice. These people were wealthy and enjoyed great luxury. However, Amos would say to especially reach out to the ones that are poor and weak. When Jesus said," to love your neighbor, " he meant to love all of your neighbors, weather they be next door, next state, or even in another country. The mission of Amos was therefor, rather to threaten than to console. " (Amos 5:14) Through this, Amos says that the Lord abominates processions, sacrifices, and hymns singing that do not come from sincere hearts. However, they were morally, religiously and politically corrupt. Amos was angered because the rich people were disregarding God's law. " Amos' message then was to spread justice to all people, especially the weak and the poor. For example, Amos condemns the rich women of Samaria for lying around and acting like fat cattle. He charged the great men with partiality as judges, and violence towards the poor; and he foretells, as a punishment from God, the capacity of the ten tribes in a foreign country. He warns them that someday this lavish lifestyle they live, will not exist. He would direct that people should love and treat all as equal status citizens.
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