The Pulpit Commentary — Amos — Section 58

Departure from Jehovah we.s the re.dical offence of Israel. Beside the great alter set up at Bethel by Jeroboam, where the golden calves were worshipped, there seem to have been other sacred places, which were polluted by idol-service and idol-sacrifice. Heathenism was seen to encroach upon the territory consecrated to Jehovah. Altars were reared to deities, imaginary indeed, but endowed by popular superstition with characters altogether opposed to the pure and perfect character of the Eternal who had revealed himself to the ancestors of the Hebrew nation. It was most appropriate that retribution should fall upon the centres and the symbols of a worship so debasing as that which he.d been substituted for the service of Jehovah. The powerlessness of the so-called " gods " to protect their sanctuaries and their al tars was made manifest ; the defeat of Baal was the triumph of Jehovah. II. PRIDE AND LUXURY ARE PUNISHED BY THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MANSIONS AND PALACES OF THE GREAT. Whether we regard these "summer houses" as simply the upper apartments, or as country villas erected in rural retreats, the prophetic lesson is the same. Their destruction, and the destruction of the sumptuous residences decorated with ornaments of ivory, was a retribution upon those who esteemed the splendour and luxuriousness of their abodes more dear than the practice of virtue, of benevolence, of piety. No lesson is more frequently repeated in Scripture than the lesson that the Judge of all the earth delights to abase the proud, whilst he exalts the lowly. When the princes of Israel beheld their sumptuous dwellings razed to the ground, and when they themselves passed into exile, how could they fail to recognize the hand of a righteous and indignant God ?-T. Vers. 2, 3.-.A specially bl~t people. "You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish yon for all your iniquities. Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" "You only have I known," says God," of all the families of the earth." What does this mean? It does not mean that he was ignorant of all other people. God knows everything connected with each individual of all generations. Nor does it mean that he had not been kind to other people. "His tender mercies are over all the works of bis hands." But by the expression," I have known," he means," I have bestowed on you privileges which l have bestowed on no other people" (see Rom. ix. 4, 6). Now, it is a fact that some men are far more highly favoured by Heaven than others. Some have more health, some more riches, some more intellect, some more friendships, some more means of spiritual improvement. We offer three remarks about specially favoured people. I. 'l'HEY ABE OFTENTIMEB THE GREATEST SINNERS. Who of all the people on the face of the earth were greater sinners than the Israelites ? Yet they were specially favoured of Heaven. There was not a crime they did not commit; and they filled up , the measure of their iniquity by crucifying the Son of God. England is a specially favoured land, but where is there more moral corrnption? The fountain of moral iniquity is as deep, as full, as noxious, as active, here as in the darkest and most corrupt parts of the earth. It is true that civilization has so decorated it that its loathsomeness is to some extent concealed; but here it is. The corpse is painted, but it is still a putrid mass. II. THEY ARE EXPOSED TO SPECIAL PUNISHMENT. II Thererore will I punish you for all your iniquities." Men are not to be envied simply because they are endowed with special favours. Those very endowments, unless they are faithfully used, only augment responsibility, deepen guilt, and ensure a more terrible retribution. Where much has heen given, much will be required. "It will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah iu the day of judgment," etc. "Therefore will I punish you." I who know all your sins, I who abhor all your sins, I who have power to punish you, will execute vengeance. Ill. THEY SHOULD, LIKE ALL PEOPLE, PLACE THEMSELVES IN HARMONY WITH GoD. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" 1. .Agreement with God is essential to the well-being of all intelligent existences. No spirit in the universe can be happy without thorough harmony with the will and mind of God. Heaven is happy because of this harmony; hell is miserable because of antagonism to the Divine mind. 2. The condition of all sinners is that of hostility to tM will of God. Indeed, enmity to God le the essence of sin. What, then, is the conclusion? Reconciliation. "We beseech you 011 behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled unto God" (2 Cor. v. 20).-D. T.  68 THE BOOK OF AMOS; (an. rn. 1-1&.