A Prophet’s Commitment and Concern

Often times, when we think about the prophets of the Old Testament, we perceive them as a sort of grumpy, dour, negative doom and gloom sort of individual. But have you ever thought where the nation, and even the world, would be if it were not for a prophet willing to tell us the truth? 

Amos 7 introduces us to the response of the prophet as God declared His intentions to judge faithless Israel. He is first presented with the image of a locust plague devouring the nation. The prophet, who we may mistake as an angry doom-sayer, intercedes on behalf of the people. 
Amos 7:2–3 (ESV) When they had finished eating the grass of the land, I said, “O Lord God, please forgive! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!” 3 The Lord relented concerning this: “It shall not be,” said the Lord.

Another prophesy of doom comes to the prophet from the Lord. This time fire swept across the land and devoured it. Once again, the prophet intercedes. 
Amos 7:4–6 (ESV) This is what the Lord God showed me: behold, the Lord God was calling for a judgment by fire, and it devoured the great deep and was eating up the land. 5 Then I said, “O Lord God, please cease! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!” 6 The Lord relented concerning this: “This also shall not be,” said the Lord God.

A true prophet has a heart for two things: God’s Truth, and God’s people. He doesn’t simply announce tragedy. No, he warns graciously with deep compassion for the people God loves. Abraham interceded for the righteous in Sodom, Moses interceded for Israel, Samuel prayed for Israel at Mizpah (1 Samuel 7), Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Ezra, and Nehemiah all put themselves before the Lord on behalf of the people. All died. Yet in Christ we have an everlasting prophet, priest and King who ever lives to intercede for us. 
Hebrews 7:25 (ESV) Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Amos 7:7-9 (ESV) This is what he showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built 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 never again pass by them; 9 the 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.”

Amos is known for his vivid illustrations from the Lord. This time of a plumb line - a tool by which masons know whether a wall is straight. Israel was crocked and God was establishing a case against them so that His judgment would be well deserved. Even though that judgment would not yet come, Israel would have no argument when it did.

Missing the grace of God active in Amos’ intercession entirely is the idolatrous priest of Jeroboam, Amaziah who denounces Amos:
Amos 7:12–13 (ESV) And Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there, 13 but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.”

The response to Amaziah gives us the little biographical information of the prophet that we have. 
Amos 7:14–16 (ESV) Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser 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.’ 16 Now therefore hear the word of the Lord… 

Amos was not a religious professional. Nor was he from a prophetic heritage. He wasn’t looking for this calling. God found him, took him, and sent him. It’s a reminder that God does not need the wise or established of this world. He can take a shepherd boy and cast down an experienced warrior giant. 

Amos tells Amaziah the judgment for him will be worse for he was active in the deception of Israel. 
Amos 7:16-17 (ESV) “You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, and do not preach against the house of Isaac.’ 17 Therefore thus says the Lord: “ ‘Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be divided up with a measuring line; you yourself shall die in an unclean land, and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land ”

Amaziah is the “anti-Amos”. He doesn’t tell the people what God wants them to know, he accommodates their idolatrous practices. His first allegiance is to the people’s opinions and desires and God’s truth was an inconvenient witness against him.

In a choice between Amos and Amaziah, be an Amos - committed to the truth, concerned for people. 

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