Amos 7 Commentary

Amos 7 Commentary

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We have two visions: the vision of locusts and the vision of fire. These are planned judgments or punishments against Israel. With each one of them, Amos intercedes and the calamity is stopped.

Of course, the highlight isn’t on the power of intercession by the prophet. The scripture has shown us the LORD’s generosity to Israel. She deserved both punishments but the LORD’s Compassion said no.

But for how long? Eventually, Justice prevails. Israel receives her punishment. She goes into exile.

It is at this point that the New Testament saint becomes interested in these events. Yes, no amount of intercession works. Israel’s unchecked wickedness has exhausted the LORD’s generosity. And Heaven knows it. Zero hope.

Then Compassion cooks up a plan. Let me take the punishment! Israel is too small. James is too small, and so is Mary. They won’t survive. So the LORD Jesus Christ shows up on the scene to take Israel’s punishment.

You are too small to handle God’s punishment. Look to the cross and see the generosity of the LORD at work!

“But He endured the suffering that should have been ours,” Isaiah 53 says.

Interestingly, this prophecy comes at a time of physical prosperity and security. The people live in mansions and have it easy. Won’t our positions of perceived comfort warn us of our poor spirituality? The LORD punishes it and we are too small to handle the punishment. We are too weak to survive the judgment.

We know Bethel hosts the golden calf. And in charge of the rituals, there is Amaziah. He is disturbed by the prophet’s sermons. He reports Amos to powerful King Jeroboam. He then physically confronts the prophet and orders him to get out of the country.

Who says the word of the LORD, even the perfect word of the LORD, is sweet healing for the troubled soul? Everyone? No. The saint shouldn’t expect a red carpet always for delivering God’s word. Rejection and ejection; danger and wholesale condemnation: the prophet of the Creator God must be ready for such.

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