Matthew Henry Commentary Amos 4
Matthew Henry Commentary
Amos 4
Matthew Henry Commentary
Amos 4
"Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, that oppress the poor, that crush the needy, that say unto their lords, Bring, and let us drink. The Lord Jehovah hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that they shall take you away with hooks, and your residue with fish-hooks. And ye shall go out at the breaches, every one straight before her; and ye shall cast [yourselves] into Harmon, saith Jehovah. Come to Beth-el, and transgress; to Gilgal, [and] multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, [and] your tithes every three days; and offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, and proclaim freewill-offerings and publish them: for this pleaseth you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah." — Amos 4:1-5 (ASV)
What is gained by extortion is commonly used to provide for the flesh and to fulfill its lusts. What is gained by oppression cannot be enjoyed with satisfaction.
How miserable are those whose confidence in unscriptural observances only proves that they believe a lie! Let us see to it that our faith, hope, and worship are warranted by the Divine word.
"And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places; yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah. And I also have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest; and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. So two or three cities wandered unto one city to drink water, and were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah. I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: the multitude of your gardens and your vineyards and your fig-trees and your olive-trees hath the palmer-worm devoured: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah. I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have carried away your horses; and I have made the stench of your camp to come up even into your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah. I have overthrown [cities] among you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a brand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah. Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel; [and] because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought; that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the Earth-jehovah, the God of hosts, is his name." — Amos 4:6-13 (ASV)
See the folly of carnal hearts; they wander from one creature to another, seeking for something to satisfy, and labor for that which does not satisfy. Yet, after all, they will not incline their ear to Him in whom they might find all they could want. Preaching the gospel is like rain, and everything withers where this rain is lacking.
It would be well if people were as wise for their souls as they are for their bodies; and when they do not have this rain near them, would go and seek it where it can be found. As the Israelites persisted in rebellion and idolatry, the Lord was coming against them as an adversary. Before long, we must meet our God in judgment; but we will not be able to stand before Him if He judges us according to our deeds.
If we would prepare to meet our God with comfort at the solemn moment of His coming, we must now meet Him in Christ Jesus, the eternal Son of the Father, who came to save lost sinners. We must seek Him while He may be found.
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