Exposition of Amos 4-9, Part 6 · Section 4
VERSE 4.
And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them, and I will set mine eye upon them for evil, and not for good.
WEE are now come to the fifth and last Evasion, whereby these incorrigible sinners thought to escape Gods hands, and that was by yeelding themselves up into their enemies hands upon quarter for their lives, and so to escape the edge of the sword.
To this the Lord answers by way of concession, though they should go into cap…ivity before their enemies, or before the faces of their enem…es (as 'tis in the Original) whose custome it was to drive their enemies like beasts before them, young and old, naked and barefoot, Isa▪ 20.4. Lam. 1.5. yet thence will I command and commission the sword of their enemies to slay them.
2. Here is an Aggravation of all this misery, viz. that it should fall upon them in wrath. God promised to send Iudah into the Land of Chaldea for good, Ier. 24.5, 6. but Israel being more grosly wicked,Negatio illa, Et non in bonum, Magnam habet auxēsin, q. d. N…l boni, sed omne malum iis afferam & infl gam. à Lapide. the Lord threatens here, To watch over them for evil, and not for good. The expression is emphatical, the denial of the contrary makes the speech more weighty, so Jer. 21.10. & 39.16. & 44.27. q. d. I will bring upon them all manner of evil, but no good. I will afflict them every where, but I will defend them no where, but will utterly consume them. This was true of Israel, who went into captivity, and never returned again; though many of Judah did return again, as we read in the book of Ezra.
As Gods eye was formerly upon them for good, and hee had made them the head of the Nations, so now his eye should be upon them for evil, and he would make them the Taile and contemptible amongst all. He would now deal with them as he threatned to do with disobedient ones, Deut. 28.44, 63. Before he had been their Guardian, and their Keeper, Psal. 121.3, 4. He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps; but now he will be their Judge and Executioner. Though formerly he seriously and intensively set himself to do them good, yet now with as much seriousness and resolvedness he will set his eyes upon them, or against them for evil.
By the Eye of God is meant the Providence of God, by an Anthropopathy frequent in Scripture, Iob 34.21. Prov. 15.3. Psal. 33.18 & 34.15. 1 Pet. 3.12. which as it watcheth over the good in mercy, so it watcheth over the wicked in judgement, vers. 8.
I will set mine eye upon them for evil; that is, for punishment, and for destruction, and not for good; that is, not to do them any good at all, nor to bless them.
OBSERVATIONS.
1 Submission to men is but vain, unless we submit unto God.
To yeeld our selves captives to men, and make peace with them, and yet to rebel against God, is to fee the Serjeant, and to lye open to the fury of the Creditor. Wicked men begin at the wrong end, they should first begin with God, and humble themselves before him, and make peace with him and then all would be at peace with them, Iob 5.23. Hos. 2.18. When once our wayes please God, he makes our enemies to be at peace with us, Prov. 16.7. He can over-rule their hearts, so that although they hate us, yet they shall not hurt us; yea with Esau, they shall kiss us, instead of killing us, Gen. 33.4.
2 The sword hath its command and commission from God, Jer. 47.6. Ezek. 14.17. I will command the sword, and it shall slay them.
War is one of Gods sore Judgements, it is the Arrow which he shoots at a rebellious people. But of this at large before on Amos 4.10.
3. The Providence of God watcheth over the wicked for their hurt.
As the eyes of his Providence run to and fro through the whole world for the good of his people (2 Chron. 16.9. Psal. 33.18. and 34.15. 1 Pet. 3.12.) so where ever the wicked go, his eye and his hand follow them for evil, Ier. 44. 16, 17.18, 22. and 24.9. As all works together for good to good men, so all works for evil to evil men. The Lord doth even study their ruine, and purposely watch (as 'twere) all opportunities to do them a mischief.
As men do obstinately set their faces against Gods Commandements in a way of rebellion; so he will set his face against them for evil in a way of destruction, Ier. 44.11. Hence we read so oft of Gods setting his face against wicked men, Lev. 20.3. and 26.17. Ezek. 14.8. I will set my face against them, that is, I am highly offended with them, and I will make it my work to execute my vengeance on them.