The third vision

The third vision Amos saw was the vision of a plumb line. In the first two visions, Amos’s intercessory prayer was heard. The third vision is meant to teach Amos that intercession is no longer effective. The reason is that the sins of the northern kingdom had advanced into an irreversible territory. (1) Amos sees the Lord holding a plumb line in His hand and standing on the wall of Samaria. A “plumb line” is a carpenter’s tool used to check whether a wall is standing vertically. (2) Here, the plumb line is used not for construction, but to examine the spiritual condition of the people of Israel. That is the meaning of the words, “Behold I am about to put a plumb line in the midst of My people Israel.” (3) As a result of being examined with the plumb line, it becomes clear that the spiritual condition of the people of Israel is crooked (out of plumb). The people had forgotten that they were the Lord’s covenant people and continued to walk in the way of sin. (4) Therefore, God declares, “I will spare them any longer.”

Unavoidable judgement

In this vision, there is neither Amos’s intercessory prayer nor a promise to remove judgment. That is how heavy the sins of the people of Israel were. (1) At this point, God’s patience was exhausted. The catastrophe that would strike Israel became unavoidable. (2) The “high places of Isaac” refers to the many altars built on hills, including the ancient sanctuary at Beersheba. Isaac built an altar at Beersheba to worship the Lord (Gen. 26:25). The people of Israel imitated this and built many altars on hills, but those became places of idol worship. All those altars will be laid waste. (3) The “sanctuaries of Israel” refers to the temples built at Dan and Bethel for worshiping the golden calf. Those temples will become ruins. (4) The “house of Jeroboam” refers to the Israelite dynasty. The northern kingdom will collapse through war. To take the Lord’s grace for granted is dangerous. A time will come when God’s patience is exhausted. Therefore, the apostle Paul teaches us as follows. “And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain — for He says, ‘At a favorable time I listened to you, and on a day of salvation I helped you.’ Behold, now is ‘a favorable time,’ behold, now is ‘a day of salvation’” (2 Cor. 6:1-2). Are you making good use of the present time?