The Army of Locusts
(Amos 7:1–9)
Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; Jol 1:15Jol 2:151Pe 4:7Mal 4:1Jol 3:17Zep 1:141Th 5:2Jer 5:22
sound the alarm on My holy mountain!
Let all who dwell in the land tremble,
for the Day of the LORD is coming;
indeed, it is near—
a day of darkness and gloom, Jol 1:6Zep 1:14-15Amo 5:18-20Jol 2:10-11Jol 2:5Jol 2:25Dan 12:1Exo 10:6
a day of clouds and blackness.
Like the dawn overspreading the mountains
a great and strong army appears,
such as never was of old,
nor will ever be in ages to come.
Before them a fire devours, Isa 51:3Gen 2:8Jol 1:19-20Zec 7:14Amo 7:4Psa 50:3Exo 10:15Exo 10:5
and behind them a flame scorches.
The land before them is like the Garden of Eden,
but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland—
surely nothing will escape them.
Their appearance is like that of horses, Rev 9:7
and they gallop like swift steeds. 1
With a sound like that of chariots Isa 5:24Rev 9:9Isa 30:30Mat 3:12Nam 2:3-4Nam 3:2-3
they bound over the mountaintops,
like the crackling of fire consuming stubble,
like a mighty army deployed for battle.
Nations writhe in horror before them; Nam 2:10Isa 13:8Jer 30:6Lam 4:8Jer 8:21Psa 119:83
every face turns pale.
They charge like mighty men; Pro 30:272Sa 1:232Sa 2:18-192Sa 5:8Isa 5:26-29Jer 5:10Jol 2:9Psa 19:5
they scale the walls like men of war.
Each one marches in formation,
not swerving from the course.
They do not jostle one another; 2Ch 23:102Ch 32:5Job 33:18Neh 4:23Job 36:12Neh 4:17Sng 4:13
each proceeds in his path.
They burst through the defenses,
never breaking ranks.
They storm the city; Jer 9:21Jhn 10:1Exo 10:6
they run along the wall;
they climb into houses,
entering through windows like thieves.
Before them the earth quakes; Mat 24:29Isa 13:10Jol 3:15-16Psa 18:7Act 2:20Ezk 32:7-8Mrk 13:24-25Jer 4:23
the heavens tremble.
The sun and moon grow dark,
and the stars lose their brightness.
The LORD raises His voice Mal 3:2Nam 1:6Jer 30:7Jol 3:16Psa 46:6Rev 18:8Rev 6:17Amo 5:20
in the presence of His army.
Indeed, His camp is very large,
for mighty are those who obey His command.
For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful.
Who can endure it?
Return with All Your Heart
“Yet even now,” Jas 4:8-9Isa 55:6-72Ch 7:13-14Hos 12:6Jer 29:12-13Jer 4:1Hos 6:1Deu 4:29-30
declares the LORD,
“return to Me with all your heart,
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”
So rend your hearts and not your garments, Psa 86:15Psa 34:18Isa 57:15Exo 34:6-7Mat 5:3-4Mic 7:18Jas 1:19-20Psa 86:5
and return to the LORD your God.
For He is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. 2
And He relents from sending disaster.
Who knows? He may turn and relent Jon 3:9Hag 2:192Ki 19:42Sa 12:22Amo 5:15Exo 32:30Jol 1:13Jon 1:6
and leave a blessing behind Him—
grain and drink offerings
for the LORD your God.
Blow the ram’s horn in Zion, Jol 1:141Ki 21:12Jol 2:1Num 10:31Ki 21:92Ki 10:20Jer 36:9
consecrate a fast,
proclaim a sacred assembly.
Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, 2Ch 20:132Ch 29:51Co 7:51Sa 16:5Exo 19:10Exo 19:22Jol 1:14Zec 12:11-14
assemble the aged, gather the children,
even those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
and the bride her chamber.
Let the priests who minister before the LORD Psa 115:2Ezk 8:16Psa 79:101Ki 6:3Amo 7:2Dan 9:18-19Exo 34:9Hos 14:2
weep between the portico and the altar,
saying, “Spare Your people, O LORD,
and do not make Your heritage a reproach,
an object of scorn among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”
Restoration Promised
Then the LORD became jealous for His land, Zec 8:2Psa 103:13Zec 1:14Jas 5:11Lam 3:22Isa 63:15Isa 63:9Isa 60:10
and He spared His people.
And the LORD answered His people: Ezk 34:29Ezk 36:15Isa 62:8-9Jer 31:12Amo 9:13-14Jol 2:24Ezk 39:29Hag 2:16-19
“Behold, I will send you
grain, new wine, and oil,
and by them you will be satisfied.
I will never again make you
a reproach among the nations.
The northern army I will drive away from you, Zec 14:8Amo 4:10Deu 11:24Isa 34:3Exo 10:19Ezk 39:12-16Ezk 47:18Jer 1:14-15
banishing it to a barren and desolate land,
its front ranks into the Eastern Sea, 3
and its rear guard into the Western Sea. 4
And its stench will rise;
its foul odor will ascend.
For He has done great things.
Do not be afraid, O land; Zep 3:16-17Isa 41:10Isa 54:4Psa 126:1-31Sa 12:16Jer 33:31Sa 12:24Isa 35:1
rejoice and be glad,
for the LORD has done great things.
Do not be afraid, O beasts of the field, Zec 8:12Isa 51:3Psa 65:12Amo 9:14-15Isa 30:23-24Jol 1:18-20Psa 107:35-38Psa 145:15-16
for the open pastures have turned green,
the trees bear their fruit,
and the fig tree and vine yield their best. 5
Be glad, O children of Zion, Jas 5:7-8Php 4:4Lev 26:4Deu 11:14Hos 6:3Isa 12:2-6Isa 41:16Psa 149:2
and rejoice in the LORD your God,
for He has given you the autumn rains
for your vindication.
He sends you showers,
both autumn and spring rains, as before.
The threshing floors will be full of grain, Amo 9:13Mal 3:10Jol 3:18Jol 3:13Pro 3:9-10Lev 26:10
and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.
I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts— Zec 10:6Jol 1:4-7Jol 2:2-11
the swarming locust, the young locust,
the destroying locust, and the devouring locust 6—
My great army that I sent against you.
You will have plenty to eat, Rom 10:11Psa 22:26Deu 12:7Rom 5:5Isa 45:17Isa 49:23Lev 26:51Jn 2:28
until you are satisfied.
You will praise the name of the LORD your God,
who has worked wonders for you.
My people will never again
be put to shame.
Then you will know that I am present in Israel Ezk 37:26-28Lev 26:11-12Zep 3:17Ezk 39:28Isa 45:5Jol 3:17Deu 23:14Isa 12:6
and that I am the LORD your God,
and there is no other.
My people will never again
be put to shame.
I Will Pour Out My Spirit
(Acts 2:14–36)
And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Act 2:16-21Ezk 39:29Isa 32:15Act 2:39Act 2:2-4Isa 44:3Zec 12:10Act 11:15-18
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Even on My menservants and maidservants, 1Co 12:13Gal 3:28Col 3:11
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, Act 2:19-20Luk 21:11Mat 24:29Luk 21:25-26Jdg 20:40Mrk 13:24-25Rev 6:12-17Gen 19:28
blood and fire and columns 7of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness Rev 6:12-13Mat 24:29Mal 4:1Mal 4:5Jol 3:15Jol 2:10Mrk 13:24-25Zep 1:14-16
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and awesome 8Day of the LORD.
And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD Rom 10:11-14Act 2:20-21Isa 46:13Jer 31:7Jer 33:3Psa 50:15Rom 11:26Rom 9:27
will be saved; 9
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
there will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised,
among the remnant called by the LORD.