Exposition of Amos 4-9, Part 2
AN EXPOSITION, WITH Practical OBSERVATIONS UPON The Fifth Chapter of Amos.
VERSE 1.
Hear yee this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel.
IN this Chapter wee have the summe and substance of the fourth Sermon of the Prophet Amos, which contains a Lamentation for the Captivity, and utter desolation, which was coming upon the Kingdome of Israel for their obstinacy and Idolatry.
Where wee have 1 A short Exordium to quicken attention, verse 1. Hear this word which I take up against you.
2 Here is a Commination and denouncing of Gods Judgements against them. 1 More briefly, vers. 2, 3. 2 More amply and Rhetorically, vers. 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 27.
3 Here is a Catalogue of those enormities and crying sins which brought these Judgements upon them: As
1 Unrighteousness, vers. 7.
2 Obstinacy and hating of Reproof, vers. 10.
3 Cruelty and Oppressing of the poor, vers. 11.
4 Bribery, vers. 12.
5 Presumption and vain confidence, in their vocal and instrumental singing, in their sacrifices and hypocritical services, promising themselves safety and deliverance, though they lived in all manner of wickedness, vers. 18, 21, 22, 23.
The summe of the Prophets Argument is this, That people which is unrighteous, obstinate, cruel, hypocritical and Idolatrous, shall perish; But such are you, O ye house of Israel: Therefore yee shall perish.
4 Here is an exhortation to Repentance, repeated again and again, to make the deeper impression upon their hearts, that so they might prevent the Judgements approaching, and this is done partly for the Elects sake that they might not perish with the wicked, and partly for the wickeds sake that they mighr bee left without excuse.
Here wee have the two parts of Repentance. 1 The terminus à quo, from what they must turn, viz. from Idols which cannot help in a day of wrath, vers. 5. and from the evil of sin, which brings with it the evil of punishment, vers. 14, 15.
2 The terminus ad quem, to whom they must return, viz. to God, which is oft repeated to shew the great necessity of it, vers. 4, 6, 8, 14, 15, 24. Seek yee the Lord, seek goodness, seek righteousness.
2 Here are Motives to inforce the duty. The first is a drawing Motive taken from the benefit which attends Repentance, viz. life and salvation, vers. 4. Seek yee me, and yee shall live, and with all the gracious favour and presence of God, vers. 14, 15.
The second is a driving Motive, drawn from the evil which will necessarily follow the neglect of it, God will bee to them a consuming fire, vers. 6. Seek yee the Lord, lest hee break forth like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it.
A third Motive is drawn from Gods power, which is seen in the works of Creation. Hee maketh the seven Stars and Orion, vers. 8.2 In his works of Providence, Hee strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong.