The Pulpit Commentary — Amos — Section 144

purpose o.nd promise, and as the ho.ndiwork of God, he is not to fall. He is: 1. To stand a,gainst destruction. Israel was not to perish. Low she might fall, small she might become, contemptible she might long remain; but in all, and through all, and after all, she wo.s to Jive. 'l'he spiritual Israel has a perpetuity of existence also. The individuo.l Christian "sho.11 never ~rish" (John x. 28). The grace that is in him is a Divine thing, o.nd indestructible (Gal. ii. 20). His life is a living Christ within, and he is irnmorto.l while Christ lives. 'l'his involves that the Church-God's kingdom- is an everlasting kingdom. If even a member cannot perish, much less the whole body. Iledeorned by his Son, and dowered in permanence with his Spirit, the Church stands, let what may fall (Dan. ii. 44). A structure of God's building, on a foundation of God's laying, according to a plan of God's devising, it stand~ impregnable on its rock (Matt. xvi. 18), and the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. Its immovable stability is a question of Divine will and resource. There is the unchangeable purpose, the unconquerable power, the inviolable promise. The house is impregnable over which these three mount triple guard (John x. 28). In the soil of God's plan, in the rock-cleft of his might, in the showers and sunshine of his pledge, the fair Church- flower can neither fall nor fade, but must bloom while the ages run. 2. To stand agai'.nst temptation. Israel was separate nnd to be pure. The Divine ideal was set before her not to mingle with the nations, nor serve their gods, nor learn their ways (Numb. xxiii. 9; Deut. vi. 14; xviiL 9). So with the Church as a whole, and individual members in particular. Temptation in some degree is inevitable. While within is the iron of a corrupt nature, and outside the loadstone of a corrupt surround- ing, there will be the drawing toward sin. But while God is stronger than the devil, and his grace stronger than sin, there shall not be a lapsing into wickedness. The word of acceptance is poace-bringing. The change by regeneration is radical. The measure of grace conforred is su.flicient (2 Cor. xii. 9). Therefore Israel, harnessed in armour of proof, shall defy the devil's darts, and stand in the evil day (E[Jh. vi. 13). 'l'he bride of Christ will abide in loyal love, and be to eye and heart at last his "undefiled," with no spot in her (Cant. vi. 9; iv. 7). She may grow languid almost to slothfulness, but even in her sleep her II heart waketh" (Cant. v. 2-6). Her love may at times burn low (Matt. xx:iv. 12), but the fire remains alight, and glows at the slightest breath from heaven. In the end she is presented to Christ a glorious Church, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing (Eph. v. 27). 3. To stand against mil<fortune. From this there is no earthly immunity (Job v. 7). God's Israel will get a share, and a large share, of the shocks of calamity. There will even be special evils to which their character will ex:pose them alone of men. But over against this stand the Divine helps which also are theirs a.lone. God is for them. 'l'hey are the objects of a speci11l providence. The Divine favour-their shield and buckler-is armour of proof. The darts of evil are turned aside, and fall pointless and broken to the ground. Nay, the evil, having been endured and survived, may be utilized. God constitutes it the appropriate and effective means of a heavenly culture (Heh. xii. 11; 2 Cor. iv. 17). It destroys nothing, not even a hair of their head; and it prunes the tree into richer and choicer fruit-bes.ring. It even increases future glory, adding the piquancy of contrast to its otherwise perfect bliss. III. JAOOll'B ATTA.INMF:NT OF BIB IDEAL A CABE OF Goo. God concerns himself about a.II that concerns his people. The prophet assumes that one way or other Jacob is bound to be upheld, and that God in the last appeal will see it done. As to this ideal: 1. God loves it. It is set up by his own hand, and characterized by his own c,xcellences, and it must be a thing after his own heart. All the graces that are acceptable with God shine in the saints, and the interests dear to his heart are those with which they are inseparably identified. Righteous himself, he loveth righteousnellS; unchangeable, he loveth steadfastness; and the things his heart loves his hand will guard. 2. God appoints it. Salvation from first to last is of his devising. He decides that salvation shall be, and wha.t, and how. It is the purpose of his a.durable ~race, and therefore something along the lines of which he may be expected to work. He has predestinated the individual II to be conformed to the image of his Son," and tho Church to II come to a perfect man." And we ml\y safely reckon that his measures will work in these directions; helping the individua.l, that he is "change,\ into the same image from glory to glory;" and blessing the Church, that she gathers up o.ud 1H THE BOOK OF AMOS. [on. vn. 1-17,