Symbolic Visions of Judgment
7:1 The sovereign LORD showed me this: I saw him making locusts just as the crops planted late were beginning to sprout. (The crops planted late sprout after the royal harvest.) 7:2 When they had completely consumed the earth’s vegetation, I said,
“Sovereign LORD, forgive Israel!
How can Jacob survive?
He is too weak!”
7:3 The LORD decided not to do this. “It will not happen,” the LORD said.
7:4 The sovereign LORD showed me this: I saw the sovereign LORD summoning a shower of fire. It consumed the great deep and devoured the fields.
7:5 I said, “Sovereign LORD, stop!
How can Jacob survive?
He is too weak!”
7:6 The LORD decided not to do this. The sovereign LORD said, “This will not happen either.”
7:7 He showed me this: I saw the sovereign One standing by a tin wall holding tin in his hand. 7:8 The LORD said to me, “What do you see, Amos?” I said, “Tin.” The sovereign One then said,
“Look, I am about to place tin among my people Israel.
I will no longer overlook their sin.
7:9 Isaac’s centers of worship will become desolate;
Israel’s holy places will be in ruins.
I will attack Jeroboam’s dynasty with the sword.”
Amos Confronts a Priest
7:10 Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent this message to King Jeroboam of Israel: “Amos is conspiring against you in the very heart of the kingdom of Israel! The land cannot endure all his prophecies. 7:11 As a matter of fact, Amos is saying this: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword and Israel will certainly be carried into exile away from its land.’”
7:12 Amaziah then said to Amos, “Leave, you visionary! Run away to the land of Judah! Earn your living and prophesy there! 7:13 Don’t prophesy at Bethel any longer, for a royal temple and palace are here!”
7:14 Amos replied to Amaziah, “I was not a prophet by profession. No, I was a herdsman who also took care of sycamore fig trees. 7:15 Then the LORD took me from tending flocks and gave me this commission, ‘Go! Prophesy to my people Israel!’ 7:16 So now listen to the LORD’s message! You say, ‘Don’t prophesy against Israel! Don’t preach against the family of Isaac!’
7:17 “Therefore this is what the LORD says:
‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the streets
and your sons and daughters will die violently.
Your land will be given to others
and you will die in a foreign land.
Israel will certainly be carried into exile away from its land.’”