Amos stepped on to the...
Illustration
Amos stepped on to the stage at a great time in Israel's history. Under King Jeroboam II
Israel reached a level of prosperity they had never achieved before or since. Surely God
smiled down on the almighty's prosperous people. Yet this unlikely prophet, Amos,
disturbed his audience. He told of coming judgment. He told of the locusts that would
come and eat everything in sight. He warned of a terrible day when the sun would go
down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight. He told his successful people that
their feasts would be turned into mourning and their songs into lamentation (Amos 7:1-2;
8:9-10). Those in the audience, well-fed and properly dressed, yelled back to the prophet
on stage: "Why would God do this? Why?" Amos talked about a plumb line that was
used to build a proper wall. And he answered the people's questions by saying that God
measured the walls of Israel and these walls were sadly lacking. They had forgotten the
plumb line as they built -- and the walls would soon break down and give way.
A little boy one day told his teacher, "We have ten kids in our family and one bathroom, you gotta have rules." Israel had forgotten that there are rules which, if broken, would break them. We hear much talk today of a postmodern age. Postmodern people talk about a world in which the old standards do not apply. They say there are no plumb lines -- the standards change and none are set in stone. Yet the little boy reminds us that without some rules, some plumb lines, chaos always ensues. Israel was outwardly successful. Yet, under the surface it was an unjust age. "... they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes -- they ... trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth, and turn aside the way of the afflicted" (Amos 2:6b-7). When we pay attention to the plumb lines that are inherent in the construction of any society -- the walls will hold. Justice will prevail. And all ten kids will be treated equally.
A little boy one day told his teacher, "We have ten kids in our family and one bathroom, you gotta have rules." Israel had forgotten that there are rules which, if broken, would break them. We hear much talk today of a postmodern age. Postmodern people talk about a world in which the old standards do not apply. They say there are no plumb lines -- the standards change and none are set in stone. Yet the little boy reminds us that without some rules, some plumb lines, chaos always ensues. Israel was outwardly successful. Yet, under the surface it was an unjust age. "... they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes -- they ... trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth, and turn aside the way of the afflicted" (Amos 2:6b-7). When we pay attention to the plumb lines that are inherent in the construction of any society -- the walls will hold. Justice will prevail. And all ten kids will be treated equally.
