Justin Houtz

Hi. I’m Justin. I write code and things but enough about that…

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  • Daily Bible Study

    Amos 7-9; Psalm 104; Titus 2

    DateVersionReading Plan
    June 30, 2026ESV (2016)ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026

    Amos 7-9

    Observation & Interpretation

    Amos shared what the LORD God showed him, that the LORD was forming locusts (Amos 7:1). When they had finished eating the grass of the land, Amos asked for the LORD’s forgiveness (Amos 7:2-3). The LORD showed Amos that He was calling a judgment by fire (Amos 7:4). Amos pleaded for the LORD to cease and the LORD relented (Amos 7:5). The LORD showed Amos a plumb line and that He was setting plumb line in the midst of His people Israel (Amos 7:7-8). The high places of Isaac would be made desolate and He would rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword (Amos 7:9).

    Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, told Jeroboam, king of Israel, that Amos had conspired against him and told him what Amos had said (Amos 7:10-11). Amaziah told Amos to flee to the land of Judah, to eat and prophesy there (Amos 7:12). Amos answer Amaziah with explanation, that he was not prophet nor a prophet’s son, but a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs (Amos 7:14). However, the LORD took him from following the flock and told him to prophesy to Israel (Amos 7:15). Amos spoke to Amaziah the word of the LORD and “of the fearful doom which would come upon him, his wife, his sons and daughters, and his land.” (BBC).

    Amos recounted what the LORD had showed him, a basket of summer fruit (Amos 8:1-2). The LORD told Amos that the end had come to God’s people Israel and that their songs of the temple shall become wailings that day (Amos 8:2-3). God through Amos spoke to those who trample on the needy who asked when the new moon would be over that they may sell grain, deal deceitfully and buy the poor for silver and sandals (Amos 8:4-6). The LORD through Amos said that He would never forget any of their deeds and that he would “Lord will punish the land with fearful earthquakes. Darkness will cover the earth during the day, and mourning will visit every house. People will long to hear the word of the Lord, but it will be withheld from them. Famine and drought (of God’s word) will prevail.” (BBC) (Amos 8:7-12). Those who swear falsely shall fall and never rise again (Amos 8:14).

    Amos saw the LORD standing by the altar and reported what He said. The LORD ordered to strike the capitals until the thresholds shook and shatter them on the heads of all the people. The LORD would kill all who are left with the sword and not one shall flee or escape (Amos 9:1). The LORD would find all who try to flee or hide and He would take them and command the serpent to bite them (Amos 9:3). If they went into captivity before their enemies, the LORD would take them, fixing His eyes on them for evil and not for good (Amos 9:4). Amos describes the greatness of the LORD, that He is the One who touches the earth and it melts, who builds the upper chambers in the heavens, who calls for the waters of the seas and pours them out upon the surface of the earth—the LORD is His name (Amos 9:6). The LORD spoke through Amos that His eyes were on the sinful kingdom and would destroy it from the surface of the ground, except He will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob (Amos 9:8). The LORD would command and shake the house of Israel among the nations but no pebble shall fall to the earth (Amos 9:9). “Although most would be destroyed, those found worthy by the Almighty would be spared.” (BBC). In that day, the LORD would raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations are called by His name (Amos 9:12). The LORD through Amos declared that the days are coming when the plowmen shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes who sows his seed (Amos 8:13). The LORD would restore the fortunes of His people Israel, they shall rebuild their ruined cities and inhabit them (Amos 9:14). The LORD would plant them in their land and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land He had given them (Amos 9:15)

    Application

    These chapters are rife with the wickedness of man, God’s righteous justice and His abounding love and grace made manifest in the promised restoration of His people. We all have gone astray, rebellious against a holy and righteous God, and yet He has chosen to magnify His glory through the redemption of His people. May it be for the saints that it never fades in profundity the amazing grace of our LORD God Jesus Christ.

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