Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1922-03-09
LESSON FOR MARCH IL
AMOS WARNS ISRAEL QEMPER
ANCE LESSON)
TExT-Amos 6:1-S.

I4NoSON l-4AIllOS o'l-c.
GOLDEN TEXT-Wine is a mockerr
strong drink is raging; and whosoever is
deceived thereby is not wise.-ProV. 2:l.
REFERENCE MATERIAL~lsa. Oh,
Il, 2, 20 2S:1-13; Hosea All; Gal. 5:l9-Zl.
PRIMARY TOPIC-God Sends Amos on
an Errand.
JUNIOR TOPIC-A Prophet Who Was
Friend to the Poor.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
The Consequences of Self-lndulgencS.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Social Evils Yet to Be Conquered.
The kingdom of Israel reached a
high state of prosperity in the time OF
JerOboam IL, and with it came con-
ditiOn of luxury, corruption and
wickedneSs.
The judgment woe of this lesson Is
directed against the sins of the upper
classes in Samaria. The same sins are
practiced in America, in the nation
and in the church. With the increase
of wealth in America has come luxury,
corruption and gross wickedness which
staggers the Imagination. 1t behoOves
all to give listening ear, for God will
eventually enter into judgment. Our
lesson is temperance lesson. Temper
ance applies to other things than in
diligence in Intoxicating liquor. Our
age is intoxicated with pleasure, pur-
suit of gain and selfish ambition.
|. Reckless Security wv. 1-3).
They were blind to the perilS that sur
rounded them. They were living in a
FOOLS paradise, closing their eyes to
the approaching storm of judgment as
predicted by Amos They trusted in
the mountains of Samaria for their
protection. They regarded their city
as impregnable. They no doubt re-
garded the utterance of Amos as i'm
practicable-the dreams of fanatic.
The tragic thing about this blindness
on the part of the chief ones of the
nation was they were 50 puffed up
with pride that they failed to read
the signs of the times in the light of
history ". p The cities of Calneh
and Klamath, though great and mighty,
had fallen. To disregard the lessons
of history, to dismiss the thought Of
impending judgment, is TO bring near
the seat of violence" ". 81. Let
chaotic Europe and Russia be the red
lights of warning to America, and lei
all injustice and class selfshneSs be
laid aside.
II. Luxury wv. 4-6).
The luxury of these upper classes in
Samaria expressed itself in: 1. Extrav'
agant furniture ". ~. They had beds
of ivory-perhaps wood inlaid with
ivory Costly as their furniture was in
that day, it was commonplace as com
pared to some of the expensive furni
ture and fittings in our great cities.
.. Laziness ". ~. They stretched
| themselves upon their couches-liveC
| lives of Incidence. Such is the way
of many still.
3. Feasted on delicacies ". ~. The
| implication here is that they had theil
dainties out of season. This is Wha
many of the rich pride themselves in
f. Adorn their feasts with music
". 81. They sang idle songs-even in
vented musical instruments for thi!
purpose. They prOstituted the nObl,
art of music to their sensual feasts
5. They drank wine ". O.. The!
were not content with ordinary drink
ing vessels. They drank from bowls
indicating excessive drinking. The.
were SO mastered by the intoXicatin!
cup that their feasts which were
adorned with the retinements of musit
ended in drunkenness.
III. Failure to Grieve for JoseP!
". O..
Joseph here stands for Ephrain
and Manasseh, his two sons. Eph
RAIN became the principal trib,
of the northern kingdom, so Joseph i
used as d synonym for the nation. TIL,
] upper classes were indulging in thes,
effeminate luXuries, entirely indifferen
to the groanings of the masses. Ant
whenever such a condition exist in
nation there is need of Amos Il
thunder Gods judgment upon thos,
whQ are guilty of 1t,
w. The Inevitable Issue wv. Z, 81
l. They shall go into captivity ". y
The northern nation was first in sin
therefore first to go into captivity
What striking contrast this picture
Instead of lying on ivory cOuche
feasting upon dainties, they are witt
the suffering eXiles.
2. The certainty of the issue &. 81
1t is inevitable because of Gods ma
ture He is Il God of justice H.
has sworn that judgment shall fall
He is the God of hosrs-the controlle
of the whole universe, therefore non
can escape God hates the wickedneS
of the world, and He will bring int
judgment the men and women VIII
revel in luxury with no concern TO
the poor and needy. Though Got
waits long, He does not forget. TIL
only escape for America is repentance