The prophecies of Amos mark an important point in the development of the religion of the Old Testament. The prophet was indeed a spokesman for Yahweh. That he was not speaking for himself or trying to please his listeners is made clear by the content of the message he delivered. Critics have often maintained that the Old Testament prophets created the god of whom they spoke out of their own imaginations. However, had these prophets done so, it does not seem at all likely that Yahweh would have spoken so critically of what was being done by the prophets' own people.
In the ancient world, each nation customarily had its own god, a deity whose power and influence were limited by the boundaries of the country over which it presided. Evidence indicates that Yahweh was so conceived by the Hebrew people. But for Amos, Yahweh is not subject to these limitations. As a god of justice, Yahweh's demands are universal and consequently affect all nations alike. Israel is no exception. Dishonesty and transgression of the rights of people will bring about the destruction of this nation just as surely as they did in the cases of Tyre, Moab, Damascus, and Gaza. The implication is clear enough that Yahweh is the god of all nations. If Amos is not to be regarded as a pure monotheist, we can at least say that his thought is moving in that direction.
