(a) Outline four out of the punishments Amos warned Israel about.
(b) List three out of the sins Amos condemned which are prevalent today.
Explanation
(A) PUNISHMENTS AMOS WARNED ISRAEL ABOUT (AMOS 2:6, 4; 5:1-24, 7:10-17,8)
i. As Amos identified the transgressions of Israel, God made it clear to them that He would not revoke the punishments if they refused to repent.
ii. Amos prophesied that the Samaritan women would be taken to exile in hooks like a fish and cast into Harmon.
iii. The women who supported their husbands to oppress the poor would be humiliated and also taken into exile.
iv. People who cheated the poor to build hewn stone houses would not dwell in them nor would they live to drink the wine of the vineyards they planted. They would suffer exile as a punishment.
v. In all the squares, there shall be wailing, and in all the streets they shall say, Alas!
vi. This implies that people would endure bitter punishments leading to wailings here and there.
vii. According to Amos, their wives would be harlots in the city, and their sons and daughters would fall by the sword.
viii. This implies that a nations would attack and defeat Israel and send them into exile.
ix. All business men who exploited the poor in the course of their transactions would have their hopes dashed while their feast would turn into mourning.
x. Those who looked forward to the day of the Lord as a day of joy and exoneration would be disappointed as it would turn out to be a day of judgment and severe punishment.
xi. Worship involving sacrifices, prayers, songs on feast and sacred days would incur God's displeasure, hatred and rejection.
xii. Songs of thanks giving for harvest would be turned to sadness.
xiii. According to Amos, the people would suffer famine not of food or drink but for the word of God.
(B) SINS AMOS CONDEMNED WHICH ARE PREVALENT TODAY
i. Cult prostitution (Marriage to the gods and priests).
ii. Paying lip service to God.
iii. Idolatry/false worship/false prophets.
iv. Not keeping the Sabbath and feast days holy.
v. False swearing/bearing false witnesses.
vi. Bribery and corruption.
vii. Selling the righteous for money and the needy for a small fee.
viii. Cheating in markets with false weights/measures.
ix. Forced slavery/child labour/child abuse/child trafficking.
x. Sexual immorality, e.g. homosexuality/ fornication/ adultery.
xi. Luxury as a result of cheating (under/overpayments, fraudulent activities, etc.)
xii. Robbing the poor of their properties, e.g. Land guards, etc. xiii. Injustice in the law courts.
