Amos 7 - Introduction

Go Prophecy Unto My People Israel Amos Seven

The book of Amos has two natural divisions. Amos chapter one through six contains God's condemnation of sin and a picture of His judgment against eight disobedient nations. God used Amos to preach sermons against false religion, violence, selfishness and dishonesty. It was too late for the nation of Israel but not for individuals to turn back to God. Amos pleaded with the people to return to the Lord. p;p;

The second section is made up of Amos Chapter s seven through nine. Here we observe five visions that Amos had. The only interruption in these visions is a brief moment when Amos defended his prophetic role before Amaziah. The book of Amos is a sad book dealing with disregard for the Creator. However, it closes with a ray of hope for some that would turn back to God.

Amos seven contains three of Amos' visions, (1) The vision of the locust, (2) The vision of fire, and (3) the vision of the plumb line. There is also a brief discussion with h h Amaziah concerning Amos' prophetic work. By way of a vision the Lord showed Amos that a swarm of locust was coming to destroy the crops of Israel. Amos prayed for Israel and God spared them of this horror. In a second vision the Lord showed Amos a fire consuming the great deep. Again Amos prayed and God spared Israel from this misery. God is compassionate and longsuffering as the prayers of the righteous prevail. The third vision was that of the Lord standing on the wall with a plumb line in His hand. He was at the high place of idolatrous worship. God measured Israel and found her defective. The nation would now face His judgment.

Bethel was the center of idolatrous worship. Amaziah was the priest there. He accused Amos of conspiracy against Jeroboam. He told Amos to stop preaching in Bethel and to go back to Judah. Amos defended himself by saying, "I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel." Amos gave bold but sad prophesies against both Amaziah and Israel.