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254 THE CONVENTION TEACHER [[column 1]] How small the priest; how great the prophet! (14) Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was a herdman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit: In his reply the courageous Amos disclaims being a prophet by trade of profession or ancestral progeny, who might, for instance, have attempted his vocation without any special fitness or inward call, or who might have even followed it solely with a view to the material advantages accuring [sic] from it. No motive such as these had actuated him. I was a herdman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit -- Amos describes himself as a shepherd and a dresser of sycamore trees. The sycamore attains the size of a walnut tree, has wide spreading branches, and, on account of its shade, is often planted by the wayside. The fruit grows, not on the branches, but on little springs rising directly out of the stem and in clusters like the grape. It is something like a small fig in shape and size, but insipid and woody in taste. The fruit is infested with an insect and until the top has been punctured, so that the insect may escape, not edible. This operation probably is what is here alluded to. (15) And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel. It was ill-requited toil for one who had but a few sheep and a few trees to look after; but it was about the only thing to do in that desolate hill country of southern Judah. Amos eked out his living by tending his sheep and caring for the harsh figs, eaten only by poor people, which needed to be pinched to ripen. It was to this Judean peasant that God one day gave a divine commission, placing upon this stern man's heart a burden concerning Israel's sins, and a message of warning regarding the impending judgement. III. GOD'S JUDGMENT UPON ISRAEL'S SINS. (VV. 1-4.) (1) But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. The predicted exaltation of the temple [[/column 1]] [[column 2]] mountain is assigned to the period of the completion of the Kingdom of God. This exaltation is not a physical one, but a spiritual elevation. Zion is the source of the law and word of the Lord, from which the nations draw instruction how to walk in the ways of God, to make it their on [sic] and to teach it in their homes. (2) And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. In Gospel times many nations shall flow into the Church, shall fly like a cloud and as doves to their window; for ministers shall be sent forth to disciple all nations, and they shall not labor in vain, for multitudes shall be wrought upon to believe the Gospel and embrace the Christian religion. (3) And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Messiah, the Law giver, is here the Judge, for to Him the Father committed all judgement. His Word, His Gospel, that was to go forth from Jerusalem, was the golden sceptre by which He should rule and judge when He sits as King on the holy hill of Zion. By it He shall rebuke strong nations afar off, for the Spirit working with the Word, shall reprove the world. (4) But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it. They shall be quiet both from evil and the fear of evil. They shall sit safely, and none shall disturb them, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, needing no other shelter. Not only shall there be nothing to frighten them, but they shall not be disposed to fear. Under the rule of Christ there shall be abundance of peace. Though His followers have trouble in the world, in Him they enjoy great tranquility. [[/column 2]] QUESTIONS ON THE LESSON [[column 1]] 1. What was God's message that Amos brought? 2. What is divine justice? [[/column 1]] [[column 2]] 3. Where is prophecy found in the Bible? [[/column 2]] [[end page]] [[start page]] THE CONVENTION TEACHER 255 Lights on the Lesson BY REV. BERNARD O. BYRD [[column 1]] Light No. 1. Most literature of men deal with things of the past and things of the times in which the writings were set to paper; the Bible as our divine literature deals with those things and also with the things to come. Many of our writings by ordinary men are somewhat predictive but without certainty. We find supreme confidence in the writings of the scriptures as they predict the future because all spiritual predictions are certain to come to pass. The prophet through spiritual inspiration and spiritual revelation sees and records things as they are to be in later times. Light No. 2. In the prophecy we learn that God is more concerned about the condition of the heart than he is about the carrying out of certain ceremonial requirements in connection with the feast-days and other holy days. True [[/column 1]] [[column 2]] godliness is not outside expression or act, but rather the inward conviction of spiritual standards. Light No. 3. Because of the fact that many people resent things which condemn their practices, much boldness is required for any prophet or preacher to give the Word of God without changes or reservations. Amos and Micah proved themselves to be men who disregarded the reactions of the people to the prophecies they received from God. Light No. 4. The prophet gave a word picture of the establishment of the spiritual kingdom of God by the Messiah, so high in the hearts of men that it would be likened to a building in the top of the mountains. It was to be the highest thing in the nation and it was to have great drawing ability. [[/column 2]] Editorial Reflections BY REV. S. A. PLEASANTS, D. D. [[ [[column 1]] When the people turn away from God in their hearts, to the end that they become evil in the inner man and hate God, God will turn against them. When He turns He will hate their feast days, and their solemn assemblies. When He turns against them, He will not accept their burnt offerings, peace offerings nor anything they do. Evil doings, on the part of any people are against God, and when He turns away from any people, whose imagination is evil continually that people are left in hell on earth. It was not Amos who was speaking, but God through Amos. God's words burn like fire when He speaks to man who plays the harlot with the Devil and then wants God to accept him and the evil of his doings. Had they not been lost in their sinful doings, they would have known that it was God through Amos. Man's words will fail when he speaks to man, but God's words, spoken through man to man, will have the same effect as if God had spoken directly. It is not what man does but it is what God does through man. When God said through Amos, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall be led away out of their country captives. With the Lord it was done. All true prophets were messengers sent by the Lord and their messages were as true as the Lord, because His words were Himself without change. [[/column 1]] [[column 2]] Amaziah did not know that he was speaking to God when he was speaking to Amos. God and His true prophets are one. Always have they been one with Him. It is a dangerous thing to tamper with God's true messengers. Amos let him know who he was, and what he was doing when God appointed him to be a prophet for Him. By this he let Amaziah know that he was not going to obey him but God to whom he was responsible. This prophecy that came through Amos to Israel we know came from God. All who are acquainted with the Lord know His words, when they are spoken by Him directly or through men. He has given His faithful ones the ability to know Him, when He speaks by the Holy Spirit, who always remains with the Lord's true children. The prophet here brings out a day of light, when the darkness shall be gone by reason of the people repenting, and allowing God to take charge of their hearts. The leaders of the people shall come to God, and be leaders, He rules, and the people shall follow God in heart, mind, spirit and in body. The people will turn to God and believe Him, and willingly do what He says. When they obediently do what He wants done, He will change every body and everything and make it heavenly for them. [[/column 2]] [[end page]]
