Application to Israel: The Lord lets Israel know that their past sufferings have been directly related to their own spiritual nature. These things have been allowed specifically because of their stiff-neckedness. As they were slow to listen, the Lord allowed powerful events to be some of the teaching tools.
Application to Nephi's audience: Certainly had Laman and Lemuel the ears to hear, this verse should have stung them directly. It is likely that it did not, and the application to them directly was missed entirely. Thus it is with many who depart from the paths of the Lord - they can no longer hear the voice of the Lord speaking to them directly, and are able to hear such things only as they refer to others.