Saul Weinreb - Let the Prophets Speak

Amos 8 - Not a Hunger for Food, but for the Word of God

Amos is shown a vision of a basket of figs, the end of summer fruit. This is a vision of the days at the end of times God says, when I will no longer look past the sins of the people.  Oppression of the poor, taking advantage of the underprivileged, this will not be tolerated or overlooked.  The very land itself cannot tolerate the lack of justice.  The days will come when the land will be overcome with a terrible hunger and thirst, but not for food or water, but thirst for the truth of God.  People will wander and search for truth but they won't find it in their wanderings.  God is right there inside our hearts, we need not exhaust ourselves searching to the ends of the Earth to find Him.

Amos 7b - Truth to Power

The High Priest reports the "rebellious" Amos to the King, and tries to banish Amos from the kingdom. Amos is not afraid, my message is from God, not from me, as I am just a humble shepherd. If you don't take heed to God's message, you will suffer the unfortunate consequences.

Amos 7a - God as a Construction Worker

God shows Amos two visions of utter destruction, locusts and fire, but the prophet's prayer saves the people. Then God shows Amos a vision of measured justice, and appears as a worker constructing a wall with a plumb line. Measured justice will have to come, a constructive justice meant to build the nation, instead of destroy it.

Amos 6 - Are You Any Better Than They?

God asks the people of Israel, look at the other nations, are you any better than they? You are living a lifestyle of luxury, which was obtained through injustice and oppression. You are not acting like the first among nations, rather you have turned yourselves into a corrupt and immoral society. As such I have no reason to treat you any different than the others.

Amos 5b - Let Justice and Righteousness Pour!

The path to God includes two steps, a demonstration of remorse for the evil ways, and a committment to the path of God. But the path of God is not a path of prayer, sacrifices and rituals. Not even songs and gatherings for God and holidays.  Rather, what God wants is for justice and righteousness to pour in torrents, this is what God has always wanted from His people. 

Amos 5a - I Have Fallen and I Can't Get Up!

The people have fallen to the point where they can no longer help themselves, they can no longer repair their corruption on their own.  But if they seek God, love good, hate evil, establish justice and righteousness, there is hope for them to reestablish their relationship with God.

Amos 4 - Prepare to Meet Your Maker

The people rebelled out of arrogance when God gave them everything, so He tried to punish them. They still did not listen, so He made it worse and worse. Nothing worked, they still turned away. God sarcastically tells them to go ahead and worship their idols, but warns of the inevitable consequences.  The prophets ends by beseeching the people, please prepare yourselves to meet God. The way you treat Him, will be the way He treats you.

Amos 3 - Reading the Signs

The special nature of the relationship between God and His people brings special responsibilities. Any relationship requires give and take, and has ups and downs. We must read the signs that abound in the world around us and recognize their lessons and their meaning. A society full of injustice and repression will not last, the enemies understand this, so the people should understand this too.

Amos 2 - Profits over Justice

Amos continues his critique of the societies around him and focuses closer to home. The corruption of money over justice, bribery over righteousness, lies over truth, and disrespect for God's laws.  this will lead to the destruction iof Israel and Judah.

Amos 1 - The Shepherd of Tekoa

We are introduced to one of the early prophets, a humble shpherd from Tekoa. God is patient, but some things are unforgiveable. Five things are unforgiveable for God; Humiliating others, making them suffer more than necessary, being ungrateful, acting out of anger, and acting selfishly. You can make mistakes a few times, but once they become ingrained in a society, it becomes impossible to cleanse.