[:en]Amos was one of the shepherds of Tekoa, and was called by God to preach His Word in the northern kingdom of Israel. The name of Amos means “to be burdened” and he was burdened because of the sins of his people.
Sins of the Gentle nations denounced:
- Damascus – she tread Gilead with sledges having iron teeth (1:9)
- Gaza – she took captive whole communities and sold them to Edom (1:6)
- Tyre – she sold whole community of captives to Edom, disregarding the treaty of brotherhood (1:9)
- Edom – he pursed his brother with a sword, stifling all compassion (1:11)
- Ammon – he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his border (1:13)
- Moab – he burned the bones of Edom’s king to lime (2:1)
Sins of Judah – they had rejected the law of the Lord and had not kept His decrees. They had been led astray by false god. (2:4)
Sins of Israel:
- They sold the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals (2:6)
- They trampled on the heads of the poor and deny justice to the oppressed (2:7a).
- Father and son sue the same girl and so profane my holy name (2:7b)
- They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines (2:8)
- The made the Nazarites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy (2: 12)
In His holiness, God never allows sin. He judged the Gentiles as well as His chosen people. May His judgments serve as warning for us to live a holy life.[:]