Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-12-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY AND
ABLY CONSIDERED.


tIon-HaIf an Hours Study of the Scrip
tures-Time Wen Spent.
The lesson for Sunday. Dec. s. may be
found In Kings 10: 1-13.
INTRODUCTORY.
We are granted here a picture OF the re-
latlons between Israel and the neighboring
nations In the halcyon days of Solomon. A
famed queen comes from the far south.
from ~Ara5y the blest." to acknowledge the
greater eminence OF tho king and to pay
him homage. on Mount Zion This is the
central lesson: the superiority OF Gods
Kingdom to all other kingdoms. The kings
ana queens OF earth bring tribute to IL.
Christ is the expectation OF the world. So
says the I'D Psalm. The kings OF Tarshish
Kings OF Sheba and teba shall offer gifts.
Yea, all kings shall fall down before him."
Are you acknowled ling him. serving him2
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
me lame OF Solomon concerning the
name OF the Lord. The fame OF Solomon
ana the name OF the Lord are here closely
associated. To hear OF the kings fame
was to honor Gods name. Solomon's
greatness was all for the Lord as IL was all
from the Lord. and the wisdom he dis
played and the majesty that was his did
never else than magnify the God who gave
it. Is 1t not thus that we are to stand be-
Tore the world? Our fame, our blessedness
Is all 10 the honor OF Jehovah who has re-
deemed us. You are to "let your light so
shine before men that they may see your
good works and glorify your Father which
Is In heaven" Christians ought not then.
10 be satisfied with present attainments.
The more grace in us the more glory for
God. Be good. be great. for Jesus sakel
10 prove him with hard questions. Thus
they came to Jesus. but not so ingenuously.
Always were they seeking to prove him,
tempt him. 1t was to catch him in his
words" that the Pharisees and Herodians
approached him that day in the temple.
And they proved him. and at the same
time, since base was their motive. entaDgled
themselves In their talk. Notice the prac-
neal and searching wisdom OF our Lords
reply: why tempt ye me2 bring me a PEN
ny. And then with this simple object
lesson before their eyes, he showed them
with the penetration OF philosopher and
the aptness OF sagacious man of affairs
now their questions might answer them-
selves. At every point where the enemies
OF Christ approached him he met them and
allowed them to prove him. And that
proof was not simply for them but for us.
TO silence all cavil and to iniisputably de-
clare to all generations that "a greater than
solomon is here"
There was not anyth ing hid from the King
which he told her not. 1t suggests the di-
vine communlcativeness. Ii facts could
convert the world then the world would
long ago have been conver ed. II logic
would persuade men then the work Of the
Kingdom were soo1 done. But truth is
more than fact AMI more than logic. 1t has
subjective aspect; it implies personal ac-
ceptance. Paul says, The invisible things
OF hi m from the creation OF the worl arb
dearly seem" and from this Bishop Fallows
has aptlv enfoIc the difficulties OF unbe-
llef. How iatuOus ami yet how familiar
sounds that query Of the Jews when Jesus
walked lin Solomon porch" How long
dost thog make rs tp. doqlhstiR qlhst Il Idtaan fe
sponsible for mons doubts; as IL God had
not told plainly in his word aud works.
Well does Christ answer: Il tol you and
We believed not; the works that do in my
Fathers name. they bear wit ess of me-"
the secret of al unfaith: But We
believe not because ye are not of my
sheep. as l said unto you.7
The attendance OF his ministers. 1t is
well. once in whilo. TO get right back to
the derivation OF words. 1t is the standing
OF Gods ministers that is spoken OF here,
and the fact that the word occurs right
after this expression: the ting OF his
servants" does not withdraw in any degree
from the pertinence or the message. Ev-
eryope in his place before God. Perhaps
there are too many sitting around who
ought to be standing and doing. There are
tn hose who are to sit and await the Kin g
call. and there are those who. being sum-
moned aud assigned to prescribed duties.
are to stand ready instantly to do his bid
ding. How beautiful the odor OF that
Kings court, that church OF Christ. whore
all eyes are on the King and everyone Is a
minute-man to do his Masters pleasurel
/ believed not the words until / came.
Such is the Christians experience. There
are great many believers and doubters in
the land They have heard Jesus say.
"LoaIn of me-" and perhaps. In something
OF sincerity they have tried to do so. But
they have kept at too great a distance.
They have not heard that earlier call,
m frufh
none Of us believe" until we come" 1t is
first obedience, then confidence; first tho
faith OF submission. then the faith Of assur-
ance. No man is going to see his doubts
put away so long as he remains apart from
the great doubt dispeller. He might as
well thrust his head into n sack and ask for
light. Let him come where light is. When
the light comes in, tho dark" goes out. 1t
is not by the solving of difficulties that We
find our way to Christ. We fist find Christ
and then the doubts vanish. "Ee that re-
ceived his testimony" said John the Bap-
tist, hath set to his seal that God is true"
Mark you, he first receives, then seals.
Restful conviction follows trustful acdui-
escence. This is why John is saying i'm
mediately afterward, so confidently. HE
that believeth on the Son hath everlasting
life.-
Because the Lord loved Israel forever.
therefore made he thee king. What greater
commentator of a leader OF Gods peoplel
all other men and hence he elevated him.
That is the way we mortals look at IL some-
times. Rather is it that God loyed the
people and hence in kindness to them and
In iurtherance OF their interests he gave
them a worthy leader. 1t was thus with
David. thus indeed with John the Baptist.
Luther. Wesley, Carey. What happier
epitaph for a good pastor or teacher: The
Lord loved Israel forever, therefore made
he thee king.
All her desire, whatsoever she asked. We
ali have desires, but all do not take the
pains to go and express tn EN-. Yet it is
only those who come asking that have
their desires fulfilled. It was a long. hard
Journey for the Queen OF Sheba to make.
and doubtless as the slow-moving camels
strode along over the desort sand that
there were many days OF heat
and weiriness. But think of the return
journey. What recompense, what joyi
Brother. friend. you have deep desire
there in your far country. That desire is,
as it were, n messenger sent to summon
you to the King for its fuldllment. o. come
to him with your worriments and wants.
It NAV be with difficulty, but come and tell
him your need. Did he not himself say:
ASK and It shall be given you: seek and ye
shall find; knock and IL shall be opened
unto you. For every one that asketh re-
ceiveth: and he that seeketh hndeth: aud
to him that knocketh 1t shall be opened"