The Pulpit Commentary — Amos — Section 107

here assumed. Amos addressed the same people that was brought by Moses out ot Egypt, that was led by Joshua into Canaan. The same temptations were followed by the same falls; in fact, until after the Captivity, the chosen nation was ever liable to relapse into partial and temporary idolatry. This was especially tho case with the- northern kingdom, which had not the benefit of the temple services, sacrifices, and priesthood. The peculiarity of the case was the attempt to combine two systems of religion so inconsistent as the worship of Jehovah and the worship of the false deities. of the neighbouring nations. Yet this attempt is substantially one which is renewed by some in every generation, even under this spiritual and Christian dispensation. Displeasing as was the conduct of Israel in the view of a holy and "jealous" God, equally offensive is every endeavour to serve two masters, to divide the allegiance and devotion of the heart. I. THE FACT THAT MEN DO ATTEMPT TO DIVIDE THEIR HOMAGE AND WORSHIP, This is no doubt an evidence of human inconsistency and instability; but it is not to be denied that our nature frequently exhibits these qualities. On the one hand, education, the voice of conscience, the aspirations of better moments, the influence of pious friends, tend to retain the heart beneath the sway of true religion. On the other hand, the example of the pleasure-seeking and the worldly, the baser impulses of our nature, the suggestions of our spiritnal adversary, all draw our hearts towards an inferior good, towards an ignoble choice. Hence many are found neither renouncing God nor rejecting the allurements or a sinful world. ll THE GROUNDS UPON WHICH THE SUl'REME REJECTS THE DIVIDED HOMAGE AND WORSBll' WRICH ABE SOMETIMES OFFERED. 1. God's just claim-is to the whole nature and the whole life of his intelligent creatures. The Father of the spirits of all flesh cannot consent to share bis rightful possession with any rival, any pretender, be he who he may. 2. The nature of man is such that he can only give religious reverence and service that shall be worthy of the name to one Lord. Christ has emphatically pronounced upon the case in his words," Ye cannot serve God and mammon." 3. The- moral degradation and disaster involved in the endeavour are palpable. There is inconsistency, nay, there is opposition, between the two services. A riven heart is a wretched heart. Hypocrisy is a sandy foundation upon which to build the character and life; upon this no secure and stable edifice can possibly be reared. Ill THE URGENCY OF THE ALTERNATIVE CONSEQUENTLY PRESENTED TO EVERY MORAL NATURE. It is the alttrnative which Joshua urged upon the Israelites: "Choose ye- this day whom ye will serve." It is the alternative which Elijah urged upon a later ii;eneratiun: "How long halt ye between two opinions [between the two sides]? ' If Jehovah be God, serve him; but if Baal, then serve him."-T. Ver. 4.-Seeking the Lord. "For thus saith the Lord unto the house of. Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live." It is impossible to read this chapter without noticing the tenderness of the prophet, his compassion and pitifulness, his yearning wish to help and save. This feeling is the more remarkable because Amos belonged to the tribe of Judah, and felt thus towards the neighbouring and hostile kin~dom of Israel. Such pity is ever a sign of Divine inspiration. Thus Isaiah (xxii. 4) says, "Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, be.cause of the.spoiling of the daughter of my people," etc. Samuel, too, after Saul the king had proved himself so headstrong and wilful that nothing could save him, although he went down to his own house and, in accordance with Divine command, saw him no more, never• theless mourned fur Saul to the day of his death. And, loftiest of all, Christ Jesus 11tood on the Mount of Olives, and as he beheld the city which had rejected him, he -wept over it, saying, "0 Jerusalem," etc. I It was in this spirit that Amos wrote the JlRSsage before us, and thrice repeated the me~sage in our text. Meditation on this subject gives us some thoughts: 1. On the loss of God. 2. On the search/"' God a~¥~~ . L THE LOSS OF GoD. The exhortation to "seek" him implies that he has been lost sight of by his creatures. This is brought about by various influencea. 1. By intellectual temptations. These vary in different ages. In the time of Amos the study of God's works led to superstition, while in these days it leads many to scepticism. Then the stars were believed to affect human destiny (ver. 8); each season had ita cu. v. 1-27.] TUE BOOK OF AMOS. 107