"Amos, what do you see?" He asked. "A basket of summer fruit," I replied. So the LORD said to me, "The end has come for My people Israel; I will no longer spare them." And He saidThis phrase indicates a direct communication from God to the prophet Amos. In the Hebrew text, the word for "said" is "אָמַר" (amar), which is often used to denote divine speech. This highlights the authority and seriousness of the message being conveyed. In the context of the prophetic tradition, such direct communication underscores the role of the prophet as a mouthpiece for God, emphasizing the importance of the message that follows. What do you see, Amos?
God's question to Amos invites the prophet to engage with a vision. The Hebrew word for "see" is "רָאָה" (ra'ah), which implies not just physical sight but also spiritual insight. This question is a common prophetic motif, where God uses visions to reveal deeper truths. It challenges Amos to perceive beyond the physical appearance of the vision, preparing him to understand and convey God's impending judgment. I replied, 'A basket of ripe fruit.'
Amos's response indicates his immediate perception of the vision. The Hebrew term for "basket" is "כְּלוּב" (kelub), and "ripe fruit" is "קַיִץ" (qayitz). The wordplay between "qayitz" (ripe fruit) and "קֵץ" (qetz), meaning "end," is significant. This linguistic connection suggests that just as the fruit is ready to be consumed, so is Israel ready for judgment. The imagery of ripe fruit symbolizes the culmination of Israel's iniquity, ripe for divine retribution. Then the LORD said to me
This phrase marks the transition from vision to interpretation. The use of "LORD" (יהוה, YHWH) emphasizes the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. It is a reminder of God's sovereignty and His right to judge His people. The direct address to Amos signifies the personal nature of the prophetic message and the responsibility placed upon him to deliver it. The time is ripe for My people Israel
Here, the metaphor of ripeness is extended to signify the fullness of time for judgment. The Hebrew word for "ripe" (קֵץ, qetz) is a play on words with "qayitz" (ripe fruit), reinforcing the inevitability of the coming judgment. "My people Israel" reflects God's chosen relationship with Israel, highlighting the tragedy of their impending punishment due to their failure to uphold the covenant. I will no longer spare them
This declaration is a solemn pronouncement of judgment. The Hebrew root for "spare" is "עָבַר" (abar), meaning to pass over or forgive. God's decision to no longer "pass over" their sins indicates a finality in His judgment. This phrase underscores the seriousness of Israel's sin and the justice of God, who, after extended patience and warnings, must now act in righteousness. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of persistent disobedience and the holiness of God. Persons / Places / Events 1. AmosA prophet from Tekoa, called by God to deliver messages of judgment and repentance to Israel. 2. IsraelThe Northern Kingdom, which had turned away from God, engaging in idolatry and social injustice. 3. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant God of Israel, who communicates His judgment through visions to Amos. 4. Basket of Summer FruitA symbol in Amos's vision representing the imminent end for Israel, as summer fruit is ripe and soon to perish. 5. JudgmentThe event foretold by God, indicating the end of His patience with Israel's persistent sin. Teaching Points Symbolism of Ripe FruitThe basket of summer fruit symbolizes the ripeness of Israel's sin and the immediacy of God's judgment. Just as ripe fruit is ready to be consumed, Israel is ready for judgment. God's Patience and JudgmentGod's patience has limits. The vision signifies that Israel's time for repentance has passed, and judgment is imminent. This serves as a warning to remain vigilant in our faith and obedience. Call to RepentanceThe vision is a call to self-examination. Are there areas in our lives where we are ripe for judgment due to unrepentant sin? We must seek God's forgiveness and change our ways. Social Justice and RighteousnessIsrael's judgment was partly due to social injustice. As Christians, we are called to uphold justice and righteousness in our communities, reflecting God's character. The Certainty of God's WordGod's pronouncement through Amos reminds us of the certainty and truth of His Word. We can trust that what God says will come to pass, both in judgment and in promises of salvation. Bible Study Questions 1. What does the vision of the basket of summer fruit reveal about the state of Israel at the time of Amos's prophecy? 2. How does the imagery of ripe fruit in Amos 8:2 relate to the concept of spiritual readiness or unreadiness in our own lives? 3. In what ways can we see parallels between the social injustices condemned in Amos and issues in our society today? 4. How can we apply the lesson of God's limited patience to our personal walk with Him, ensuring we remain in His favor? 5. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's patience and eventual discipline. How did it shape your understanding of His character and your relationship with Him? Connections to Other Scriptures Jeremiah 24The vision of good and bad figs, symbolizing the fate of those who obey or disobey God, parallels the imagery of ripe fruit in Amos. Isaiah 5The vineyard parable, where God expects justice but finds bloodshed, connects to the theme of Israel's failure to produce righteous fruit. Matthew 21Jesus' parable of the tenants, where the fruit of the vineyard is not given to the owner, reflects Israel's failure to honor God. Revelation 14The harvest of the earth, where ripe grapes are gathered for judgment, echoes the imagery of ripe fruit signaling the end. People Amos, Dan, Ephah, JacobPlaces Bethel, Egypt, Nile RiverTopics Add, Amos, Basket, Fruit, Longer, Pardon, Pass, Ripe, Seeing, Seest, Shut, Sin, Spare, Summer, Summer-fruitDictionary of Bible Themes Amos 8:1-2 1431 prophecy, OT methods Library Ripe for Gathering
'Thus hath the Lord God shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit. 2. And He said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the Lord unto me, The end is come upon My people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more. 3. And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord God: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence. 4. Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThoughts Upon Worldly Riches. Sect. I.
HE that seriously considers the Constitution of the Christian Religion, observing the Excellency of its Doctrines, the Clearness of its Precepts, the Severity of its Threatnings, together with the Faithfulness of its Promises, and the Certainty of its Principles to trust to; such a one may justly be astonished, and admire what should be the reason that they who profess this not only the most excellent, but only true Religion in the World, should notwithstanding be generally as wicked, debauched and …
William Beveridge—Private Thoughts Upon a Christian Life Jesus Raises the Widow's Son.
(at Nain in Galilee.) ^C Luke VII. 11-17. ^c 11 And it came to pass soon afterwards [many ancient authorities read on the next day], that he went into a city called Nain; and his disciples went with him, and a great multitude. [We find that Jesus had been thronged with multitudes pretty continuously since the choosing of his twelve apostles. Nain lies on the northern slope of the mountain, which the Crusaders called Little Hermon, between twenty and twenty-five miles south of Capernaum, and about …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Second Coming of Christ.
^A Matt. XXIV. 29-51; ^B Mark XIII. 24-37; ^C Luke XXI. 25-36. ^b 24 But in those days, ^a immediately after the { ^b that} ^a tribulation of those days. [Since the coming of Christ did not follow close upon the destruction of Jerusalem, the word "immediately" used by Matthew is somewhat puzzling. There are, however, three ways in which it may be explained: 1. That Jesus reckons the time after his own divine, and not after our human, fashion. Viewing the word in this light, the passage at II. Pet. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Scriptural Predictions of an Apostasy.
Who has not wondered, as they read of the Savior's and the apostles' warnings of "false teachers," grievous wolves, delusive powers, and deceptive lights, what it all could mean? These things certainly are not without meaning. Jesus says, "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they …
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day A Serious Persuasive to Such a Method of Spending Our Days as is Represented in the Former Chapter.
1, 2. Christians fix their views too low, and indulge too indolent a disposition, which makes it more necessary to urge such a life as that under consideration.--3. It is therefore enforced, from its being apparently reasonable, considering ourselves as the creatures of God, and as redeemed by the blond of Christ.--4. From its evident tendency to conduce to our comfort in life.--5. From the influence it will have to promote our usefulness to others.--6. From its efficacy to make afflictions lighter.--7. …
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul The Evening Light
This chapter is an article written by the author many years after she had received light on the unity of the church. It will acquaint the reader with what is meant by the expression "evening light." "At evening time it shall be light." "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: but it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light" (Zechariah 14:6,7). The expression …
Mary Cole—Trials and Triumphs of Faith Second Great Group of Parables.
(Probably in Peræa.) Subdivision D. Parable of the Lost Son. ^C Luke XV. 11-32. ^c 11 And he said, A certain man had two sons [These two sons represent the professedly religious (the elder) and the openly irreligious (the younger). They have special reference to the two parties found in the first two verses of this chapter --the Pharisees, the publicans and sinners]: 12 and the younger of them [the more childish and easily deceived] said to his father, Father, give me the portion of thy substance …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Figurative Language of Scripture.
1. When the psalmist says: "The Lord God is a sun and shield" (Psa. 84:11), he means that God is to all his creatures the source of life and blessedness, and their almighty protector; but this meaning he conveys under the figure of a sun and a shield. When, again, the apostle James says that Moses is read in the synagogues every Sabbath-day (Acts 15:21), he signifies the writings of Moses under the figure of his name. In these examples the figure lies in particular words. But it may be embodied …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible Concerning Christian Liberty
CHRISTIAN faith has appeared to many an easy thing; nay, not a few even reckon it among the social virtues, as it were; and this they do, because they have not made proof of it experimentally, and have never tasted of what efficacy it is. For it is not possible for any man to write well about it, or to understand well what is rightly written, who has not at some time tasted of its spirit, under the pressure of tribulation. While he who has tasted of it, even to a very small extent, can never write, …
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation Concerning Christian Liberty
Christian faith has appeared to many an easy thing; nay, not a few even reckon it among the social virtues, as it were; and this they do because they have not made proof of it experimentally, and have never tasted of what efficacy it is. For it is not possible for any man to write well about it, or to understand well what is rightly written, who has not at some time tasted of its spirit, under the pressure of tribulation; while he who has tasted of it, even to a very small extent, can never write, …
Martin Luther—Concerning Christian Liberty The Eighth Commandment
Thou shalt not steal.' Exod 20: 15. AS the holiness of God sets him against uncleanness, in the command Thou shalt not commit adultery;' so the justice of God sets him against rapine and robbery, in the command, Thou shalt not steal.' The thing forbidden in this commandment, is meddling with another man's property. The civil lawyers define furtum, stealth or theft to be the laying hands unjustly on that which is another's;' the invading another's right. I. The causes of theft. [1] The internal causes …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments This Doctrine Confirmed by Proofs from Scripture.
1. Some imagine that God elects or reprobates according to a foreknowledge of merit. Others make it a charge against God that he elects some and passes by others. Both refuted, 1. By invincible arguments; 2. By the testimony of Augustine. 2. Who are elected, when, in whom, to what, for what reason. 3. The reason is the good pleasure of God, which so reigns in election that no works, either past or future, are taken into consideration. This proved by notable declarations of one Savior and passages …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion Of the Incapacity of an Unregenerate Person for Relishing the Enjoyments of the Heavenly World.
John iii. 3. John iii. 3. --Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God. IN order to demonstrate the necessity of regeneration, of which I would fain convince not only your understandings, but your consciences, I am now proving to you, that without it, it is impossible to enter into the kingdom of God; and how weighty a consideration that is I am afterwards to represent. That it is thus impossible, the words in the text do indeed sufficiently prove: but for the further illustration …
Philip Doddridge—Practical Discourses on Regeneration Links Amos 8:2 NIVAmos 8:2 NLTAmos 8:2 ESVAmos 8:2 NASBAmos 8:2 KJV
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