August 18, 2026 - Amos 7-9

These are the visions of Amos:

• A locust swarm

• Fire

• The Lord with a plumb line

• A basket of summer fruit

• The Lord standing beside the altar.

What do they have in common?  They are visions of judgment.  The Lord declared, “I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation” (8:10).  Furthermore, Amos declared, “’Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground, except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,’” declares the LORD” (9:8).  Did you catch that last part?  The Lord would not utterly destroy the people.  He could not for he had covenanted to keep them.  And so, hope is discovered even in the midst of terrible judgement.  The Lord declared, “I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit” (9:14).  Over and over again, time after time, we have heard this message from the biblical writers, that is, that the Lord will judge and hold accountable but his promises stand.  Those who are truly his will know and experience his grace and mercy.

O worship the King all-glorious above,

O gratefully sing his power and his love:

our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,

pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,

in you do we trust, nor find you to fail.

Your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end,

our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!   -- Robert Grant (1833)