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Amos 7

World English Bible

WEB

1Thus the Lord Yahweh showed me: behold, he formed locusts in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and behold, it was the latter growth after the king’s harvest. 2When they finished eating the grass of the land, then I said, “Lord Yahweh, forgive, I beg you! How could Jacob stand? For he is small.” 3Yahweh relented concerning this. “It shall not be,” says Yahweh. 4Thus the Lord Yahweh showed me: behold, the Lord Yahweh called for judgment by fire; and it dried up the great deep, and would have devoured the land. 5Then I said, “Lord Yahweh, stop, I beg you! How could Jacob stand? For he is small.” 6Yahweh relented concerning this. “This also shall not be,” says the Lord Yahweh. 7Thus he showed me: behold, the Lord stood beside a wall made by a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. 8Yahweh said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “Behold, I will set a plumb line in the middle of my people Israel. I will not again pass by them any more. 9The high places of Isaac will be desolate, the sanctuaries of Israel will be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.” 10Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the middle of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words. 11For Amos says, ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.’” 12Amaziah also said to Amos, “You seer, go, flee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there, 13but don’t prophesy again any more at Bethel; for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a royal house!” 14Then Amos answered Amaziah, “I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman, and a farmer of sycamore figs; 15and Yahweh took me from following the flock, and Yahweh said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ 16Now therefore listen to Yahweh’s word: ‘You say, Don’t prophesy against Israel, and don’t preach against the house of Isaac.’ 17Therefore Yahweh says: ‘Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided by line; and you yourself shall die in a land that is unclean, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.’”

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Amos Chapter 7 presents a series of visions that the prophet Amos receives from the Lord, revealing God's impending judgment on Israel. The chapter begins with a vision of locusts, where God shows Amos how He will consume the crops of Israel. Amos intercedes for the people, pleading for mercy, and God relents, demonstrating His compassion despite the people's sins. This highlights the power of intercessory prayer and God's willingness to listen to His faithful servants. The imagery of locusts serves as a warning of the devastation that will come if the nation does not repent.

The second vision is of fire, which symbolizes God's judgment through a consuming fire that threatens to destroy the land. Again, Amos intercedes, and God relents once more. This repetition emphasizes the seriousness of the situation and God's desire for His people to turn back to Him. The chapter concludes with a vision of a plumb line, where God measures Israel against His standard of righteousness. He declares that He will no longer pass by their transgressions, indicating that judgment is imminent. This vision serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of straying from God's ways and the need for repentance.

In this chapter, we see the themes of divine judgment, mercy, and the call to righteousness. Amos stands as a faithful prophet, interceding for his people, while God reveals His plans and the necessity for Israel to align with His will. The chapter ultimately calls us to reflect on our own lives and the importance of living in accordance with God's standards, as well as the power of prayer in seeking God's mercy.

#Amos #ProphetAmos #Judgment #Intercession #Repentance

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Referenced by

  1. 2 Kings 21:12-13v72 Kings 21:12-13 speaks of God bringing disaster on Jerusalem, using the imagery of a measuring line and plumb line, similar to the vision in Amos 7:7-9 where God measures Israel for judgment.
  2. Isaiah 28:17v7Isaiah 28:17 speaks of justice as a measuring line, similar to Amos 7:7-8 where God uses a plumb line to measure Israel's righteousness.

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