Amos 9:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Jacob perceived this in a hidden way, envisioning a ladder that reached from earth to heaven, where the Lord stood above it, witnessing angels ascending and descending (Gen. 28). This signifies, I believe, He who makes His ascent into heaven. He also declares that what He promises to those on earth is undoubtedly unshakeable and indestructible, as if placed on a firm foundation, for the Lord of Hosts will not be rendered powerless, nor will His words fall short. The Saviour reassures us of this, stating, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). He is likewise the One who stirs the ocean's waters with unfathomable power and sends rain upon the land—again, the One who governs the heavenly realms and, with ease, alters creation according to His will. His title is Lord and God, and indeed, the Almighty. This designation should not be seen merely as a title, as is often the case among humans, but is a reflection of the ultimate truth: He governs and wields authority over all things. Thus, the prophet's intention was to instill fear in those led astray, compelling them to quickly turn back, to view righteousness as illustrious, and to regard devotion to God as desirable, while the fear of the impending future helps them resist the temptation of disgrace. David rightly spoke of this to the Lord of all, stating, “With rod and bridle thou shalt grip their jaws, they that come not near thee” (31:9). It can also be accurately said of Christ that He is the orchestrator of His ascent into heaven. For He descended from above, from heaven, being God from God by nature. Thus, He proclaimed, “I am from above” (John 8:23). The wise John further testified about Him, declaring, “He who comes from above is above all” (John 3:31). He possesses the essence of ascension to the heavens; they rightfully belong to Him as God, who made Himself accessible to the inhabitants of the earth. He is our forerunner who journeyed down (Heb. 6:20) to the Father, and as Paul notes, He has opened for us a new and living way (Heb. 10:19-20), as He stood before God and the Father on our behalf as a man, who also raised us with Him and seated us in heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6). With His ascension, He has made arrangements for our ascent as well, if Paul is to be believed when he states, “We who live cannot prefigure those who have died, but we shall be caught up together with them on the clouds” (1 Thess. 4:15, 17). He ascended as a man, so that He might make His rightful ascent (being God and from God) available to us who believe. He reaffirms His promises on earth, for He is not a liar, but will accomplish what He has pledged. Hence He said, “Ye have not, that I go: but if I go not, the Comforter will not come unto you” (John 16:7). Therefore, He instructed the Apostles to remain in Jerusalem and to await the promise of the Father, which they heard from Him (Acts 1:4), and He generously poured out His grace upon them. Consequently, they became witnesses to His glory in Jerusalem, Judea, and throughout the earth (Acts 1:8). Let us also recognize that His promise is affirmed in another way: we trust that He will raise us from the dead, victory over decay will be ours, and our humble bodies will be transformed to be like His glorious body (Phil. 3:21), allowing us to partake in His kingdom. He calls forth the waters of the sea and pours them over the earth, altering the bitter, unpleasing, and unsuitable into what is good. Thus, the letter of the law brings death, and its shadow is inherently ineffective. Yet, for those who comprehend, it has proven to be immensely beneficial for understanding Christ, becoming like spiritual rain that nourishes the heavenly realms, since the law, once a source of distress and burden for the ancients, has become a channel for the mystery of Christ, allowing us to reap its benefits by peeling away the rough exterior of the shadow to reveal the truth. Let us then take what has been shared as an example, and allow the bitter waters of Marah (Ex. 15), which initially tasted bitter, to illustrate God’s grace; as He showed Moses a tree and commanded him to cast it into the waters, transforming bitterness into sweetness. The tree serves as a symbol of the holy cross, which renders the law sweet and palatable, even though the narrative carries an element of bitterness, for the letter kills—as the wise Paul has taught us.

He ascends to heaven with Enoch (Gen. ch. 5), with Elijah (2 Kings 2), and with Moses, whose burial place was not located on earth (Deut. 34) because he ascended to heaven. He ascends alongside Paul, the chosen instrument transformed from a persecutor into an apostle, who journeyed from the lowest of positions to the highest, reaching the third heaven, where he, through the Holy Spirit and the Son, approached the Father and heard the indescribable words pertaining to the mystery of the Trinity that humanity cannot comprehend (2 Cor. 12). Accordingly, He who ascends daily with the saints has established His covenant on earth, and the Gospel assures us, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). This communion is intertwined in the singular faith of the Lord. Therefore, the term religion itself derives from the word “religare” (to bind), symbolizing the connection within the Lord's union.

Further, according to the Septuagint, “He founds His promise upon the earth,” ensuring that the promises proclaimed by His prophets are not mere empty words or allegories, but rather grounded in reality. With a historical foundation, they acquire a deeper spiritual significance; indeed, Christ was born of a virgin, He truly raised the dead Lazarus, the woman with a flow of blood was healed simply by touching Him (αἰμοῤῤοῦσα), and at the Lord's arrival, the blind received sight, the lame walked, those unable to stretch out their hands did so, and lepers were cleansed. On a deeper level, the word of God is continually birthed from the virgin soul. Daily, those who are spiritually dead in sin and bound by vices are summoned to rise from their tombs of transgression; the works of the heart are restored, the blind see the light through faith in Christ, those previously lame in faith find their path in the Lord, hands once withered by selfishness are now extended for charity, and Mary, stained by sin, regains her former purity (Num. 12).

The Lord also calls upon the most bitter waters of the sea, pouring them out upon those who turn toward Him. He addresses the bitter waters, turning them sweet; He draws winds from His storehouse, elevates the heavy waters by His command, and, transforming them into rain through the warmth of the air, sends them upon the earth, that all who thirst may be refreshed, allowing grace to overflow where sin has previously reigned.