04/23/2014 DEALING WITH FRUIT
AMOS 8:1-2 Thus THE LORD GOD showed me: behold, a basket of summer fruit. And he said, "Amos, what do you see?" And I said, "A basket of summer fruit." [Revised Standard translation] Then the Lord said, "This fruit represents my people Israel—ripe for punishment." [Living Bible Translation]
Summary
The book of Amos is a book about prophetic justice and judgment. Amos was a prophet---a spokesperson for GOD, predicting and foretelling GOD's plan for the people, including GOD's plan to judge and punish Israel for their sin. GOD was going to punish Israel because the people had disobeyed GOD. They had broken covenant with GOD by repeatedly worshipping idols. The wealthy elite were becoming rich at the expense of the poor, stealing even their "smallest crumbs" with taxes, fines and unjust interest rates. There was rampant corruption and social injustice everywhere, even in the courts. Individual pride, the lust for power and self-interest were more important to the people than GOD or righteousness.