Findings

In our examination of Amos chapter 6, we had a slough of insights from the men, especially concerning this question:

5. Why would God use a shepherd -- as opposed to a Levite, for example -- to prophesy to these people?

Some of the comments showed excellent insight.

1. Joe: God likes to use the lowly.
2. Len: The lowly are closer to the victims of injustice.
3. Bob: Jesus lowered Himself to wash feet etc.
4. German: If you listen to the rich and powerful, it might be from envy of riches or the compulsion by power. If you listen to the lowly, however, it is a true response from the heart.

I especially like the answer from German.

Study questions for Amos, chapter 6

There are several streams of meaning in this part of the message of Amos. Here are some questions to help you dip into it.

1. What is the evil day that Israel would like to postpone? What is it that they fear?
2. In chapter 3, Amos wrote some questions of the type we refer to as "Is the pope Catholic?" Here in chapter 6, he uses the opposite type of rhetorical question, an oxymoron, e.g., "Can a horse run across a cliff?" What contradiction in terms does Amos see in Israel?
3. Count the number of references to housing of various types. What kind of housing would a shepherd like Amos have?
4. Count the number of references to luxury furnishings and provisions. What kind of provision would a shepherd like Amos have?
5. Why would God use a shepherd -- as opposed to a Levite, for example -- to prophesy to these people?
6. What is the word you would use to identify the sin of Israel that God condemns in this prophecy?
7. What would God's prescription be for countering that sin?

Let's be ready to gaze into this message and let the Holy Ghost work it down into our bones where it will do some good.

Origins

Where does evil come from? The Church teaches a simple, unusual answer:

We must therefore approach the question of the origin of evil by fixing the eyes of our faith on him who alone is its conqueror.
CCC 385

Calneh to Hamath to Gath

Archaeologists are not 100% certain of the locations of Calneh, Hamath and Philistine Gath. But they figure these three cities were, respectively,

1. somewhere near Azaz in Syria, by the border with Turkey;
2. near the foot of Mt. Hermon, maybe near Bet Jen, Syria;
3. Tell es-Safi, near the Revadim kibbutz in Israel, in the foothills above Ashkelon.

The following images click out to show the approximate crow-flying path from Calneh to Hamath and then on to Gath.

This also means Calneh was about 340 miles due west from Nineveh, for which the ruins are just outside Mosul, Iraq.

What the Lord says and why.

Last Thursday, we had the question, Why does the Creator of the universe instill woes for those who cast justice to the ground?

One of the men had a fine answer. Len answered, "It is because God made us in His image. He expects us to be just."

Mosul and Jerusalem in Amos 5

We have a gamut of questions for looking into Amos 5:

1. Where in the New Testament do we find a lament over a city likened to a woman who has fallen, never to rise again?
2. What are Pleiades? Can you find archaeological traces of them somewhere near Israel today?
3. Why does the Creator of the universe instill woes for those who cast justice to the ground?
4. How does one travel today from Jerusalem to Mosul in Iraq, being as how the ruins of Nineveh are just near Mosul?

(Click image for larger view of map from Jerusalem to Mosul.)

Let's gaze into God's word today, in the 5th chapter of Amos, and see whether it leads us deeper into God's freedom.

Some queries, chapter 4 of Amos

Amos the prophet recorded his message, that came in visions, concerning Israel. In chapter 4 we will look into some rough words. Here are some questions we can use to think over this part of God's Word:

1. How is it that Amos saw this message in a vision? What did Amos see?
2. When will your wife agree to transportation, from point A to point B, by being dragged with fish hooks?
3. What did Jesus say about proclaiming one's free will offereings out loud in public?
4. What famous droughts and famines do you recall from the Bible?
5. What about stricken crops and trees and vineyards in the Bible?
6. How does this slough of calamity compare to the garden in Genesis 2?
7. How does God use calamities like drought, famine and blight?
8. Which sacrament would provide someone with a good recourse in times like this calamity in Israel?

Let's start with these questions, and see how we can make it part of our actions tomorrow.

Holy Lord

Turn to me and be safe, all you ends of the earth, for I am God; there is no other!

By myself I swear, uttering my just decree and my unalterable word:

To me every knee shall bend; by me every tongue shall swear, saying, "Only in the LORD are just deeds and power. Before him in shame shall come all who vent their anger against him. In the LORD shall be the vindication and the glory of all the descendants of Israel." (Isaiah 45:22-25)

A few more questions

Here are a few more questions for studying Amos' prophecy in its 3rd chapter:

1. How is it that Amos saw this message in a vision? What did Amos see?
2. Why does the Lord promise extra punishment to Israel instead of the nations?
3. Where are the mountains of Samaria, in relation to Jerusalem?
4. Where is the city of Ashdod?
5. Why does the Lord have a mini-proclamation to Egypt and Ashdod, in verses 9 - 11?
6. What were Israel's sins in vv. 9 - 11?
7. What are the "horns" on an altar?
8. Why does the Lord promise to break the altar apart in Bethel based on the actions of Israelites outside the altar area?
9. Do we have an altar like this one mentioned by Amos?
10. Do you have a summer home?

Let's dig into chapter 3 with these questions and some help from the Lord for our minds.

Amos 2

It behooves us to work with some of these questions during our walk through the 2nd chapter of Amos this morning:

1. How is it that Amos saw this message in a vision? What did Amos see?
2. What is the relationship between Israel and Judah?
3. How does the Church relate to Abraham's people, Israel?
4. Think of the three faithful Israelites whose words of praise we repeat every day: Zechariah, Mary and >Simeon. What would Amos have said about a nation made of Zechariahs, Marys and Simeons?
5. What is a nazirite?
6. What is the common property of the weapons and fighting men mentioned in vv. 15 and 16?
7. What was the view of Amos concerning the corporal works of mercy?

Let's have a cup of coffee and start here as we see into this wisdom from our God, the perfect Torah of freedom.

Images: (1) BBC, Mark Ormrod with fellow Gumpathon runner, marine Jamie Jobson, in Maryland; (2) Air Force Times, Marine Corps Marathon, 2009.