Day Sixty-Five -- Outside of time, and Out of place

Joel and Amos

Joel:  So far I have been able to place each of the prophets we have read into a general historical or geographical context.  Joel, however, doesn't give me any hints as to when he is writing or specifically to whom he is writing.  He does not appear to be writing to a community in exile as he says, "Hear this, you elders; listen, all who live in the land" (Joel 1:2).  He also calls on the priests and those who minister before the altar of the Temple in Jerusalem (1:13-14), which could place him either before or after the exile.  As a result, Joel is "outside of time" and can speak to any community that has drifted from the ways of God, and to let that community hear the LORD's eternal call: "Rend your heart and not your garments.  Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity" (2:13).

Amos:  Each of the prophets faced their particular challenges.  For Amos, his challenges began with the fact that he was a shepherd and not a professional prophet.  Add to that the fact that he was from the southern kingdom of Judah, but was sent by God to prophesy to the northern kingdom of Israel.  If there's one thing kings and leaders like even less than feeling they've been scolded by one to their own people, it's being scolded by an outsider.  Finally, a priest tells Amos to go back where he came from (Amos 7:12-13), only to have Amos reply: "Your land will be measured and divided up, and you yourself will die in a pagan country.  And Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land" (v. 17).  As with a number of the other prophets, however, Amos ends with a word of hope for a future restoration of the people.