Exposition of Amos 4-9, Part 4
AN EXPOSITION, WITH Practical OBSERVATIONS UPON The Seventh Chapter of Amos.
VERSE 1, 2, 3.
Thus hath the Lord God shewed unto me, and behold, he formed Grashoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and loe it was the latter growth after the Kings mowings.
And it came to pass after they had made an end of eating the grass of the Land, then I said, O Lord forgive I beseech thee, by whom shall Jacob arise? for hee is small.
The Lord repented for this, it shall not be, saith the Lord.
THis Chapter contains the Sixth Sermon of Amos, wherein are three Visions, to which are annext the issue and operation of them, vers. 10, 11, 12.
The Prophet had before plainly and clearly set down Gods Judgements against this People, that none might complaine of obscurity; yet now hee comes to speak more mystically, in five Types and Visions, if by any means he might work upon them. Two Visions we… have, Chap. 8.1, &c. & 9.1, &c. and three in the nine first Verses of this Chapter, setting forth the patience and long-suffering of God towards this rebellious People.
The three Types or Similies are of
Grashoppers, Which adumbrare three Judgements, Famine, War, and utter destruction.
Fire, Which adumbrare three Judgements, Famine, War, and utter destruction.
A Plumb-line, Which adumbrare three Judgements, Famine, War, and utter destruction.
The first Judgement which Amos saw was an army of Grashoppers, Locusts, or Green-worms, which should devour the Grass and Corn, and this shadowe… out the want of all things, vers. 1, 2.
2 That of Fire, devouring the great deep, denotes Warre, with the miseries that attend it, vers. 4. Both these had ruined Israel, but that at the mediation and intercession of the Prophet they were kept off for a time, vers. 2, 3, 5, 6. the duty of a faithful Pastor is to Pray and Preach, Amos doth both these: he shewes them their Sins, and Gods Judgements due unto them for them, yet withall he prayes for the averting of them, and was heard for that time, till at last the malady was past cure.
3 That of a Plumb-line in the hand of God, signified the utter overthrow both of the Oeconomical, Political, and Ecclesiastical estate of the Kingdom. God had measured out a time for them to repent in, but they were become incurable, and therefore the Lord here threatens to spare them no longer, and to pass by them no more, vers. 8. nor yet to accept of any more mediation for them; and therefore we doe not read that ever the Prophet interceded for the averting of this Judgement, as he had done for the former; so long as there was hope hee prayed for them, but since they were incorrigible he forbears.
4 We have the slanderous accusation of Amaziah the Priest of Bethel (who being netled with the Prophesie, and freedome of speech used by this blunt and down-right Prophet against both King and Kingdom) stirs up King Ieroboam the second against Amos, under pretence of being a seditious, turbulent person, and one that had conspired against the King, vers. 10, 11. Amos hath conspired against the King.
2 The more to incense the King against him, he aggravates his Crimes, as first, that he acted this Treason, not secretly, but openly▪ He hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel.
2 That the People were much troubled at his Doctrine, to the hazard of the Kingdome: The Kingdome is not able to bear his words.
3 Here is Amaziahs fraudulent advice, under pretence of love and kindness, he would nor have Amos come any more to Bethel, lest he should run himself into danger; and therefore he adviseth him to pack out of the Kingdome with all speed, and to get into Iudeah his owne Country, and to Prophesie there. Vers. 12.
4 We have Amos his bold reply to this false Prophets calumniations, vers. 14, 15. where he asserts and justifies his calling, shewing,
1 Negatively, that he was no Prophet, nor Prophets Son.
2 Affirmatively, That he was an Herdsman.
3 How he was called to be a Prophet, he came not of his owne accord to the work, but the Lord said to me, Goe Prophesie, vers. 15.
4 Here is Amos his Charge, to which he was primarily sent, and that was to the ten Tribes, vers. 15. Goe Prophesie to Israel; he durst not therefore forsake his Charge assigned him by God, and flee into Iudea, (as Amaziah would have had him) but he resolved to stand his ground, and keep to his Commission, and preach to Israel though he dyed for it, as he did, being slaine (say some) by Amaziahs Son.
5 Here is a five-fold Judgement threatned by Amos against this Persecuting Prelate, vers. 17. he should suffer in his Wife, in his Children, in his Possessions, in his owne Person, and in the whole Kingdome, which he should see goe into Captivity.