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"I blasted you with blight and mildew"

Text: Amos 4:9

FURTHER CHASTENING

Israel was obstinate to a very high degree. One form of chastening followed another, but the nation continued to be unrepentant! The Lord afflicted the nation further.

“‘I blasted you with blight and mildew.
When your gardens increased,
Your vineyards,
Your fig trees,
And your olive trees,
The locust devoured them;
Yet you have not returned to Me,’
Says the LORD.”
Amos 4:9

1. “I blasted you with blight and mildew”

a) The Lord God claimed responsibility for these problems.

b) The problems encountered were not just natural problems but a form of divine judgment.

2. “Blight”

a) This is a general word to describe any disease that affected plant life.

b) If a blight is severe, it ends up destroying the plant or tree.

3. “Mildew”

a) This is a fungus.

b) It is usually white or greyish.

c) It occurs when there is a lack of strong sunlight.

d) It affects the plant or tree adversely.

4. “Gardens”

a) Some may take pride in their large and increasing gardens.

b) But there was very little the farmers or owners could do against blight and mildew.

c) There would be severe losses if these problems were not resolved.

5. The plague of locust

a) A locust plague is usually dreaded by all farmers.

b) No plant or tree can escape the ravage caused by the locusts (Joel 1:4).

c) A list of the trees affected was listed (grape vines, figs and olives).

6. “‘Yet you have not returned to Me,’ says the LORD”

a) The rulers were not repentant.

b) The priests and the people seemed to be oblivious of the fact that they needed to return to God in humble repentance and seek His mercy (2 Chronicles 7:13-14).