Amos 7:7-15 (NRSV)
Read Amos 7:7-15 on biblegateway.com
Verse 7This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. Verse 8And the Lord said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said, "See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass them by; Verse 9the 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."
Verse 10Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to King Jeroboam of Israel, saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the very center of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words. Verse 11For thus Amos has said, 'Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile away from his land.'" Verse 12And Amaziah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; Verse 13but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom." Verse 14Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, Verse 15and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'
Devotion
When I was growing up my parents didn’t always appreciate my behavior. After several bouts of misbehaving I was told, "You’re a Burtness and with that comes certain expectations on how you live and behave." It was only later in life that I realized that this was a statement of grace, and not a declaration of judgment.
When God spoke to Amos about a plumb line it was not because God wanted to unfairly execute judgment on the people, but because God wanted the people to remember how they were chosen right from the very beginning. They needed to remember their roots and return to them. God had elected Israel, led them out of Egypt and promised them new life on the other side of the plumb line. God’s expectation was a statement of grace. Would they follow? Will you?
Prayer
Almighty and gracious God, with your expectations come gifts of courage and hope. Lead us to follow your will and walk in your way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.