7 Thus He showed me, and behold , the Lord was standing by a vertical wall with a plumb line in His hand . 8 The Lord said to me, " What do you see , Amos ?" And I said , "A plumb line ." Then the Lord said , "Behold I am about to put a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel . I will spare them no longer e . 9 "The high places of Isaac will be desolated And the sanctuaries of Israel laid waste . Then I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the sword ."
10 Then Amaziah , the priest of Bethel , sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel , saying , "Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel ; the land is unable e to endure all his words . 11 "For thus Amos says , 'Jeroboam will die by the sword and Israel will certainly go from its land into exile .' " 12 Then Amaziah said to Amos , " Go , you seer , flee away to the land of Judah and there eat bread and there do your prophesying ! 13 "But no longer e prophesy at Bethel , for it is a sanctuary of the king and a royal residence ." 14 Then Amos replied to Amaziah , "I am not a prophet , nor am I the son of a prophet ; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs . 15 "But the Lord took me from following the flock and the Lord said to me, 'Go prophesy to My people Israel .'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Amos 7:7-15
Commentary on Amos 7:1-9
(Read Amos 7:1-9)
God bears long, but he will not bear always with a provoking people. The remembrance of the mercies we formerly received, like the produce of the earth of the former growth, should make us submissive to the will of God, when we meet with disappointments in the latter growth. The Lord has many ways of humbling a sinful nation. Whatever trouble we are under, we should be most earnest with God for the forgiveness of sin. Sin will soon make a great people small. What will become of Israel, if the hand that should raise him be stretched out against him? See the power of prayer. See what a blessing praying people are to a land. See how ready, how swift God is to show mercy; how he waits to be gracious. Israel was a wall, a strong wall, which God himself reared as a defence to his sanctuary. The Lord now seems to stand upon this wall. He measures it; it appears to be a bowing, bulging wall. Thus God would bring the people of Israel to the trial, would discover their wickedness; and the time will come, when those who have been spared often, shall be spared no longer. But the Lord still calls Israel his people. The repeated prayer and success of the prophet should lead us to seek the Saviour.
Commentary on Amos 7:10-17
(Read Amos 7:10-17)
It is no new thing for the accusers of the brethren, to misrepresent them as enemies to the king and kingdom, as traitors to their prince, and troublers of the land, when they are the best friends to both. Those who make gain their godliness, and are governed by the hopes of wealth and preferment, are ready to think these the most powerful motives with others also. But those who have a warrant from God, like Amos, ought not to fear the face of man. If God, that sent him, had not strengthened him, he could not thus have set his face as a flint. The Lord often chooses the weak and foolish things of the world to confound the wise and mighty. But no fervent prayers, or self-denying labours, can bring proud sinners to bear faithful reproofs and warnings. And all who oppose or despise the Divine word, must expect fatal effects to their souls, unless they repent.