Amos 8:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, said the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon… If the text were taken literally it would be very nearly verified in an eclipse. But the words are to be spiritually understood. Here is intended some dispensation of Divine Providence towards mankind, of which the sun's eclipse is a suitable and proper emblem. 1. Such a day is that wherein God makes a sudden and unlooked-for change in a man's circumstances. All may go well with a man, and his heart may be lifted up within him. Then, in great mercy to his soul, God may send him an eclipse. The bright sun of prosperity is suddenly put out. 2. God eclipses a man's sun when He calls him suddenly and prematurely from the world. How many a bright sun is thus extinguished every day! 3. The day on which the Lord maketh a man's sun to "go down at noon" is the day on which He is pleased to strip such a man of his opportunities and means of grace. There is a clear day of blessed opportunity for every penitent, awakened sinner in existence. None shall seek and seek in vain. But will the light shine for ever on those who will not "comprehend it"? And there are eclipse times for sincere believers. "Now, for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations." And the Lord Himself sometimes appears to hide from him, and withdraw from him His customary favour, then indeed his sun. is gone — his day is darkened. Seasons like these may well be called the eclipses of believers. But, blessed be God! they are, like eclipses, of short continuance. (A. Roberts, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: |
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