Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Amos 5 –6
The fifth chapter of Amos is described as a Lament for Israel’s sin. It certainly provides a bleak picture of Israel’s future. The prophet has already said that all that will remain will be as worthless as a bit of animal seized back from the predator. Out of a city of a thousand (5:3) perhaps a hundred will be left. A town of a hundred might have ten.
Amos earnestly repeats the Lord’s call to seek out God and live, but exclaims bitterly over those that turn justice to wormwood. Do they really imagine that the Lord who made the constellations, who brings the daylight and rules the oceans can be ignored?
Ironically, of course, the people to whom Amos is speaking, think they are all right with God, despite their treatment of the poor. Therefore, the things they have done – build houses, plan vineyards...they will not enjoy the fruits of them.
Some scholars regard 5:13 (that the prudent will keep silent in such a time) as a later addition since it doesn’t seem in accord with Amos’ forthright spirit. On the other hand, it could be ironic humor on Amos’ part.
Amos again records the call to seek good instead of evil, and to establish justice in the home that God will be good to the few who are left after the time of judgment. But if the words are recorded in some of the order he spoke them, Amos does appear to have much hope it will happen, for the words of judgement return, the farmers shall mourn, the professional mourners will wail and God will pass through the midst of them (a probable reference to Passover).
The “Day of the Lord” was something the people looked forward to. This was no apocalyptic expectation, for that theology did not develop for some centuries ahead of Amos. But since he didn’t define Day of the Lord, it must have been a common term used by the people. Perhaps it was the annual celebration of the New Year. If it was at all similar to the Babylonian New Year ceremonies (and customs were often similar), it might have included re-enthronement of the king, ceremonial victory over enemies, renewing the promise of prosperity and the setting of fate for the year to come. Eventually, the idea of the coming of God to bless the people might have suggested the idea of a day when God would come to begin a permanent era of righteousness.
But Amos thought the people were foolish to look forward to the Day of the Lord. Because, on such a day they would only deserve darkness. He used imaged like fleeing from a lion to meet a bear, similar to the modern ‘out of the frying pan into the fire.’
Amos declares God’s distaste for the festivals. The offerings are unacceptable. The songs are offensive. Instead, let just roll down like water and righteousness like a never-ending stream.
It’s too bad, Amos says, for those who are living in comfort and peace of mind in Israel. They should look at other nations and their misfortunes, and realize that they are no better than them. All the people are doing is hastening trouble and violence upon themselves.
The opulence Amos describes must have been awe-inspiring, especially for the poor upon whose oppression the comfort was bought. Beds of ivory, lounging on their couches to eat lambs and calves, singing idle songs. Ivory was an expensive substance, and eating meat was rare except for special occasions. Cows and sheep were valuable producers of wool and milk, and therefore not commonly eaten as the rich apparently ate them, along with wine from bowls, anointing themselves with expensive oils. In all this they don’t give a moment’s grief for the ruination of their country, nor for what God really wants of the people.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Amos 3-4 -- 2-15-2011 -
Amos as a shepherd and a 'dresser' of sycamore fig trees, did not spend all his time at Teko, since sycamore figs don't grow there at that altitude. So he probably spent part of the year in upper elevations and part in the lower. Phyllis (last night during the class), grew up in sheep country and explained that this is also normal procedure for sheep. Winter is spent in lower elevations and in the summer, the sheep are taken to the higher altitudes.
This was, of course, what many of the wealthy people of Israel were doing. Not following sheep, but since the climate differed dramatically in relatively few miles, they had a home for themselves in higher and lower elevations. These homes may have been describable as 'palaces.' According to Amos' criticism, they were called "ivory," so the wood or stone may have been covered with that expensive product. Yet these homes were obtained at the cost of the poorest members of society. Amos is desperately concerned with the injustice.
Scholars don't agree whether Amos was one of the poor or among the more affluent members of society. One Internet website describes him as wealthy. Another scholar says he was poor. In discussion, the class wondered whether the wealthy members of Israelite society would have paid much attention if Amos wasn't 'one of them.' If a poverty stricken shepherd complained about social conditions, it would be easy for them to dismiss it as disgruntlement. On the other hand, if one of their own financial strata spoke, they might have paid more attention. The class discussed whether God might have more likely chosen a morally conscious man of affluence to prophesy.
Unlike some of the prophets, the concern of Amos is clearly on justice and he spends little time on idol worship. He does, however, in these chapter (3-4) point out (with a great deal of irony) that worship how they might, it didn't mean anything unless their lives reflected their worship.
Amos appears continually amazed that after all that God has done, the people still behave contrary to God's will. Unlike people of other pagan cultures, Amos could point to the God who created everything, including the Pleides and Orion. (Although not all people even of Judah and Israel understood God was not simply in charge of a small geographical territory, Amos certainly understood some of the awesome infinity of Yahweh).
The disaster that Amos foresaw as coming is sometimes described very graphically. We do not know what God has planned for the future of our society and world, and the predictions of Amos cannot be applied to this time. We can, however, understand the call to justice and apply that to our world.
Where does injustice take place in our society?
Where are the poor exploited?
Should we study and know more about that, rather than assume things are all right if we haven't heard much?
What would Amos say about our world?
This was, of course, what many of the wealthy people of Israel were doing. Not following sheep, but since the climate differed dramatically in relatively few miles, they had a home for themselves in higher and lower elevations. These homes may have been describable as 'palaces.' According to Amos' criticism, they were called "ivory," so the wood or stone may have been covered with that expensive product. Yet these homes were obtained at the cost of the poorest members of society. Amos is desperately concerned with the injustice.
Scholars don't agree whether Amos was one of the poor or among the more affluent members of society. One Internet website describes him as wealthy. Another scholar says he was poor. In discussion, the class wondered whether the wealthy members of Israelite society would have paid much attention if Amos wasn't 'one of them.' If a poverty stricken shepherd complained about social conditions, it would be easy for them to dismiss it as disgruntlement. On the other hand, if one of their own financial strata spoke, they might have paid more attention. The class discussed whether God might have more likely chosen a morally conscious man of affluence to prophesy.
Unlike some of the prophets, the concern of Amos is clearly on justice and he spends little time on idol worship. He does, however, in these chapter (3-4) point out (with a great deal of irony) that worship how they might, it didn't mean anything unless their lives reflected their worship.
Amos appears continually amazed that after all that God has done, the people still behave contrary to God's will. Unlike people of other pagan cultures, Amos could point to the God who created everything, including the Pleides and Orion. (Although not all people even of Judah and Israel understood God was not simply in charge of a small geographical territory, Amos certainly understood some of the awesome infinity of Yahweh).
The disaster that Amos foresaw as coming is sometimes described very graphically. We do not know what God has planned for the future of our society and world, and the predictions of Amos cannot be applied to this time. We can, however, understand the call to justice and apply that to our world.
Where does injustice take place in our society?
Where are the poor exploited?
Should we study and know more about that, rather than assume things are all right if we haven't heard much?
What would Amos say about our world?
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Amos - Introduction
Amos lived in a time of prosperity. Israel and Judah no longer suffered invasions from their great enemy, Assyria, whose internal conflict had taken its attention. Jeroboam II had managed to end a century and a half of war with Syria.
However, the prosperity wasn’t universal. The rich grew richer by taking the smaller land-holdings, creating a class of landless poor. The poor were sold for trifling debts, and exploited in the marketplace (for example, with false measures). They could get no justice in the law courts.
The affluent portion of socity especially thought that all was well. They continued ritual religious practices, in fact may have been zealous in sacrifice and ritual, believing their prosperity was due to Yahweh’s intervention. No doubt they considered it a “practical necessity’ to show some respect to Ba’al, who was the feritlity god of the ancient near east.
Amos was of the southern kingdom of Judah (remembering that after the death of Solomon, a civil war split Israel into two nations). Although most of his prophecy was directed at the northern kngdom of Israel, it was intended as a warning to Judah as well.
Amos himself may not have been classed among the poor. He was a shepherd, but the word used to describe him as a shepherd is found only in the bible in reference to Mesha, king of Moab, a “sheep-breeder” who borugh a large annual tribute of sheep and wool to the king of Israel. Other references outside the bible also lead shcolars to believe that Amos was not a lone shepehrd guarding a small flock in the wilderness. He might have been responsible for temple flocks, or might have been self-employed. What seems significant about the issue of his occupation is that of a person who may not have been wealthy, yet was still comfortable financially, calling for reform of how the poor were treating.
As a shepherd, however, he still wandered with his flock, seeking food and protecting them from wild-animals and other dangers. This may not have been in isolation, he probably crossed the routes to the main urban centers and thus interacted with people from various parts of his owrld. He certainly seems to be aware of the social conditions and realities throughout.
Scholars date the prophet ministry to about 760 bce. Dating is derived from the names of reigning monarchs and also in relation to an earthquate that was remember centuries later in Zechariah 14:5. Amos’ minstry may have only lasted for two to three months.
Amos begins by pronouncing doom on neighboring nations, including Syria. With the long enmity between them, his hearers must have intially greeted his words with delight, although the nature of his criticism against these nations should have given them second thoughts on the subject of delighting in the suffering of another. The nations are largely doomed because of their ill-treatment of others and ill will toward others.
The oracles have a regular, almost monotonous form and could have been patterned after forms known at the time, even Egyptian texts, where curses are first pronounced on surrounding peoples and then on those within Egypt. Amos, as a canny observer of the human condition, might have developed or chosen such a format to initially disarm his hearers.
Imagine their shock when after pronoucing judgement on foreign nations, then Judah (with whom they didn’t have the happiest of relationships), Amos turned his attention to Israel itself.
However, the prosperity wasn’t universal. The rich grew richer by taking the smaller land-holdings, creating a class of landless poor. The poor were sold for trifling debts, and exploited in the marketplace (for example, with false measures). They could get no justice in the law courts.
The affluent portion of socity especially thought that all was well. They continued ritual religious practices, in fact may have been zealous in sacrifice and ritual, believing their prosperity was due to Yahweh’s intervention. No doubt they considered it a “practical necessity’ to show some respect to Ba’al, who was the feritlity god of the ancient near east.
Amos was of the southern kingdom of Judah (remembering that after the death of Solomon, a civil war split Israel into two nations). Although most of his prophecy was directed at the northern kngdom of Israel, it was intended as a warning to Judah as well.
Amos himself may not have been classed among the poor. He was a shepherd, but the word used to describe him as a shepherd is found only in the bible in reference to Mesha, king of Moab, a “sheep-breeder” who borugh a large annual tribute of sheep and wool to the king of Israel. Other references outside the bible also lead shcolars to believe that Amos was not a lone shepehrd guarding a small flock in the wilderness. He might have been responsible for temple flocks, or might have been self-employed. What seems significant about the issue of his occupation is that of a person who may not have been wealthy, yet was still comfortable financially, calling for reform of how the poor were treating.
As a shepherd, however, he still wandered with his flock, seeking food and protecting them from wild-animals and other dangers. This may not have been in isolation, he probably crossed the routes to the main urban centers and thus interacted with people from various parts of his owrld. He certainly seems to be aware of the social conditions and realities throughout.
Scholars date the prophet ministry to about 760 bce. Dating is derived from the names of reigning monarchs and also in relation to an earthquate that was remember centuries later in Zechariah 14:5. Amos’ minstry may have only lasted for two to three months.
Amos begins by pronouncing doom on neighboring nations, including Syria. With the long enmity between them, his hearers must have intially greeted his words with delight, although the nature of his criticism against these nations should have given them second thoughts on the subject of delighting in the suffering of another. The nations are largely doomed because of their ill-treatment of others and ill will toward others.
The oracles have a regular, almost monotonous form and could have been patterned after forms known at the time, even Egyptian texts, where curses are first pronounced on surrounding peoples and then on those within Egypt. Amos, as a canny observer of the human condition, might have developed or chosen such a format to initially disarm his hearers.
Imagine their shock when after pronoucing judgement on foreign nations, then Judah (with whom they didn’t have the happiest of relationships), Amos turned his attention to Israel itself.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Hosea 13 - 14
The Bible Study last night completed Hosea, chapters 13 and 14. These chapters includes some grim descriptions of war and trouble, as well as hopeful pointers at God’s love. In fact, prophecy, no matter how grim, is always a matter of hope, because it means that God still cares.
Hosea’s concerns are easy to spot as they come up again in these chapters. There is a sense of befuddlement that God’s people, with all the history of God’s loving care, could behave this way. In fact, when things were going well, they totally forgot who had brought them the blessings! They deserved nothing less than annihilation. They wanted kings (a bad idea, as they should have relied on God as their king) and now the kings would be taken away. They worshipped the work of their own hands and forgot God. Yet, God is unable to give them up as they deserve.
As a class, we discussed the varying ways that God has been communicated to people. There is the “hell-fire and brimstone” message of instilling fear into people. And there is the message of God’s love. The transforming nature of God’s love is one we affirm, especially in the United Methodist Church, but recognize the danger that Hosea pinpointed. God’s love is powerful and awesome, yet people tend to take God for granted, especially when life is good. Hosea will not let us forget that God is awesome.
The following is a sort of “paraphrase” of the last two Hosea chapters, as written by the class on February 1.
13
Self-centeredness is abundant
Self-worship with all disregard to God’s reality.
They’re not using what God gave them.
God is absent in their lives, for they take no regard of God.
They shall be like dust in the Dust Bowl – empty without meaning.
When you are in need, you know where to go,
but when all is abundant, you forget the supplier
God will take you by the collar and shake with ferocious energy!
I tried things your way and letting you have a ruler, but you trusted and worshipped him instead of me
God will be the one who will be there to help you
I (God) know what is best for you.
When you go your own way and do your own thing
you are setting yourself up for disaster
If you look at what God has for you and want to give
and when you do the right thing
then everything right will be yours
Even when bad things happen – we (God and you) can grow closer.
The sins of Ephraim will not be hidden from God
Like a child tooo eager to go his own way and to get what he wants
and not what he really needs – He leaves death in his path
Should I help him out of his fix?
Why should I?
Your destruction is your destruction
Your death is on your hands
You turned away and there will be nothing.
14
We will offer you our praises
People of Israel, turn your attention back to God
Change what comes out of your mouth
Change what you say to each other
and praise the Lord
We aren’t called to go to war or trust in its power
We will recognize you are our God
and not glorify our own work.
We will find comfort in your care
If we no longer look to our own works,
but to the one who is as a father to the child
God will be like rain after a drought--
The water of life
The tree will grow
Shade and food will be here.
The strength of the fir, it will
spread over you and cast shade.
With these blessings, why would
we go back to idols?
Those who know the Lord will walk with God
Those who don’t will fall
Don’t ever take God’s love for granted.
Hosea’s concerns are easy to spot as they come up again in these chapters. There is a sense of befuddlement that God’s people, with all the history of God’s loving care, could behave this way. In fact, when things were going well, they totally forgot who had brought them the blessings! They deserved nothing less than annihilation. They wanted kings (a bad idea, as they should have relied on God as their king) and now the kings would be taken away. They worshipped the work of their own hands and forgot God. Yet, God is unable to give them up as they deserve.
As a class, we discussed the varying ways that God has been communicated to people. There is the “hell-fire and brimstone” message of instilling fear into people. And there is the message of God’s love. The transforming nature of God’s love is one we affirm, especially in the United Methodist Church, but recognize the danger that Hosea pinpointed. God’s love is powerful and awesome, yet people tend to take God for granted, especially when life is good. Hosea will not let us forget that God is awesome.
The following is a sort of “paraphrase” of the last two Hosea chapters, as written by the class on February 1.
13
Self-centeredness is abundant
Self-worship with all disregard to God’s reality.
They’re not using what God gave them.
God is absent in their lives, for they take no regard of God.
They shall be like dust in the Dust Bowl – empty without meaning.
When you are in need, you know where to go,
but when all is abundant, you forget the supplier
God will take you by the collar and shake with ferocious energy!
I tried things your way and letting you have a ruler, but you trusted and worshipped him instead of me
God will be the one who will be there to help you
I (God) know what is best for you.
When you go your own way and do your own thing
you are setting yourself up for disaster
If you look at what God has for you and want to give
and when you do the right thing
then everything right will be yours
Even when bad things happen – we (God and you) can grow closer.
The sins of Ephraim will not be hidden from God
Like a child tooo eager to go his own way and to get what he wants
and not what he really needs – He leaves death in his path
Should I help him out of his fix?
Why should I?
Your destruction is your destruction
Your death is on your hands
You turned away and there will be nothing.
14
We will offer you our praises
People of Israel, turn your attention back to God
Change what comes out of your mouth
Change what you say to each other
and praise the Lord
We aren’t called to go to war or trust in its power
We will recognize you are our God
and not glorify our own work.
We will find comfort in your care
If we no longer look to our own works,
but to the one who is as a father to the child
God will be like rain after a drought--
The water of life
The tree will grow
Shade and food will be here.
The strength of the fir, it will
spread over you and cast shade.
With these blessings, why would
we go back to idols?
Those who know the Lord will walk with God
Those who don’t will fall
Don’t ever take God’s love for granted.
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