Amos 6 — Woe to Those at Ease in Zion
Amos 7 — Warning Visions
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Amos writes these words some 2,700 years ago, but when I read it this morning, it rings fresh like today’s headlines: “Woe to you who are complacent…to you who feel secure…you notable men of the foremost nation” (Amos 6:1). Israel is feeling pretty proud (see verses 6:4-6), but God’s response is clear, “you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end” (6:7).
Amos points out their arrogance for the short-lived victories at Lo Debar and Karnaim where they are proud of the battles won “by our own strength” (6:13). Indeed, they won these battles by their own strength because there we very far from the Lord, worshiping idols, making sacrifices to the gods of the land. But these victories would be short lived. The Lord speaks through Amos, “I will stir up a nation against you, Israel, that will oppress you…” (6:14).
Though Amos’ cry out to the Lord results in some deliverance (7:6), God cannot be satisfied with the incredible disobedience of his chosen people. In 2 Kings 21:10-15 we recall God’s edict against Manasseh, king of Judah where the Lord says, “I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down” (2 Kings 21:13). A plumb line cannot lie, it simply reveals the truth, Israel, all 12 tribes are far from the Lord, they are not following his ways, they are not in line with God’s laws.
As I read these words and though about the concept of a plumb line, the song by Plumb comes to mind, “How Many Times” performed in K-LOVE’s studio, pure gold, Amos would have loved this (
). When I first heard the artists’s name, I thought it was weird that they would be named “Plum” (as in the fruit). When I googled it and found it was Plumb, I felt a little silly, but was drawn to these verses. “What do you see, Amos?…I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer” (Amos 7:8).
This revelation get’s Jeroboam’s attention and he is cast out of Israel with harsh words from Amaziah the priest, “Go back to the land of Judah” (7:12). Amos boldly fires back in 7:17, “you yourself will die in a pagan country.” It’s important to note this is not a curse, rather it’s a prophesy, he is foretelling what will happen as a result of his pagan practices. Amos tries to clarify he’s not a “professional prophet” (7:14-15), he’s just speaking what the Lord has revealed. Lord I pray that I can have the boldness and confidence of Amos to speak your truth plainly and clearly, not trying to draw attention to myself, but pointing to the true plumb line that your have drawn. May my words be yours, my thoughts purely from your will. Help me in my desire to build up the kingdom even in these tough times.