Exposition of Amos 4-9, Part 6 · Section 3
VERSE 3.
And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence, and though they be hid from my sight in the bottome of the Sea, thence will I command the Serpent, and he shall bite them.
THe men of Israel and Iudah being sottish and sensual, and drowned in deep security, resting upon their carnal confidences, and resolving to fly to them instead of God: The holy Ghost (who knows our indurate frames better than we our selves) multiplies words, and as Fishers when they would catch Fish, drive them out of their holds; so the Lord here labours to drive them out of all their strong holds, to himself. Having therefore shewed them that Heaven and Hell could afford them no security, he comes now to stop a third gap, by which they might think to escape, viz. by flying to Rocks, and inaccessible Mountains. But, though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence, and deliver them into their enemies hands.
There were two Carmels. The one was in Iudea, as appears, Iosh. 15.55. 1 Sam. 25.2. the other in the Text was an high, pleasant, fruitful Mountain in Canaan, good for Pasturage, and therefore is used in Sripture sometimes Largely, for any fertile place; so Isa. 29.17. Ier. 2.7. Amos 1.2. I brought you into a plentiful Country, or as it is in the fountain, I brought you into a Land of Carmel. So Cant. 7.5.
2. 'Tis taken strictly, for that famous, fruitful Mountain, which is joyned with Bashan another fruitful hill, Isa. 33.9. This Carmel had a City on it, or joyning to it, and was situate by the Sea, jer. 46.18. Here Elijah vanquisht the worshippers of Baal, 1 King. 18.19. and Elisha dwelt here, 2 King. 4.25. By Carmel here is meant Synecdochically, very high hills, and inaccessible Rocks and Mountains, for in those times, and in those Countries, when they were in great danger, they were wont to run and hide themselves in Mountains, in Caves, in Rocks, in Pits, and high places, as appears, Iudg. 6.2. 1 Sam. 13.6. Isa. 2.10, 19. Ier. 4.29. But in vain do men run to these hills and holds for refuge, for if God be not our strong hold, they are but miserable shelters, and we may say of them, as Iob said of his friends, Miserable comforters are yee all. We read of five Kings that hid themselves in a cave, yet were they all taken and hanged, Iosh. 10.16, 23. Titus and Vespatian besieging Ierusalem, found many of the Jews hid in Vaults and Privy-houses, and other obscure places, where they were slain. Those that sin against the Lord, let them go to the very head and top of Carmel to hide themselves, yet there will the Lord search for them, and bring them forth to Judgement. Mountains are Gods servants as well as other creatures, yea they melt like wax at his presence, so that although wicked men should beg of them to fall upon them, and hide them, they cannot, they dare not do it, Rev. 6.15, 16, 17.
'Tis true, David oft made use of Mountains and Caves, but he never trusted in them, but made the Lord his Rock and Refuge, Psal. 18.2. and the best of Saints have hid themselves as occassion required. But for impenitent sinners to think to hide themselves from Gods hand and eye, is gross Atheism and madness.
Obj. But if we cannot hide our selves in Mountains, wee will try what the deeps will do.
Ans. You may do so, but it shall be in vain, for though they hide themselves from my sight, in the bottome of the Sea, that is, though they think they have hid themselves from my sight, so that I cannot see nor finde them; for no man can actually hide himself from God, who is omnipresent, but only opiniatively, and in his own conceit.
'Tis an Hyperbole, q. d. if it were possible for these wicked men to go to the very bottome and Pavement of the Sea to hide themselves from mine eye and Ire;Karka, Pavimentum, fundum, solum. yet there mine eye would see them, and my hand should reach them, for I have Serpents and Serjeants even there ready to arrest them, and fulfil my commands.
Thence will I command the Serpent and he shall bite them.
By Serpent here is not meant a Land Serpent, but a Sea-Serpent,Nachash, Serpens. Syn. Gen. Mandabo monstro…alicui ma…ino, qualia Hebraei & Chaldaei Serpentum & Draconum appellant nomine, per talia monstra reges crudeles intelliguntur: Psal. 74.14. Grotius. as the Crocodile, or the Leviathan, that is, the Whale, or some such great Sea-monster, for so we finde the Whale in Job 26.13. called the crooked or piercing-Serpent. God hath many Serpents at command. He hath Serpents Natural, to bite and devour us, and Serpents Metaphorical, as the Devil and his Agents, he hath the Assyrian and Babylonian here to devoure Israel and Iudah.
q. d. Which way soever these wicked men go, death and destruction shall finde them out, all shall make against them both by Sea and Land, and the Assyrian my Rod and Executioner shall finde and ferret them out in all places where ever they be.
OBSERVATIONS.
1. God hath variety of Servants and Serjeants to arrest his enemies where ever they be.
All the Elements, and all the Creatures are enemies to those that are enemies to God. He hath Armies at Sea and Land against them. He hath not onelyonly Serpents Metaphorical, the Devil and his Instrument, Rev. 12.9. but also natural Serpents, and Sea-monsters innumerable, ready to execute his commands on his enemies. God is the best friend, and the saddest foe. If he be against us, he is an Omnipresent enemy, and can pursue us by Sea and Land; for he is every where by his Essence, Presence and Power. He is God above all, through all, and in us all, Iob 11.8, 9. Ephes. 4.6. He is over all by his Power, in all the Saints by his Spirit, and through all the world by his providence. He is an Omnipresent Essence and Being, Prov. 15.3. There is no hiding our selves in secret from him, Ier. 23.23, 24. He is in Heaven by his glory and Majesty; in Hell by his justice, wrath and power; in Sea and Land by his providence, Act. 17.27.
Take heed then of displeasing him, other enemies you may flye from, but there is no flying from his presence. Walk therefore sincerely as in his eye, as Enoch, Noah, and Abraham did. Seneca counselled his scholars to do all, tanquam spectet Cato, as if some severe Cato did alwaies behold them. But we should rather do all,See this point excellently enlarged, by Mr. Caryl on Job 22.12. p. 108. to 115. and Mr. Love on 2 Chro. 16.9. tanquam spectet Deus, remembring his All-seeing eye is still upon us. This is an excellent preservative against sin. This kept Ioseph chaste, Gen. 39.9. and Iob and David, pure, Iob 31.4. Psal. 119.136. I have kept all thy precepts, why so? because all my waies are before thee, Heb. 4.13.
'Tis meer Atheism, and the want of consideration of that All-seeing eye of God, which is the root of all the villany that is acted in the world, Psal. 94.5, 6, 8. Ezek. 9.9. As Nimrod was said to be a mighty hunter before the Lord; so many may be said, to be mighty drunkards, mighty swearers, lyars, cheaters, dissemblers, &c. before the Lord. But let it alwaies be our care to lead a life worthy of such a presence, passing the time of our sojourning in Gods fear. This may be 1. A spur to duty, 2. A motive to Sincerity, 3. A corrosive to sin, 4. A cordial in afflictions. Remember in all thy distresses, hee is an Omnipresent friend. He was with Joseph in the prison, with Jeremy in the dungeon, with Jonah in the Whales belly, with Daniel in the Lions den, with Israel in Egypt, Exod. 3.9. and with Paul before Nero, 2 Tim. 4.17. He knows our Tentations, our adversaries, our abilities, and will not suffer us to be tempted above our strength, Rev. 2.3.