A Shemology
Amos: The Eight Judgments
A Shemology
Amos: The Eight Judgments - A Shemology
To start this study, let us look at Amos the prophet from Judah. He ministered in Israel about 750 B.C., and one might graphically described the prophet Amos as a "burden bearer." He carried a heavy burden for his people, as did Yeshua Messiah. Another perspective to take in looking at Amos is that his people were a "burden he carried." In this we see a clear picture of Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel. As a prophet, Amos was a primary figure among the series of courageous men known as "The Twelve Prophets." Also known as the "Minor Prophets" - a term I do not like or use. (See article "Low I Come In The Volume Of The Book The Twelve Prophets").
Before we go on, let us pray:
"Father, we come and ask You to show us what Amos speaking judgment reveals for the world. There is no truth but Your Truth. Please, Dear Father, let Your Holy Spirit guide us into all Truth, Amen.
Amos - A Layperson
Amos was a layperson who disclaimed professional status as a prophet: "I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son, but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, and the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel' " (7:14-15). Because of God's call, Amos assumed his prophetic responsibilities as a voice prophesying from both the desert, as well as in villages. He indicted both Judah and Israel. His indictment, challenged the superficial qualities of religious institutions. Amos is a man challenging religious institutions to turn back to God. For Amos the prophet, his call, and his continuing ministry, rested in God's initiative and in His sustaining power: "The lion has roared; who will not fear? The LORD God has spoken; who can but prophesy?" (3:8).
Amos's Time Frame
Amos lived in a time of relative peace on the international political scene. Beginning his prophetic activity during the reign of Jeroboam II in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, Amos lived during an era that rivaled Solomon's generation in its stability and economic prosperity (2 Kings 14:23-27). Yet, it was precisely the social, moral, and religious problems attending that prosperity that became the focus for Amos' voice of judgment. In the Southern Kingdom of Judah, the noble king Uzziah reigned (Amos 1:1). Amos probably began his ministry with God's call in 765 B.C., "two years before the earthquake" (1:1).
Amos - Israelite Society
Morally, Israel and Judah were suffering under the corruption generated as a by-product of Canaanite and Tyrian Baalism, as well as infidelity to the LORD'S Covenant. Israelite society had experienced the inevitable decay which characterizes misdirected prosperity. It may appear strange that the corruption of Israelite society could be traced to its contemporary religious structures and to the material prosperity which Israelites so often interpreted as a sign of divine favor. Despite the contradictory nature of those circumstances, the debauched moral condition of the land was the product of both corrupt religion, and perverted material prosperity. Exploitation of the poor occurred throughout the land (2:6; 3:10; 4:1; 5:11; 8:4-6). Justice was distorted. Amos' opposition to those moral and religious evils led him to emphasize the primary theme of the book: "let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everlasting stream" (5:24).
Amos Divided Into Three Sections
1. Chapters one and two are a basic section, divided into subsections which begin with a common literary introduction (1:3,6,9,11,13; 2:1,4,6).
2. The second section of the book consists of judgment oracles directed against Israel (3:1-6:14).
3. The third section contains the visions of Amos (7-9), which may have been the earliest revelations through the prophet.
This third section, the visions, was central to his called encounter. Aware of the awesome reality of human sin and divine judgment, these visions shaped his prophetic messages (7:1-3,4-6,7-9; 8:1-3; 9:1-4). The words of Amos address various issues, but the central theme stresses sin and judgment. For those who rejected God's way, only judgment remained: "prepare to meet your God, O Israel!" (4:12). By the way, there is a person named Amos listed in Luke 3:25, some say this Amos was a ancestor of Yeshua. However, we do not know for sure, but it would not surprise me if it were true.
Amos: The Eight Judgments
We will work with the names below to see if these names in this order can paint a picture for us to see Messiah.A Bank Of Names:
Amos = The burden bearer, to lift up
Damascus = Moist with blood
Gaza = Fortified, Strong
Tyre = The Rock
Edom = Red with the earth - Edom, an idiom for the Gentiles Nations
Ammon = Son of my people - Great people; pertaining to the Nation
Moab = Seed of the Father - Fruitful of the Father
Judah = Praised, Praise ye the LORD
Israel = Prince with God
These 8 names that come into Judgment in the Book of Amos, gives us a very awesome picture of our Lord Yeshua as Kinsman, and Avenger of blood. In Hebrew, a kinsman and blood avenger is called "a ga'al"- the prime root meaning: to redeem (according to the Oriental law of kinship), i.e. to be the next of kin (and as such, to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.). Avenger of blood, deliver, (do, perform the part of near, next) kinsfolk (-man), purchase, ransom, redeem, redeemer, revenger. Part of this picture can be seen in the Book of Ruth. Boaz becomes Ruth's kinsman, and redeems her and all of her property. We do not however see Boaz as a blood avenger in the Book of Ruth. Let us look at the Shemology unearthed from these 8 names in Amos.
"The burden bearer moist with blood is fortified strong as the Rock. Red with
the earth, the Son of my people, the seed of the Father, is praised a Prince
with God."
Here once again is our Bank of Names. With just 6 little words in this Shemology we have a enlightening sentence.
Amos = The burden bearer
Damascus = moist with blood (is)
Gaza = fortified strong (as)
Tyre = the Rock.
Edom = Red with the earth (the)
Ammon = Son of my people, (the)
Moab = Seed of the Father (is)
Judah = Praised (a)
Israel = Prince with God
Can the Holy Scripture prove this Shemology to be a correct picture of the blood avenger and our kinsman, Messiah Yeshua? You be the judge!
Ezek 38:21-23:"And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord (Adonay) GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations (gentiles), and they shall know that I am the LORD."
Rev 8:6-7:"And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up."
Isaiah 9:4-8:"For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel."
Rev 19:13:"And He was clothed with a garment dipped in blood: and His Name is called The Torah - Word of God."
Acts 5:31:"Him has God exalted with His Right Hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."
Isaiah 63:1-3:"Who is this that cometh from Edom (type of the Nations), with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment."
I see Messiah Yeshua in the role of the blood avenger here. He will have trodden the winepress alone, and His garments will be cover with the blood from the Nations of the earth. Nations that laughed at Him and His Holy Word, and who persecuted his Martyrs, but now, He will avenge!
Let us read Psalm 2, known by both Jew and Christian as a Messianic Psalm.
1 Why do the heathen nations rage, and the people imagine a vain worthless
thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel
together, against the LORD, and against His anointed (Messiah), saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh them to scorn: the Lord
(Adonay) shall have them (heathen nations) in derision.
5 Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore
displeasure.
6 Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the LORD has said unto Me, Thou art My Son;
this day have I begotten (as to show lineage) You.
8 Ask of Me, and I shall give You the heathen nations for Your inheritance,
and the uttermost parts of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces
like a potter's vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O you kings: be instructed, you judges of the
earth.
11 Serve the LORD with reverential fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son (pay homage), lest He be angry (enraged), and you perish
from the way (course of life), when His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all they that put their trust (make a refuge) in Him. AGI
This Shemology truly paints an end time picture of Messiah as the one who will cleanse the earth of all evil. To me it is very humbling to find the blood avenger, who is the Rock, the faithful Son of my people, praised of God in these 8 names in order in the Book of Amos.
As My Last Note!
The number 8 is the number associated with the Lord Yeshua haMashiach (Jesus in Greek 888) in the New Covenant. The 8 is the number of New Beginnings, because Yeshua Messiah rose on the 8th day in the Gospels. Eight is the number of new Life or "Resurrection". Jesus was called The Christ, the numeric value of this title is 1480 (185 x 8). He was Savior which has the value 1408 (2 x 8 x 88). Jesus is also Lord which again is a multiple of eight being 800 (100 x 8). Messiah has the numeric value 656 (82x8). Jesus also called himself "the Son of man". This term occurs 88 times and is valued at 2960 (370 x 8). Jesus said "I am the truth" - the numeric value of "the truth" is 64 or 8 x 8. The last book in the Bible is the Revelation of Jesus Christ which has exactly 888 Greek words. Eight persons were saved in the Ark at the great Noahic flood, and Yeshua in type, is that Ark. God made a Covenant with Abraham that every Hebrew male child was to be circumcised on the eighth day of his life. The Covenant of circumcision takes precedent even over the Sabbath. There are eight individual cases of resurrection spoken of in the Bible apart from Yeshua. And as I said above, it was on the eighth day or the first day of the new week that Yeshua rose from the dead. That day beginning as the 7th day Sabbath of the LORD ended.
An Interesting End Note!
I sent my study to Pastor Alan (Alon) in Bamberg, Germany for his consideration. I asked him to look over the study, and tell me what he would get out of these 8 names in Amos.
Here is Alon's workable starting point, which is also very good.[ Dear Barbara,
On the shemology for Amos, I must confess, I found it a little difficult. I think I can offer a workable starting point but as of right now I don't know that I'm 100% satisfied with it. It is workable however. It also seems to fit the theme of Amos' prophecy: Judgement on Israel and the nations but ending in the promise of restoration to the people of Israel.
My bank of names are as yours. So I will only list the meanings I plan to use.
Amos - Burden Bearer
Damascus - Moist With Blood
Gaza - Strong
Tyre - Rock ( from a root meaning "to besiege")
Edom - Red Earth (from the same root word as the root for Adam #119) Alef - Dalet - Mem sofit * the root common to both Edom and Adam is translated Dyed red - 5; Red - 4; Ruddy - 1
Ammon - Great People ( son of my people; pertaining to the nation; people of strength; tribal )
Moab - Seed Of The Father ( of his father )
Judah - Praise
Israel - Prince with God ( you may want to just leave this one untranslated )
My rough draft would read:
The Burden Bearer is moist with blood. A strong rock [ a ref. to Yeshua: see Is.8:14; Dan.2:45; Ro.9:33; 1 Ptr.2:8 etc ] is red with the earth [ a symbol of judgement on nations: see Is.63:1-3; Rev.19:11-15; Jer.22:29 ]. Yet the great people (Nation), the seed of the Father, shall Praise the LORD [i.e GOD see Gen.6:5; Ex.23:17, 34:23; 2 Sam.12:22 where LORD, YHWH, is translated God ] of Israel.
"The Burden Bearer is moist with blood. A strong Rock is red with the earth. Yet the great people (nation), the seed of the Father, shall praise the God of Israel."
This is my rough draft. As you know, I try in my shemologies to make complete sentences if possible. I hope this is of some help.
Your friend
Alan ]I think Alon's rough draft is very good, and we must consider it as well. This pronouncement is equally Scriptural. When doing Shemology one must look at all the possibility that the Bank of Names provide or render. Todah rabbah Alon for your contribution!
Shalom,
Barbara Di Gilio
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My thank's to Cherie Ching for her help in editing my work. Cherie, your a true blessing from God, I love you dear sister, todah rabbah.
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