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Divinity for Advanced Secondary Schools

Amos’ message of hope he wished Israel well. Therefore, this
Although Amos was a prophet of doom, was a message of hope (Amos 1:3&9).
his prophecy had some features of As a prophet of hope, Amos revealed a
hope. Amos called the people to repent time when God would give the Israelites
so that God may forgive them. After material blessings when they came
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repentance, God was ready to save back from exile. Amos said the harvest
them from destruction. The Lord says, would be much more than what could be
“Come to me and you will live” (Amos harvested then.
5:4-6). Sending Amos to prophesy in
the northern region indicated that God As a prophet of hope, Amos said that God
never wanted his people to perish but promised to turn the Israelites’ funeral
to see them change from their evil ways songs into songs of joy if they turned
and live. back to the Lord. He called for justice
to prevail in courts of law and let it flow
He indicated to the Israelites that God like a stream that never dries so that the
was ready to change the day of the Lord Lord would have mercy upon them. He
to a glorious one if they repented. That is further said that the people would return
to say, the righteous would be remnants from exile and enjoy the wine flowing
and saved. He said that God would meet from the mountains (Amos 9:13ff).
the remnants on which he would build
a new nation of Israel. To him, even if Amos also indicated that a time would
people refuse to repent, some will die, come when the grains and grapes would
and others will remain to fulfil God’s grow faster than they could be harvested,
saving act of humankind (Amos 3:12). and the mountains would drip with sweet
wine. He said that the Israelites would be
In the vision of the fire and locusts and brought back from exile (distant land),
the plumb line, Amos pleaded with God, and they would rebuild the ruined cities
and God changed his mind. Amos shows and live in them again (Amos 9:14).
that God was going to destroy those with
mistakes. In the end, he would set up a He said that during the restoration,
new beginning (Amos 7:7). Amos also people would plant vineyards and
indicated that the Lord would restore gardens, eat crops, and drink wine. It
Israel after exile. This was a message indicated a message of hope. Amos
of hope, “In that day I will raise up the said that God would put the people of
booth of David that is fallen and repair Israel on the land he gave them, and
its breaches” (Amos 9:11). they would not be exiled again (Amos
9:15). He compared Israel to a stick
Furthermore, Amos condemned the that was saved from fire. It implied that
pagan nations that wanted to destroy a remnant would be there from whom
the nation of Israel. This showed that the Lord would fulfil his salvation plan.

Form Five Student’s Book 77