Thoughts On Amos 1:2

Amo 1:2 And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.

The interesting thing about this verse is that it is a continuation of Joel’s prophecy in Joel 3:16. No prophet was a man unto himself. They took the torch from those who had gone before and ran to hand it to those who would follow. Even though Amos was not necessarily closely connected with Joel, yet somehow he had heard or read Joel’s prophecies, and in a sense starts where he left off animated by Him by whose will prophecy came (2 Peter 1:21).

This is also seen in the contemporaries who had similar messages, Micah and Isaiah (Compare Micah 4:1-13 with Isaiah 2:2-4). Though these men had different ministries, yet because they were ministering in the same general area and to the same nation they were similar. Their ministries also complemented each other, with each containing elements the other did not have.

I think the whole thing is summed up in Hebrews 12:1-2, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Those who have gone before can be an encouragement for us. We are part of their reward and they are our foundation. Amos started where Joel left off and thus was indebted to Joel. Joel on the other hand is rewarded for that which his ministry placed in Amos and both can rejoice before the throne of God. Also we who now read their prophecies are blessed by their ministry, and are part of their reward. Those who have run before have passed the baton to us, their part has been run and now they root for us as their team.

Tying this all together is the One who ran the perfect race, and who gives us the power to run ours – Jesus Christ, to whom be all praise and glory forever!