The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-09-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER ID.

Lesson.
introduction The book of Amos was
the earliest written Of all the prophecies
1t is naturally divided into three parts:
]; Introductory (chaps. ], o.. The pro-
phecies against Damascus, Philistia, Tyre,
Edom, .Ammon and Moab-the six enemies
of the chosen people-and finally against
Judah (chap. ?: 4, 81, are preparatory to
a full description Of the sins Of Israel. 2.
l~srael's sins and the impending ruin
(chaps. 3-6). g.. A series of five visions
(chaps. T.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.-1. A lamentation for Is.
rael Tvs. l-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 a funeral dirge. Israel
was spiritually dead; like a fallen virgin,
she had debased herself and lost her pur-
ity. She was PROSTATE on the ground, un.
able to rise, having o to assist her. The
prophet, also declares that the strength of
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 a startling one to those who
heard it."
II. An exhortation to seek God Tvs. A.
81. 4. Seek ye Me" Cease your rebel
lion against ne; return to Me with all
your heart, and though consigned to
death, We shall be rescued and live. De-
plorable as your case is, it is not utterly
desperate. "Shan live" Shall escape the
threatened destruction. 5. "Seek not
Bethel" At. Bethel was one of the gold
en- calves 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). "Gilgal."
about nine miles northwest of Bethel.
Here, as well as at Bethel, was a school
of the prophets. At Gilgal were carved
images. ITO Beer-sheba." Situated in
the extreme southern part Of judah. This
city had evidently become a centre for
idol worship, and Amos warns them
against journeying thither. Unto eaptiv-
ity." The prophet shows them that all
hope from these idolatrous affairs is vain.
Gilgal and Bethel are doomed and heath
en- deities cannot save them. 9. House
of Joseph" That is, the ten tribes or
northern kingdom; so used because Joseph
was the ancestor of two of the chief
tribes.
III. I~srsel's deplorable condition Tvs. J.
l3).
7. Turn judgment" Israel's crying sin
is neglect of civil justice and oppression
of the poor. "Wormwood." An intensely
bitter, unpalatable plant. 1t is always
used as a symbol for whatever is nause-
Gus and destructive. In their civil courts
brides were taken ". l2), Righteousness
was least down" (R. W to the earth, and
instead Of bringing relief to the oppressed,
they brought bitterness and greater op-
preston.
s. Verses 8 and 9 are intended to i'm
press the Israelites with the power and
majesty Of Jehovah, the creator and rul.
err of the universe. They are introduced
between verses 7 and 10. "The seven
stars" The Pleiades, a group of stars in
the constellation Taurus, called frequent
" the seven stars. Orion" A constel.
lation noted for its three bright stars in
a straight line. "Turneth, maketh." That
is, causes morning to follow night and
brings the day to an end in night. The
two clauses describe Jehovah as the au-
thor of the regular alienation of day and
night. That calleth," etc. By evapor-
alton "the waters" are collected into
clouds and then are Immediately poured
out in showers upon the face of the earth.
.. That strengtheneth," etc. See r. V.
Who takes the part of the poor and OPP
pressed against the oppressor. Sudden de-
struction comes upon the mighty, so that
even their strongest fortresses cannot save
them.
10. Hate him. The prophet again
takes ND the subject under consideration
in verse 7. They cannot bear an upright
magistrate, and will not have righteous
laws executed. "In the gate" The place
where 1.-The elders" or magistrates sat and
where justice was administered ". l2).
II. Threading" The poor were OPP
pressed. Burdens of wheat" Even the
price of justice. Shall not" The penal.
ty for such gross injustice is here an.
nounced. u. Il know" They imagine
that Jehovah is ignorant, but He knows
their many smaller ~offenses as well as
their mighty sins" Three of their great.
sr sins are mentioned: l.. Affecting the
righteous. 2. Taking brides, so that judg'
ment was perverted. 3. Refusing to hear
the cause Of the poor who had no reward
to offer. Is. Keep silence" In an evil
time" such as the prophet has described,
WnSn IL IS uSeltSS W tlILeLlpL ' JUS
,ice. wise nen are silent.
". Mercy offered Tvs. IA, 15). 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-
rec offering mercy is absolute and unllm.
tied to the one who will repent. "And
go" 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: Is. Hate
the evil" The eXhortation OF verse IA Is
repeated in stronger language; Hate evil
be-" This should not be understood as
expressing doubt. God will have mercy
upon such as heed the prophets eXhorta
tIon. Remnant Of JOSEPH The ten
V. The Cay of the Lord Tvs. 1920
Amos sees that his exhortatlon will be
mheeded, and again draws a da1k picture
If 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 in their present
moral condition the day of the Lord would
he 4 day Of lamentation, waillng and dark
ness with mo brightness III it."
VI. Hypocritical service rejected Tvs
2l-27l. Feasts and sacrifices could moi
avert the threatened judgments. DO yot
think to win Jehovah's favor by your re
iisious services and ceremonial observ
ances? What He demands is not sacri
fee or the noise of songs on your instrt
mems of music, but justice and righteous
ness. And He desires these to roll on.
Green Diamonds.
Considerable interest has been aroused
In Johannesburg by the discovery on 4