The God Pause from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Monday, 9 July 2018 - Amos 7:7-15

The God Pause from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Monday, 9 July 2018 - Amos 7:7-15
Amos 7:7 Then he showed me this: Adonai was standing by a wall made with a plumbline, and he had a plumbline in his hand. 8 Adonaiasked me, “‘Amos, what do you see?” I answered, “A plumbline.” Then Adonai said,
“I am going to put a plumbline in
among my people Isra’el;
I will never again overlook their offenses.
9 The high places of Yitz’chak will be desolate,
Isra’el’s sanctuaries will be destroyed,
and I will attack the house
of Yarov‘am with the sword.”
10 Then Amatzyah the priest of Beit-El sent this message to Yarov‘am king of Isra’el, “‘Amos is conspiring against you there among the people of Isra’el, and the land can’t bear all that he’s saying. 11 For ‘Amos says: ‘Yarov‘am will die by the sword, and Isra’el will be led away from their land into exile.’” 12 Amatzyah also said to ‘Amos, “Go away, seer! Go back to the land of Y’hudah! Earn your living there; and prophesy there; 13 but don’t prophesy any more at Beit-El; for this is the king’s sanctuary, a royal temple.”
14 ‘Amos gave this answer to Amatzyah: “I am not trained as a prophet, and I’m not one of the guild prophets — I own sheep and grow figs. 15 But Adonai took me away from following the flock, and Adonai said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Isra’el.’ (Complete Jewish Bible).
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Here in Minnesota, we had about two minutes of spring. From a massive April snowstorm to temperatures over 100 degrees in May, finding the weather that was "just right" was elusive. I felt bad for the weather forecasters and the message they had to deliver. Nobody wanted to hear it--especially when their predictions came true. Amaziah, the priest, doesn't want to hear Amos--can't you just go away! He complains about what Amos has to say, but it doesn't change the truth behind the message. God is calling Amos to speak truth about God's anger at injustice, even if those called to hear are reluctant. What challenging word is God speaking to you in this time and place?
Heavenly God, speak truth into our world and lead us to bring change when we encounter injustice. Amen.
John Klawiter, '12
Pastor, Faith Lutheran Church, Forest Lake, Minn.
Amos 7:7 This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand.
8 And the Lord said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A plumb line." Then the Lord said, "See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass them by;
9 the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword."
10 Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to King Jeroboam of Israel, saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the very center of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words.
11 For thus Amos has said, "Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile away from his land.' "
12 And Amaziah said to Amos, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there;
13 but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom."
14 Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees,
15 and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, "Go, prophesy to my people Israel.' (New Revised Standard Version).

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