Amos was not from a priestly family. He was a shepherd from a small, insignificant town called Tekoa, which still exists today under Palestinian control in the West Bank. Amos was not professionally trained in the law, nor in how to preach God’s word effectively. Yet God used him mightily in prophesying his word to the nation of Israel. We can learn from Amos how to be an effective servant of God, even those of humble backgrounds without official training. All we need is God’s word and his call and he will use us as he did Amos.

God first used Amos to pronounce judgment on the nations surrounding Israel. Assyria (Damascus) is judged because of her excessive brutality toward Israel (Gilead). God would burn the fortresses of King Ben Hadad. Philistia (Gaza) is judged because of her involvement in slave trade. The Philistine kings would be destroyed. Tyre was judged for her betrayal of an ally. God would consume Tyre’s fortresses. Edom is judged for waging war against her brother Israel. And Ammon was judged for her brutality on the women of Gilead. God’s justice is inevitable and applies to all who sin.
Application: Father, thank you for using Amos as your servant and as a prophet for your people. Please call all kinds of people today and use them effectively for your ministry.
One Word: The Lord roars from Zion