Amos 7:1-3  “…He formed locust swarms…So the LORD relented…”
Vision of locust swarms destroying crops and grazing grass.  No crops for the people nor grass for the animals.  Total destruction, but God relents and doesn’t do it.  Some commentaries think the locusts aren’t literal but represent a human army.  Possibility.  Also seems to me to be prophecies of total destruction which God decides not to do, then replaced with one in which He destroys the idolatry and the supporters of it, but leaves the land for future use.  Just a thought.

4-6  “…the Lord GOD called for conflict by fire…the great deep…So the LORD relented…”
Second vision of devastating fire which destroys everything.  God relents of this also.  The great deep usually refers to the ocean or some very large body of water.  Not sure here.  Some think it’s the oceans, some the vast groups of people.  If I stay with the idea of total destruction prophecies, it would be water.  Destructive fire so massive it threatens to dry up even the ocean or some other large body of water.

8  “…I am setting a plumb line In the midst of My people Israel…”
The prophecy which will be carried out.  Like the life of Belshazzar, the people of Israel will be weighed in the balance and be found wanting.  God will remove those who insist on worshiping false gods.  He will destroy the places of idol worship, and He will extend judgment to the leaders who encouraged Israel to sin.

10  “…Amaziah the priest of Bethel…”
Priest of the false gods at Bethel.  Amos is disrupting his cushy plans.  I’m sure there was money involved in his position as well as prestige.  And he had the ear of the king.

12  “…Flee to the land of Judah.  There eat bread…”
Amaziah accuses Amos of only prophesying for money.  He suggests if Amos wants to be a prophet, he should go down to Judah and prophesy there.  Pretty sure he’s missed the point.

14  “…I was no prophet, Nor was I a son of a prophet…”
Amos’s answer.  You can’t accuse him of doing any of this for money.  He’s not a prophet.  He was a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit.  God called him because He had a message to give to the people.  Amos was obedient to that call.  Something Amaziah wouldn’t understand being the priest of a false god.

17  “…Your wife shall be a harlot in the city…”
Amos has some specific words of judgment for Amaziah.  He didn’t want to hear from the real God.  Now he has no choice.  All that God says will happen to Israel will come to pass, and Amaziah will experience it also.

I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word.  May it accomplish what He desires.  Please feel free to comment or post questions.  Thanks for reading!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.