Matthew Henry Commentary Amos 3
Matthew Henry Commentary
Amos 3
Matthew Henry Commentary
Amos 3
"Hear this word that Jehovah hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt, saying, You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will visit upon you all your iniquities. Shall two walk together, except they have agreed? Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing? Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is [set] for him? shall a snare spring up from the ground, and have taken nothing at all? Shall the trumpet be blown in a city, and the people not be afraid? shall evil befall a city, and Jehovah hath not done it? Surely the Lord Jehovah will do nothing, except he reveal his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared; who will not fear? The Lord Jehovah hath spoken; who can but prophesy?" — Amos 3:1-8 (ASV)
The distinguishing favors of God to us, if they do not restrain from sin, will not exempt from punishment. They could not expect communion with God unless they first seek peace with him. Where there is not friendship, there can be no fellowship. God and man cannot walk together unless they are agreed.
Unless we seek his glory, we cannot walk with him. Let us not presume on outward privileges without special, sanctifying grace. The threats of the word and providence of God against the sin of man are certain, and certainly show that the judgments of God are near. Nor will God remove the affliction he has sent until it has done its work.
The evil of sin is from ourselves—it is our own doing; but the evil of trouble is from God, and is his doing, whoever the instruments may be. This should lead us to bear public troubles patiently and to strive to fulfill God's purpose in them. The whole of the passage shows that natural evil (that is, troubles), and not moral evil (or sin), is meant here.
The warning given to a careless world will increase its condemnation another day. Oh, the amazing stupidity of an unbelieving world that will not be moved by the terrors of the Lord and despises his mercies!
"Publish ye in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold what great tumults are therein, and what oppressions in the midst thereof. For they know not to do right, saith Jehovah, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: An adversary [there shall be], even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be plundered. Thus saith Jehovah: As the shepherd rescueth out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be rescued that sit in Samaria in the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed. Hear ye, and testify against the house of Jacob, saith the Lord Jehovah, the God of hosts. For in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will also visit the altars of Beth-el; and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. And I will smite the winter-house with the summer-house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith Jehovah." — Amos 3:9-15 (ASV)
That power which is an instrument of unrighteousness will justly be brought down and broken. What is obtained and kept wrongfully will not be kept long. Some are at ease, but a day of visitation will come, and in that day, all they are proud of and put confidence in will fail them. God will inquire into the sins of which they have been guilty in their houses, the robbery they have stored up, and the luxury in which they lived. The pomp and pleasantness of their houses do not fortify them against God's judgments but make sufferings more grievous and distressing. Yet a remnant, according to the election of grace, will be secured by our great and good Shepherd, as from the jaws of destruction, in the worst of times.
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