My latest minor prophet in my current round of OT studies is Amos and, like all the prophets, he was a remarkable chap, with his own distinctive features, audience and message. Rather than make this long, besides drawing on a recent presentation (see below), here are some that come to mind …

1. Amos was a southerner (from Judah) called to preach to the northerners (Israel), just across the border.
2. He operated in the 8^th century BC, when lots was taking place, including the rise of four kingdoms that were to dominate the world before Christ: Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome and, before that, Assyria, soon set to pounce and take over Israel.
3. He prophesied at a time of peace and prosperity for Israel and smug entitlement, but things were about to change. God was giving His final warning – repent or face the consequences.
4. The people were religious but it was without substance. Its empty ritual and their failure to do justice displeased God.
5. His message was largely rejected. The top religious leader enforced the censorship laws of the day to stop supposedly pushing hate speech and passing on falsehoods.
6. He didn’t want to be a prophet – he was a sheep farmer and sycamore tree attender, who had no formal prophet education, but God called him and he responded.
7. Amos not only heard from God but spoke direct to Him, even persuading God to ease off in His judgments.
8. He spoke without fear and favour, accurately passing on Gods words of judgement against the nations surrounding Israel before turning to Judah and Israel. We learn that God judges nations.
9. He is beloved of left leaning Christians for sticking up for the poor and having a go at the rich for exploiting the poor, as well as right leaning ones for calling for righteousness as well as justice.
10. His description of the Plumbline and applying what a plumbline is meant for provides salient lessons concerning what God expects from His people in His straight line.
11. His call to “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” ought to resonate with anyone looking at the sorry state of today’s world and desiring change.
12. He gave one of the most profound OT prophecies concerning God blessing a future Israel along with the participation of Gentiles and Israel’s enemies in what is planned.

This is just from the top of my head and for those who say ignore the Old Testament as irrelevant, I say: go and check out the Book of Amos as it is very relevant for today.