Warning Before Destruction: Amos Chapter 7 Explained

In this chapter God gives Amos visions that should serve as warnings to those who listen. The visions are sent before the destruction of the Ten Northern Tribes. The prophet's personal life becomes in danger because of his ministry. However, he continues to follow God rather than man's.

Vv. 1 – 9 Warning Through Visions

V 1 “Thus the Lord God showed me, and behold, He was forming a locust-swarm when the spring crop began to sprout. And behold, the spring crop was after the king’s mowing.”

God bears long with people, but he will not bear always. The swarm of locust would come when the poor would get to reap a crop. The king’s cutting had occurred already.

This would indicate that there would be little to no bread for them. However, the rich would have their share.

God has waited long with these arrogant peoples, but he shows Amos that he isn’t going to continue. Remember from 3:7, God reveals his secrets through his prophets.

Can you see God’s mercies in this. He didn’t send the locust when the best of the crop was ripe, the first in early spring, was ripe. The people gathered in the first mowing. The last crop to grow was less and of little value compared to the first. So God is merciful. We should never complain about the things God gives us.

The caterpillar army of Assyria comes on Israel and lays it waste as mentioned above from Hamath to the plains, or all the territory that Jeroboam had taken (2 Kings 14:25;  6:14 above).

V 2 “And it came about, when it had finished eating the vegetation of the land, that I said, “Lord God, please pardon! How can Jacob stand, for he is small?”

Amos intercedes for Israel. The devastation of the crops could do him in. What is one devastation of war, famine. That’s what is indicated by the locust eating all the vegetation. The poor will be hard pressed to find food.

One job of the prophet was to pray for those to whom he brought prophesies. However, we see Jeremiah praying that the Lord would hurry and bring about his promises to destroy Judah.

V 3 “The Lord changed His mind about this. “It shall not be,” said the Lord.”

There are a few instances in the Bible where a human intervenes and God does or does not carry out the thing God has proposed to do.
1.       Abraham trying to defend Sodom and Gomorrah 
2.    Moses asking the Lord not to destroy the entire nation and making a nation of him
3.    Here when Amos asks the Lord not to destroy all of Israel
4.   Jesus in the Garden

There are others, but these will suffice for now.

V 4 “Thus the Lord God showed me, and behold, the Lord God was calling to contend with them by fire, and it consumed the great deep and began to consume the farm land.”

Amos, then, has another vision. He sees a fire destroying all the farm land. Again, how can they survive without their crops?

V 5 Then I said, “Lord God, please stop! How can Jacob stand, for he is small?” 

Once again, Amos offers intercessory prayer for Israel. He prays because Jacob is God’s people. Jacob is supposed to be a worshiper of God. When we get to Habakkuk, you will discover that the prophet tells God nearly the same thing. Will you bring bad things on your good people?

V 6 The Lord changed His mind about this. “This too shall not be,” said the Lord God.”

Once again, God changes his mind and does not destroy or burn their farmland. Do you think the Lord really changes his mind, or is he testing Amos? Could it be that Amos could be thinking since he is from Judah, They deserve everything they get. They have left God to worship idols. They have separated themselves from us to do their own thing. They should be punished!

Vv. 7 -- 8 Thus He showed me, and behold, the Lord was standing by a vertical wall with a plumb line in His hand. The Lord said to me, “What do you see, Amos?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “Behold I am about to put a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel. I will spare them no longer.” 

What does a plumb line do? It tells you if something is vertically straight – up and down plane that is straight. God is saying that Israel needs to get its vertical alliance with God correct.

Israel’s church says of itself, “I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. This wall was made by a plumb-line,” (Song of Solomon 8:10). Now, God is standing on the wall. Most likely when he plumbs it, the wall is bowed. He is standing on it not to straighten it, but rather to tread the wall down. When you place the standards of an almighty God on any wall, you will find it bowed in comparison.

V 9 “The high places of Isaac will be desolated and the sanctuaries of Israel laid waste. Then I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”

The protective walls, high places, and safe hiding places and places of worship, sanctuaries, will be destroyed. Or, it could be that the places where they worship their gods will be destroyed. A play on Isaac’s name, “laughter.” Israel would become the laughing stock of the area. One of God’s chosen  thrown down by him.

Vv. 10 – 17 Amos Accused, Answers 

V 10 “Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel; the land is unable to endure all his words. V 11 For thus Amos says, ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword and Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.’” V 12 Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Go, you seer, flee away to the land of Judah and there eat bread and there do your prophesying! V 13 But no longer prophesy at Bethel, for it is a sanctuary of the king and a royal residence.”

Amos was warned to flee from Samaria. We have talked much about how they felt about a foreigner coming to their cities to tell them that their country would be destroyed. Now you see why I have been talking about it.

Here they warn Amos that he had better get back where he came from. Here you can do normal, daily things like eat and perform your ministry.

Then the priest warns Amos not to continue to do ministry inside their borders nor in their royal city where the king lives.

14 “Then Amos replied to Amaziah, “I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs.”

God never made me a prophet. I’m a farmer. I tend sheep and goats, and I raise sycamore figs.

V 15 “But the Lord took me from [n]following the flock and the Lord said to me, ‘Go prophesy to My people Israel.’

However, God took me from following the herds and farming. He gave me a direct command. I couldn’t refuse him. He said go prophesy to my people Israel. That’s why I’m here!

V 16 “Now hear the word of the Lord: you are saying, ‘You shall not prophesy against Israel nor shall you speak against the house of Isaac.”

Since I am here, hear what the Lord has to say. You’re telling me that I can’t prophesy here against Israel. You are telling me that I can’t prophesy in the holy city of Samaria. Nor the house of Isaac.

V 17 “Therefore, thus says the Lord, ‘Your wife will become a harlot in the city, your sons and your daughters will fall by the sword, your land will be parceled up by a measuring line and you yourself will die upon unclean soil. Moreover, Israel will certainly go from its land into exile.’”

Hear this now! Because you have told me these things, your wife will become a harlot in the city. Your sons and daughters will be slain by the sword. Your land will be given out, measured to someone else, and you will die in a foreign land.

Besides, Israel will go into another land. She will be exiled from here.

Amos Chapter 7

Questions

Can you think of another place where someone prays that God will change his mind? _________________________________________.  Jesus in the garden. Moses when God told him he would make a great nation of him.

God is going to send what against Israel? ________________________________________.

What’s so important about the King’s mowing? ___________________________________________.

What’s the mercy shown by God in sending the locusts later? _________________________________.

Amos’ second vision is of what? __________________.

What does the plumb line indicate? _______________________________________________________.

How safe are their protective walls? ____________________________________________________.

The wall represents who? _______________________. When God plumbs Israel, what will he find?

_________________________________________________.

What did Amos prophesy against Jeroboam II? ___________________________________________.

Who told Jeroboam II what Amos said? __________________________.

Who warned Amos to flee? _____________________________.

What did Amos say would happen? ____________________________________________________

_________________________________________.

  

Blessings,

Howard

PS: A complete study on your freedom through rest can be had from B. C. Ministries, Inc. Email us  at bcministries1@gmail.com for your free copy.

PSS: Our first novel, The Red-Haired Master Shepherd, has been published. The novel is fiction about a little known Biblical character who meets Jesus. Check it out here. Or you can email us for your copy.

Who You Are Isn't Based on Performance with God. Who You Are Should Have A Direct Bearing on How You Perform.