Daily Devotions
Amos
"Also I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities"
Text: Amos 4:6
THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD
The chastening of the Lord was a doctrine that was well-taught and emphasised (Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:5-6). Unfortunately, this teaching was not well understood at all.
“‘Also I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities,
And lack of bread in all your places;
Yet you have not returned to Me,’
Says the LORD.”
Amos 4:6
1. “Also I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities”
a) This is not a reference to oral hygiene or dental health.
b) This is a reference to the fact that Israel suffered a severe shortage of food.
c) There was nothing to put in the mouth and thus there was “cleanness of teeth”.
d) All the cities of Israel were affected!
2. “And lack of bread in all your places”
a) The specific mention of a lack of bread substantiates the idea of “cleanness of teeth”.
b) There was insufficient bread for all the cities… in all the places.
3. “‘Yet you have not returned to Me,’ says the LORD”
a) The withholding of provision was an act of chastening.
b) This should have caused Israel to seek the Lord
i) In humility
ii) In repentance
iii) In returning to the Lord
c) But the reality was that they did not return to the Lord at all.
d) Israel continued to seek idols for help instead!
4. A Warning that was not heeded
It was Moses who had warned Israel of the problem of turning away from God to worship idols (Deuteronomy 32:19-35). The following words of warning may be highlighted: –
a) I will heap disasters on them.
b) They shall be wasted with hunger.
c) Devoured by pestilence and bitter destruction (Deuteronomy 32:23-24).
5. The sin of abandoning the Lord God
This was clearly stated (Deuteronomy 32:15-17). The people of Israel had not realised that they had in fact worshipped and sacrificed to demons and not the Lord God (Deuteronomy 32:17). With their abominable activities, they provoked the Lord to great anger, and thus the disasters that befell the nation.