Writing of Amos and Hosea, Essay Example

Hosea and Amos made a collection of prophecies in what was known as Trei Asar ( The Twelve).  With Hosea God used him in order to teach the people of Israel an object lesson.  It contrasted with Hosea’s relationship with Gomer and depicted what Gods relationship had been like with the people of Israel.  Israel like gomer had played the role of harlot but god would take them back after a period of  probation and punishment.  The lesson being that God views “apostasy as spiritual harlotry” and as such a betrayal by the people of Israel.  Christians are said to be betrothed to Christ ,  hence “I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me  in righteousness and justice, in loving kindness and mercy; I will  betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the LORD.”  (Copeland, 2009)

Amos declared the impartiality of God and that he would show no favourites. Each of us are judged as individuals on the choices and actions that we take. The Lord is the God of all people.  Nobody is immune from the justice of God and neither shall position curry you favour in the eyes of God.  ” Jeroboam shall die by the sword,  and Israel must go into exile away from his land.'” {Amos 7:10-11 RSV}. The terrible prophecy from Amos stating that the King of Israel along with his nation will be judged and that the king will die with the nation being exiled from their land.

Amos points out that God is concerned with the inner being or what each of us do in the performance of our lives and the choices that we make. The concept of spiritual purity and doing good in the world in reverence to God, this as opposed to the sham of the outer being that pretends to do good or puts on an act of devotion but does not truly mean it  ”  I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your [religious activities] solemn assemblies, …your burnt offerings, …Take away from me the noise of your songs; … the melody of your harps … But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowlng stream.” {Amos 5:21-24 RSV} “.

Amos predicted the coming of Christ and the millennia days when the lands would be restored to Israel and God would extend his benevolence and salvation to the Gentiles and that he was a God of all people, of all nations upon the earth not just the Israelites.  As such God was a redeemer a source of hope and enlightenment and a path towards ultimate salvation ” “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “when the ploughman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant them upon their land, and they shall never again be plucked up out of the land which I have given them,” says the Lord your God. {Amos 9:13-15 RSV} (Steadman, 1966).

The concept of redemption, forgiveness is covered in a number of areas by Amos. He states that God provides reminders to us in order to carefully evaluate the decisions and choices that we make in life.  As such God attempts to try and educate us and make us see the reality of situations, not just how we as individuals are impacted but how the choices impact all of those around us – the big picture or holistic view. ” Therefore because you trample upon the poor
and take from him exactions of wheat, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine.

For I knew how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins — you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate. Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time; {Amos 5:11-13a RSV} “.

Hosea focused on the split between the House of Israel and the House of Judean and that in the respective punishments it was the House of Judea that will be cast into Exile and captivity.  Despite this they would not be abandoned and the houses would subsequently be reunited ” Ezek 23:4   And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were Mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah. ” (Ramey).  The House of Judah would ultimately be saved through the second coming of Christ a spiritual battle ushering in a 1,000 years of peace on Earth.

Conclusion

Both prophets advocated that there is only one God that cares for all humanity.  The prime demand of God is that people love one another and lead decent lives. One God created all human beings and as such we are one family under God.  One God means that there is only one morality.  The ruling is that simple and the rest a distraction from this observance.  In modern times it is the need for racial tolerance, better communication and understanding between nations, mutual respect for individual beliefs and the desire to help all mankind.  The future of humanity is based upon peaceful co-existance and the desire to help one another.

Works Cited

Copeland, M. A. (2009). “Studies in the Minor Prophets”. Retrieved 11 13, 2009, from “Studies in the Minor Prophets”: http://www.ccel.org/contrib//exec_outlines/mp/mp_09.htm

Ramey, D. (n.d.). The House of Israel Scattered: Hosea’s Prophecy. Retrieved 11 13, 2009, from 2009: http://members.tnns.net/wordweb/mans6.htm

Steadman, R. C. (1966, 5 8). Amos: God Doesn’t Play Favorites. Retrieved 11 13, 2009, from PBC Library: http://www.pbc.org/files/messages/3117/0230.html