Middletown transcript., 1915-11-27
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 28
AMOS, rAE EEARLEss pRoPHEf

Jer. 2S:2S.
Among the prophets Amos bulks
large. His message (B. C. 1877 y is
most thoroughly modern and its ap-
plication to our present day problems
deserves careful consideration. Read
the entire book prayerfully. Chapters
1 and 2 enumerate the sins of the
nation and of Israel: 3-6 contain ad.
dresses of the prophet: 7;1-9, 1Osrec-
ords his visions and the conclusion
9:11-15 is a Messianic prophecy. The
modern prophet of social service and
those who neglect proper consider
alton Of applied Christianity" both
ought to ponder we'll this passage.
I. Jehovah's Lamentation, w. 1-3. The
words Of this lesson are those of Je-
hovah spoken to the house of Isreal
but apply to all people of all ages.
Verse one is prophecy Of the mas.
ter's grief over the holy city Nuke
1894; 19:4D. Outwardly rich and
opulent, in Jehovah's sight the ma
tion had already fallen ". Q R. W
and there '1s none (pResent tense) to
raise her up" Israel is personified
as maiden sorely wounded. Spoken
decades before, Israel did fall and has
risen no more. But there is a possibil-
ity of mercy. There is here a COM
mand and a promise and those who
obey the command will obtain the
promise OF life.
To seek ye me" ". A. is to turn
fbn fo0o f0 him Inafbor than 4O f,,vv,
the back. 1t implies the forsaking
of all evil thoughts, yea, our Town
thoughts and ways and to turn unto
him who will abundantly pardon lisa.
55:6-7; Deut. 30:2S). There is life for
the most outbreaking and outrageous
sinner If he will seek the Lord.
II. The Prophets Exhortation, w. 4-e.
The places mentioned in verse five
had each been made sacred by Gods
presence and subsequently degraded
by idolatry. Bethel especially so
(Gen. 1878; 28:10-18; Kings 12:29-29).
These new religions and the false
worshiping were beguiling even the
sincere and unwary, hence the warn
ing. We need to beware of the mani
fold new cults" lest we depart from
the faith of our fathers. America is
today standing upon a social and re-
ligious crater in many ways similar to
ancient Israel. God is either a con-.
suming fire (Heb. 5:28-29; Mark
9:43-49) to the impenitent or else a
minister of grace to those who repent.
Verse seven is a suggestion regard
ing the rulers Of that day and finds
far too many counterparts in our own
times. In verse Jehovah eXhorts
the people to seek him and live"
In verse 8 the prophet utters the
same cry. Now ". 81 the appeal is to
seek him because to do 50 is wisdom.
(a) 1t is he that maketh the stars"
the earth, yea, everything, and 1t is
well to be on his side Cps. 19). (b)
He "turneth the shadow of death into
morning" (R. W (see Ps. 30:5). Who
can comprehend the vast host OF his
saints for whom this has been done?
(c) He "maketh the day dark with
the night" (R. W. This he is doing
repeatedly. The God who set the day
in its turn can also turn it aside,
he has done 1t both past and present
(d) He "calleth for the waters-and
poureth them out upon the face of tho
earth" This is both poetical and
scientific. God delivers the rain and
upon him we all depend It is the part
i of wisdom as we'll as of life to be on
the side of the self-existent, eternal Je.
hovah against whom mans strength
is as nothing ". 81.
What man creates, man can destroy.
witness Liege and Louvain-and is
God any less able?
III. The Word Of Application, w.
1918. Sinners always hate the man
who rebukes their sin. Scripture is
not needed to prove this fact, for we
-see 1t today. We are specifically
warned against the praise of the
wicked (Luke 6:26) and any true and
upright witness for Christ knows that
he is abhorred by those whose lives
are crooked. John 3:1S, 2O). Verse
IL "a. W sounds very much like
many of the structures that are being
made regarding the acts of some OF
the rich of today. How frequently we
behold mansions built from the pro
ceeds of oppression deserted by the
ones who anticipated their occupancy
How few fortunes are really expended
and enjoyed by those who make the
accumulation. The manner by which
we accumulate, our conduct towards
the just (Acts 1872, our acceptance
of hribes, and our neglect of the needy
and the poor is all known to God
". 12). Therefore" even as today
1t is difficult and costly to get justice
in our courts, even as iniquity is rapid
ly growing in the earth, about all the
prudent man can do is to hold his
peace, to wait upon God and watch for
him. He it is who must call with
trumpet voice lisa. 5S;D even though
he does now speak with human lips
The fourth exnortation to seek" tv
14) is to search after the~good. though
the time be an "evil one"
The individual is to seek good, tc
hate evil, and do all in his power tC
establish justice in the gate" viz;
so far as in his power lies, exalt t.
the positions of-rulers and governors
those who also seek good, not evil
The result will be that Jehovah, the
God of hosts, will be with us" even il
this evil time (See Gen. 1912, 8. 23
Phi. 14:S-9).
j. True goodness is to hate evil anc
J love the good" Cps, 97:10; Rom. 10: 81
BY this test we may know if we reaIl,