Amos is prophesying against Israel saying that they will go into exile. They will eventually do just that. But even though he is prophesying exile, he is still praying for Israel and begging the Lord’s forgiveness.

The Lord listens.

The Lord’s plan, His overall redemptive plan is not going to be thwarted. His word will not fail; they will go into exile. But the judgment right now can be turned back. There can be a pause.

Kings pray and the Lord says the disaster will still come, but not during your reign. There is a reprieve, but the Lord’s purposes stand.

Pray for your nation. Confess for your nation, your family, your group of people you pray for and ask for mercy. God is merciful.

I did a lesson on the first verse of this chapter in a “By Way of Reminder” video, but I’ll share the idea of that lesson here.

Here’s the verse in the NKJV, which I’m more familiar with. I had used the NLT in the video. “He formed locust swarms at the beginning of the late crop; indeed it was the late crop after the king’s mowings.”

It struck me that the king had his mowings, his chopping down of the crop before the locusts came.

The locusts can’t destroy the king’s portion.

He will have what He chooses. No natural disaster is going to wipe out the king’s portion. His children aren’t subject to such things. We live in the high places above it all.

He’s not lashing out with punishment and not remembering His children. He will make sure they are taken care of. God is a God of self-control. He acts purposefully and with care, even when He’s tearing things down.

We can trust our God in all things. He cares for us. Thousands may fall at our right hand and at our left, but it will not come near our tent. Our good Father cares for us.