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A Vision of a Plumb Line
Amos 7:7-15
Good News Translation (GNT)
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7 I had another vision from the Lord. In it I saw
him standing beside a wall that had been built
with the use of a plumb line, and there was a
plumb line in his hand.
8 He asked me, "Amos, what do you see?"
"A plumb line," I answered.
Then he said, "I am using it to show that my
people are like a wall that is out of line.
I will not change my mind again about
punishing them.
9 The places where Isaac's descendants
worship will be destroyed. The holy places of
Israel will be left in ruins. I will bring the
dynasty of King Jeroboam to an end."
Amos and Amaziah
10 Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, then sent a
report to King Jeroboam of Israel: "Amos is
plotting against you among the people.
His speeches will destroy the country.
11 This is what he says: 'Jeroboam will die in
battle, and the people of Israel will be taken
away from their land into exile.'"
12 Amaziah then said to Amos, "That's enough,
prophet! Go on back to Judah and do your
preaching there. Let them pay you for it.
13 Don't prophesy here at Bethel any more.
This is the king's place of worship, the national
temple."
14 Amos answered, "I am not the kind of prophet
who prophesies for pay. I am a herdsman,
and I take care of fig trees.
15 But the Lord took me from my work as a
shepherd and ordered me to come and
prophesy to his people Israel.
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Commentary written by the individual writers
of Word-on-the-web, a project of the Church Army.
A Vision of a Plumb Line
Amos 7:7-15
This wall was the people Israel.
At first glance they still appeared strong and right
('the Lord stood by a wall that had been built with the use
of a plumb line), but God knew that sin had crept in,
and the plumb line of his law would show up their crookedness,
that they were not right with him.
This sin had weakened them and, like a wall that isn't straight,
they could easily collapse when pressure came.
We need to know God's word so we can check if we're walking
faithfully, under his protection, and will be able to stand
strong when tough times come.
Amos' warning that the places where Isaac's descendants worship
will be destroyed reminds us not to be complacent.
Isaac had built an altar to worship the Lord at Beersheba,
but it had been defiled by the idolatrous burning of incense.
Their worship was no longer genuine like it had been in the past,
and would not offer them the sanctuary they thought it would.
As a priest, Amaziah was supposed to be the people's representative
before God. His role was to help the people to worship the Lord,
showing them how to follow him.
However Amaziah had a vested interest in ignoring Amos's criticisms
and instead supported the King in keeping things just the way
they had been.
He was not prepared to hear God's message or let that impact
his own life and that of the nation.
Despite this opposition, Amos faithfully proclaimed the messages
that God was giving him. The message Amos shared created problems,
he was rocking the boat and he risked a lot in speaking out
against the leaders.
Amaziah sent him away, stating that this was the king's holy place
and the nation's temple.
Do your actions reflect who you are?
As a Christian do you say and do all the right things,
but then happily embrace and accept all the trappings
of everyday life, or do you try and live as God wants -
by listening to Him? It's not an easy thing to do.
Amaziah is said to be a priest, yet he is happy to live
by the way of men.
Amos on the other hand doesn't have status - he is just a
regular guy, a shepherd, nothing important.
However, he gives up everything he has to deliver God's message
and no matter how hard it is to deliver
he doesn't deviate or opt out!
Have you ever had to tell someone something awkward,
knowing that they will not react well to the message?
That's the situation Amos finds himself in.
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