Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-04-05

Amos Sis. Hate the evil, and love
the good, and establish justice in the
gate
The lesson today commences the
second quarter Of our series. IN our
last. YOU remember, the Risen Christ
ryhorted His followers to go "and
make disciples OF all nations.
This lesson goes back to several
hundred years before Christ, III OF
1Nout $50 3. c., when Uzziah was
king of Judah, and Jeroboam IL
,riencd over Israel II was time OF
great oppression Of the very poor ana
Of dishonesty, debauchery and gen
eral wickedness. The rich lived IN
luxury on the products Of dishonest
trading, false weights, the sale OF
worthless goods, bribery, etc. Ihey
had beautiful summer and WINTER
homes. where hey ate, drank ana
caroused to excess. The poor ana
those who were cheated had no re-
dress in the courts, for the judges
also were dishonest, and their Judg-
men1s often were fixed by those
who were willing to pay them.
Amos. whose name means ,Our-
den" or "burden-bearer,' was a hum
bic shepherd living among the
herdsmen OF Tekoa,' on the edge OF
the desert. about II miles south OF
Jerusalem. He raised peculiar breeo
Of sheep. stunted and ugly in appear
ance, but valued for their fine wool.
He also described himself as ores
ser of sycomore trees" Thus he was
a countryman, living close to nature
but he must have had dealings IN the
cities and knew the WlckednesS Oh
many who dWelt therein.
Uses Classical Language.
In spite of the fact that Amos was
apparently unlettered, ne IS, says one
commentator, 1.-The author OF the
purest and most classical Hebrew IN
the Old Testament" AS he nlmsell
said: Il was no prophet, neither was
7 q prophets son; but was a herds
man, and gatherer OF sycomore
fruit:
And the Lord took me as fol-
lowed the flock, and the LORD SAID
unto me, GO, prophesy unto MY peo-
pie Israel"
So Amos went to Bethel, where the
court was, and plainly told the WICK
ed people what would happen 10
them if they did not forsake their
evil ways He was not AFRAID 10 APP
proach the highest in the land, ms
humble shepherd, and gave them the
message that the Lord had gwen
him. .
Hear We this word which l take
I'D for a lamentatlon over Vou' V
house Of Israel.
"They hate him that reproVeth IN
the gate, and they aohor MN tn''
speaketh uprightly. ..,
"Foraslnuch therefore as ye uain-
ole upon the poor, and take eNac-
tions from him of wheat: we nave
built houses of heWn stone, but ye
shall not dwell in them, We nave
planted pleasant vineyards, puI ye
Shall not drink the wine thereof
Cod Knows Their TranSgresslOns.
For l know how manitoba are
YOUR tranSgressions, and now mlghVy
are your sins-ye that aflllct the just
that take bride, and that turn aSloe
the needy in the gate from lhelr
right 49,. :, Ill.,.
"Seek good, and not evil, that ye
may live, and SO Jehovah, the Goa u
hosts, will be with you, as ye say
Hate the evil, and love the gooo'
and establish justice in the gaze
fbnt I0hOEIn n0loQ
their feasts and their burnt offerings,
and took no delight in their solemn
assemblies, because they lived eVli
lives, not following the laws Coo hao
given them. For a long time Amos
preached and eXhorted the people,
and at last he aroused Amazlahs the
head of the church, who denounced
Amos to Jeroboam, the king. ana
then told him to go away, saying
20 thou seer, go flee away into the
land Of Judah, and there eat Dreao
and prophesy there. But prophesy not
again any more at Bethel: for 1t IS
the kings chapel, and it is the king S
court"
Amos told him then how the Lord
had come to him and told him to go
to try to save the people from de-
struction. Their land he said would
be given to their enemies, the king
killed, and the people would be taken
captive and driven from their homes:
He told of visions which the Lord
had sent him. In the first the whole
country was laid waste by locusts
which ate every green thing. When
he interceded, the Lord Withdrew
that threatening; the next was an
all-devouring fire, which was also
called off at Amos behest; and the
third was vision of the Lord with
a plumbline, measuring the Kingdom
to cast it down.
Amos refused to be silenced by the
head priest. What was the eventual
fate of this fearless man no one
seems to know, but it is thought nc
returned to his home place and lived
quietly to the end of his days. His
prophecies, however, actually came
IN mace