Amos, a contemporary of Hosea and Isaiah, was a bit of an elder statesmen in comparison. He came late to the game, after a long career as a shepherd and fig farmer. Social justice is his banner, particularly in regard to the disparities between the wealthy and the poor. He was a big believer in God’s omnipotence, and divine judgment. Singled out, over and over, in his teachings was his belief that actions speak louder than words – a man who does bad deeds can’t make up for them simply through prayer and repentance.
- May as well open with a bang and God threatening to rain down destruction on Damascus, Gaza, and Tyre for the sins of their populations. By way of introduction, all we get is that Amos, a longtime shepherd, is passing on the announcement.
- I’ve heard the argument that Jews are held to a higher standard of morality before, but here we have it spelled out. While the folk of Moab and Egypt are being called out for rape, murder, and rampaging, the folk of Israel are being called out for not treating the poor well, for fathers and sons visiting the same prostitute, and for drinking fine wine instead of consecrated swill in sacred spaces. Same punishments are being meted out – death, destruction, and exile.
- It’s all very metaphorical, but my sense of what Amos is trying to say on behalf of God is that bad stuff doesn’t happen in a vacuum. If wicked folk from one culture are turning folk in your culture wicked too, then at least part of the responsibility lies with your own culture and its leaders, as the people have apparently found them lacking.
- Look, says God, I’ve sent different groups of you one punishment after another for not following my ways. Over and over, I’ve sent death and destruction, and you folks just don’t come back and worship me. I don’t get it, what are you doing wrong that you’re not falling in line? I know it’s not my fault, I’ve done my part. You just go on worshiping other gods who promise you nice things and better times. I’m promising that if you worship me, I might just stop ruining your lives. I think that’s a fair offer.
- God’s still on a rant…. he doesn’t want to hear your prayers and your hymns and your music of either joy or sorrow, not if it’s not accompanied by bowing down to him, making sacrifices to him, and, just, by the way, please get rid of all those images of “astral deities” that you’ve got posted on your wall. It’s my way or the highw… um, no, actually, it’s my way or I’m going to slaughter 90% of you, just to remind you who you should be worshipping.
- We’re still on a bit of a “drain the swamp” kick, with God promising to wipe out the indolent rich folk and the corrupt officials of justice. I’m guessing, based on the prophetic books we’ve already covered to date, that at some point his head of steam is going to wind down, he’s going to lament all of his ranting, and promise to raise his people up rather than mow them down.
- So, the rich and powerful folk aren’t happy that Amos is going around spouting all this stuff about death and destruction, and as has happened with past prophets, put out an order to stop him. But Amos says, hey, wait, I’m not a prophet, I’m a cattle breeder, and a fig tree farmer, I’m just saying things that come to me. And they’re all like, well, STFU, and he’s like, but I feel compelled to tell you my visions, like it’s from God or something. And they’re like, we said, STFU.
- God tells Amos to look in a basket and tell him what he sees. He sees it’s full of figs. God then says, see, right there, that’s all the evidence I need to turn the Israelites into nomads, strip them of their riches, and kill off a bunch of them. You see it too, right? Amos sees a basket of figs. But God apparently sees the deeper meaning of a basket of figs – exile, destruction, and death. I mean, how could you miss it? It’s a basket of figs!
- No where to run, no where to hide. God’s gonna hunt down every last one of you who violates his rules and put you to death by sword. Then he’s going to restore Israel to be a land of plenty, where the Jews will live happily ever after. End scene.