Amaziah, Priest not King
Today’s reading:
My Selection:
And Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there, but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.”
Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was[g] no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But 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. Amos 7:12-15
One of the things you learn when you publish a book is that perfection is impossible. My comments on today’s passage need a correction. I misidentified Amaziah as the king of Israel. He was a priest in Bethel, not a king. Jeroboam II was the king of Israel at that time. [See Amos 7:10]. I apologize for this error.
In spite of this, my point is still true that Amos models a confidence in God and God’s calling for him to be a bold prophet. Amaziah was not receptive to the prophet and attempted to deport him. Amos stood firm. May we do the same.
[For more reflections on today’s reading, see the corresponding reading in my book Cover to Cover: Through the Bible in 365 days].
[Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.]
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