_Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime._ BURNING THE BONES OF THE DEAD Amos says that the Moabites were wholly perverse, that no repentance would be hoped for, as they had added crimes to crimes, and reached the highest pitch of wickedness. He mentions one thing in particular--t... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will not turn away the punishment thereof._ GOD’S DEALING WITH NATIONS I. The opportunity for repentance which all possess. The punishment of the six heathen nations, as of Judah and Israel, opens with a picture of the forbearance of God which had preceded this hour of wrath. “For three transgr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus saith the Lord: For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof._ NATIONAL SINS AND NATIONAL PUNISHMENT The British nation, like the kingdom of Judah, has received innumerable favours at the hand of God. In the purity of our creed, the outward pro... [ Continue Reading ]
_For three transgressions of Israel, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof._ NATIONAL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS I. God is the sole and righteous governor of the world. Not simply of Israel, but of Israel’s enemies, Syria, Gaza, Edom, etc. Here we get a glimpse of the great truth of God’... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks._ SIN AS INGRATITUDE These verses form a graphic resume of the great benefits which God had bestowed on His people. Amos was master of all arts by which a nation might be roused... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites._ DIVINE APPOINTMENTS AND THEIR FRUSTRATION The sin and folly of their conduct is manifest when we consider-- I. The author of the appointments. “I raised up.” The Founder of their nation. He whose mercies have been c... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves._ --We go to-day to the gate of the harvest-field, to see the waggon piled up aloft with many sheaves come creaking forth, making ruts along the field. What a picture is a waggon loaded with corn of you and of me, as load... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself._ EFFECT OF SIN ON THE SINNER We have here the supplement to the former verse: the sin which wearies God reacts on those who walk in it. I. A picture of the de... [ Continue Reading ]