The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. Amos 1:1
As a small boy visiting relatives in Truro, I joined a group of other boys playing in a park. While we were playing, I made a comment about the trains that were passing through the town, and apparently my comment was incorrect. One of the other boys laughed at me, and sneered, ‘You wouldn’t know, you’re just a farmer boy’. I left the park in embarrassment, ashamed of being a farmer boy. But shortly after that, while visiting my great grandparents, my dear great grandmother sized me up and declared that her little great grandson was going to grow up and be a wonderful farmer like her husband. Cassie Marshall didn’t live long enough to see me become something else instead. But she did make me realize that being a farmer boy was OK. Just like Amos in our text.
Amos makes no apologies for being one of the herdmen of Tekoa. Later in his book, Amos declares that he was ‘no prophet neither was I a prophet’s son, but I was a shepherd and a gatherer of sycamore fruit’ (Amos 7:14). He told the evil priest Amaziah that God called him as he tended his flock and gave him a message for Israel. We need to remember that when God saved us and called us to follow His Son, He knew all about what we were, and what we were not, and what abilities we have, and what we don’t have. He has a purpose for our lives, and sometimes He uses what we are and have, and sometimes He changes us into what He requires. God does not always call those who are qualified, but He always qualifies those He has called.
The book of Amos does not tell us how Amos died, but tradition tells us that he was killed by Amaziah because of his prophecy, which turned out to be true. So Amaziah turned out to be the loser, not Amos. This faithful servant of the Lord will one day receive a rich reward. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for us to also someday hear our Lord declare, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant’? – Jim MacIntosh
Here is the link mto the video of this message: https://youtu.be/ysrdWk6byYA