S2E258-Amos 1-4: The Farmer Prophet

Transcript Today's Bible Translation Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 1-4 NET Podcast Introduction It’s Prophecy Friday, and we’ll read Amos 1-4. I’m calling this episode “The Farmer Prophet.“ Design: Scott Snider | Photo: Priscilla du Preez on Unsplash Summary Amos, a simple farmer, carried God's burden and confronted the people's sins. He warned of impending judgment, urging them to remember God's authority. Despite past cycles of disobedience, repentance, and blessings, they needed to listen when God spoke. Listen to the episode for more! Support This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising equals censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and donate here: SUPPORT. The Team Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Denise: Transcript CorrectionMichael Haner: Podcasting 2.0 ChaptersScott Snider: Show ArtJason Paschall: Show ArtLifespring Family Berean, Sister Brittaney: Newsletter Publisher Transcript Download .txt file. Transcript corrected by Sister Denise Steve Webb 0:00Guys, I'm not saying this. God is. Steve Webb 0:10This is the Lifespring! One Year Bible coming to you from Riverside, California (almost), and podcasting since 2004, I'm your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. It's Prophecy Friday. Our reading today is Amos 1 through 4. Well, the Lovely Lady LeeAnn, and I will be flying back from Florida tonight, so that means there's only one more pre-recorded show and that'll be tomorrow since there'll be no time to do a show when I get home from the airport tonight. Before we read, let's pray. Our heavenly Father, we thank you for our time together here. We thank you for your Word. And we ask you to bless us as we read today. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. All right, let's begin. Steve Webb 0:53This introduction to Amos is from the New International Reader's Version of the Bible. When the nation of Israel was divided, Israel became the northern kingdom. Judah was the southern kingdom. Israel had become very powerful under the long rule of King Jeroboam II, and that was about 800 years before Jesus was born. Israel had put its trust in its own military strength and wealth. Everything was going well for them. They acted like they loved God when they worshiped, but they didn't really love him in their hearts. They thought that since God was with them in the past, he had to be with them now. They expected the Day of the Lord would come, and they thought it would bring them blessings. They thought God would make Israel the ruler of all the nations around it. The prophet Amos came into the situation. He was a farmer and a shepherd. He lived in the southern kingdom of Judah, but God called Amos to be a prophet, and Amos was to speak to the people of the northern kingdom of Israel. Amos announced that God is preparing a nation to conquer Israel. Amos told Israel that the day of the Lord will be darkness, not light. Steve Webb 2:04Amos, chapter 1. The following is a record of what Amos prophesied. He was one of the herdsmen from Tekoa. These prophecies about Israel were revealed to him during the time of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam son of Joash in Israel, two years before the earthquake. Amos said: “The Lord comes roaring out of Zion; from Jerusalem he comes bellowing! The shepherds’ pastures wilt; the summit of Carmel withers.” This is what the Lord says: “Because Damascus has committed three crimes – make that four! – I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They ripped through Gilead like threshing sledges with iron teeth. So I will set Hazael’s house on fire; fire will consume Ben Hadad’s fortresses. I will break the bar on the gate of Damascus. I will remove the ruler from Wicked Valley, the one who holds the royal scepter from Beth Eden. The people of Aram will be deported to Kir.

Episode Transcript

Steve Webb (00:00):
Guys, I'm not saying this. God is.
This is the Lifespring! One YearBible coming to you from
Riverside, California (almost),and podcasting since 2004, I'm
your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb.It's Prophecy Friday. Our

(00:23):
reading today is Amos 1 through4. Well, the Lovely Lady LeeAnn,
and I will be flying back fromFlorida tonight, so that means
there's only one morepre-recorded show and that'll be
tomorrow since there'll be notime to do a show when I get
home from the airport tonight.Before we read, let's pray. Our
heavenly Father, we thank youfor our time together here. We
thank you for your Word. And weask you to bless us as we read

(00:45):
today. I pray this in Jesus'name. Amen. All right, let's
begin.
This introduction to Amos isfrom the New International
Reader's Version of the Bible.When the nation of Israel was
divided, Israel became thenorthern kingdom. Judah was the
southern kingdom. Israel hadbecome very powerful under the

(01:08):
long rule of King Jeroboam II,and that was about 800 years
before Jesus was born. Israelhad put its trust in its own
military strength and wealth.Everything was going well for
them. They acted like they lovedGod when they worshiped, but
they didn't really love him intheir hearts. They thought that
since God was with them in thepast, he had to be with them

(01:30):
now. They expected the Day ofthe Lord would come, and they
thought it would bring themblessings. They thought God
would make Israel the ruler ofall the nations around it. The
prophet Amos came into thesituation. He was a farmer and a
shepherd. He lived in thesouthern kingdom of Judah, but
God called Amos to be a prophet,and Amos was to speak to the

(01:50):
people of the northern kingdomof Israel. Amos announced that
God is preparing a nation toconquer Israel. Amos told Israel
that the day of the Lord will bedarkness, not light.
Amos, chapter 1. The followingis a record of what Amos
prophesied. He was one of theherdsmen from Tekoa. These

(02:12):
prophecies about Israel wererevealed to him during the time
of King Uzziah of Judah and KingJeroboam son of Joash in Israel,
two years before the earthquake.Amos said: “The Lord comes
roaring out of Zion; fromJerusalem he comes bellowing!
The shepherds’ pastures wilt;the summit of Carmel withers.”

This is what the Lord says: “Because Damascus has committed (02:32):
undefined
three crimes – make that four! –I will not revoke my decree of
judgment. They ripped throughGilead like threshing sledges
with iron teeth. So I will setHazael’s house on fire; fire
will consume Ben Hadad’sfortresses. I will break the bar

(02:52):
on the gate of Damascus. I willremove the ruler from Wicked
Valley, the one who holds theroyal scepter from Beth Eden.
The people of Aram will bedeported to Kir.” The Lord has
spoken! This is what the Lordsays: “Because Gaza has
committed three crimes – makethat four! – I will not revoke
my decree of judgment. Theydeported a whole community and

(03:14):
sold them to Edom. So I will setGaza’s city wall on fire; fire
will consume her fortresses. Iwill remove the ruler from
Ashdod, the one who holds theroyal scepter from Ashkelon. I
will strike Ekron with my hand;the rest of the Philistines will
also die.” The sovereign Lordhas spoken! This is what the

Lord says (03:34):
“Because Tyre has committed three crimes – make
that four! – I will not revokemy decree of judgment. They sold
a whole community to Edom; theyfailed to observe a treaty of
brotherhood. So I will set fireto Tyre’s city wall; fire will
consume her fortresses.” This iswhat the Lord says: “Because

(03:54):
Edom has committed three crimes– make that four! – I will not
revoke my decree of judgment. Hechased his brother with a sword;
he wiped out his allies. In hisanger he tore them apart without
stopping to rest; in his fury herelentlessly attacked them. So I
will set Teman on fire; firewill consume Bozrah’s
fortresses.” This is what theLord says: “Because the

(04:19):
Ammonites have committed threecrimes – make that four! – I
will not revoke my decree ofjudgment. They ripped open
Gilead’s pregnant women so theycould expand their territory. So
I will set fire to Rabbah’s citywall; fire will consume her
fortresses. War cries will beheard on the day of battle; a
strong gale will blow on the dayof the windstorm. Ammon’s king

(04:41):
will be deported and hisofficials will be carried off
together.” The Lord has spoken!
Amos, chapter 2. This is whatthe Lord says: “Because Moab has
committed three crimes – makethat four! – I will not revoke
my decree of judgment. Theyburned the bones of Edom’s king
into lime. So I will set Moab onfire, and it will consume

(05:03):
Kerioth’s fortresses. Moab willperish in the heat of battle
amid war cries and the blaringof the ram’s horn. I will remove
Moab’s leader; I will kill allMoab’s officials with him.” The
Lord has spoken! This is whatthe Lord says: “Because Judah
has committed three covenanttransgressions – make that four!

(05:23):
– I will not revoke my decree ofjudgment. They rejected the
Lord’s law; they did not obeyhis commands. Their false gods,
to which their fathers wereloyal, led them astray. So I
will set Judah on fire, and itwill consume Jerusalem’s
fortresses.” This is what theLord says: “Because Israel has
committed three covenanttransgressions – make that four!

(05:46):
– I will not revoke my decree ofjudgment. They sold the innocent
for silver, the needy for a pairof sandals. They trample on the
dirt-covered heads of the poor;they push the destitute away. A
man and his father go to thesame girl; in this way they show
disrespect for my moral purity.They stretch out on clothing

(06:08):
seized as collateral; they do soright beside every altar! They
drink wine brought with thefines they have levied; they do
so right in the temple of theirGod! For Israel’s sake I
destroyed the Amorites. Theywere as tall as cedars and as
strong as oaks, but I destroyedthe fruit on their branches and
their roots in the ground. Ibrought you up from the land of

(06:30):
Egypt; I led you through thewilderness for forty years so
you could take the Amorites’land as your own. I made some of
your sons prophets and some ofyour young men Nazirites. Is
this not true, you Israelites?”The Lord is speaking! “But you
made the Nazirites drink wine;you commanded the prophets, ‘Do
not prophesy!’ Look! I willpress you down, like a cart

(06:53):
loaded down with grain pressesdown. Fast runners will find no
place to hide; strong men willhave no strength left; warriors
will not be able to save theirlives. Archers will not hold
their ground; fast runners willnot save their lives, nor will
those who ride horses.Bravehearted warriors will run
away naked in that day.” TheLord is speaking!

(07:17):
Amos, chapter 3. Listen, youIsraelites, to this message
which the Lord is proclaimingagainst you! This message is for
the entire clan I brought upfrom the land of Egypt: “I have
chosen you alone from all theclans of the earth. Therefore I
will punish you for all yoursins.” Do two walk together
without having met? Does a lionroar in the woods if he has not

(07:39):
cornered his prey? Does a younglion bellow from his den if he
has not caught something? Does abird swoop down into a trap on
the ground if there is no bait?Does a trap spring up from the
ground unless it has surelycaught something? If an alarm
sounds in a city, do people notfear? If disaster overtakes a
city, is the Lord notresponsible? Certainly the

(08:01):
sovereign Lord does nothingwithout first revealing his plan
to his servants the prophets. Alion has roared! Who is not
afraid? The sovereign Lord hasspoken! Who can refuse to
prophesy? Make this announcementin the fortresses of Ashdod and
in the fortresses in the land ofEgypt. Say this: “Gather on the
hills around Samaria! Observethe many acts of violence taking

(08:24):
place within the city, theoppressive deeds occurring in
it.” “They do not know how to dowhat is right.” (The Lord is
speaking.) “They store up thespoils of destructive violence
in their fortresses. Therefore,”says the sovereign Lord, “an
enemy will encircle the land. Hewill take away your power; your
fortresses will be looted.” Thisis what the Lord says: “Just as

(08:46):
a shepherd salvages from thelion’s mouth a couple of leg
bones or a piece of an ear, sothe Israelites who live in
Samaria will be salvaged. Theywill be left with just a corner
of a bed, and a part of acouch.” Listen and warn the
family of Jacob! The sovereignLord, the God who commands
armies, is speaking! “Certainlywhen I punish Israel for their

(09:06):
covenant transgressions, I willdestroy Bethel’s altars. The
horns of the altar will be cutoff and fall to the ground. I
will destroy both the winter andsummer houses. The houses filled
with ivory will be ruined, thegreat houses will be swept
away.” The Lord is speaking!
Amos, chapter 4. Listen to thismessage, you cows of Bashan who

(09:27):
live on Mount Samaria! Youoppress the poor; you crush the
needy. You say to your husbands,“Bring us more to drink!” The
sovereign Lord confirms thisoath by his own holy character:
“Certainly the time isapproaching when you will be
carried away in baskets, everylast one of you in fishermen’s
pots. Each of you will gostraight through the gaps in the

(09:48):
walls; you will be thrown outtoward Harmon.” The Lord is
speaking! “Go to Bethel andrebel! At Gilgal rebel some
more! Bring your sacrifices inthe morning, your tithes on the
third day! Burn a thank offeringof bread made with yeast! Make a
public display of your voluntaryofferings! For you love to do
this, you Israelites.” Thesovereign Lord is speaking! “But

(10:11):
surely I gave you no food to eatin any of your cities; you
lacked food everywhere you live.Still you did not come back to
me.” The Lord is speaking! “Iwithheld rain from you three
months before the harvest. Igave rain to one city, but not
to another. One field would getrain, but the field that
received no rain dried up.People from two or three cities

(10:33):
staggered into one city to getwater, but remained thirsty.
Still you did not come back tome.” The Lord is speaking! “I
destroyed your crops with blightand disease. Locusts kept
devouring your orchards,vineyards, fig trees, and olive
trees. Still you did not comeback to me.” The Lord is
speaking! “I sent against you aplague like one of the Egyptian

(10:54):
plagues. I killed your young menwith the sword, along with the
horses you had captured. I madethe stench from the corpses rise
up into your nostrils. Still youdid not come back to me.” The
Lord is speaking! “I overthrewsome of you the way God
overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.You were like a burning stick
snatched from the flames. Stillyou did not come back to me.”

(11:16):
The Lord is speaking! “Thereforethis is what I will do to you,
Israel. Because I will do thisto you, prepare to meet your
God, Israel! For here he is! Heformed the mountains and created
the wind. He reveals his plansto men. He turns the dawn into
darkness and marches on theheights of the earth. The Lord,
the God who commands armies, ishis name!”

(11:40):
Well, Amos was what we mightcall today a good old boy. He
was a plain-speaking simplecountry farmer. Amos means
"burden bearer," and hecertainly did bear the burden of
carrying God's message. Amoschallenged Bethel's priest
Amaziah. And he bore God'smessage reproving the sin of the
people and calling them torepentance. And his first

(12:02):
message was against nearbyenemies of Israel. And then he
spoke to Israel about theiridolatry and stubbornness toward
God. And after telling themabout the judgments God would
bring against them, the bookends with the promise of the
coming Messiah. Over and overagain in chapter 4, we hear the
phrase, "The Lord is speaking."Throughout their history, God

(12:23):
has repeatedly told them what heexpects from them in terms of
their behavior and the conditionof their hearts. But repeatedly,
they forsook God to go their ownway, only to come under his
judgment. After a time theyrepent and God blesses them
again and this cycle repeatsover and over. Now, at this
point in their history, they'rebeing told again of impending

(12:44):
judgment, and now Amos remindsthem with each statement "The
Lord is speaking" as if to say,"Guys, I'm not saying this. God
is. Remember who he is. Think ofwhat happened in the past. Do
you want that again? This is Godtelling you this." You know,
there used to be a TV commercialmany years ago. If you're as old

(13:04):
as I am, you might remember it.It was for a stock brokerage
firm by the name of E.F. Hutton.The tagline was "When E.F.
Hutton talks, people listen." Ifonly we would listen when God
talks.
What are your thoughts? You havecomments or questions? Contact

(13:26):
information will be in just acouple of minutes. Tomorrow will
be Gospel Saturday and ourreading will be John 16 through
18

Jingle (13:34):
Lifespringmedia.com/support

Steve Webb (13:45):
Thanks to Scott Snider, who did today's show
art, and thanks to SisterDenise, Michael Haner, Jason
Paschall, and Sister Brittaney.Until tomorrow, may God bless
you richly. My name is SteveWebb. Bye.

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