Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate/Volume 3/Number 5/Commentary on Amos 3:7

For the Messenger.

"Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7.

The author of these words is one whose sayings have been handed down to us upon the pages of sacred history, as a prophet of the Most High: His name is enrolled with those inspired penmen who spake and wrote as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost. And although his style is not marked with that flowing eloquence, that characterizes the writings of some of his cotemporaries, yet they are clear, specific and sublime. He was found among the herdmen of Tekoah in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, about seven hundred and eighty seven years before Christ; in this humble occupation he did not possess the advantages of an Isaiah, who was brought up in the school of the prophets, and learned in all the wisdom of the world, and had at his command whatever language he chose to select; and when wrapped in prophetic vision seemed to comprehend the present, past and the future, with that profound sublimity, that is characteristic of Him, who touched his lips with hallowed fire. But however, when we carefully examine the writings of the holy prophets, and compare them with each other, a perfect harmony will be found to exist; they were all animated by the same spirit, using their utmost exertions not only to reform and christianize the world in their generations, but to benefit those that should follow.

From the unbounded field of prophecy and revelation lying before me, I have thought that it might not be altogether unprofitable to enter into an inquiry upon the subject contained in the words of the prophet before quoted; and see whether God has varied from the rule by him laid down, and if the fact can be ascertained that he has, we shall of necessity be compelled to strike Amos from the list of God's prophets, and rank him among the prophets of Baal. On the other hand, if the Lord has universally revealed his secrets to his servants the prophets, and positively declared that he will do nothing without first taking this course, that the world may be apprised of what he designs to do, that all men may be without excuse when they come before him in judgment; why should it be thought a thing incredible that he should reveal himself in the latter times, to prepare the way for the gathering of Israel, the destruction of the wicked, and the bringing in of that day of universal peace and happiness that is so much desired by all the saints.

When we review the pages of sacred writ, from the day of our common progenitor, whom God formed of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, we find that he immediately presented before him the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven to be named by him; he also exhibited to his view the trees of the forest, the vegetable kingdom and the vast workmanship of his hands, that he had created and made to render him happy. But for his particular location the Lord had prepared a garden eastward in Eden, delightfully situated and beautified with every tree, plant and flower, that was pleasant to the sight and good for food. When he opened his eyes upon his Creator and the vast scenery that surrounded him, the Lord immediately revealed to him his secrets by giving him this information, that it was not good for him to be alone, that he would provide a help-meet for him, that they might freely partake of all the fruits of the garden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil excepted, and the consequences that would follow disobedience. When Abel, who had obtained testimony that he had pleased God, had fallen a victim to the dire ambition of his brother, the Lord revealed the awful secret to Cain that in consequence of this high handed rebellion against him he should be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth.

But not to dwell particularly upon the frequent correspondence that the Lord held with Adam, Cain, Abel, Seth, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech and many others in that early period, to whom he revealed himself in judgments and in mercies; we will come to the final overthrow and desolation of the antediluvian world: and here permit me to ask a question; did, or could, the Lord in justice sweep the earth with the besom of destruction without first warning the inhabitants thereof of the impending ruin that awaited them, because their wickedness was great and the imaginations of the thoughts of their hearts were only evil continually? I answer no; he will do nothing without revealing his secrets to his servants the prophets.

Little more than sixteen hundred years had rolled away since God had caused his spirit to move upon the face of the waters, and the light to flash athwart the dark abyss; the liquid element to be gathered into one place and the dry land to appear, and placed lights in the firmament of heaven to rule the day and night, and spoke into existence a being in his own image and likeness, with power to rule at his pleasure the beasts of the field, the fowls of heaven, the fishes of the sea, and every creeping thing that moveth upon the face of the earth, with fruit trees, herbs and vegetables bearing seed after their kind to perpetuate their existence and render all the creations that he had made perfectly happy. Contemplating them in this situation, no marvel that God should pronounce them all very good. But how different the language of the great Jehovah at this time to his servant Noah; all flesh, said he, have corrupted their way before me, the earth is filled with violence, therefore I will destroy man whom I have created, from the face thereof; yea, both man and beast, and the creeping things and the fowls of the air, for it repenteth me that I have made them.

Noah was a man of God, a preacher of righteousness, and found grace in the eyes of his Maker, and had power with him through faith, to obtain a revelation of his will, by which he was enabled to save himself and those that believed. Are we not warranted in saying that the destruction of the old world come upon them because of their unbelief, not in past but in present revelations. Hear the language of the apostle Paul upon this subject-"By faith, Noah being warned of God, of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." Who cannot see that it was not for want of faith in the revelations of their progenitors that they were destroyed, but for disregarding the testimony of him who stood in their midst, to whom God had revealed the secrets of their abominations and the judgments that awaited them. The apostle says that Noah was warned of things not seen as yet; as much as to say that all the prophets and men of God that have gone before me have not seen the things that the Lord has now shown to me. Is it not evident, then, that however implicitly they might have believed and obeyed all the former revelations of God, an unbelief in the testimony of Noah was sufficient to overthrow and destroy them, for he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

[To be continued.]