Amos (Embark Series)
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SAMPLE COPY Please know that this product is not complete and is intended to be viewed as a sample. A WORD FROM THE GLOW STAFF Glow in the Dark™ is passionate about helping you know and pursue Jesus Christ above everything else in your life. We are committed to publishing material that is focused on exalting Christ through the study of His revealed, written Word. We believe that Christian teens truly desire to know and understand God’s Word. However, many who read God’s Word quickly become intimidated, discouraged, or lack the tools to grow. This study will guide you through Scripture so you not only understand what God is saying, but you also learn how to read and study the Bible for yourself. To accomplish these goals, you will walk through the Bible piece by piece (chapters, paragraphs, verses, words). It is important that you let Scripture communicate for itself. This will take time and dedication, but you cannot mature your faith unless you earnestly seek God’s Word and let it impact your life! 3 A guide to studying scripture nyone taking a journey overall message of the biblical book and they help you see the course charted or expedition must at through the daily studies. Because of Asome point embark. this, each day begins by focusing on a It is not enough to know that passage of Scripture. Over time, as you grow in the Word, you will find Bible adventure and progress lay study to be an exciting and joyful part ahead, you must begin; you of your spiritual journey. must embark! When your course has been charted, there are also directions or steps that This series is meant to help you get need to be followed. Although we do started on this incredible journey of not take time in each daily study to growing in Christ through Bible reading highlight these steps, our goal is to and study. Understanding the tools model them. As you grow in God's and skills necessary for this adventure Word, you will form right and healthy will prepare you for a life-long process study habits. What is important at this of knowing and pursuing Jesus Christ point is to understand what these steps through His Word. are, and in what order you must follow them. As you study, spend time in Any journey you take must have a map. prayer and depend on the Holy Spirit to Each Embark book begins by looking open your eyes and teach you. at the background and context of the biblical book being studied. These details are crucial to understanding the 4 Observation This first step begins with what the text says. As you read a section of Scripture, observation seeks to answer the questions, "What does the text say?" and "What do I see?" At this step, the main concern is content, context, and facts.[i] Observation also answers the simple questions of who, what, when, where and how? These observations are necessary to move in the right direction! Interpretation This second step helps us understand to whom the text was written and why. This step does not focus first on us, but on them and then (who the book was written to and what was going on when it was written). In order to be confident that our understanding of the text is right, it is crucial that we remember that God’s Word was first given to an original audience for a particular reason. Proper interpretation answers the questions “What truth is being communicated to the original hearers?” and “What is the meaning of this text?” Response This last step ends with how God’s word will impact you today. Ultimately, the end of this journey is worship. For this reason, while you may be most familiar with the word "application," we have chosen to use the word "response." Some passages of Scripture include imperatives (commands to follow). However, every passage first draws our attention to God as great or man as needy and dependent on God. Because of this, we believe it is more helpful to consider how each text is calling us to respond by faith in worship. Worship will be seen in a life lived for God’s glory.[ii] Embark with us on this spectacular journey through God's Word! 5 amos: Perfect Justice, Shocking Mercy enslave countless more. This invasion When did Amos was no accident. God used an outside agent, the Assyrians to administer His speak for God? judgment on Israel. Israel continually ignored God’s message of repentance. In (Amos 1:1), we see that Amos lived Judgment was coming! during the reign of Uzziah (king of Judah) and Jeroboam (king of Israel). It’s safe to say that Amos spoke for What Kind of God somewhere around 770-753 B.C. Israel had not yet been attacked by Literature Is This? the Assyrians and taken into captivity. This was a part of the coming A Prophecy is a unique and special judgment Amos declared to Israel. part of Scripture. People usually assume prophecy only gives a glimpse Who was this book into the future. While prophecy does foretell future events, there is a bigger purpose for prophecy in written to? Scripture. Consider this: many of the Amos was written to Israel. At the prophesied events we see in the Old time, Israel was divided into two Testament have already happened, yet kingdoms: Israel (Northern Kingdom) we still have these prophets’ books for and Judah (Southern Kingdom). This our doctrine, reproof, correction, and can be confusing because “Israel” can instruction (2 Tim. 3:16). either mean all of God’s chosen people or just the Northern Kingdom. We’ll More than simply providing try to make this clear throughout the information about the future, study. prophecy functions much like the “jaws of life.” It’s dramatic literature Despite their many transgressions, that rips into hard and calloused Israel and Judah were both very hearts and exposes sin which has been prosperous durin this era. Although overlooked and ignored. It then calls Jeroboam was an ungodly king, God the hearer toward faith in God. This blessed Israel with military strength, faith is characterized by repentance economic security, and material from sin and trust in the promises of abundance. God. Roughly 50 years from the specific While a main theme of prophecy is time, Israel would be attacked by judgment, it’s just as important to Assyria, a neighboring nation who note the somtimes subtle, yet would slaughter many Israelites and 6 powerful, declaration that God will create a remnant. A remnant is a What is this book group of people who hear the plea of the prophet and exercise faith in all about? God. This declaration of salvation is tremendously encouraging. God sent Amos to communicate the truth that He is completely just Active, genuine faith in an individual’s and equally full of grace and mercy. life, produces clear outward Despite all of Israel’s wickedness, differences that will be seen. Where God’s Word was meant to shock Israel sin once reigned, trust in God now out of its rebellion and back to God in dictates thoughts and actions. Many repentance and worship. Judgment of the prophetic books include God’s was coming through the Assyrian attitude toward specific sins in Israel’s army, but God was going to save a life. Faith in God changes their remnant in Israel for His glory. This perspective on these sins, and they remnant would be characterized by repent; they go a different direction. genuine faith in God. ISRAEL Northern Kingdom JUDAH Southern Kingdom 7 Mapping the Expedition Introduction and Setting (Amos 1:1-2) STUDY 1 – Amos: A Faithful Messenger (Amos 1:1) STUDY 2 – God: Holy and Gracious (Amos 1:2) STUDY 3 – Israel: In Covenant Relationship, Part 1 (Amos 1:1-2) STUDY 4 – Israel: In Covenant Relationship, Part 2 (Amos 1:1-2) God Will Judge the Nations (Amos 1:3-2:3) STUDY 5 – Wicked Damascus, Gaza, Tyrus (Amos 1:3-10) STUDY 6 – Wicked Edom, Ammon, Moab (Amos 1:11-2:3) God Will Judge His People (Amos 2:4-8) STUDY 7 – Wicked, Wandering Judah (Amos 2:4-5) STUDY 8 – Israel Is Guilty, Too (Amos 2:6-8) God Was Faithful; Israel was Unfaithful (Amos 2:9-16) STUDY 9 – God Rescued Israel (Amos 2:9-11) STUDY 10 – Israel Rejected God’s Glory and Grace (Amos 2:9-12) STUDY 11 – Israel Was Unfaithful; God Is Faithful (Amos 2:13-16) STUDY 12 – Responding to Amos Today (Amos 1-2) God’s Charges Against Israel (Amos 3:1-4:3) STUDY 13 – This Judgment Really Is from God (Amos 3:1-6) STUDY 14 – God is Gracious and Fierce (Amos 3:7-8) STUDY 15 – Come and See Israel’s Sin (Amos 3:9-10) STUDY 16 – Tremendous Disaster; A Ray of Hope (Amos 3:11-15) STUDY 17 – Exile Is Coming (Amos 4:1-3) 8 Israel Still Rejected God (Amos 4:4-5:3) STUDY 18 – Complete Hypocrisy (Amos 4:4-5) STUDY 19 – Israel Did Not Return to God (Amos 4:6-11) STUDY 20 – O Israel, Prepare to Meet Your God (Amos 4:12-13) STUDY 21 – Israel Has Fallen (Amos 5:1-3) Let Justice Reign (Amos 5:4-27) STUDY 22 – Seek the LORD and Live (Amos 5:4-9) STUDY 23 – Injustice Reigned in Israel (Amos 5:10-13) STUDY 24 – God’s Makes a Remnant (Amos 5:14-15) STUDY 25 – The Day of the Lord (Amos 5:16-20) STUDY 26 – God Hates Israel’s Worship (Amos 5:21-27) STUDY 27 – Responding to Amos Today (Amos 3-5) God Will Judge the Prosperous and Mighty (Amos 6:1-14) STUDY 28 – God Will Judge the Prosperous (Amos 6:1-7) STUDY 29 – God Will Judge the Mighty (Amos 6:8-14) God’s Visions to Amos (Amos 7:1-9:10) STUDY 30 – The Locusts and Fire (Amos 7:1-6) STUDY 31 – The Plumb Line (Amos 7:7-17) STUDY 32 – The Summer Fruit (Amos 8:1-14) STUDY 33 – The Complete Destruction of Israel (Amos 9:1-10) God’s Promise of Rescue (Amos 9:11-15) STUDY 34 – The Tent of David (Amos 9:11-12) STUDY 35 – Promised Restoration (Amos 9:13-15) STUDY 36 – Responding to Amos Today (Amos 6-9) 9 STUDIES 1-4 Introduction and Setting (Amos 1:1-2) Amos: A Faithful 1 Messenger Read Amos 1 for context.