Amós 9

Amós 9

Spurgeon reminds us that "Behold is a word of wonder; it is intended to excite admiration. Wherever you see it hung out in Scripture, it is like an ancient sign-board, signifying that there are rich wares within, or like the hands which solid readers have observed in the margin of the older Puritanic books, drawing attention to something particularly worthy of observation." I would add, behold is like a divine highlighter, a divine underlining of an especially striking or important text. It says in effect "Listen up, all ye who would be wise in the ways of Jehovah!" These passages describe the glorious Millennial Reign of Messiah when conditions are ideal and idyllic...the utopia that men have been hoping for and trying to create in their strength for millenia!!! The Millennial Kingdom will be characterized by fertility (Amos 9:13), prosperity (Amos 9:14), and security (Amos 9:15), with Israel finally and permanently possessing the land promised in Ge 15:18-21+. Days are coming," declares the LORD - In these days God promises to remove all curses (cf Lev 26:14-46) and restore covenant blessings to the land (Lev 26:3-10; cf Dt 28:1-14). Sunikijan summarizes the contrasts between cursings and blessings... Instead of drought and famine (Amos 1:2; 4:6-8), there will be unending prosperity (Amos 9:13; cf. Lev. 26:3-5, 10; Dt. 28:4-5, 8, 11-12). Instead of the turmoil of war (Amos 2:13-16; 3:11, 15; 4:10-11; 5:2-3; 6:9-10; 7:17; 9:1, 10), there will be unbroken peace which will enable Israel to enjoy the fruit of her labor (Amos 9:14; cf. Lev. 26:6; Dt. 28:6). Instead of the fear of exile (Amos 4:2-3; 5:5, 27; 6:7; 7:11, 17; 9:4), Israel will confidently defend herself from every foe and remain in the land (Amos 9:15; cf. Lev. 26:7-8; Dt. 28:7, 10). (Bible Knowledge Commentary When that curse is removed, "Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree" (Isa 55:13). The wilderness and the desert will be glad, And the Arabah will rejoice and blossom; Like the crocus It will blossom profusely And rejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, The majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, The majesty of our God. (Isaiah 35:1-2+) When the plowman will overtake the reaper - These agricultural descriptions indicated Israel will experience unprecedented peace and absence of fear of a foreign threat. The only way they could plant and harvest like this would be indicative of God giving security along with the productivity. The fields will be so productive that they will only finish reaping the harvest when it will be time to plant the next crop. In fact the plowman will have to wait for the reaper before he can plow and plant. The reaping should have been finished in May but will continue to October, planting season! NET Note - "Plowing occurred in October-November, and harvesting in April-May. But in the future age of restored divine blessing, there will be so many crops the reapers will take all summer to harvest them, and it will be time for plowing again before the harvest is finished." Overtake (05066)(nagash) signifies coming into very near proximity to the object and thus means to draw near or approach. Here in Amos 9:13 nagash speaks of incredible divine blessing on the land. In what might be a play on words Amos used the same Hebrew verb nagash in Amos 9:10 to describe sinners who were so deceived they thought they would not be overtaken by divine judgment! Isaiah alludes to Israel's productivity "In the days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will blossom and sprout, And they will fill the whole world with fruit." (Isa 27:6) And the treader of grapes him who sows seed - When the grapes were harvested, they were placed in a press where workers would stomp on them with their feet and squeeze out the juice (picture). NET Note - "The grape harvest occurred in August-September, planting in November-December. But in the future age described here there will be so many grapes the workers who stomp them will still be working when the next planting season arrives!" There is a similar promise of incredible agricultural production to Israel in Leviticus ‘Indeed, your threshing will last for you until grape gathering, and grape gathering will last until sowing time. You will thus eat your food to the full and live securely in your land. (Lev 26:5, read the full blessing for obedience in Lev 26:1-13+) When the mountains will drip sweet wine - Sweet wine is the best wine. A picture of the plethora of vineyards on the mountains. "In his mind's eye Amos can see the wine cascading off the hills like rivulets after a deluge. Joel expresses similar thoughts, but there, while the mountains "drop down new wine", "the hills shall flow with milk". The moisture to produce such a lavish crop will be constant, for "all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters" (Joel 3:18+)." (Hay)