The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-11-26
INTERNATIONAL
LESSON
(By E. o. SELLERS, Acting Director II
Sunday School Course of Moody Bible
Institute OF C~hicago.)
Copyright. 1915. Western Newspaper Union ,
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER %
AMOS, THE FEARLESS PROPHET.

LESSON TEXT-Amcs 5:l-N
| GOLDEN TEXT - He that hath nv
word let him speak my word faithfuNy.-
Jer. 1878.
Among the prophets Amos bulks
large. His message tB. c. 7s7 y is
most thoroughly modern and its sp-
plication to our present day problems
deserves careful consideration. Read
the entire book prayerfuly. Chapters
l and 2 enumerate the sins OF he
nation and Of Israel: 80 contain ad-
dresses Of the prophet: 7:I-9, 10 rec
ords his visions and tho conclusion.
9:11-15 Is q Messianic prophecy. h
modern prophet of social service and
those who neglect a proper consider
alton Of applied Christianity" both
ought to ponder we'll this passage.
I. Jehovah's L~amentation, w. 10. The
words of this lesson are those of Je-
hovah spoken to the house Of lsreai
but apply to all people of all ages.
Verse n is a prophecy of the mas
ter's grief over the holy city Luke
1894; 19:41). Outwardly rich and
opuient. in Jehovah's sight the ma
ton had already fallen ". > r. W.
and there lis none tpresent tense) to
raise her up" Israel is ~personiiied
as a maiden sorely wounded. Spoken
decades before, Israel did fall and has
risen no more. But there is a possib'l-
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 we me" ". ~ is 10 turn
the face to him rather han to turn
the back. 1t implies the %fOrsakinE
Of all evil thoughts, yea, u own
thoughts and ways n to turn unto
him who will a~bundanily pardon lisa.
55:6-7; Deut. 30:2S). There is life for
the most o~utbreaking and outrageous
sinner IL he will seek the Lord.
~. The Prophets Elaboration, Wv. 20.
The places mentioned in verse five
a each been made sacred by God
presence n subsequently degraded
by idolatry. Bethel especially go.
tGen. 1913: 2%S:10-1S; / Kings ~l3:29-29l.
These new religions and the false
worshiping were heSulling wen the
sincere n unwary, hence the warn
ing. We need to beware Of the u
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-
Stunning fire Heb. 15:2S-29; Marx
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 u own
times. IN verse 4 Jehovah h
the people to seek him and live"
In verse 6 the prophet uttcrs the
same cry. Now ". 81 the appeal is 90
seek him because to do so is wisdom.
ta) 1t is he that maketh the stars"
the earth, yea, everything. and IL Is
well to be Oh his side FPS. 1917. OBJ
He 'turneth the shadow OF death into
morning" tR. W tsee Ps. 30:5). Wbu
can comprehend the vast host of his
saints for whom this has beer done?
(c) He "maketh the day dark with
the night" tR. W. This he is doing
repeatedly. The God h set the day
in its turn can also turn Il aside;
he has lone it both past and present.
| I'D He "caIleth for the waters-an1
: poureth them out upon the face Of be
earth" This is both poetical and
: scientific. God delivers the rain n
upon him, We all depend. 1t is the part
Of wisdom as well as OF life to be on
the side of the self-existent, eternal Je-
hovah against wbom mans strength
is as nothing ". -.
What man creates, man can destroy.
witness Liege and L~ouvaiD-and be
God any less able?
III. The Word of Application, w.
tots. Sinners always hate the MAI
who rebukes their sin. Scripture is
not needed to prove this fact, for We
e it today. We are specifically
warned against the praise Of the
wicked LUKE $50 and any true and
. upright witness for Christ knows that
he is abhorred by those who's lives
are crooked. tJohn 3:lS, 20l. Verse
II "a. VI sounds very much like
many of the structures that are beng
made regarding the acts of some Of
the rich Of today. How frequently we
behold mansiras brilt from the pro
ceeds of oppression deserted by the
ones who anticipated their occupancy.
How few fortunes are really expended
anu cuJOyeu ny lnOSe VINO iUahc lDs
accumulation. The manner by which
we accumulate, oUr conduct towards
the just tActs 1922. our acceptance
OF brides. 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 hts
. peace, to wait upon God and watch for
him. He it is who must call with
trumpet voice lisa. 5S:1) even though
he does now speak with human lips.
The fourth exhortation to seek" ".
40 is to search after the good. though
, the time be an "evil One."
The individual il I seek good, to
hate evil. and do all in his power to
establish justice in the gate" viz:
80 far as in his power lies. exalt to
the positions of rulers and governors