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Amos 3:4-4:13 Bible Study
1) Singing 10 mins.
2) Read 3:4-15 [5.13-6.28]
a. Personal study time in section 10 mins.
3) Small Groups 30 mins. What do you notice about the form of the
questions in 5.13-6.4? Is there any pattern to them? (Why does a lion
roar? What makes a snare spring up? Note: Amos’ questions contain two
levels of meaning. The first is strictly metaphorical: the
“rhetorical’ness” of the questions points to the inevitability of the
consequences. The second is that most of the questions are suggestive of
disaster.)
a. Thinking back to the first part of Amos, we learn that God is the
roaring lion. What sort of warning is God giving Israel in 5.27 to
6.4? Israel is like a lion’s prey or a bird in a trap. When
disaster falls, there will be no doubt who brought it about. Listen
to the prophets (.i.e. Amos) and repent!
4) What sort of people does God raise up to judge Israel? What is ironic
about God using the Philistines (or Assyrians) and Egyptians to judge
Israel? These are Israel’s and God’s historical enemies, yet they will
listen to God before Israel.
5) Why does he focus in on the “horns of Bethel” and their luxurious
houses as being worthy of destruction? What do they represent?
Luxurious living, disregard for people around them, insensitivity towards
God’s people
a. What will be the results of His punishment? Complete destruction,
eradication of religious hypocrisy and sensuous living
b. What would aptly represent our own inclination towards conspicuous
consumption and materialism? [read Quotes 1 & 2 from Motyer]
6) Have you ever experienced God using a non-Christian to rebuke some
sinful behavior? How did you react?
Quote #1
It is wholly ironic. The law (Ex. 22:12f.) required an under-shepherd to
furnish proof that an animal had been snatched from the flock: he must
retrieve enough to show that it had been torn as prey by a marauding beast;
otherwise he would be assumed to have appropriated the animal for himself
and must pay compensation in full. Such a rescue was no rescue at all; it
was only the evidence of what once was but now is no more.
The Message of Amos-J.A. Motyer (pg. 84)
Quote #2
Here, then, is the irony. The remains of the people of God, the rescue
which is no rescue, the surviving proof of what once was, consists of the
corner of a couch and part of a bed. We may pose the question: if two
legs, or apiece of an ear point to the former existence of a sheep, what
sort of people are represented by the rescued evidence of parts of beds and
couches?9 Imagine that these are the vestiges of the people of God! In
spite of the abundance of their religion (4:4, 5) it is not in temple ruins
or shattered altarstones that Amos finds evidence of the character and
concerns of the people who once lived there. Beds, couches, pillows
summarize their life and habits. Sensuality, luxury, idleness, bodily care-
but no evidence of religion, never mind spirituality. Amos writes no
`therefore’; he leaves us to draw our own conclusions. Why would God
withdraw from such a people? Because there was nothing in their lives
corresponding to a heart-concern for spiritual things; their character-
reference could be written without mentioning God, or prayer, or holiness;
their legacy to the future was wholly a testimony to a life lived for the
body. And these claimed to be the people of God 1 Here then is the second
reason for the alienation of God, the second reason why His people lose
touch with Him and His power: personal spirituality had disappeared from
their lives. Sleep and ease, luxuriousness and body-care, indolence and
indulgence-but not prayer and the Word of God, no self mortification, no
dying to sin, no armour of God, no discipline or battle for holiness 1 Thus
God departs and the people of God go down in defeat
The Message of Amos-J.A. Motyer (pg. 84-85)
Together 8 minutes
7) Looking again at our list from last week, are there ways that God is
challenging the Church through non-Christians pointing out our sin?
8) What is our culture’s attitude towards suffering and pain? What is your
personal attitude?
9) Personal Study 10-12 mins.
a. Have students read through definitions for Gilgal, Beershaba, and
Bethel, prepare to share later.
10) Read Amos 4:1-13 [6.29-8.28]
11) Small Groups 35 mins. What contrast does Amos draw between how
Israelite women treat themselves and how they treat the poor? [6.29-
7.11]
12) What tone does Amos use in vs. 4-5 [7.12-19]? Note the sarcastic
encouragement to come, worship and sin some more! How would you describe
their spirituality? ritualistic, misguided, self-centered, useless in
approaching and understanding the Sovereign Lord
a. How is their leisure and their spiritual life similar?
b. How do our leisure and worship activities as Christians compare with
Israel’s? [how often we play at our worship and worship our play.]
13) The Lord goes on in vs. 6-11 [7.20-8.28]to recount his dealings with
Israel.
a. What role does God play in the calamities that befall Israel?
b. What areas of life do these disasters impact?
c. What was the purpose of these disasters? Note the repetition of ‘yet
you didn’t return to me.’ If time permits, Read 1 Kings 8:22-61,
Solomon’s prayer at the temple’s dedication. and compare what God
has brought about on Israel to Solomon’s prayer for Israel when they
sin in the future.
d. What realities about God has Israel lost track of, according to this
section in Amos [6.29-8.28]?
14) How have you seen God use pain and suffering in your life or in your
fellowship or church to produce repentance? What warnings does God give
here regarding ignoring God’s severe mercies through trials? Begin
prayer time by reading Hebrews 12:1-13.
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Books to Consider from DUP Library
-God and the Victim -Evil and the Cross -A Severe Mercy
-How Long O’ Lord -The Providence of God
Songs
[“At the Name of Jesus”]
“What E’re You Will”
“My Glorious Victor”
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