Amos 7:1
Thus hath the Lord God shewed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king’s mowings.
Amos 7:1 (KJV)
Context
Amos 7:1 opens a series of five visions that God showed the prophet Amos (Amos 7:1–9; 8:1–3; 9:1–4). Amos ministered during the reign of Jeroboam II in the eighth century B.C. He was a shepherd and caretaker of sycamore-fig trees from Tekoa in Judah, yet God called him to prophesy to the northern kingdom of Israel. His message centered on God’s judgment against Israel for social injustice, idolatry, and moral corruption.
In this first vision, the Lord God showed Amos that He was forming grasshoppers (locusts) at a specific time: “in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth” and “after the king’s mowings.” In ancient Israel, the first growth of hay was harvested for the king (a form of taxation or tribute), and the latter growth was the crop that would feed the people and their flocks. The locusts were formed to devour this latter growth, threatening the people’s food supply and livelihood.
Meaning
The phrase “the Lord GOD shewed unto me” emphasizes that this is a divine revelation, not a human invention. The Hebrew word for “formed” (yatsar) is the same word used of a potter forming clay, underscoring God’s intentional, creative control over the judgment He brings. Locusts in the ancient Near East were a well-known destructive force, capable of devastating crops and causing famine. The vision is symbolic: God is sovereignly forming a judgment—represented by the locusts—against Israel.
The grasshoppers appeared at a critical time when the crops were growing, and the harvest was expected. The king’s mowings likely refer to the portion of the harvest that belonged to the king or the royal court. So, the grasshoppers appeared after the first cutting of the king’s harvest, at a crucial point in the growth of the crops, signifying that judgment was imminent and would impact the nation’s prosperity and sustenance.
Biblical connections
The vision sets the stage for Amos’s intercession in the following verse, where he pleads, “O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.” This reveals both the severity of the judgment and the prophet’s role as an intercessor for the people. Key doctrinal observations: God is sovereign over creation and history, using even destructive forces to accomplish His purposes. Judgment is real and can come upon God’s people when they persist in sin. Yet the book of Amos also shows that God is merciful and may relent when His people cry out.
Application
This vision serves as a warning to Israel, reminding them of the consequences they would face if they continued down the path of sin and social injustice. Through this image, God communicates His displeasure with the state of affairs in Israel and their need for repentance. Believers should recognize that God’s warnings are serious and should lead to repentance, not complacency. The vision also reminds us that God is at work even in difficult circumstances, and that intercessory prayer is a vital response to impending judgment.
Reflection
Amos 7:1 highlights the theme of divine judgment and the need for righteousness and repentance. It reminds us that God holds nations accountable for their actions and expects His people to live according to His standards of justice and righteousness.
