Theology as Seen in Prophets and Psalms/The logic of Amos' vision

use this page to discuss Logic/Vision

Treated as a Drama

Taken as a unit, the five visions form a structured whole operating on several formal levels. The basic dramatic activity of the first four visions sets up a rhythmic pattern essential to the act-scheme of forgiveness and judgment. Twice Amos is able to persuade the LORD God not to destroy God's own people. Twice the LORD God pronounces judgment predicated by Amos' observations. All finally brought to climax when only God stands on the stage of Amos' vision and pronounces a final judgment.

This climactic pattern has the symmetrical balance, dialogic exchange, and the formality of a concluding event still present in much of the drama of our own century. Reading the visions as a drama places emphasis on the human experience of Amos and the people of Israel. Their vulnerability to the LORD God is staged in Amos' visions, along with their dramatic role as the people of Israel. The act-scheme of forgiveness and judgment is predicated on an emerging character (the people of Israel) in relation to a source of action (the LORD God). Visions one and two establish the possibility of tragedy, of death and destruction brought about by a force transcendent of the human being.

source http://puffin.creighton.edu/human/JRS/2000/2000-2.html

From Class Notes & Discussion

• form of Visions - Vision 1 Vision 2 Vision 3 Narrative Vision 4

    •	Visions 1 and 2 are meant to be sequential…
            •	A possible future avoided by the prophets plea

    •	Visions 3 & 4 are an opportunity for God to proclaim judgment and the end of Israel

Word play in the 3rd and 4th Visions

    •	Visions 4 – summer fruits  (qayíts) and “the end” (qets) sound similar – the end/harvest
    •	Plumb line is an inaccurate translation (no one thought of plumb line until 1220A.D.)
    •	See handout page 2
    •	Making the word play work in vision 3 - If ‘anak (tin/wall of tin) becomes saménak (you), then God is putting Amos in the midst of the people.  The flow of visions becomes intersession twice, placing of the prophet, then God’s declaration of judgment, after rejection of the prophetic word – similar to Jeremiah’s experience w’ Judah.

‘anak translates as tin/wall of tin not plumbline --Mark McTrustry ~ "It must be Thursday, I never could get the hang of Thursdays" said Arthur 16:40, 20 January 2009 (UTC)