Friday, February 28, 2020


WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday March 1, 2020

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A CALL TO ACCOUNTABILITY
(Warning of the coming judgment)
(Amos 5:18-26)

   The events in the Book of Amos take place during one of the most prosperous times in northern Israel’s history. Their dynamic King, Jeroboam II, had led the nation to successful victories over their hostile neighbors in war, and as a result, had won control of the lucrative trade routes that now poured tremendous wealth into Samaria, northern Israel’s capital.
    It was a golden age for the wealthy who built grand homes and proud public facilities near the worship centers of Bethel and Dan. Even the fertile land of northern Israel presented bumper crops, year after year, in those days. Unfortunately, beneath the glitter, glamor, and prosperity of this golden society, lay the dark tragedy of social injustice and economic disparity.
    The rich in Israel, at that time, had little regard for GOD, nor, any of HIS sacred laws. The poor in Israel, were mercilessly oppressed by merchants who regularly used unjust weights and measures in the marketplace, and, by the judges (“dayyaneh Gezeloths”) in the court system, whose justice was for sell to the highest bidder.
    And so, it is against this backdrop of “prosperity” and “wickedness”, that we find the Prophet Amos, a farmer from nearby Judah, being called by GOD to deliver a series of resounding messages to his wayward kinsmen of northern Israel. In this deeply penetrating prophesy, Amos exposes the very underbelly of this, seemingly, upright society.
    Here in Amos chapter 5, we see a continued denunciation by GOD, through Amos, of the legal injustice that is being perpetrated by “robber judges” who sold their court decisions to the wealthy, and, against Government workers who overtaxed the poor. Here Amos also cites the landlords who overcharged for rent in subpar housing, while all the time they claimed to be children, or followers of GOD. All this displays the kind of “religious hypocrisy” that we still see in today’s society (Vs.10-13).
    In verses 14-15 we see that the possibility still exists for the people of Israel to separate themselves from these evil practices. Here Amos urges them to repent and begin to do that which is good and just and right in the eyes of the LORD. However, history now tells us that they, instead, chose to continue on in their sin and revelry.
    In verses 16-17, Amos concludes this, his third message of his prophecy to northern Israel, by returning to his opening plea, and reminding the people of the severe death penalty that is inevitable, if they failed to heed GOD’s warnings.
    Over in the New Testament, JESUS was still warning the people of Israel to discontinue the “hypocrisy” of “religious pretense” and “public show” (playing church) that had become so deeply engrained in their worship services in the church (Matthew 6:5-8, and Matthew 23). Here in verses 21-24, we see Amos reminding the Israelites of that same fatal flaw.
    Like the Christian Church today, the Israelites of the 8th century B.C., and in the 1st century, had developed a tendency to live in “religious hypocrisy”. GOD’s anger has always been directed largely at those of us who choose to live in such a manner. It is this kind of “empty worship” that GOD simply will not tolerate, and especially from Church leadership.
    GOD makes it quite clear, throughout the history of HIS Word, that HE strongly detests our “showing off in public”, while continuing to live an unGODly life in private. HE will not ever accept our tithes and offerings, and nor will HE accept our hymns of praise, and in fact, songs from the disobedient are like “noise to HIS ears and HE simply will not even listen to such “melodic hypocrisy”. Amos tell us here that GOD, instead, wants to see “a mighty steam of justice” flowing from among us, and a “river of righteous living” that will never run dry (Vs.23-25).
    Money and riches are not intrinsically evil. However, too often wealth promotes “self-indulgence”, and makes us “indifferent” toward others. Remember, JESUS, WHO was GOD’s greatest human representative on earth, ever, also preached and clearly understood the dangers of prosperity better than anyone ever has. HE taught that, the more we gain in life, the more we need GOD, not the opposite. When the Israelites were poor, they were humble and full of worship. However, the fuller their pockets became, the emptier their worship became.
    To go with everything in life, we need GOD, and with wealth and prosperity, we need HIM all the more. It is very possible to be wealthy, and also have a heart for GOD, and King David, the first GODly king of Israel, stands as a wonderful example of this. However, history also tells us that “most people refuse to pursue, both, GOD, and money. In fact, it is overwhelmingly proven throughout world and Church history that most people will choose “empty worship and prosperity”, over GOD.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander





                                
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