Is There Any Hope?

Discussion Guide

6.27.21

ONE Message Series

Justice and Mercy: A Study of Amos and Hosea

Is There Any Hope?

“I will restore David’s fallen shelter – I will repair its broken walls . . .” (Amos 9:11).

OPEN

The name Amos means “burden-bearer,” and he has certainly lived up to his name! He has had the courage to carry the weight of a message of God’s judgment to Israel. Greed, immorality, exploitation of the poor, corruption of worship – Amos has named Israel’s sins and warned of a horrible fate to come. Why would it be important to sound a note of hope before closing?

NEXT

Why do you think the Old Testament prophets were so unpopular in their own time – and even today? See Amos 2:12b.

Have you noticed that the job a prophet didn’t have a lot of volunteers for the position? Name two or three Old Testament prophets who were reluctant about speaking for Yahweh, even after he had called and commissioned them. Why would these people be hesitant to speak out after God himself told them what they were to say?

Why does God send warnings through prophets before ever sending punishment upon his people? Read Amos 3:7-8. What does this say about the nature of God? His desire for the holy welfare of his people? See 2 Peter 3:9.

What hope do you see in the Book of Amos for the healing of Israel? Do you believe Yahweh would have spared Israel its fate at the hands of the Assyrians if the nation had repented of its many transgressions? Was it simply too late for them? Explain your answer.

Amos looks beyond his own time to the restoration of “David’s fallen shelter,” when food and wine would be plentiful for those who had lived in poverty, and Israel would be back from exile. In light of what we know of biblical history and a New Testament reference to this text (see Acts 15:12-18), what do you understand this message of hope to mean?

Summarize the importance of hope in Christian experience. In your personal life.

CLOSING

Hope is not daydreaming or wishful thinking. Christian hope is the confidence of God’s people that all his promises to us will be kept. Close your study by reading Romans 8:22-25 – and praying for God to give you patient faithfulness as we wait for creation’s rescue.