John Calvin Commentary Amos 9:6

"[it is] he that buildeth his chambers in the heavens, and hath founded his vault upon the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth; Jehovah is his name." — Amos 9:6 (ASV)

The Prophet now describes in general terms the power of God, so that he might more deeply impress his hearers, and that they might not heedlessly reject what he had previously threatened concerning their approaching ruin; for he had said, ‘Lo, God will smite the land, and it shall tremble.’ This was special.

Now, as people received those threats with deaf ears and thought that God, in a way, trifled with them, the Prophet added, by way of confirmation, a striking description of the power of God. It was as though he said, “You do hear what God denounces. Now, as he has clothed me with his own authority and commanded me to terrify you by setting your punishment before you, know that you have to do with God himself, whose majesty ought to make all of you, and all that you are, tremble. For what sort of Being is this God, whose word you regard with contempt?”

God is He who builds for Himself chambers in the heavens, who founds His jointings (some render it bundles) in the earth, who calls the waters of the sea, and pours them on the face of the earth; in a word, He is Jehovah, whose being is in Himself alone: and you exist only through His power, and whenever He pleases, He can withdraw His Spirit, and then must this whole world, of which you are but the smallest particles, vanish.

Since, then, He alone is God, and you have only a momentary strength, and since this great power of God—the evidences of which He provides you throughout the whole order of nature—is so conspicuous to you, how is it that you are so heedless? We now perceive why the Prophet exalts the power of God in such a striking manner.

First, in saying that God builds for Himself His ascendings (ascensiones) in the heavens, he alludes, no doubt, to the very structure of the heavens. For the element of air, we know, rises upwards because it is light; then the element of fire comes nearer to what heaven is; then follow the spheres. Since the whole world above the earth is, therefore, much more favorable to motion, this is why the Prophet says that God has His ascents in the heavens.

God indeed stands in no need of the heavens or of the air as a habitation, for He is contained in no place, being One who cannot be contained. But it is said, for the sake of humankind, that God is above all heavens. He is then located on His own elevated throne.

But he says that He founds for Himself His jointing on the earth, for this part of the world is more solid, the element of earth being coarser and denser, and therefore firmer. So also the waters, though lighter than the earth, approach it nearest. God then builds in the heavens.

It is a mechanism that is in itself wonderful. When one raises his eyes to heaven and then looks on the earth, is he not compelled to stand amazed? The Prophet then exhibits here before our eyes the inconceivable power of God, so that we may be impressed by his words and know with whom we have to do when he denounces punishment.

He further says, Who calls the waters of the sea and pours them on the face of the earth. This change is in itself astonishing. God in a short time covers the whole heaven. There is a clear brightness; then, in a moment, clouds supervene, which darken the whole heaven, and thick waters are suspended over our heads.

Who could say that the whole sky could be so suddenly changed? God by His own command and bidding does all this alone. He calls, then, the waters of the sea and pours them down. Though rains, we know, are formed in large measure from vapors from the earth, yet we also know that these vapors arise from the sea, and that the sea chiefly supplies the dense abundance of moisture.

The Prophet then, by taking a part for the whole, includes here all the vapors by which rain is formed. He calls them the waters of the sea. God by His own power alone creates the rain by raising vapors from the waters, and then He causes them to descend on the whole face of the earth. Since, then, the Lord works so wonderfully throughout the whole order of nature, what do we think will take place when He puts forth the infinite power of His hand to destroy humankind, having resolved to execute the extreme judgment He has decreed?

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, that as You have shown to us by evidences so remarkable that all things are under Your command, and that we, who live in this world through Your favor, are as nothing, for You could reduce us to nothing in a moment—O grant that, being conscious of Your power, we may reverently fear Your hand and be wholly devoted to Your glory. As You kindly offer Yourself to us as a Father, may we be drawn by this kindness and surrender ourselves wholly to You by a willing obedience, and never labor for anything throughout life but to glorify Your name, as You have redeemed us through Your only begotten Son, so that through Him we may also enjoy that eternal inheritance which is laid up for us in heaven. Amen.