If we are to correctly understand the message spoken through Amos, we also need to know something of the history of Israel and the circumstances in which he lived. In Amos 1:1 we are given some important information: Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam was king of Israel.
The mentioning of two kings reminds us that we are in a time after the kingdom of Israel was split into two. About 170 years earlier, around 930 BC, King Solomon died and the kingdom of Israel was divided (1 Kings 11:1 – 12:33). Somewhat confusingly, there was a northern kingdom which was also called Israel and that contained ten tribes. Then there was also a separate southern kingdom called Judah which contained only two tribes. Sadly the northern kingdom did not have any good kings who ruled over it. There were nineteen northern kings in total and all of them were bad. They did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They refused to listen to God and led his people astray.
One example of this, that will come up later in the book of Amos, has to do with places of worship. During the time of the old covenant, the Lord had made his dwelling place in Zion. The temple in Jerusalem was the only place on earth where you could go to bring sacrifices and meet with God. Unfortunately the first northern king of Israel, Jeroboam, decided that he did not want his people travelling from Israel to Jerusalem in order to worship (1 Kings 12:25–33). So instead he set up two golden calves, one in the north at a place called Dan and another in the south at Bethel. Then he encouraged the people to go and worship there instead.
Being aware of the history, we can now consider the circumstances in which Amos was sent to Israel. If we were to read 2 Kings 14:23–29, we learn that there was a measure of peace and prosperity in Israel during the reign of Jeroboam, the son of Joash. He expanded the borders of Israel and the people living in the capital city Samaria grew very wealthy. They probably thought to themselves that the Lord was pleased with their way of life—why else would he send such blessing upon them? Amos, however, would come to reveal their true standing before God. He will pinpoint their covenant failures, and call them to repentance and faith in the Lord, their true king. God speaks to his people; he is not silent. The Lord roars from Zion. He makes his will known to those who belong to him.
1 The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.