Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1915-11-25
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 2s
AMOS, THE FEARLESS PROPHET


large. His message (B. G.. 1877 p is
most thoroughly modern and it's ap-
plication to our present day problems
deserves careful consideration. Read
the entire book prayerfully. Chapters
l and 2 enumerate the sins of the
nation and of Israel. 3-6 contain adj
dresses of the prophet: 1918, 10 rec
ords his visions and the conclusion.
9:11-15 is a Messianic prophecy. The
modern prophet of social service and
those who neglect a proper consider
alton of applied Christianity" both
ought to ponder well this passage.
!. 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 duke
10: 81; 19:41). Cutwardly rich and
opulent, in Jehovah's sight the ma
ton had already fallen ". 2 R. W
and there lis none (present tense) to
raise her up" Israel is personified
as maiden soreiy wounded Spoken
decades before, Israel did fall and has
risen no more. But there is POSSIBLE
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" ". ~ is to turn
the face to him rather than to turn
the back 1t implies the forsaking
of all evil thoughts, yea, our own
thoughts and ways and to turn unto
him who will abundantly pardon Elsa.
55:6-7; Deut. 30:28) There is life for
the most outbreaking and outrageous
sinner If he will seek the Lord.
II. The Prophets Exhortation, w. 40
The places mentioned in verse five
had each been made sacred by Gods
presence and subsequently degraded
by, idolatry. Bethel especially So
(Gen. 1878; 2S:10-18; Kings 70: 1929
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
..
today standing upon social and re-
ligious crater in many ways similar to
ancient Israel. God is either a con-
Stunning fire Heb. 15:2S-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 6 the prophet utters the
same cry. Now ". 81 the appeal is to
seek him because to do so is wisdom
(a) 1t is he that maketh the stars"
the earth, yea, everything, and it is
well to be on his side FPS. 49, (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?
Co He "maketh the day dark with
repeatedly. The God who set the day
in its turn can also turn it aside;
he has done it both past and present.
III. 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 Guke $3.50 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 "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
we accumulate, our conduct towards
the just (Acts 7:52), our acceptance
of brides, 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 Elsa. 5S:1) even though
he does now speak with human lips
The fourth exhortation to seek" ",
LAD is to search after the good, though
the time be an evil one"
True goodness is to hate evil and
love the good" Cps 97:10; Rom. 1920.
By this test we may know if we really
hate sin, if we are truly righteous
We have churches and lack rever.
ence; we have preachers but are not
sufficiently conscious of our weak
morals; we hear sermons yet our faith
is fiabby.
We can get on without armies and
navies, airships and submarines, kings
end legislators, yea lacking in all OF
the conveniences of modern civiliza
ton, but we cannot exist, much less