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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
January, 1,939
FEBRUARY 19, 1939 BEVERAGE ALCOHOL AND ITS SOCIAL PERILS A mos 6:1-6; 1 P eter 2:11, 12; 4:1-5
BLACKBOARD LESSON 'IT IS GOOD AEITHER. TO EAT FLESH, non to Dninx. winE.nonfinyTHinó _ lUHEILEby THH ^ % . 5RDTAER. STUfTIbLETH" Ä nom.HUi i AA s * &ur H/S WAYS' DCUT.6".6 (cf. Eccl. 8:11). They lived in luxury and idleness, as is suggested by the references to beds and couches. They lived extrava gantly, as the mention qf rich foods indi cates, and they forgot the enervating and softening effects of this luxurious living. They indulged in impious music, excusing Thus God's holiness was forgotten, God’s justice was scorned, God’s help was denied, and the teachings of history were thrust aside. Even while the storm of judgment gathered about them, they con tinued their degrading maimer of living. This lesson might well be directed to Amer ica today, and the teacher will be wise to impress it upon every member of the class. II. T he B ehavior (1 Pet. 2:11, 12) In the preceding verses, writing through F A C T S of the F A IT H by. CARL C. HARWOOD •ant'd* Copyright 1938 - CarlC.Hwwood JOHN A. D R AW Z cP ro p b e tic • S c ie n tific » H is to r ic a l iM u s i c a l themselves because it was “like David’s.” But they forgot that his music was for the glory of God and not, as theirs was, for sensual pleasure. They degraded them selves both mentally and morally with their intemperate conduct. Finally, they were so self-centered that all spirit of true patriotism was lost, and they were not grieved for “the affliction of Joseph.” This meant that they had no grief for the national wound—for the fact that the nation was divided and that strife raged between the two parts.
Amos 6:1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! 2 Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border? 3 Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; 4 That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; 5 That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David; 6 That drink wine in bowls, and anoint them selves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. 1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against tne soul; 12( Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visi tation. 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to tne same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. Golden Text: “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth” (Rom. 14:21). Devotional Reading: Prov. 23:29-35. Outline and Exposition I. T he I ndictment (Amos 6:1-6) A MOS wrote in the times of Jeroboam / A II—times of political prosperity but JL injustice and oppression, material prosperity but vice and sin, religious pros perity but moral degradation. There was immorality in society, and idolatry in reli gion. Because similar conditions exist to day, the prophet’s word well may be di rected to us also. Woe is pronounced upon those who are blind to God’s holiness and to their own re sponsibility. In Amos’ day, these indi viduals were at ease in the place of worship, Zion, even though it had been debased, and they were not exercised concerning their obligations toward others, although they had been chosen to be a blessing to others. Calneh (Babylonia), Hamath (Syria), and Gath (Philistia), all had passed away because of the very sins of which these peo ple were now accused (cf. Isa. 10:9; Gen. 10:10; Ezek. 27:23; 2 Ki. 14:25; 1 Sam. 5:8; 2 Chron. 26:6). God is the righteous Judge; there is no respect of persons with Him, and what befell others as a result of certain causes would surely occur also to Israel for the same reasons. The prophet warned the people of their conduct and its sure outcome. In one word the conduct could be described as self-in dulgence. Ruled by the flesh rather than by the Lord, these people sought to put far away the evil day, but thus brought it nigh
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