Sharper Iron — The Day Is Surely Drawing Near: Amos’ Vision of Locusts

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Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Hebron, CT, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Amos 7:1-3.

This text starts the final third of the book of Amos. He has preached, “Repent!” but the people have refused to respond and return to the LORD. The series of visions the LORD shows to Amos beginning with this text proclaim the LORD’s judgment against His people Israel. The first vision is a swarm of locusts. The LORD forms them to send against His people at the time when the most destruction will be caused, before the first crops have been harvested yet after the second crops have sprouted. If this vision comes to pass, the devastation against Israel will be absolutely terrible. Amos responds as a prophet should. He prays on behalf of the people, with whom he is one. Amos asks the LORD to forgive, not based on any worthiness from Israel, but based on the LORD’s promise to send the Savior in the line of Jacob. In response, the LORD relents from His verdict of judgment for the time being. In Amos’ intercession that is met with God’s mercy, we see a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has interceded for us before the Father in order to win our salvation. For that reason, the Church today stands in the same place as Amos, offering our prayers on behalf of the world, that the LORD would be merciful to them and bring them to true faith through the preaching of the Word.

“The Day Is Surely Drawing Near” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that digs into the book of Amos. This Old Testament prophet speaks the LORD’s roaring Word in order to call us first to repentance over our idolatry and injustice and second to faith in the Messiah in the line of David, Jesus Christ. Only through faith in Him will we stand forgiven and redeemed on the coming Day of the LORD.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Amos 7:1-3

7 This is what the Lord God showed me: behold, he was forming locusts when the latter growth was just beginning to sprout, and behold, it was the latter growth after the king’s mowings. 2 When they had finished eating the grass of the land, I said,

“O Lord God, please forgive!
How can Jacob stand?
He is so small!”
3 The Lord relented concerning this:
“It shall not be,” said the Lord.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.