Amos 8: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Amos 8 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Yahweh shows Amos a vision of a basket of summer fruit (vv. 1-2). He declares that the end has come for Israel, and their celebrations will turn into wailings.

Key verse

“Behold, the days come,” says the Lord Yahweh, “that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing Yahweh’s words.”
Amos 8:11 (WEB)

Outline

Amos 8:1–2 Vision of Summer Fruit
Amos 8:3 Wailing Instead of Songs
Amos 8:4–6 Condemnation of Exploitation
Amos 8:7–10 Assurance of Judgement
Amos 8:11–12 Famine of Hearing
Amos 8:13–14 Despair Among the Youth

Discussion questions

In v2, what does Amos see that leads to God's declaration about Israel?
In v5, what do the people desire to do with the 'new moon' and the 'Sabbath'?
Yahweh's words in v11 about a famine: how does this contrast with typical expectations of famine?
In v10, why does God compare the mourning to that for an 'only son'?
When have you experienced a 'famine' of God's word or guidance in your life?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Amos 8: 1 Samuel 3, 1 Samuel 28, Amos 5.

Before next time: read Amos 9.