Exposition of Amos 4-9, Part 3 · Section 3
VERSE 3.
Yee that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to draw near.
IN this Verse the Prophet goes on with his charge, especially against the Judges, Rulers, Counsellours, and those in Power and Authority in the Kingdome of Iudah and Israel. Hee chargeth them in this Verse with two sins, which were the effects and evidence of their security before mentioned, Verse 1. The first is the contempt of Gods Threatnings, God oft foretold them by his Prophets that Judgements were coming upon them, but they would not beleeve it, but put the evil day far from them; Sleighting Gods Threatnings as if they had been but fables, and would never surprize them. Though they walk in wayes of wickednesse, adding sin to sin, and daily provoked the Lord to anger, yet they blest themselves in their evil wayes, promising themselves peace and prosperity for all that. They were setled upon their lees, and lived without any fear or thought of danger, giving themselves up to Idlenesse, Wantonnesse, Pride, Luxury, Violence, and all manner of Iniquity; not once thinking of the destruction which was coming upon themselves, and the Kingdome. Yea they counted it a loathsome thing (as the word in the Original signifies) once to mention the evil day.Middah, from whence comes Menaddim, significat remotionem, seu quicquid prop▪ er immunditiem removetur; quod omnes fugiunt & aversantur. They were so given up to mirth and jollity, that they would not once hear of sorrow. They thought themselves priviledged by having the Temple▪ and Gods worship amongst them, against all storms and tempests. But the further they put away the evil day, the nearer it was to them; and though they could have wished there had been no such day, yet their wishes were but vain; for the Lord had decreed to bring a dismal day upon them, and it is not the counsels of men, but the counsels of the Lord that shal stand, and the thoughts of his heart unto all generations, Psal. 33.10, 11. As they had their evil day of sinning, so God was determined to bring upon them an evil day of suffering.
Q. But what was that evil day?
Diem mali, i. e. diem panae, synes. Gen.A. The evil day here meant, was more especially the day of their Captivity, when the Assyrian should come and carry away Israel, and the Babylonian should come and carry away Iudah out of their own Land into Captivity and banishment. This evil day the Prophet calls before, a day of darkness, and not of light, Amos 5.18. 19, 20.
Separati estis in diem malum, vulg.The words are read by some passively, thus, Yee are separated, and set apart by divine Justice for an evil day, even for a day of banishment and slaughter, q. d. Yee have long lived in sensuality and security, Though the evil day bee here primarily m…ant of some particular judgement coming upon Israel, yet it may be extended unto the day of the general Judgement, which will be unto the wicked (…n a way of eminency) the evil day of sad and doleful tidings. Iea…es.as if you had been far from an evil day, and yet you are marked out, and set apart for an evil day. All the evil dayes which you have hitherto escaped, do but lead you to an evil day from which there will bee no escaping.
But the words are better read actively (according to our Translation) setting forth the danger that attends voluptuous and sensual men,Menaddim, elongatis, procul repellitis, & cum fastidio quodam & contemptu à vobis rejicitis diem malum. Mercer. whose belly is their God, who lye upon beds of Ivory, and sing to the sound of the Viol, yet put the evil day far away. Their work all the day long was to do evil, and yet they put the evil day far from them with abundance of scorn and contempt.
And cause the seat of violence to draw near.
Here is a second effect and fruit of their security, and that is Tyranny, and Injustice, Cruelty and Oppression. They cause the seat of Violence to draw near. This sin doth necessarily follow the former, for when men are hardened in sin and security, putting off the Threatnings of God, and driving away all fear of danger from themselves, such must needs grow outragious and cruel,Chamas, Violentia, rapina, injuria, injustitia & iniquitas. terrifying others with their Violence, Oppression, Rapine, and Unrighteousnesse, Amos 3.10. So much the word in the Original implies; Iniquity acted by force, and violation of Justice.
Quest. But what is meant by causing the Seat, or Throne of Violence to draw neer?
Answr. 1. Negatively; it cannot be meant of the Assyrian, or any other enemies power that was coming neer; Yee cause the seat of Violence to draw neer; that is, (say some) by your sins yee cause the violent Assyrian and Babylonian to draw neer, and come against you to your own destruction. This is a Truth, but not from this Text.
2. Much lesse can it be meant of causing any false feasts or Sabbaths to draw neer;The word is, Shebet, Sedes, 'tis not Shabat quiescere. as the Septuagint mistaking the Original (as they do very often) do render it, appropinquantes Sabbata mendacia, as if they had set up false Sabbaths, which God abhorred. But this is far from the scope of the Text.
3. Neither is it put Antithetically, by way of opposition to the former clause, q. d. O yee voluptuous and secure sinners, yee put the evil day far from you, and yet by your sins yee pull it upon you, persevering still in your oppression and cruelty; you would fain put off the judgement from you, yet you will not remove your sins, which cause the Iudgement.
But the meaning briefly is this. The Prophet chargeth them with their going on in their Luxury and Inhumanity, oppressing, and vexing the poor and needy, which had no helper. They were so hardned in their sin, that now nothing but unrighteousness, and violence reigned amongst them. They had turned the *Sedes, i. e. tribunal. (Syn…c. Gen.) Violentia, i. e. in qua p…onuntiatis violentas senicutias, seu in qua violentiam exercetis sententiis vestris. Met. adjuncti.Seat of Justice into the Seat of Injustice, and the Throne of Majesty into the throne of Iniquity, establishing mischief by a Law (Psal. 94.20.) rushing violently into sin, as the Horse into the battle; abusing their power to the abasing of their brethren. So much is implied by the Seat, and Throne of violence, as appears by the like expression, Revel. 2.13. Christ commends the Church of Pergamus for her constancy to the truth, and that in a place where Satan had his throne, i. e. in a place where Heresie, Superstition, Idolatry, and all kind of wickedness prevailed, and bare sway without controul: for where sin reigns, there Sathan rules, and there he erects his throne.Solium in quitatis significat patentiam, mignitudinem & dominium impietatis. Mercer. So these sensual and secure sinners, had set up a throne of violence, and a seat of iniquity, that is, they were come to the height of oppression, and cruelty, as being monsters, rather than men.
OBSERVATIONS.
Three Observations do Naturally flow from these words.
1 That God hath an evil day, to bring upon evil men.
2 That evil men put this evil day farre from them.
3 That when they do so, then they run into violence and outrage.
1 Of the first, That God hath an evil day, to bring upon evil men. As they have had their time of provoking him, with the evil of sin, so he will find a time to vexe them, with the evil of punishment.V. My Com. on Psal. 82.2. Such violent oppressors are the proper objects of Gods hatred, Psal. 11.5. and though for a time they may escape trouble, yet they are not delivered from it; all their preservations from evil, are but reservations to greater evils. The Lord hath many wayes to deliver the godly, but he hath no way to deliver the wicked, they having refused all wayes of his appointment for their owne deliverance, therefore as to them, he knoweth many wayes to reserve them to the Day of Judgement, to be punished, 2 Pet. 2.9. When Beasts have been fatted in pleasant Pastures, then they are brought forth to the slaughter, Ier. 12.1, 3. As God hath made all things for himself, so he hath destinated the wicked for wrath, Prov. 16.4.
2 It is the property of wicked men, to put the evil day farre from them. They look upon Gods Judgements at a distance, not so much as once dreaming of them, till they light upon them. They cry, Peace, peace, when sudden and swift destruction is at hand. This is usual with wicked men, the god of this World hath blinded their eyes, and they wilfully put out their owne eyes, lest they should see that which would but trouble them, and hinder their carnal mirth. They cry, Let us eat and drink (even when Judgements are ready to fall upon their heads) and if wee must dye to morrow, let's be merry before we dye. Isa. 22.13. thus they are jeering, when they should be fearing; they take no notice of Gods Judgements, they are farre above out of his sight, Psal. 10.5. Let Noah warn the Old World one hundred and twenty years together, of an approaching Judgement, yet they knew nothing till the floud came, and swept them all away; and as it was then, so saith our Saviour it will be at the end of the world, Mat. 24.37, 38, 39. 2 Pet. 3.3, 4. This hastens wrath, when men cry, the dayes are prolonged, and because Judgements are deferred, therefore they will never come; this makes the Lord come suddenly upon such sinners, Ezek. 12.22, 27. Amos 9.10. Sensuality and security close mens eyes, that they cannot see an evil day approaching, Luke 21.34. it makes men feel trouble before they see it, and to be past hope before they had any fear of hurt.
Wicked men, when they are in prosperity, they dream they shall so continue to eternity; hence the Prophet brings them in, making Covenants with Death, and agreements with Hell, and compacts with all other troubles, that they should not come nigh them. Thus they foolishly conceit, and speak, Isa. 28.15. If the over-flowing scourge pass thorow, yet it shall not come nigh us. Thus they make lyes their refuge, and under falshood doe they hide themselves. Notwithstanding all the Judgements threatned against them for their sins, yet they vainly promised themselves safety, and impunity, as if they had been at a fee with the Devil, and Hell, and thereupon call for Wine, and strong drink, pampering and flattering themselves in their sin, confidently concluding (as if all the World, and Time it self were at their dispose) that to morrow should be as this day, and much more abundant, q. d. Those sad Predictions of the Prophet will never come, but we shall scape as well for the future as we have done hitherto, yea better, and more happily, Isa. 56. ult. But let us be moved with fear as Noah was, Heb. 11.7. and get into the Ark of Gods favour and protection, and then we may sweetly sing, The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom should I fear? at famine and destruction in an holy security thou mayest laugh, for in six troubles the Lord will be with thee, and in the seventh he will not leave thee, foreign. Timor facit consiliativos. Arist. Rhet. l. 2. c. 6.Job 6.19, 20, 21, 22. get an holy, prudential, providential fear, to prepare for troubles before they come, and then you will not be dismayed at them, when they doe come; Darts fore-seen are dintless, Iob 3.25. Psal. 46. & 112.6, 7. Hab. 3.16. Realize dangers as if they were present, that will help to awaken us; but when men look upon Judgements at a great distance,Quae procul sunt, ea non metuuntur; sciunt enim omnes se aliquando morituros, sed quia mors non prope esse videtur, ideo eam nihil curant. Arist. Rhet. l. 2. c. 6. and think it may be many years hence ere they come, or they may not come in their dayes, or they may not come at all; this breeds security, and security breeds tyranny and oppression, for so it runs, They put the evil day farre away, and then cause the seat of violence to draw near.
3 Obs. Where carnal security, and Atheistical contempt of Gods Iudgements goeth before, there cruelty, violence, and all manner of wickedness follows. Where health, wealth, peace, and security goes before; there pride, oppression, blasphemy, and cruelty usually follows, Psal. 73.4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. & 94.4, 5, 6, 7. especially when wickedness gets into the Throne, and sits on the seat of Judicature, having all power in its hand to oppress the poor, and vexe the needy, then it becomes exceeding tyrannical and cruel.