Saul Weinreb - Let the Prophets Speak

Micah 2 - No Patience for Arrogance

Premeditated and planned oppression of others is the worst form of sin. God has no patience for this. You won;t listen to my true prophets, and you mock them, but liars and arrogant people you listen to. 

Micah 1 - God Descends Upon the Earth

Micah, the prophet from Maresha echoes the prophecies of his contemporaries Hosea and Isaiah as he predicts the destruction of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. The children of Jacob have sinned, and God's wrath will descend upon them.

Obadiah - The Fall of Edom

Obadiah tells of the arrogance of Edom, their pride and refusal to recognize God. He tells of their refusal to help their brother Israel, and much worse, how they collaborated with Israel's enemies and celebrated the suffering of their brothers.  For this reason Edom will be destroyed, their pride will be struck down.  One day, the Jewish people will return to Zion, and Edom and all the other nations who refuse to humble themselves before God will be destroyed. 

Obadiah Introduction - What's the Deal With Edom?

Some traditions regarding who the prophet Obadiah was, and why he focused his prophecy against the nation of Edom.  Why Edom? So many prophets singled out the treachery and evil of the people of Edom. In this introduction we trace the history of Esau's descendents and their enmity with the people of Israel.  Their philosophical differences, their jealousy, and their constant fighting despite being the people closest to Israel ethnically and culturally.

Amos 9 -You Can Hide, but You Will be Found

The chapter starts with the frightening and total destruction coming to the people. No matter where you run, God will find you.  But the punishment will never be total, God promises. The people will survive, and the righteous will return one day to rebuild the land. 

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.