Amo 3 | MHCC | e4.org | 1-8 The distinguishing favours of God to us, if they do not restrain from sin, shall not exempt from punishment. They could not expect communion with God, unless they first sought peace with him. Where there is not friendship, there can be no fellowship. God and man cannot walk together, except they are agreed. Unless we seek his glory, we cannot walk with him. Let us not presume on outward privileges, without special, sanctifying grace. The threatenings of the word and providence of God against the sin of man are certain, and certainly show that the judgments of God are at hand. Nor will God remove the affliction he has sent, till it has done its work. The evil of sin is from ourselves, it is our own doing; but the evil of trouble is from God, and is his doing, whoever are the instruments. This should engage us patiently to bear public troubles, and to study to answer God's meaning in them. The whole of the passage shows that natural evil, or troubles, and not moral evil, or sin, is here meant. The warning given to a careless world will increase its condemnation another day. Oh the amazing stupidity of an unbelieving world, that will not be wrought upon by the terrors of the Lord, and that despise his mercies!

‏ Amos 3

* Judgments against Israel. (1-8) The like to other nations.

(9-15)

1-8 The distinguishing favours of God to us, if they do not

restrain from sin, shall not exempt from punishment. They could

not expect communion with God, unless they first sought peace

with him. Where there is not friendship, there can be no

fellowship. God and man cannot walk together, except they are

agreed. Unless we seek his glory, we cannot walk with him. Let

us not presume on outward privileges, without special,

sanctifying grace. The threatenings of the word and providence

of God against the sin of man are certain, and certainly show

that the judgments of God are at hand. Nor will God remove the

affliction he has sent, till it has done its work. The evil of

sin is from ourselves, it is our own doing; but the evil of

trouble is from God, and is his doing, whoever are the

instruments. This should engage us patiently to bear public

troubles, and to study to answer God's meaning in them. The

whole of the passage shows that natural evil, or troubles, and

not moral evil, or sin, is here meant. The warning given to a

careless world will increase its condemnation another day. Oh

the amazing stupidity of an unbelieving world, that will not be

wrought upon by the terrors of the Lord, and that despise his

mercies! 9-15 That power which is an instrument of unrighteousness, will

justly be brought down and broken. What is got and kept

wrongfully, will not be kept long. Some are at ease, but there

will come a day of visitation, and in that day, all they are

proud of, and put confidence in, shall fail them. God will

inquire into the sins of which they have been guilty in their

houses, the robbery they have stored up, and the luxury in which

they lived. The pomp and pleasantness of men's houses, do not

fortify against God's judgments, but make sufferings the more

grievous and vexatious. Yet a remnant, according to the election

of grace, will be secured by our great and good Shepherd, as

from the jaws of destruction, in the worst times.