Amos 4:6-11 And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have you not returned to me… I. THE CHARACTER OF THE CHASTISEMENT. 1. It touched them in their temporal comfort, Nothing else would reach such obstinate sinners. To a good man the Divine love and favour is the highest of all blessings: Israel could only be reached by loss of temporal comfort. 2. The chastisement took various forms in order to reach them all. 3. Stroke after stroke fell upon them, that if their hearts were at all softened by the troubles they had just known, the new trouble might lead them to true repentance; and so that every class of the community might be reached and won for God. A glance at the five forms which the visitation took will show how it reached every circle. II. THE PURPOSE OF THEIR SORROWS. God wanted to bring them home to Himself. III. THE FAILURE OF THIS CHASTISEMENT. God had done all that even He could do to make it impressive. Chastisement may fail. "Many meet the gods, but few salute them." Sorrows which might purify are lost upon us because they do not make us acknowledge Him. God can do nothing more, He must leave men to their sin till the blow fall and the ruin irretrievable has come. (J. Telford, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD. |
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