Amos 7:12-17: a reflection

12Amaziah also said to Amos, “You seer, go, flee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there, 13but don’t prophesy again any more at Bethel; for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a royal house!” 14Then Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman, and a farmer of sycamore figs; 15and the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ 16Now therefore listen to the LORD’s word: ‘You say, Don’t prophesy against Israel, and don’t preach against the house of Isaac.’ 17Therefore the LORD says: ‘Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided by line; and you yourself shall die in a land that is unclean, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.’”

The prophet Amos is confronted by Amaziah, the priest at Bethel, who tells him to stop prophesying and go away: this is the king's sanctuary, a royal temple, no place for your unwelcome words. But Amos does not back down. He explains that he had not sought this role; he was no professional prophet, but a herdsman and a tender of sycamore trees, until the LORD took him from following the flock and said, Go, prophesy to my people Israel. He speaks not by his own choice, but by God's call.

Notice two things about Amos. First, he was an ordinary man, a herdsman, not a trained prophet or a member of any religious establishment; God called an ordinary working man to speak his word. And second, having been called by God, Amos would not be silenced by the opposition of an influential priest. His authority to speak came not from position or training, but from God's call; and because God had sent him, he kept speaking despite being told to stop.

Both truths encourage us. God calls ordinary people, not only the trained and the credentialed, to his work; you do not need special standing to be used by God, who called a herdsman to be a prophet. And when God calls, he gives the courage to be faithful even against opposition; Amos, though an ordinary man, would not be silenced by those in power. If God has called you to some work or word, do not think yourself unqualified because you are ordinary, nor let opposition silence you. God uses ordinary people who are faithful to his call, and gives them courage to stand; be faithful to what God has called you to, as Amos was, whatever your standing and whoever opposes you.

Lord, when the priest Amaziah told Amos to stop prophesying and go away, Amos did not back down, but explained that he was no professional prophet, only a herdsman, whom you had called and sent; his authority came not from position but from your call. Encourage me by that. You call ordinary people, not only the trained and credentialed, to your work; I do not need special standing to be used by you, who called a herdsman to be a prophet. And when you call, you give the courage to be faithful even against opposition. If you have called me to some work or word, keep me from thinking myself unqualified because I am ordinary, and do not let opposition silence me. You use ordinary people who are faithful to your call, and give them courage to stand. Help me be faithful to what you have called me to, as Amos was, whatever my standing and whoever opposes me.