When God Roars: A Call to Justice and Repentance
- Be God's Glory
- Sep 25
- 10 min read
Welcome to Day 268 of The Glory Team Bible Reading Plan.
The opening chapters of Amos begin with God’s judgment declared against the nations surrounding Israel and then against Judah and Israel themselves. In Amos 1, God condemns nations like Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab for their violence, cruelty, and betrayal. Amos 2 turns the focus on Judah and Israel, showing that God’s people are not exempt from His justice. Judah is judged for rejecting God’s law, and Israel is condemned for oppression, greed, immorality, and ignoring God’s prophets. Finally, Amos 3 emphasizes Israel’s unique covenant relationship with God. Though they were chosen by Him, this privilege carries responsibility. God reminds them that their sins bring accountability and that His coming judgment is certain. Together, these chapters reveal that God is the just Judge of all nations, impartial in His justice, and especially holds His people accountable to live in obedience to His Word.
Amos 1
Amos 1 begins with God’s judgment pronounced on Israel’s neighboring nations—Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab. Each oracle starts with the phrase, “For three transgressions… and for four,” symbolizing the overflowing measure of their sins. The nations are condemned for atrocities such as cruelty in war, slavery, betrayal, and ruthless violence against others. Amos shows that God, as Judge of all nations, does not overlook injustice even outside His covenant people. The imagery of fire consuming palaces underscores the certainty and severity of God’s judgment. This chapter reveals that God’s justice is universal, extending beyond Israel to all nations who act wickedly.
Amos 2
Amos 2 turns God’s judgment from the surrounding nations toward Judah and Israel themselves. Judah is condemned for rejecting the law of the Lord and turning to lies and false gods. Israel is judged even more harshly for their oppression of the poor, corruption in the courts, and immorality, such as father and son defiling the same woman. God reminds Israel of His past acts of deliverance—bringing them out of Egypt, destroying their enemies, and raising up prophets and Nazirites—but they silenced and corrupted them. Unlike the nations, Israel is held to a higher standard because of their covenant relationship with God. This chapter emphasizes that privilege brings responsibility, and God will not spare His own people from accountability.
Amos 3
In Amos 3, God addresses Israel as His chosen people, declaring that their unique relationship makes them more accountable to His judgment. Using rhetorical questions, Amos shows that cause and effect govern life—disaster does not come without God’s purpose. The prophet compares God’s voice to a roaring lion, signifying the certainty and fearfulness of His coming judgment. Israel’s wealth and luxury, built on oppression and violence, will be stripped away as foreign enemies overrun their land. Even the altars at Bethel, where false worship occurs, will be destroyed, proving that God will not tolerate corrupted religion. This chapter underscores that God’s judgment begins with His own house, and covenant with Him is no shield for disobedience.
Origin & Meaning of the Name:
The name Amos comes from the Hebrew ʿAmos, meaning “burden” or “burden-bearer.” This meaning reflects his prophetic mission: he carried the heavy burden of proclaiming God’s message of judgment and justice to a complacent, prosperous, yet sinful people.
Purpose of the Book:
The purpose of Amos is to declare God’s judgment on Israel and the surrounding nations for their sins, especially injustice, oppression of the poor, idolatry, and hypocritical worship. Amos emphasizes that God is sovereign over all nations, not just Israel, and He requires righteousness and justice as evidence of true faith. Though the book is filled with warnings of coming destruction, it also ends with a promise of restoration, showing that God’s ultimate purpose is to discipline in order to redeem and rebuild.
Authorship & Sources Supporting the Author:
The book itself identifies Amos, a shepherd and dresser of sycamore figs from Tekoa (Amos 1:1; 7:14–15), as its author. Unlike many prophets who came from priestly or prophetic families, Amos was a layman called directly by God to deliver His message.
Biblical support for Amos’ role and words include:
Amos 7:14–15 – Amos defends his calling, stating he was neither a prophet nor trained in a prophetic school but was directly chosen by God.
Acts 7:42–43 – Stephen references Amos 5:25–27 when speaking of Israel’s idolatry.
Acts 15:15–17 – James quotes Amos 9:11–12 at the Jerusalem Council, affirming Amos’ prophecy about God’s plan to include Gentiles.
Early Jewish tradition and the recognition of Amos among the Twelve Minor Prophets in the Hebrew Bible further affirm his authorship. His clear historical context during the reigns of Uzziah of Judah and Jeroboam II of Israel (Amos 1:1) provides additional credibility.
Key People:
Amos – The prophet, shepherd, and author of the book.
Uzziah (King of Judah) – Mentioned to date Amos’ ministry (Amos 1:1).
Jeroboam II (King of Israel) – Mentioned to date Amos’ ministry and context of Israel’s prosperity (Amos 1:1).
Amaziah the Priest of Bethel – Opposed Amos and tried to silence his prophecy (Amos 7:10–17).
The Nations – Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, and others judged by God (Amos 1–2).
The People of Israel – The primary audience, rebuked for injustice, idolatry, and hypocrisy.
Conclusion
The Book of Amos reveals God as the sovereign Judge of all nations who demands justice, righteousness, and true worship. Israel, despite its prosperity, faced destruction because of its oppression of the poor and its empty religious rituals. Amos reminds us that privilege brings greater accountability, and God’s people cannot separate worship from justice. Yet, the book closes with a promise of restoration: God will rebuild the fallen house of David, restore His people, and bless the nations. For readers today, Amos calls us to examine our lives and societies—reminding us that true faith must always be lived out in justice, mercy, and devotion to God.
What is God's Name in these Chapters?
In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.
Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.
"Jehovah" is considered a Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" (represented by the consonants YHWH) where the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "my Lord") were added to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) when pronounced by Jewish readers who avoided saying the sacred name directly; essentially, Christian scholars combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai to create the pronunciation "Jehovah" in the Latin alphabet.
Looking for the Names of God from the previous chapters? Due to the overwhelming amount of names we had to dedicate a special place for them for the sake of space. Click the link to see them:
Amos 1
In Amos 1, God reveals Himself as the universal Judge, holding all nations accountable for their sins, not just Israel. His holiness demands justice, and He does not overlook cruelty, betrayal, and oppression. By declaring judgment on Israel’s neighbors, God shows His sovereignty over all the earth.
The chapter uses “YHWH” (the LORD), the covenant name of God, to show that He is not only Israel’s God but also the God of all nations. The lesson is that God’s justice extends beyond His covenant people, and no nation is exempt from His standards. We learn that God sees every act of injustice and will ultimately bring judgment against sin.
Amos 2
In Amos 2, God’s character is revealed as righteous and impartial. After judging the nations, He turns to Judah and Israel, showing that His people are not excused from judgment because of their covenant privilege. God expects His people to live in obedience, justice, and holiness.
The chapter again uses “YHWH” (the LORD), emphasizing His covenant authority over Judah and Israel. The lesson here is that those who know God’s Word are held to a higher standard, and rejecting His truth leads to severe consequences. God teaches us that true faith must be lived out in justice, compassion, and integrity.
Amos 3
In Amos 3, God’s character is revealed as both relational and just. He reminds Israel that He chose them out of all nations, which deepens their accountability for sin. God’s judgment is certain because of His holiness, yet it comes from a covenant relationship that longs for obedience and faithfulness.
The lesson in Amos 3 is that with great privilege comes great responsibility. Israel’s covenant status does not shield them from discipline but makes them more accountable to live righteously. For us today, this means that knowing God personally calls us to a life of holiness and obedience to His Word.
Christ in Every Book of the Bible
Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.
Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.
The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!
Questions:
Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.
Questions About God's Character: What do these chapters reveal about God’s faithfulness to His word and promises?
How does Amos 1 reveal God’s character as the universal Judge over all nations?
In what ways does God’s holiness demand justice in Amos 1–2?
What does God’s impartiality in judging both the nations and Israel in Amos 2 teach us about His righteousness?
How does Amos 3 show that God values relationship but still requires accountability from His people?
Why is it significant that God’s covenant name, YHWH, is used in these chapters when declaring judgment?
How does God’s patience and warning through Amos reflect both His justice and His mercy?
What does God’s character in Amos 1–3 teach us about how seriously He views sin, even among His chosen people?
Questions About Themes:
How does the repeated phrase “For three transgressions… and for four” in Amos 1–2 emphasize the fullness of God’s judgment?
What theme of accountability is shown by God judging surrounding nations first, then turning to Judah and Israel?
How does Amos 2 highlight the danger of rejecting God’s Word and exploiting others?
In Amos 3, what theme is emphasized by God choosing Israel yet still bringing judgment against them?
How do these chapters show that sin has both communal and national consequences, not just personal ones?
What theme of responsibility comes with being God’s covenant people, as seen in Amos 3?
How do these chapters emphasize that God’s justice is not limited to Israel but applies to all people and nations?
Reflective Application Questions:
How can we apply the truth that God sees injustice in all nations to the world we live in today?
In what areas of life might we wrongly assume God will overlook sin because of our relationship with Him?
How can believers guard against the same complacency and spiritual pride that Israel displayed in Amos 2–3?
What personal responsibility do you feel knowing that those closest to God are held to a higher standard?
How can we practice justice and compassion in everyday life to reflect God’s heart revealed in Amos?
What warning signs from Amos 1–3 should we pay attention to in our culture, church, or personal walk with God?
How does understanding God’s character in these chapters motivate you to pursue holiness and obedience?
These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.
Reference Guides:
Life Application Study Guide
A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler
The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans