Amos lived and prophesied during the time of the divided kingdom. Though he was from Judah, the southern kingdom, the Lord sent him to preach to Israel, the northern kingdom. He was anything but a polished, seminary-educated preacher. He was a rustic farmer, one of the "herdsmen of Tekoa" (1:1); however, he was a faithful servant of Jehovah who went forth with a God-given message that lay heavily upon his heart. Amos means burden, a fitting name for one whose greatest concern was for the glory of God, a man who was intensely disturbed by the spiritual condition of Israel. The nation was overrun with idolatry, therefore the word of Amos was, "Prepare to meet thy God," (4:12) - a God of wrath and vengeance who would by no means spare the guilty. Though the book is filled with threats of judgment on account of iniquity, there is a promise of grace in the closing verses of the chapter. There was within Israel "a remnant according to the election of grace," who would be spared according to God's purpose of redemption in Christ Jesus. Here is a brief outline of Amos.
1. Proclamations of judgment upon all ungodly nations, chapters 1-2.
2. Pronouncements of doom upon Israel, chapters 3-6.
3. Prophecies of woe, chapter 7-9:10.
4. Promises of mercy, chapter 9:11-15.