2019, July 14 ~ Amos 7:7-14 and Colossians 1:1-14

Amos 7:7-17

After Solomon died in 930 BCE, the Kingdom of Israel split into two parts, the North (called Israel with 10 tribes) and the South (called Judea with two tribes). Each of the Kingdoms had its own king.

The reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel (788-747 BCE) was very prosperous, but a time of great inequality between rich and poor in which large landowners gained control of the lands of small farmers.

Amos was a cattle herder and cared for fig trees in Judea, but he was called by YHWH to go north to prophesy (speak for the LORD) against Israel from about 760 to 750 BCE. Amos is one of the 12 “minor” prophets whose works are shorter than the three “major” prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel). He was the first (chronologically) of the prophets whose words left an indelible stamp on later thought in Israel about God.

Today’s reading is part of a series of visions in which Amos told Israel that its political and religious institutions had not measured up (the “plumb line” in v.8) to YHWH’s commands and would be destroyed.

Like many prophets of YHWH, court prophets (such as Amaziah) told the kings what the kings wanted to hear. Amaziah denied that Amos’ words came from YHWH (v.11), but Amos countered that he was not a “professional prophet” (v.14) and invoked strong curses upon Israel (v.17) on behalf of YHWH.

Israel was conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BCE and much of its population was dispersed. It remained a subjugated land until 1947.

Colossians 1:1-14

Colossae was a town in what is now western Turkey. A Jesus Follower community was founded there by Paul’s associate, Epaphras (1:7). The letter is short (three chapters) and expressed concern about apocalyptic and mystical practices that were inconsistent with Paul’s understanding of being a Jesus Follower.

Scholars debate whether this letter was written by Paul or by his disciples in the decade after Paul’s death in 63 CE. It lacks many terms used in Paul’s letters and its style is liturgical.

Today’s reading is the introduction to the letter and follows the typical format for Paul’s letters – a salutation (vv. 1-2), introductory thanksgiving (vv. 3-8) and a prayer (vv. 9-14). The substance of the Letter to the Colossians will be explored in the next three weeks.