The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1922-03-09
LESSON FOR MARCH II
AMOS WARNS ISRAEL TEMPER.
ANCE LESSoN)

GOLDEN TEXT-Wine Is n mocker.
strong drink is raging: and whosuever IL
uIeeiEeo merely is not wise.--Prov. 9o:l.
REFERENCE MATERIAl~Isa. 5:n,
IL. ~. 70; 2S:l-l3; Hosea 4:ll; Gal. 6:ls.2l.
PRIMARY TOPlC-God Sends Amos on
an Elrand.
JUNIOR TOP1C-A Prophet Who Was
Friend to the Poor
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Ine consequences Of self-Indulgence.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Social Evils Yet to Be Conquered.
The kingdom of Israel reached a
nigh state of prosperity in the time Of
Jerobonm ii, and with it came con
dition Of luxury, corruption and
wickedncsS.
The Judgment woe Of this lesson Is
directed against the sins Of the upper
classes in S,nuria. The same sins are
practiccd 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 a temperance lesson. Temper
ance applies to other things than in
II.
age Is intoxicated with pleasure, pur-
suit of gain and selfish ambition.
]. Reckless Security wv. 1-3).
Ihey were blind to the perils that sur
rounded them. They were living in
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 impregnabe. They no doubt re-
garded the utterance Of Amos rs 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 so puffed up
with pride that they failed to read
the signs of the times in the light OF
history ". 2.) 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 let
all injustice and class selfishness be
laid aside.
u. Luxury wv. 4-6).
The luxury Of these upper classes In
Samaria expressed itself in: !. EXtrav-
agant furniture (v. ~. They had beds
OF ivory-perhaps wood inlad with
ivory. Costly as their furniture was In
that day-tt was commonplace as com
pared to some of the expensive furni-
ture and fittings in our great cities.
2. Laziness ". ~. They stretched
themselves upon their couches-lived
lives OF Incidence. Such is the Wig
of many still.
3. Feasted on dclicacies ". ~. The
Implication here is that they had their
dainties out Of season. This is what
many Of the rish pride themselves in.
T. Adorn their feasts with music
w. 81. They sang idle songs-even in
vented musical Instruments for this
purpose. They prostituted the noble
art Of music TO their sensual feasts
8. They drank wine ". 81. They
were not content with ordinary drink.
Ing vessels. They drank from bowls.
indicating excessive drinking. They
were 50 mastered by the Intoxicating
cup that their feasts which were
ended in drunkenness.
III. Failure to Greve for Joseph
". g..
Joseph here stands for IGphraim
and Manasseh, his two sons. Eph.
rain became the principal tribe
OF the northern kingdom, so Joseph Is
used as Il synonym for the nation. The
upper classes We're indulging in these
efemnnte luxuries, entirely Indifferent
to the groanings OF the masses. And
whenever such n condition exist in a
nation there is need of Amos to
thunder Gods Judgment upon those
who are guilty Of It.
w. The Inevitable Issue (vv. 7,8).
1. They shall 80 into captivity (v.7).
The northern nation was first in sin,
therefore first to 60 into captivity.
What n striking contrast this picture!
Instead Of lying on ivory couches
feastlng upon dainties. they are with
the suffering eXiles.
2. The certainty Of the issue ". 81.
1t Is inevitable because Of Gods ma
ture He Is God OF Justice He |
has sworn that Judgment shall fall.
He Is the God Of hosts-the controller
of the whole universe. therefore none |
can escape. God hates the wickedness
OF the world. and He will bring into
Judgment the men and women who
revel In luxury with no concern for
the poor and needy. Though God
waits long, He does not forget. The