A.    Who? Amos (burden bearer), the herdsman of Tekoa (It was the place of a fortress, and the center of Judean intelligence. It was a place that sent forth warnings to Jerusalem concerning impending danger or invading enemies). He had no heritage in the priesthood or prophet’s office. During Jeroboam II an advisor of the king questioned his authority as a prophet on this ground. His answer was simple (Amos 7:14-17).

B.     When? 755 BC, 23 years before Assyria invaded Israel taking them captive

C.    To Whom? Prosperous Northern Tribes, experiencing great military victories and financial prosperity. This false sense of achievement and security became a target of the prophet’s scorching attacks.

D.    Where? Cult Center at Bethel

E.     Why? Warning the Wicked

a.       Historical Purpose: call the men of the day in Israel to repentance

b.      Doctrinal Purpose: teach God’s abject hatred toward sin, his jealousy for his own, and the sanctity of his law.

c.       Christological Purpose: The book presents Christ as the rebuilder of David’s Temple (9:11) and the husbandman of his people (9:13).

F.     Theme: Judgment- 2 x’s woe, 4 x’s judgment, 1 x punish, 2x’s destroy, 8 x’s punishment, 2 x’s threshing or threshed, 9 x’s he promises fire

II.                Judgment Against The Nations (1-2), for three transgressions and for four

A.    Syria

B.     Phillistia

C.    Tyre

D.    Edom

E.     Ammon

F.     Moab

III.             Judgment Against Israel (3-9)

A.    Take away their Prosperity (4:2, 7:17)

B.     Send Diverse Perils

1.      Famine: 4:6

2.      Drought: 4:7-8

3.      Wind: 4:9

4.      Pestilence: 4:10

5.      Death: 4:11

C.    Destroy First the People Who Were Unburdened, Unbothered, and Unsaved (6:1, 7)

D.    Ignore Their Powerless Worship (5:21-27)

E.     Remove His Preachers From Their Presence

IV.             Warning (4:12)

Promise (5:4, 6, 8, 14-15)