They weren't new marching orders. What Amos got was a clear image of just how bad things were and he was to "go and tell." In chapter 7, God put a plumb line up against his people. He said to Amos "Here is the line, and the people are not meeting the rules. They are not living the way I told them to." That was a clear picture for Amos – clear enough that he went out and began saying "You are not meeting God's requirements. You haven't been and don't want to play by the rules, so you don't…

I remember watching those poker tournaments on TV and the movies, where they got to the point of making their last bet. They thought they had the cards to win, and so the slid all their money across the table as their bet and said "All In!" That meant they did not have anything else and that they were willing to risk all that they had because of what they believed at that moment. On the TV tournaments, you can see the supposed anguish on the faces of the players (gamblers). Many turn away totally disappointed and saddened. It's interesting…

Amos has the message down. Actually, it is more that he has "being a messenger" down. Not only down, the words just roll. Having marked the end of my reading yesterday, I just had to go back to chapter 4 and read it again, and from there, on through the end of chapter seven. It's like looking in an historical mirror. Compare today to then. Better yet, compare then to now! Amos, speaking for the Lord God Almighty lays down some very heavy stuff for his listeners. It's surprising [more]that he has made it to chapter four. Anyone today who…