Vision Five-No Escape

• Lesson 12 for the week of December 15 to December 22

Background and Literary Considerations Having come now to the last of the five vision reports, we need to ask how they connect with each other and the impact of the whole collection. What is the...

Continue reading →

Vision Four-Summer Fruit

• Lesson 11 for the week of December 8 to December 15

Background and Literary Considerations The fourth vision report in Amos brings us to another literary feature of the prophet’s preaching: puns. While we miss most of these in English translations, the Bible is replete with...

Continue reading →

Vision Three-The Plumb Line

• Lesson 10 for the week of December 1 to December 8

Background and Literary Considerations Again, we come in this lesson to a “vision report,” the third in a series of five. Given Amos’ penchant for surprising us with reversals of expectations, how should we prepare...

Continue reading →

Vision Two-Judgement by Fire

• Lesson 9 for the week of November 24 to December 1

Background and Literary Considerations Review the comments in the previous lesson about “vision reports.” What was the main purpose of these in general and how specifically does Amos use them–individually and the five of them...

Continue reading →

Vision One-Locusts and Prayer

• Lesson 8 for the week of November 17 to November 24

Background and Literary Considerations We are introduced in this lesson to “vision reports,” another in the vast repertoire of Amos’ speech forms. These appear throughout the Bible and are typically introduced in the Old Testament...

Continue reading →

“At Ease in Zion”

• Lesson 7 for the week of November 10 to November 17

Background and Literary Considerations The nature of “Woe!” oracles is to startle and call for change. Of the three such speeches in Amos, two appear in chapter 6 and form the basis of our lesson...

Continue reading →

Pass Over or Pass Through?

• Lesson 6 for the week of November 3 to November 10

Background and Literary Considerations Whereas Judgment Speeches are typically announcements of doom, almost as if there is no turning back, no chance for reversing the inevitable slide toward punishment, “Woe!” speeches or oracles are set...

Continue reading →

“Seek the Lord”

• Lesson 5 for the week of October 27 to November 3

Background and Literary Considerations Amos provides us with a fascinating blend of guidelines regarding worship and those having to do with social justice, the latter predominating by far. Chapter 5 is no exception. It speaks...

Continue reading →

Prepare to Meet Your God

• Lesson 4 for the week of October 20 to October 27

Background and Literary Considerations We have already in Amos encountered seriously judgmental speeches from the prophet. This week’s passage is no exception – at least Amos is consistent! As part of the second “Judgment Speech”...

Continue reading →

“Hear This Word!”

• Lesson 3 for the week of October 13 to October 20

Background and Literary Considerations We are now introduced to “Judgment Speeches,” of which there are three major ones in the book of Amos. They all three begin with: “Hear this word ….” As used among...

Continue reading →

Sins of the Neighbors

• Lesson 2 for the week of October 6 to October 13

Background and Literary Considerations Amos 1:2-2:16 introduce us to three major speech forms in Amos: a sermon, speeches or oracles against foreign nations (OAN) and the “numerical” proverb. Delivered evidently at the sanctuary at Bethel,...

Continue reading →

The Non-prophet Prophet

• Lesson 1 for the week of September 29 to October 6

Background and Literary Considerations Amos, the person – What can we know from the book itself and from the world of the eighth century B.C. which might help us understand this person better? With the...

Continue reading →

Tiny Sins, Huge Results

• Lesson 13 for the week of June 23 to June 30

In Scripture, instantaneous judgments to seemingly minor infractions can be interpreted as confirming eternal consequences. In some cases, however, the intended effect may be more local, demonstrating to an endangered community, for example, that God...

Continue reading →

Women in Scripture

• Lesson 12 for the week of June 16 to June 23

Relevant Passages: Jude 4-5; Ruth; Esther; Luke 1, 7 Women in the Bible have become increasingly visible in recent decades, in part because of the influence of secular feminists. The biblical passages most often used...

Continue reading →