Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-11-04

(WSAsssyN P! Es.a 4. on .,nav
(Y JN\So q the dedication
~ NV vices. the great as
sembly. Solomon's
prayer ard Gods answer.
And lastly We may consider what the
Temple was to de- for the people of L.
rae Al! these things are overlooking
with instruction for our times, as honey
overhows from the comb.
The section includes l Kings s. 1-66 and
3: 10 and the parallel account in Chron-
lcles, chaps. ), g. and l.
Time. The Temple was completed in
the month Bull (October-November),B Il. {.
1908, in the eleventh year of Solomon's
reign. having been seven and one hair
years In building The dedication took
place one month earlier in Ethanim CTiz-
rD. (September-O ctober). at the great
national festival of the Tabernacles.
probably about the first of October.
Stanley and Geikie think the time was
the October following the completion IN
october of the previous year; but Dr.
Hammond, in the Pulpit Commentary. ar
CUES conclusively that 1t was the festlVai
before the entire completion of the Tenn
pie, for the date of dedication would nave
To be announced some time before. ano
the last things to be done in any great
building almost always overrun the Tune
set. 1t was practically finished by the
Feast Of Tabernacies. and there was eV-
cry reason why the dedication should take
place as soon as possible. Place Jerusa-
lem. at the Temple.
The text Of today's lesson, with explana-
tory notes, follows:
Solomons Benediction.-Vs. 54-6l. After
his prayer Solomon stood again before ina
people and expressed his good desires Tor
them. 1t was a sermon and prayer
united. 1t was high ideal set before the
people ever to be remembered as that TO-
ward which they should strive
90. BLESSED be the Lord. that hath
given rest unto His people Israel. accord
ing TO all that He promised: distinct
reference to Deuteronomy II: 3. 10 tct.
3: 2O), where we read that when the Lord
should have given rest to Israel, then
place for sacrifice, etc, should be appoint
ed ". IL. Promised by the hand or
Moses" The rest referred to above:
peace, prosperity. victory over enemies.
the presence of God QLev. 20: 3-l3: Deut.
Is: 1-1D; and the whole extent OF terri
tory promised in Joshua /: 3, 4; see !
Chronicles 8: 70. In no place is there such
assurance and experience of promises fui-
filled as in the house of God.
o. THE Lord our God be with us, as he
was with our fathers" The visible proof
OF this was in the glory which then filled
the Temple as 1t had In former days filled
the tabernacle. Gods presence includes
all other blessings. for he is the source
of all. and in Gods house is the special
manifestation of his presence.
o.. That he may incline our hearts
God is the source of all life and action,
physical and spiritual, and of that free
responsibility of man which is the ulti-
mate truth of the inner human conscious
ness. God fnclines the heart and yet the
heart must yield f."--Ellicott. We
need continued help ITO will as Ito do"
-of G9d's good pleasure Phil. 2: 13>. This
help ypecially comes to us in the services
OF Gods house; and the influence of the
church and its services is measureless to-
ward helping men Ito walk in all his
ways, and to keep his. statutes" A
revival of true religion is always revi-
val OF morality: and there is no time
when it is so easy and so natural to do
right as when under strong religious in
fiuences. His judgments" His decisions
as to what is right; his law.
49, Let these my words: the words OF
his prayer In the previous portion of this
chapter. BE nigh unto the Lord: be
perpetual prayer, always heard and an
swered. THAT he maintain the cause of
his servant: guide him, protect him,
watch over him.
90. That ali the people of the earth may
know Israel was not made and kept
a people of God for their own sake alone
but as the best way of proclaiming the
true God to all nations. Their prosperity
and wealth, their victories. the wisdom
and glory of their king were all as a hill
on which the knowledge of the true God
was placed that IL might be seen far and
wide. Every living and growing religion,
whether in the individual heart or in the
church, is a missionary religion. The
house of God is the source of missionary
impulse.
Solomons marvellous wisdom. and
countless wealth. and wide extended king
dom were given him. not for himself
alone, but as an fundamentally for max
ing known the true God and the true re-
ligion. as a high mountain on which the
altar fires of Jehovah, burning brightly.
could be seen by the world lying In dark
ness. This privilege was the nobiest gift
OF all. Had he continued to use Ii Alright.
his missionary activity would have kent
him from falling. and the glory would
have remained 10 him and to his success
SorS.
81. Let your heart therefore be perfect
with the Lord" Although Solomon was
better at preaching than at practicing his
own precepts Il Kings IL: -. yet in his
wisdom he saw clearly that every good
he had hoped for his people depended on
sincere, heart-deep obedience and love.
The more true religion in the nation. the
more OF every good. God cannot give IN
disobedient people the blessings of obedi-
ence. LAS at this day" He hoped thew
would not backslide from the feelings and
resolves they were making under these
powerful religious influences
vi. The Answer 10 the Prayer.-See
Chronicles Z: l-22; Kings 8: 10. AS the
king concluded the cloud which had rest
ed over the Holy of Holes grew brighter
and more dazzling.
VII. The Festival.-Vs. e. g. The Feast
Of Tabernacles was held as usual FOR
seven days; but in this case the festival
continued for fourteen days,-seven be-
fore the feast. and the seven of the feast
with two additional days. for the people
were not dismissed TIL the twenty third
day Il Kings s: 65. GO; 2 Chron. 7: Q M
63. Two and twenty thousand oxen,
etc. These were peace offerings. ana
were mostly eaten by the people Ths
vast numbers OF people required a large
amount OF food. See on Lesson H. of hi.
quarter, -.