Amos 4: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Amos 4 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Yahweh calls the wealthy women of Samaria ‘cows of Bashan’ for oppressing the poor and needy (vv. 1-2). He declares impending judgment, stating that they will be taken away with hooks (vv.

Key verse

“Therefore thus will I do to you, Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, Israel.”
Amos 4:12 (WEB)

Outline

Amos 4:1–2 Condemnation of the Wealthy Women
Amos 4:3–4 Impending Judgment Announced
Amos 4:5–6 Hypocrisy in Worship
Amos 4:7–10 God's Past Interventions
Amos 4:11–12 Sodom and Gomorrah Comparison
Amos 4:13 The Sovereign God Revealed

Discussion questions

In v1, who does Amos refer to as 'cows of Bashan'?
What does Yahweh say will happen to the people in v2?
In vv. 6-9, what do the repeated phrases 'yet you haven’t returned to me' indicate about Israel's response?
In v12, what does 'prepare to meet your God' suggest about Israel's situation?
When have you faced hardship like the 'lack of bread' in v6 without turning back to God?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Amos 4: Amos 5, Deuteronomy 28, Joel 1.

Before next time: read Amos 5.