Essay --

A prophet was a person viewed upon as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God. Prophets bring the word of God to the people of God and calls the people to respond. They were called by God in times of crisis, and were chosen by God to lead His people and protect them. "I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him(Deuteronomy 18:18-19)." When it was difficult to see the hand of God, Prophets would give direction, so that God's people know what was happening, and what they should do. Prophets were the â€Å"fortune tellers† who have insight into God's purposes for many things. The prophet speaks to the present, considering the future that God has revealed to him. They also received new identities when God calls on them to act in His name. Prophets hav e done many things, no two prophets were called to do the same thing and  every prophet has had a contribution in carrying out the teachings of God. The prophet, Amos, spread the Word of God in such a way that inspired sinners to find redemption. The life that Amos lived, influenced the type of prophet that he became. Amos translates â€Å"to carry the burden,† and the burden that he carried were the sins of the Israelites at the time. Their sins had an impact on his life. Amos lived during â€Å"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(ESV. Amos, Intro),† and worked as a shepherd in the town of Tekoa in Judah, suggesting that he was from the lower ranks of society, â€Å"I was neither a prop... ...;  Ã‚  your assemblies are a stench to me (Amos 5.21).† During Amos’ time, the people allowed lust, pride and greed to take control and become the main focus of their lives. God turns to Amos and wants him to explain to the people of Israel the consequences of their behaviour. The Lord explains, â€Å" ‘For three sins of Israel,  even for four, I will not relent.They sell the innocent for silver,  and the needy for a pair of sandals’(Amos 2.6).† Amos is unapologetic when he expresses the wrongdoings of civilization forcefully, and the changes that people must make in their lives. The people fail to listen to Amos which leads to the destruction of Israel. When Israel is consumed by destruction, it is explained as, â€Å"Will not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light—pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?(Amos 5.20)† The destruction of Israel is the outcome of all their sins.