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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMatthew Poole Commentary - Amos 5:8 - 5:8
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Seek him; though this be not in the Hebrew, it is well supplied by our interpreters.
That maketh the seven stars; a famous constellation, and whose rising about September was usually accompanied with rains and sweet showers, which, as Amo_4:7, had been withholden, whence want of water and bread; now the prophet adviseth to seek the Lord, who can give them rain and corn by the kindly influences of that watery constellation, which as he made, so he guides and manageth. This I take to be the most natural meaning of the place.
Orion; which rising about November brings usually cold rains and frosts, intermixed with much uncertainty, but very seasonable for the earth, to make it fruitful; this mentioned to persuade these people to repent, who were afflicted with such barrenness and unfruitfulness as brought famine with it.
Turneth the shadow of death into the morning; proverbially, that turneth greatest adversity, which is here called the
shadow of death, into as great prosperity, here called the morning, Psa_23:4.
Maketh the day dark with night; metaphorically this expresseth a change of prosperity into adversity. Ye house of Israel, think well of it, you are in a dangerous state; be advised to seek him who can turn your morning into night, or your night into morning; who can on a sudden remove all evil from you, and bring all good upon you; seek him therefore, and seek not idols.
Calleth for the waters of the sea; either to raise them to terrible swellings and rage, or rather calls up waters out of the sea, by commanding the vapour to ascend, which he turneth into rain;
and poureth them out upon the face of the earth; and then poureth out from the clouds to make the earth fruitful.
The Lord is his name; he only is God and the Lord. Who doth thus seek him?