The Southland advocate., 1950-04-15

GAIA: II will send a fire on the
wall of Gaza-I will cut off the
inhabitant of Ashdod." From
GAIA he goes to Tyrus, Edom, Am
mon, Moab. and to his own country
of Judah: II will send fire upon
Judah" SO far his message would
awaken interest and approval Is
rael was only too glad to hear
about the sins and judgments of
these surrounding countries, even
this sister-nation, Judah.
All this is only Introductory,
however, to the real message of
the prophet. He had been sent
to Israel, and all this preliminary
matter was but leading up to what
he had been sent to proclaim. We
will take up this message in our
other lessons: we are only con-
cerned at present with the PRO
gram" of the prophet. He had a
great deal of common sense and a
real knowledge of the workings
of the human mind, even though
he had never taken a course in
! "spchology." The Spirit of God,
Who was controlling the mind of
the prophet, knows all about the
J workings of the minds of men.
His task was a most difficult
| Il,
that even this far removed from
| our War between the States
there still exists prejudices in
many peoples hearts. For a
preacher, reformer, or politician
to go from the land of Dixie" to
Yankee Land" or vice versa. and
try to make an impression is al
most impossible. The North and
South are still inclined to look ask
ance at visitors from either side
who tell the other what to do. The
land of Israel had had this civil
War" this Rebellion" and for g
prophet from the South to go tc
the North and proclaim the word
of the Lord was as unwelcome as
DR.. Dabney would have been right
after our war in the New England
States, or DR.. Beecher in Virginia
or the Carolinas.
But Amos makes it clear to the
people of Israel that God is no re
spector of Nations; that even Hi
own country of Israel is to fee
the weight of severe Judgment
This approach ought to have made
them ready to listen and heed, i
any method, or program could, bu
we see that even with this kind O.
appeal his reception was anything
but cordial.
II. His Reception by the people
of Judah 7:7-15.
l. The Vision of the Plumbline
1873. AS was the case with many
of the prophets, Amos message
was Illustrated by very vivid wore
pictures. In these verses we have
the vision of the plumbline. ThC
of character and conduct. The
Lord is testing Israel and He find:
that her whole national life j:
| crooked: Judgment is coming up
on them for their sin: And the
high places of Israel shall be des.
olate, and the sanctuaries of Israe
shall be laid waste; and l will rise
up against the house of Jereboan
with the sword"
2. The Reaction of Amaziah the
priest of Bethel: 10-14. He charges
Amos with conspiracy and says
the land is not able to bear it
He advises Amos to flee to his
own country-to go back home
and not prophesy in the king:
chapel and court.
8. The Reply of Amos: 14-15. /
is brief and to the point. He hat
not come ION his own: The Lore
said unto me, Go, prophesy unto
my people Israel" This ought tt
have been sufficient. Amos pro
ceeds to pronounce judgment or
the priest, Amaziah. We see the
courage of the prophet in these
sion. He was sent of God, and
he must carry out his program
for it was the program of God.
Would that we had today g
preacher, or prophet, with the
courage and the commission Of
Amos! Our land is prosperous. We
have won two wars. We have moi
suffered as many other nations
| have suffered. In our prosperity
we seem to have forgotten God
We are engaging in a drunken
spree" Crimes of the most un-
usual and revolving nature are
daily occurrences, and our people
seem to take it all without feel
ing any shame or contrition.
mn