God showed three visions of judgment on Israel to Amos. In the first vision, a swarm of locusts stripped the land so clean Amos cried out, “Sovereign Lord, forgive! How can Jacob survive?” The Lord relented The second vision was of a great fire that swept over the land, devastating the whole nation, drying up the deep and destroying the land. Again, Amos cried out for mercy from God, saying Jacob could not survive such judgment. And again, the Lord relented. God makes clear that he judges sin surely and completely. We can but repent and pray for God’s mercy on us.

Then God sent a third vision to Amos. This was of a plumb line. A plumb line is a tool used to check the straightness of a wall. God used the plumb line to measure the “straightness” of Israel, and they were found wanting. They were not straight with God, but crooked. So, he would judge them. He would not relent this time, but would destroy their high places, ruin their sanctuaries, and send the sword against the house of their king. God is looking for straight walls, true to plumb. We can be true to plumb when we repent our sins and come to our Lord Jesus.
Application: Father, without Jesus, we are bent and broken. We cannot hope to measure up to your plumb. Thank you that because of Jesus, we are straightened.
One Word: Crooked, but straightened by the Lord