Exposition of Amos 4-9, Part 3 · Section 8
VERSE. 8.
The Lord God hath sworn by himself, saith the Lord of Hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his Palaces, therefore will I deliver up the City, with all that is therein.
IN this Verse we have a Prolepsis, or preventing of a Plea which Israel might make for themselves, saying, Wee are the people of God, in Covenant with him, and have received Circumcision, the seal of the Covenant, and at this day we doe enjoy many glorious priviledges, and signal favours from him, and therefore it is not like that he will destroy us, whom he hath loved so long, and made the head of the Tribes, and the glory of the world. To this the Prophet answers, Deceive not your selves with any vain confidence in your pomp, and priviledges, as if your glory and excellency could secure you from divine Justice; for I must tell you from the Lord, that since you have abused his blessings, hee abhors your Excellency, hates your Palaces, and will destroy your Cities wherein you trust, vers. 1. and the better to assure you to the truth of all this, he hath sworn it, The Lord hath sworn, that he abhors the excellency of Jacob.
In this Verse we have, 1. A Commination, I will deliver up the City, with all that is therein; q. d. you glory in your two fortified Cities, viz. Samaria and Ierusalem, you trust in the riches, strength, and fulness of them, but though they be never so full of men,Quae implent eam, i. e. plenitudinem ejus. Heb. money, and all manner of store; yet for your sins I will deliver them, and all their riches, with all the inhabitants into the hands of the Assyrians, and Chaldeans for a prey. Though in their owne conceit they seem invincible, by reason of the multitude of men and ammunition, yet I will empty them,Sagar, claufit, occlusit, conclusit, coercuit, ut nullum esset effugium Gair, civitas, i. e. civitates. En…l numeri, & Met. Sub. and will send an enemy to besiege them, into whose hands I will deliver them.
By City here is meant, the Citizens and their substance, all should become a prey to the merciless enemy, both in Samaria and Ierusalem, for by a Synechdoche both are here threatned; both had sinned, and therefore now both shall suffer; Samaria shall be sackt by the Assyrians, and Ierusalem by the Chaldeans. It is true, that in this Chapter, and in the whole Prophecy, the Prophet speaks primarily, and principally to the ten Tribes; but secondarily, and concomitantly to Ierusalem, and the other two Tribes, as I have shewed, vers. ….
2. Here is the ground of this destruction, and that is, Gods detestation of them for their sins, I abhor the excellency of Iacob, and therefore I will deliver their Cities into the hands of their enemies. Some render the words thus, I abhor the Pride of Iacob, that is true, for as the Lord abhors Pride in all, so especially in his Israel, a people neer unto him. The word signifies both Pride and Excellency, but because this people confided in their Priviledges, and boasted of their Dignity, therefore the word is most properly rendred excellency.Gaon, excellentia, gloria, superbia Iacobi, i. e. Israelitarum. Met. effi…. The word is sometimes taken in evil part, for pride, and arrogancy, Exod. 15.7. and sometimes in good part, for magnificence and excellency, so here; for the Prophet in this Verse doth not enveigh against their pride, (he had done that before) but he labours to remove their carnal confidence which they placed,Gloriosum Dei Templum hic gloria Iacobi nominatur. Rivet. 1. In the Temple, which is called in Scripture by the name of Excellency and Glory, because it was that wherein they gloried, Psal. 47.4. Ezek. 24.21.
2 In their Riches, Dignities, Priviledges, and Prerogatives, wherewith that Nation was adorned above all the people of the world, Rom. 3.1, 2. & 9.4, 5. they thought that the bare having of these would shelter them from punishment, but the Lord tells them, that he abhorred both them and their priviledges, and since they had abused them, and so forfeited them all, they were now so much the more hateful and abominable to God; q. d. You look upon your selves as the only high and holy ones of the World, but I tell you (saith God) since you abuse my blessings to my dishonour, I look upon you as a pack of prophane, ungodly men, and will deal with you accordingly; and therefore tell not me of your Temple, Sacrifices, dignity, and riches, for I tell you to your faces, that I detest both you and your excellencies, Armenoth, i. e. Palatia, & arces basilieas. Taab, desideravit, & per Antiphrasin abominatus fuit; in Cal…est desiderare, in Piel contrarium significat, ut aversari, abhorrere; sic pleri que verba Hebraea in diversis conjugationibus contrarias babon… significationes. Mer…er.and abhor your stately Palaces, which you have built by oppression and cruelty, and have abused to my dishonour.
3 Here is the confirmation of this Commination, The Lord hath sworn it, even the Lord of Hosts, who is Omnipotent, and hath all power in his hand to execute his purposes. The Lord doth not only say it, but swear it; the Iewes were hard of belief, and sleighted the threatnings of the Prophets, therefore the Lord confirms it with an Oath, saying, I have sworn by my self, or as the words are in the fountain, I have sworn (Benaphsho, in anima sua) by my Soul, or Life, the Lord swears by himself, because there is none greater than he. The soul is the man, and he that swears by his soul swears by himself, and therefore the soul (according to the Hebrew Idiom) is oft put for a mans self, as Psal. 3.2. Ier. 51.6. Matth. 25.26. It is an Anthropopathy frequent in Scripture, Gen. 22.16. Ier. 51.14. it is spoken of God after the manner of men,Per animam vita Dei intelligitur, i. e. ipsamet Dei essentia, se… ipse Deus. Polanus Syntag. …. 2. c. 35. as an Hand, an Eye, a Face, a Foot, is oft ascribed to God; so here and elsewhere, a Soul is ascribed to God, Isa. 1.14. Ier. 5.9, 29. which is God himself, for whatsoever is in God, is God.
Q. d. If we beleeve men who swear by their soul, or life, (which yet is as nothing) how weighty ought my Oathes to bee with you (saith the Lord) when I put my self to pledge; and if yee will not beleeve my Prophets, yet beleeve me, whose Decrees are immutable, whose Iudgements are intolerable, who cannot deceive, Iuravit i. e. immutabiliter decrevit.nor be deceived; who am Omnipotent, and able to put all my Threatnings in execution against you, since I am the Lord of Hosts, whom all Creatures doe obey as their supreame Commander.
OBSERVATIONS.
1 Swearing in it self is lawful.
God himself who cannot sin, yet swears by himself, Isa 45. 23. &. 62.8. Heb. 6.13.See my Com. o… 2 Tim. 4.1. p. 305. The Lord to strengthen our faith in the truth of his Promises, sometimes swears, Gen. 22.16. Psal. 132.11. Heb. 6.17. and sometimes he confirmes the truth of his Threatnings with an Oath, to make us fear, Psal. 95.11. Heb. 3.11. thrice happy they for whose sake the Lord swears, and most unhappy they that beleeve him not when he swears; since he that beleeves not God makes him a Lyar, 1 Ioh. 5.10. not by any transmutation of God, but because hee esteemes his Word and Promises as a false thing.
2 Wicked men are hardly brought to beleeve the Threatnings of God.
The Lord must swear here to awaken them out of their stupidity, so sottish are men by nature, especially when hardned in a way of sin; and if Gods owne people in whom there is a Principle of Grace, be slow of heart to beleeve the Doctrin of the Gospel,See Dr. Bolton in his Serm. in folio on Joh. 1.50. p. 190. Luke 24.25, 26. how hard is it to work those truths upon those who have neither eyes to see, nor ears to hear, 1 Cor. 2.9.
3 God is the Lord of Hosts.
He hath all Power in his hands, and all Creatures at his command,See more in my Comment. on Amos 4.13. ready to execute his wrath upon wicked men. This Title is given to God above two hundred times in the Old Testament, and but once in the New, Iam. 5.4. the reason is, because this is a name of Majesty and Terror, suitable to Old Testament times; but in the New Testament he hath more sweet and mild Titles, as Father of Mercies, God of all consolation, the Saviour of all men, &c. We should therefore fear to displease him, who hath the higher Host of Heaven, Myriads of Angels, and the lower Host of Creatures on earth,V. Mendoza in 1 Reg. 1.3. A… not. 5. p. 134. all ready at the least beck of their Lord and Master to destroy his enemies.
4 No Privil…dges can preserve a sinful people from ruine.
Let them be exalted to Heaven in excellency and glory, and be loaded with riches,See more in my Com. on Hos. 13.15. Obs. 4. p. 50. nobility, dignity, and preheminence, yet if they abuse those Priviledges they shall be thrown down to Hell, Matth. 11.23. God is no respecter of Persons, but in every Nation such as work righteousness are accepted of him, and such as work unrighteousness, be they Iewes or Gentiles, are rejected of him. When God shall chuse a people to be an holy people to himself, and they shall walk unholily, and live like the prophane of the world, it is just with God that they should perish with them. Many boast that they are Christians, they are Baptized, they hear the Word, and receive the Sacrament, Aye, but do you walk up to those Priviledges, and answer them with obedience; if not, you are but baptized Heathens; yea a drunken Turk is nearer Heaven than a drunken and dissolute Christian. Meer Titular Christians, are no Christians. As he is not a Jew that is one outwardly, so he is not a Christian that is one only nominally; we must be internal ones in spirit and in truth, answering our Gospel. Priviledges with Gospel-Practises, and then we shall be happy, Rom. 2.25, 28, 29.
5 Sin makes God to hate our very dwellings and Palaces.
He loathes the habitations of wicked men, and looks upon them as so many Swine-styes, and sinks of sin. The habitations of the wicked are cursed of God, Iob 12.6. & 15.34. Zach. 5.4. As we should keep our bodies pure, as becomes the Temples of the Holy Ghost, so wee should keep our Houses pure from sin, and put away iniquity farre from our Tabernacles, that they may be Bethels, houses of God, and not Beth…avens, houses of vanity and iniquity, Iob 11.14. & 22.23. this is the way to keep our houses in peace, Iob 5.24. Prov. 1. ult. & 8.6. and to make our Families flourish, Prov. 14.11.
We should rather desire with those holy Patriarcks, Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, to live in Tents, and mean houses, where we may serve God (remembring that we are but Strangers and Pilgrims here, but Citizens of Heaven) than to live (as these Epicures in the Text) in stately Palaces, abounding with sensual luxury, and all manner of riot, till they be destroyed.
6 When men will not beleeve the Threatnings, they shall feel the punishment.
The righteous doe hear and fear, but the wicked never fear, till they feel the Sword and Pestilence upon them. When no warnings can mend a People, then Judgements end them; as we see in the old World, Ierusalem, and others; Lots Sons in Law would not beleeve till they were burnt, Gen. 19.14. nor Pharaoh till he was drowned.
7 It is Sin that ruines Cities.
See my Com. on Hos. 13.16. Obs. 6. and M. Crag his 8th. Ser. p. 132.Israel sinned, and now City and all is taken. It is this, that hath brought fire and sword, desolation and destruction upon the most glorious Cities. Many complaine of Instruments that have betrayed them, but it is our sins that have betrayed us into their hands; and therefore Magistrates, Ministers, and Governours should improve their interest for the stopping of sin, that so they may prevent the ruine of those places where they dwell.