12/2/2020 - Bible Study
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Introduction:
John Looking at Old Houses
A roof is not as important as the walls
Uneven walls take a lot more resources and are difficult to renovate
That can apply spiritually
The Plumb Line.
7 Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. 8 And the Lord said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:
We discussed the Grasshoppers or locusts, we looked at Amos’ vision of fire, & this week we are looking at the Plumb Line. What is a plumb line?
According to Eerdman’s Bible Dictionary a plumb line is “a builders’ device consisting of a string with a weight, or plummet, on one end. The weight forces the cord to hang vertically so that builders and renovators are able to check the alignment of walls they are constructing and make sure that they are perpendicular to the center of gravity of the earth. The plumb line is also used to recognize walls that are tilted and need to be torn down.”
The Modern Day Level has taken the plumb lines place in construction.
In our text this evening, the plumb line is a tool to enable the people of Israel to particularize truth & virtue from apostasy.
God appears to Amos standing beside a wall holding a plumbline for the purpose of declaring that the plumbline is trustworthy and can be utilized to properly build a wall.
Then God’s Word tells us that he has set the plumbline in the midst of Israel - the people of Israel. So, what is the significance of this? Simply put, God is telling us that He will measure His people against truth, virtue, and uprightness. This means that exceptions will not be made, God will be using the same measurement & iniquity will not longer be pardoned or excused.
In the previous visions we saw Amos fervently pray for God to not pass judgement on Israel. However, God has clearly said this time there will be no sparing of His judgement & we do not see Amos beseech God this time.
Why would Amos not protest this time? More than likely it was due to the fact that Amos had repeatedly told Israel about the error of their ways warned incessantly warned of impending judgement. Yet, Israel had not repented or deviated from their way of thinking or living.
We can read God’s Word & even hear the best preaching & teaching but if we are not applying it to our lives. If we are not changing the way we live our lives when it contradicts God - reading the Word & hearing the message is for nothing.
This plumb line is God’s way of finding out who His legitimate people are and who just claim to be.
9 And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, And the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; And I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.
What are these “high places” referenced in verse 9? Consider this,
52 Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:
As B.N. Cameron puts it, “Idols were set up in the "high places." God is going to destroy the idol worship. The test will reveal whether they trust other gods.”
How did Israel Measure Up?
10 Then Amaziah the priest of Beth-el sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words. 11 For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.
How did the priest, most likely the Chief Priest in Beth-el, respond to Amos? Did they agree on Amos’ understanding of what God showed him? Absolutely not!
He likens the words of Amos to treasonous activity as well as say that the information that Amos has shared could be harmful to the King. So harmful in fact that what he is saying could incite violence against king.
This tells you a lot about the mind & heart of the king. He was devoted to the king rather than to God.
Why is it that a priest, whose role was to be minister to the people & present the people before God, saying that destruction of idols was an act of treason.
Wouldn’t the more appropriate thing for the priest to do would be to see if what Amos is sharing lines up with the Word of God?
This was the condition of the people of Israel. They were more preoccupied with the present state of Israel disregarding eternity. They were only concerned with ministering the way they saw fit instead of seeing if it lined up with God. When anything is put above God & His Word then they will not pass the plumbline test.
How Do You Measure Up?
12 Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there: 13 But prophesy not again any more at Beth-el: for it is the king’s chapel, and it is the king’s court.
The priest is essentially telling Amos to get away that he is only disturbing the people. Furthermore he tells Amos to refrain from sharing the Word of God that the King is the one in Charge. It is extremely important for you & I to understand that our direction & guidance in life comes from the Word of God. The opinions or word of men does not matter. If the priest could not grasp this concept, odds are the people who he was ministering to didn’t understand it either.
Conclusion:
How do you line up next to the plumbline?
Do you go to God’s Word to measure up or look to your own understanding?
8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.