| Background Amos was one of the great eighth century prophets. Many people regard Amos was the first of the great prophets. He lived in Tekoa, in Judah in the Eighth century, where we believe he was a shepherd. Often he traveled to trade in the villages in Israel. At the time both Israel and Judah were experiencing a time of great peace and prosperity. It was a very good time for trading: great profits could be made. Unfortunately this prosperity was not evenly shared out among all the people in Israel. Some people had become very rich and flaunted their prosperity in extravagance and luxury, while many others lived in desperate poverty. |
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There was a great divide between the rich and the poor
As people lost their value - poverty and slavery became widespread. People
had nothing left to sell but themselves: any method had to be used as
a way of surviving.
Meanwhile the local centres of worship were
still very well attended. The rich were able to offer great sacrificial
offerings, without really experiencing any real sacrifice, while ignoring
the needs of the poor. Sadly they didn't practice what they preached.
They adopted one attitude at worship and a completely different attitude
in their dealings with others.
It all seemed so unfair. Amos became so angry he felt he had to speak
out.
These are the types of things which Amos believed had been forgotten:
1. All people were created in the image of God and have value in themselves.
2. All people were created equal by God. 3.
All people have a spirit and cannot be treated as if they were just things.
4. All people have value before God, and we are expected to recognise the value of others by the way we treat them.
5. All of us are answerable to God for the way we treat others.
6. How we treat others affects how God accepts our worship of him.
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Something
for you to do- Name three things common in the days of Amos which you would also find in the Church today. List three things common in the days of Amos which you would also find in our world. How does this teaching influence your response to the hunger problem? Read Matthew 25 verses 31 - 46 Note the similarity of the teaching on hunger in the Old and New Testaments!. |