The MAJOR & MINOR Prophets - The 16 Writing Prophets Of The Hebrew Canon

Outline of the Book of Amos

I. Judgment against the Nations (chs. 1-2) $ . Six Foreign Nations % . Judah and Israel.

II. Three Discourses against Israel (chs. 3-6)

$ . The Lord ಬ s Verdict & Sentence (3) Summons and Indictment (4) % . Causes of Lamentations

III. Visions of Judgment & Restoration (chs. 7-9) $ . Fivefold Visions of Judgment % . Restoration of David ಬ s Tabernacle & . Return of the Captives

There were other prophets at the time, three of whom were well-known contemporaries of Amos: Jonah (2 Kg 14:25), Hosea (Hos 1:1) and Isaiah (Isa 1:1). Amos began his ministry after Hosea, a resident of Israel, who had made his dynamic

proclamations and illustrated God ಬ s love for Israel by personally taking back his wayward wife. The time had now come to make another significant plea for national repentance and to reaffirm that God is merciful, would forgive and be ready to deliver!

Can you imagine this farmer-turned-prophet arriving in Bethel, beginning his message by denouncing eight major nations of that time, following that up with

three withering discourses against Israel, climaxing with five visions of judgment and nine promises of restoration? Amos didn ಬ t speak like a king ಬ s herald, or a frenzied prophet, or a polished priest; he was a common man with an uncommon message, who knew he had heard from God. Small wonder he has been called ಯ the prophet of righteousness. ರ The text of Amos is not necessarily chronological; it appears to have been written after the prophet ಬ s ministry was concluded.

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