Amos 7-9

1. Amos interceded for the compassion of the LORD (7.1-6). Amos saw images of locusts and fire destroying the land. His response, “Lord GOD, please forgive! How will Jacob survive since he is so small?” (vv. 2, 5), reveals not only the prophet’s affection for the people, but also the LORD’s ability—and freedom—to completely destroy His people if  He would choose
2. Amos announced that the time of the end was at hand—and was persecuted for his message (7.7-17). The LORD showed Amos the vision of a plumb line—the fixed standard against which He would measure the faithfulness of His people. His verdict was that He would spare them no longer (v. 8). Although Amos had interceded for the people, Amaziah the priest understood only that the prophet had preached messages of judgment against the nation and King Jeroboam II. The priest said: “Go away, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah. Earn your living and give your prophecies there, but don’t ever prophesy at Bethel again, for it is the king’s sanctuary and a royal temple” (vv. 12-13). After all, Amos was merely a lay preacher from Judah (cf. 1.1); who gave him the right to approach the king of Israel with such bold speech? While Amos had in fact announced the destruction of Israel—prophecies which included the end of Jeroboam’s reign (cf. 2.6-3.10)—he went on to detail the future of the wicked priest Amaziah, saying: “Your wife will be a prostitute in the city, your sons and daughters will fall by the sword…You yourself will die on pagan soil, and Israel will certainly go into exile” (v. 17; cf. 2 Kgs 17)!
3. Israel would be destroyed because of the injustice in the land (8.1-14). Amos’ fourth vision was a basket of summer fruit, ripened and ready for picking—just like the injustice and greed of Israel were evidence that the nation was ‘ripe’ and ready for destruction. Amos’ specific case against the northern kingdom was that they took advantage of the needy, and ignored the spiritual and national commitment to the Sabbath (vv. 4-6). In response, the LORD would send a famine upon the land to remind the people that He alone is the provider of true sustenance: “I will send a famine through the land: not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. People will stagger from sea to sea and roam from north to east, seeking the word of the LORD, but they will not find it” (vv. 11b-12). In that day no idol would be able to save (v. 14)
4. The destruction of Israel would be inescapable (9.1-10). In the fifth and final vision, the LORD spoke to Amos with great rhetorical force, describing the height, width, length and breadth that He would search to bring destruction upon Israel; no one could hide from His vengeance. The word of the LORD through the prophet was clear: “I will fix My eyes on them for harm and not for good” (v. 4). Amos was especially concerned for those who had piously taunted, “Disaster will never overtake or confront us” (v. 10a), for they would die by the sword (v. 10b)
5. After destruction, the LORD would restore His people (9.11-15). Consistent with the pattern of the prophets, Amos’ messages of destruction are followed by the proclamation of restoration: “In that day I will restore the fallen booth of David: I will repair its gaps, restore its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old, so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that are called by My name” (vv. 11-12). Amos announced that days would arrive when “the plowman will overtake the reaper and the one who treads grapes, the sower of seed. The mountains will drip with sweet wine, and all the hills will flow with it. I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel. They will rebuild and occupy ruined cities, plant vineyards and drink wine…I will plant them on their land, and they will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them. Yahweh your God has spoken” (9.13-14, 15)

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