Amos is caught up in three visions of judgment against the Israelites. The first two visions are of a potential judgment to come, which due to the prayers of the righteous prophet, will not come to pass. In the third vision, Israel is measured against the plumb line, which is the Law of God, and revealed to be utterly crooked. As a result, she must face judgment, and the prophet falls silent before the face of God. Much like in the days of Amos, the church is being measured by the Word of God. The question remains: will she stand the test of scrutiny and measure up to the plumb line?
The Plumb Line in the Church
June 20, 2021 • Grayson Gilbert • Amos 7:1–9
More from
Amos
The Restoration of Israel
September 26, 2021 • Grayson Gilbert • Amos 9:11–15
In the final section of Amos, the prophet gives an incredible word of hope to the Israelites in the throes of judgment. While the nation must still face days of agony ahead—he reminds them that far better days lay ahead for the nation, and that God is faithful to fulfill every single one of His promises. Though the Northern Kingdom shall fall and never rise again, God promises to restore His people once again and reunite them under the banner of Christ.
Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide
August 22, 2021 • Grayson Gilbert • Amos 9:1–10
Amos now comes to the final word of judgment to be given and it is perhaps the most severe word because the Lord Himself tells the Israelites they have nowhere to run to and nowhere to hide. They cannot avoid judgment. The reason they cannot avoid God's wrath is rather simple. He sees all things, He controls all things, and He reveals all things for what they truly are, which inevitably means they are only fooling themselves. Make no mistake; the same God who judged Israel shall stand as Judge on the Last Day. The same will be said for those who are not in Christ and His penetrating gaze is upon them: you have nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.
The Sound of Silence
July 25, 2021 • Grayson Gilbert • Amos 8
Amos now comes to the fourth vision of his prophecy, which reveals that the Northern Kingdom of Israel is ripe for judgment because they are a profane generation. They have not only despised the Word of the Lord, but abused their own people in the most grotesque of ways. Thus, their fortunes shall be reversed and the Lord shall give them silence in return for their rejection of His prophets on the day of their calamity. Yet behind this reality lay a principle that demands the utmost sobriety of any generation: we think trite thoughts about the judgment of God, yet it is no small thing to be trifled with.