A Plumbline in the Midst of My People Amos 7:8

As Amos the “herdsman” prophet continued to share concerning the judgment of Israel, he referred to how he was shown “the Lord” as He “stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand”. In chapter seven and verse eight of his prophesy, Amos shared more about this “plumbline in the midst” of his “people” where we read:

And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what do you see? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:

The verse begins, “And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what do you see? And I said, A plumbline.” Amos began with the words, “and the LORD” which refers to “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the one true God” “said unto me” which means “uttered, proclaimed and declared unto Amos”, “what do you see” or “what do you perceive, consider and look at”? “And I said” or “Amos uttered, proclaimed and declared” “a plumbline” which means “a leaded weight which means to narrowly erect by rule”. When asked by the “Lord” what he saw, Amos' response was“a plumbline”.

The verse goes on to say, “Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:” Amos continued, “The said the Lord” which means “uttered, declared and proclaimed the royal and divine judge”, “behold” or “look and see” “I will set” which means “place, appoint, make, put and lay upon” “a plumbline” or “a leaded weight which means to narrowly erect by rule” “in the midst” which means “among, within the middle of and in the inward part” “of my people” which refers to the “God's group and citizens” in “Israel” whose name means “God prevails” and refers to “the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”. “I will not again” or “add, increase or be joined” “ pass by them ” which refers to the people of Israel “any more” or “pass over, by, through or alienate; carry or do away with again”. No longer would the LORD “pass by” the people of Israel in judgment, but would carry it out to their very core.

When we consider these words of Amos, we realize the people of Israel were so far away from the LORD and His ways they were to be measured by the “exact rules of justice” where not only their peripheral parts would be judged, but also the very center of their dwelling. (“This was fulfilled when Shalmaneser, after a three years' siege of Samaria, took it and carried away Israel captive finally to Assyria”). Jesus Christ came to save people from their sins, and should they reject Him during their lives, He will judge them according to His divine “plumbline” to the very core. Let all who read these words take heed. The LORD is not quick to judgment, but He is certain and sure. His judgment is accurate and exact against all those who oppose Him and His ways.

Next time we see Amos write about how “the high places of Isaac shall be desolate”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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