The Green Forest tribune., 1915-11-26
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 28
AMOS, THE FEARLESS PROPHET
LESSON TEXT-Amos 5:1-15.

LESSON TEXT-Amos 5:1-15.
 GOLDEN TEXT - He that hath my word let him speak my word faithfully Jer 23:2S
 Among the propbet Amos bulks large His message (B. c. 787 ? is most thoroughly modern and it's ap- plication to our present day problems deserves careful consideration. Read the entire book prayerfully. Chapters 1 and enumerate the sins of the nation and of Israel: 3-6 contain ad dresses of the prophet: 7:1-9, 10 rec ords his visions and the conclusion. 9:11-15 is Messianic prophecy. The modern prophet of social service and those who neglect proper consider ation of applied Christianity" both ought to ponder well this passage.
 l. Jehovah's Lamentation, vv.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 1884; 19:4D. Outwardly rich and opulent, in Jehovah's sight the na- tion had already fallen (v 2 R. V) and there ''is none (present tense) to raise her up." Israel is Eersonified 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 con- mand and a promise and those who obey the command will obtain the promise of life.
 To seek ye me" (v 4) is to turn the face to him rather than to turn the back. It implies the forsaking of all evil thoughts, yea, our own thoughts and ways and to turn unto him who will abundantly pardon Qsa. 55:6-7; Deut. 30: 23). There is life for the most outbrealling and outrageous
 II. The Prophets Exhortation, w. 4-9. The places mentioned in verse five had each been made sacred by Gods presence and subsequently degraded by idolatry. Bethel especially so. (Gen. 12:S; 2S: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 social and re- ligious crater in many ways similar to ancient Israel. God is either a con- suming fire (Heb. 15:28-29; Mark 9:43-49) to the impenitent or else a minister of grace to those who repent. Verse seven is suggestion regard ing the rulers of that day and finds far too many counterparts in our own times. In verse 4 Jehovah exhorts the people to seek him and live" In verse the prophet utters the same cry. Now (v. 8 the appeal is to seek him because to do so is wisdom. (a) It is he that maketh the stars" the earth, yea, everything, and it is well to be on his side CPS. 19). (b) He ''turneth the shadow of death into morning" (R. V.) (see Ps. 30:5). Who can comprehend the vast host of his saints for whom this has been done? tc) He 'maketh the day dark with the night (R. VI. This he is doing repeatedly. The God who set the day in it's turn can also turn it aside; he has done it both past and present.
 Ill. The Word of Application, w. 1915. Sinners always hate the man who rebukes their sin. Scripture is not needed to prove this fact, for we see it 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 3:18, 20). Verse Il GA. V.) sounds very much like many of the strictures 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 7:52), our acceptance of bribes, and our neglect of the needy and the poor is all known to God, (v. 12). Therefore" even as today it 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 Qsa. 58:D even though he does now speak with human lips. The fourth exhortatiOn to seek" (v. l4) is to search after the good, though the time be an "evil one.'