Amós 8:11

As part of His judgment, God would withhold His words from His people. This would be like a famine, not of physical food and drink but of spiritual food. God’s words provide spiritual nourishment and refreshment, so when they are not available people suffer spiritually (cf. Matthew 4:4).

The Israelites had rejected the Lord’s words to them (Amos 2:11-12; Amos 7:10-13), so He would not send them to them any longer (cf. 1 Samuel 3:1; 1 Samuel 28:6). This is a fearful prospect. If we do not listen to the Word of God, we may not be able to hear the Word of God (cf. Luke 17:22; John 7:34). This does not mean that God would remove all copies of His Word from them but that when they sought a word of help, advice, or comfort from Him they would not get it (cf. King Saul). Prophets would not bring God’s words to them.