Amos 3:3-8 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:3

Can two walk together except they be agreed? or, except they have agreed? The "two" are God's judgment and the prophet's word. These do, not coincide by mere chance, no more than two persons pursue in company the same end without previous agreement. The prophet announces God's judgment because God has commissioned him; the prophet is of one mind with God, therefore the Lord is with him, and confirms his words. The application of the parables is seen in Amos 3:7 , Amos 3:8 . The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:3

Communion and concord inseparable. "Do two walk together unless they have agreed?" The special reference of this general question is not apparent. But the scope of the context suggests two points on either or both of which it would throw light. The one is the prophet's claim to be speaking the truth, the other is the people's claim to be doing the right. Between his words and their works there was utter incompatibility. Those must he wrong if these were right, and vice versa. And the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:3

Harmonious fellowship. These words have passed into a proverb, which fact is in itself a proof that they accord with human experience. I. HARMONY OF SENTIMENT AND PURPOSE ALONE CAN ENSURE AGREEMENT IN LIFE . The spiritual is a key to the outward life. And this holds not only with regard to the individual, but with regard to society. Because people live together in a house, they are not necessarily a true family; because they meet together in an ecclesiastical... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:3-8

Before announcing more particularly the coming judgment, Amos, by a series of little parables or comparisons, establishes his right to prophesy, and intimates the necessity laid upon him to deliver his message. He illustrates the truths that all effects have causes, and that from the cause you can infer the effect. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:3-8

No smoke without fire. God cannot utter empty threats. His every declaration is bona fide. When he roars he is about to rend. Let, then, the doomed sinner tremble. For all his insensibility he is no better than a dead man. I. SIN INVOLVES DISCONNECTION FROM A HOLY GOD . "Can two walk together," etc.? This deep principle involves that: 1 . Israel, quarrelling with God, cannot reckon on his company. For so far God had associated with them. In Egypt, in the wilderness,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:4

Will a lion roar, etc.? The lion roars when he has his pray in sight, and is about to spring upon it. So God makes the prophet utter his voice because he is ready to execute vengeance. The second clause expresses the same fact in different terms. The young lion ( kephir ) is not a whelp, but one able to provide for itself. He growls over the prey which he has in his lair. So Israel lies helpless as the words of God's threatenings strike upon him. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:4-6

Retribution. "Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey?" etc. These verses suggest certain remarks on retribution. I. RETRIBUTION SPRINGS OUT OF THE NATURE OF THINGS . The lion roars in the forest for prey; the young lion cries in his den from an instinct of nature. They are hungry, and they roar; they crave for food, and they cry; this is natural. The lion is quiet till he sees his prey, but roars at the sight of it, and thereby inspires it with such terror... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:5

The thought here is that the punishment is deserved as well as certain. A bird is not caught unless a trap is set for it. The trap which the sinner sets for himself is sin. Can a bird fall in a snare ( pach ) upon the earth, where no gin ( moqesh ) is for him? i.e. is set for him? The "gin" is a net with a stick for a spring, which flew up when touched, carrying part of the net with it, and thus the bird was enclosed and caught (see Kitto, 'Cyclop.,' s.v. "Fowling," 2.36).... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:6

The prophet must needs speak: shall not his denunciation arouse alarm among the people, as the trumpet suddenly heard in a city excites the terror of the inhabitants (comp. Ezekiel 33:2-5 )? Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it? The "evil" is affliction, calamity, malum poenae. As states have no future, all temporal calamities in their case may rightly be regarded as the punishment of sin. Thus the ruin impending, on Israel was sent by the Lord, whose agent was the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:6

Calamity one of the works of God. It is not sin, but suffering, that is here meant. We are to regard temporal calamities as the warning voice of God, a manifestation of his character, and a corrective expression of his displeasure. God maintains his controversy with Israel. The verses before contain language of unimpeachable equity, ill-requited kindness, and injured honour. On every ground the threatened punishment was merited, and only in mercy had it been suspended so long. There is a... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:3-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:3-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:4-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Amos 3:6

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