Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-06-18
LESSON FOR JUNE %
sLINDlNe EFFECT or SIN.

LESSON TEXT-Amos CHS
GOLDEN TEXT Seek good and not
evil. that 80 may live" Amos STA
Amos was the third OF the minor
prophets and prophesied concerning
Israel In the days OF Uzziah, king OF
Judah. about 100 b. c. His name
means burden" and his prophecy re-
veals sore one. Though outwardly
prosperous, and victorious upon the
battlefield indeed lsrael's golden
age" yet this prophet reveals that II
was an age Of lead as well, for he
shows that associated with political
and material prosperity was a gross
moral corruption; even as was the
case in the declining days OF tho Ro-
man Empire and ae was the state OF
France just preceding the days OF the
French Revolution. This is certainly
lesson for our day. Blessed as we
have been 80 abundantly, we need TO
pause and examine the framework OF
our political and moral life.
Gods Proclamation.
Woe TO them that are at ease In
Zion" Verse -. What an indictment
and Of how many can this be said in
this present day. The state OF Israel
spoken Of by Amos has come down
through the ages. We must not, OF
course suppose that all we're In that
state, but rather the majority. Any
one at all interested or familiar with
present-day church life knows how
few are concerned with the fundamen-
tai work Of the church, viz, seeking
10 save the lost. Not only our indiffsr-
ence to those Of heathenism but OF our
neighbors and companions. How much
are we concerned with the groans and
the cry OF intemperance except per
haps to shed few crocodile tears
and straightway forget7 But God by
the mouth OF the prophet proclaims
Woe" We are not called to ease"
but to work, not alone to enjoy but
to suffer, 2 Tim. AHA II we are to
escape the woe we must bestir our
selves and not be at ease. This OF
course refers to the war being waged
against evil and not to any matter of
our personal salvation, Phil. 46, 7R.V.
Pet. 81. This is the ease Of indif-
ference to Gods honor and the peril
!, of men out OF Christ.
The prophet then points to the ma
lions that bordered about Cverse y
and warns them that like as they had
come and gone, risen to eminence and
power and sunken to obscurity and de-
cay, so also will Israel unless 1t bestir
5 itself. America is strong and proud
e but is Just as weak as those that have
9 gone before. We could not stand
II halfslave and half-free," no more can
we stand half.intoxicated and half
:; sober. We may seek to put on the
= evil day Verse 81 but whatsoever we
e. SOW that shall we also reap, Gal. 6:7.
10 Israel relied upon the fortified noun
." tains round about, only to find later
Y, such support to be a broken reed, for
the day of reckoning came (S:lO.
er Sinners scoff at warning, hell ID a
n myth, Judgment and death long way
m off, 2 Pet ga Governments put on
III the proper course of action for poliu'
cal reasons and the people perish.
Id Witness intemperance in America
ID, opium (due to Englands perfdity) In
n. China, and slavery in Africa. Can God
is be a righteous God and overlook these
On things? where there is no vision
knowledge of the need and the re
ne sources at our command) the people
te perish" e. g., throw off restraint X. V.
M Prov. 29:18. Lacking a vision, nations
families and individuals alike perish
Rather than to face the issue (verse A.
no we give ourselves to ease and II
the enjoyments of the sensual ma
"a ture. Because sentence against thu
'or evil work is not executed speedily
bo therefore the heart of the sons of mel
-, is fully set in them to do evil" Eccl
~ Sill; and so to the chant Of musi
(verse 81 they drink bowls Of win
l.. (verse 81 and anoint themselves wit
.no choice ointments but are not cor
'a9 cerned about the affection of JOSEPH
@. e., the chosen ones of God.
Display of Wealth.
Here we have terrific indictmen
A@e These people abounded in "superfu
up ties" (marg.) suggesting somethin
'ay of the lavish display of wealth we al
md oIatoat,,, hoboIdino zach seeking
It'll 49, 49, at,,a. ,,borooe Cod ia cal
nav ing the Christian to life of simpli
ity rs the price Of power. The inter
nat perate way some protested Christian
10" load up with diamonds, the strainir
TO attract attention by means OF dres
Ter, as well as other forms Of display, d
ght mands that we pause and ask VIII
ten, will be the outcome, let alone the
MIS- feet upon the Kingdom. See Pet
rea- 3:3.4; / Tim. 2:9, 10; Luke ga, y
art Matt 1924. "They sing idle song
e Or. v. marg.) the songs suggestil
the impurity and the debasement OF tn
ard noblest of arts is sad commenta
to upon the wantonness of Israel. Mus
So finds its highest expression and wiel
axe it's greatest influence when ascrib
It 1t to the worship of God. Eph 5:18, 1
my Jas. 5:13.
ats Therefore" (verse y. Back
King every effect is an adequate caus
Back Of the fall Of Babylon was a C
rupt court back Of the fall Of Rol
st If an enervated morally emancipat
so people; back Of the fall of Jerusal'
Oh a a disobedient race who trespasf
care once too often. The prophet has st
ed his case and now speaking for
hovah he pronounces sentence. Thou
the judgment was not executed