Day 1 - Lord's Day - Sunday | Daily Devotions | The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2025-2026 |
June 28
Lesson 4 (KJV)
Amos, the Courageous Prophet
Devotional Reading: Psalm 23
Background Scripture: Amos 1:1; 2:6–16; 3:1–15; 7:10–17
Amos 1:1
1 The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
Amos 2:11–12
11 And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the Lord.
12 But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.
Amos 3:7–8
7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
Amos 7:10–15
10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.
11 For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.
12 Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:
13 But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king’s chapel, and it is the king’s court.
14 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was a herdsman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit:
15 And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.
Key Text
The Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.—Amos 7:15
The Testimony of Faithful Witnesses
Unit 1: Faithful Witnesses Model God’s Fidelity
Lessons 1–4
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. Summarize the message Amos brought to Israel.
2. Compare the call and ministry of Amos to other prophets of Israel and Judah.
3. Propose a way to strengthen courage for giving witness to God’s justice.
Lesson Outline
Introduction
A. Whose Words Will We Heed?
B. Lesson Context
I. Setting (Amos 1:1)
A. Who (v. 1a)
B. When (v. 1b)
II. Sin (Amos 2:11–12)
A. Raising Prophets (v. 11)
B. Rejecting Leadership (v. 12)
III. Servants (Amos 3:7–8)
A. Divine Plan (v. 7)
B. Dutiful Proclamation (v. 8)
IV. Struggle (Amos 7:10–15)
A. The Conspiracy (vv. 10–11)
B. The Challenge (vv. 12–13)
Itching, Covering, or … What?
C. The Charge (vv. 14–15)
When Plans Must Change
Conclusion
A. Will We Listen?
B. Prayer
C. Thought to Remember
How to Say It
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Amaziah |
Am-uh-zye-uh. |
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Bethel |
Beth-ul. |
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Gilgal |
Gil-gal (G as in get). |
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Jeroboam |
Jair-uh-boe-um. |
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Joash |
Jo-ash. |
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Nazarites |
Naz-uh-rites. |
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Uzziah |
Uh-zye-uh. |
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Zechariah |
Zek-uh-rye-uh. |
Introduction
A. Whose Words Will We Heed?
It fascinates me that while kids love imitating adults, they also love doing things their own way. The kids in the nursery did not want building advice; they wanted to take their own approach. Adults can easily adopt a similar mindset regarding various matters. We often assume that we are in the right and feel we don’t need anyone else’s input, so we ignore the voices and words of those who can offer guidance. The stakes are low when building block towers for children, but much higher in real life. Whose words will we heed?
B. Lesson Context
The book of Amos is one of 12 entries in the section of the Bible known as the Minor Prophets. These books are not “minor” in message; they are “minor” only in length when compared with the “major” prophets of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel.
Amos preached in the northern kingdom of Israel in about 755 BC (see more on Amos 1:1, below). He ministered during a period of economic prosperity (3:15; 6:4–6). The national borders had been extended significantly through military campaigns (2 Kings 14:23–28). All this resulted in excessive pride and injustice among the people (Amos 6:8, 12–13).
Despite material wealth, the kingdom was in spiritual decline. The people practiced idolatrous worship at national shrines in the cities of Dan, Bethel, and Gilgal (Amos 4:4; 5:5, 26; 8:14; compare 1 Kings 12:28–30). The people silenced voices that challenged their practices (Amos 2:11). Again, the question is: Whose words will be heeded?
I. Setting
(Amos 1:1)
A. Who (v. 1a)
B. When (v. 1b)
II. Sin
(Amos 2:11–12)
A. Raising Prophets (v. 11)
B. Rejecting Leadership (v. 12)
Offering the Nazarites wine to drink was to tempt them to violate their vow of consecration (Numbers 6:2–4). To incite such a violation is no small thing! Likewise, silencing the prophets is also a serious matter. Throughout Israel’s history leading up to Amos’s time, many prophets had been silenced or ignored (1 Kings 18:4; 22:8–28; etc.). More will follow, and Amos himself will face similar experiences (Amos 7:10–16, below).
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What Do You Think? What might cause a community to reject or resist God’s messengers? Digging Deeper How can we remain open to hearing God’s voice and following His will? |
III. Servants
(Amos 3:7–8)
A. Divine Plan (v. 7)
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What Do You Think? Why does God choose to work through human messengers? Digging Deeper What does this reveal about His character and His relationship with humanity? |
B. Dutiful Proclamation (v. 8)
IV. Struggle
(Amos 7:10–15)
A. The Conspiracy (vv. 10–11)
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What Do You Think? How can we ensure that our commitment to God takes precedence over cultural or societal loyalties? Digging Deeper How can we cultivate a posture of openness to God’s Word, even when it challenges our comfort or assumptions? |
B. The Challenge (vv. 12–13)
"Nobody likes delivering a message of doom, let alone receiving one. It’s often easier to surround ourselves with people who tell us what we want to hear rather than what we need to hear. The apostle Paul refers to this practice as having “itching ears” (2 Timothy 4:3). To refuse to listen and heed can also be likened to the stoning of Stephen when his detractors “stopped their ears” to avoid hearing the truth (Acts 7:57; compare Zechariah 7:11). Amaziah did not want to hear the “minority opinion” of Amos’s prophecy of coming destruction. What he failed to understand was that Amos spoke God’s words, and God’s words always come true."
—L. M. W.
C. The Charge (vv. 14–15)
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What Do You Think? How does Amos’s claim in verse 14 illustrate God’s ability to call and use anyone, regardless of their background or profession? Digging Deeper In what ways does this idea challenge conventional ideas about leadership or ministry? |
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What Do You Think? How should we respond when we sense a call from God, even if it feels beyond our abilities? Digging Deeper What questions can you ask to help you discern God’s call? |
Conclusion
A. Will We Listen?
The message of Amos went unheeded. Soon after his ministry ended, Assyria began making incursions into Israel and its neighboring regions. Less than 40 years later, in 722 BC, northern Israel would fall and be exiled (2 Kings 17). As with the message of other prophets, the choice was between only two courses: either repent or die. Nearly all the prophets had their message rejected, the prominent exception being Jonah (see Jonah 3).
Because of their nation’s relative prosperity and religious fervor, Jeroboam and Amaziah assumed that God was on their side. Amos challenged this assumption, warned of judgment, encouraged repentance, and offered hope for the future.
To say that we read the words of God in the book of Amos seems obvious. After all, we read the prophecies with the advantage of hindsight; we see the prophecies fulfilled. But at the time the prophecies were given, it was a challenge to determine who was speaking the truth. That challenge still exists today, which is why Jesus warns His followers against false teachers (Matthew 7:15; 24:24). We do well to examine the teaching we hear in light of what Scripture says (compare Revelation 22:18–19).
The book of Amos offers another way to distinguish a teacher of truth from a teacher of fiction. That method is to examine motivation—what’s in it for the teacher? When we compare Amos’s motivations with those of Amaziah, we see polar opposites. When Amos spoke against the religious, economic, and political status quo, he was risking his life by questioning Israel’s assumption that God was happy with their behaviors and beliefs. To speak against a holy place in antiquity was to invite the death penalty (example: Jeremiah 26:1–15). On the other hand, Amaziah’s perceived risk was an upset of the status quo, in which he had a vested interest. The New Testament witnesses to the same concern (2 Corinthians 2:17; 4:1–2).
For modern readers, the account of Amos also encourages us to reflect on how we hear the word of God today. Are we willing to listen? Will we accept God’s challenge? Are we so committed to our religious, economic, and political status quo that we become unwilling to give an ear to anything that questions it? The fact that God speaks is a sign of God’s grace. He wants to communicate with us. Will we have ears to hear?
B. Prayer
Heavenly Father, help us be open to Your challenge and quick to repent of sin. Give us ears to hear Your words and hearts committed to obeying. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
C. Thought to Remember
Listen to the Lord’s words of challenge, “Repent and obey.”
Involvement Learning
Enhance your lesson with KJV Bible Student (from your curriculum supplier) and the reproducible activity page (at www.standardlesson.com or in the back of the KJV Standard Lesson Commentary Deluxe Edition).
Andrew J. Panaggio, Laura McKillip Wood, and Mark A. Taylor, “Amos, the Courageous Prophet,” in The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2025–2026, ed. Taylor Z. Stamps et al., vol. 73, The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary (Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing, 2026), 375–376.
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