Amos 1-5
Seeking God
and Living

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times, for Israel. King Uzziah was ruling over a prosperous Jerusalem, business was booming, and success was grasped. Yet underneath the outward prosperity was pervasive sin, which was setting up the nation for judgment. So God raises up a country bumpkin named Amos, from a couple hours hike from Bethlehem, to call the nation to repentance. He starts by announcing coming judgment upon the surrounding nations (most involving destruction of their key cities by fire) who had afflicted Israel, and Amos' audience said: “Amen.” Then he zeros in on the offenses of God's people.
For those of you who like the acrostic survey: Abominations Ablaze (fire would judge the sin); Mixed Mercy (God sent lesser judgments so people would avoid greater judgment); Overdue Judgment (calamity, because they ignored the warning judgments); Segment Saved (God would save a remnant, and restore them to the land and bless as promised). See “Digging Deeper” for a way to permanently remember this.

Some have seen an “unbalanced” chiasm in the overall structure of the book (which is nevertheless legitimate), and a more detailed section in chapter 5 (q.v.).
A. Judgment of the Land (1:2)
   B. Judgment of the Nations (1:3–2:3)
      C. Judgment of Judah and Israel (2:4–9:10)
      c´  Restoration of Judah and Israel (9:11)
   b´ Restoration of the Nations (9:12)
a´ Restoration of the Land (9:13–15)

A picture is worth 192 words. To remember the acrostic, draw a picture of it. Start with a snowman (a small circle sitting on top of a larger one, and  that on top of an even larger one sitting on a baseline. Add a couple of twig/branch arms, charcoal face, pipe, hat and scarf (carrot nose optional). Then put three double breasted “buttons”on one side of his belly, and four on the other. Now you have your Abominable Snowman. Put some flames under him for “Abominations Ablaze.” Under his right “arm” draw a cauldron or big pot. Drop a stick from his “arm” into the pot, and you have Him mixing up some mercy (Mixed Mercy). Draw a few pieces of fruit in the top of the pot (you'll learn about them in the next post). Draw three of four arcs from the center of the pot over to the ground, like the contents of the pot are being poured out on the ground. Put a dozen or so tiny specks on the ground to simulate dew on the grass (Over Judgment). Now all you need is to blacken in small oval in one of the lower corners of your cauldron (Segment Saved). Take the picture to your Kindergarten teacher or roommate, explain it to them, and you'll remember it for at least the next three decades. :)

God in a nutshell: God wants us to seek Him, and mirror His values, character, and righteousness upon the earth. Failure to do so will incur His wrath. As the Creator, His word is the law, and He will destroy what He made if it doesn't fulfill the purposes for which He made it. He hates hypocritical religiosity, bogus sacrifices, and insincere singing. Graciously He calls people to repent and avoid the consequences He has sovereignly attached to evil behaviors. He mercifully sends minor disciplines to spare people from major destruction if they don't repent.

Us in a nutshell: We have the opportunity and privilege of seeking and knowing God, but when we neglect to do so, we set ourselves up for the judgments God has decreed upon the disobedient. If we oppress others to indulge our desires, act unjustly or unrighteously, we will reap judgment, and no amount of ritual worship or security will save us. On the other hand, if we seek God, we will live. In our pursuit of God we need to hate evil, love good, be righteous and just, and seek to have righteousness and justice be done in our land.