The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-07-27
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Amos, Prophet Of Social Justice
Ry HIGHT c. MOORE
By HIGHT {. MOORE

! Sunday, July 2S. &c.. -
/ Amos 7:7-17. =,
Golden Text-Let justice roll
down as waters, and righteous
ness as a mighty stream. Amos
SPA 49,. -,
The lightnings of divine wrath
were leveled at the national SINS
of the day by Amos the herds
man-prophet by 8ekoa about the
middle of the eighth century be-
fore Christ.
PICTURE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE
The Plumb-line presented 9
picture of social justice. The
scene was laid at Bethel a few
miles north of Jerusalem. Note
three things that the Lord did
I(n The Lord showed Amos what
he now saw. Therefore the vi
sion was apt, accurate and au-
jthoritative. (2) The Lord stood
beside a wall made by plumb
line, probably the structure Of
the Hebrew people built by
Moses in accordance with the
law given at Sinai. But the Lord
stood now with a plumb-ine in
his hand" ready to drop plum
met bv the wall to see and show
FOR it was out of plumb. 81 The
Lord said what he would do and
what would come to pass. He
fixed the prophets eyes upon the
symbolic plumb-line. He declar-
ed he would set it in the midst
of Israel to show to them and
others their error. His mercy
could not longer overlook their
confirmed evil-doing. The high
places of Isaac Gas Beer-sheba
where the patriarch worshiped)
having been neglected must be-
come dcsolate. So also the
sanctuaries of Israel in their
disuse must be laid waste. Thru
an alien power the Lord would
raise against the house of King
Jeroboam with the sword.
PROTEST AGAINST
SOCIAL JUSTICE
The Priest raised his protest
against social Justice. The priest
in charge or on duty at Bethel
was Amaziah who, of course re
sented the prophecy of Amos and
sought to discount and destroy
his teaching. Two things he now
did: ~.
=. (D He sent to Jeroboam the
king (then probably at his palace
in Samaria I'd miles northward)
changing Amos with treason, mis-
quoting his words as just record
ed and declaring that the coun-
try could not endure with such
talk going on unchecked in the
midst of the people. (2) He. said
unto Amos several stern words:
Called him "seer" in apparent
irony: babe him flee as if pur-
sued to the land of Judah from
whence he came; ordered him TO
earn his bread by prophesying
there as if he were a hireling;
forbade his ministry at Bethel
which as the kings sanctuary
fostered only a stage religion APP
proved and supported by the
royal house.
PROCLAMATION OF SOCIAL
JUSTICE
The Prophet continued his
proclamation of social justice.
The reply of Amos to Amaziah
was first personal and then
prophetic. (D Speaking for
himself Amos declared that he
was not a professional prophet
belonging to the order and claim,
ing a bounty, but an herdsman
and dresser of sycomore trees
(scraping or pinching unripe fig
mulberries to make them mature)
who came away from his flocks
and fields only at the express
command of God. His work was
neither mercenary nor routine
(2) Speaking for God and turn
ing a deaf ear to the priests or
der that he shut his mouth
against Israel and let no words
drop against Israel. Amos fore
cast six terrible things against
Amaziah: His wife should be the
victim of soldiers lust in their
conquest of the city: his so"s
and daughters should be slalA
with the conquering sword; his
extensive estate should be cut up
by line into small lots; he him
self should die a stranger in a
strange land: and Israel should
be led away captive of his coun-
try. Did not naughty and cruel
Assyria in 722 BIC. bring the
prophets word to pass?
STAND FOR THE RIGHT
(D Stand for the Right with
God. "The Lord" We must
stand with God if we stand for
the right. Nor can we be right
or do right in any other way.
| (2) Stand for the Right with
Gods Word. "Then said the
Lord" His word is inerrant. His
will is infallible. Discover it and
do it and all will be we'll.
| (3l Stand for the Right Among
Gods People. ''In the midst of
nv people Israel" There are
others who have not bowed the
knee to Baal. But when good
people 60 wrong they should be
recalled to their duty. ..
| (4) Stand for the Right in
Gods House. "The high places
of Isaac-the sanctuaries of Is
rael." The house of service. Out
of the sanctuary issues the river