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| "WOE TO YOU!" by Bruce Hostetler and Carol Duerksen | ||||||||||||
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BIBLE STUDY SESSION 108
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| FAITH STORY Amos 6 FAITH FOCUS Amos, the shepherd of Tekoa, is the earliest of the prophets whose utterances have been recorded in books that bear their names. The book is composed of three elements: vision, oracles, and narrative; all placing the prediction of imminent ruin at the heart of Amos’ ministry. The setting is during the reign of King Jeroboam II, who was on the throne from about 783 to about 745 B.C. The nation of Israel was very prosperous during this time period. The war with Syria had ended which led to the full recovery of Israel’s territory. The accumulation of wealth was concentrated in the hands of the upper classes that had built palaces and summer houses and were indulging in luxurious, extravagant living patterns. All of this ruthless seeking of wealth occurred from gross injustice and oppression of the poor. Careless lust that knew no bounds was woven into the very fabric of national life. This constituted a profaning of the holiness of the God with whom they felt they had a privileged, intimate relationship. God had delivered these people from the oppression of Egypt, only to have them committing much the same kinds of injustice and violent behavior toward their own weak, poor, and vulnerable. All of this atrocious behavior occurred while they were thinking they were safe and secure because Yahweh was watching out for, and blessing, them. Amos is issuing the final proclamation of approaching doom to a people who are totally oblivious to it. MATERIALS AND ADVANCE PREPARATION • Ask someone well in advance of this session to memorize parts of, or the whole chapter of Amos 6, and come present it dramatically to the group. • Copies of Amos 6 from The Message for each student • Large pieces of newsprint and markers • Ashes to place on students’ foreheads or hands • Bibles for each student Continued... |
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