The Chastening Of God
Text: Amos 4:6-12
Introduction:
• Amos the prophet lived and ministered during the reigns of :
i) King Jeroboam II in Israel
ii) King Uzziah in Judah
a. The kingdom was split
i. 10 tribes in the north - Israel
ii. 2 tribes in the south – Judah
• He himself lived in a town called Tekoah which was about 6 miles south of Bethlehem in Judah
• He spoke out against sin and prophesied over both Israel and Judah
• He lived in a time of great prosperity
• It was a post war period, and the people felt God was indicating his divine pleasure / approval upon them in their having victory and prosperity
• Socially there were only two classes of people, the very rich and the very poor
• The rich enjoyed the great luxury and indulged in all the pleasure money cold buy
• The poor were oppressed and injustice was practiced in the country
• Spiritually, true religion had been so compromised that it was only a “form of religion.”
• The religion of the people produced no moral effects in their lives
• Politically, as a nation they depended upon their financial and military strengths for their existence among the nations of the earth. (How much that had changed from when they were coming into the promised land and had to depend upon God for their continued existence.)
• To the people it seemed at that time that all was right with their world. But the prophet of God however saw the signs of decay. The evidence of poison in the blood, and the inevitable calamities that lied ahead for these people who were unable to “Read the Signs of the Times.”
Amos declared a side of God’s character that offended many of the people in his day, to the point that they attempted to silence him. I think it may very well be a part of God’s character that many are still offended by today. His Righteousness and His Judgement of sin.
I. God’s Chastisement Went Unrecognized and Unheeded
In our text today the Prophet Amos gives us at least four chastisements of God that went unrecognized and unheeded by God’s people.
i) God Sent Famine Upon Them (4:6)
6 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 Jehovah.
ii) God Withheld the Rain (4:7-8)
7 And I also have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest; and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. 8 So two or three cities wandered unto one city to drink water, and were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah.
The people simply thought they had undergone a drought.
They did not receive the rain at the time when the crops needed it.
Many incorrectly assume that the laws of “Mother nature” are in control of such things as Amos speaks about. But they fail to recognize that operating far above the “natural laws” is the one who created all things for His good pleasure and who has ultimate control – God the Father, creator of Heaven and Earth.
iii) God Sent Crop Failure (4:9)
9 I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: the multitude of your gardens and your vineyards and your fig-trees and your olive-trees hath the palmer-worm devoured: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah.
Once again the people failed to see the hand of God at work in their lives.They just thought that the season had produced an unusually large number of insects.
But God is like a doctor who must at times keep poking at us until it hurts.
(illustration)
I remember it like it was yesterday, when a few years ago, after the Sunday evening service I went out of the church to our family van to find my teenage son bent over in serve pain. I suspected it might have been appendicitis and so we drove immediately to the hospital. As he laid on the stretcher in the emergency room, first a nurse, then a doctor, then another intern each came in to examine him. Each one would probe at him with their fingers until it “hurt.” They definitely had his attention, and he knew he had a serious problem.
Sometimes God has to keep probing us until hurts. Sometimes to get our attention and to help us realize that we have a serious problem we need to address.
iv) God Chastened them with War (4:10-11)
10 I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have carried away your horses; and I have made the stench of your camp to come up even into your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah. 11 I have overthrown cities among you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a brand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah.
II. God Is Still The Same – He Still Chastens
1. God Chastens Nations
a. You cannot read and study the scriptures without recognizing that the writers of the scriptures firmly believed that God had the power to direct the destiny of Nations.
b. The God of Grace and Justice rewards those nations that fear and serve him and he punishes and executes judgement over those who ignore Him and oppress the helpless.
c. History reveals that those who have usurped the place of God and ignore God’s laws of Justice and Mercy are eventually overthrown and destroyed.
d. History is not the story of mankind through the ages, rather it was coined by someone as being “His Story.” That God is writing the pages of “History.” He is the divine author.
e. The bible declares in Psalm 9:17 The wicked shall be turned back unto Sheol, Even all the nations that forget God.
f. King Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way that God is ultimately in control of human history. He had become king of the most powerful & glorious empire. He was filled with pride and disregard for God. He oppressed the poor.
g. Daniel in interpreting the dream of King Nebuchanezzar reveals that the insanity which God would bring upon the King was to teach him this very important lesson; that “the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will”.
h. He advised the king; “break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.”
i. The King did not change his ways and 1 yr. later boasting with pride about his power, his glory and his majesty – Nebuchadnezzar hears a voice from heaven pronounce judgement upon him and repeat to him that it is to teach him that “God rules supreme.”
j. His sanity leaves him and for seven years he was like a wild beast. Eating grass like an ox.
k. At the end of the seven years God gave him back his sanity and his kingdom, then Nebuchadnezzar declares; (Dan. 4: 34b, 35, 37)
34 …and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation.
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
There are nations even today who are strutting as it were across the stage of history, which like Nebuchadnezzar must change at the chastisement of God – or suffer the radical justice of a Holy God.
2. God Not Only Chastens The Nations, But As The Life Of Nebuchadnezzar Points Out – He Chastens Individuals Too.
a. (Illustrate with personal story of friend who allowed his relationship with God to slide. Then while driving his truck had a serious accident and was very badly injured. After several months of traction and lying on his back looking up and within… came to the conclusion on his own that “It was the chastening of God” And that God had allowed the accident to bring him to his proper senses. Bottom line.. he recommitted his life to Christ and began to live a life of a true disciple of Christ.)
III. We Need To Understand God’s Purpose In Chastening
1. Chastisement is proof of the Father-hood of God
It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not?.
a. Where discipline is missing true father-hood is wanting
b. Because we are His sons, God chastens us and instructs us.
2. In the Distresses of Life God deals with us in terms of His love
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Heb 12:6
3. When God chastens & disciplines it is according to his perfect wisdom so that we might be changed into the image of his Holiness.
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence : shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
4. A proper understanding of God’s chastening will produce divine peace and righteousness in us (Heb 12:11)
All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness.
Conclusion:
When God chastens us we are apt to respond in one of two ways. The following is an excerpt taken from Max Lucado’s “The Applause of Heaven.” It says it better than I can so please permit me to read it too you. He writes…
“When my family lived in Rio de Janiero I owned a Ham Radio. I kept it in the utility room on top of the freezer. When we traveled I always unplugged the Radio and disconnected the antenna.
Once when we were leaving for a week long trip, I remembered that I hadn’t unplugged the Radio.. I ran back into the house and pulled the plug and dashed back out again. But I pulled the wrong plug. I unplugged the freezer. For seven days then a freezer full of food sat in a sweltering apartment with the power off.
When we came home, guess who got fingered as the one who had unplugged the freezer- and who therefore would be responsible for cleaning it. You got it right. So I immediately began to get to work.
What was the best way to clean out the rotten interior? I knew exactly what to do. I got a rag and a bucket of soapy water and began cleaning the outside of the appliance. I was sure the odor would disappear with a good shine so I polished and buffed and wiped. When I was through, the freezer could have passed a marine boot camp inspection. It sparkled. But when I opened the door, that freezer was revolting!
(Are you wondering what kind of fool would do that? Listen and see!)
No problem, I knew what to do. This freezer needs some friends. I’d stink too if I had the social life of a machine in a utility room. So I threw a party. I invited all the appliances from the neighborhood kitchens. It was hard work, but we filled our apartment with refrigerators, stoves microwaves, and washing machines. It was a great party. A couple of toasters recognized each other from the appliance store. Everyone played “pin the plug on the socket” and had a few laughs about limited warrenty. Blenders were the hit, though, they really mixed well.
I was sure the social interaction would cure the inside of my freezer, but I was wrong. I opened it up and the stink was even worse.
Now what!
I had an idea. If a polish job, wouldn’t do it and social life didn’t help, I’d give the freezer some status.
I bought a Mercedes sticker and stuck it on the door. I painted a paisley tie down the front. I put a save the whales bumper sticker on the rear and installed a cellular phone on the side. The freezer was stylish… It was classy! I splashed it with cologne and gave it a credit card for clout.
Then I opened the door expecting to see a clean inside, but what I saw was putrid. A stinky and repulsive interior.
I could think of only one other option. My freezer needed some high voltage pleasure. I immediately bought it some copies of “Play Fridge Magazine!” The publication that displays freezers with their doors open. I rented some films about foxy appliances… I even tried to get my freezer a date with the Westinghouse next door, but she gave him the cold shoulder.
I know what your thinking, the only thing worse that “Max’s” humor is his common sense. Who would concentrate on the outside when the problem is on the inside?
Do you really want to know?
• A home maker battles with depression. What is the solution suggested by some well meaning friend. Buy a new dress.
• A husband is having an affair that brings him as much guilt as it does adventure. The solution – change peer groups. Hang out with people who don’t make you feel guilty.
• A young professional is plagued with lonliness. His obsession with success has left him with no friends. His boss gives him and idea. Change your style, get a new hair cut. Flash some cash.
• Case after case of treating the outside while ignoring the inside. Polishing the case while ignoring the interior. And what is the result?
• The home maker gets a new dress and the depression disappears… for a day or two maybe. Then the shadows return
• The husband finds a bunch of buddies who sanction his adultery. The result – Peace – until the crowd is gone. Then the guilt is back
• The young professional gets a new look and people notice – until styles change. Then he has to scurry out and buy more stuff so he won’t appear out dated.
The exterior polished, the interior corroding.
The outside altered, the inside faltering.
One thing is clear: Cosmetic changes are only skin deep. You change your life by opening up and changing your heart.
No one enjoys being disciplined, but it is often through the discomfort of chastisment that we return to the right path.
Want to make life easier? Repent of your sin before God must bring discipline!
If you are being chastened – correct the wrong quickly. Repent, and turn back to the way of truth, peace, and life.
