Are the people astonished? Let them marvel at their own willfulness.
“The kings of the earth and all the inhabitants of the world would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.”
Titus, with his army, destroyed the Holy City. The enemy entered the gates from without but your adversaries have long been entrenched within.
Mammon is heavily laden and will fall from the top. Material power is volatile.
In the day of trial, the retainer and the hireling will seek a refuge, every man for himself. They will melt like the wax image before the heat of the furnace. On that day humility will be as a precious gift and poverty as a peace offering.
Blessed is he who uses the spade and the hoe, for by the sweat of his brow he shall eat the bread of security.