Stories of the Prophets (Before the Exile)

Against

mething must be done to get rid of the Prophet. They considered Amos crazy, and, therefore, dangerous. A little gr

ltation. He saw the seriousness of the matter,

es on God's chosen altars, wherewith shall we worship him? Besides," he added very pointedly, "without sacrifices the in

not think so much of his income from the sacrifices as the f

e sight of God with Israel; that God has performed wonders for them, as for us. I fear," he concluded

man is telling the people that God, Himself, is raising up a powerful nation to destroy our great empire. He is

y merchant, "and its

s the poor that they are not getting their rights; that they are not being judged honestly; that the weak and the needy ought to be protected and helped-by us, by us! As if we have anything to do w

entured an opinion; but he had been thinking deeply on what was said by the others. He agreed, for the most part, with the speakers who had preceded

g, was a mere incident, to be forgotten; but his mission to his p

a crowd to gather. In fact, most of the people were looking for him to appear. Even the richest and most exclusive, who usual

ithout preparatory remarks, he

meet thy God

when a man stepped forward from the crowd, and

a false Prophet. Who hat

ho had set him up to judge the people's wrongdoing? Who had commanded him

looking for. He had wanted a number of times to

d, the long-establishe

er the protection of t

e Samuel, Elijah and E

The Seer" and his pupil

ng and powerful characters as the three great men mentioned, usually did

first of the independent Prophets, who cried out against the evils of their day and who, fear

to set himself aright. He answered his que

ogether unless

the forest when ther

out in his den unless

wn in a city and the

ll a city and God

e Lord doe

His purpose to His s

roared; who

h spoken; who ca

hese terrible things he was saying to his people. A force over which he had no control-God, had impelled him to his task. It was the still, small voi

rowd. A murmur arose and all craned their necks to see what was going on. The crowd opened, forming

igh Pr

azi

igh Pr

as the venerable priest walked through the row of bowed heads, toward

of the ephod with cords of "wreathed gold," came down the front of the garment to just above the girdle, where they were fastened with two golden rings. Held by these cords above, and by blue ribbons through the golden rings below, was the breastplate, the insignia

maziah made a great contrast to the simply clad shepher

e struggle that was imminent between the Priest and the Prophet, overawed th

ow to Amaziah out of respect to his gray head. Amaziah, who was equ

tuary. Only those who were in the Priest's confidence knew that he had sent a message to King Jeroboam, when it was reported t

nd is not able to bear his words. For thus hath Amos said, 'Jeroboam shall di

d, post haste, to the

d with dignity, wen

head from his low salute,

, and prophesy there; but prophesy not again any more in Bethel,

nctuary and the royal residence and the seat of all the mighty in the land of I

had addressed the Prophet as "seer," he had taken him for the leader of a "School of Pro

n and a dresser of sycamore trees, when God took me from following t

Amos meant by his claim that he had taken his orders direct from God, Amaziah was disco

of Isaac."' Therefore, thus saith God, 'Thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword and thy land shall be divi

siding with Amos. Amaziah was, therefore, placed on the defensive. In broken and halting sentences he defended himself and the people. The ancient laws of I

t those who were guilty of the crimes of which God, through the Prophet, was accusing Israel? Amos understood this, thou

e that desire

ld ye have th

kness and

one flees f

ear mee

use and leans his

rpent bi

of God be darkne

ness, without a

her sanctuaries. They bring their sacrifices to God, that He may forgive their sins, a

due the aged. But when the Priest had finished, the Prophet, with fine sarcasm, showed the

ethel and

rease your tr

the morning y

third day

en bread as a

loud the volun

to do so, O

r, suddenly faded from the

ifices and meal-offer

s, O House

itterly the whole system of worshiping God by means of sacrifices, and delivered

despise y

no delight in

offerings I wil

ings of your fattli

h f

e the noise o

f your viols I

ice roll dow

ss as a never-f

the sacrifices at Sinai and did not care for them, but that, instead, He demanded justice and righteousness on the part of His people. T

t a company of the royal guard, in answer to Amaziah's note to the ki

might have been successful in getting away, had he resisted; but, being a law-abiding man, he submitted to the authorities, and, lon