The Denver star., 1915-11-27
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Lesson Ix.-FoEth Quarter, For
Nov. 20, 1915.

Text ~ the Lssson, Amss v. lis.
Memory vsrsss. n, 1sooldsn Text.
Jsr. xxiii, 2s-commsntary Prepared
by Rev. o. N. 0tsarns.
Tho message Of Jonah was to gen
tiles, suggestive Of foreign missions;
that Of Amos was to Israel, and there
fore = home mission lesson reminding
us Of the need Of the church today to
be awakened to see her privileges and
opportunities and responsibilities. The
sins Of Israel and her needs were not
different from those of believers now.
They bore the name Of jehovah. but
were false to Him and wOrshiped idols.
They know not to do right. saith the
Lord iii. 1O). There was self and sin
in all their worship. Therefore the
Lord said, "Oner sacrifice Of thanks
giving with leaven, for this lik-
eth you" Nv, 4, 81. Leavcn is always
type OF evil. Because OF the sin In
their professed worship OF God He
said, Il hate despise your feast
days" l will not accept nor regard
your offerings ", 21-23. Although
they outwardly kept new moons and
Sabbath days their hearts We're long
ing for them to be over that they
might sell corn and wheat and grow
rich by fraud, giving small measure
and taking In rs much money as pos
sible Will, 4, 81.
Consider the growing rich by fraud
ihat abOunds today even among those
who hold high positions in the church.
the oppression OF the poor the formal
ity in worship, the false teaching that
all are children Of God, that Jesus
Christ was only one of the sons OF
God. better than the others, but not
God: that there is no hell. no lake of
tire; that II people are not saved in
this life they can be In the next and
that God of love will never allow
any one to perish eternally: the Bible
cannot be taken literally. II does not
mean what 1t says-consider all these
horrible things and then think how
God in His mercy sent forth Daniel
Crawford from the heart OF Africa and
william Sunday from the baseball
hcld to show His people their sins and
10 uphold the honor Of His word.
How does the Lord plead by Amos!
He reminded them how He had
brought them out OF Egypt. led them
forty years In the wilderness, given
them the lands OF others. raised up
prophets and Naxnrites from among
their sons and revealed to them His
purposes by His prophets III, 10. IL;
Ill. Z: IL. y. therefore He would have
them seek Him and live. assuring them
A., Ssn1s hat
would turn to Him with the whole
heart ", 4. G, IA; lisa. ", G. .. He
also pointed them onward, as He al.
ways did and still does, to the future
glory for in spite Of all the sin OF
Israel It Is the purpose Of God to re-
store Israel and bless all nations
through them. He will raise up the
tabernacle Of David Qx. III. and james
said at the great council at jerusalem
rln, would be after He had gathered
the church. or. as I've put It. taken out
pf the Gentilcs n people for His name.
Then he said that all the Gentiles
would after that be gathered (Acts xv,
1918. Note how In the very last
words Of Amos prophecy the Lord said
that He would bring again the captivi-
~ Of Israel. that they would build
their waste cities and inhabit them:
that He would plant them upon their
land and that they would no more be
pulled up out OF It dx. 1915. Abra-
ham WAS encouraged and sustained by
the assurance OF the city-Moses by
the recompcnse Of the reward. David
by the kingdom. Paul by the glory to
be revealed and our Lord Himself by
the Joy set before Him. know Of no
way by which the church of today can
i,c turned from its worldliness and in
difference SO successfully as by set
Ting clearly before her the great love
Of God in Christ Jesus. the greatness
Of the salvation He has provided and
the glory Of the kingdom to which we
nrc called.
Men nre trying to remedy the evils
that exist. to reform or uplift the race
10 bring a kingdom Of pence on earth
by their own efforts. but They know
not the thoughts OF the Lord. neither
understand they His counsel" (Mic
~. 12). They do not know that the
babe Of Bethlehem was horn to rule in
Israel and that there can he no king
dom OF peace on earth till He shall
come agnin (Aiic. v. 24. People are
80 hlled with their own thoughts and
ways. just MS Israel was, that they will
not be agreed with God and therefore
cannot walk with Him (Amos iii. 81.
because many preachers in pulpits and
teachers in seminaries are turning
away from God to the wisdom of men
there In a famine Of hearing the words
- hn 7 Dr<S A MOS ri Ac In thu
last lesson. those who have knowledge
OF God are disobcdicnt and asleep and
must he awaked. As II Is written In
Eph. v. IA, Awake thou that slecpcst
and arise from the dead. and Christ