The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-10
Sunday School Lesson for September III.
Sinful Indulgence.
Amos vi, Ills.
BY j. e. GILBERT, D. D., IL. D.,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education.

mlseries of their oppressed brethren,
and the calamities that came to other
parts of the land.
CAPTIVITY.-Thus graphically and
faithfully did the prophet describe the
degenerate state into which the people
of Samaria had fallen-their false trust
and their unholy living. He now re-
turns to make good his first declara-
tion CVerse y. All this time the judg-
ments Of God were impending. The
nation would be carried into captivity
for its sins. And the same Samarla,
the queen of the cities, the pride of the
rulers. and the abiding place of the
mighty, would be the first to fall. The
people would be torn away from their
banquets and forced into penury, slav-
cry and death. All this predicted evil
would be the direct result of sin, in ac-
cordance with the word of God deliv-
cred by Moses centuries before CDeut.,
XXvii:6D. Here is the unfolding of a
Divine policy as to nations, executed
repeatedly throughout all history.
Prosperity comes to the people so long
as righteousness is their Characters
tic, but decay and ruin follow when
Immortality and iniquity abound
prov. xvi:S4). BY this word of the
prophet most of the political upheavals
Of the ages may be explained.
ABIORRFNCE-A was not con-
tent to leave his declaration concerning
the captivity of Israel as a matter of
fact He had Il moral end in view.
Like all prophets he read all history
in the light of righteousness. He there
fore let the people know that the pre-
diction rested upon the purpose and
| character of God Verse 81 The city
of Samaria would not be taken captiv e
| because it was weaker than some for
| that might come against 1t. Battles
are not decided in that manner. (Eccl.
| tx. IL But the city had become alb
horrCnt to Jehovah. He hated the pal
aces because they were full of iniquity.
| The things deemed in the eyes of the
| people to be excellent were abomin-
| atoms tn him. On that account He
would deliver IN all that might lay
| therein to the army that might lay
siege. He had determined upon this
| course and sealed his determination
| with a most solemn assertion, swearing
| by Himself that it should be done.
| CONCLUSION. - Here our lesson
ends abruptly, cut off just at the time
! when our thoughts go into the future
| of a great people. If we read on in
the history we shall find that in less
| than half a century from the time
Amos wrote Samaria was taken by the
| A9syrians. The warnings We're disre-
Garded. The sinful ways continued
/ finally, the cup of ininuity being full
a heather people was allowed to break
down the walls and to carry awaN
Israel into bondage, never to ba re.
| turned. God had no further use fol
| the nation. Although composed of tn,
children of Abraham 1t was in the way
7 obstructing his plans for the coming
| ages. The covenant form had beer
| broken and vain and wicked race
| had been rejected. Our lesson is in
| SturtiVc for all nations in all time
and for all individuals likewise Thcr,
| Is but one secret Of q PHOSPHORUS life
either Of individuals or communities
and that is Righteousness. The soul
the city, the nation that sins shall die
| N,2eK xviii A. WhosoovCr ropantetl
shall find mercy. lie who serves Goo
shall live.