If a ram’s horn sounds in a city, do the people not tremble? If calamity comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?Does the trumpet alarm sound in a city, without the people being afraid? Does evil happen to a city, and Yahweh hasn’t done it?Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?Shall the trumpet be blown in a city, and the people not be afraid? shall evil befall a city, and Jehovah hath not done it?
3 sermons cite this verse
… he's got his hands on evil and he will not let the evil do anything but further his plan. There's some strong statements about it. For example, in Amos chapter 3 verse 6, it says, whenever evil befalls a city has not the Lord caused it. Whenever evil befalls a city has not the Lord caused it. Then Matthew 29. Now people love to quote this verse as if it's a sweet kind of comforting verse. It's not at all. Matthew 10 29 says, yet not even a sparrow falls to the ground except by the Father's will. You know the song, His Eye is on the Sparrow? That's a wonderful sentiment. And the song is all about how God, His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He cares for me. The verse is not saying anything like that. It says that the sparrow, the little sparrow, falls out of the nest and plunks down right on his head. It was part of God's plan. How comforting. Why are we singing about this? …
When he makes the mountains tremble, and the earth shake, shall not our hearts be moved? “Fear ye not me? saith the Lord; and will ye not tremble at my presence?” (Jer. 5:22.) Will ye not fear me, who can open the windows of heaven above, or break up the fountains of the deep below, and pour forth whole floods of vengeance when I please? — who can “rain upon the wicked snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest;” (Ps. 11:6; ) or kindle those streams and exhalations in the bowels and caverns of the earth, and make them force their way to the destruction of towns, cities, and countries? who can thus suddenly turn a fruitful land into a barren wilderness; an amazing spectacle of desolation and ruin? “Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it.” “The lion hath roared; who will not fear? With God is terrible majesty; men do therefore fear him.” Some do; and all ought. O that his fear might this moment fall upon all you who hear these words; constraining every one of you to cry out, “My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments!” (Ps. 109:10.) O that all might see, now His hand is lifted up, as in act to strike; is stretched out still; and shakes his rod over a guilty land, a people fitted for destruction! For is not this the nation to be visited? And “shall not I wait for these things? saith the Lord; and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?” (Jer. 5:9.) What but national repentance can prevent national destruction? …
“Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in the city, and the Lord hath not done it?” It is well if there are not too many here who are too nearly concerned in these words of the Prophet; the plain sense of which seems to be this: Are there any men in the world so stupid and senseless, so utterly void of common reason, so careless of their own and their neighbours’ safety or destruction, as when an alarm of approaching judgments is given, to show no signs of apprehension? to take no care in order to prevent them, but go on as securely as if no alarm had been given? Do not all men know that whatsoever evil befals them, it befalls them either by God’s appointment; and that he designs every evil of this life to warn men to avoid still greater evils? that he suffers these lighter marks of his displeasure, to awaken mankind, so that they may shun his everlasting vengeance, and be timely advised, by feeling a part of it, so to change their ways that his whole displeasure may not arise? …