The Prophet: Amos (20 page)

“A shepherd sometimes has to discipline a wayward sheep. Some are bent upon going their own way. They will go into gullies and into brambles, and lead others to death right along with them. I’ve had to kill a few sheep to keep the rest safe.”

“As God will a few of us.”

“More than a few, my friend.”

“How can God love us so much and yet unleash cruel, despotic enemies upon us?”

“I’ve asked the same question, Hosea, and I have no answers. But I know this. The fault of much of what is coming upon us is due to our own choices. We worshiped out of habit. We gave because it was required in order to do business. In our ignorance, we equated corrupt priests with God. Or I did. We are destroyed by our own ignorance, and yet how few have the desire to learn the truth that will save them.” Amos sighed. “But I talk about things I don’t know or understand. If I could explain everything, would God be God? I never stood before the people of Bethel and spoke my own ideas. I spoke only the words God gave me. Anything else would have been sin. I hated the people in the beginning. In truth, I preferred the company of sheep to men. The sights, the sounds, the smells of Bethel’s populace assaulted me from every side. It took a few years for God to pry open my eyes so that I could see them as lost sheep.”

He shook his head. “Some things will be beyond our understanding. Even the animals know their owner and appreciate his care, but not God’s people. No matter what He does for them, they still refuse to understand. Does a sheep tell the shepherd what to do? Why should man feel he can tell God what to do? But the impossibility of it all doesn’t stop our people from trying. God won’t let man have his way, so he carves an idol of wood or stone, props it up, and bows down to it. And his god has all the power of a scarecrow guarding a field of melons. I wanted my way for a long time, Hosea, but God had His way with me in the end.” His eyes filled with tears. “And I thank God for it! I thank God every day!”

“But God is sending us with such different messages.”

“Is He? Are they really that different? Surely salvation is near to those who honor Him. God’s unfailing love and truth are one, and a life lived in striving for righteousness brings peace.”

“Not always.”

Amos knew Hosea meant to remind him of the ways in which he had suffered during his ten years in Bethel. “Is it peace with men that matters most, my friend? Or peace with God? I told the people the consequences of sin. Perhaps it is your work to show God’s grace and mercy if they repent.”

“I don’t think I can do what He asks.”

“You can’t. Neither could I. I am a shepherd. I tend sheep and prune sycamore figs. Who would think me equipped or even worthy to preach God’s Word in Bethel? Yet God made it so. I could say or do nothing until the Spirit of the Lord came upon me, and then anything was possible. God will make it possible for you to do the task He’s given you. Your work is to trust Him.”

“Will you go back to Bethel with me?”

Amos saw the hope—and fear—in Hosea’s eyes. He shook his head. “No. This is where God wants me. For now.” Hosea would have to rely on the Lord to complete his mission. And the Lord would be there with him at all times.

Hosea smiled ruefully. “I didn’t think you would agree, Amos, but I had to ask. No man wants to be alone.”

“You won’t be.”

Hosea understood and nodded. “I will remember you. Your courage. Your obedience. I will remember what you said and heed well the warning.”

“And I will pray for you and continue to pray for all those you are sent to serve.”

They embraced.

You call Your prophets to a hard life of pain and suffering, Lord
.

The Spirit moved within him, and Amos knew God suffered far more than any man could imagine. The One who created man, the One who molded and loved him into existence was treated like a cast-off lover.
You suffer more, Father, for Your love is greater
.

Amos’s throat tightened. He bowed his head.
Oh, may the words of my heart be pleasing to You, Lord, for You are my Shepherd
.

When he raised his head, Amos looked north and saw Hosea standing on the top of the hill. They raised hands to one another, and then Hosea disappeared over the horizon.

Israel refused to heed the warnings. Would they also scorn love?

Tears ran down Amos’s cheeks, for he knew the answer.

Amos brought the flocks back to Tekoa and wintered them in the protected pastures and shelters of home. Leaving his trusted servants in charge, he went up to Jerusalem to worship in the Temple and visit his brothers.

Bani told him the news. “King Zechariah has been assassinated in Samaria.”

Ahiam poured feed into a manger. “He was struck down in his capital right in front of the people. And his assassin, Shallum, is now king of Israel.”

The Word of the Lord given to Jehu all those years ago had been fulfilled, and Jeroboam’s dynasty had not lasted past the fourth generation. In fact, Zechariah had lasted only six months, and no other member of the family of Jeroboam remained alive to retake power from the crowned usurper.

Within a month, Amos heard from a merchant passing through Tekoa on his way to Jerusalem that Shallum had been executed and still another king was on the throne of Israel.

“Menahem refused to bow down to an assassin. So he came up to Samaria from Tirzah, killed Shallum, and crowned himself king of Israel.”

And so a terrorist always claims a noble excuse for murder
.

Having turned away from the loving-kindness of God, the people now lived under the shadow of a murderer.

And worse would come.

With each day that passed, Amos’s sense of foreboding grew. He had killed a lion four days ago, and heard wolves last night, but there was something else, something even more ominous in the air. He kept the sheep close, his gaze moving to any disturbance.

A man came over the hill.

Amos raised his hand to shade his eyes. It was not Elkanan or Ithai or Eliakim. The man kept walking toward Amos with purposeful strides. When Amos recognized him, he knew why he had come.

“Paarai.”

“Greetings, Prophet.”

Strange that fear should leave him now. Amos inclined his head, his mouth curving in a bleak smile. “How does your father fare these days?”

“My father is the one who sent me.” Paarai drew a sword.

Amos had faced far worse than this arrogant young braggart. He could easily have defended himself with his club. But he did nothing. “What do you think you will accomplish by murdering me?”

“Your prophecies die with you! Our family will remain in power. And you will be food for the buzzards!”

Amos grasped the one last opportunity given him to speak the truth. “You’re wrong.” Amos dropped his staff and club and spread his arms. “Kill me if you think you must, but know this. Men plan, but God prevails. The Word of the Lord will stand. And everything will happen just as God had me say it!”

Paarai cried out in rage and thrust his sword into Amos’s stomach. He leaned forward, using both hands to push the blade all the way through and then let go and stepped back. Amos couldn’t breathe through the pain. Looking down, he grasped the bloody hilt and sank to his knees.

“Who holds the power now?” Paarai ground out. Uttering a guttural cry of rage, he put his heel to Amos’s chest and shoved him back. The blade thrust upward, slicing Amos’s hands. He lay on his back, writhing in pain. “This is what you get for making a better man than you suffer! My father will be able to sleep now! He will be able to eat! He will no longer fear your words ringing in his ears!”

Standing over him, Paarai pulled the sword out slowly. Amos cried out in agony, and saw that Paarai relished it.

He knelt at Amos’s side. Leaning over, he gave a feral grin, eyes black with triumph. “I’m going to leave you here now to suffer. Pray you die before a lion comes. Or the wolves. It gives me pleasure to think of your flesh being torn by hungry animals!” He stood, spit on him, and cursed him by the gods of Bethel. After kicking dust into Amos’s face, he walked away. Paarai scooped up a handful of rocks, flung them at Amos’s sheep, and laughed as they ran in panic.

Amos tried to rise and couldn’t. When he turned his head, he saw the sheep scattering. Tears filled his eyes. He cried in pain and despair as the sun set and his lifeblood soaked into the ground. He heard the wolves and saw them gathering on the hillside. The sheep moved restlessly, no shepherd to guide or protect them.

Like Israel.

And the nations will gather around the hills of Samaria. . . .

Amos wept.
By Your mercy, I will not live to see it happen
.

Had his father once said to him that the righteous often pass away before their time because the Lord protects those He loves from the evil that is to come?

A wolf came close, crouching low, growling. Amos was helpless to protect himself. His strength was gone. The wolf came a foot closer and then bolted away, frightened by something unseen.

A gentle breeze stirred the grass. It would be night soon. Darkness was closing in. Amos felt himself lifted by strong arms. He looked into a face he had never seen before and yet his soul recognized. “Oh!” Joy filled him and he kept his eyes fixed upon the One he loved.

“Do not fear.” Tears fell upon Amos’s face. “All that has been said will come to pass. And then I will restore the fallen house of David. I will rebuild its ruins and restore it so that the rest of humanity might seek Me, including the Gentiles—all those I have called to be Mine.”

The hope of salvation filled Amos, but he had not the strength left even to smile.

The Lord kissed his forehead. “Rest, Amos. Rest, My good and faithful servant.”

Amos closed his eyes as the Good Shepherd carried him home.

Not long after Amos died, his prophecies began to come true.

The town of Tappuah and all the surrounding countryside as far as Tirzah rebelled against Menahem. In retribution, Menahem sacked the city, killing men, women, and children, and even going so far as to follow the brutal Assyrian custom of ripping open the bellies of pregnant women and thus annihilating the next generation.

King Menahem reigned for ten years, and then the Assyrian king, Tiglath-pileser, invaded Israel and forced Menahem to pay thirty-seven tons of silver. He extorted the money from the rich of Israel. Upon Menahem’s death, his son Pekahiah ascended the throne, only to be assassinated two years later by Pekah, the commander of his army. Pekah then declared himself king of Israel.

Twenty years passed as the people fell deeper into pagan worship. Hosea the prophet obeyed God’s command to marry a prostitute. Time after time, Hosea took his wife back, but the people around him failed to understand the living parable of God’s love for wayward Israel.

King Tiglath-pileser attacked again and captured the major cities and primary regions, taking the people captive to Assyria. Among them were Amaziah and his son, their wives left behind to fend for themselves as prostitutes.

Pekah was soon deposed by Hoshea who reigned in Samaria for nine years before King Shalmaneser of Assyria defeated him and plundered the country. When King Hoshea attempted to enlist the help of King So of Egypt, the King of Assyria returned, besieged Samaria, and razed it.

Just as Amos and other prophets warned, Israel was devoured by war. Assyrian wolves preyed upon the sheep of Israel. Those who survived were led away to foreign lands, leaving enemies to enjoy the bounty of the land God had given them. Dispersed, the ten tribes disappeared.

Judah repented under the reigns of King Hezekiah and King Josiah, but all too soon the southern kingdom also turned away from the Lord. One hundred and sixty-four years after Amos’s death, Babylon invaded and conquered Judea. As the people were led away to slavery, Babylonians stripped Solomon’s Temple and tore it down stone by stone.

Only then did the people repent and cry out to the Lord, and God heard their prayers.

Seventy years later, the Lord fulfilled His promise to bring them home.

For from Judah would come the Messiah. And on His shoulders would rest the government that would never end, and He would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Jesus, the Christ, God the Son, would be the Good Shepherd who would save His people and lead them into the folds of the Lord God Almighty.