Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Amos 7
Amos 7:8And 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 never again pass by them;
The plumb line is a tool used to see if a wall is perfectly straight. Here, God uses it to show that Israel has become crooked and no longer aligns with His laws.Amos 7:14-15Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, "I was no prophet, nor a prophet's son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'
Amos explains that he didn't choose to be a prophet for money or status. He was a simple farmer whom God personally called to deliver a message.Amos 7:2-3When they had finished eating the grass of the land, I said, "O Lord God, please forgive! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!" The Lord relented concerning this: “It shall not be,” said the Lord.
This shows the heart of a prophet who loves his people, begging God for forgiveness and seeing God respond with mercy.
Historical & Cultural Context
Visions of Mercy and the Prophet's Plea
The chapter begins with two terrifying visions of destruction: a swarm of locusts and a consuming fire. In both instances, Amos speaks up for the people of Israel, acknowledging their weakness and begging God to stop. Because of Amos's plea, God decides to hold back the disaster, showing that He values the prayers of those who seek Him. This follows the warnings in previous chapters where Amos pointed out the social injustice and empty religious rituals of the nation.
The Standard of Truth and the Priest's Rejection
The scene shifts as God shows Amos a third vision involving a plumb line, which marks a turning point where God will no longer 'pass by' or overlook Israel's sins. This message of coming judgment triggers a confrontation with Amaziah, the priest of the royal sanctuary at Bethel. Amaziah tries to intimidate Amos and tells him to go back home to Judah, but Amos stands his ground. He insists that his authority comes from God's direct command, not from a professional religious career.
Visions of Judgment and Personal Conflict
In Amos 7:1-17, the setting is the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a time of outward prosperity but inward decay. The passage moves from the spiritual realm of visions to a heated face-to-face argument in the city of Bethel.
The Vision of Locusts (Amos 7:1-3)
1 This is what the Lord God showed me: behold, he was forming locusts when the latter growth was just beginning to sprout, and behold, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings.
2 When they had finished eating the grass of the land, I said, "O Lord God, please forgive! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!"
3 The Lord relented concerning this: “It shall not be,” said the Lord.
Commentary:
Amos begs God to stop a locust plague, and God mercifully agrees.
The Vision of Fire (Amos 7:4-6)
4 This is what the Lord God showed me: behold, the Lord God was calling for a judgment by fire, and it devoured the great deep and was eating up the land.
5 Then I said, “O Lord God, please cease! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!”
6 The Lord relented concerning this: “This also shall not be,” said the Lord God.
Commentary:
God shows a vision of fire but stops it after Amos prays again.
The Plumb Line (Amos 7:7-9)
7 This is what he showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built 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 never again pass by them;
9 The high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”
Commentary:
God uses a plumb line to show that Israel is too crooked to be ignored any longer.
The Priest's Accusation (Amos 7:10-13)
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 must go into exile away from his land.'"
12 And Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there,
13 But never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom."
Commentary:
A corrupt priest tries to banish Amos and stop him from speaking God's word.
The Prophet's Response (Amos 7:14-17)
14 Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, "I was no prophet, nor a prophet's son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs.
15 But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'
16 Now therefore hear the word of the Lord. "You say, 'Do not prophesy against Israel, and do not preach against the house of Isaac.'
17 Therefore thus says the Lord: “‘Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided up with a measuring line; you yourself shall die in an unclean land, and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.’”
Commentary:
Amos defends his calling from God and predicts the certain fall of his accusers.
Spiritual Lessons from the Plumb Line and the Prophet
The Power of Intercession
Amos shows us that one person standing in the gap can move the heart of God. Even when judgment is deserved, God invites us to pray for mercy, showing that He values our partnership in the spiritual life of our communities.
God's Unchanging Standard
The plumb line represents God's absolute truth, which doesn't change based on culture or personal opinion. It reminds us that while God is merciful, He also expects His people to live lives that are 'straight' and aligned with His character.
The Authority of a Divine Call
Amos wasn't a trained religious leader, but his authority came from God's direct command. This theme encourages us that God can use anyone - regardless of their background or job - to speak His truth if they are willing to listen and obey.
Applying the Lessons of Amos 7 to Your Life
When the 'plumb line' of Scripture shows areas where you are leaning away from God, the best response is honesty rather than defensiveness. Like the wall in the vision, we cannot fix ourselves by pretending we are straight. We must return to the foundation of God's grace and ask Him to realign our hearts.
Amos 7:2-5 shows that we should pray with compassion for those who are struggling or facing the consequences of their actions. You can make a difference by asking God to show mercy to your friends, family, or nation, recognizing that we all rely on His kindness to stand.
Follow the example of Amos in verses 14-15 by remembering that your identity is based on God's call, not people's opinions. When you face opposition, stay focused on the truth God has given you and trust that He will give you the words to say, as He did for a shepherd.
God's Mercy Meets His Perfect Standard
Amos 7 reveals that God is a judge who listens to the pleas of His people, yet He is also a builder who requires His work to be straight. Through the visions of locusts and fire, we see a God who relents and offers second chances when someone stands in the gap. However, the vision of the plumb line reminds us that God's patience is not a license to ignore His truth forever. The ultimate message is that while mercy is always available through prayer, we are called to align our lives with the unchanging standard of God's righteousness.
What This Means for Us Today
Amos 7 invites us to be people of prayer who intercede for a broken world while also being people of integrity who live by God's standard. It challenges us to listen to God's voice even when it is unpopular and to trust that He can use anyone to deliver His message. Today, we can respond by asking God to show us where we need to realign with His truth.
- Is there someone in your life who needs you to stand in the gap and pray for them today?
- If God held a 'plumb line' up to your daily habits, what would it reveal?
- Are you relying on your own 'religious status' or on a genuine call from God?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Connections Across Scripture
Shows Moses interceding for Israel in a similar way to Amos, leading God to relent from destruction.
Parallel to Amos's response to Amaziah, where Peter and John refuse to stop speaking what God commanded.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think God showed Amos the visions of locusts and fire before showing him the plumb line?
- Amos called Israel 'small' when asking for mercy. How does acknowledging our own weakness change the way we pray?
- In what ways does our modern culture try to 'silence' the message of God, similar to how Amaziah tried to silence Amos?