The Church Warned Against Supineness
John G. Avery. Amos 6:1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations… : — While Amos unveils the transgressions of Israel, he does not spare the sins of Judah. I. THE PERSONS HERE REFERRED TO. Those who are "in Zion." The class of persons spoken of are the members of the visible Church, the professing people of God. Regard the professing Church — 1. As solemnly devoted to holiness and God. (1) They are so by the immediate and express purpose of God Himself. He has created them anew in Christ Jesus. And He has done this for His own glory. (2) They are so by the intention of their Divine Redeemer. He has done and suffered much for them. To redeem and raise up a holy Church is the object which is the solace of all the Redeemer's labours, the mead of all His sufferings. (3) They are devoted to holiness in baptism. The ordinance of baptism is the expressive type and sign of the sprinkling of the efficacious blood. (4) They are thus devoted by voluntary covenant. Every Christian is such by his free choice. 2. As the appointed instrument in the evangelisation of the world. The Church of Christ is designed to be a benevolent institution. They are appointed "witnesses" for God to an unbelieving and perishing world. (1) They are eminently fitted for this. They are themselves awakened and alive to the dangerous condition of every unconverted man. They know too the way of deliverance. And(2) they have the command. 3. As a mediator with God on behalf of a perishing world. (1) The renovation of the moral world depends upon the agency and operation of the Holy Ghost. The Word of God itself con tains no inherent or independent efficacy to convert mankind. (2) The bestow meat of the Spirit is frequently and distinctly promised, but always in answer to prayer. (3) Hence prayer is made the Christian's primary duty. Jesus both by precept and by example urged it upon His followers. II. THE SIN CHARGED UPON THEM. "They are at ease." Consider — 1. Their spiritual condition. They are devoted to holiness; are they holy? The spiritual state of Christians generally is not such as to warrant their being at ease. Every scriptural view of their character and duty involves the obligation of strenuous exertion. 2. The state of the world. The Gospel has now been preached over eighteen hundred years, and what is the result? Look at your own family and domestic circle. Look at the inhabitants of your town and neighbourhood. To how small a proportion of our race have even the tidings of the Gospel yet been conveyed. 3. Another reason for uneasiness is that the success of the Word must always arise from the agency of the Holy Spirit. III. THE JUDGMENT DENOUNCED. Under stand — 1. In the sense of a simple prophecy, as the prediction of a calamity likely and even certain to ensue. 2. It is the language of righteous retribution. That there is an equitable correspondence between sin and its consequences is testified by all experience. 3. It is the language of Divine denunciation. God is a just God, and a terrible. The sceptre of His mercy may become the rod of His wrath. If by our supineness, our unfaithfulness, our inconsistency, our sin, we have caused to be shed the blood of souls, shall we escape, think you, the just judgment of God? (John G. Avery.) Parallel Verses KJV: Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! WEB: Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who are secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel come!