August 12, 2024 - Amos 7-9

These chapters contain a series of five visions: The locusts eating crops, Judgment by fire, The wall and plumb line, The basket of summer fruit, and The Lord standing by the altar.  Amos, like the other prophets, seems constantly to be talking with and hearing from God.  The Lord instructs him and gives him words to speak.  But the prophet is not silent.  He talks with God.  In fact, with the first two visions, he actually pleads with God to relent.  The Lord listened to Amos and did relent.

It's pretty amazing to watch Amos and other prophets, do this back and forth with the God who sent them.  The prophets are careful, and they know their places before God.  But they are also bold.  They ask questions.  They sometimes even seem to accuse God.  They plead with him. 

There’s an intimacy here:  “This is what the Lord showed me” (7:1, 7:4, etc.).  “O Lord God, please forgive/cease!” (7:2,4)  The Lord questions:  “Amos, what do you see?” (7:8)  And Amos answers.  Back and forth.  In Amos’ answer to the evil priest Amaziah:  “But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me . . .” (7:15).  A good model for us in prayer as we watch the prophet(s) go back and forth with the Lord.  Talking with God; what an amazing blessing!  The words below have been critiqued as being light on substance; however, to have that little talk with Jesus?  Wow!

I once was lost in sin but Jesus took me in

And then a little light from heaven fill my soul

He bathed my heart in love and He wrote my name above

And just a little talk with Jesus makes me whole

Now let us have a little talk with Jesus

Let us tell Him all about our troubles

He will hear our faintest cry

And He will answer by and by.  -- Cleavant Derricks (1937)