Amos 9:1 I saw the LORD standing on the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head… God will no longer tolerate sin, nor allow sinners to trifle with His majesty. I. DWELLING-PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH — HIS CHURCH. 1. No Church is His without Him (Revelation 3:2, 3, 9). 2. High privilege to have Him so nigh (Deuteronomy 4:7). 3. Continuous realisation of His presence by Israel (Exodus 11:38). 4. Peculiar abiding-place in Holy of Holies (Exodus 25:20-22). 5. And afterwards incarnate in the Holy One (John 1:14). 6. Future tabernacling (Revelation 21:3).But in text God is still in temple. II. His PRESENCE IN THE CHURCH REALISED. 1. Always by a spiritual discernment (1 Corinthians 2:14). 2. Some times by outward signs (1 Kings 8:10, 11; 1 Kings 19:12). His Word, ordinances, blessings, visitations, etc. 3. But in text, "I saw the Lord.," Thus Moses (Exodus 33:18), Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1) (Acts 7:56; Acts 9:3, etc.). III. THE LORD COME OUT OF HIS ABIDING-PLACE. No longer "dwelling between the cherubim" (Psalm 80:1), but " standing upon the altar " (unusual place), near the worshippers, ready to depart. 1. Because of spirit of infatuation. Israel often acted as if God were bound to remain while semblances only of religion existed (Numbers 16:3; Matthew 3:9; Matthew 5:20). 2. God's judgments often begin at house of God (1 Peter 4:17). Hence, early official act of Jesus Christ (John 2:15), repeated before His death (Mark 11:15). 3. Our expectancy and duty (Mark 13:33, etc.; Revelation 22:20). IV. THE LORD UTTERING HIS JUDGMENTS AGAINST SIN. 1. Spared not His own Son, "made sin" (Zechariah 13:7). 2. Spared not the heathen (Amos 1., 2.), nor religious professors (Amos 6:1), not any, great or small (Amos 9:1; Hebrews, "capitals," and other parts). 3. Note remarkable parallelisms. 4. Observe the many "I wills" of judgment and power. 5. Yet "remembering His mercy." A remnant to be saved.Application. 1. Ministerial duty. 2. If the Lord be among us, is His presence honoured? 3. Our acknowledgments. (W. W. Tyler.) Parallel Verses KJV: I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered. |
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