Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1922-03-10
LESSON FOR MARCH IL
AMOS WARNS ISRAEL (TEMPER.
ANCE lESSON)

strong drink is raging. and whatsoever ~
deceived thereby Is not wise.-ProV' Nh
REFERENCE MATERlAL-lsa. Oh
r. q, %, Sl-l3, Hosea All; Gal b'ls-H'
PRIMARY TQPIC--God Sends Amos on
an Errand.
JUNIOR ToPlC-A Prophet Who Was
q Friend to the Poor.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR ToPlC
The Consequences of Self-lndugence:
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 ii, and with 1t came con-
ditlon Of luxury, corruption ana
wlckedness.
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 wiz
eventually enter into Judgment. Our
lesson is Il 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. 3D.: I.
They were blind to theperils that SURF
rounded them. They we're living IN a
fools paradise. closing theirfeyes to
the approaching storm of judgmentAas
predicted by Amos. They trusted In
the mountains of Samaria for tbefr'
protection. They regarded their p
as impregnable. They no doubt re'
garded the utterance of Amos as I'M
practicable-th dreams Of fanatlc.
The tragic thing about this blindness
on the part of the chief ones OF the
nation was they We're so putfed up
with pride that they failed to read
the signs of the times in the light OK
history w. ~ 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 ". ~. Let
chaotic Europe and Russia be the red
lights of warning to America, and let
all Injustice and class seltishness be
laid aside.
u. Luxury wv. 4-8).
The luxury of these upper classes In
Samaria expressed itself in l. Extrav-
agant furniture ". ~. They had beds
Of ivory-perhaps wood inlald with
ivory. Costly as their furniture was In
that day, 1t 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-llved
lives of Incidence. Such is the way
of many still.
3. F'easted on dellcacies ". ~. The
Implication here Is that they had tlielr
dainties out of season. This Is what
many of the rich pride themselves In.
4. Adorn their feasts with music
". 81. They sang idle songs-eyen in
vented musical instruments Tor this
purpose. They prosttuted the noble
art Of music TO their sensual feasts.
8. They drank wine ". o.. They
were not content with ordinary drink
ing vessels. They drank from bowls.
indicating excessive drinking. They
were so mastered by the intoxicating
cup that their feasts which were
adorned with the refnements of music
ended in drunkenness.
~. Failure to Grleve for Joseph
". o..
Joseph here stands for Ephraim
and Manasseh, his two sons. Eph-
rain became the principal tribe
of the northern kingdom, so Joseph Is
used as synonym for the nation. The
upper classes were INDUCING In these
effemlnate luxuries, entirely Indifferent
to the groanings of the masses. Ard
whenever such condition exist In n
nation there is need Of Amos to
thunder Gods judgment upon those
who are guilty Of II.
~. The Inevitable Issue wv. Z, 81
l. They shall go into captivity ". y.
The northern nation was first In sim
therefore first TO go into captivity
What striking contrast this picture
Instead of lying on ivory couches
Teasing upon dainties, they are with
the suffering exiles.
2. The certainty Of the issue ". 81,
II Is inevitable because Of Gods ma
ture. He is God of justice. lie
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 wlckedness
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 lsng. lie does not forget. The
| only escape for America Is repentance.