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When the Lord sends a soul- stirring message through His servant Amos, He avails Himself of an agricultural figure. I will sift the house of Israel.

I. IT IS A DIVINE SIFTING. The Oriental method of sifting illustrates the Divine method.

1. The primary reference is to the Jews.

2. To the Church of God as a whole.

3. To individual members of the Church.

II. THE MANNER OF SIFTING. "As corn is sifted."

1. The sifting suggests a mixed condition. The mixed experience of individuals necessitates various Divine siftings.

2. The sifting of corn must be done prudently and patiently. Some grains require a finer sieve than others. And often one sifting is not sufficient.

3. Sifting discriminates between chaff and corn. It does not create either chaff or corn, but makes each manifest. There is no such thing as permanent concealment of character in the moral world.

4. The sifting is thorough. Every grain is sifted. There is an individual discrimination as well as a Church sifting. Each grain is severely subjected to this sifting.

III. THE MEANS WHEREBY THE DIVINE SIFTER SIFTS THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.

1. By the manifold changeful experiences of life.

2. A faithful ministry is a Divine sieve. Such was the ministry of Amos.

3. Temptations of the devil are sieves through which the enemy desires to destroy good grain.

IV. THE DESIGN OF THE DIVINE SIFTINGS OF LIFE. To purify unto Himself a peculiarly holy people. Whatever the manner and means of sifting this is the design. If these things are so there is a call to —

(1)  Submission,

(2)  Gratitude,

(3)  Patience,

(4)  Hopefulness,

(5)  Yea, searching inquiry.

(Henry Smith.)

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KJV: For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.

WEB: "For, behold, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all the nations, as grain is sifted in a sieve, yet not the least kernel will fall on the earth.