What is the significance of "locusts" in Amos 7:1 for Israel's judgment? What Amos Saw • “This is what the Lord GOD showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts when the spring crop was coming up, after the cutting for the king.” (Amos 7:1) • The prophet witnesses a literal, impending plague that would strip the land bare. • It is the first of three consecutive visions of judgment given to Amos, setting a sober tone for everything that follows. Why Locusts? • Throughout Scripture, locusts are a dependable emblem of divine judgment: – Egypt’s eighth plague (Exodus 10:12-15). – Judah’s devastation in Joel 1-2. – The covenant curses promised for persistent disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:38, 42). • Locusts leave nothing untouched; they consume every green thing. God chose an image that dramatizes total loss—no harvest, no seed for next year, no fodder for livestock. • Unlike drought or war, a locust plague moves swiftly and feels unstoppable, underscoring how quickly judgment can fall when a people harden their hearts. Timing Matters • “After the cutting for the king” points to a practice where the first mowing or harvest was reserved for royal taxes (1 Kings 18:5 speaks of royal provision for livestock). • The locusts come just when the second growth—the food of common people—is sprouting. In other words, what little is left for ordinary Israelites is about to vanish. • God highlights the social injustice Amos repeatedly condemns (Amos 2:6-7; 5:11-12). The judgment hits the everyday folk, yet it exposes a system propped up by greedy leadership. Links to the Covenant • Deuteronomy 28 connects obedience with blessing and disobedience with curses, including locusts. By showing Amos this swarm, God signals that Israel has crossed the line from blessing to curse. • The vision proves that the covenant remains in force; the Lord still keeps His word—both promises and warnings. God’s Character in the Vision • Sovereignty: “He was preparing” the locusts. God commands even insects; judgment is not random. • Justice: The punishment fits Israel’s covenant violations—pride, idolatry, oppression. • Mercy: Immediately after Amos pleads, “Lord GOD, please forgive!” (7:2), “the LORD relented” (7:3). Judgment is real, yet intercession matters (cf. Exodus 32:11-14). • Patience: This is a warning, not the final blow. The vision offers time to repent before harsher judgments arrive (fire, plumb line, captivity). Personal Takeaways • Unrepented sin eventually invites God’s disciplinary hand, often touching the very things we trust for security. • Social sins—exploitation, indifference to the poor—are not overlooked; God notices “after the cutting for the king.” • Covenantal faithfulness is still God’s standard. Blessing or loss hinges on obedience to His revealed will (John 14:23; Galatians 6:7-8). • Intercession is powerful. As with Amos, standing in the gap for others can temper judgment and open space for grace (1 Timothy 2:1-4). |
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