1. A time ripe for judgment (1-6)

Amos' next vision was of a basket of ripe fruit. The time was ripe for judgment. The people had become so eager to make money that they were impatient for worship services to end. Merchants had developed many methods of cheating the poor. Creditors were eager to foreclose and make debtors slaves. Material ism had become their religion and money their god.

2. A famine of God's word (7-14)

God's judgment would come in the form of an earthquake accompanied by an eclipse (8,9). (Com pare Mt 27:45-54.) The most terrible consequence of materialism is the famine of God's word which it produces. Spiritually hungry people look for God's word and do not find it--because they look in the wrong places. They should look in the Bible, not in idol's temples, or in psychologists' offices, or in empty ritual.

Application: Lord, open our ears to hear your word and help us to share it with hungry people.
One Word: Share spiritual bread