The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-11-20
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
LESSON CONsIDERED.
Reflections OF an Eievating Character -
Wholesome Food for Thought = study
Ing the scripturai Lessons Intciiigentiy
and ProntabIy.

ing the scriptural Lessons Intoiligently
and Probably.
The lesson for Sunday Nov. "A. may be
found in Kings. 3: 5-l5.
INTRODUCTORY.
Solomon Is the type of "A wise man. as
Absalom was of foolish son. He was the
youngest OF David's children. being born
In Jerusalem alter tho establishment OF the
kingdom there. He was we'll trained. his
Instructor Icing the prophet Nathan. and
one Of the pertinent lessons here is the
value o. a good and wholesome education.
The main t.aching. however. is the sgnii-
canoe OF right choice. Teachers will do
well TO i'm press on their pupils that youth
Is the time for decision as 10 the aim OF
lie. and no choice is invariably. consti-
tuted and circumstanced as we are. wrong
choice. Choose you this day whom you will
serve"
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
My God. Solomon accepts Jehovah as
his own IA well as Davids Cod hou-
His kingshp was not OF his own grasping
(see Absalom). His was the divine right
OF kings.-A little child. In his own es-
TEEN; Il word OF humility. Solomon was at
this time. it is supposed. nineteen or
twenty years old.-Go out. For agrees
sion.-Come in. For preservation.
In the midst OF thy people. 1t was no in
significant eharse.-Chosen. 1t was q
heavy and burdensome charge.
ed. A hyDerbolical statement signifying
too great 10 number.
Understanding. Hebrew. hearing. The
reference is probably God ward rather
than man. ward.-To Judge. That is. to
give justice. to hear their cases OF dispute
ana decide righte ously.-Discover. Lit
orally to perceive. 10 view narrowly. g.
crimina;e.
Speech. The overture or REQUEST
Pleased the Lord. Literally was good in
the eyes OF the Lord.-This thing. In the
Hebrew the term for word" and thing" Is
the same (davar) II theI eiore occurs twice
In this verse, once at the opening. translated
speech. and again here.
Asked for thyself. His request had been
unselhsh and in his peoples behaf.-
Riches for myself. Absence of cupidity.
The lie OF thine enemies. Absence OF
Tor thyseH. 1t was severe test for any
man 10 pass through. How many OF US
would have met it rs well?
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
Ask what / shall give thee. 1t Is the
question put 10. every young man. At the
beginning o! life choice may be made. God
gives Us the privilege OF saying what il Is
we seek prominently. There comes "A
time in every lie when the deliberate de-
cision Is made, and the after life liz largely
determined by the nature of the choice
then made. Some decide to live for self.
and the after life is iull of seltshness. Some
decide to labor for riches. and riches come.
Others choose to I've the lie to helping
thropy; or TO make the most of this life
for laying Up treasure in heaven. and there
is a blessed record Of souls sought and
won. In this sense also the Scripture IL
true, Ask and it shall be given unto you"
Great mercy. Twice this occurs in this one
verse. tor great kindness" below IS the
same expression in the Hebrew. II seems
Well TO see this word thus early III Solo
mons vocabulary. The son is worthy
successor of n worthy sire. and il promises
well for the reign 10 see the son so early
finding the paths of his fathers success.
/ or II there was any word dear TO David IL
was that word mercy-"for his mercy en-
dureth forever" and IL there was ANYTHING
that could be quoted as the secret of his
success il is TO be found hidden, and yet
scarcely hidden. in this significant word
The sad lest thing about Solomons lie was
that he allowed his phenomenal advance
ment In worldly things TO draw his heart
away from simple trust In the grace of God.
When Solomon ceased TO speak Of great
mercy i've began TO prepare for great
| failure.
Thou hast kept for hi-t this great kind
ness. 1t wa mercy in reserve. How little
We k10r OF the things kept" for US. The
mercies given are great; what can we say
OF the blessing yet TO be bestowed. Grace
is ours now. glory hereafter. But it is to be
noted that David anticipated this very
blessing when he said, This was yet
small thing I'm thy sight. o Lord God: but
thou mast spoken also OF thy servants
house for long while TO come. He on
| joyed the pleasures of sanctifled life, by
faith the substance of things not seen were
his. he knew Inc JOY of the blessing in
reserve. Eye hath not seem" we say. nor
ear heard, neither hath it entered the heart
| OF man. the things which God hath prepared
for them that love him." But remember.
God hath revealed them unto Us by his
Spirit. Why not then begin to enjoy them
now!
know not how to go out or come in. It
! is confession all Of US might well make.
| To God we must resort for our equipment
for service. And especially is this so Of
| those called to lead amongst men. What
pastor or superin tendent or teacher, or. for
| that matter. what parent has felt equal to
| tn @ double task imposed by Providence upon
| him? For he needs TO know both the going
| out and the coming in, how TO be a captain
| Tor aggression and a shepherd for defense
at one and the same time. Who can teach
us OF this save he who is TO US all the cap
/ tain of our salvation and the shepherd OF
our souls. and who would have US learn of
| him?
Give. therefore. thy servant an un der
standing heart. 1t is. literally. a hearken-
| ing heart; that is. q heart that learns wis
dom by its very meeknesS. Saul on the
way to Damascus was in condition to
| hear the voice that spake as well as see the
| light that shone. They that were with him
saw indeed the light and were afraid. but
| they heard not the voice OF him that
| spaKe." over In Corinthians "a: p we lad
| of the man that speaketh with an unknown
! tongue that mo man Understandable him.
| In tbs margin "heareth" is suggested as
the meaning Of the original. 1t is the
same word used here, though in different
| language. The way 10 tegin to understand
! is to first begin TO hear aud heed. That
word religion is the opposite of the word
negligence religion VS.. negligence) land its
primary meaning is TO give heed to the
! higher powers. To listen TO what God says
/ TO the heart is TO be able to teach others
Alright. An understanding heart must first
be an obedient heart
| And he came TO Jerusalem and stood be-
! fore the ark. IT at was the way TO make
| the vision a reality. Behold IL was a dream.
/ says the verse just before. Straiehtway he
/ goes and communes with the Lord God and
| offers sacrifices. and now one feels like
/ saying. Behold IL was not all dreaml It
/ Il n good thought. divine impulse, we
may say. put into execution. Has God
! spoken TO you in his providence? Through
affection. or 1t may be prosperity. in some
| silent hour OF meditation, or in the watches
| OF the night. have you caught vision OF
better things? Then IL is Tor YOU to say
what IL shall mean for you. Shall il be-
dream only or shall IL be blessed deed? A
! time there is when it may be called not
more than the baseless fabric of dream.
Take the good thought or message and
make it over into reality. Then shall there
| be occasion for the feast OF THANKSGIVING.