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.”

Context:Amos 7:1 is part of the prophetic book of Amos in the Old Testament. The book of Amos contains the prophecies of the prophet Amos, who was a shepherd and a fig tree farmer called by God to deliver His message to the northern kingdom of Israel. Amos primarily delivered God’s judgment against Israel for their sins and their social injustices.

In Amos 7:1, the prophet begins his vision by stating that the Lord God had shown him something. The vision involves the formation of grasshoppers or locusts. It’s important to note that in biblical times, locusts were considered a destructive force, capable of causing widespread devastation to crops and vegetation. Locust swarms were seen as a divine judgment or a consequence of human disobedience to God’s laws.

The phrase “in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth” refers to the time when the crops were in the early stages of growth, specifically after the king’s mowings. This suggests that the grasshoppers appeared after the first cutting of the king’s harvest. 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 at a critical time when the crops were growing, and the harvest was expected.

From a symbolic perspective, this vision of grasshoppers can represent God’s impending judgment upon Israel. The destructive power of the locusts reflects the devastating consequences of Israel’s disobedience and their failure to uphold justice and righteousness. The grasshoppers’ arrival at a crucial point in the growth of the crops signifies that judgment was imminent and would impact the nation’s prosperity and sustenance.

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.

Overall, 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.