10 Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to King Jeroboam of Israel, saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the very center of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words. 11 For thus Amos has said, 'Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile
away from his land.'" 12 And Amaziah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; 13 but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom."
14 Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, 15 and the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.' 16 "Now therefore hear the word of the LORD.
You say, 'Do not prophesy against Israel, and do not preach against the house of Isaac.'
17 Therefore thus says the LORD: 'Your wife shall become a prostitute in the city,
and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be parceled out by line; you yourself shall die in an unclean land, and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.'" (Amos 7:10-17)
("Freedom of Speech" Norman Rockwell- the common man speaks up)
Thoughts: Amos had said earlier that wise men keep quiet because the times are evil. Amos wasn't winning favor or popularity by speaking against evil. He was not being "wise" in the eyes of the world. Amos was acosted by the chief priest of the government-run church and told not to speak. Amaziah, the priest knew it was bad for business to have a prophet speak against his boss. Amos reply indicates he didn't plan or want to speak, but it was something he had to do. When God calls us to speak, we cannot do anything else. In the end, Amos was proven right in his prophecy. If God calls you to stand up or speak up, we must do so.
Prayer: If you call me Lord, I will speak up for you.
away from his land.'" 12 And Amaziah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; 13 but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom."
14 Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, 15 and the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.' 16 "Now therefore hear the word of the LORD.
You say, 'Do not prophesy against Israel, and do not preach against the house of Isaac.'
17 Therefore thus says the LORD: 'Your wife shall become a prostitute in the city,
and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be parceled out by line; you yourself shall die in an unclean land, and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.'" (Amos 7:10-17)
("Freedom of Speech" Norman Rockwell- the common man speaks up) Thoughts: Amos had said earlier that wise men keep quiet because the times are evil. Amos wasn't winning favor or popularity by speaking against evil. He was not being "wise" in the eyes of the world. Amos was acosted by the chief priest of the government-run church and told not to speak. Amaziah, the priest knew it was bad for business to have a prophet speak against his boss. Amos reply indicates he didn't plan or want to speak, but it was something he had to do. When God calls us to speak, we cannot do anything else. In the end, Amos was proven right in his prophecy. If God calls you to stand up or speak up, we must do so.
Prayer: If you call me Lord, I will speak up for you.
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