The age

Amos carried out his prophetic ministry during the reign of Uzziah king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah (reigned 790-740 BC) and Jeroboam II king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (reigned 793-753 BC). As already mentioned, this period was one of great material prosperity. (1) Although Israel was divided into the Northern and Southern Kingdoms, both Uzziah and Jeroboam II were capable kings and brought prosperity to their respective kingdoms. The reason for this prosperity was that they controlled the three major trade routes and derived enormous income from them. (2) At that time, when the territories of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms are combined, they were comparable in size to those of the days of David and Solomon. (3) This was an age of wealth and prosperity, but at the same time, it was also an age dominated by idolatry. Amos went to the Northern Kingdom of Israel and proclaimed the Lord’s message of judgment in the town of Bethel. Bethel, together with Dan, the northernmost town, was an “idolatrous city” where golden calves had been set up. Amos delivered three messages to the Northern Kingdom: (1) The people of Israel have committed the sin of idolatry. (2) For that sin, God’s righteous judgment will come. (3) God desires the restoration of social justice.

The Lord’s roaring voice from Zion

(1) It says, “The Lord roars from Zion and from Jerusalem He utters His voice.” This is a quotation from Joel 3:16. In the passage in Joel, the Lord is calling out against the Gentiles. Here, however, the Lord is calling out to the people of the Northern Kingdom. (2) It says, “And the shepherds’ pasture grounds mourn, and the summit of Carmel dries up.” This teaches how terrifying the Lord’s righteous judgment is. Within the land of Israel, the summit of Carmel is a place where springs continually flow. Even during the three-year famine in the days of the prophet Elijah, there was water at the summit of Carmel. Even today, Mount Carmel is rich in water and a lush, green mountain. If the summit of Carmel withers, it goes without saying what will happen to other places. This is a Jewish method of argument that illustrates the “greater” in order to show that the “lesser” will certainly be the same. In an age when people were intoxicated with superficial prosperity, Amos was a person who was able to discern a state of spiritual bankruptcy. How would you evaluate the modern-day? If we are unable to see through the true nature rather than the superficial things, we too will end up being swept along by the currents of the times. The present age is one that awaits the emergence of those who, together with the Lord, cry out from Zion.