July 17, 2018 Tuesday

“7  Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand. 8  And the LORD said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said: “Behold, I am setting a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore. 9  The high places of Isaac shall be desolate, And the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste. I will rise with the sword against the house of Jeroboam.” 10 ¶  Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words. 11  “For thus Amos has said: ‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword, And Israel shall surely be led away captive From their own land.’ ” 12  Then Amaziah said to Amos: “Go, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah. There eat bread, And there prophesy. 13  But never again prophesy at Bethel, For it is the king’s sanctuary, And it is the royal residence.” 14  Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: “I was no prophet, Nor was I a son of a prophet, But I was a sheepbreeder And a tender of sycamore fruit. 15  Then the LORD took me as I followed the flock, And the LORD said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’” (Amos 7:7-15 NKJV)

            Before we even get to the passage itself there are a couple of things we need to understand. First a plumb line is used to tell if something being built is correct and straight. The root of this word is used for straight. The second thing we need to understand is the fruit of a sycamore tree are figs. The third thing is like David and Jesus Amos takes care of sheep.

            The implication of this prophecy is the time of mercy is coming to an end and the time of judgment is beginning. A wall has been set up Israel cannot cross and God has a plumb line to show Israel is not straight by not living up to the covenant they made with God.

            The time of mercy is coming to an end and God is going to lay waste to all the worship places of false gods! God is also going to strike Jeroboam down for leading his people in a way that is not straight and broke the covenant with God.

            The response to this prophecy is astoundingly wrong like we see in many times, even our own. They are angry that the words of Amos, really the words of God, are making people uncomfortable and even afraid.

            The king then kicks Amos out of the country telling him to not prophesy again at Bethel which is where the king lives. The response of Amos is amazing as he declares he was not a prophet or the son of a prophet. He declared he was a sheep breeder and tended the sycamore fruit or figs. This is not our picture of a prophet.

            Amos then proclaims he only is a prophet because God called and appointed him to prophesy to the people of Israel. The prophecy is God will make Israel straight even if it means the death of the one leading them in the wrong way and the judgment of his people Israel. Sadly if we will not turn back to God in the time of mercy judgment will always come! But just as in our court systems judgment causes us to see the dysfunction in our lives and gives us a chance to come to God and through mercy receive a new life!

            How do you respond when someone tells you there is something wrong in your life? Are you living with the hope mercy will continue and judgment never come? What is God calling and appointing you to be.