"You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all of your sins."
      V. Let them know that all their troubles came from the hand of God's providence and from the counsel of his will (Amos 3:6; Amos 3:6): Shall there be evil in a city, in a family, in a nation, and the Lord has not done it, appointed it, and performed what he appointed? The evil of sin is from ourselves; it is our own doing. But the evil of trouble, personal or public, is from God, and is his doing; whoever are the instruments, God is the principal agent. Out of his mouth both evil and good proceed. This consideration, that, whatever evil is in the city, the Lord has done it, should engage us patiently to bear our share in public calamities and to study to answer God's intention in them.