In our study of Amos chapter seven, we look at the judgment that was to come on the northern kingdom because of their pride. Even in this judgment, we see that God demonstrates His mercy to His people.
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Here is what Adonai ELOHIM showed me: he was forming a swarm of locusts as the late crop was starting to come up, the late crop after the hay had been cut to pay the king's tribute.
God begins to show the prophet what he is going to do to the northern kingdom. Here, we see that God was preparing to destroy the crops of the land. We see that there was usually two crops on the land with the first part going to the king for taxes. He was going to strike the second crop which was the part that fed the animals until the dry season came. The people would survive for a time but, without the food for the animals, the animals would die and the people would then starve.
While they were finishing up eating all the vegetation in the land, I said, "Adonai ELOHIM, forgive - please! How will tiny Ya'akov survive?" So ADONAI changed his mind about this. "It won't happen," ADONAI said.
We remember that Amos was a simple shepherd and he knew what this would do to the people. He prayed and God listened. God displayed His mercy in the fact that He agreed to not do this even though they deserved it and even more under the law.
Next Adonai ELOHIM showed me this: Adonai ELOHIM was summoning a blazing fire to consume the great abyss, and it would have devoured the land too.
Now, the prophet sees that God is preparing to judge them with fire. This fire is so big and so hot that it dries up the Mediterranean Sea and consumes all the plants on the land.
But I said, "Adonai ELOHIM, stop - please! How will tiny Ya'akov survive?" ADONAI changed his mind about it. "This too won't happen," said Adonai ELOHIM.
Once again the prophet prays for mercy and God granted his request. We notice that he did not appeal to God based on their relationship as His people but simply based on His mercy.
Then he showed me this: Adonai was standing by a wall made with a plumbline, and he had a plumbline in his hand.
Now, the prophet sees a wall that has been properly built and the Lord standing by it holding a plumb line. The plumb line is a tool that is used during construction to make sure that something is straight up and down. It usually consists of a weight that is attached to a string. The string is tied to the top of something and gravity acting on the weight stretches the line out perfectly straight.
ADONAI asked me, "'Amos, what do you see?" I answered, "A plumbline." Then Adonai said, "I am going to put a plumbline in among my people Isra'el; I will never again overlook their offenses.
The Lord told Amos that the plumb line was going to be used to judge His people. They were like the wall that had been built straight but are now going to be checked to see if it is leaning.
The high places of Yitz'chak will be desolate, Isra'el's sanctuaries will be destroyed, and I will attack the house of Yarov'am with the sword."
Israel was clearly not straight with God and so judgment is proclaimed. As we see, here, the judgment begins with the leadership which was king Jeroboam.
Then Amatzyah the priest of Beit-El sent this message to Yarov'am king of Isra'el, "'Amos is conspiring against you there among the people of Isra'el, and the land can't bear all that he's saying. For 'Amos says: 'Yarov'am will die by the sword, and Isra'el will be led away from their land into exile.'"
Amaziah was a hired preacher and usually said what the king wanted to hear. He was not of God and he lied about what Amos was saying. He was simply calling the leaders of Israel to turn away from their golden calf and turn back to the ways of God. It is much the same way today as many "churches" have strayed far from the ways of God. Many "pastors" will simply say what the congregation wants to hear instead of what God wants them to hear. When a man of God calls them to turn back to the ways of Jesus, their leaders will lie and act in the same manner as Amaziah.
Amatzyah also said to 'Amos, "Go away, seer! Go back to the land of Y'hudah! Earn your living there; and prophesy there; but don't prophesy any more at Beit-El; for this is the king's sanctuary, a royal temple."
Amaziah not only told the king what he wanted to hear but, now, he tries to stop Amos from speaking the truth. He accuses Amos of being a hired preacher and basically tells him to get out of Amaziah's territory. A similar type of thing happens in many churches as the pastor only shares "feel good" messages and anyone that tries to share the truth is run out of the meetings.
'Amos gave this answer to Amatzyah: "I am not trained as a prophet, and I'm not one of the guild prophets - I own sheep and grow figs. But ADONAI took me away from following the flock, and ADONAI said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Isra'el.'
Amos' answer to Amaziah points to his humility and reminds us that it is the humble people that God uses and not the proud. He tells Amaziah that God called him from being a lowly shepherd and tending the sycamore fig trees. This would have been a stark contrast as Amaziah was called by the king while Amos was called by the King of Kings.
So now, hear what ADONAI says: 'You say, "Don't prophesy against Isra'el, don't lecture the people of Yitz'chak."' Therefore ADONAI says this: 'Your wife will become a whore in the city, your sons and daughters will die by the sword, your land will be parcelled out with a measuring line, you yourself will die in an unclean land, and Isra'el will certainly be exiled from their land.'"
Now, Amos tells Amaziah of how his family is going to be made an example to the people of Israel. His wife was going to become a prostitute which speaks of the idolatry that was going on in Israel. His children were going to be killed speaking of the death that is coming on the people due to their idolatry. Amaziah's land and possessions were going to be taken just as Israel was going to be conquered. The false prophet was going to be taken captive and die in the foreign land just as Israel was going to be removed from the land. For us, as Christians, this shows the danger of sharing only the "feel good" message with people. This "feel good" message can deceive many into thinking that they are saved even though they do not accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Then, on the day of judgment, they will be removed from the presence of God as Jesus says that he never knew them.
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