"Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD,
"When the plowman shall overtake the one who gathers the harvest,
And the one who treads the grapes [shall overtake] him who sows the seed [for the harvest continues until planting time];
When the mountains will drip sweet wine
And all the hills shall melt [that is, everything that was once barren will overflow with streams of blessing].
"Also I shall bring back the exiles of My people Israel,
And they will rebuild the deserted and ruined cities and inhabit them:
They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine,
And make gardens and eat their fruit.
"I will also plant them on their land,
And they shall never again be uprooted from their land
Which I have given them,"
Says the LORD your God.—Amos 9:13-15
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.”
What is the doctrinal lesson taught in this text, and what does it teach us about revival? I think it is this—that God is absolute monarch over the hearts of people. God does not say here if people are willing, but he gives an absolute promise of a blessing. As much as to say, “I have the key of men’s hearts; I can induce the plowman to overtake the reaper; I am Master of the soil—however hard and rocky it may be, I can break it, and I can make it fruitful.”
When God promises to bless his church and to save sinners, he does not add, “If the sinners are willing to be saved.” No, God leads free will in sweet captivity, and his free grace is all-triumphant. Sure, people do have a free will, and God does not violate it; but the free will is sweetly bound with chains of the divine love until it becomes freer than it ever was before. The Lord, when he means to save sinners, does not stop to ask them whether they want to be saved—but like a rushing mighty wind, the divine influence sweeps away every obstacle; the unwilling heart bends before the forceful gust of grace, and sinners who would not yield are made to yield by God!
