a) Describe the circumstances which brought Amos face to face with Amaziah, the priest of...
a) Describe the circumstances which brought Amos face to face with Amaziah, the priest of Bethel.
(b) Give two reasons why those who oppose God should be condemned.
Explanation
(a) Amos denounced the high places of Israel and pronounced that God would rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword. Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to king Jeroboam that Amos had conspired against him and that :he land was not able to bear all his words. He said that Jeroboam would die by the sword and Israel must go into exile. To Amos, Amaziah said, "0 seer, go, flee to the land of Judah, eat bread there, and prophesy there; but never again prophesy at Bethel..." Amos replied, 'I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son; I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore Tees. The Lord took me from following the flock to go and prophesy to my people, Israel. Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. For ordering me to shut up, your wife shall become a harlot in the city; your sons and daughters shall fail by the sword; your land shall be parcelled out by line. You yourself shall die in an unclean land and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land."
(b) Those who oppose God should be condemned for the following reasons:
(i) Since God is our creator, it is condemnable to oppose Him.
(ii) Opponents of God are evil to others; they deceive others.
(iii) They should be opposed because their teaching leads to unhappiness and destruction.
(iv) They violate God's law, word and will.