The third vision was of a plumb line. A carpenter uses a plumb line to check a wall for vertical correctness.
Next there is an interruption. The priest at Bethel accuses Amos of conspiracy.
The fourth vision is in chapter 8. Amos sees a basket of summer fruit. And I say "What?!"
Do you see? It makes not sense. Maybe it makes perfect sense, but I don't see it. Can anyone out there in blogworld give me insight into the meaning of this fruit basket?
That is the question. I await a response.
Interesting question. It hits me like that, too, on account of the fact that "summer fruit" seems so pleasant to me. But I think the symbolism of this in Amos is that Israel is ripe for harvest... ripe for judgment. The Hebrew word for summer fruit, qayits, can also be translated as "harvest." The judgment theme seems likely considering the verses that follow the account of the vision.
ReplyDeleteThis is a sobering thought for us in this country now. We may be in a very similar spiritual situation.
It would seem to me that this is also judgment.
ReplyDeleteOscinea brings up an interesting point...if it is summer fruit and the fruit is ready for harvest, then it must be harvested immediately without delay.
No more time can be given.
Just as there is in farming an ending time of growing the crop(the harvest) there is also an end to God's patience with mankind (God's judgment).
God's judgment is just and perfect in timing. His patience has, and must, come to an end.
It almost sounds as if this is the 'final' judgement based on the wording in verses 8-14...because chapter 9 talks about Israels destruction and then it's ultimate restoration.
These verses in Amos also sound like some of the revelation that John spoke of in Revelation 14:15-20....
Wayne, I like hearing your thoughts about when the fulfillment of this prophecy takes place. I tend to think that you're right, except that it may be only part of the picture. It's not unusual for Bible prophecies to have more than one fulfillment. Amos' prophecies were directed mostly towards the northern kingdom - which fell to the Assyrians within about 30 years or so. Also, some of the verses about restoration came about when the Israelites returned after the captivity. But I also believe, as you've said, that the ultimate fulfillment of Amos' prophecy is yet to come.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, I think the principles about God's eventual judgment - and His ultimate healing - hold true for us now. I hope our country finds itself back in Amos 7 where the Lord is still willing to change His mind and delay judgment. But I fear there may be a basket of summer fruit on the horizon... ;-)
Thank you both-- excellent observations! I see where this could be judgment-- and it does fit the context. i think there is also an antithesis here-- a comparison of two opposites to emphasize either or both. summer fruit speaks of bounty, of plenty, like the cornucopia at Thanksgiving. but down in verses 11 and 12 he talks about a time of famine coming to the land. but it will not be a famine for food, but a famine for spiritual teaching-- and spiritual understanding . i do believe we are experiencing this famine to a degree in America today. thank you again for your insight!!
ReplyDeleteThe thing that intrigues me is in verse 12 where it says, "They will go to and fro to seek the word of the Lord." The world will tell us that there is no God and that it's pointless to seek Him. And yet it seems even people who buy in to that still end up seeking a spiritual component to their lives. I've watched my atheist relatives when a loved one dies and seen them grasping for a deeper meaning, even while denying the true Source. Why do we do that?
ReplyDeleteI believe they do that, Oscinea, because God has placed eternity mans heart (Ecc 3:11).
ReplyDeleteMan 'needs' to worship something...even if that something is the idol worship of atheism (belief there is no God).
i think it was C. S. Lewis who said that the real tragedy when men refuse to worship God is not that they will worship nothing, but that they will worship the wrong thing. Wayne is right that they will worship something, even if it is their own intellect.
ReplyDelete