Amos - Free sermon outlines, Bible study and
Amos - Free sermon outlines, Bible study and
Amos - Free sermon outlines, Bible study and
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When the Jewish kingdom was divided after the death of Solomon (1 Kings 12), King Jeroboamof Israel didn’t want his people going to Jerusalem to worship, lest they go to Judah <strong>and</strong> neverreturn to Israel. So he established shrines with golden calves at Dan <strong>and</strong> Bethel, set up his ownpriesthood, <strong>and</strong> encouraged the people to worship in Israel. Contrary to the Law of Moses, theking also allowed the people to visit local shrines, where it was more convenient to worshipwhatever god they chose.<strong>Amos</strong> announced that the Lord would destroy the royal chapel at Bethel (<strong>Amos</strong> 7:13), whichindicated that Israel’s entire man-made religious system would be demolished. Nobody would beable to lay hold of the horns of the altar <strong>and</strong> claim protection (1 Kings 1:50-53), for the hornswould be cut off.Constable (3:15) God also promised to destroy the Israelites' winter <strong>and</strong> summer homes.The fact that many Israelite families could afford two houses <strong>and</strong> yet were oppressing theirpoorer brethren proved that they lived in selfish luxury. They had embellished their great houseswith expensive ivory decorations (cf. 1 Kings. 21:1, 18; 22:39; Ps. 45:8). The two great sins ofthe Israelites, false religion (v. 14) <strong>and</strong> misuse of wealth <strong>and</strong> power (v. 15), would be the objectsof God's judgment. Even some ancient kings did not possess two houses.B. (4:1-13) Message #2 -- Judgment Could Have Been Avoided by Repentance --But God Has Reached the Limits of His Patience <strong>and</strong> Forbearance with His StubbornlyRebellious People“Yet you have not returned to me”1. (:1-11) Judgment Deserved for Idolatry <strong>and</strong> Oppressiona. (:1-3) Humiliating Deportation due to Decadent OpulenceHere <strong>Amos</strong> condemned the opulence of the women of Samaria who were asgreedy <strong>and</strong> insensitive as their husb<strong>and</strong>s.b. (:4-5) Hypocritical Religious Exercises – Form without Heartfelt RepentanceSacrificesTithesThank Offering<strong>Free</strong> will Offeringc. (:6-11) Five Historical Scenarios of Stubbornly Spurning God’s FatherlyDisciplineKey: “’Yet you have not returned to Me,’ declares the Lord.”1) (:6) Discipline of Famine – no food to eat2) (:7-8) Discipline of Drought – Providentially withholding or providingrainfall3) (:9) Discipline of Disease <strong>and</strong> Plagues upon the crops4) (:10) Discipline of Defeats in War – the stench of dead bodies in thecamp