Overview of the Book of Amos
Author: The prophet Amos.
Purpose:
To reveal the severity of divine judgment for covenant infidelity in Israel and Judah and to declare the hope of a great restoration after the approaching destruction and exile.
Date: 760-750 B.C.
Amos indicated that because Israel had not repented, even after being judged (Amos 4:6-11), the Lord would bring more severe judgment, ending in wholesale destruction and exile (Amos 4:12-5:20). Shortly after Amos predicted that Israel would fall to the Assyrian Empire, his predictions began to be fulfilled. Under Tiglath-Pileser III (745-727 B.C.), Assyria gained strength and expanded to the north and west. Judah soon became an Assyrian vassal. Syria, located between Israel and Assyria, became part of the Assyrian Empire (2 Kings 16:7-9).
Tiglath-Pileser III was succeeded by his son Shalmaneser V (727-722 B.C.), who continued his father's policy of westward expansion, forcing Hoshea, the last king of the northern kingdom, to become his vassal (2 Kings 17:3). Hoshea rebelled and mistakenly hoped for help from Egypt (2 Kings 17:4). As a result, Shalmaneser V of Assyria began a siege of Samaria, and the Israelite capital fell to his successor, Sargon II, in 722 B.C. (2 Kings 17:5-6).
The Lord chastises those he loves, and his judgment was a sign of his commitment to his covenant people as a whole. Amos therefore affirmed God's promise never to utterly forsake his covenant people. Amos declared that after the exile "David's fallen tent" (Amos 9:11) would be restored, the royal line would conquer the nations (Amos 9:12) and God's people would be blessed beyond measure (Amos 9:13-15).
Notes from the NIV Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible, Dr. Richard Pratt, ed. (Zondervan, 2003).(1) The major theme of Amos-judgment against the nations and the unfaithful of Israel and Judah-foreshadows the judgment that comes in Christ. The New Testament teaches that Christ will judge those who turn against God (John 5:21-27; Rom. 2:12-16), including people in covenant with God (Heb. 10:26-30; 1 Pet. 4:17; Rev. 2:4-5, 14-16, 20-23; 3:1-3, 15-19). Christ ultimately fulfills the theme of judgment in Amos.
(2) Amos 9:11-15 speaks of the restoration promised to Israel and Judah after exile. Following the pattern laid down by Moses (Lev. 26:1-46; Deut. 4:15-31; 28:1-68), Amos announced that the exile would be followed by a time of great blessings for God's people. After the failures of those who returned to the land in 539 B.C., these restoration prophecies began to be fulfilled. The New Testament explains the initial fulfillment of these restoration prophecies in the giving of the Spirit as the down payment for the believers' inheritance in Christ's first coming (Eph. 1:14), as well as their final fulfillment in the new heavens and the new earth when Christ returns (Rev. 21:1).
(3) Amos spoke of the restoration of "David's fallen tent" - his David's royal dynasty (Amos 9:11). This prediction indicated that sometime after the exile, a son of David would lead the people of God to victory over the nations (Amos 9:12) and secure for them eternal safety (Amos 9:15). This prophecy is fulfilled by Jesus, the final, royal Son of David (Matt. 1:1; Luke 1:32-33; Rev. 22:16). Jesus rose to the throne of the house of David in his resurrection and ascension (Acts 2:25-36). He reigns now and engages in holy war against the nations through the Gospel (Acts 15:13-19; 1 Cor. 15:23-25). Ultimately, he will defeat all of his enemies and consummate the already initiated and continuing divine Kingdom when he returns in glory (Acts 2:34-36; Rev. 19:11-21; 21:1-22:5).
Dr. Richard L. Pratt, Jr. is Co-Founder and President of Third Millennium Ministries who served as Professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary and has authored numerous books.