Bible Pathway - Sept. 23, 2012

Highlights:

Woe pronounced upon sin; the grasshoppers, fire, plumbline, famine of God's Word; certainty of Israel's dispersion and Edom's destruction.

And the Lord said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of My people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more (Amos 7:8).

A plumbline is a line with a weight at one end. The mason (a craftsman who builds with stone or brick) uses a plumbline to make sure the walls are exactly vertical or upright as they lay the stones one upon the other.

The Lord stood upon a wall . . . with a plumbline in His hand (7:7). His purpose for standing on the wall was not to build it, but to announce its destruction. The wall had become so hopelessly off-center that destruction was the only solution (chap. 7 — 8). God will allow destruction sometimes so a greater work can be done. We heard Him say, I will destroy this Temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands (Mark 14:58).

The wall was a symbol of separation of the kingdom of Israel from the world, and His prophets were as a plumbline — proclaiming the message of Truth.

God's Word is our plumbline. It must be our guide to make sure our thoughts and ways are upright in God's sight. Just as a mason uses a plumbline to make sure the wall is truly upright, we as Christians must be just as precise in applying Bible truths to our lives. It is as if Christ Himself held the plumbline of His Word to measure the direction of our life. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Heb. 11:3).

It is God's Word that reveals to us when our lives are in disobedience to God and when we are in sin. Without the Word of God, there would be no absolute Truth in the world. It is almost like saying there would not be a ruler or tape measure. Life would end up being what you or I might think is right or wrong. Truth would be subjective to the speaker. How would you like to drive across a bridge built by a person who had no means of exact measurement? That is like life without God or His Word; soon the bridge will come crashing down.

Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven (Matt. 7:21).

Thought for Today:

God's Word is the only accurate “plumbline” for us, for it reveals life from His point of view.

Christ Revealed:

As the Plumbline (Amos 7:7-8). A plumb line is an instrument used in determining an absolutely straight vertical line. Being perfect, Christ alone is qualified to walk in the midst of His people, measuring and exposing good and bad, true and false (Rev. 2 & 3).

Word Studies:

Amos 6:8 excellency of Jacob, pride, arrogance (Jacob means all of Israel, including the palaces of Jerusalem and Samaria); 6:11 with breaches, into ruins; with clefts, into fragments; 6:13 horns by our own strength, pride over their accomplishments, military power (Deut. 33:17; I Kin. 22:11).

Prayer Needs:

Pray for International Broadcasts in honor of Debbi Belisle's birthday • Country: Turkmenistan (4.8 million) southwestern central Asia • Major languages: Turkmen and Russian • Religious freedom • 89% Muslim (largely Sunni); 9% Eastern Orthodox; 2% Unknown/Other (Catholic, Protestant, Baha'i, Jehovah's Witness, Hare Krishna) • Prayer Suggestion: Ask for boldness in telling others about the Lord (Ps. 119:46).

Memory Verse for the Week: James 1:12