Amos

Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:9-10

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While Amos' theme of God's judgments on Israel is common to Hosea and Micah, Amos has some distinctive elements:

1. God's relationship with Israel and His judgments upon her are put into an international framework and perspective (chs 1-2, which deal with 9 nations).
2. Focus on the sins of the common people: social injustice and the lack of moral ingtegrity between ordinary men and women.

Although the reform messages of the prophets Elijah and Elisha could have been written down by this point, Amos' message could well have been the first standalone written prophetic record which testified of Israel's collective sinfulness and need of reform, as well as clearly predicting the consequences if nothing was done. As such, the book (as well as Amos' oral ministry) stands as a testament to the principle that as a nation, Israel's behaviour matter. God had told them this would be the case when the nation was founded at Sinai. Amos (and Hosea like him) was providing Israel one last chance to consider their actions before it was too late.

Amos prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II king of Israel and Uzziah king of Judah (1:1). Although the message concerned Israel (1:1 again), it was relevant for both kingdoms. Jeroboam had a relatively prosperous reign, and the people were naturally complacent. Amos warned that their spiritual condition was woefully inadequate and the political situation could and would turn on a dime if they did not reform.

Although Amos probably began his work earlier, his ministry overlapped with Hosea's, and they both described the spiritual corruption that existed amongst God's people, as well as predicting the downfall of the northern kingdom.

Amos contains two collections of tightly grouped material.

1. Chapters 1-2: eight prophecies against the nations, climaxing with Judah and Israel.
2. Chapters 7-8: four visions of judgment for Israel, two spared, two impending

The intervening material (3-6) expands the book's general message, and ch. 9 provides a conclusion.

One of the interesting themes of the Minor Prophets is the notion of the demise and captivity of Israel and Judah as being a 'death', and the subsequent promised restoration a type of resurrection. The idea of the 'death' of Israel as a punishment from God for their disobedience is particularly notable in Amos. In chapters 8-9 Amos apes the literary style of a funeral dirge and lament. But the book concludes with the hope of a new beginning.

Amos contains a central block of material in chapters 3-6 which present God's accusations against Israel and the judgments which must ensue. The midpoint of this passage seems to come at the end of chapter 4, and forms a provocative challenge to every disciple. 'On the basis of what you have done,' Amos declares, 'Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!' (Amos 4:12). The passage concludes with a formal proclamation of God's name and identity (4:13).