Amos the
prophet continued to share numerous ways the LORD brought judgment
upon Israel so they would “turn
back to Him”. However, they ignored God's punishments
and did not repent. In chapter four and verse nine of his prophesy,
Amos told how the LORD brought “blasting and mildew” upon
the crops of Israel to convince them to “return to” Him
where we read:
I have
smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your
vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the
palmerworm devoured them:
yet have ye not returned unto me, says the LORD.
The
verse begins, “I have smitten you with blasting and
mildew:” Amos began with the
words, “I have smitten”
or “struck, hit, beat, slayed and killed” “you with
blasting” or “the Israelites
with blight of crops” “and Mildew” which
refers “paleness, lividness and rust”. The LORD struck the
“crops” of the Israelites with a “blasting”
wind and a corrupting “mildew”.
The
verse goes on to say, “when your
gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees
increased, the palmerworm devoured them:”
Amos
continued, “when your gardens”
which means “orchards and fields of crops” “and
your vineyards”
which refers to “the vines for growing olives or grapes” “and
your fig trees” or
“the trees upon which figs grew” “and
your olive trees”
which means “the trees upon which the olive berries grew”
“increased”
or “became many, much, numerous and multiplied”, “the
palmerworm”
which refers to “the creeping locust without wings” “devoured
them” or
“ate, burned up, consumed, slayed and destroyed them”. Even
though the “crops” of Israel increased, God used “wingless
locusts” to “destroy” them.
Finally
the verse says, “yet have you not returned unto me, says
the LORD.” Amos added, “yet
you have not returned unto me”
which refers to “the people of Israel not turning back and
repenting” “says”
or “utters, proclaims and declares” “the LORD”
or “Yehovah or Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name
of the one true God”. Even though the “gardens, vineyards, fig
and olive trees” of Israel were pummeled by winds and locusts, the
people of Israel did not return to the LORD.
When
we meditate upon these words of Amos, we see how extensive the
judgment of God may be upon those whom He chooses. The LORD's idea
was for the people of Israel to “return to Him”,
but they did not. God Almighty allows circumstances and situations to
arise in the lives of people so they will turn their attention toward
His Son Jesus Christ. Perhaps we are experiencing “blastings
and mildew” upon the “crops”
of our lives, and if this is true, we should see these external
influences as God's call to “come back to Him”.
Next
time Amos shares about
“the pestilence after the manner of Egypt”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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