Amos 3:3-8

The Lord is going on in his expostulations. He first shews, that by Israel's revolt that sweet communion between the Lord and his people was interrupted. Ca n two walk together except they be agreed? While therefore Israel thus rebelled, how could the Lord walk with Israel? And when the Lord called to them in a loud voice of judgments, as the roaring of a lion, if Israel turned a deaf ear to the voice, and became hardened instead of humbled by the correction; if Israel ascribed to second causes what evidently came from the first, here were still stronger evidences of a deplorably wicked mind. The Lord next appeals to common sense and reason. Is there evil in the city and the Lord hath not done it? The sword, the pestilence, and the famine; the strife of tongues, and the malice of enemies; these may, and these will be the apparent cause; but everyone that thinks at all must know that these are but instruments; the hand and direction is the Lord's. Never should we have known that the malice of Egypt against poor Israel was of the Lord's doing. had not his blessed scripture said so; but as the scripture hath said so, we have not only authority to mark it down as an undeniable truth, but from such an insight into the Lord's government, to form the same conclusions upon numberless occasions in life. See Psalms 105:25. When the Lord corrects his people in this manner, with the sword or tongue of his and their foes, it is all in mercy to them, and destruction in due season to their enemies. What a beautiful and godly sentiment did David express on this occasion concerning Shimei's cursing: let him alone, (said he), and let him curse, for the Lord hath bidden him 2 Samuel 16:11.