Amo 7:1-6 | KingComments | STEP | With this chapter begins a new section in the prophecy. So far Amos has passed on what he has heard from the LORD. Now he is going to speak about what the LORD has shown him. In this section, chapter 7:1-9:19, we have five visions: three in Amos 7, one in Amos 8 and one in Amos 9. In these visions we encounter three seasons: in the first vision we have spring, in the second the summer and in the fourth the autumn. This is how it has been with the people. It is now in the autumn of its history. What Amos sees in the visions connects to Amos 3 ( cf. ). In the visions 1, 2, 3 and 5 Amos sees the LORD Himself. The three visions in Amos 7 probably refer to the three invasions of Assyria in the land of Israel. The first raid takes place under Pul, where Assyria withdraws after Menahem has paid a fortune in taxes, which has ruined the land ( ). The second invasion is when the same Pul, the king of Assyria, also called Tiglath-Pileser, invades Israel in the days of Pekah, takes possession of several cities and deports the inhabitants, but spares most of the land ( ). At the third invasion, the final deportation of the ten tribes by Shalmaneser to Assyria takes place ( ). Visions 1 and 2 belong together because these visions are another discipline which God does not exercise after intercession. Visions 3 and 4 also belong together. It is no longer about discipline, but about no longer saving the people. The people will perish in the way shown in the fifth vision. That is a vision in which Amos sees the LORD Himself. It is not clear whether the people have noticed anything of the impending disasters shown in visions 1 and 2. In any case, they get the background information that these disasters are judgments of God, but that they have been averted on the basis of the prayer of His servant. The Lord Jesus is the perfect Intercessor. God has had patience for a long time. More than once He has been on the verge of judging Israel. The intercession of the prophet, that is the Spirit of Christ who works in the prophet, has stopped the scourge. But now the judgment is inevitable. The LORD stands with the plumb line in His hand and nothing can bring Him back from the execution of the judgment. The LORD shows Amos, and also us, what he is going to do. The question is: Do we have an eye for it, do we also see it ( )? Amos sees it and it brings him to intercession. God shows Amos what He is doing. He forms a locusts-swarm, not just as creatures, but as instruments of His wrath ( ). We can see a picture of the Assyrians in these locusts. In Joel 1-2 we also find the transition from the literal locusts in Joel 1 to the Assyrian army in Joel 2. Joel calls this army “His army”, i.e. the army of the LORD ( ). The locusts are formed to eat the spring crop. The first grass that came up and was already cut went to the royal stables. The Israelite kings seem to have claimed the right to take the first cut of the grass for their own stables (cf. ). What reappears after this mowing is the spring crop. This serves as food for the livestock of the population. A plague of locusts that devours this spring crop causes an outright disaster, a famine for humans and animals. We can make the following application of the mowing and the spring crop. Mowing the grass refers to life being cut off. The Lord Jesus must mow grass in our lives, that is, He must take away the flowers we cherish, our experiences of which we are proud. After mowing, the spring crop appears. It is said that the most beautiful and juiciest grass grows where it is mowed most often. There is no fear of God as great as that which follows a repeated mowing by God. When our health, friends, money, and favorable circumstances are repeatedly taken from us, often afterwards the most beautiful times of love, prayer, and devotion arise. We are allowed to know: when the grass is mowed, after that, the spring crop emerges. In the mowing and the spring crop we can see another picture. The mowing is a picture of the lost glory due to the invasions of enemies, but after that, glory arises again. And yet in the end that new glory is in danger of being lost again, as has happened in the history of Israel.

‏ Amos 7:1-6

Introduction

With this chapter begins a new section in the prophecy. So far Amos has passed on what he has heard from the LORD. Now he is going to speak about what the LORD has shown him. In this section, chapter 7:1-9:19, we have five visions: three in Amos 7, one in Amos 8 and one in Amos 9. In these visions we encounter three seasons: in the first vision we have spring, in the second the summer and in the fourth the autumn. This is how it has been with the people. It is now in the autumn of its history.

What Amos sees in the visions connects to Amos 3 (Amos 3:7 cf. Gen 18:17 ; 23). In the visions 1, 2, 3 and 5 Amos sees the LORD Himself. The three visions in Amos 7 probably refer to the three invasions of Assyria in the land of Israel. The first raid takes place under Pul, where Assyria withdraws after Menahem has paid a fortune in taxes, which has ruined the land (2Kgs 15:16-21). The second invasion is when the same Pul, the king of Assyria, also called Tiglath-Pileser, invades Israel in the days of Pekah, takes possession of several cities and deports the inhabitants, but spares most of the land (2Kgs 15:29). At the third invasion, the final deportation of the ten tribes by Shalmaneser to Assyria takes place (2Kgs 17:6 ; 22-23).

Visions 1 and 2 belong together because these visions are another discipline which God does not exercise after intercession. Visions 3 and 4 also belong together. It is no longer about discipline, but about no longer saving the people. The people will perish in the way shown in the fifth vision. That is a vision in which Amos sees the LORD Himself.

It is not clear whether the people have noticed anything of the impending disasters shown in visions 1 and 2. In any case, they get the background information that these disasters are judgments of God, but that they have been averted on the basis of the prayer of His servant. The Lord Jesus is the perfect Intercessor.

God has had patience for a long time. More than once He has been on the verge of judging Israel. The intercession of the prophet, that is the Spirit of Christ who works in the prophet, has stopped the scourge. But now the judgment is inevitable. The LORD stands with the plumb line in His hand and nothing can bring Him back from the execution of the judgment.

Mowing and Spring Crop

The LORD shows Amos, and also us, what he is going to do. The question is: Do we have an eye for it, do we also see it (Amos 3:7)? Amos sees it and it brings him to intercession. God shows Amos what He is doing. He forms a locusts-swarm, not just as creatures, but as instruments of His wrath (Jer 8:11a). We can see a picture of the Assyrians in these locusts. In Joel 1-2 we also find the transition from the literal locusts in Joel 1 to the Assyrian army in Joel 2. Joel calls this army “His army”, i.e. the army of the LORD (Joel 2:11).

The locusts are formed to eat the spring crop. The first grass that came up and was already cut went to the royal stables. The Israelite kings seem to have claimed the right to take the first cut of the grass for their own stables (cf. 1Kgs 18:5). What reappears after this mowing is the spring crop. This serves as food for the livestock of the population. A plague of locusts that devours this spring crop causes an outright disaster, a famine for humans and animals.

We can make the following application of the mowing and the spring crop. Mowing the grass refers to life being cut off. The Lord Jesus must mow grass in our lives, that is, He must take away the flowers we cherish, our experiences of which we are proud. After mowing, the spring crop appears. It is said that the most beautiful and juiciest grass grows where it is mowed most often. There is no fear of God as great as that which follows a repeated mowing by God.

When our health, friends, money, and favorable circumstances are repeatedly taken from us, often afterwards the most beautiful times of love, prayer, and devotion arise. We are allowed to know: when the grass is mowed, after that, the spring crop emerges.

In the mowing and the spring crop we can see another picture. The mowing is a picture of the lost glory due to the invasions of enemies, but after that, glory arises again. And yet in the end that new glory is in danger of being lost again, as has happened in the history of Israel.

Intercession

Amos speaks to the LORD with the freedom of one who has a confidential relationship with Him. He points out to the “Lord GOD” (Adonai Yahweh) that the punishment is very heavy, for this “worm Jacob” (Isa 41:14). Here we see the other side of Amos. The fearless preacher, who speaks harshly to the people, lifts up his big herdsman’s hands here to God pleading for the benefit of his people to spare them. In the face of the people he roars, before the face of God he struggles and begs.

He does not see the people now in comparison with other peoples; then they feel themselves to be quite strong. He sees them in connection with God, and how small and sinful they are then. With the words “he is small” Amos speaks a completely different language than the prickly ones who boast on their own strength (Amos 6:13). He calls the people here “Jacob”, by which he indicates that they are a people of sinners, but also the people to whom God has wanted to connect His Name.

Prophets pray to God for those to whom they prophesy in God’s name. It is a great privilege that God shows us what He is planning. At the same time, it also gives us a great responsibility. It brings Amos to preach and intercede. This must also be the effect on us in everything we may know about God’s plans. We can learn a lot from those with whom we see this effect, such as Abraham (Gen 20:7), Moses (Exo 17:8-13 ; Exo 32:30-31), Samuel (1Sam 7:8 ; 1Sam 15:25), Jeremiah (Jer 15:1), Ezekiel (Eze 9:8) and Joel (Joel 1:19).

Effect of Intercession

In His sovereignty the LORD listens to the prayer of His servant and gives it a place in the progress of His work. He does not forgive – forgiveness is only possible after confession – but does not carry out this punishment. He ‘changes His mind about this’ or He ‘repents’ (Darby Translation). He is not the unrelenting God, the God of stone. Not that He changes His plans, but He changes the way He carries them out. God’s repentance has never to do with a wrong decision He would have made, but with a change in the way He works out His right and irrevocable decision.

What a blessing are intercessors for the people, possibly even without the people being aware of it. What an encouragement to intercede. Love for God and His people manifests itself especially in intercessory prayer. Intercession is not done by people who believe that everything is fixed and that God cannot change His mind after all. Real intercession is also not done by people who believe that you can manipulate God through prayer. Then we would get the impression that we, humans, know better than God.

God knows everything in advance. There are no surprises for Him. In His plans He takes into account the intercession of His people. God expects from His children the greatest possible involvement in what He is planning. That is why He has informed them extensively about this. All His information can be found in His Word. That is why reading and studying His Word is an absolute condition to become an intercessor.

Fire

Vision 2 is an extension of vision 1. They both have to do with natural phenomena that are formed by God and called to attack the sources of Israel’s life. Behind the locusts and fire we see the hand of God.

In this second vision it appears that the people did not want to repent, despite the postponement of the previous vision. Amos sees that the fire is already raging. The fire here is the sun that consumes everything with its scorching heat. It represents Tiglath-Pileser, the Assyrian king (2Kgs 15:27-29; 1Chr 5:6 ; 26; 2Chr 28:20). God has the power to summon everything He wants to use to discipline His people. He calls a fire, and what He calls, obeys.

“The great deep” represents the deep or extent of the judgment and “the farm land” [literally portion] the land of His people Israel. The fire is not an earthly fire, but the wrath of the LORD.

Intercession

In Amos 7:2 Amos sees that judgment is about to be exercised. There he asks for forgiveness. Here he sees that the judgment has already begun. That is why he says: “Lord GOD, please stop!” Amos is the intercessor again, but he does not automatically repeat the prayer of the last time. He sees clearly what the LORD is doing and what is going on before his eyes. On that basis he appeals to Him again.

When we intercede, it is important to have an eye for the actual situation. Then we are able to pray in a focused way. God expects us to pray with insight in His actions. For the Christian this is one of the characteristics of sonship. A son is someone who acts with insight in his father’s plans.

Effect of Intercession

This second hearing is an extra encouragement to continue to intercede. We do not have to fear that God will get tired of listening to us. How could that be if He actually says that we will persevere in prayer (Eph 6:18; 1Thes 5:15; Col 4:2). Abraham experienced this in his intercession for Sodom (Gen 18:22-33). Up to six times he gets what he asks for.

The parable of the unjust judge shows the same (Lk 18:1-8). The Lord Jesus speaks this parable to His disciples, and to us, “that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart” (Lk 18:1). And in the application of the parable, He says: “Now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly” (Lk 18:7-8).