Bible Studies
Amos 7:7-17 – Are We Listening?
Key Verses: (NRSV)
- 7: “This is what He showed me; the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand.” – God provided Amos these visions to enable him to become a messenger to the people.
- 8b: “See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass them by.” – A plumb line is used to make a wall straight so that it will stand strong. Amos says that God is going to hold His people to a high standard.
- 10: “Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to King Jeroboam of Israel, saying, ‘Amos has conspired against you in the very center of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words.’” – Amaziah, the head priest at Bethel, did not accept the validity of these messages from Amos. He also felt his position and influence with the king were being threatened.
- 12: “And Amaziah said to Amos, ‘O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there…” – Amos was originally from the southern kingdom of Judah so King Jeroboam of the northern kingdom of Israel told Amaziah to send this “seer” home.
- 14: “Then Amos answered Amaziah, ‘I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees.’” – Amos was a lay person responding to God’s call. He told this to Amaziah to refute the idea that he was a faker simply looking to earn payment for his visions. He had a source of income. His warnings were messages directly from God.
- 16: “Now, therefore, hear the word of the Lord…” – The land of Israel, led by priests such as Amaziah, had strayed from following and worshipping God. They had been going through the motions but were not truly focused on God. Because of this they were destined for punishment.
- Is God setting a “plumb line” in your life?
Promises of the Gospel:
Amos brings a message that is designed to break into the complacency of our lives. He asks us to take a look at our lives to see if we are we living up to God’s standards. Are there areas where we have set up barriers to God? Have we shut Him out and closed our hearts to His guiding Spirit? Are we listening for His Word that comes to us through the prophets, messengers, and the ordinary people He sends our way? Are we responding, growing, and becoming the people He is calling us to be?
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