Amos 5

Notes

Ver. 2, 3. The kingdom of Israel, once so flourishing, and never heretofore subdued by enemies, shall irrevocably fall into extreme misery, without any help to her. And scarcely a tenth part of the people shall remain to be carried captive. 4-6. Turn to me by faith, repentance, and reformation, and ye shall be preserved from ruin, and continue prosperous—or, at least, in the end be saved with an everlasting salvation—lest the vengeance of God break forth among the descendants of Joseph, and other fellow-tribes, as devouring fire, which none of your idols can quench. 7-9. Ye who pervert justice, to the great grief of the injured, and who neglect all regard to equity in your administrations and practice, turn to him who, as Governor of the heavenly influences, can give you rain; as the Disposer of day and night, can change your condition at his pleasure; as Ruler of the rain, can either comfort or ruin you; and who can enable the weak to encounter their mighty enemies and besiege and take their strongholds. 12, 13. Biassed by bribes, your judges give sentence against the poor, be their cause ever so good and clear. And since ye so incorrigibly abound in wickedness, that God's judgments must be executed upon you, wise and godly persons must forbear reproving you, and silently adore, not murmur at, these judgments. 15-24. Let justice be always administered with a steady and a free course, and without any interruption. 16, 17. Dreadful wailing and anguish shall abound everywhere, even in the vineyards, where they were wont to be merry, on account of the general havoc that my judgments shall make. 18, 19. Ye who scornfully wish to see the day of the Lord shall quickly feel it, full of misery and perplexity, without any comfort; and so numerous shall be the calamities thereof, that if ye escape one, ye shall fall into another. 25-27. Copying after the idolatry of your fathers in the wilderness, ye have neglected my service, and, with no small toil and expense, have carried about your idols, which could not move themselves; therefore I will make the Assyrians to carry you captives into Media, far beyond both Damascus and Babylon.

Ver. 18. Desire the day, &c. Who profess to desire it, deriding the prophetic predictions, Je. 17. 15; Eze. 12. 22; or who, from various motives, really desire a time of trouble. This desire arises in some from 'envying and grieving at the good of their neighbours;' an unjust comparison of their own state with that of others; or from direct covetousness of that for which they never toiled, and which, if they possessed, they would soon squander. But in most it arises from a restless and discontented spirit, that longs for any change, and that leads them to calculate that, in the drama of life, which they ignorantly imagine a mere 'chapter of accidents,' something may turn up of which they may take advantage, and enrich themselves, without the care of frugality or the toils of industry. C.

Reflections.—Sin has the most awful influence to reduce churches and nations. And often death or apostasy much diminishes church members. Yet nations and churches are ordinarily guilty of great and multiplied iniquities before God proceed to execute public judgments upon them. With great earnestness and expectation should we therefore seek after and wrestle with him while he may be found. And if we live up to our prayers, we may expect our requests answered, and happiness in his presence. Great prudence, as well as grief, is necessary in times of singular wickedness and trouble. But it is presumptuous and dangerous to deride God's threatenings and judgments, for they will infallibly overtake the impenitent. How odious to him are hypocritical devotions! If we regard iniquity in our heart, and practise it in our life, no religious services will avail us. And they who obstinately refuse God's calls shall at last be driven far enough from him in their wickedness.