simple, actual, lit.eral truth. 1. This protection is apparent in the preservation of the Israelites during the Oriental captivity. This was even ma.de to minister to the religious purity and enlightenment of a nation previously inclined to fall into idolatrous worship. 2. We recognize it equally in the preservation and the national or tribal distinctness of the Jews in the ages which have elapsed since the destruction of Jerusalem. The corn has been sifted, but the grain bas not been lost. "Whom be scattereth he shall gathor." 3. There is a fulfilment of this inspired declaration in the individual con- versions to God which have from time to time taken place among those who have been trained among the unbelieving and rebellious. As a nation Israel bas never ceased to endure chastening. But members of the community, individual sons and daughters of Jacob, have again and again been seen to tum unto the Lord whom their fathers grieved by their ingratitude and insensibility. Precious grains have thus been pre- served and gathered into the garner and saved. 4. Such cases are an earnest of a more complete fulfilment of the prediction. So-such is the assurance of the Christian apostle-" all Israel shall be saved."-T. Ver. 10.-The folly of self-«Yn,fidena. The conduct of these Israelites, and their fate, may well stand as a beacon of warning to all who have heard the Word of God with indifference and unbelief. I. THE REASONS WHICH SHOULD PROMPT THE BINNER TO CONCERN. 1. The voice of bis own conscience assures him of guilt and ill desert. 2. The warnings of Scripture should not be lost upon him, and revelation abounds with such warnings uttered upon the highest authority. 3. The examples of the impenitent who have been overtaken by judgment and destruction enforce the faithful admonitions of Holy Writ. II. THE EXPLANATIONS OF TIIE SINNER'S SELF-CONFIDENCE .AND PBESUllPl'ION. Jt is unquestionable that there are many who say," The evil shall not reach nor overtake us," How can this be accounted for? 1. The voice of conscience may be silenced or unheeded. 2. The warnings of Scripture may be utterly disregarded. 3. The sinner may think rather of those instances in which judgment has been delayed than of those in which it has been hastened and fulfilled. III. THE WIBDOlll A.ND DUTY OF IlllllEDIA.TE REPENTANCE. 1. God's word will certainly be verified. 2. No human power can save the impenitent. 3. The time of probation is short, and may nearly have expired.-T. Ver.11.-The reconstruction of the tabernada of David. The reference is probably not to that tabernacle which was replaced and superseded by the temple of Solomon, but to the house of David. The booth or hut may well serve as an emblem of the depressed state of the Jewish monarchy and people, not simply as they were in the time of Amos, but as the prophet foretold that they should be in days about to come. The language is very expressive, and depicts a restoration very complete. Breaches shall be closed, ruins shall be repaired, the structure shall be rebuilt. The fortunes of the people of David must indeed be dark for a season, but a brighter day shall surely dawn. I. THE HOST GLORIOUS FULFILMENT OP THIS PROPHECY WAS IN THE ADVENT OP THE DIVINE SoN OF DAVID. Jesus was recognized by the people as the descendant and successor of their national hero. They shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" He himself made the claim, only that he asserted that he was not only David's Son, but also David's Lord. Like David, he was" after God's heart;" like David, he sang praises unto God in the midst of the Church; like David, he overcame the enemies of Jehovah and of bis people; like David, he reigned over the nation of Israel But unlike David, he was Divine in his nature and faultless in his character; unlike David, he was rather a spiritual than a worldly Conqueror; unlike David, he was King, not over one people, but over all mankind. In Christ the true Israel has found more than \he Israel "according to the flesh" lost in David's removal. IJ, '!'HE HAIN PROOF OF THIS FULFILMENT OF PROPHECY IS TO BE FOUND IN THB EBTADLISHMENT OF THE MESSIA.H'B SPIRITUAL KINGDOlll. Time has given an interpre- tation to this language which was impossible beforehand. How truly the hou~e of David has boen more than rebuilt, the kingdom of Davi,l more than re-establishe,1, is apparent to ev8ry obs11rver of what bns occurred in th8 ChristilUl C\lnturie~. '!'hi 100 THE BOOK OF AMOS. [OH, IX, 1-15,
kingdom of the Redeemer is: 1. Spiritual. Jn which respect it is more admirable nnd more glorious th,m ihet of David, which was founded upon the sword, and wbose sway was over, not the heart, but the outward life. 2. Universal. For whilst David reigned over a strip of Syrian territory, Christ's empire ie vast, and ie widening year by year. "The kinizdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ." 3. Everlasting. The few brief glorious years of David's reign were prophetic of that sway which shall endure for ever, Of Christ's kingdom "there shall be no end."-1'.