The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-08-11
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
AMOS PLEADS FOR JUSTICE
By HIGHT c. MOORE

ouainted with the earlier books
of the Old Testament. His proph-
etc work was performed at
Bethel in the bounds Of Israel
which was 25 miles from his
home in the southern kingdom.
He flourished in the eighth CEN
tury before Christ.
Hear We this word which | take
nm against you, even a lamenta-
tion. O house of Israel.
The national aspect of justice
is presented in the lamentatlon
over the fallen virgin of Israel.
GO Attention is called to the
word 1t is the word of God. 1t
IS the divine word through the
nrophet Amos. 1t embodied a
message to the house of Israel,
referring specially to the III
tribes of the northern kingdom.
II was a lamentation, for the
prophet raised his voice to pro-
nounce a dirge over Israel. (2(
Notice the content of the word.
1t concerned Il grevious fall with
its wreck and ruin. 1t was the
fall of a virgin nation which had
never been conquered and carried
away into captivity. Specifically,
it was the fall of the virgin OF
Israel which had resisted pagan
invaders and oppressors. but soon
must fall before to fierce Assyr-
ian hosts. Without Jehovah to
raise her up from her rebellion
and ruin she could but remain
HELPLESS and hopeless in her woe.
THE DOWNTRODDEN POOR:
TRANSMISSION
The Social Aspect of Justice IS
presented in the oppression which
tramples upon the poor. Cd The
Judges who are faithful enough
to reprove the law-breaker and
criminals must face a storm OF
caiumny and hate. (2) The
prophets who speak uprightly and
frankly to their fellow men must
know what it is to be abhorred,
sneered at, and vilified. (3) The
poor, all ever, in such land, are
trampled upon by those who de-
spise them and defrauded as by
excessive exactions in wheat by
I, those who have business dealings
| with them. But the oppressors OF
the poor cannot get away with
their wickedness. They may in
deed build houses of hewn stone
while the poor are huddled to-
gether in huts of sun-dried bricks,
but they shall not live in the
mansions they have made. They
may plant pleasant vineyards but
not a goblet of their wine shall
they drink. There is God of
| Justice still seated in the heavens
and regnant upon the earth. ca
The Just who are loyal to their
religious convictions and their ma
tional ideals suffer Affections
from those who have in hand the
reigns of power. (5) The needy
are not given their rights under
the law because those in author
| ity yield to bribery and fraud.
CO. The prudent seeing the fulfil
lily of remonstrance and, unwill-
ing to cast pearls before swine,
can do nothing better than to
keep silent in such an evil day.
THE HIGHER GOAL:
REFORMATION
The moral aspect of justice is
presented in the reformation
which aspires to the higher goal
of the good. Two imperatives
lead up the stairway to divine
promise. % Seek good. In its
highest reach good includes God.
And good must be sought, for it
will not be forced upon any one.
1t must be sought a whole heart
and dominant in the whole life.
1t must be sought in spite of the
seductions of evil which crowd
heavily upon us on every side and
all the time. Not until we seek
good can we live the life worth
living. Then only can we realize
with us the presence and power
of the God of hosts. 1t is vain to
think or boast that we are kept
in the hollow of his hand unless
we earnestly and ardently seek
good. (2) Love the good. Our
Inner natures must cleave to the