Definition: I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured [them]: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Amos 4:9 together. It's a bit poetic, but it speaks to a serious situation with a lot of potential for loss. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: “I have smitten you with blasting and mildew” : This is a metaphor – it’s not literally about a physical storm or disease. It means the Lord God was disrupting something that was thriving, growing, and producing abundantly. Think of it like a flood – it washes things away. "Blasting" suggests a forceful, disruptive action. “Mildew” is a metaphor for decay and ruin. “When your gardens and vineyards and fig trees and olive trees increased…” : This describes a time when the land was flourishing - lush and full of fruit. It’s about a period of abundance and prosperity. “…the palmerworm devoured [them]” : This is the key part. The “palmerworm” is a type of beetle – it's a destructive insect that eats plants, especially fruits and vegetables. It's devouring everything. “Yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.” This is where it gets powerful. It’s a plea from God. He's saying, "You have grown so much – you’ve become too reliant on something else (the palmerworm) that he’s now destroying everything you’ve worked for." It’s a call to repentance and returning to Him. In a nutshell: The Lord is upset because the land was flourishing and producing, but it has become overly dependent on something that's causing harm and destruction. He’s urging you to turn back to him and seek his guidance and protection again. What does this verse mean in a broader sense? This verse often speaks to: Dependence: Feeling too reliant on something or someone, even if it seems beneficial at first. Loss of Balance: A natural order is disrupted when things become too strong or unbalanced. The Need for God's Guidance: It’s a reminder that we need to stay connected with the source of goodness and prosperity – God. Do you want me to: Explain it further in more detail? Connect it to a specific biblical story or concept?