“Thus the Lord God showed me: Behold, He formed locust swarms at the beginning of the late crop; indeed it was the late crop after the king’s mowings. 2 And so it was, when they had finished eating the grass of the land, that I said: “O Lord God, forgive, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, For he is small!” 3 So the Lord relented concerning this. “It shall not be,” said the Lord. 4 Thus the Lord God showed me: Behold, the Lord God called for conflict by fire, and it consumed the great deep and devoured the territory. 5 Then I said: “O Lord God, cease, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, for he is small!” So the Lord relented concerning this. “This also shall not be,” said the Lord God. 7 Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand. 8 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 not pass by them anymore. 9 The high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste. I will rise with the sword against the house of Jeroboam.”” Amos 7:1-9 NKJV
“Though they go into captivity before their enemies, from there I will command the sword, and it shall slay them. I will set My eyes on them for harm and not for good.” Amos 9:4 NKJV
God of eternity,
Amaziah the priest of Bethel, sent to Jeroboam the king of Israel, decrying Amos’s words and saying they could not stand to hear him. No response to the call to repent, (chapter 5) to seek You, God and live. It may have been 20 to 30 years for Amos to be proved right – but he was.
Interesting questions You ask Amos. As punishment which is prefered? Starvation, fire or to be measured against perfection and laid waste? It is a relevant today to those who refuse to hear You. Starve from not eating the bread of life, fire of hell from refusing Jesus or being measured against God’s goodness and found wanting? Trusting in luck or themselves or their good deeds.
Amos is the beginning of the end of the story for Israel. There is nothing to do about it but learn from history. Families divided by power struggles = all suffer. Rebelling against God and selfish desires never make us richer or happier. Not listening to Your chasteing can lead us deeper into trouble. But. There is always a way to return to You God. You are always welcoming to the prodigal and the faithful jealous son (Luke 15:11–32) into Your arms. There is always forgiveness for those who repent (Ephesians 1:7). Your love does not run out or bypass us. We may not feel loveable but we are loved (Jeremiah 31:3). Confirm it to our hearts and our heads Father God.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 6th June 2026
Worth a repeat this year as it is such wonderful worship, an exchange of love through Jesus.
Overwhelmed by love
Deeper than oceans
High as the heavens
Ever living God
Your love has rescued me
All my sin was laid
On Your dear son
Your precious one
All my debt He paid
Great is Your love for me
No-one could ever earn Your love
Your grace and mercy is free
Lord these words are true
So is my love for You
Lyrics: Noel Richards