This is what the Lord GOD showed me: behold, he was forming locusts when the latter growth was just beginning to sprout, and behold, it was the latter growth after the king’s mowings. When they had finished eating the grass of the land, I said,“O Lord GOD, please forgive! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!”
The LORD relented concerning this: “It shall not be,” said the LORD.
This is what the Lord GOD showed me: behold, the Lord GOD was calling for a judgment by fire, and it devoured the great deep and was eating up the land. Then I said, “O Lord GOD, please cease! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!” The LORD relented concerning this: “This also shall not be,” said the Lord GOD.
This is what he showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. 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 never again pass by them;
the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate,
and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste,
and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”
Comment: I have put into italics above the two prayers of Amos. And for us to think about – was God playing with Amos – did God answer Amos’ prayers? Did He really relent?
God introduces the concept of ‘His plumb line’. That is a measure to make sure that things are correct, vertical wise in every plane. As we come to Christmas we can see at least several ways in which we can see Jesus standing next to the plumb line …. i) He is the only One who measures up to its perfect standard. ii) When we want to visualise in living terms what God’s standards are we only have to look at Jesus – a real example and not just an impartial weighted string. iii) Whilst Jesus came to seek and save the lost, He has still a very real association with the plumb line being God’s standard of acceptability. He will return demonstrating His love and grace victoriously but also as the Judge.
Prayer: Thank You Jesus for coming from Heaven to live among us!
As I read it! 