Amos
Amos 3
Chapter III · Vol. III, pp. 1436–1437
1 The necessity of God's judgment against Israel. 9 The publication of it, with the causes thereof.
1 Hear athis word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole bfamily which cI brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
2 Youd only have I known1 of all the families of the earth: etherefore I will punish2 you for all your iniquities.3
d Ex.19.5,6. De.7.6; 32.9; 10.15. Ps.147.19,20; 135.4. Ne.ix.
1 Known—as my own acknowledged people, to whom I have revealed my will, intrusted my oracles, and taught my worship.—C.
e Eze.9.6. Mat.11.20-24. Lu.12.47,48. Eze.20.32. Ro.2.4-9. 1 Pe.4.17. Da.9.12. Is.3.11.
2 Heb. visit upon.
3 Because you have sinned against light and covenant obligation, therefore shall your punishment be as exemplary as your privileges were great.—C.
3 Can gtwo walk together, except they be agreed?4
A.M. cir. 3204. B.C. cir. 800.
4 The general scope of ver.3-8 must be known ere we can rightly understand the bearing of each separate metaphor. The object of the prophet is to show that all his statements come from God. They are not human, but divine utterances. The third verse, therefore, sets forth the truth that Jehovah and his prophet have met and agreed to announce a message to Israel. The prophet does not speak of himself; he is not opposed to Jehovah; the words he utters are words which Jehovah reveals to him.—P.
4 Willh a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry5 out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
h Ps.104.21, with ch.1.2; ver.8.
5 Heb. give forth his voice.
5 Cani a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?6
6 Shall a jtrumpet be blown in the city, kand the people not be afraid?7 shall there be levil8 in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?9
9 Publishr in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and sbehold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed1 in the midst thereof.
10 For tthey know not to do right, saith the LORD, who ustore up violence and robbery2 in their palaces.
11 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, vAn adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy xstrength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.
v Is.7.17-20; 10.5,6. ch.6.14. 2 Ki.15.19,29; 17.3,5,6; 18.9,11.
x Pr.10.2,15. 1 Ti.6.17.
12 Thus saith the LORD, yAs the shepherd taketh3 out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; zso shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a 4couch.5
3 Heb. delivereth.
z Ro.11.4,5. 1 Ki.20.30; 22.25. 2 Ki.15.29; 17.6; 16.9. Is.7.16; 8.4. Mi.1.6.
4 Or, on the bed's feet.
5 This illustration is just such as we might expect from the shepherd prophet, trained amid the wilds of the desert of Judah. There wild beasts abound, and there the shepherd was forced to do battle with them in defence of his flock. Amos was probably stating what had come within the range of his own experience.—P.
Notes
Ver. 2, 3. You only have I chosen to be, and used as, my peculiar people; and therefore your punishment shall be exemplary, because ye have sinned against clearer light and higher obligations than others; nor need you expect that I will behave towards you as a friend and benefactor while you continue acting in direct contradiction to my nature and laws. 4-8. God would not issue forth such terrible denunciations of judgment unless he had you in view, as being by your sins the proper objects thereof, and intended to punish you. Not by chance, but by his special providence, these judgments are inflicted; nor shall they be either prevented or removed but upon your repentance. These warnings ought to awaken you out of your stupidity, since no punishments can be inflicted but by the will and power of God; and since he manifests his purposes to his prophets, they must faithfully declare his messages, that sinners may fear and repent. 11, 12. The Assyrians shall invade you on every side, murder your valiant men, take your strong cities, and plunder your wealth; ye shall be butchered, or driven into captivity, like sheep; and very few, even of those who hide themselves under beds or in secret holes, shall escape.
Ver. 4. The lion roars when rushing on his prey, and also over it when taken. So the prophetic denunciation of judgment is both the immediate forerunner and accompaniment of its execution. C.
Ver. 12. As the shepherd when he affrights the lion from his prey—for the gorged lion is really a timid animal—brings home to his master any fragments that may be left, as evidence that his sheep was devoured; even so little and so torn shall be the miserable remnant of Israel that shall escape, though they now recline in luxurious indolence in the corners of their couches, that each arm may find a resting-place. C.
Reflections.—How dignified is the church of God! But just and severe are her corrections when her privileges are abused. Obstinacy in sin effectually separates us from a favourable God. And terrible, but certain, preludes of wrath to impenitent sinners are the threatenings of his word and providence. His terrors are not phantoms raised to frighten the weak, ignorant, or superstitious, but awful realities, which will come to pass. And transgressions most surely insnare men in nets of guilt and misery, from which only God's almighty grace, bringing them to repentance, can deliver them. In all our troubles the hand of God must be acknowledged. He never strikes into ruin till, having warned in vain, sinners prove incorrigible; and then his warnings but aggravate their condemnation. Manifest is his justice in their destruction who have outrageously sinned in opposition to multiplied means of grace, and who have accustomed themselves to wickedness till they consent to or approve it. If we provoke him with our offences he will oppress us with his judgment, and nothing will be able to prevent our ruin unless we repent. Yea, the things which we had idolized, or had abused to iniquity, shall be ruined along with us.