1. A basket of ripe fruit (1-8)

God showed Amos a basket of ripe fruit. The time had come to judge the quality of Israel's fruit. The fruit of their lives was bad. The needy and poor were cheated and mistreated by merchants. New moons and Sabbaths were superficially observed as people were only interested in dishonest gain. The Sovereign LORD would turn the songs of the temple into wailing. Bodies would be flung everywhere. God would not forget their evil.

2. A famine of God's word (9-13)

The day of judgment would be a day of darkness, mourning and bitterness as when one loses an only son. The people would search everywhere for a word of comfort from the LORD but none would be found. God would send a famine of his word. They had rejected Amos' message; God would reject them. The young would faint from this thirst. Those who had trusted in idols would never rise again.