Day 172 - Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Read | Day 172 | Sunday | June 21

Amos 1: 1-2, 3– 2: 3

Amos 2: 4– 3: 2

Amos 3: 3-15

Amos 4: 1-13

Amos 5: 1-17, 18– 6: 14

Date | Amos started his ministry as prophet during the reigns of Uzziah of Judah and Jeroboam II of Israel. 786 - 742 BC

Background | Amos was a prophet from Tekoa, which is near Bethlehem, in the southern kingdom. Unlike some of the other prophets, he was not a political or religious insider but a tender of flocks and a sycamore-fig grove. Even though he was from the south, his prophetic ministry was to the northern kingdom. He prophesied in the middle of the eighth century BC, approximately thirty to forty years before the fall of Samaria, the northern capital, at the hands of the Assyrians.

In Amos’ day, the northern kingdom (Ephraim) was secure and prosperous, and therefore complacent and arrogant. A central theme of the book is social justice, which is a true quality of religious devotion to God. Amos rebukes the northern kingdom for worship of pagan gods, even at sacred places like Bethel. Also, Amos points out that many religious leaders and people were only going through the motions of cultic practice, thinking that merely keeping the rituals was enough. Like Hosea, Amos condemns such sacrifices and assemblies and calls them to “hate evil, love good, maintain justice in the courts” (5:15).  More from the Center of Biblical Studies - Click here

Reading | Amos declares the sins of Israel's neighbors and God's judgement; God's judgement on Judah and Israel will destroy them because of their idolatry; Amos lays out the case against the nations; repent and watch for the coming judgement

Source | Daily Reading Guide | The One Year ® Chronological Bible | Tyndale, 2013 | Click here

Next | Day 173 | Monday | June 22

Amos 7: 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-17

Amos 8: 1-14

Amos 9: 1-10, 11-15

2   Kings 14: 28-29

2   Kings 15: 8-12, 13-15, 16-20, 21-22, 23-26, 27-29, 6-7

2   Chronicles 26: 22-23

Isaiah 6: 1-13

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Listen to today's daily office from the Episcopal Parish of Garrett County Maryland USA | Click here