The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-11-22

4 LEssoS TKxT-1 Kings 3:5l5
GoLDES TEXT Wisdom u better than
gubies. Prov. SILL.
4 CENTRAL TKuTu-Seek frst the Kingdom
Of Heaven, and al other things shall b
added unto you.
The Books or KlSos-Orginally one
book. Author unknown; written probably
about b. @. $50.
TNE-B c. 1918. solomon reisned B. G.
| l0l5975.
! PLAcE-GIbeon nigh place., ok miles
north Of Jerusalem, perhaps the same -
Mob (heighp and Mxpah tower. Here
the old tabernacle stood, while the ark was
on Mt Zion. Worship was kept up q both
places.
\ PARALLEL Accouxr-3Chro I Ills. David
died short time before this, about seventy
4 years old.
SOLOMON Eighteen to twenty yesrs old.
( His mother was Bathsheba, the grand.
| daughter Of the wise Ahithophcl-
\ The STATE or the KISoDoM-In perfect
4 peace, wide extended, prosperous, entering
4 upon . new err Of religious worship. Of
commerce and trade, Of literature and learn
ing.
| HELPS OVER HARb PLAcEs-5. ALI, etc:
4 the answer TO his prayers and worship. Q.
! And Solomon said: Solomon grounds his
! request that Jehovah would grant him the
I gifts necdful for sovereign upon tho mercy
shown his father David, 70 whom God had
I performed His promises. Z. am but . Atfh
/ ehid; his humility shows his wisdom. He
| saw how weak he WAS for the great work
7 70 be done Hor 20 % out come IN: l. e.
I transact the business OF the government.
g. Witch thou hast chosen: Il was not only
I great nation, but the nation chosen 70 rep
resent God before the world. and carry out
His Kingdom, and teach the world His
! truths All this was far greater respon-
! sibility than the ruling OF an ordinary king
dom. A grea: people: l,5oO.0o0 warriors. be-
\ sides IS, COO Levltes a Cnron. % %; q x. 81,
which would imply . population Of 60O0,0
Q. Ctps an understanding hart: true, relig
ious wisdom, applied 70 the affairs OF his
kin gdom; clear perception Of right and
wrong, and skill TO decide every dhicult
question Alright II included also an apti-
tude for the acquisition and use Of the high
or branches Of philosophical knowledge,
natural and moral, which constituted the
learning Of his age. In the latter. be *.
cellcd the most famous men Of his time.
TO- Plsdsed ne Lord: for he asked nothing
for himself. but only fitness for his work.
: II. None l1ss thee: his knowledge Of nature
\ extended TO al the kingdoms Of creation and
the products Of every country Il Kings 4 81.
I x3). He gave special attention to the study
OF man. His manifold observation and ex-
perience he expressed in maxims, Of which,
/ according TO / Kings 4:32. he composed
/ three thousand. IA. II, etc then rat
I ienythen Thy days: long life was conditional
/ on obedience. Solomon failed in his part,
and be died at the age Of % Is. Behold, q
, ras dream: but the results show that Il
/ was real choice.
4 CoxxKxrs-At last David went the way
! OF all men. He was buried, and solomon
I rcigned in his stead The new King was
only eighteen years old, and naturally felt
his own inexperience. HIS young heart
seems 70 have been well inclined. for no
went to Gideon where the tabernacle was
| (the ark was in Jerusalem). and where
/, Zadok, the high priest, was. and there
| offered great sacrifice 70 Jehovah. Il was
1 . singular state Of affairs 70 have The tab
crnacle and altar Of sacrince = one plnco
| and the ark - another. hut e took yoars
/ % restore TIE ancient order q thinGa and
| noe untll TIE tompIo We built Woro ~ ond
| altar oGnln united. WhiIo n 0iboou, g.
| this oocri0co. Solomon droomod ~ dronm
| which % given ~ our loostn- Call o<oen-
ton 70 the character Of the young King =
revealed by his dream Jour OCEANS aro
often really mirrors Of our characters). a.
| He was thoughtful. He pondered over the
past experiences Of his father David. This
was good thing for Solomon 70 do For
in fact, Gods mercics 70 Solomon did not
begin when he was born. but long before.
So Gods mercics 70 us did not commence Ct
our birthday, but were shown even in the
days Of our forcfathcrs- (b) He was hum
BILE "And am but little child: know
not how 70 20 out or come in" He felt his
want Of experience, and realized that he
needed guidance. (c) He was patriotic.
's0iye, therefore. thy servant m under
standing heart to judge Thy people" In al
this the character Of the young ruler shows
20 good advantage. II il the more pity that
he did not maintain this simplicity and
purity Of character and life all his days.
Now notice Gods answer 70 6olomon's
prayer. He approves OF the Kings petition,
and, because Of the wisdom OF the request,
He gives him more than he asked for.
Riches and honor are added 70 wisdom, %
that solomon was really blessed above most
monarchs. Let tho teacher, however, in AL
this, notice that the wisdom asked Of God
~ Solomon was not spiritual wisdom,
which il found in the fear Of God, but mere
earthly, political wisdom 70 govern the No
tion Alright God never gives holiness Of
character In the same way In which He b.
slows other endowments. With al The
sswisdomr He had gwen Solomon, God still
watched 70 sec III thou wilt walk in Ny
ways." God gives no man . moral charac-
Ter, but gives him talents, and then allows
the man 70 work out his own moral charac-
ter. Gcd gave Solomon practical wisdom,
and Solomon subsequently abused II and
injured himself and biz people. Rev. A. y.
echauf1cr.
PRACTICAL sr0oEsTr0Ss-
I. 10 every one comes the o6er, Ask
what shall give thee.
3. What We ask tests our character and
determines our destiny.
3. We should answer this question il our
early youth.
(. The best time for deciding b when
under the best religious influences.
5. II We seek nrst the Kingdom Of God
and IL Righteousness. ~ other things will
Be added unto N.
3. True wisdom, By which We serve God
and bless our fellow men, Il the chief less-
ing Of life.
Z. God will give us this wisdom through
the channels Of study, and the use Of means.
8. God loves % give u the best things
abundantly.
3. The best worldly blessings can como
only 70 those who seek most earnestly Tor