Amos 8:1-3

The vision of summer fruit -- Amos 8:1-3: Several times in the Book of Amos the prophet describe visions shown to him by God. Here the Lord showed him a basket of ripe summer fruit. The ripe fruit comes near the end of the season. It was the end of the season for Israel. The season of blessings is now over for Israel and they faced judgment and punishment. God said, "Amos, what do you see?" His reply was "A basket of ripe fruit." God explained that is represented the end for my Israel. He would not forgive them again. God would no longer be lenient toward this unfaithful nation. The Lord would no longer overlook their iniquity. Instead He would bring an enemy force against them.

Sadly the children of Israel had worshipped and served idols. While their minds were set on idols they would still sing praise to God and have a form of worship. Now instead of the songs God said, "The songs of the temple shall become wailings in that day." Death would silence their songs. The Lord promised that dead bodies would be everywhere. Just imagine the horrors of dead bodies in all the houses and palaces, in all towns and cities; and especially in Samaria, during the siege. These people would die some through the famine and many others by the sword.