Sheila W. - June 30, 2011
Scripture:
Amos 7:8 And the LORD asked me, "What do you see, Amos?" "A plumb line," I replied. Then the Lord said, "Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.
Observation:
God is telling the prophet Amos that He is "taking stock" of the people of Israel. A plumb line is used largely by masons and bricklayers to keep a wall straight and true. I've seen this done--the mason standing with a string dangline from his hand. At the bottom of the string is a plummet that will hold the string straight. After a wall is built, a builder can see if there might be bulges or bows in the wall, which would result in the builder having to tear the wall down to that point and rebuild. In Amos 7, God is saying that He's standing at the wall (the wall that He had built that initially was straight and true) and is now determining where the bulge or bow is. He will tear it down to that point and rebuild. However, it apparently is completely out of whack, because He says it will all be destroyed.
Application:
On a personal level, I want to be found straight and true, in complete alignment with You, God, and Your Word. I need to allow the Holy Spirit to convict me of my weaknesses (my bulges and bows) and help me to rebuild them in Christ. On a broader plain, as the 4th of July rolls around, I have reflected a lot on the foundation of our country and how far off course we've gotten. Surely God has gotten His plumb line out and found us wanting.
Prayer:
Father, have mercy on me if You have found me wanting. Forgive me for going my own way. And, God, please have mercy on our country. We've fallen so far from Your standard. Our wall is bowed and bent; help us, Father, to rebuild. Show us our failings and forgive us of our sins, of burying our head in the sand instead of speaking out against laws that go against You. Forgive us. Heal us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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