Book of Amos - Chapter 8 - Verse 1

When the prophet Amos received the vision of a basket of summer fruit from the Lord GOD, it symbolized the ripe and ready judgment that was about to come upon the people of Israel. Just as summer fruit is at the peak of its ripeness and sweetness before it starts to decay, so too were the people of Israel at the height of their sinfulness and disobedience to God. The basket of summer fruit was a warning of the impending judgment that would soon befall them if they did not repent and turn back to God. The imagery of the ripe fruit served as a stark reminder that their time of reckoning was near, and they would soon face the consequences of their actions. The vision of the basket of summer fruit was a powerful message of impending judgment and a call to repentance for the people of Israel.

When we examine the theological interpretation of the verse "Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit," we can see that the symbol of a basket of summer fruit can carry multiple layers of meaning. In the context of this verse from the book of Amos, the imagery of a basket of summer fruit represents the ripeness and readiness of Israel for judgment. Just like summer fruit is at its peak of sweetness and maturity before it begins to decay, so too, Israel has reached a point of moral decadence and corruption which warrants divine judgment. This verse serves as a warning to the people of Israel that their time of harvest, both literal and metaphorical, is coming to a close, and they must repent and turn back to God before it is too late. The phrase "shewed unto me" emphasizes the prophetic nature of the message, highlighting that this vision was a direct revelation from the Lord GOD to Amos, a call to action for the people of Israel to heed the impending judgment.