IV. Visions of Judgment (Amos 7:1–9:10)
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IV. Visions of Judgment (7:1–9:10)
7:1-6 God showed his prophet Amos three visions (7:1-9). The first was a swarm of locusts and the second was a judgment by fire (7:1, 4). Both would be utterly devastating to the land.
Though understanding the reason for judgment, Amos pleads with God to forgive: How will Jacob survive since he is so small? (7:2, 5). In response to Amos’s prayers, the Lord relented (7:3, 6). So again, just as he did with Abraham (Gen 18:16-33), God shares his plans with a kingdom man. And just as Abraham did, Amos—this kingdom man—intercedes so that God might be merciful. The Lord is not quick-tempered but “slow to anger” (Ps 103:8).
7:7-9 Then God showed a vision of a plumb line. A plumb lines had weights tied to one end, and by holding the device, one could determine whether a wall was vertically straight. When the Lord told Amos, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel, he was implying that Israel was crooked (7:8). Their continued idolatry, injustice, lying, and disloyalty were too much to overlook. With their third strike, they were out: I will no longer spare them, God said (7:8).
7:10-17 Crooked Israel was unwilling to be straightened. Instead of heeding the warnings of God’s prophet, Amaziah the priest even told Israel’s King Jeroboam that Amos had conspired against him (7:10)! So—no doubt under the king’s orders—Amaziah commanded Amos to quit preaching and take his prophecies to Judah instead (7:12-13, 16). But Amos knew whose agenda he was called to follow. He had been content to look after his figs and flocks, until God told him, Go, prophesy to my people Israel (7:15). So like the apostles who knew they had to “obey God rather than people” (Acts 5:29), Amos rejected Amaziah’s words and gave him God’s words: You yourself will die on pagan soil, and Israel will certainly go into exile (7:17).
8:1-14 The basket of summer fruit represents the completion of a full cycle from growth to harvest to consumption. Israel’s sins had come to completion and, like fruit removed from the trees when they are ripe, Israel was ripe for judgment (8:2-3). Israel trampled the needy and cheated with dishonest scales (8:4-5). Therefore, the judgment coming upon them would be devastating (8:8-13). Those who swore by false gods would fall, never to rise again (8:14).
9:1-10 There will be no escape from God’s wrath when it comes. There will be nowhere to hide (9:1-3). The Lord is the maker and sustainer of the earth and the heavens (9:5-6). How can anyone escape his judgment? His eyes are on the sinful kingdom of Israel (9:8). All who say: “Disaster will never overtake or confront us,” will die by the sword (9:10).
The Cushites / Ethiopians were descended from Cush, the son of Ham, the son of Noah (see Gen 9:18; 10:6). Amos 9:7, therefore, is another reminder of how strong the Jewish-African link was in biblical times (see commentary on Gen 9:18–10:1-32).