The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1889-11-22
SOLOMON'S WISE CHOICE.
LESSON VIII, FOURTH QUARTER, In
TERNATloNAL SERIES, NOV. 81.

TERNATloNAL SERIES, NOV. 81.
Text of the Lesson, I Eings iii, 5-15.
Commit Verses 1915 Golden Text,
Prov. viii, 11-Commentary by the Rev.
d. NJ. Stearns.
Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per-
mission of n. S. Hoffman, publisher, Philadel-
phia.l
The last days of David were devoted to
gathering together materials for the Temple
of the Lord, to be built by Solomon, his son,
at Jerusalem. Because he had set his affec
tion upon the house of his God he gave and
gathered in great abundance wood, iron,
brass, silver, gold and precious stones, and
gave to Solomon solemn charge concerning
the house and kingdom. David ais pur-
chased u site for the house, the very place
where Abraham had centuries before offered
up Isaac III Chron. iii L; Gen. xxi, 2, 14,
and there he builtan altar unto the Lord and
offered sacrifice, the Lord answering him by
fire from Heaven q Chron. xxi, 1920.
$50 David slept with his fathers, and was
buried in the city Of David; having reigned
over Israel forty years; seven years in Heb
ron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem :"
u Kings, ii, 10, 11D
"Then Solomon sat on the Throne of the
Lord as king instead of David, his father,
and prospered, and all Israel obeyed him."
Il Chron. xxx, 23)
5. "1n Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solo
mon in q dream by night" The ark of God
was in q tent which David had pitched for it
in Jerusalem, but the tabernacle and altar of
burnt offering were at Gibeon GI Chron i,
8, ~ and thither Solomon and all the con-
I,0rJ Is
Lord had appeared to Samuel at the taber-
nacle in Shiloh and to David at the threshing
floor of Araunak q Sam. iii, 21; II Chron
iii, ~, but we do not read that He ever ap-
peared to Saul, for Saul was thoroughly dis
obedient 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 an
other occasion, and these great favors should
have drawn and kept him very close to God
Il Ki. tx, 2; xi, 81.
"And God said, Ask what 1 shall give
thee" 1t is written that Ahasuerus said to
Queen Esther, "What is thy request? 1t
shall be even given thee to the half of
tie Kingdom" And that Solomon gave
unto the queen of Sheba all her desire,
whatsoever she asked Esther V, 8, 6; Kings
Y, l3l; but here is the King of Kings saying
to King Solomon, "Asll what I shall give
thee" This same Lord said once to o poor
blind begsar, sWhat wilt thou that shall
do unto thee2" duke xviii, 41) and is saying
today, ASK and ye shall receive"
Our lesson today seems to divide itself natr-
rally into four parts: The Lords appearance
and offer to Solomon in verse 5, which we
have briefly considered; Solomons request,
verses 60; the Lords reply, verses 1914;
SOlOmOO'S thank offarpr varSa IL
60. "And Solomon said, Thou hast showed
unto thy servant David, my father, great
mercy" Acknowledgment of mercies re-
celved is always most appropriate in all our
approaches to God; Acknowledge Him i'll all
thy ways" "ln everything by prayer and
supplication, with thanksgiving, let your re-
quests be made known to God" (Prov. iii,
8; Phil. iv, G.)
''He walked before Thee i'll truth, and in
righteousness, and in uprightness of heart
with Thee" This is his testimony to God
concerning his father; happy the fathers
who can have such testimony given concern
ing them by their sons.
II am but q little child; know not how
to go out or come in" This is his testimony
concerning himself. and his unfitness in him
self, for the high position to which he had
been called
"Thy people which Thou hast chosen.n
They are the Lords people whom He has
chosen to make Him name, and Solomon is
the Lords representative among them.
Give therefore Thy servant an under
standing heart to judge Thy people," In
the parallel passage in Ii Chron. i, 7-12, his
request is stated to be- 'or wisdom and knowl-
edge that he may go out and in before the
people and judge them.
l0-14. "And the speech pleased the Lord.
that Solomon had asked this thing" 1t is
beautiful to read of any one pleasing God;
Jesus said of Himself, 81 do always those
things that please Him" John viii, 90, and
the Father testified of Jesus on two different
occasions, "This is my beloved Son in whom
am well pleased" G1att. Iii, II; xvii, 5.)
Understanding to discern Judgment 1t
pleased the Lord that he had not asked riches
nor long life, but this one thing-the power
to discern right and wrong and to do the
right, or in one word, righteousness This
is one peculiar feature of the character of
Jehovah that 1.-THE righteous Lord loveth
is this desirable in ruler.
Behold, have done according to thv
words; 10, have given thee wise and an
understanding heart" In chapter iv, 2O-e9,
we read that Judah and Israel were many as
the sand which is by the sea in multitude,
and that God gave Solomon wisdom and un-
derstanding exceeding much, and largeness
OF heart, even us the sand which is on the
seashore; 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
II 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 rainent and have little on 10
time left to seek God, while He keeps saying,
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness and ali these things shall be
added into you;" Offering to do forus exceed
ing abundantly above all we ask or think
(siatt. vi, SO; Eph. iii, 2N.
"1f thou wilt walk in my ways, Il *
then will lengthen 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
10. And Solomon awolse; and behold it
was a dream" 1t was, however, 81 dream to-
some purpose, for the Lord was in it as fIc
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
Il dream or vision Of the night, concerning
special guidance on unusual matters: but ordi-
narily He does not reveal Himself except by
His Word, and never in conflict with if.
Whatever is not in perfect agreement with
the Word of God proceeds not from God but
from the prince of darkness. lisa. viii. 2o)
He came to Jerusalem and offered
up burnt offerings and peace offerings" The
burnt Offering typitied our Lord Jesus offer
ino Hj,OSelf wholly tn God evoryr tbo,r,,t