Amos 7:7-8, "Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the LORD stood upon a wall made by a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumb line. Then said the LORD, Behold, I will set a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more."

Two years before the great earthquake God sent a shepherd by the name of Amos from the southern city of Tekoa to prophesy to the nation of Israel in Samaria. The nation of Israel was separated, divided between north and south. The northern part of Israel served false gods in Bethel. Jeroboam II, following in the footsteps of his father Jeroboam, continued to cause Israel to sin.

Amos spoke the word of the Lord with boldness, his visions were not what they wanted to hear. Because of their transgressions God would remove Israel from His sight. The land would tremble and the days would come that there would be a famine in the land. Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. In approximately 722 B.C. the northern nation of Israel was taken into captivity to Assyria.

Amos 9:13-14, "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them."

Israel forgot that God will not be mocked, He will not give His glory to another. Although the book of Amos contains a vision of the wrath of God it also reveals that if we cry out to God and ask for His mercy He can be moved to compassion. It is only when we forget the Lord's compassion, stop serving Him, and refuse to show compassion to others which stirs His anger.

The book of Amos reveals an omniscient God Who knows our hearts and sees all that we do. When we choose to disobey His word His punishment is great but He will never leave us nor forsake us. His word promises restoration to all those who turn their hearts to Him. He is merciful, and gracious, slow to anger and plentiful in mercy. He will not always contend with us neither will He keep His anger forever. As high as the heaven is above us so great is our Father's love for us and His mercy toward them who fear Him.