Study through Amos, Just a Herdsman

This evening we will begin to look at the book of Amos. Now, please keep in mind that we will not be digging into each and every detail of this book. We have four weeks to get a mindset of what is taking place in this book. The problem with the book of Amos is that there are many high points to see. It is as if we are taking a journey and we may have to overlook some of the lower points in order to make sure we see the high points of the trip. 

Amos is written at a time of great prophetic ability. We are told that he wrote during the reign of Uzziah, and Jeroboam II. In fact we are told that he wrote before the earthquake. This earthquake is mentioned in Zechariah 14. Because of this we know that Isaiah and Micah are in the south preaching and Jonah and Hosea are in the North preaching. Imagine living in a day when such great giants are busy for the Lord. So we know that the day he is living in is one of Spiritual Opportunity. 

Amos is also in a country preaching that not only has great Spiritual Opportunity but also in a place that has great financial prosperity. At this time the Northern Kingdom is experiencing a great boom of wealth and the city that Amos is sent to is the center of this. Bethel has become a great place of influence. It is a place of religious influence. Here the great points of worship were set up by Jeroboam I. It is a place of monetary influence. It is here that those individuals of great wealth reside. It is a place of political influence. The palace of the king is here. The problem that Amos finds however is evident. Despite the spiritual opportunity and the financial opportunity, this nation is filled with sin. So God sends a man. 

This man is very interesting. When we look at his contemporary Isaiah we find an individual who is generally believed to have been part of the royal family. You find a very polished prophet. In fact one of the problems that Amos will deal with is the professional prophet. The well trained and in place prophet. Amos is something different and this is why I like him so much. I want you to see who he is. 

• Amos 1:1 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:
• Amos 7:14 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:

From this we can find at least four things out about Amos. 

• First, Amos has no formal training. 

Amos declares openly, I was no prophet. These individuals that are here before Amos in chapter 7 have been trained. They know what to say, when to say it, and how to say it. I have met individuals like this. They are reliant upon their ability to sway individuals by how they say it and when to say it. Amos, falls over his words. Amos does not raise and lower his voice like he is supposed to. Amos is so out of place in this world of prophecy. 

• Second, Amos has no experience in this line of ministry.

Did you see what Amos has to say about himself? He says, I was a shepherd and a gatherer of sycamore fruit. The sycamore fruit was a very poor fruit. The shepherd was a very lonely and lowly task. He did not grow up watching and learning how to be a prophet. He spent his days on the backside of the desert. He spent his days picking fruit. He spent his days being hot and working hard, not standing on the street corner prophesying. 

• Thirdly, Amos has no great lineage

Amos then tells them, I am not even the son of a prophet. I mean no disrespect towards these individuals. In fact I have many friends that have had this opportunity. Their father was in the ministry and in some way it gives them a head start. They have seen the pitfalls, they have the connection to other men. Amos has none of this. His father was more than likely a shepherd and gatherer. 

• Fourthly, Amos has no reputation that he can offer

Amos says, I am from Tekoa. How many individuals today can tell me on a map where Tekoa is. Tekoa is forgotten, and worthless. Tekoa was south of Bethlehem but carried no prophetic value. It was the wilderness. In fact it simply means camping ground. It was a transient area. He has no great offer in this either. 

Now this is the man of God. This is the one writing the story. This is the one God wants to use. Surely there is another man. Surely there is another individual. Surely, there is someone who can do the job better. Someone with training and experience. Someone from a respected family and city. Someone who can get up and gather the people’s attention and pull them in with his words. Surely, there is someone else besides this poor shepherd from an unknown town with no experience or ability. I want to remind you of the words of I Corinthians 1:26-29

• I Corinthians 1:26-29 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence

Look throughout scripture and see who God has used:

• Abraham: A man from Ur still living with his father, childless, and fearful. 
• Joseph: The least of his brethren, a slave and prisoner.
• Moses: A baby put in the river to die, the son of slaves. 
• Joshua: A slave by birth
• Gideon and Jepthah: Two men unwanted and unqualified. 
• Rahab and Ruth: Gentile women brought into the lineage of Christ. 
• David: The shepherd boy that even his father and Samuel questioned.
• The disciples: Tax collectors, fishermen, zealots. Men that were not trained or able. 
• Paul: A murdering zealot, a persecutor of the church

God is not looking for the strong or the able. God is not looking for the lineage or the educated. God is looking for a man or a woman, a boy or a girl that is just willing. I want every individual here this morning to recognize this truth. God is today looking for someone, anyone that is just willing to obey and do what he asks. Preacher, I do not have the ability. Preacher, I do not have the training. Preacher, I do not have a great lineage of spiritual warriors. Neither did these men and women. They were willing to do and willing to stand and willing to work. 

Here is the problem however. Amos has nothing and goes, and when he arrives something happens and I think it would be wise to be ready and aware of the attack of the devil. 

• First, they attack his message (7:11)

Amaziah claims that Amos proclaimed the death of Jeroboam by the sword. In fact his words were against the house of Jeroboam with the sword. They begin to pick apart every word that Amos is speaking. They twist it and find things that were not there. There are two dangers here. First, it is the heart of the hearer. Your ears will hear from the pulpit what your heart wants it to hear. If your heart’s not open to the word of God then your ears will only find things that you can pick and pull apart. This is what they do to Amos. They begin to pick and pull apart his words. I think we should be praying, Lord work on my heart so that my ears hear what needs to be heard. Do not come in with the wrong heart to hear preaching. 

• Second, they attack his motivation (7:12)

They tell him to go back to Jerusalem to find your bread. Basically what he says to him is go back and make your monetary funds in Jerusalem. Your preaching will be better accepted in Jerusalem. You will be more profitable in Jerusalem. Can you not see the craziness that is taking place here. Amaziah is in it for the monetary gains, and so must be Amos. Amos go back and peddle what you have somewhere else. 

• Thirdly, they attack his misplacement (7:13)

They call him a seer and tell him, this is the king’s palace and you do not belong here. I think maybe this is the greatest attack that Satan can bring against us as we endeavor to minister. He says, you simply do not belong here. You do not have a place here. You do not fit in and you just need to go somewhere else. 

The answer that Amos gives I think is absolutely wonderful. Remember, Amos has no qualifications. Amos has no supporters. Remember, Amos has his message, motivation, and misplacement attacked. Amos, you simply do not belong here. Amos says:

• Amos 7:14-15 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.

Here is the bottom line. Amos says, you are right, Amaziah. I have no training. I have no lineage. I have no reputation or experience. In truth Amaziah, I simply do not belong, but the LORD took me and said to me, Go prophesy. This is where we have to get to. Sure we do not have the ability, and sure we do not belong, but God told us to go and because of that I will go. In truth I will go until he says go no longer. On that day, I hope to stand before him and hear, Well done! Oh, the wonderful truth that God can take a crooked stick and draw a straight line. God is just looking for someone, not able, with quirks and all. He wants to find someone who is just willing to say OK, I will go.