The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-11-22
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR,
NOVEMBER I'd
Lesson Text: "3OlomOns w iss Choice,
1 Kings, iii,,4 SfS.-Goiden Text:
Prov. viii, Commentary
on the Lesson.

The last days Of David were devoted to
gathering together materials for the Temple
of the Lord, to be built by Solonioh, his son.
at Jerusalem. Because he had set his affec.
tion upon the house of his God no gave and
gathered in great abundance wood, iron
brass, silver, gold aud precious stones, and
gave TO Solomon n solemn charge concerning
the house and kingdom David also pur-
chased site for the house, the very place
where Abraham had centuries before offered
up Isaac III Chron. ill.,, l.; Gen. xSii., 2 14,
and there he built an altar unto the Lord and
offered sacrifice. the Lord answering him by
fire from Heaven Il Chron. xxi, 22-2
$50 David slept with his fathers aud was
buried in the city of David; having reigned
over Israel forty years; seven years in Heo-
ron and thirty-threc years in Jerusalem 4"
Ukings. H., 10, H.
Then Solomon sat on tho Throne of tho
Lord as King instead of David, his father.
and prospered, and all Israel obeyed Him"
IL Chron. xxx, 2S.l
8. In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solo.
mon in n dream by night" The ark of God
was in a tent which David had pitched for it
In Jerusalem, but the tabernacle and altar of
burnt offering were at Gideon QI Chron j.,
3, ~, and thither Solomon and all tine con-
gregation had gone to offer sacrifice The
Lord bad appeared to Samuel at the taber-
nacle in Shiloh and to David at the threshing
floor of Araunak USam. iii, 81: III Chron
ILL. u, but we do not read that He ever ap-
peared to Saul, for Saul was thoroughly disc
bcdient and rebellious, but David and Solo
mon, though great sinners and often over
come, sincerely sought the Lord. The Lord
appeared to Solomon second time on
another OCCASION and these great favors
should have drawn and kept him very close
to God II Ti. tx, 2; XII, 81. The Lord fire.
quently revealed Himself TO His servants in
visions and dreams (Num. XIII G; Job xxxiii.,
10y, but Moses was honorc,, above all others
in this respect iS:im. xii, 7, s; Deut xxxiv
1O; God now reveals Himself to us by- His
word and Spirit as really MS He ddto Moses,
Samuel, Solomon and others
And God said: Ask what 7 shall give
thee" 1t is written that Ahasuerus said to
Queen Esther: What is thy request9 1t
shall be even given thee to the half of the
kingdom And that Solomon gave unto
the Queen of Sheba ell her desire whatso-
ever shc asked Esther v, 3. q; | Kings X,
13; but here is the King Of Kings saving to
King Solomon: ASK what 7 shall give
thee" This same Lord said once to poor
blind beggar: ''Whot wilt thou that Shall
do unto thee?' uuke xviii. AZ and is saying
to-day: ASK and ye shall receive" ''Af
things whatsoever We shall ask in PRAYER. be-
leving, We shall receive" MAT vii, Z; xxi, 22.)
go. And Solomon said Thou hast showed
unto thy servant David my father, great
mercy" Acknowledgment of merces re
ceived is always most appropriate in all our
approaches to God. Our highest place is Law
ing low at our Rcdeemer's feet, realizing our
own weakness, but rejoicing in His wisdom
anu Sioi NiuS liDJ III NlsuOU, m1SnU
or riches, but in knowing Him who is in Him.
self all wisdom end wealth and power He
that gloreth, let him glory in the Lord
He walked before Thee in truth, and in
Righteousness. and in upriShtness 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
II am bat little child: know not how
to 60 ont or come in" This is his testimony
ninfr nd III 90 ~.
self, for tho high position to which he had
been called.
"Thy people which Thou hast chosen"
They are the Lords people whom He has
c.oEeii to make Him name. and Solomon is
the Lords representative among them
David said in his last words that 'iic that
ruleth over men must bs just, ruling i'm
the fen; of God and Solomon seems 60 de-
"iT" +" 10 j"st such - ruler over Gods chosen
people.
standing heart to Judge Thy people" In the
parallel passage of III Chron. l.. - his
request is stated t. he Cor wisdom and knowl.
edge that he may go out and i'll before the
Himself is the Wisdom OF God we arc
plainly told in Cor l.. ~, 70, and that Ho
is made unto us Wisdom; but while we trlsu
Him to save us, how very few seem willing
to let Him he their Wisdom in the everyday
life. prefcrring rather 10 lean upon their own
understanding and 90 their own way.
lO-l4 Ard tho speech pleased the Lord,
that Solomon had asked this thing" H. was
wisdom for judgment that Solomon asked
for that h" might discern between good and
bad, as is manifest i'm the record which fol-
lows our lesson and i'm the last verse OF this
chapter,
understanding to discern Judgment" Tt
pleased the Lord that he had not asked riches
nor long life, but this one thing-thc power
to discern right and wrong and TO io tho
right word '.RioltonuS,,ncs
is one peculiar feature OF the character %
Jehovah that The righteous Lord loveti,
Righteousness, ops. xi., y, and above all places
is this desirable in ruler.
Behold, / 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 rs
the sand which is by the sea in multitude,
| and that God gave Solomon wisdom and ur-
derstandinG exceeding much, and largcness
OF heart, even as the sand which is on tho
seashorc; 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
81 have also given thee that which thou
hast not asked, both riches and honor" How
diligently people seek that which may get
them food and raiment and have little or no
time left to secl; Cod Willie Flo keeps saving :
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His
righteousness and all these things shall ho
ing abundantly above all we ask or think
Matt. vi, 30; Eph. iii, 2M.
"lf thou wit walk in my ways " " +"
then will lengthcn thy days Wisdom is
given him for the asking, riches and honor
without being asked for, but length OF DAYS
is promised only OH condition of obedience;
provided lie will keep Gods statutes and COM
nandments and walk in His ways; otherwise
it would not be q blessing either TO himself or
his people to have his days on earth length
ened.
l5. And Solomon awoke: and behold It
was dream" 1t was, however, a dream to
some purpose, for the Lord was 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 His will
in dream 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
nient with tho Word of God proceeds not
from God but from tho prince of darkness.
| lisa. viii. 20) ''He came to Jerusalem 4
and offered up burnt offerings and peaca
offerings" Thc burnt Offering typiied our
Lord Jesus Offering Himself wholly to God
every thought, word and deed acceptable
and appreciated only by God. The peace
Offering was partly burnt and nortly ,a+.n