Prayers of Triumph: Hannah and Mary

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

Relevant Passages: 1 Samuel 1-2; Luke 1 1. Hannah Hannah was praying for a son in the sacred tent at Shiloh. Because she was childless, she lived under constant ridicule from her husband’s other wife....

Continue reading →

A Prayer of Supplication: Moses

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

Relevant Passages: Psalm 90 Psalm 90, a somber and elegant psalm directed towards God consists of three parts: (1) The contrast between “You,” the eternal God, and “we”, his ephemeral creatures, vs. 1-6; (2) Our...

Continue reading →

Prayers of Despair: Job

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

To embrace the vast book of Job in one study is impossible. So we limit ourselves to Job’s words directed to God, and to a final prayer Job offered on behalf of his accusers. You...

Continue reading →

Restoration

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

Background and Literary Considerations The verses we study this week have occasioned significant debate as to their authorship. Some have argued that everything belongs to the eighth-century prophet who finally got around to some positive...

Continue reading →

Vision Five-No Escape

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

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 9 to December 16

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 2 to December 9

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 25 to December 2

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 18 to November 25

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 11 to November 18

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 4 to November 11

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 28 to November 4

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 21 to October 28

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 14 to October 21

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 →