Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-09-16
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER Ie.
Subject: Israel Reproved, Amos W., Ais
Golden Text. Amos ", 6-Memory
Verses, A-6-Commentary on the Days
Lesson.

Introduction-The book of Amos was
the earliest written of all the prophecies.
1t is naturally divided into three parts:
l. Introductory (chaps. !, y. The pro-
phecies against Damascus, Philistia. Tyre,
Edom, Ammon and Moab-the six enemies
of the chosen peop,e-and finally against
Judah (chap. 2: 4, -, are preparatory to
full description of the sins of Israel. 2.
Israeps sins and the impending ruin
(chaps. 3-6). 3. A series of five visions
(chaps. 7-9); interrupted (chap. Z: l0-l7)
by an account of the alteration between
Amos and Amaziah. Amos was an unedu-
Gated man, but he had that culture and
training which comes from living close to
God, and his prophecy shows that he was
thoroughly acquainted with the books OF
Moses.
Commentary.-l. A lamentation for Is
rael Tvs. 1-3). Because Israel continues to
show no signs of repentance, Amos sees
that certain and speedy destruction will
come upon the nation. He accordingly
proceeds to sing funeral dirge. Israel
was spiritually dead; like fallen virgin,
she had debased herself and lost her pur-
ity. She was PROSTATE on the ground I'M
able to rise, having none to assist her. The
the nation was to be reduced to one-tenth
OF what it then was. Such an announce
ment as this, made in the height of the
prosperity secured by Jeroboam H., would
naturally be startling one to those who
heard it,"
III. An exhortation to seek God Tvs. a.
g.. 4. Seek We Me-" Cease your rebel.
lion against me; return to Ne with all
your heart, and though consigned to
death, We shall be rescued and live. De-
p'orabie as your case j., 1T is not utter.y
desperate "Shall live" Shall escape the
threatened destruction. 3. Seek not
Bethel" At Bethel was one of the gold
en- caves Jeroboam had set up. At this
time it was the most popular sanctuary
of the northern kingdom, and was patron:
lied by the King (chap. 7: l3). "Giigai."
This was an important church centre
about nine miles northwest Of Bethel.
Here, as well as at Bethel, was school
of the prophets. At Gilgal were carved
images 80 Beer-sheba." Situated in
the extreme southern part of Judah. This
city had evident y become a centre for
idol worship, and Amos warns them
against journeying thither. Into captiv..
ity.' The prophet shows them that all
hope from these idolatrous affairs is vain.
Gi!gal and Bethel are doomed and heath
of Joseph" That is, the ten tribes or
northern kingdom; so used because Joseph
was the ancestor of two of the chief
tribes.
III. IsraePs deplorable condition Tvs. T.
49,.
I. "Turn Judgment" Israel's crying sin
is neglect of civil justice and oppression
o. the poor. ''Wormwood." An intensely
bitter, unpalatabe plant. 1t is always
used as a symbol for whatever is naIse-
ous and destructive. In their civil courts
was cast down Or. W to the earth, and
instead of bringing relief to the oppressed,
they brought bitterness and greater OPP
preston.
S. Verses and 9 are intended to i'm.
press the Israe.ites with the power and
majesty ok.)enoyah. the creator and ru..
er of the universe They are Introduce
abruptly and interrupt the connections
between verses 7 and TO- "The seven
stars" Tire P.eades, group Of stars III
the constellation Taurus, called frequent
" the seven stars. Orion A conste.-
lation noted for its three bright SiaEs in
straight line. "Turneth, maketh.' That
is, causes morning to follow night and
brings the day to an end in night: Tae
two Causes describe Jehovah as the au-
tnOr Oh Tile regular diteIbdtiou VI udH anu
night. THAT cai.eth," etc. BY evapor-
alton ,"the waters are collected into
Clouds and thea are Immediately poured
out in showers upon the face of the earth.
o. "That strengthened" etc. See J.. '.
Who taxes the part of the poor and op-
pressed against the oppressor. Sudden de-
struction comes upon the mighty, so that
even their strongest fortresses cannot save
them
TO- "Hate him" The prophet azan
takes up the subject under considerat.o1
in verse 7. They cannot bear an upright
magistrate, and will not have righteous
laws executed. "In the gate" The place
where "the elders" or magistrates sat ard
where JUSTICE was administered ". ~.
II. "Treadding." The poo. were T t op,
bread was taken from the poor as the
price of justice. "Shall not" The penal
ty for such gross injustice is here an
nounced. II. II know" They imagine
that Jehovah is ignorant, but He knows
their many smaller offenses as well as
their "mighty sins" Three of their great
err sins are mentioned: /. Affecting the
righteous. g Taking brides, so That judg-
ment was perverted. g. Refusing to hear
the cause OF the poor who had no reward
to offer. 10. Keep silence In an ,eTil
time" such as the prophet has described,
when it is useless to attempt to obtain JUS
tice, wise men are silent :.
w. Mercy offered Tvs. IA, l5). IA. Seek
good" again the prophet urges them to
forsake their sins and turn to God. May
live" Even yet there is hope. Gods de-
cree offering mercy is absolute and unim..
tied to the one who will repent And
So" etc. Because of their prosperity they
imagined and said (see r. w. that God
was with them. But they were deceived.
Now Amos tells them what TO do in order
to actually have his presence. 10. Hate
the evil" The exhortati0n of verse IA IS
repeated in stronger. language: Hate evil.
love good. establish judgment. ut may
be- Jnis should not be understood as
expressing doubt. God will have mercy
upon such as heed the prophets exhorSa-
ton. Remnant OF Joseph The ten
tribes.
Y. The ,'ay- of the Lord Tvs. 1920.
Amos sees that his exhortatiop will be
unneeded, and again draws a dark picture
of the future. In their blindness they de-
sired "the day OF the Lord" the day
when, as they supposed, God would con-
fer some great honor upon His people; but
Amos warns them mat ia their present
moral condition the day of the Lord would
be day of lamentation, waiting and dark
ness with mo brightness in it.
vi. Hypocritical service, rejected. Tvs.
2l.27). feasts and sacrifices could not
avert the threatened judgments. Do you
think to win Jehovahs favor by. Your re-
ligious services and ceremonial observ-
ances? What He demands is not sacri.
fee or the noise of songs on your instru-
ments of music, but Justice and righteous.
ness. And He desires these to roll on"
Landseer's1u
Sir Edwin Landseer had a man