Amos 8 and 9
ONE more sign was given to the prophet (verse 1), a token that Israel’s summer was past, her fruit was gathered; and as God looked at it, He said, “The end is come upon My people Israel.” (Compare with Genesis 6:13). The songs of the present would soon give place to howlings of misery, of woe, when the long-promised judgment of this people should take place. There would then be no word of complaint against God; the many dead would be cast out in silence. There can be no complaint at the just judgment of Jehovah when it falls.
One more word of warning from Him Who reads the thoughts and intents of the human heart is given in verses 4-6; but would the hearers listen, and humble themselves? “Jehovah bath sworn by the glory of Jacob, Certainly I will never forget any of their works!”
Verses 8 to 14 of chapter 8, and 1 to 10 of the 11Th chapter express in striking language the judgment to fall on Israel; part of it is as yet unexecuted, for God has not visited His earthly people to the full measure for their sins. Isaiah 17 and 28, Jeremiah 30, Joel 2 and Zechariah 13:8, 9 may be referred to among many passages relating to future judgments upon the earthly people of God; Ezekiel 20:33-38 gives the particular dealing with the ten tribes of Israel, who, unlike the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, will be punished outside of the land of their inheritance.
In verse 8, the “flood” is the river of Egypt, the Nile, comparison being made of the promised day of trouble with the annual rising of that stream, “and it shall surge and sink down, as the river of Egypt” (N. T.) (See also verse 5, chapter 9). The word of God was despised, and His prophets were rejected; the people were, in retribution, to suffer for lack of that divine guidance they had refused (verses 11-11).
Chapter 9 opens with a vision of the Lord standing where offerings were wont to be made; sacrifices would now be unavailing. None of the rebels from His government will escape. “Hell” in verse 2 is not the lake of fire, but where the dead are awaiting eternal judgment. “Heaven” is “the heavens”; the expression does not mean the Christian’s heavenly home. Carmel is not a high mountain, but has deep and winding gorges overhung by trees, where hiding would not be difficult. But there can be no hiding from God, as these verses show.
The sinful kingdom of Israel (verse 8) was to be destroyed, but the house of Jacob not utterly. There would be a dispersion of them among all the nations (verse 9), and all the sinners are to die by the sword, who said that evil should not overtake nor befall them (verse 10). The kingdom of Israel perished, the Jews are scattered and are found today in many countries, but verse 10 has been only partially fulfilled.
God will not allow this book of judgment to be closed without His assurance of blessing for the remnant in whom is faith (verses 11-15). In the coming day He will raise up the tabernacle, not of two kingdoms, but of one, that of David, for Israel and Judah will be united. In that day there will be such blessing as this world has never known, and Israel will be the chief of the nations.
And where will the Church be then, — those who have believed the present message of God’s grace? With, Christ. Their home will never be on earth again, and the earthly blessings mentioned here are for God’s earthly people.
ML 02/14/1937