Thus the Lord Jehovah showed me: and behold, a basket of summer fruit.

And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said Jehovah unto me, The end is come upon my people Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.

And the songs of the temple shall be wailings in that day, saith the Lord Jehovah: the dead bodies shall be many; in every place shall they cast them forth with silence.

Three separate visions had been shown the prophet concerning Israel’s future. Then there was an interruption as the chief priest of Bethel sought to persuade the prophet to leave. After Amos had answered Amaziah the visions continue.

The vision which he now sees differs from the former in several ways. The first two visions revealed unmistakable judgment. As a result, Amos pleads with his God that his people may be spared. The third vision was more innocent in appearance. In that vision he saw a man standing by a wall with a plumbline in his hand. This is not an instrument of destruction, but it is nevertheless disturbing. The plumbline will be used to see whether or not the wall is straight. Now the prophet sees something entirely different. He sees a basket of summer fruit. The 6rst vision spoke of spring, the second of mid-summer, and the fourth of the fall of the year. There is nothing disturbing in a vision of summer fruit. It is, in fact, evidence that the earth has brought forth abundantly. It is decidedly attractive.

         

           

All these visions give a picture of the house of Israel. Amos relates to the people at Bethel the things he has seen. Has the warning of Amaziah had this effect on the prophet that he now gives an ideal picture of Israel? Has he become afraid? Does he, in effect, now say: disregard the picture given in the former visions, because Israel is like a beautiful basket of ripe fruit? We know the prophet better than that! He will speak that which he “sees.” Even though the message may be very unpopular, Amos will speak all the words which Jehovah gives him to speak. His answer to Amaziah gave clear proof that he was not afraid of the criticism of this high “churchman.”

Amos now sees a very innocent looking vision—a basket of summer fruit. This looks both innocent and prosperous. That is the picture of Israel. Externally everything did look good. Israel’s prosperity has been noted before. When one looks at Israel he will notice nothing amiss. This vision, this illustration, pictures Israel exactly. When God chooses illustrations they are perfect!

The heart of the matter lies in the ripeness of the fruit which Amos sees. That fruit is not growing anymore; it is ripe and it is ready to be eaten. In the Hebrew there is a play on words. As this fruit is ripe, so also the people of Israel is ripe. Here they are spoken of as being ripe for destruction. The emphasis does not fall on the sin committed, but on the punishment for the sin. The prophet is given a vision of ripe fruit; so Israel is ripe for destruction. God has given his judgment. As a result, he will not pass by them anymore. It has been decided. There is no way by which Israel will escape punishment.

After the first two visions the prophet could plead for his people. After the third vision this is not permitted. He measured Israel with the plumbline. What will the verdict be? That verdict we now hear in this vision. These four visions, therefore, do not come with the same message. There is progress. This fourth vision, which appeared to be the most harmless and innocent, is in fact the most fearful. The punishment will come because Israel is ripe for it. The prophet must agree. No plea can be offered for a people that continues in sin despite all warnings.

Now that punishment will surely come on this people, what will be the nature of that punishment? Will they be left in the dark? God does deal with his people in that way at times. We have only to think of the third commandment as an example. However, it is clearly revealed to Amos what the punishment will be. The punishment will fit the crime. The people will be punished according to their doings. No one will be able to say that the punishment was too severe nor that it did not suffice. God is just. He maintains his justice regardless of circumstances. His grace does not overthrow his justice, neither does his justice make grace impossible. He brings the two into a beautiful harmony.

The songs in the temple at Bethel have been many. The people “enjoyed” their religion. They were very careful that all the forms of religion were observed. If the forms were observed then surely everything would be all right! God would look on them in favor. Besides this, they were so “grateful” to their God for all the blessings he had sent that they responded with music and offerings. But their fundamental error was made in the realm of their religion. It was offensive to the God whom they supposedly worshipped. This is the area in which the judgment will fall first. The songs of the temple will be changed into wailings. The people have looked longingly for “the day of Jehovah” (5:18). That is the day when their songs will be turned into wailings. This is not only Amos’ idea; this is the word which Jehovah himself has spoken. Silencing the prophets does not help. They only relate what God has spoken.

The prophet even tells us what the content of their wailing will be. It will be: “dead bodies…everywhere.” The prophet becomes very abrupt in his style. This is in keeping with the nature of the evil which will come. Songs become wailings. Nor does he speak of an indefinite “they,” but rather, “he shall cast them forth.” These are the dead bodies of those who have perhaps been slain by the pestilence.

At the conclusion of verse three he commnnds, “Silence!” When these calamities come, it will behoove them to be silent. This is not the kind of silence which roots in a superstitious fear of naming the name of Jehovah (6:10), but rather a reverent silence as Jehovah smites.

How different the “day of Jehovah” will be from what they had expected! Instead of singing songs, they will be dumb with mourning. This is the result of their failure to repent. Form-religion ruined them. It blinded their eyes to danger and finally slew them.

Question for discussion:

1. Should the message of the word ever be “toned down” if there are dangers that the word might offend? In how far can we subscribe to a “psychological approach”?

2. Are illustrations always helpful or can they also be harmful? Did the parables of Jesus clarify or obscure?

3. How does God harmonize justice and grace? Can we still speak of forgiveness when the debt is paid by Christ?

4. Why is “form religion” so dangerous? Is there danger of this evil today?