The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-09-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER 10.
Subject' Israel Reproved, Amos W.. Ais
Golden TEXT. Amos ", 6-Memory
Verses. 4-6-Commen.aryo on the Days
Lesson.

-GOIden TEXT, Amos w., 6-Memory
Verses. .4-6-Comnen.ary on the Days
Lesson.
lntroduction.-The book Of Amos was
the earliest written of all the prophecies
II is naturally divided into three parts:
J; Introductory (chaps. |, y. The pro.
phecies against Damascus, Philistia. Tyre.
Edom, Ammon and Moab-the six enemies
OF the chosen people-and finally against
Judah (chap. 2: A, 81, are preparatory to
q full description of the sins OF Israel. 2
IsraePs sins and the impending ruin
(chaps. 3-6). 3. "A series of five visions
lchaps. 7-9); interrupted (chap. :: lO.l7l
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. l-3). Because Israel continues to
snow no signs OF repentance, Amos sees
that certain and speedy destruction will
come upon the nation, He accordingly
proceeds to sing a funeral dirye. Israel
was spiritually dead; like a faiicn virgin,
she had debased herself and lost her pur.
lty She was PROSTATE on the ground un.
able to rise, having none to assist her The
prophet also declares that the strength of
the nation was TO be reduced to one.tenth
OF what 1t then was. such an announce.
ment as this, made in the height of the
prosperity secured by Jeroboam t., would
naturally be startling one to those who
heard it,"
III. An eXhortation to seek God Tvs. 4.
81. 4. Seek ye Me-" Cease your rebel.
lion against me; return to Me with all
your heart and though consigned to
death, ye shall be rescued and live. De-
N h In =
desperate. shall 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.
ized by the King (chap. :: 49,. "Gilgal."
This was an important church centre
about nine miles northwest of Bethel
Here, as well as at Bethel. was a school
OF the prophets. At Gilgal were carved
images. TO Beer-sheba." Situated in
the extreme southern part of Judah. This
city mad evidently become a centre for
idol worship, and Amos warns them
against lourneying thither Into captiv-
ity." The prophet shows them that all
hope from these idolatrous altars is vain.
Gilgal and Bethel are doomed and heath.
en- deties cannot save them. g. "Hclse
OF Joseph That is, the ten tribes or
northern kingdom; so used because Joseph
was the ancestor of two of the .hief
tribes
III. Israel's deplorable condition Tvs. 7.
49,.
I. 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 symbol for whatever is nause-
Gus and destructive. In their civil courts
brlbes were taKen ": l2J, righteousness
was east down (R. 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 Israelites with the power and
majesty of Jehovah, the creator and rul-
er of the universe. They are introduced
abruptly and interrupt the connections
between verses 7 and 10. "The seven
Sars." The Pleiades, group of stars in
the constellation Taurus, called frequent
ly the seven stars. Orion" A constel-
lation noted for its three bright stars in
straight line. "Turneth, maketh." That
Is, causes morning to follow night and
brings the day to an end in night. The
two Causes 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.
o. That strengtheneth," etc. See II. V.
Who takes 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.
10. Hate him The prophet again
takes up the subject under consideration
in verse 7. They cannot bear an upright
magistrate, and will not have righteous
laws executed. "ln the gate" The place
where 'the elders" or magistrates sat and
where justice was administered ". l2).
pressed. Burdens of wheat" Even the
bread was taken from the poor as the
price of justice. 'Shall not" The penal
ty for such gross injustice is here an
nounced. l2. Il know" They imagine
that Jehovah is ignorant, but He knows
their many smaller otfenses as well as
their mighty sins" Three OF their great
righteous. q Taking bribes, so that judg.
ment was perverted. 8, Refusing to hear
the cause OF the poor who had no reward
to offer. l3. keep silence" In an EVIL
time" such as the prophet has described,
when it is useless to attempt to obtain jus.
tice, wise men are silent.
". 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 unlim-
tied to the one who will repent. And
so," etc. Because of their prosperity they
imagined and said (see r. VI 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 exhortation of verse IA is
repeated in stronger language; Hate evil,
love good, establish judgment. 1T may
be-" This should not be understood as
expressing doubt. God will have mercy
upon such as heed the prophets eYhorta.
tion. Remnant of Joseph" The ten
tribes.
V. The tay of the Lord Tvs. 1920.
Amos sees that his exhortation will be
unheeded, 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 peop.e; but
Amos warns them .nat in their present
moral condition the day of the Lord would
be day of lamentation, wailing and dark
ness with mo brightness in it.
vi. Hypocritcal service rejected Tvs.
2l-27). Feasts and sacrifices could not
avert the threatened judgments. DO you
think to win Jehovah's favor by your re-
ligious services and ceremonial obsery-
ances? What He demands is not sacri-
flee or the noise of songs on your instru.
ments of music, but justice and righteous.
ness. And He desires these to "roll on"