Exposition of Amos 4-9, Part 2 · Section 1
VERSE 1.
Hear this word which I take up against you, even a Lamentation, O house of Israel.
IN this Chapter the Lord goes on with his charge against Israel, and the Prophet as his Atturney-general doth manage the charge against them. Hee opens the case, shews them their sins, and Gods Judgements coming on them for those sins; yet withall puts them in a way to prevent them, by perswading them to reform the things amiss amongst them.
In this first Verse the Prophet makes as it were an O yes, calling for silence and attention. Hear yee this word which I take up against you. Hee had called for audience twice before Amos 3.1. & 4.1. but this people had stopt their ears, and hardned their hearts, they were become Sermon-proof, and Judgement-proof, nothing could work upon them, yet the Prophet calls a third time, if by any means hee might work upon them.
This Verse is as it were the Preface to the Sermon, and is set in the front to quicken attention; where we have, 1 The matter to be attended, and that is the word of the Lord published by the Prophet Amos. Hear this word which I take up against you;Nasa, sustulit, sumpsit. or as it is in the Original, which I lift up against you, that is, which I utter against you by Gods command, more clearly, and more fully, with more spirit and life than formerly, so Iob 21.2.
2 Here are the persons against whom this Sermon is intended, and that is the ten Tribes, here called, The house of Israel, q. d. I speak not against strangers, but against you, O house of Israel, and therefore it concerns you to attend.
3 Here is the nature of the Sermon, it is a Lamentation, or lamentable Prophesie of the utter destruction of Israel, q. d. Both I and Hosea, and other Prophets, have for a long time warned you of approaching judgements, but since you sleight our Threatnings, and give your selves to mirth and merriment, I will now take up a Lamentation for you, and will mourn for you that will not mourn for your selves.
So that this Lamentation implies first, the deep sense and apprehension which the Prophet had of that misery which was coming upon Israel for their Idolatry,…nah significat lamentationem amarissimam. Tarnovius. Incredulity, Security, and Impenitency. This was to him matter of bitter and great lamentation, as the word imports, Ezek. 2.10. and 19.1, ult. and such lamentation the Lord expects from his people, Ezek. 26.17. and 28.12. and 32.2. Thus David lamented for Saul and Ionathan, Threnodia seu carmen lugubre quo regni Israelitici interitus deploratur, Gualter.2 Sam. 1.17.
Ego tollo super vos sermonem qui eos adluctum & lamentum coget, etiamsi nunc sint praefracti contra Deum. Calvin. See Mr. Trap on Mal. 1.1.Secondly, This Lamentation implies a sad song, a doleful ditty, a burdensome and lamentable Prophesie of dismal judgements against Israel; that which the Prophet calls a Lamentation here, is oft called a Burden, as Isa. 13.1. and 22.1. Ezek. 12.10. Nahum 1.1. Hab. 1.1. Zach. 9.1. Mal. 1.1.
q. d. You laugh at my Threatnings now, but you will finde them an heavy burden shortly, and that which will bring great lamentation with it.
Quest. But why doth the Prophet lament for these impenitent sinners that would not lament for themselves? hee should rather have rejoyced in Gods just judgements on them, according to that, Psal. 58.10. The righteous shall rejoyce when hee seeth the vengeance.
Answ. Wee must distinguish of sinners.
1 Some are within the pale of the Church, and are Gods people by profession, being in Covenant with him, having a remnant of elect ones mingled amongst them. Now Gods judgements either imminent or present on these, have been in all ages lamented by the Saints, they have alwayes been deeply affected with the misery of Sion, though their sins have brought it justly upon them, yea and the Lords own bowels do yern over them, even when in justice he cannot but punish them, Hos. 6.4. and 11.8▪ Besides we must lament the sins to these, even when wee adore Gods just judgements on them, and must denounce his theatnings against them with tears & lamentation.
2 Others are without the Church, and many within, that are malicious, implacable, incorrigible, and incurable enemies to God, his wayes, his worship, and his people; now in the destruction of such we may, and must rejoyce, we are commanded so to do, Psal. 58.10. Prov. 11.10. Rev. 18.20. and 19.12.
Cant. Not that wee may rejoyce in their destruction simply as they bee our enemies, or as they be creatures, but as they are wicked, rebellious creatures, and implacable enemies to God and his wayes, so we may, yea and God himself doth rejoyce in their destruction, Deut. 28.63. Prov. 1.26.
OBSERVATIONS.
1 Ministers may sometimes preface as occasion requires, so did Paul, Act. 13.16. Men of Israel hear, and yee that fear God, give audience. But of this before on Amos 4.1.
2 Obs. Ministers must not preach their own inventions, but what God commands them. Hear the word which God commanded mee to deliver to you. But of this at large before on Amos 4.1.
3 Ministers must preach Iudgement as well as Mercy. Law as well as Gospel, and Lamentation as well as consolation. See Amos 6.1.
4 Tis our duty to bee affected with the miseries of Gods people, whether they be imminent or present; we must weep with them that weep; and as fellow members of the same mystical body, wee should have compassion one of another, Rom. 12.15. 1. Pet. 3.8.See more at large on Amos 6.6. Especially this concerns Gods Ministers to commiserate the sad condition of Gods people, and to intercede for them at the Throne of Grace, Ier. 9.1. and 18.20. Ioel 2.17. So did Moses for Israel, Exod. 32.31, 32. and Samuel for Saul, 1 Sam. 15. ult. Ieremy writ a whole book of Lamentations for Ierusalem, and Christ wept over it, Luke 19.41, 42. Hence the Lord so oft commands the Prophets to take up a Lamentation for the Princes of Israel, Ezek. 19.1. yea for Tyre, Ezek. 27.2. and for Egypt, Ezek. 32.2.16. and threatens such as neglected this duty, Ezek 13.5. and 22.30, 31. How great then is the sin of those wicked men who mock at such as mourn for them, who hate those which help to keep off judgements from them, who seek the destruction of those which seek their salvation, and desire their death, who use all means to bring them to life; such horrid ingratitude shall not pass without some signal vengeance.
5 Obs. Such as contemn Gods Iudgements, shall at last lament their folly.
These obduratesi nners scoft at the Prophets Threatnings, and asked, when will the day of the Lord come? why it shall come upon you in a day that you look not for it, and shall bee a lamentation and a burden that shall sinke you: Patience abused turns into fury,See my Com. on Hos. 13.12. though God bear long, yet hee will not alwayes bear.