The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-05-23

Is. 1Ua H. Ia WIKI NAal StuS W5Ao buO boNts-
charged What temporal judgment is fOretold
Were these prophecies fulfilled? Amos tx: Ills,
Whom are the people continually exhorted to
seek2 What are they TO forsake?
V. Is. What is meant by keep silence z
V. IA. What promise is given in case OF their
repentance and reformation?
Is. What is meant by the remnant OF Jo-
sephP p
NoTES ON THE LESSON.
The prophet Amos states that He was q
herdman Of Tekoa, one Of the cities built
for defence in Judah by RehOboam, as we
read in II Chron. XII: 5, 6. It was six miles
south of Bethlehem, and the wilderness near
by was frequented by shepherds, and multi
tudes of Aocks. Amos lived about 800 B.
c., and was contemporary with Hosea. He
was called from an humble occupation, that
of 6erdmaR, to be prophet of the Lord
Chap. vii: IA. His book follows that Of
Joel in the Bible, and he continues the pre-
dietions of severe judgments to be inflicted
upon Damascus, Ammon, Moab, and judah
herself.
V. 1. Lsmentation' means funeral
dirge, and signifies the mourning Of the
prophet for the heavy and grievOus judg-
ments to be laid upon Israel. The House Of
Israel had been twice solemnly appealed to.
Chap. Iii; 1 chap. ": 1. It here includes
both Israel and Judah, the whole family"
V. 2. "Virgin" here means one that
had been tenderly guarded and sheltered
Isa. Xvii: 1. She is "fallen like those
that fall in battle, not to rise again.
V. 3. From being powerful nation that
could equip thousands of soldiers they were
now fearfully deprived of strength.
VA. To seek" God heartily and con-
stantly is life.
V. 5. They sought Bethel and Gilgal as
if God had chosen to put His name there,
but there he was not to be found. Bethel
was selected by JerobOam as seat for the
calf worship, and for this reason is called by
Hosea, BethaYen or house of idols. Gilgal
was between the Jordan and Jericho, and
was for many years the headquarters of the
people and the abode of the ark. Beersheba
was at the extreme south Of Judah, and here
where God had revealed himself to the pat
risrchs, their descendants set up idolatrOu8
worship.
V. 6. The people are urged to seek the
Lord lest his terrible judgments Overtake
them. God lisa consuming fire. Deut. ": "a
V. 7. Norwood means bitter, and in
Prov. v: 4, it is cOntrasted with honey
The uDjsst make that which is most sweet,
most bitter.
V. s. The "seven stars" we're cluster
known among the Greeks as the PIeisdes.-
Job tx: 9, refers to both the Pleiades and
Orion, one as having tender influences, the
other as possessing strength. They are pro-
baby named together as marking by their
appearance the seasons of spring and sum-
mer. The transgressiOns Of the people we're
many and mighty, especially were they IN
Just and violent to the poor. ''In the gate"
was the very place where justice should reign
and sin be rebuked. "Bnrdens of wheat"
meant taxes levied in kind. The prudent
men viii "keep silent, or live in retirement,
taking no part where he can do no good, and
may be grieVously gronged. ''The remnant
of Joseph" means the house of Joseph for
whose sake God would not make full end
of the nation. Isa. vi: Is.
From this passage We may learn
l. Gods sorrow over sinners. Luke xix:
Al, AZ.
?. His mercy to the penitent. lisa. wi; 10.
3. His regard for the poor. Ps. Xix: 80.
4. His hatred of evil Ps. exix: 104.