The Plumb Line (2)
Amos 7:7-17
We are talking about a Plumb line, an instrument that builders
use as a vertical reference line so they can build a wall that is a real
vertical. No one likes to live in a
house where the walls are not built with a plumb line. No one will buy a house built without correct
measurements. Yet, when we look at our
lives, we don’t want to have any “plumb lines”. We live in a society where everything is
“relative”. In fact, they encourage us
to be like that. We do not want any “judgment” from any one.
While I was preparing my
sermon, I took a break and I turned on the TV for short time. It was showing “The View” program. Four women were
interviewing a celebrity. She apparently plays the role of a “shrink” in a TV series.
They asked her if she believe in
visiting the “shrink” in real life.
She said, “Why not, we all
need a place to go to talk from our heart, as long as the other side does
not tell us what to do, as long as there is no judgment; it will be great to hear ourselves, and solve
our problems by hearing ourselves.” It
was interesting that the four women who were sitting with her were agreeing
with her. I said in my heart, “This is our new ‘gospel’ to the people of the
There is nothing wrong in visiting
a counselor, a psychologist, a “shrink”, and they can help to a certain level.
Yet, the real help and change comes when one allows God to
transform his/her life. This program suddenly
hit me. We don’t want to have a “plumb
line” in the midst of our lives. Why, because
a plumb line shows us our “sins” and we do not like that.
A Plumb line never goes
wrong. As long as there is gravity, the
plumb line will always stand a straight and firm vertical and show how accurate
is the “wall.”
What is our “plumb line”? The
Word of God is our “plumb line”. Too bad that the world does
not accept to Word of God as a guide.
Listen carefully the verse
7:8, “Look, I am setting a plumb line among
my people
Listen how Paul instructed the Colossian church:
15He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over
all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth,
visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all
things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all
things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning
and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the
supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself
all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace
through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:15-20)
Who was Amos?
He was not from a high society.
He was not from the Levites or a priest. He was a simple shepherd. He was from
Tekoa, from south.
Speaking of shepherds, please
notice that it is the lowest job that one can have. The Egyptians hated this
job. And when Joseph brought his brothers from the
- “The Lord is my shepherd” (psalm
23)
- King David was a shepherd
- The Prophet Amos was a
shepherd.
- The shepherds were the
first ones who received the good news of the birth of the Messiah.
Yet, the priest Amaziah
did not like this “shepherd –prophet.” He was challenged by the Prophet Amos.
Amaziah was comfortable with his status quo. “Do not stir things,” was his
motto. “Who is this boy who came from
the south telling us in the north how to live our lives?”
Amaziah was very impolite. He
commanded Amos to leave this place and go back where he came from. “Get out,
you seer! (fortune
teller, that is an insult) Go back to the
Amos’ answer is a great one. Amos is very simple yet to
the point.
“I was neither a prophet nor
a prophet’s son, but I was shepherd, and I also care of sycamore-fig trees. But
the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, “Go, prophesy to my people
Amos is very clear. He did
not choose this “career”. He is just simple shepherd. Yet God chose him. It
does not say why. I find that God chose the humble. It seems he was a man who
kept God’s commandments. It seems he was a trustworthy man.
-When I look at how Jesus
chose the twelve, I see he chose all kinds of people, from fishermen all the
way to tax collectors.
-God chose another shepherd
called David.
-God chose a spoiled child
like Joseph to serve Him.
-We are all called to be servants
of God. God chose you and me to be His servants. We are messengers of God’s Word.
I feel sad when I do not see
that we as believers are hesitant to represent Christ in the world. Believers
of Jesus Christ are all called to be “priests”. We do have a responsibility to
represent Christ. One of the reasons why many people are not want to become Christians is that we have not been faithful ambassadors
of Christ.
-I was reading in the Daily
Bread how the business world prints and sends out millions of catalogues about
everything to remind us to buy things.
We are God’s catalogues. People will see our lives. We represent Jesus in the
market, in the school, everywhere. Amos
was bold and he represented God. When the priest did not like his message, he
did not give up. He continued representing God in the midst of these people.
Who is Amaziah?
He represented the religious
authority. He did not like the message. Isn’t it ironic that the man of God did
not like the prophecy that came from God? In fact, instead of embracing the
message and repenting, he wanted to dismiss the message.
In Chapter 5:21-22 listen how
God disapproved the style of the religious ceremonies:
“I hate and despise your
religious feasts;
I cannot stand your
assemblies.
Even though you bring me
burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice
fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for
them.
Away with the noise of your
songs!
I will not listen to the music
of your harps.”
All these sacrifices, the music and the offerings, mean
nothing. God wants real repentance.
Who does Amaziah represent?
Us. We the church. Me the pastor. If I compromise the message, if I do not
preach the Word of God, if the church does not act like the
If we, the church do not walk
with the Lord, God will give His message to ones who are ready to take it. God
is fed up with “religious” rituals.
Do we rob the poor?
Are we seeking justice?
Are we walking with the Lord?
Do we obey His commandments?
Do we declare God as our Lord
and Savior?
Is He real in our lives?
Do we treat the “weak and the
poor” with honor and justice?
I cannot answer these
questions. These questions should go with you. I pray that we will be like Amos,
a simple shepherd who is ready to be used for God’s glory.
Let me give an illustration:
A man used to walk to work
every morning. Just before entering the large factory where he worked, he
stopped by the nearby watchmaker, looked at the clocks and adjusted his watch.
One morning the watchmaker came out and asked him, “Why do you do this every
morning?” The man answered, “I ring the bell of the factory and thousands of
workers start work or stop working according to that bell.”
“Oh,” the watchmaker replies,
“I wait for the factory bell every morning to adjust all my clocks
accordingly!”
Where is the Plumb Line in
your life? How often you read His Word
and obey His commandments?
One day we will face our Creator.
We are responsible in the way we live our lives.
Turn to God through Jesus
Christ our Lord and Savior.
Amen