AMOS, Chapter 1

The prophet Amos is famous as a fig-farmer who lived in the southern kingdom of Judah, but prophesied to the northern kingdom of Israel. When I think of Amos I am reminded of the problem of place-idolatry, of religious formalism and the placing of our trust in things other than or in addition to the God of Israel. Jenny and I call this "Yahweh-plus," and we think it is definitional of idolatry itself, as in direct conflict with the fundament from which all else follows:

Matthew 22:37–38

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.

When places (or even structures/temples/cathedrals and churches) become religiously important in their own right idolatry is either looming or already present.

Amos 5:4–7:

... thus says the LORD to the house of Israel:

 

“Seek me and live;

but do not seek Bethel,

and do not enter into Gilgal

or cross over to Beersheba;

for Gilgal shall surely go into exile,

and Bethel shall come to nothing.”

 

Seek the LORD and live,

lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph,

and it devour, with none to quench it for Bethel,

O you who turn justice to wormwood

and cast down righteousness to the earth!

 

As always, getting an overview from a secondary source like this helpful video useful, but should never be a substitute for reading it yourself, allowing God's spirit to instruct you.

Perhaps you will find the next great insight in Amos! God's wisdom and instruction in His word is infinitely deep:

https://youtu.be/mGgWaPGpGz4?si=NdT60fNResrdLNyd