Come back to the Lord and live! If you don't, he will roar through Israel like a fire, devouring you completely. (Amos 5:6 NLT)
The following is a worship profile of Amos from the Praise and Worship Study Bible from Tyndale House. It is a fantastic study Bible for all who want to learn more about biblical praise and worship.
Few people enjoy hearing the words of prophets, especially when the message they bring bears gloomy tidings. And among these prophets of doom, few delivered as cheerless an oracle as Amos proclaimed. Nearly every chapter in Amos's prophecy discloses a fearful scene of destruction. Amos's warning of God's destruction went out to all who rebelled against God, from the defiant leaders of surrounding nations to the disobedient people of Israel and Judah, for he had little concern for public opinion. Yet even Amos, like the other prophets, concluded his book with a message of hope: One day God will restore his people once again, and they will live in peace.
Amos the Worshiper
Amos recognized that disobedience and injustice warrant harsh judgment from the Lord (Amos 2:4-8).
Like many of the prophets, Amos understood that the day of the Lord is coming and should be taken seriously (5:18).
Amos's message ends with a vision of restoration that holds out promise for the faithful (9:11-15).
Learning from Amos
Belonging to God's covenant people brings solemn responsibilities. We who know God will be judged more severely if we know what is right and do not do it (3:2).
Like the sacrifices offered at the illegitimate altars of Bethel and Gilgal, worship means nothing if it is not performed sincerely and in a manner that pleases God (4:4-5).
Surely one of the worst plagues that can befall humans is the absence of God's words (8:11). Our worship together must regularly and faithfully proclaim God's Word.
Following the Example
God's abhorrence of insincere worship repeatedly appears in Scripture. How can we keep false worship from gaining a foothold in our life? We can examine our heart when we worship individually or with others. Do we truly listen to God during these times? Do we seek to glorify God in our life and worship, or do we do things for our own glory? We must seek to honor the Lord in all facets of our life, not just during special times set aside for prayer or Bible study.