Chapter Summary

Judgments pronouneed upon Judah, Moab and Israel.

Discussion Questions for Amos, Chapter 2

1. Why does God continue the repetitive pattern from chapter 1 of listing "three crimes, even four" (HCSB) when confronting the sins of the nations around Israel? What is the purpose of God addressing specific sins? In what ways does God specifically address the sins in your life?
2. What are the reasons that God is punishing Israel and Judah? Why does God punish the sins of His own people? What happened in society because of Israel's and Judah's disobedience? What effects do you see in your own life because of your disobedience to God?
3. Why does God address the specific sin of "a man and his father have sexual relations with the same girl" (HCSB)? What are God's expectations for purity and sexual relations? What should purity look like in your life? How does this specific sin manifest itself in our culture today?
4. Why does God regularly address "wine" (HCSB) in this chapter? Is wine a bad thing? Why is it significant that God condemns making "the Nazirites drink wine" (HCSB)? How should you personally interact with or view alcohol?
5. What is the significance of God announcing that He is more powerful than the military capabilities of Israel, Judah, and their enemies in verses 12-16? What does this say about God's power and authority? How does this help you trust God's protection in your life?
6. In what ways did the Israelites reject "the instruction of the Lord" (HCSB)? Why is it important to follow God's instructions and "statutes" (HCSB)? In what ways have you not listened to God's Word, and what were the consequences?
7. What is the significance of selling people in verse 6? Does this verse address slavery and servitude? How does this impact how you view others, and the importance that all people are made in the image of God?
8. Why would the Israelites command the prophets "do not prophesy" (HCSB)? How does silencing God's Word allow sin to flourish in society? In what ways have you tried to avoid or not hear God's Word?
9. How many different kinds of injustice can you find in this chapter? Why does God care so deeply about true justice and righteousness? Why should you care about in justice in the culture around you? In what ways can you fight injustice?
10. In what ways are God's moral standards universal and unchanging, from nation to nation and from generation to generation? Why is this important? In what ways are you tempted to "bend" God's moral standards to your own will and desires?

Key Words/Phrase

Punishment, vv. 1, 4, 6.

Characters

God, Amos.

Strong Verse(s)

16