The Pulpit Commentary — Amos — Section 190

Ver. 9.-The winnowing of God. "For. lo. I will command, and I will sirt the house of Israel 11mong 1111 n11tions, like 118 corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least groin fall upon the earth." Introduction: The free use made by Amos of r.·,1 the scenes in n11ture. We may learn from the text three lessons. J. TIIAT AMONG TIIOSE CALLED BY A IlELIOIOUB NAME THERE EXISTS A GREAT DIVEilBITY or CHARACTER. " I will sift . . . as corn is sifted." If corn were gathere,l as manna was-pure, unmixed with deleterious or useless elements-no sifting would be needed. But it grows with other growtb-1 thistles, poppies, darnel, etc., and it seems impossible to keep the field perfectly clean. In the physical, as in the moral, world the false grows beside the true, and the evil beside the good; and God's own law is:, "Let both grow together until the harvest." Indeed, during their growth it is difficult to distinguish these. You may mistake tares for wheat, fool's parsley for the garden herb, poisonous fungi for edible mushrooms, and so forth, and only discover your error by serious or even fatal consequences. The mystery of the coexistence of good and evil, then, runs through nature. It is seen in character. "All are not Israel who are of Israel," or are called by that sacred name. Let ns now exemplify this from a comparison of the times of Amos with our own. 1. Idolaters were among the prophet's hearers. They had deliberately turned from Jehovah. They held that it was a wise policy on the part of Jeroboam I. to prevent the people going to Jerusalem. They were convinced that the calves at Bethel gave e. centre to their national life; and therefore, from motives political and worldly, many of them said, "These be thy gods, 0 Israel." Knowing as they did the history of their fathers, and the laws and ceremonies of the Mosaic institutes, they sinned against the light. Yet they still called themselves " Israel," and they were not marked out by external sign from the true people of God. No brand was on their foreheads, no curse fell on their homes, no fire of judgment overwhelmed them with destruction; but they were amongst the sleek, successful men of Samaria. In this Christian land, and in our Christian congregations, may still be found those who have forsaken God and made unto themselves other gods. Sometimes, for example, a man deifies wealth. His thoughts are concentrated on it, and his full energies are directed to its attainment. To claims ma.de on his generosity he turns a deaf ear; over scruples about the forsaking of righteousness and mercy he rides roughshod. If at last he succeeds he says, "It is my power, a.nd the might of my ha.nd, that has wrought this." Yet prayerless, godless, as such men are, they still call themselves by the Christian name. 2. Amos spoke to others who were simply indifferent to religion. They considered that the questions debated between the true and false prophets were professional questions, with which they had no personal concern. Worshipping neither the calves nor Jehovah, their wish was to glide quietly through life, winning for themselves such enjoyment as was possible. Describe the attitude of ma.ny towards religion in our day---0ccasionally attending worship, knowing nothing of the meaning of it, and taking their chance as to the unseen future. 'l'hey are known, not to us, but to God. 3. Some in the days o/ Amos had the character as well as the name of "Israel." They dared not, could not, go up to Jerusalem. But their families were instructed in the Scriptures. They thought of the old days when Jehovah was universally acknowledged as the Lord, and, like Jacob, they prayed in au agony of supplication, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." These belonged not only to the "kingdom" but to the" house" of Israel, on which God would have mercy. (See the promise to this effect, distinguish- ing between the "kingdom" and the "house/ in ver. 8.) Such are still to be found. In business, because of their integrity and charity, their name is as ointment poured forth. In the homes, 118 instructors of their children, they are preparing blessings for the world. In the sanctuary their praises wing their way to heaven, and in prayer they a.re princes "having power with God." Now, these differing characters were and are mingled, e.s are the tares and wheat. They are even united, as are the cha.ff and the corn, and therefore the day of sift.ing and separation must come. It has not coma yet. When corn is ripening e.nd flowers a.re blossoming it is useless to send in the weeders. When the reapers a.re busy their scythes must cut down all growths alike. There is no time then for separation, but it comes at last. You see a heap of winnowed corn in the granary; the weeds have been burned, the straw is gone, and all the chalf is scattered. So Israel was to be scattered by persecution, war, :md captivity; but nut one groin of God's wheat should fall upon the ground. (Text.)  192 THE BOOK OF AMOS. [oa. n:. 1-16.