Amos 7:7-9

The vision of the plumb line -- Amos 7:7-9: The third vision was that of the Lord Himself standing on a wall with a plumb line in His hand. The plumb line had been used to measure the straightness of the wall. The Lord is longsuffering but now His patience has been exhausted. God had extended mercy to Israel over and over again. Yet, they would always go right back to their past sins. He is now passing His strict judgment on a people that had been blessed with many opportunities to get right with their Maker.

This vision takes on a little different nature than the first two. Here God asked, "Amos, what do you see?" The Lord was using the plumb line or measuring line to show that His people Israel did not measure up and that He would not forgive them any more. God would no longer be lenient with His unfaithful people. He could no longer overlook their sins. Now they would face severe punishment. The high places used for idolatrous worship would be destroyed. God would "send war against the nation of King Jeroboam." God used the names of Joseph, Jacob and Isaac with reference to the nation of Israel. The nation simply should have done better. Sadly, they had followed Jeroboam to destruction and ruin.