The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-11-20
soLoMoN's DREAM.
International Sunday School Lesson q
November -, 1889.


November -, 1889.
Especially arranged from S. S. Quarterly
LESSON TExr-l Kings S:5-15.
GOLDEN TExT-Wisdom il better than
rubies.-Prov. SILL. A<
CENTRAL TRuTH-Seek hrst the Kingdom
Of Heaven, and all other things shall be
added unto you. ai a}t ~
The Books OF KINGs--Originally one
book. Author unknown; written probably
about B. c. $780, rHp5u 1
TIME--B. G. 1Ol5. Solomon reigned b. c.
10l5-9;5.
PLAcE-Gibeon (high place., six miles
north Of Jerusalem, perhaps the same as
Mob (height) and Mzpah (tower). Here
the old tabernacle stood, while the ark was
on Mt. Zion. Worship was kept up at both
places.
PARALLEL ACCoUNT-2Chr :1-1S. David
died short time before this, about seventy
years old.
SoLoMoN-Eighteen to twenty years old.
His mother was Bathshebs, tho grand
daughter Of the wise Ahithophel.
The STATE OF THE KINGDoM-In perfect
peace, wide extended, prosperous, entering
upon new era of religious worship, of
commerce and trade, Of literature and learn
ing. -, t
HELPS OVER HARL PLAcEs-5. Asks, etc.
the answer to his prayers and worship 9.
And Solomon said: Solomon grounds his
request that Jehovah would grant him the
gifts needful for sovereign upon the mercy
shown his father David, to whom God had
performed His promises. 7. Tam but a Htth
child: his humility shows his wisdom. He
saw how weak he was for the great work
| to be done Hon to 90 out or come IN. /. e.,
transact the business Of the government.
| s. Which thou hast closen:l it was not only a
| great nation, but the nation chosen to rep
resent God before the world, and carry out
His Kingdom, and teach the world His
truths. All this was q far greater respon.
sibility than the ruling of an ordinary king
dom. great people: 1,5S0,0O0 warriors, be-
sides $1,000 Leyltes Il Chron. 1858; 81 10, O.,
which would imply population Of 100000
Q. Glue an understanding heart: true, relig
ious wisdom, applied to the affairs of his
kin gdom; aclear perception of right and
wrong, and skill to decide every difficult
question Alright It included also an apti-
4 tude for the acquisition and use Of the high.
er branches of philosophical knowledge,
natural and moral, which constituted the
learning OF his age, ;, In the latter, he ex-
celled the most, famous men Of his time,
10. Pleased the Lord: for he asked nothing
for himself, but only fitness for his work.
10. None las thee: his knowledge Of nature
extended to all the kingdoms of creation and
the products Of every country Il Kings ABB
33. He gave special attention to the study
iof man. His manifold observation and OK.
perience he expressedin Inaxirns, Of which,
according to Kings 4:S2, he composed
three thousand. IA. II, etc. ~. then I aoll
kngtten thy days: long life was conditional
on obedience. Solomon failed in his part,
and he died at the ~ of Co. Is. Behold, Il
tuds dream: but the results show that II
was real choice.f !, ~ -,ls Nitai&oEa
CoMMENrs-At last David went the way
Of all men. He was buried, and Solomon
reigned in his stead The new King was
only eighteen years old, and naturally felt
his own inexperience. HIS young hear,
seems to have been well inclined, for he
went to Gideon where the tabernacle was
1.-THE ark was in Jerusalem), and where
Zadok, the high priest, was, and there
offered great sacrifice to Jehovah. 1t was
singular state Of affairs to have the tab.
ernacle and altar Of sacrifice at one place
and the ark in another. But 1t took years
to restore the ancient order Of things, and
not until the temple was built were ark and
altar again united While in Gideon, at
this sacrifice, Solomon dreamed the dream
which is given in our lesson. Call atten-
ton to the character Of the young King as
revealed by his dream four dreams are
often really mirrors Of our characters). (a)
He was thoughtful. He pondered over the
past experiences of his father David. This
was Q good thing for Solomon to do For
in fact, Gods mercies to Solomon did moi
begin when he was born, but long before
So Gods mercies to US did not commence al
} our birthday, but were shown even in the
: days of our forefathers. (b) He was hum
BILE. "And am but a little child; I know
not how to go out or come in.n He felt his
want of experience, and realized that he
needed guidance. icy He was patriotic
'Give, therefore, thy servant an under
! standing heart to Judge Thy people" In al
i this the character Of the young ruler shows
to good advantage. It is the more pity tha
he did not maintain this simplicity an(
purity Of character and life all his days.
Now notice Gods answer to Solomon'i
prayer. He approves ofthe Kings petition
! and, because Of the wisdom Of the request
He gives him more than he asked for
, Riches and honor are added to wisdom, u
! that Solomon was really blessed above mos
: monarchs. Let the teacher, however, in al
!, this, notice that the wisdom asked of Coz
,, by Solomon was not spiritual wisdom
which is found in the fear of God, but mer,
earthly, political wisdom to govern the ma
ton Alright God never gives holiness o
, character in the same way in which He be
, slows other endowments. With all tn
: "wisdom" He had gwen Solomon, God still
! watched to see "if thou wilt walk in N,
, ways" God gives no man a moral charac
, ter, but gives him talents, aud then allow
, the man to work ont his own moral charac
ter. ICED gave Solomon practical wisdom
and Solomon subsequently abused it, ant
: injured himself and his people. Rey. A. F
Schauf1er. =
, PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
, l. To every one comes the ofer, Asl
what shall give thee. ~
7 70. What we ask tests our character ant
determines our destiny.
8. We should answer this question in oul
! sarly youth. 4 Y
l. The best time! for deciding is vhe,
punder the best religious inf uences.
s. II We seek first the Kingdom Of Coz
and rs righteousness, all other things viii
be added unto US.
g., True wisdom, by which we serve Coz
and bless pur fellow men, is the chief bless
4 ing Of life. ,y,,.e-s "a rA'f4 a.. 81.
! z. God will give US this wisdom through
. the channels fstudy, and the use Of means
! s.sGod loyesato give the best thing
| abundantIy.
: Q. The best worldly blessings can com
only to those who seek most earnestly 70