Minor Prophets Study Correlation and Application_Asignment

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BIBL 317 Jerry O Johnson M INOR P ROPHETS S TUDY : P ASSAGE A NALYSIS T EMPLATE A MOS 2:6–16 1. Historical Context: In at least 150 words, explain the prophet’s historical context. Be sure to include elements like dates, region of ministry, political environment, kings reigning during his time, etc. Your answer to this question should be in paragraph and include at least 1 reference to or citation from a scholarly resource. Amos was one of the “shepherds” of Tekoa, a town in the hill country of Judah about 10 miles south of Jerusalem before he began prophesying. He managed or owned large herds of sheep and goats, and was in charge of other shepherds. Besides overseeing his livestock operations, Amos was also occupied in growing sycamore fruit, presumably as a sideline. The long reigns of Uzziah (790–739 b.c.) in Judah and of Jeroboam II (793–753 b.c.) in Israel had brought stability, prosperity, and expansion to the two kingdoms. The Northern Kingdom, to whom Amos’ message was directed, was at the zenith of its power. Wealth began to accumulate in her cities, commerce thrived, an upper class emerged, and expensive homes were built, while the poor became targets for legal and economic exploitation. Slavery for debt was easily accepted, and standards of morality had sunk to a low ebb. Meanwhile, religion flourished, and the people thronged to the shrines for the yearly festivals, enthusiastically offering their sacrifices. According to Sunukjian, Amos was a shepherd before he became a prophet. He lived in the Northern Kingdom during the reigns of Jeroboam II of Israel and Uzziah of Judah. The two kingdoms were prosperous and powerful, but their prosperity led to social injustice and moral corruption. The rich exploited the poor, and religious observance was marked by insincerity and immorality. Clements suggests that Amos' message was a call to repentance and a warning of impending judgement. He saw God as a God of justice who would not tolerate the oppression of the poor and the abuse of power by the wealthy. 1 2. Portrayal of Evil: In at least 150 words, answer the following questions. Is the passage listing particular sins, or is it portraying it (symbolically)? Please elaborate. Similarly, is the accusation specific or more generalized/abstract? Is the sin directed at other people (social) or directly toward God (religious)? Realize that even though we construct this division, both ultimately earn divine judgment in the same manner. Is the passage highlighting individuals or groups? Which parts of the Mosaic covenant is the audience breaking? Your answer for this section should be in paragraph and include at least 1 reference to or quotation from a scholarly source. 1 Sunukjian, Donald R. “Amos.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, Wheaton, IL: 1425 Page 1 of 14

BIBL 317 Jerry O Johnson The passage in question is Amos 2:6 to Amos 6, which speaks of the judgment against Israel. The passage highlights how the people of Israel had broken the Mosaic Covenant in various ways. They had committed social injustice, legal perversion, sexual sin, abuse of collateral, and idolatry. The passage accuses individuals and groups of their sins, both directed towards God and other people. The sins of the people were specifically listed, not symbolically portrayed. The sins of the people were directed towards other people as well as God. The audience was the Northern tribes of Israel. The passage is clear in pointing out the different parts of the Mosaic Covenant that the audience was breaking. For instance, they were not practicing generosity and open- handedness towards the poor, which was commanded by the covenant. The courts had colluded with creditors to deny justice to the oppressed. The people had shown their disregard for the Lord of the covenant and profaned His holy name by engaging in sexual promiscuity. The people had also rebelled against the most basic covenant stipulation by worshipping other gods. 3. Denunciation of Evil: In at least 150 words, answer the following questions. Does the prophet use outside evidence in the accusation/denunciation? (See Jeremiah 8:7 for an example where the birds are used to demonstrate how evil and unwise the people are. Another popular form of evidence is the audience’s historical memory.) Read the following verses in Amos 3:1–2 and provide an explanation for why Israel is singled out for such severe punishment (especially when compared to the sins of the nations identified in 1:2—2:5). Your answer for this section should be in paragraph and include at least 1 reference to or quotation from a scholarly source. In denouncing evil, prophets often use outside evidence to support their accusations. In Jeremiah 8:7, for example, the prophet uses the behavior of birds to illustrate the foolishness of the people: "Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord." Amos uses historical evidence. This was not the first time the children of Israel had committed similar sins. In the book of Isaiah chapter 13, the people where punished for their arrogance and ruthlessness. The sold their brothers to slavery who could not pay their debts. 2 In Amos 3:1-2, Israel is singled out for severe punishment because they were the chosen people of God. They were in a unique relationship with God, and as such, they were expected to behave differently than the other nations. The people of Israel were God's people, and they alone were chosen out of all the families of the earth. They had been brought up out of Egypt and had been intimately revealed to God's plans and intentions for them. Because of this special relationship, their sins were even more terrible than those of the other nations. The punishment that God would bring upon them would be severe because of their 2 Sunukjian, Donald R. “Amos.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, Wheaton, IL: 1431 Page 2 of 14

BIBL 317 Jerry O Johnson covenantal relationship with Him. God had given them great covenantal blessings, and as such, they should have wanted to please Him in return. 4. Prediction of Judgment against Evildoers: In at least 150 words, answer the following questions. What are the consequences of the people’s sin(s)? What are some of the images used to describe their judgment? How does the punishment reflect the covenant curses established in Deuteronomy 28? Your answer for this section should be in paragraph and include at least 1 reference to or quotation from a scholarly source. The consequences of their sin include destruction, exile, and loss of status as God's chosen people. The prophet Amos warns that the people's religious rituals and sacrifices are meaningless without true repentance and obedience to God's commands. b. The book of Amos uses vivid images to describe the judgment against evildoers. These include the image of a plumb line measuring the nation's righteousness (Amos 7:7-8), the image of a basket of ripe fruit symbolizing the nation's imminent destruction (Amos 8:1-2), and the image of a roaring lion ready to pounce on its prey (Amos 3:4-8). 3 c. The punishment predicted in the book of Amos reflects the covenant curses established in Deuteronomy 28. These curses include famine, pestilence, defeat in battle, and exile (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). The book of Amos describes these same curses as the consequences of Israel's disobedience to God's covenant. The punishment reflects a breach in the covenant relationship between God and his people. As Walvoord and Zuck note, "God’s electing grace is always meant to influence one’s conduct. His special commitments and blessings often contain special chastisements to discipline and to purge" (Bible Knowledge Commentary). 5. Summary: In at least 75 words, answer the following questions. How does God’s indictment of Israel in these verses inform us about the purpose of Amos’ ministry? In other words, according to this passage, why has Amos been called to preach against Israel? In Amos chapters 1 through 3, God indicts Israel for their sins and announces punishment against them. This informs us that the purpose of Amos' ministry was to call Israel to repentance and warn them of God's impending judgment if they did not turn from their wicked ways. Amos was called to preach against Israel because they had turned away from God and had become corrupt in their worship, social and economic practices, and treatment of the poor and marginalized. They had abandoned the covenant that God had made with 3 Sunukjian, Donald R. “Amos.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, Wheaton, IL: 1426 Page 3 of 14

BIBL 317 Jerry O Johnson them and had become like the nations around them. Therefore, Amos was called to remind them of their covenantal relationship with God and to call them to return to Him. Page 4 of 14

BIBL 317 Jerry O Johnson M INOR P ROPHETS S TUDY : I MAGERY AND M ETAPHOR T EMPLATE A MOS God: How is God portrayed in Amos? In the book of Amos, God is portrayed using various images and metaphors. He is depicted as a judge, a shepherd, a fire, and a storm. His attributes include anger, compassion, and jealousy, as well as being heartbroken by Israel's disobedience. Throughout the book, God is seen bringing judgment upon Israel for their sins, but also offering redemption and restoration for those who repent and turn back to Him. One of the main images used for God in Amos is that of a judge. Amos presents God as a just and righteous judge who will not tolerate sin and injustice. This is seen in the metaphor of the plumb line, which represents God's standard of righteousness against which Israel (the covenant Law and its requirements) is measured (Sunukjian). Another image used for God is that of a shepherd, who cares for and protects His flock. This is seen in Amos 3:12, where God is described as rescuing His people from the jaws of a wild animal (Sunukjian) God's attributes are also highlighted in the book of Amos. He is portrayed as anger towards Israel for their disobedience and idolatry, but also compassionate towards those who turn back to Him (Sunukjian). His heart is broken by Israel's unfaithfulness and rejection of His love and mercy. God's actions in the book include bringing judgment upon Israel for their sins, controlling the elements through storms and earthquakes, and offering redemption and restoration to those who repent and turn back to Him. In summary, the book of Amos presents God as a just and righteous judge who cares for and protects His people. He is portrayed using various images and metaphors, including that of a judge, a shepherd, and a creator. His attributes include anger, compassion, jealousy, and a broken heart over Israel's disobedience. God's actions in the book include bringing judgment upon Israel for their sins, controlling the elements, and offering redemption and restoration to those who repent and turn back to Him (Daniel). Sunukjian, Donald R. “Amos.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1, 1423-1453. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983. R. Carroll M. Daniel. The Book of Amos: Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdman’s Publising Company, 2020 Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011). Amos 1:2, 3:12, 5:24, 7:7-9, and 9:5-6. Page 5 of 14

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