Amos: An Ordinary Man with an Extraordinary Message (Focus on the Bible) - Softcover

"What a wonderful gift to the pastor who wants to allow the text of Scripture to drive his sermon. T.J. Betts' commentary will be ready at hand when I prepare to teach from the prophet Amos. It is a treasure trove for the serious expositor." -- Daniel L. Akin "T. J. Betts comes to the text of Amos with a scholarly mind and a pastoral heart. His judgments about the text are carefully considered and sound, and his prose is warm and direct. Pastors who have found the task of preaching from the prophets daunting will discover in this volume helpful material for historical background, theological interpretation, and homiletical application." -- Duane A. Garrett "I have known T. J. Betts for a number of years. He was raised in a pastor's home, and he is a pastor/scholar who writes for the local church. Using personal illustrations and practical applications in this commentary, he shows how the writings of an eighth-century B.C. prophet still speak to the 21st century church." -- Chuck Lawless "Books on the Old Testament tend to be either technical and tedious or superficial and moralistic. Once in a while we discover one that breaks the mould. T. J. Betts has done it! He tells us not only what Amos means but also why it matters. He proves again that the expositor's task is not to make the Bible relevant, but to simply show how relevant it is!" -- Alistair Begg

Amos had no claim to fame. He was not even a son of a prophet. Neither had he had any formal training to be a prophet. Yet God called him out from a career of overseeing Herdsman. He was sent out from the south to bring the Lord's message to Samaria in the Northern Kingdom. Amos called to speak at the time of national disunity; military superiority; economic prosperity and religious activity. Amos brings home the idea of a famine. However it is not food the people lack like we might expect but there is a famine of the Word of God. Through this study we will be reminded of the importance of the Word of God in our lives.