He said: "The LORD roars from Zion and raises His voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the summit of Carmel withers." He said:This phrase introduces the prophet Amos as the speaker, conveying a message directly from God. Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa, was called by God to deliver His words to Israel. This emphasizes the divine authority behind the message, as Amos speaks not on his own behalf but as a mouthpiece for the LORD. The LORD roars from Zion
The imagery of the LORD roaring like a lion signifies power, authority, and impending judgment. Zion, a hill in Jerusalem, represents the spiritual center of Israel, where God’s presence dwells. This roar indicates that God is about to act decisively, and it echoes the lion imagery found in other prophetic books, such as Hosea 11:10 and Joel 3:16, where God’s voice is associated with both judgment and protection. and raises His voice from Jerusalem;
Jerusalem, the political and religious capital of Israel, is the location from which God’s voice emanates. This highlights the city’s significance as the place where God’s covenant with His people is centered. The raising of His voice suggests an urgent and authoritative proclamation, underscoring the seriousness of the message. the pastures of the shepherds mourn,
The mourning of the pastures symbolizes the devastation and desolation that will come as a result of God’s judgment. Shepherds, who rely on fertile pastures for their livelihood, will face hardship. This imagery connects to the agricultural society of ancient Israel, where the health of the land directly impacted the people’s well-being. It also reflects the broader theme of creation suffering due to human sin, as seen in passages like Romans 8:22. and the summit of Carmel withers.
Mount Carmel, known for its lush vegetation and beauty, represents prosperity and fertility. Its withering signifies the extent of the coming judgment, affecting even the most fertile and vibrant areas. This serves as a warning of the totality of God’s judgment, reminiscent of the drought and famine themes found in other prophetic writings, such as Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18. The withering also foreshadows the spiritual barrenness that results from turning away from God. Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant God of Israel, who is depicted as a roaring lion, symbolizing His power and impending judgment. 2. ZionA hill in Jerusalem, often used to represent the city itself or the dwelling place of God, signifying the center of divine authority and revelation. 3. JerusalemThe capital city of Israel, the spiritual and political heart of the nation, from where God's voice of judgment is proclaimed. 4. Shepherds' PasturesSymbolic of the land and its people, representing the everyday life and sustenance of the nation, which will be affected by God's judgment. 5. Mount CarmelA fertile and prominent mountain in Israel, known for its lush vegetation, which will wither as a sign of divine judgment. Teaching Points The Power of God's VoiceGod's voice is authoritative and powerful, capable of bringing about change and judgment. We must listen and respond to His word with reverence and obedience. Judgment Begins at the CenterGod's judgment starts from Zion and Jerusalem, reminding us that accountability begins with those closest to Him. As believers, we must examine our own lives and communities first. The Impact of SinThe mourning of the pastures and the withering of Carmel illustrate the consequences of sin. Our actions have real-world effects, and we must strive to live righteously. God's Sovereignty Over CreationThe imagery of nature responding to God's voice underscores His sovereignty over all creation. We should trust in His control and submit to His will. Call to RepentanceThe prophetic message is a call to repentance. We must heed God's warnings and turn back to Him, seeking His mercy and forgiveness. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the imagery of God roaring from Zion challenge or comfort you in your understanding of His nature? 2. In what ways can we ensure that we are listening to God's voice in our daily lives, and how can we discern it amidst other influences? 3. Reflect on a time when you experienced the consequences of sin in your life. How did it affect you, and what steps did you take to seek restoration? 4. How can we, as a community of believers, hold each other accountable to live according to God's standards, starting from within our own "Jerusalem"? 5. Considering God's sovereignty over creation, how can we cultivate a deeper trust in His plans, especially during times of uncertainty or trial? Connections to Other Scriptures Joel 3:16This verse also describes the LORD roaring from Zion, emphasizing the theme of divine judgment and the power of God's voice. Isaiah 42:13Illustrates the LORD as a warrior, roaring like a lion, which parallels the imagery in Amos of God's powerful and authoritative voice. Psalm 46:6Speaks of the earth melting at the sound of God's voice, similar to the withering of Carmel, highlighting the impact of divine pronouncement. People Amos, Aram, Ben, Benhadad, Ben-hadad, Hadad, Hazael, Jehoash, Jeroboam, Joash, Teman, UzziahPlaces Ashdod, Ashkelon, Beth-eden, Bozrah, Carmel, Damascus, Edom, Ekron, Gaza, Gilead, Jerusalem, Kir, Rabbah, Syria, Tekoa, Teman, Tyre, Valley of Aven, ZionTopics Carmel, Cry, Dries, Dry, Fields, Forth, Giveth, Grounds, Habitations, Jerusalem, Keepers, Lion's, Mourn, Mourned, Pasture, Pastures, Roar, Roareth, Roars, Sheep, Shepherds, Sounding, Summit, Thunders, Utter, Uttereth, Utters, Voice, Wasted, Wither, Withered, Withereth, Withers, ZionDictionary of Bible Themes Amos 1:2 1454 theophany
4852 thunder Amos 1:1-2 7785 shepherd, occupation Library The Prophet Joel.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. The position which has been assigned to Joel in the collection of the Minor Prophets, furnishes an external argument for the determination of the time at which Joel wrote. There cannot be any doubt that the Collectors were guided by a consideration of the chronology. The circumstance, that they placed the prophecies of Joel just between the two prophets who, according to the inscriptions and contents of their prophecies, belonged to the time of Jeroboam and Uzziah, is …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old TestamentThe River of Egypt, Rhinocorura. The Lake of Sirbon.
Pliny writes, "From Pelusium are the intrenchments of Chabrias: mount Casius: the temple of Jupiter Casius: the tomb of Pompey the Great: Ostracine: Arabia is bounded sixty-five miles from Pelusium: soon after begins Idumea and Palestine from the rising up of the Sirbon lake." Either my eyes deceive me, while I read these things,--or mount Casius lies nearer Pelusium, than the lake of Sirbon. The maps have ill placed the Sirbon between mount Casius and Pelusium. Sirbon implies burning; the name of …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Whether, in Prophetic Revelation, New Species of Things are Impressed on the Prophet's Mind, or Merely a New Light?
Objection 1: It would seem that in prophetic revelation no new species of things are impressed on the prophet's mind, but only a new light. For a gloss of Jerome on Amos 1:2 says that "prophets draw comparisons from things with which they are conversant." But if prophetic vision were effected by means of species newly impressed, the prophet's previous experience of things would be inoperative. Therefore no new species are impressed on the prophet's soul, but only the prophetic light. Objection 2: …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Whether a Natural Disposition is Requisite for Prophecy?
Objection 1: It would seem that a natural disposition is requisite for prophecy. For prophecy is received by the prophet according to the disposition of the recipient, since a gloss of Jerome on Amos 1:2, "The Lord will roar from Sion," says: "Anyone who wishes to make a comparison naturally turns to those things of which he has experience, and among which his life is spent. For example, sailors compare their enemies to the winds, and their losses to a shipwreck. In like manner Amos, who was a shepherd, …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica How the Rude in Sacred Learning, and those who are Learned but not Humble, are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 25.) Differently to be admonished are those who do not understand aright the words of the sacred Law, and those who understand them indeed aright, but speak them not humbly. For those who understand not aright the words of sacred Law are to be admonished to consider that they turn for themselves a most wholesome drought of wine into a cup of poison, and with a medicinal knife inflict on themselves a mortal wound, when they destroy in themselves what was sound by that whereby they ought, …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great The Twelve Minor Prophets.
1. By the Jewish arrangement, which places together the twelve minor prophets in a single volume, the chronological order of the prophets as a whole is broken up. The three greater prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, stand in the true order of time. Daniel began to prophesy before Ezekiel, but continued, many years after him. The Jewish arrangement of the twelve minor prophets is in a sense chronological; that is, they put the earlier prophets at the beginning, and the later at the end of the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Formation and History of the Hebrew Canon.
1. The Greek word canon (originally a straight rod or pole, measuring-rod, then rule) denotes that collection of books which the churches receive as given by inspiration of God, and therefore as constituting for them a divine rule of faith and practice. To the books included in it the term canonical is applied. The Canon of the Old Testament, considered in reference to its constituent parts, was formed gradually; formed under divine superintendence by a process of growth extending through …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible A Discourse of Mercifulness
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7 These verses, like the stairs of Solomon's temple, cause our ascent to the holy of holies. We are now mounting up a step higher. Blessed are the merciful . . '. There was never more need to preach of mercifulness than in these unmerciful times wherein we live. It is reported in the life of Chrysostom that he preached much on this subject of mercifulness, and for his much pressing Christians to mercy, he was called of many, the alms-preacher, …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12 Links Amos 1:2 NIVAmos 1:2 NLTAmos 1:2 ESVAmos 1:2 NASBAmos 1:2 KJV
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