JULY22026

To Amos, Amaziah said: “Off with you, visionary, flee to the land of Judah!” Some background: the Chosen People had split into two nations, Israel and Judah. Amos was from the southern kingdom of Judah but his prophetic ministry was to the northern kingdom of Israel. He is banished from Israel because his message spoke of the treat of God’s punishment for the crimes of the king and nation. From his place in exile he writes down his pronouncements and sends them north. While he intended his preaching to be in person the political environment required that he operate in writing. Previous Israelite prophets — Samuel, Elijah, Elisha — wrote nothing down.  We are the beneficiaries of having a writing prophet for he inspired the next generation of prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah and the rest, to write down their message. What seemed like a setback to Amos was, in the providence of God, a great boon to later generations seeking to understand the will of God in our time.