The Pulpit Commentary — Amos — Section 76

pleasures of the world, are guiHy of this sin. It is hypocrisy, which is worse than an open defiance of the Divine authority. II, HYPOOnIBY SEEMS TO MEET A NEED 011' DEPRAVED AND SINFUL NATURES. "Thi& liketh you;" "So ye love to have it; "-such is the reflection of Amos upon this evi1 conduct. Men do not " like" to break off the associations of the past; they do not "like" to, turn .their back upon the principles they have formerly professed; they do- not·" like" to forfeit the apparent advantages of conformity to the requirements of religion. Yet, at the same time, they are not willing to forsake the pleasures of sin,. to deny self, to tako up the cross. III. liYPOOBIBY MAY DECEIVE SOCIETY, AND MAY EVEN DECEIVE THE HYPOCRITE, BUT IT CANNOT DECEIVE Goo. The conscious aim of the hypocritical is often to, impress their companions with the belief of their goodness. But in many cases men. actually persuade themselves of their own piety, whilst their life is in :flagrant contra- diction to the assumption. Let it never be forgotten that God " searcheth the heart, and trieth the reins of the children of men; " that his scrutinizing gaze cannot be averted,· nor his righteous judgment avoided. Those who multiply insincere obser- ·nnces really "multiply transgression." And multiplied transgressions surely involv& multiplied penalties. APPLICATION. Bethel and Gilgal a.re not the only spots on earth where hypocrisy has been practised. The question of all importance for every professed worshipper to put to himself is this-Is there harmony between the language which I use in devotion, and the thoughts and desires of my heart, the actions and habits of my life ?-T. Vere. 6-11.-National calamities are Divine chastisements. Graphic and morally impressive is the catalogue of Divine judgments which the inspired prophet here draws up and puts upon record for the admonition of future ages. L OF WHAT THESE CALAMITIES CONSIST. They are thus enumerated in the several verses. 1. Famine. 2. Drought. 3. Blight. 4. Pestilence. 5. War. 6. Destruc- tion. Alas I from the beginnings of human history such have been the sad and weary experiences of the nations. Some of these ills appear to he beyond human control; others .of them are more or less attributable to human ignorance, to human neglect,. to unbridled lust and passion. The peculiarity of their treatment in the books of Scripture is not in their description, hut in the connection shown to exist between them and the moral life and probation of man, and the righteous government of God. II. FoR WHAT INTENT THESE CALAMITIES WERE INFLICTED. They are not here- regarded simply as events; even the philosophical historian does not regard them thus. 1. They convince the observant and pious mind of the concern of God in human affairs, and of God's indignation with human sin. Certain philosophers imagined the great rulers of the universe to be indifferent to all the affairs of meu. The Scriptures tea.eh us that nothing escapes Divine observation, that nothing eludes Divine justice, God's censure,or approval. 2. They induce,in the case of the right-minded, repentance and reformation. When God's judgments are abroad, the inhabitants of the earth will learn righteousness. If events teach men that "the way of transgressors is hard," they may also teach them that "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every child whom he receiveth." "Before I was afflicted," said the psalmist~ "I went astray; but now have I kept thy Word." , III. IN WHAT BPIBIT THESE 0ALAM:ITIEB ARE IlEOEIVED. 1. There can be no question that, in many instances, they are the occasion of hardening of the heart. As in the oase of Pharaoh King of Egypt, afflictions may increase insensibility and rebellious- ness. 2. There are cases. in which cha~tisements of the kind here described produce national humiliation and repentance. Such was the case with Nineveh, even when· Jonah preached and foretold the city's doom; the people repented even before the- calamity came, and so averted it. And there were instances in the history of sti.lf- neoked Israel where chastidement led to- general abasement and repentance. 3. There are oases in which calo.mity fails to produce a general reformation, but is nevertheless the means of effecting in individuals a genuine repentance and a sincere conversion, unto God.-T. Ver. 6.-0bduracy reproached. There is a mingling of severity and pathos in thilo  THE BOOK OF AMOa [OR. IV, 1-13.,