9
I saw the Lord standing next to the altar in the temple. He said to me, ‘Strike the tops of the temple pillars.
Then the heavy stones at the base of the entrance will shake.
Bring everything down on the heads of everyone there.
I will kill with my swords
those who are left alive.
None of the Israelites will escape.
None will get away.
2 They might dig down deep.
But my powerful hand will take them out of there.
They might climb up to the heavens.
But I will bring them down from there.
3 They might hide on top of Mount Carmel.
But I will hunt them down
and grab them.
They might hide from me at the bottom of the ocean.
But even there I will command the snake to bite them.
4 Their enemies might take them away
as prisoners to another country.
But there I will command Israel's enemies
to cut them down with swords.
I will keep my eye on Israel to harm them.
I will not help them.’
5 The Lord rules over all.
The Lord touches the earth, and it melts.
Everyone who lives in it mourns.
The whole land rises like the River Nile.
Then it settles back down again
like that river in Egypt.
6 The Lord builds his palace high in the heavens.
He lays its foundation on the earth.
He sends for the waters in the clouds.
Then he pours them out on the surface of the land.
His name is the Lord.
7 ‘You Israelites are just like
the people of Cush to me,’
announces the Lord.
‘I brought Israel up from Egypt.
I also brought the Philistines from Crete
and the Arameans from Kir.
8 ‘I am the Lord and King.
My eyes are watching the sinful kingdom of Israel.
I will wipe it off the face of the earth.
But I will not totally destroy the people of Jacob,’
announces the Lord.
9 ‘I will give an order.
I will shake the people of Israel
among all the nations.
They will be like corn that is shaken through a screen.
Not a pebble will fall to the ground.
10 All the sinners among my people
will be killed by swords.
They say, “Nothing bad will ever happen to us.”
11 ‘The time will come when I will set up
David's fallen shelter.
I will repair its broken walls.
I will rebuild what was destroyed.
I will make it what it used to be.
12 Then my people will take control of those
who are left alive in Edom.
They will also possess all the nations
that belong to me,’
announces the Lord.
He will do all these things.
13 ‘The days are coming,’ announces the Lord.
‘At that time those who plough the land
will catch up with those who harvest the crops.
Those who tread grapes
will catch up with those who plant the vines.
Fresh wine will drip from the mountains.
It will flow down from all the hills.
14 I will bring my people Israel back home.
I will bless them with great success again.
They will rebuild the destroyed cities and live in them.
They will plant vineyards and drink the wine they produce.
They will make gardens and eat their fruit.
15 I will plant Israel in their own land.
They will never again be removed
from the land I have given them,’
says the Lord your God.
7:1–9:15 God gave Amos four visions about bringing judgement against Jacob's people. After the first two visions, Amos prayed and asked God to forgive his people. God had mercy and pity and decided not to destroy them. But that didn't happen after the third and fourth visions. After those visions God said that he would no longer spare his people. This meant that God would stop the northern kingdom's evil deeds. He would stop them by bringing judgement against his people. The places where they worshipped false gods would be destroyed. The king and his family would be killed. The people would be forced to leave their land and to live in exile. This was the worst of the covenant curses. Amos kept announcing this message even when a priest in Bethel tried to stop him. Amos had said that this judgement would come on the day of the Lord. Amos used apocalyptic writing to describe that time of judgement. For the northern kingdom, the day of the Lord came in 722 BC. Amos' prophecies came true when Assyria took control of the northern kingdom. Amos offered one message of hope. God promised that he wouldn't destroy all the people of the northern kingdom. He promised to set up David's fallen shelter. This was a way of talking about God's covenant with David. It meant that someone from David's family line would once again rule as king. People from Edom and all nations would be part of God's people. God's people would enjoy the covenant blessings. Jews came to understand this message of hope as a prophecy about the messiah. New Testament writers came to understand that Jesus is the Messiah.