Amos 5
SIBVer. 2, 3. The kingdom of Israel, once so flourishing, and never heretofore subdued by enemies, shall irrevocably fall into extreme misery, without any to help her. And scarcely a tenth part of the people shall remain to be carried captive
Amos 5:4-6
Turn to me, by faith, repentance, and reformation, and ye shall be preserved from ruin and continue prosperous; or, at least, in the end be saved with an everlasting salvation;—lest the vengeance of God break forth among the descendants of Joseph, and other fellow tribes, as devouring fire, which none of your idols can quench
Amos 5:7-9
Ye who pervert justice, to the great grief of the injured, and who neglect all regard to equity in your administrations and practice, turn to him, who, as governor of the heavenly influences, can give you rain; as the Disposer of day and night, can change your condition at his pleasure; as Ruler of the rain, can either comfort or ruin you, and who can enable the weak to encounter their mighty enemies, and beside and take their strong holds. 12, 13. Blessed by bribes, your judges give sentence against the poor, be their cause ever so good and clear. And, since ye so incorrigibly abound in wickedness, that God’s judgments must be executed upon you, wise and godly persons must forbear reproving you, and silently not murmur at, these judgments
Amos 5:15-24
Let justice be always administered with a steady and free course, and without any interruption. 16, 17. Dreadful wailing and anguish shall abound every where, even in the vineyards, where they were wont to be merry, on account of the general havoc that my judgments shall make. 18, 19. Ye, who scornfully wish to see the day of the Lord, shall quickly feel it, full of misery and perplexity, without any comfort: and so numerous shall be the calamities thereof, that if ye escape one ye shall fall into another
Amos 5:25-27
Copying after the idolatry of your fathers in the wilderness, ye have neglected my service, and, with no small toil and expense, have carried about your idols, which could not move themselves: therefore I will make the Assyrians to carry you captives into Media, far beyond both Damascus and Babylon
REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. V.—Sin has the most awful influence to reduce churches and nations. And often death or apostasy much diminishes church members. Yet nations and churches are ordinarily guilty of great and multiplied iniquities before God proceed to execute public judgments upon them. With great earnestness and expectation should we therefore seek after and wrestle with him while he may be found. And, if we live up to our prayers, we may expect our requests answered, and happiness in his presence. Great prudence, as well as grief, is necessary in times of singular wickedness and trouble. But it is presumptuous and dangerous to deride God’s threatenings and judgments, for they will infallibly overtake the impenitent. How odious to him are hypocritical devotions! If we regard iniquity in our heart, and practise it in our life, no religious services will avail us. And they who obstinately refuse God’s calls, shall at last be driven far enough from him in their wickedness. 106 1178