Standing with God and Man Amos 7

The Three Visions

The Vision of the Grasshoppers/Locusts The crops would be affected after the king had collected his part for taxes Thus the Lord God showed me: Behold, He formed locust swarms at the beginning of the late crop; indeed it was the late crop after the king's mowings. Amos 7:1

The Vision of the Grasshoppers/Locusts Amos saw the devastation and made a plea to God And so it was, when they had finished eating the grass of the land, that I said: “O Lord God, forgive, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, For he is small!” Amos 7:2

The Vision of the Grasshoppers/Locusts The plea of Amos touched the heart of God So the Lord relented concerning this. “It shall not be,” said the Lord. Amos 7:3

The Vision of the Grasshoppers/Locusts Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16 The Lord “repented” (KJV) in that He was willing to show compassion. (God “relented”, yielded, NKJV)

The Vision of the Grasshoppers/Locusts Amos 7:2,5 2 And so it was, when they had finished eating the grass of the land, that I said: “O Lord God, forgive, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, For he is small!” 5 Then I said: “O Lord God, cease, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, For he is small!”

The Vision of the Grasshoppers/Locusts Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 John 5:14

The Vision of the Grasshoppers/Locusts Prayer looks for God’s mercy to man to triumph over His wrath. The plea of Amos was “forgive” and “cease”. Amos 7:2,5 2 And so it was, when they had finished eating the grass of the land, that I said: “O Lord God, forgive, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, For he is small!” 5 Then I said: “O Lord God, cease, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, For he is small!”

The Vision of the Plumb Line 7 Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand. 8 And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said: “Behold, I am setting a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore. 9The high places of Isaac shall be desolate, And the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste. I will rise with the sword against the house of Jeroboam.” Amos 7:7-9

The Encounter with Amaziah

The Charge of Conspiracy 10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words. 11 For thus Amos has said: ‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword, And Israel shall surely be led away captive From their own land.’ ” Amos 7:10-11

The Charge of Conspiracy 2. People have often turned against those who could have saved them much hurt and sorrow. a. The response to Jeremiah (Jer 20;26) b. Paul’s question (Gal 4:16) Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth? Galatians 4:16

The charge of Selfishness 12 Then Amaziah said to Amos: “Go, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah. There eat bread, And there prophesy. 13 But never again prophesy at Bethel, For it is the king's sanctuary, And it is the royal residence.” Amos 7:12-13

Amos was used by God to accomplish His Will 14 Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: “I was no prophet, Nor was I a son of a prophet, But I was a sheepbreeder And a tender of sycamore fruit. 15 Then the Lord took me as I followed the flock, And the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’ 16 Now therefore, hear the word of the Lord: You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, And do not spout against the house of Isaac.’ Amos 7:14-16

Amaziah and apostate Israel would suffer 16 Now therefore, hear the word of the Lord: You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, And do not spout against the house of Isaac.’17 “Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Your wife shall be a harlot in the city; Your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword; Your land shall be divided by survey line; You shall die in a defiled land; And Israel shall surely be led away captive From his own land.’ ” Amos 7:16-17

Lessons for Us Today

God hears the prayers of His followers. Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. Isaiah 59:1

God hears the prayers of His followers. In my distress I cried to the Lord, And He heard me. Psalms 120:1

Never Stop Praying to God pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Never Stop Praying to God And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:15

We must choose God over man. Then Amaziah said to Amos: “Go, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah. There eat bread, And there prophesy. Amos 7:12

We must choose God over man. 16 Now therefore, hear the word of the Lord: You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, And do not spout against the house of Isaac.’ 17 “Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Your wife shall be a harlot in the city; Your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword; Your land shall be divided by survey line; You shall die in a defiled land; And Israel shall surely be led away captive From his own land.’ ” Amos 7:16-17

Conclusion 1. We must never stop praying for the faithful and the struggling. 2. We must be brave and smart enough to follow God over man.