What I Noticed Today (Amos 6-9)
Amos 6
Message 5. In chapter 6, Amos gives the fifth message describing Israel’s sins and the judgment for their pride.
In verses 1-3, Amos speaks a woe against Zion (Jerusalem) and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria (Israel). The leaders of Samaria considered themselves to be the best among all the people in Israel. But Amos tells them to go look at the cities of Calneh, Hamath, and Gath which had all been by invaders. Israel’s pride made them think they would not face a day of disaster.
In verses 4-7, Amos described the second woe on those who sit around in luxury eating and drinking and anointing themselves with the finest oils. They showed no concern for the destruction of Joseph (the northern kingdom) nor their own impending destruction. Therefore, said Amos, these leaders would be the first to be sent into exile.
In verses 8-10, the Lord swore by Himself that he hated the pride of Jacob (the northern kingdom), and his strongholds, and He would deliver up the city, and everyone and everything in it. The devastation would be so complete that if men hid in a house to avoid the sword, they would be killed by pestilence. Those who survived would be afraid of even mentioning the name of the Lord for fear that they would also be killed.
In verse 11, The Lord will destroy the houses; the large house will be broken into fragments, and the small houses will be broken into bits.
In verse 12, Amos uses two ridiculous examples of a horse running on rocks (where a goat would be) and plowing in the rocks with oxen to illustrate how ridiculous Israel had become by turning justice into poison and righteousness into wormwood (bitterness).
In verse 13, the army rejoices over their victories, thinking they have won them based on their own strength.
In verse 14, therefore, the Lord will bring judgment upon them by bringing a nation against them that will oppress them from Lebo-Hamath (in the north) to the Brook of Arabah (in the south).
Amos 7-9:10
Having given the reason for God’s coming judgment, Amos now begins to describe through a series of five visions the total destruction of the land, the buildings, and the people (7:1-3, 7:4-6, 7:7-9, 8:1-3, and 9:1-4).
Amos 7
Vision 1. In verses 1-3, Amos sees locusts devouring the fields just as their second crop of the season began to grow.
Note: The king got the first crop, the people ate from the second crop. If the second crop failed or was destroyed, the people would starve.
Amos prayed to the Lord, and the Lord relented and did not send the locusts.
Vision 2. In verses 4-6, Amos sees a fire devouring the land. Amos again prays to the Lord, so the Lord relented and did not send the fire.
Visions 3. In verses 7-9, Amos sees the Lord holding a plumb line (a plumb line was used to make sure a building was straight up and down). The Lord would use the plumb line to determine who was “true to plumb.” The Lord determined the high places and sanctuaries were “out of plumb” and would be torn down/destroyed.
Verses 10-17 are a response to Amos’s third vision. Amaziah, the priest, sent word to Jeroboam the king accusing Amos of conspiring against the house of Israel. Amaziah told Amos to run away to Judah and to never prophesy in Bethel because it is the king’s sanctuary and temple for the kingdom.
Note: Amaziah, like many other leaders of this time, refused to accept the words of Amos as being from the Lord.
Amos’ response was the Lord had brought him from Judah to Israel to prophesy, so that is what he intended to do. Because Amaziah rejected Amos’ warning, the Lord said Amaziah would be sent into exile, and his household would all die.
Amos 8
Vision 4. In verses 1-3, the Lord showed Amos a basket of fruit and asked him what it was. Amos answered it was a basket of ripe fruit. The Lord said it was time for the end of the people of Israel. The result of the Lord’s harvest would be wailing from the people and silence from the Lord.
Note: The idea of “summer fruit” or “ripe fruit” suggests the fruit was ready for harvest. As such, the Lord had determined that it was time for the “harvest” of judgment upon the people of Israel.
In verses 4-10, Amos describes in more detail the sin of the people and the judgment that the Lord would bring.
The powerful had oppressed the poor and needy. It was an imposition to stop work to worship the Lord at the festivals, feasts, and Sabbaths. They cheated people using dishonest scales and weights. They forced the poor into slavery over minor debts.
The Lord swore by Himself, saying he would not forget any of their deeds. He promised to bring judgment upon them so their feasts would turn into mourning, their songs of joy into songs of lament, they would shave their heads and wear sackcloth (signs of mourning).
In verses 11-14, the Lord said in those days (the days of judgment), the people would want a word from the Lord, but He would be silent. They would wander the countryside seeking a word from the Lord, but He would remain silent. Those who worshiped in Samaria (the calf idols) will fall and never rise again.
Amos 9
Vision 5. In verses 1-4, Amos sees the Lord bringing the sword of judgment against the people of Israel. Amos saw the Lord standing by the altar with a sword. He struck the pillars causing the roof to fall in on the people. Those who escaped were killed by the sword. Even if they tried to dig into Sheol or climb to heaven, the Lord would find them and kill them. If they are captured and sent into exile, He would still command the sword to kill them.
In verses 5-6, Amos describes the Lord God of Hosts as sovereign over all the earth and the heavens.
In verses 7-10, Amos describes the Lord’s sovereignty in terms of the countries He has already lifted up and taken down. The Lord will command the people of Israel to be sifted; the righteous would not pass through the sieve, but the sinners would fall to the ground and die by the sword.
Note: They sifted grain to separate the kernel of grain from the chaff. The kernel (the righteous), would not pass through, while the chaff (the waste product, here the unrepentant sinners) would pass through the sieve to the ground.
In verses 11-15, In that day (the day of judgment) the Lord would raise up the city once again and restore a remnant of the faithful. The “booth of David” (or “tent of David”) describes how the people of God would once again be united under Davidic rule (Jesus’ Millennial reign). Gentile nations (represented by Edom) will be included in the Lord’s blessings. At this time, the people will be prosperous and live in peace.
