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Daily Devotions

Amos

Amos 
Day 
Day 81

"A plumb line"

Text: Amos 7:7

A THIRD VISION

Amos was given a third vision. This time, it was a plumb line, a measuring device used in the ancient days.

“Thus He showed me: Behold the Lord stood on a wall
made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand.
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 not pass by them anymore.
The high places of Isaac shall be desolate,
And the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste.
I will rise with the sword against the house of Jeroboam.'”
Amos 7:7-9

1. “A plumb line”

a) It was the Lord Himself who held the plumb line.
b) This was a measuring device.
c) He was measuring the wall.
d) The plumb line would indicate that Israel was not “straight”.
e) The nation had become bent and crooked.

2. The house of Jeroboam II, the son of Joash, king of Israel (2 Kings 14:23)

a) His reign of 41 years was noted in 2 Kings 14:23-29.
b) The following things were noted about his reign:
i) He did evil in the sight of the LORD.
ii) He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. He was idolatrous!

3. The judgment declared

a) A sword would be raised against the house of Jeroboam II.
b) God would not pass by His people Israel anymore.
c) The high places… the sanctuaries of Israel… shall be desolate.
i) This was a reference to the practice of idolatry in these places.
ii) These high places were popular with idol worshippers.
iii) But they would become desolate and laid waste.

Amos could not offer a prayer of intercession for the house of Jeroboam at all! He was silent!