The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-11-20
SABBATH SCHOOL.
LESSON FOE
NOVEMBER "a.
Lesson Text: "Solomon's Wise Choice
1 Kings, ill.,, sis = Golden
Text: Prov, viii, II as
Commentary. ~;

Kings, iii, SIS = Golden
Text: Prov, viii, II - II
Commentary. 35et.5es2
The last days Of David were devoted to
gathering together materials for the Temple
Of the Lord, to be built by Solomon, his son,
at Jerusalem. Because he had set his afec.
tion upon the house Of his God he gave and
gathered in great abundance wood, iron,l
brass, silver, gold and precious stones, and
gave to Solomon solemn charge concerning
the house and kingdom. David also purs
chased site for the house, the very place
where Abraham had centuries before offered
up Isaac III Chron. ill.,, 1; Gen. xii, 2, 14,
and there he built an altar unto the Lord and
offered sacrifice, the Lord answering him by
fire from Heaven q Chron. XII, 22-26. p I,
$50 David slept with his fathers, and was
buried in the city Of David; having reigned
over Israel forty years; seven years In Heb
ron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
QKings, H., 10, Ill., ~.
''Then Solomon sat on the Throne OF. this
Lord as King instead Of David, his father,
Il Chron. XIX, 23.l
IS. I'm Gideon the Lord appeared to Solo
mon in dream by night" The ark Of God
was in tent which David had pitched for ft /,
In Jerusalem, but the tabernacle and altar OF
burnt Offering were at Gibeon QI Chron. L.
g. A., and thither Solomon and all the con-,
gregation had gone to offer sacrifice The
Lord had appeared to Samuel at the taber-f
nacle in Shiloh and to David at the threshing
door Of Araunak GSam. ILL.,, 81; III Chron.
ILL.,, u, but we do not read that he ever ap.
peared to Saul, for Saul was thoroughly disos
bedient and rebellious, but David and SOLD
mon, though great sinners and often ovefy
come, sincerely sought the Lord. The Lori,
appeared to Solomon a second time ons
smother occasion, and these great favor5
should have drawn and kept him very close;
quently revealed Himself to His servants In
visions and dreams Mum. Xii, 6; Job xxxiii,
15, but Moses was honored above all others
in this respect Num. xii, z, s; Deut. uHv, !,
10; God now reveals Himself to us by His5
word and Spirit as really as he did to Moses;
Samuel, Solomon and others. '@'tf,
"And God said: Ask what I shall give
thee" It is written that Ahasuerus said to
Queen Esther: 'What is thy request2 II
shall be even given thee to the half of the
kingdom" And that Solomon gave unto
the Queen Of Sheba all her desire whatso-
ever she asked esther v, g. 6; Kings K,
-; but here is the King Of Kings saying to
King Solomon: "Ask what I shall give
blind beggar: 'sWhat wilt thou that I shall
do unto theeg' Nuke xviii, ~ andis saying
to-day: ASK and ye shall receive% "An
things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, be.
lieving, ye eshall receive" Mat. vii, Tiki, 22I
SO. "And Solomon said: Thou hast showed
unto thy servant David, my father, great
mercy" Acknowledgment Of mercies re-
ceived is always most appropriate in all our
approaches to God. Our highest place islay-
of
own weakness, but rejoicing in His wisdom
and strength; glorying not in wisdom, might
or riches but In knowing Him who Is in Him
self all wisdom and wealth and power. He
that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
"He walked before Thee In truth, and In
Righteousness, and in uprightness Of heart
with Thee" This is his testimony to God
concerning his father; happy the fathers who
can have such testimony given concerning
them by their sons. q
II am but a little child; know not how
to 60 out or come in" This is his testimony
concerning himself, and his unhtness In HIM
self, for the high position to which he had
been called. 6l4
'Thy people which Thou hast chosen,
They are the Lords people whom he has
chosen to make Him name, and Solomon is
the Lords representative among them.
David said in his last words that "He that
ruleth over men must be just ruling tn
the fear Of Goo" and Solomon seems to de-
sire to be just such ruler over Gods chosen
people.
''Give therefore Thy servant an UNDER
standing heart to judge Thy people, In ths
parallel passage Of II Chron. l., Tia, his
request is stated to be for wisdom and mowt
edge that he may go out and in before the
people and judge them. That Jesus Christ
Himself Is the Wisdom of God we are
plainly told in Cor. l., "a, 80, and that BE
is made unto US Wisdom; but while we trust
Him to save us, how very few seem willing
to let Him be their Wisdom in the everyday
life, preferring rather to lean upon their own
understanding and 20 their own way.
10-14. Sand the speech pleased the Lord,
that Solomon had asked this thing" 1t was
wisdom for Judgment that Solomon asked
for, that he might discern between good and
bad, as is manifest in the record which fol-
lows our lesson and in tho last verse Of this
chapter
pleased the Lord that he had not asked riches
nor long life but this one thing-the power
to discern right and wrong and to do tho
right, or in one word, "Righteousness.n This
is one peculiar feature of the character OF
Jehovah that 1.-THE righteous Lord loveth
Righteousness (Ps. M., 2, and above all places
is this desirable in ruler. IN
Behold, I have done according to thy
words; 10, have given thee wise and an
understanding heart" In chapter iv., 20-29,
we read that Judah and Israel were many as
the sand which is by the sea in multitude,
and that God gave Solomon wisdom and un-
derstanding exceeding much, and largeness
Of heart, even as the sand which is on tho
seashore; which certainly indicates that
though the people were so numerous, Solo
mon would have wisdom given him for every
case that might come before him.
II have also given thee that which thou
hast not asked, both riches and honor" How
diligently people seek that which may get
time left to seek God, while He keeps saying:
sSeek ye first the kingdom Of God, and his
righteousness and all these things shall be
added unto you;" Offering to do for us exceed
ing abundantly above all we ask OF think
(Matt. vi, 33; Eph. iii, 20.
''If thou wilt walk in my ways,
then will lengthen thy days" Wisdom III
given him for the asking, riches and honor
without being asked for, but length Of days
is promised only on condition Of obedience;
provided he will keep Gods statutes and conn
mandments and walk in His ways; otherwise
1t would not be blessing either to himself or
his people to have his days on earth length
ened.
IS "And Solomon awoke; a1Slenehod ID
was dream" It was howeveS, dream to
some purpose, for the Lord WIS in it as he
was in the dreams Of jacob, Joseph his SON,
Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel Joseph, husband of
Mary, Pilates wife, and others. God does
sometimes even to this day reveal Bis will
in dream or vision of the night, concern
ing special guidance on unusual matters;
bnt ordinarily He does not reveal Himself
except by His Word, and never in conflict
with it. Whatever is not in perfect agree
1aent with the Word of God proceeds not
from God but from tds prince OF :aFsnes5
Qsa viii, 20) HE came to Jerusalem