Amos / week 1

Watch the Bible Project Video on Amos here

Read Amos 1 and 2

Amos 1

1. Why would God choose a shepherd from Judah to serve as a prophet to Israel (notice the language of Amos 1:2b)? What might this say about God’s choice of people in carrying out His work (1 Samuel 16:7)? Would you be ready to serve God if He called you to a task?

2. If Israel was the primary recipient/focus of these prophecies, then why would God also pronounce judgment on the other nations listed from Amos 1:3 through 2:16? What does this say about how Israel’s sin compares to that of its pagan neighbors?

3. Notice the formula “For three sins/transgressions … and/even for four …” What does this mean? What does this say about God’s patience as well as His judgment (cf. Genesis 15:16)? How does this impact you as you think about God’s patience with your sinful choices?

4. What was the specific sin of Damascus that merited God’s judgment (Amos 1:3-5)? Does similar sinful activity take place today? Why does God not bring His obvious judgment on nations today (see 2 Peter 3:7-12 for a possible answer)?

5. Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Ekron were all Philistine cities. What was the history of Israel’s relationship with the Philistines like (skim 1 Samuel 17 for help)? What does the judgment in Amos 1:6-9 say about God’s protection of His covenant people (Genesis 12:3)?

6. What is the “treaty/covenant of brotherhood” and how did Tyre breach it (Amos 1:9; see 1 Kings 5:1, 10-12)? What is the significance of God promising to send fire upon the walls of the fortresses of these cities? What will this “fire” look like (see 2 Kings 25:8-10 perhaps)?

7. Considering the nations and sins listed in this chapter, what do these verses say about God’s view of life and justice? What were these peoples’ attitudes towards God and life (see especially Amos 1:13)? How can you respond to these truths this week as you interact with others at home, work, or church?

Amos 2

1. What did the people of Moab do to deserve God’s judgment (Amos 2:1b)? What might you expect the attitude of the people of Moab to be (see Isaiah 16:6)? What’s the big deal with burning bones to lime (Isaiah 33:12)? Does this make cremation wrong?

2. What irony do we see between the burning of the King of Edom’s bones and God’s judgment upon Moab in Amos 2:2? Read Jeremiah 48:20-26 for another graphic picture of God’s judgment upon Moab.

3. What was the sin for which Judah was guilty (Amos 2:4)? How did Judah’s judgment compare to that of Moab’s (Amos 2:5)? What does this tell us about God’s expectations for His people who have been given His clearly revealed desires for their lives (2 Kings 22:13)?

4. What do you notice about the number of verses Amos uses to describe Israel’s judgment? What does this say about God’s concern about Israel’s disobedience? Why would He be this concerned about their disobedience (see Exodus 19:5-6 and Psalm 98:2-3)?

5. What were some of Israel’s specific sins in Amos 2:6-8 and 12? What was God’s desire for them regarding the poor (Deuteronomy 15:11)? How should we respond as the church today (Galatians 2:10; James 1:27)? What can your Community Group do to help the helpless?

6. Why did God remind the Israelites of His redemptive acts from history in Amos 2:9-11 (see Numbers 21:25 and Exodus 14:30)? How might His mentioning of this contribute to His declaration of judgment? How certain is God’s judgment in Amos 2:14-16?

7. How might the prophets (Deuteronomy 18:19) and Nazirites (Numbers 6:2-3) have kept the Israelites on the path to obedience? Who does God use in your lives today to keep us on that path (Proverbs 18:1; 27:17; Hebrews 10:23-25)? Are you willing to heed their advice?