The first thing I notice opening up the book of Amos is his 'humble' occupation - God uses all men, not just the ones born into high society, influential, or affluent positions. Sometimes/often He has a special job for people in an everyday job, because it is His power and words at work, and not our own.
The first two chapters of Amos go through the nations around Israel generally. We have references to the two kings reigning at the time, so we know where in history we are - and the known contemporaries Jonah, Hosea, and Isaiah, with possibly other prophets around also. So it was a time when there was a lot of warning and preaching to the people of both nations of Israel. Amos preached primarily to the people of Israel, so Judah (the second nation of Israel, with just two tribes out of 12) is grouped in witht eh other surrounding nations. It is interesting to note the emphasis on the transgressions and the idea that the judgement is not coming on a whim or as the result of one action, but on the back of many rejections of God. ('three transgressions and for four' is not an author accidentally writing down the wrong number, but deliberately emphasising the multitude of transgressions)
In terms of justice, both the surrounding nations and Israel seem to follow the same practices - despising the poor and 'selling them for food/silver/pair of sandals'. Chapter five deals with their abuse of judgements in the gates to exploit the poor and afflict the righteous. 'The gate' is where civil matters were decided in Israel back then - analogous to the courts today, where the warning is still relevant. Other countries are often well-known for corruption in the judicial system, and western culture often tries or pretends to minimise it, but there are still abuses of power that can occur within the system against the poor and righteous. There is also warning for the idle rich, who live in luxury and do not concern themselves with the suffering of the poor and oppressed. Again and again we are told to hate evil and seek good - in every area of life!
There are two warnings that stood out to me particularly, because they related more directly to God - the first was a warning not to desire the day of the Lord to come. It's not going to be a time of rejoicing, especially for the self-righteous who think God will be punishing everyone else. Even for the truly righteous, it is not rejoicing but sorrow that is the appropriate response to seeing the wrath of God poured out. The second was the warning that God would be silent. In an analogy from first aid training, it is a bit like shivering being a sign of cold, but the real danger is when the shivering stops, because the body stops fighting the cold - it is worn out, and the body temperature then plummets quickly. Likewise, God's warnings and judgement He brings to turn them back to Him are good, as they are a sign He is still being patient with them, trying to turn them back - but there will be a time when it becomes silent, and He does not speak, and then the evil may increase for a short time without the constraint, but will soon be judged.
In the end of all the judgement though, there is that promise that God will restore His people, and rebuild it. A hope and a light that the whole world is not overcome by evil, but God has saved a few for Himself!
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