Amos - Free sermon outlines, Bible study and

-- So while he was Judah, he primarily prophesiedagainst Israel in the northOCCUPATION - "a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit."a. An outdoorsman, accustomed to the wilds of nature,and of hard, honest toilb. It would be easy for him to have little sympathy forthe lazy and materialistic conduct of his northernkinsmanCHARACTERa. Not known for his sympathy or warmth, but for hissense of justice and rightb. "Not a sob is to be found in his book for the nationof wicked apostates, and there is only a sigh for thepoor" (Hailey)He is reminiscent of John the Baptisthttp://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/mp/mp_06.htmDouglas Smith: Background on the Prophet(Adapted from: The Bible Knowledge Commentary)Before Amos began prophesying, he had been one of the “shepherds” of Tekoa, a town in the hillcountry of Judah about 10 miles south of Jerusalem. The word used for “shepherds” in 1:1 is notthe usual Hebrew word ro_eh, but the rare word noqe_, suggesting instead “sheep breeders.”Amos evidently managed or owned large herds of sheep and goats, and was in charge of othershepherds.In Amos 7:14 the prophet further described himself as “a shepherd” and as one who “took careof sycamore-fig trees.” This word for “shepherd,” bôqer, occurs only here in the Old Testament,and describes a “herdsman” or “cattleman.”Besides overseeing his livestock operations, Amos was also occupied in growing sycamore fruit,presumably as a sideline. The sycamore-fig tree was a broad heavy tree, 25 to 50 feet high,which produced a fig-like fruit three or four times a year. The sycamore did not grow in theheights of Tekoa, but only in the warmer lowlands, as the Jordan Valley and the fertile oases bythe Dead Sea. Both of these places were near enough to Tekoa for Amos to supervise the takingcare of the trees (7:14)—a technical term that describes the process of slitting or scratching theforming fruit so that some juice runs out, allowing the rest of the fig to ripen into a sweeter, moreedible fruit.The three terms together indicate that Amos, as a breeder, rancher, and farmer, was a substantialand respected man in his community.2. Medium of the Revelation“which he envisioned in visions”3. Focus of the Prophet’s Burden = God’s Own People“concerning Israel”4. Timeframe of His Ministrya. Southern Kingdom reference“in the days of Uzziah king of Judah”