Stories of the Prophets (Before the Exile) | Page 8

feast, with wine and
song. Unfortunately, these banquets often degenerated into drunkenness
and revelry.
Amos felt that such worship of God was not right, but he had not yet
discovered what was wrong.

When the period of prosperity opened up for Israel, with Jeroboam II's
conquest of Damascus, Judah also felt the good times. Amos, now an
experienced master herdsman, took the advantage afforded by the
peace and improved business conditions. He traveled with his
stock-in-trade to far northern markets, to Samaria, to Damascus, to
Hamath, and, from there his caravans wended their way east, even as
far as the City Asshur, the capital of Assyria.
He was not a mere trader, however. He was a close observer and a
student of men and things wherever he led his caravans. He talked with
strangers about other lands which he had not visited and became,
therefore, well acquainted with political, religious and social conditions
everywhere.
All this made no change in the outward circumstances of Amos.
Success did not turn his head. He did not build himself a palace, but
remained with his mother in the village of Tekoah, where he was born
and raised. He did not indulge himself with fine clothes and high living,
but continued to dress simply and live plainly.
His mother was often greatly worried about Amos. When he returned
from a far northern and eastern trip he would betake himself to his
beloved hills and sycamore groves and flocks. He would work with the
most lowly of his sycamore fruit gatherers; but he would often spend
hours by himself in the woods or in the wilderness.
It was during these lonesome hours that Amos added high thinking to
his simple living. The grandeur of Samaria and the wealth he saw
displayed in Bethel did not deceive him. Neither did the peace compact
between Jeroboam II and Assur-dan III blind him to the exact state of
affairs in the relationship between the two countries.
He knew that Tiglath-Pileser III, the successor of Assur-dan, had
crushed all rebellions in Assyria, which Assur-dan III had failed to do,
and was reorganizing the army of the great empire. He knew that
Damascus, which had been weakened by Jeroboam II beyond hope of
recovery, would be the first point of conquest for the young and
energetic Pul, as Tiglath-Pileser was called. Next before him, to the

south, lay the rich Kingdom of Israel, the booty from whose palaces
and sanctuaries would be an enormous prize for the Assyrian emperor
and his army. After Damascus, must come Samaria!
In other words, Amos saw distinctly that the time was near when Israel
would have to fight again for its independence and its very life; and he
asked himself, "Is Israel prepared?"
Clearly it was not. The rich had become unfit for war, because of their
luxuriant living. The poor had become unfit for war, because of their
oppression by the rich. Should the Assyrians invade the land, how
could such a nation of weaklings defend its home and its liberty?
Israel must be warned! It must be awakened from its stupidity to a
realization of the danger ahead! The rich must cease their
extravagances and become manly men again! The poor must be given
their rights, must be treated justly and righteously, that they may
become manly men again! Only a nation of moral, upright, God-fearing
men can hope for victory! If the Assyrians should defeat and crush
Israel, it will be God's punishment visited upon Israel for its sins and
crimes.
Amos had often discussed these things with his mother. She was not
surprised, therefore, when, one day, upon his return from a long trip
into Assyria, Amos said to her, "I am called to the cities of Israel. My
mission will be prolonged many days."
The good woman knew and understood. Laying her hands upon his
head, she repeated the blessing with which she had blessed him when,
as a timid young man, he made his first trip to Jerusalem:
"Go, my son, and God be with thee."
And so it was that Amos, the herdsmen of Tekoah, had dared to speak
for the poor people in Samaria, and to prophesy the fall of the
Kingdom.
His first speech attracted little attention, but others, in various parts of

the country, to the same effect, followed. Many laughed at them; few
thought seriously about them.
But Amos was not so easily discouraged. He concluded that the wrong
idea the people had about God, how to worship Him and what He
demanded of them, was the cause of all the evil. Amos, therefore,
selected the sanctuaries during festival season as the place where he
must do his preaching.
He went especially to Bethel, the king's sanctuary, where Jeroboam
brought his sacrifices and where the great