The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-11-14
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

Practical Duties Taught By a Study OF the Inter-
national Sunday school Lesson Appointed for
Nov. "a. I H., 5-f6.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures ~
indicated above.l
SUBJECT: soLoMoN's PRAYER FOR WISDOM
ANSWERED AND SUPPLEMENTED.
l. Data.
We find two accounts of Solomon's prayer
that of I Kings, 3 5-15, and that of 9 Chron.,
1:7-13. 1t is commonly said that Ezra wrote
the books of the Kings and compiled the books
of the Chronicles. We leave the matter thus
stated. since there is not time now for discuss
ing the question.
2. Place.
Gideon was five miles northwest of Jerusa-
lem, five miles southwest of Al. three miles
south of Beeroth, three miles north of KiTsth-
jearim. When Joshua entered Canaan he
seized on Gideon after fearful battle. the very
moon helping him to victory. Josh, 10: IL,
1877 It was in the tribe of Benjamin. Joab
defeated Abner at Gideon. Asahel, Joabs
brother, was killed at that place. (2 SAM,
2: 9N.) Amasa, who commanded Absalom's
rebel army, was assassinated there. u SAM,
20: 512) The tabernacle was there, Il Chrou,
16: 37-39,) while the Ark was at Jerusalem, e
Chron., g, ~ David having brought the Ark
thither out from its tabernacle proper, furnish
ing it another tabernacle. u Sam, 6: IL; Q
Chron., ~
Having become thoroughly introduced into
his Kingship, Solomon went to Gideon and
celebrated his Inauguration with a grand re-
liglous festival. Il XII, 3: Ia, and Chron,
1:1-6)
1t was the general custom In early days to
locate structures for religious worship on ele-
waited points. called therefore high places. e
Ch., 1 49, Justin stated that the temple Of
Apollo was built on Mt. Parnassus Oracles
commonly were uttered from hill-tops. The
Temple of Solomon was erected on Mt. Moriah.
g. Time.
We date this lesson A. M. 1890, or B. G. 1914,
and are thus carried back In history for about
1900 years. Four hundred and seventy years
had passed since tho Israeites set out on the
exodus. We find ourselves 235 years before the
first Olympiad began. In about ii years Ho-
mer was born. David had been dead for only,
probably, few months (2:10, H. What
was the age of Solomon? David little before
dying spoke TO Solomon as though he were an
adult. (See 2:9.) Ordinarily he Is supposed
10 have been about 20 years of age. $50 say
Abarbinel, Neligan, Jameson, Fausset Brown.)
Ii is clear from II: 42, AZ, and Ia 81, that he
had married and had a son, Rohoboam, born
sometime prior to his Inauguration. But in
Worse he says " 1 am but a little child" He
referred to his experience King. lie was
mere infant rs TO tho throne. After Benja-
min was 30 years old he was called child.
tGen., ii: 20) SO also was Joshua man be-
you'd 30 when Moses called him child. (See
Ex., 80 II, where the original Is a Hebrew
word, meaning q boy, q child, although 1t is
translated "a young man" in the Received
Version, and also in tho Revised Version.) SO
also tho original for young men" In SAM,
q IL, referring TO the two sons OF Eli, who
were full grown men, means boys. tLatin,
pueri.)
We notice God appeared TO Solomon by night.
IL was probably while the young King was
asleep.
4. Circumstances
David was dead. 1t was no little thing to be
SUCCESSOR 10 n King so famous. Then, the nR-
ton was becoming numerous and powerful.
The ruler needed greatest wisdom, tact pa
thence, courage. He had 10 do as a mere youth
what had been done by an experienced, skill
full. venerable man. The times were very criti-
cal. Solomon probably had taken in the stu
alton and was very anxious to know how best
to meet the demands made on him. just at the
point Of emergency, aud evidently in response
TO tho earnest wish of the young King, God
appears so as 10 help him.
Revelations by dreams were no new thing
among the IsraeIitcs. We recall Jacob at Beth
oil. (Geu., % IL, 12, 49, Job understood this
(33: Ii, 49, Joseph was thus directed to conhde
in the Virgin Mary. {St. Matt, 1 CO., So too
Joseph was instructed to flee into Egypt, and
again TO return TO Palestine. (St. Matt, ID,
49, The communications Thus made were in
telligible, logical fitted 10 the occasions. They
were not nero dreams, disconnected, jumbled
and irrational. (Ecc., $40 II is said plainly
that the Lord appeared to Solomon" The
revelation was personal
Was Solomon's knowledge miraculouss Abar-
binel insists Solomon went to bed compare
lively ignorant aud walked up phenomenon of
knowledge. Bishop Patrick seems TO loan to
that view. But Fec, l: 3D. shows Solomon was
a very diiigent student, and that knowledge
a
IL is clear however, that in answer to his prayer
Solomon WAS granted great mental quickening
aud that there were impaired to him govern
mental tact, discrimination aud keen Judgment
5. The Prayer.
The term speech" ". 10) is applied to the
prayer not oratorically, but simply as q verbal
utterance.
We notice the following features of the pray
or:
/. II was prompted by divine suggestion. God
knowing the state Of mind In which Solomon
was, anticipated his wants. God knows our
prayers before wo present Thorn. His willing
ness to help always prevents; that is to say goes
before US.
2. II was based on promises made to David
and extending to Solomon. u Sam. z: 1916;
1899; I Chron., IL: lila, 1927; %: CT; Ps.,
50: 35-37; 1872: H. l2.) So in the account given
in Chron. 10, Solomon said in the prayer,
"let thy promise unto David my father be es-
tabished."
g. God gave Solomon earie-6laaehe privilege
In prayer Practically God signed paper and
told Solomon to fill it up with such requests as
he wished.
4. Back of the prayer was the experience Of
David we'll known TO Solomon. tie may be
imagined saying "Thou God who vast so mer-
| ciful, kind, helpful to David art yet the same
| God help me-" God had already answered
David's prayer as to making his son Solomon
| King. This case gave confidence to Solomon.
| He dealt with God. who always keeps his prom.
| Uses.
s. The prayer was addressed to God. We
notice the titles used. 40 LORD my God"
| (V.7) The Hebrew for LORD is Jehovah, the
most sublime name for Deity. MY God,"
says Solomon. In a certain reyerential sense
each devout person owns God. Aud it makes
| all difference to devotee what being is his
| God.
6. The prayer was offered in very humble
spirit. Son Of King King, rich, educated,
| popular, he yet is not selfconfldent. He calls
| himself little child, in alluson to his lack of
| experience in governmental affairs. He styles
| himself q servant of God. (V.7)
| z. The prayer was not selfish. 1t did not re-
| late so much To solomon rs to the people. He
was anxious to become a useful, successful King.
Il