The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1927-11-03
Lesson for November 6
AMOS PLEADS FOR JUSTICE

AMOS PLEADS FOR JUSTICE
LESSON TEXT-Amos 5:1-27.
GOLDEN TEXT-Let Judgment rur
down as waters and righteousness q:
. mighty stream.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Treating Every.
body Right
JUNIOR ToP1C-The Kind of Mar
God Hears.
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR TOP.
C-A Squaring for God Against the
Crowd.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP.
!. israeI's Desolation Predicted
wv. 1-3).
Amos lamented over the doom
which was to overtake the nation.
Israel is called a virgin because she
had never been subdued by any for
eign nation (see lisa. 3:12). Her fall.
ing to rise no more sets forth the ut
ter desolation and helplessness to
which the Assyrians subjected the ma
ton. From this captivity Israel never
returned. Those who came back from
the Babylonian captivity were largely
from Egypt.
II. The Call to Return to God.
God through the prophet says, seek
ye me and ye shall live" The impli-
cation is that while the divine judy
ments are not executed, an oppor-
tunity is offered for them to turn to
God. In their turning to God they
were to renounce:
1. Idolatry wv. 5, g..
They were to turn away from the
places Of idolatry-Bethel, Gilgal and
Beersheba. Gods judgment was to
strike these places
II they would not come to Him for
life He would be their destroyer. sour
God is a consuming fire." The only
one who can give life to those who
seek Him is the one who shall destroy.
2. Cease to pervert judgment
y.
"Turn judgment to NORWOOD" i'm
plies the bitterness of the perversion
Of justice to the injured.
8. Cease to dethrone righteousness.
Leaving off righteousness" is
thought to mean that righteousness
was allowed to take it's place. In this
third exhortation the Lords name is
given with the following statement Of
some of His works:
1. "Maketh the seven stars and
Orion" 2. "Turneth the shadow of
death into morning." 8. "Maketh the
day dark with night" 4. "Calleth
for the waters of the sea and poureth
them out upon the EARTH" both in
rain and deluge; 5. strengthened the
spoil against the strong"
Ill. The Sins Committed by the
Wicked Nation wv. 1919.
L They hated the judge who con-
demned their wicked practices ". 10).
2. They abhorred him that spoke
uprightly ". 1O).
This most likely referred to the
prophets themselves who told them Of
their sins and urged uprightness Of
life.
8. They trampled upon the poor
". 11).
The rich built magnificent houses
out of the proceeds extorted from the
poor.
4. They afflicted the Just ". 12).
This they did by taking a bribe.
s. They turned aside the poor in
the gate ". 12).
Because they had no money the
poor were turned aside.
It was most difficult for the poor to
get justice. The times were so evil
that the prudent would best keep ST.
lence.
~. The Conduct Of the Righteous
wv. IA. 15).
No condition in the world, religious,
social or political can become so diff.
cult that the righteous are shut off
from help. The righteous can:
I. Seek God ". 14).
Those who seek good shall have
with them the Lord God of Hosts.
2. Hate the evil ". 15).
Evil must be hated. The sin ques-
ton must be settled before God can
bestow His blessings.
8. Establish judgment in the gate.
It was the custom in that day for
the courts Of justice to sit in the gate
Of the city. The prophet urges upon
them the responsibility to place hon
orable men in charge of public affairs.
v. The Judgment to Fall wv. 1920.
There Is coming day of retribu-
hon. Justice and right shall be vim
dicated. This will be realized In the
day o. the Lord Oil Thess 1:7-10;
James SD. All wrong shall be
righted at that time. May we earnest
ly pray, "thy kingdom come"
vi. Worship Without Holiness Of
Life an Accumulation to God wv.
21-27).
Sacrifices, observance Of feast days
and singing, when the heart Is out Of
fellowship with God, Is most displeas-
ing to Him.
Two Different Things