Please read these study guide questions on Amos and Isaiah and then all nine chapters of Amos. Choose any of the first 13 study guide questions and suggest an answer to that question here.I would be particularly interested in your comments on Amos' use of imagery. Do you find any of Amos' images particularly effective? Particularly disturbing?
The first three questions on the study guide really intrigued me, and I feel that their answers are intertwined. From my perspective, I think of a prophet as a human messenger between God and humans. I see it almost like a human angel, but rather than a heavenly being delivering the message, it is an early being. This is one reason it may be difficult to know if one is a prophet. An angel can speak directly to a person, but a person can't speak to God face to face, which no doubt would cause the credibility/sanity of one to come into question.
ReplyDeleteI think the difference between a priest and a prophet is that God chooses his prophets and 'priest' is more of a man given title and authority. Many priests do say they are called, but much of what they teach and deliver is human tradition and religious practices rather than messages or warnings of things to come. This is also probably why it is difficult for people to accept someone who has been given the title of prophet, because their authority comes from God, not the mass rule of people. It is a God given title that they can't verify, and the messages are often less pleasant and comforting than the traditions and messages the priests deliver. In addition, this gift may cause some people to question why they weren't chosen.
I don't think we can know for sure who is prophet until years down the road. For example, there are so many people who claim to have messages from God (think of all the "it's the end of the world"....again, and again, and again) that we tend to scoff at anyone claiming to have a message from God. And in many ways, I'm sure the same thing happened to the prophets of the Old Testament.
7. What are the specific sins Amos warns against?
ReplyDeleteDamascus has cut it's wheat with iron instruments.
Gaza, they took captive the whole captivity.
Tyrus, broke a brotherly Covenant.
Edom, was angry and used violence to pursue his brother.
Ammon, they conquered land and took children from their mother.
Moab, they are punished for burning the bones of Edom.
In chapter 2 he says they have turned away from the laws of God. That was Judah. For Israel "they sold their righteous for silver and the poor for a pair of shoes."
Specify they do not treat God with respect even though he gives them good teeth and Bread.
It seems that everyone is inter related to the other. Edom comes up a lot.
I forgot to add that Amos 3:3-8 provides imagery that I feel helps Amos establish his credibility as a prophet...oops!
ReplyDelete4. I believe Amos being the prophet for Israel instead of his native Judah would make the job easier. Amos most likely knows less people in Israel than in Judah, so telling them all of the horrible things that will happen to them wouldn't be as difficult. On the other hand, the people of Israel would not know Amos and well as the people of Judah, so they may not take his message from God to heart, and continue to sin.
ReplyDeleteThe imagery Amos uses is in many ways disturbing, but that is what makes it most effective. For example, 7:17 says "Your wife will become a prostitute in the city and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword." This is particularly disturbing but may lead people to turn back to God.
8. Why does Israel want the Nazarites to drink wine, and why do they order the prophets not to prophecy?
ReplyDeleteIsrael has become so comfortable in their prosperity that they have become complacent. The Nazirites and the prophets speak out against the ways of society. If someone keeps saying things that make you feel bad for how you are living, wouldn't you want them to be quiet? What better way then to have them break their vows (drink or eat from the vine) and be quiet...
I don't think Amos's imagery is too disturbing, but it sounds like a frustrated and angry God. Look at all the offenses he's upset about, even among the other nations: selling people into slavery, killing pregnant women, trampling over the weak, women refusing to help the oppressed, and aren't women usually the more tender gender? It seems to be addressing those things to show just how bad things are, with people not caring about the injustice and oppression all around them.
I really like the book of Amos, because it just sounds to me like a desperate plea. The Lord relents harsher punishments... He does say that he will not let even "the least kernel fall upon the earth and be lost." God does still intend to "plant them in the land." It just sounds like the soil of Israel needs to be tilled up before it will become good land...
2. How would one ever know for sure one was truly a prophet of God? Could one ever know for sure? Do the prophets seem to have doubts about their mission and message?
ReplyDeleteTHis has a lot to do with faith because if someone has a strong faith, than they believe wholeheartedly that God is on their side and everything he speaks to them about they do or let influence their life. In Amos its hard to find a passage that they are doubting their belief in God, but everyone questions God, that's human nature because mankind as a whole doesn't know all that God knows. If people could act and do everything God does they would be highly disappointed, because even Jesus had a hard time and that was basically Jesus in human form.
tom quigg
As far as what a prophet is, I believe they are people chosen by God to serve as a voice for Him, whereas preists moreso have a much less divine authority. Preists aren't really chosen by God. I think it would be harder to be a prophet for this reason, because if you do wrong, you have to answer directly to the Boss Upstairs.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing that separates prophets from preists, and a reason why being a prophet would be more difficult, is that more often than not, you have to tell the people that they are doing wrong in God's eyes. I don't think anyone really wants to rain on peoples' parades, so to speak.
One way you may be able to tell if a prophet is genuine or not is by the type of message they have. Often it's a message that the people don't want to hear, but they NEED to hear it.
Another thing that makes them more credible is when they start bringing up issues about certain people that are so private and intimate that no one else could possibly know about them. I have laid witness to this first-hand.
Moving on to imagery...I think a vast majority of the book of Amos gives me a feeling like that of a father punishing his children. He first mentions all of Israel's neighbors that won't escape punishment, but God seems to save the worst for last. Upon reaching Israel, they have a whole laundry list of things they're doing wrong. Just one example is how they would rather worship their kings and other gods before Jehovah.
Amos 5:26...But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.
I think there are several particular parts that give me a particular disturbingly scary, yet effective, image. The following passages really pull it together.
Amos 5:18-20...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. (19) As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. (20) [Shall] not the day of the LORD [be] darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?
Basically, he's saying that the next time they see God's hand, it won't be a day to rejoice, because it will be a destruction they are helpless against.
Amos 4:12-13...Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: [and] because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
(13) For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what [is] his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, [is] his name.
The last passage above especially gave me an image of a helpless Israel with a powerful, gigantic shadow looming over them, ready to thrust them into oblivion, saying, "It's time to meet your maker." But I also get a vibe like He's also trying to say, "Who's your daddy?"
I think number 2 is a question that all non-prophets think about. When one is truly a prophet of God I believe that they know it. When one truly hears the voice of God talking to them there is no question about whether it’s real or not. I think one can know for sure because if God really wants someone to do something He is going to choose the right person to do what needs to be done. He took Amos, who was a herdman, and told him to “Go, prophesy unto my people Israel” (7:15). When Amaziah told Amos to flee and stop prophesying where they were he pretty much explained in confidence that he was an ordinary man that God sent to prophesy and he won’t stop until he has done what the Lord said to do. Because of this example, I believe that the prophets have no doubts about their missions and messages.
ReplyDeleteWhen addressing the questions for number 3 I decided that it would be hard for anyone to just recognize someone as a prophet. That would be difficult at first, but after hearing what the prophet has to say they should believe him. Although, when prophets give warnings to the people telling them that what they are doing is wrong, it can be hard for them to accept what the prophet has to say. If they don’t listen or believe that the person is a prophet all they have to do is wait until the word of the Lord comes to pass.
4) Amos is called to prophecy in Israel rather than in his native place, Judah. This reminded me of the verse (Luke 4:24) that says, "I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown." I know that's not from the book of Amos, but that could be a big reason why Amos was called to prophecy in Israel instead of Judah. For some reason the people who know you best are sometimes the last ones to listen to what you have to say. Possibly Amos, coming from another place, would be more likely to be heard by the Israelites. In that sense, it probably made things easier.
ReplyDelete7. What are the specific sins Amos warns against?
ReplyDeleteAmos speaks out to warn the people of Israel against: greed,hypocrisy, mistreatment of the poor, injustices and the separation of religious rituals from the people.
Reading the part when God is talking with Amos about the basket of fruit makes a good connection to today with relation to the wealth of society.
"Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land, saying, 'When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?' - skimping the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales, buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat."
I think this has great tie ins with today's society, in which we have seen this with our own eyes. Men taking advantage of the poor and at the same times keeping them poor, trampling over them and trying to drive them out.
Question 4- Amos is called to prophecy in Israel rather than in his native place, Judah.
ReplyDeleteI think that this would make life harder for Amos. No one would want to listen to sheperd from another country. They would be slow to accept that he was a prophet and not just crazy. The people just would not want to deal with him. He also wouldn't know Israel as well as he would no Judah so he would have that to deal with on top of everything else. I think that all these factors just makes Amos's job hard.
Tyler Munson
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1- What is a prophet
A prophet is someone who is well-versed in the scriptures and asks people to reevaluate their thinking about their religion. Becoming a prophet is something that in my view is a calling. Is it divine intervention or simply a person becoming enlightened about their faith? We don't know for sure. A prophet is not a priest, if anything they can often contradict the priests teachings and this can cause some problems for the prophet. The priests donn''t like hearing that they are wrong and these prophets could find themselves in trouble in the heiracy department.
4. I think that because Amos is from Judah rather than Israel it is easier for him to preach about the destruction of God to Israel. He is not from there so he does not have any connection with the people there. Telling the people the power of God and what he is going to do does not really affect him too much. He did not commit these sins and so it is a win win for him. He tells them and they are either going to follow the words or continue their old ways, but neither one really affects Amos.
ReplyDeleteIn the first 11 chapters of Isaiah there is a lot of imagery referring to how the people of Israel have become. The sharpest, most powerful imagery (in my opinion) is in chapter 39 when it is written that God weighs the mountains on scales, along with the hills, and how he has every speck counted and accounted for. These concepts are very clear, and powerful, because they are written to be interpreted as very clear and vast images in the mind. Instead of disturbing, these images are powerful and encouraging - this God is all knowing and all being yet still loves unconditionally.
ReplyDeleteTo answer one of the other questions, in my opinion a Prophet is actually chosen by God, whereas a priest is a more political position of powerful and influence, not necessarily for the sake of absolute good.
#5- Amos begins his message with a series of warnings to people around Israel: the Syrians, the Philistines, the Phoenicians, etc. Why do you suppose he does this?
ReplyDeleteAmos does this so the people in Israel agree with him on how bad the other people around Israel is bad, and so he can get there attention and after getting there attention. Start telling the people of Israel that you are just like those other places I spoke of that will fail and crumble, and that the destruction of Israel will happen as well because you do not to follow God words "Covenant" and for the people that are following God's word will be left and Israel will be restored.