Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Amos Ch.3 / 9 Ch.s
AM:3
* Judgments against Israel. (1-8) The like to other nations.
(9-15)
#1-8 The distinguishing favours of God to us, if they do not
restrain from sin, shall not exempt from punishment. They could
not expect communion with God, unless they first sought peace
with him. Where there is not friendship, there can be no
fellowship. God and man cannot walk together, except 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 threatenings of the word and providence
of God against the sin of man are certain, and certainly show
that the judgments of God are at hand. Nor will God remove the
affliction he has sent, till 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 are the
instruments. This should engage us patiently to bear public
troubles, and to study to answer God's meaning in them. The
whole of the passage shows that natural evil, or troubles, and
not moral evil, or sin, is here meant. 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
wrought upon by the terrors of the Lord, and that despise his
mercies!
#9-15 That power which is an instrument of unrighteousness, will
justly be brought down and broken. What is got and kept
wrongfully, will not be kept long. Some are at ease, but there
will come a day of visitation, and in that day, all they are
proud of, and put confidence in, shall 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 men's houses, do not
fortify against God's judgments, but make sufferings the more
grievous and vexatious. 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 times.