The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-11-27
INTERNATIONAL
SONlMSQl0OL
LESSON
CBy E. O. SELLERS. Acting pl[ee'p R,h "
Sunday School Course oil MoouS 0'O'e
Institute. of ChicagoD
Copyright. 1915. Western Ne"spape'
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 20
AMOS. THE FEARLESS PROPHET

Among the prophets ANUS puih'
large. His message Oh. L. 'o' y 10
most thoroughly modern anu lls ap-
plication to our present Gay proDlems
deserves careful consideration. he"u
the entire book prayerfully ohaplerS
l and 9 enumerate the sins OF the
nation and of Israel: Sc contain al
dresses of the prophet 7:l9, III rec
ords his visions and The cULcluslon'
9:11-15 is a Messianic prophecy me
modern prophet of social Sc wee anu
those who neglect a proper consluer-
alton of applied Christianity, DOM
ought to ponder well this passage.
l. Jehovah's Lamentation, WIS. the
words of this lesson are those OF Je-
hovah spoken to the house or isreai
But apply to all people OF all ages.
Verse one is a prophecy of the mas
ter's grief over the holy city Luke
1884; 19:4D. Outwardly rich anu
opulent, in Jehovah's sight the ma
ton had already fallen ". X. W
and there sis none present tense) TO
raise her up" Israel Is PERSONNEL
as a maiden sorely wounded. Spoken
decades before, Israel did fall and mas
risen no more. But there is POSSIBLE
ity of mercy. There is here a COM
mand and a promise and those VINO
obey the command will obtain the
promise Of life.
To seek We me" ". Al 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 lisa.
55:6-7; Deut. 30: 2S). There is life for
the most outDreaking and outrageous
sinner If he will seek the Lord.
u. 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:lO-1S; 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-
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 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
we'll to be on his side FPS. 1917. OBJ
He "turneth the shadow of death into
morning" (R. w. lsee 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 1t aside;
he has done 1t both past and present.
(d) He "calleth for the 1aters-and
poureth them out upon the face Of the
earth" This is both poetica. and
scientific. God delivers the rain and
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 whom mans strength
is as nothing ". 81.
What man creates. man can destroy,
witness Liege and Louvain-and is
God any less able?
~. The Word Of Application, w.
1915. Sinners always hate the man
who rebukes their sim Scripture is
not needed to prove this fact, for we
see it today. We are specifically
warned against the praise Of the
wicked duke $3.50 and any true and
upright witness for Christ knows that
he is abhorred by those whose lives
are crooked. John 3:1S, 20). Verse
IL "a. VI soundo 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 $3.50. 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 his
peace. to wait upon God and watch for
Kim. He it is who must call with
trumpet voice lisa. SGD even though
he does now speak with human lips.
The fourth exhortation to seek" w.
40 is to search after the good. though
the time he an ''evil one"
The individual is to seek good. to
hate evil. and do all in his power to
establish justice in the gate" viz;
so far as in his power lies, exalt to
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 in
this evil time (See Gen. 1892. 3. %;
Phi. 1880.
True goodness is to hate evil and
love the good" FPS 91:l0; Rom. 10:9