Amos 1-5

....and our prophet is from the South (Judah) and God calls him to pronounce judgment on the North (Israel)....woah!   It is a time of peace, but the rich are getting richer, and the poor are being oppressed by the rich (any of this sound familiar?).  Amos is a layperson.....he herds sheep!  Apparently, he was also a fig grower.  He is doing his regular job when he is called, and he is obedient, so he is called a Man of God.  God loves His people so much, He keeps sending messages to repent.....Obadiah has been there, Jonah has been there....and the rich are just going through the motions of worship.  Idols are around (you remember the golden calves?).  Amos begins by judging Israel's neighbors..

1)  Damascus is the capital of Aram (Syria)
2)  Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon and Ekron are in Philistia
3)  Tyre is in Phoenicia
4)  Edom....Teman is in the south, Bozrah is in the North.....they should have been a "brother" to Israel, but rejoiced when they were captured.
5)  Ammon....capitol is Amon.....these are descendants of Lot and his younger daughter
6)  Moab....these are descendants of Lot and his older daughter...

and then...

Judgment on Judah and Israel!!!!!!

They are condemned for 5 specific sins:

1)  selling the poor as slaves
2)  exploiting the poor
3)  perverse sexual sin
4)  taking illegal collateral for loans
5)  worshiping false gods.

Israel has not returned to God....they haven't listened to prophets or priests.....some kings have not helped the situation.  In chapter 5, Amos sings a lament....he shocks people because he sings as if they have already been destroyed.