(REFLECTIONS ON Amos 7:7-17)

In today’s Scripture, we read about a plumb line in the hand of God. A plumb line is a tool made by tying a heavy weight to a string and is used to check if a building wall is perfectly straight and vertical.

The Lord is symbolically holding a plumb line against Israel and measures their “spiritual” wall. His conclusion is that Israel is spiritually crooked from its sin and corruption.

Judgment then is proclaimed by the Lord through Amos against Jeroboam king of Israel. This is where things get interesting. Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, having heard this message, sent a message to Jeroboam saying that Amos has conspired against him.

Amaziah, this corrupt priest, then said to Amos,

12 “Go, you seer, flee away to the land of Judah and there eat bread and there do your prophesying! 13 But no longer prophesy at Bethel, for it is a sanctuary of the king and a royal residence.”

Then Amos replied to Amaziah,

14 “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.'”

Amaziah, a priest by profession, tells Amos to stop his prophesying in Bethel. However, Amos’ reply indicates to Amaziah, that he isn’t a professional prophet, but speaking the words of the Lord. Yes, Amos is a prophet, but this isn’t his occupation, how he makes a living, and so his words aren’t his own, but the true words of the Lord.

The question for us then is if we are more like Amaziah or if we are more like Amos? Are we speaking against the Lord as “professional” Christians? Am I speaking against the Lord as a “professional” Pastor? Or are we followers of Christ, living, speaking, and moving in Christ alone?

Let us not be Christians, and may I not be a pastor, merely by name and title, while our words and actions speak against God and His will.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Amos 7