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A Level: Daily Divinity Questions and Answers with Witness Dingani

14 Apr 2016 at 20:13hrs | Views
QN."Surely Amos was a madman"Examine this view .To what extent are the Zimbabwean prophets resembling Amos.? (25) pt 11
 
OVERVIEW
The word madman is common among us.Amos the , sycamore tree dresser, heardman, shepherd, has been regarded as a madman.

 - U.S.A English dictionary define madman as a man who is insane

 - In other words Amos has been regarded as a madman because of his character.

 - One should note that scholars are the ones who have regarded Amos as a madman but not the Israelites. The reasons will be fully shown on the ongoing article.

ANSWER

®Amos has been regarded as a man because

 - when he was delivering the message used the harsh tone. The point in this case is that no normal person can use such tone, this is evidenced in Amos 4:1

 - Amos changed the dimension of the day of the lord. The Israelites believed that the day of the lord it will be day of joy but Amos as a prophet changes everything. This is the reason why so many people have been tempted to conclude that Amos was a madman. Amos 5:18-20 will guide one.

 - Amos attacked the elite and Kings. In the society the named group of people is the most respected but Amos did opposite, hence, this has led some to conclude that indeed Amos was a madman.This is evidenced in Amos 7:10

 - Amos rejected title prophet. Amos before from Chapter 1-6 ,one will understand that he was practising prophetic duties but in Amos 7:12-14 rejects the title. This has forced so many people to conclude that Amos was a madman.

HOWEVER PART
®As much as Amos has been regarded as a madman it will be miscarriage of Justice to ignore that he does not fully deserve this title of being a madman ,Since the characteristics and roles of a prophet totally outweighs the features of a madman ,he greatly deserve to be regarded as a prophet.

AMOS AS A PROPHET
 - fought for social justice ,this is recorded in Amos 2v 6

 - used messenger style of speech "thus says the lord"

 - use of visions in chapter 7 v 1 ,thus,another way of delivering a message by a prophet.

 - The audience regarded Amos as a prophet who prophesied for bread "fee",Amos 7 v 10 is an evidence

 - The fact that our primary evidence"Bible" doesn't indicate that Amos was a madman , disqualify the above view.

ZIMBABWEAN CONTEXT
®In Zimbabwean context no single prophet has been labelled as madman.In other words this means that Zimbabwean prophets doesn't resemble Amos when the madness is concerned.

©One should understand that it is misleading to regard Zimbabwean prophets as madman but one will be justified to a large extent to regard them as prophets, since their characteristics are inline with prophetic industry and the fact that they claim to be prophets.

©So many prophets can be used to support the above view, For more understanding ,research more about the following prophets  - Emmanuel Makandiwa

 - Fodric Fodric the "apple prophet "

 - Walter Magaya the man of "cloth "

 - Blessing Chiza

 - Andrew Watuanashe

N.B There are so many prophets which can be used, the local media is doing justice and broadcasting stories about Zimbabwean prophets on daily basis.

DEMANDS OF THE QUESTION
 - Examine the view about Amos being a madman.

 - Show the extent about Zimbabwean prophets

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Source - Witness Dingani
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