Charles Spurgeon Commentary Amos 7

Charles Spurgeon Commentary

Amos 7

1834–1892
Baptist
Charles Spurgeon
Charles Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon Commentary

Amos 7

1834–1892
Baptist
Verses 1-3

"Thus the Lord Jehovah showed me: and, behold, he formed locusts in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king`s mowings. And it came to pass that, when they made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord Jehovah, forgive, I beseech thee: how shall Jacob stand? for he is small. Jehovah repented concerning this: It shall not be, saith Jehovah." — Amos 7:1-3 (ASV)

In a vision, the prophet saw the locusts or grasshoppers come to devour all the green things of the land — a very terrible visitation.

If you have never seen it, you cannot realize how utterly bare everything is made after the visit of the locusts. The prophet put up a vehement and earnest prayer; he cried, "O Lord God, forgive," and no sooner was the intercession offered than the Lord said, "It shall not be." Thus the impending judgment was turned away.

Verses 4-6

"Thus the Lord Jehovah showed me: and, behold, the Lord Jehovah called to content by fire; and it devoured the great deep, and would have eaten up the land. Then said I, O Lord Jehovah, cease, I beseech thee: how shall Jacob stand? for he is small. Jehovah repented concerning this: this also shall not be, saith the Lord Jehovah." — Amos 7:4-6 (ASV)

This time, the prophet saw the fire devouring the land—perhaps the fire of war, which casts its blazing firebrand upon peaceful dwellings. This fire, however, was something worse than that, for the very deep itself seemed to be licked up by tongues of flame; and the prophet, in heartfelt sympathy with the afflicted people, cried out again as he had done before, and the answer came: This also shall not be, says the Lord God. This ought to encourage you who are the King's reminders to make use of the position in which his grace has placed you, and to cry earnestly to him to turn away his wrathful hand, and have pity upon sinners. May God grant that many of us may have such an intercessory spirit as that of Amos, the herdsman-prophet!

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