The National tribune., 1896-10-29

SUNDAY MEDITATION

SUNDAY MEDITATION
A Study Of the International Sunday
| School Lesson. Appointed for Nov.
| 8. 1896. ~
Subject, Tho Temple Dedicated. Kings'
| S.5A-61.
| zone reading these notes should first carelully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures -
| indicated above.l IS az
| INTRODUCTION.
Great tribute of praise has been rendered to
Solomon for building the Temple. We muss
| remember all the praise does not belong 10
him. David, for years, ~as making provision
| for the material SUPPLE, Hisson found things
at hand Moreover, Da, had conquered the
could build in peace. VIVA, vs. the real motive
of Solomon in building the ample? He was
under obligations to obey l. fathers dying
directions. Many think that at heart Solomon
was actuated more by personal. political ambi-
ton than by real, subjective piety. 1t cannot
be disputed that much of his own wisdom was
the wisdom of the world. He saw plainly that
the Temple would engage the people and unity
| his Kingdom. Then, the structure would re-
main a monument to his glory. He probably
was also farseeing enough to realize that 1t
was we'll his people have correct religious
! principles.
Stanley notices fact of interest as to the
dedication: Sin the whole transaction moth
ing is more remarkable than the pre-eminence
of the King himself over everyone else. No
| KhaIif. no Pontiff. could have presided moro
supremely over the occasion than did Solomon.
Zadok never appears The priests are men,
toned only as bearers of the Ark. Even the
prophet Nathan is only mentioned by heather
| historians. The King alone prays, sacrifices,
blesses, consecrates."
SUBJECT: SoLoMoN's BLESSING UPON THE
PEOPLE AFTER THE DELEGATIONS OF THE
TEMPLE.
The paragraph, XII; 30: 54-6l, is the only
account we have of the facts stated therein.
We may assume it was written practically in
connection with the events cited. aud hence
by some contemporaneOus prophet Then, later
on, it was compiled by Ezra.
Time.
We date Solomon's prayer 5000 A. NJ, or 1904
B. c. 1t was about the time Of Homers birth.
We see in / XII, 6 !, the statement it was 4sO
years after the exodus. Josephus puts it in
the month of Tisr September and October),
and thus in connection with the Feast OF Tab
ernacles. That was always joyful occasion,
and very suitable for ded ication. David had
leen dead II years. and therefore Solomon had
been on the throne II years. Solomon was
| about 30 years old.
Where.
The Temple was raised on Mount Moriah.
Jerusalem was built OH five hills-Ophel, Zion,
AGRA, Bezetha, Moriab. Moriah was at the
east. with Bezetha to the north, Ophel to the
south, Zion southwest and Acre northwest.
| Constantinoplc and Rome each spread out over
seven hills. There was enc specially interest
| ing historical association connected with
Mount Moriab 1t was OIL that eminence Abra-
ham was about to offer up Isaac as human
sacrifice. 1t is saiduhat5 in clearing the top OF
| the mount for the construction of the Temple,
a portion of the original rock was left un.
touched, so to 60 feet long by 40 to so wide.
1t was. SO traditions says, on that Particular
| spot that Isaac was practically offered as a
sacrifice. Gen, Chapter g. 1t is supposed
that the altar Of the Temple was located just
above that point. 1t is claimed Mahomet as
/ cended thence 10 heaven. Many Christian
traveller, searching for light. has expressed the
wish that he hight be permitted to see beneath
! the slab under the dome Of the Mosque now
built on Mount MorIah. Doubtless he would
| discover much Of important information to
Judaism and Christianity in the way OF con-
| frmation and evidence. } Much is being said
about the return of tho Jows TO Jerusalem and
! to Palestine in general, and it once
ported that the Sul.ansof Turkey had offered
| to make sale of the Mosque Of Omar, now oc-
cupying the site Of Solomou's Temple. Much
property in and about Jerusalem is already
owned by Jews
A delightful legend has been handed down in
explanation of the fact that that particular spot
Was selected AS place OH which to build the
| Temple. 1t is certainly well that the very lOca-
tions on which structures Tor religious purposes
are erected have suitable aud suggestive asso-
| Citations
There is charming tradition connected
with the site on which the Temple of Solomon
was erected. 1t is said to have been occupied
in common by TWO brothers, one of whom had
family, the other had none. On this spot
was s0wn field of wheat On the evening
succeeding the harvest-the wheat having been
gathered in separate shocks-the elder brother
said TO his wife: My younger brother is un-
able to bear the burden and heat of the day. l
will arise, take of my shocks and place with
his without his knowledge The younger
brother being actuated by the same bencvo-
lent motives, said within himself: my elder
brother has a family. and have none. / will
arise. take of my shocks and place with his
Judge of their mutual establishment when,
on the following day. they found their respect
i've shocks undminished. This course OF
events transpired for several nights, when
each resolved in his own mind 10 stand on
guard and solve the mystery. They did so.
when on the following night they met each
other halfway between their respective shocks
with their arms full. Upon ground hallowed
by such associations as this was the Temple of
Solomon erected, spacious and magnificent,
the wonder aud admiration of the world"
When pronounciug the words of Verses So to
C<,fa s.ofrn In Inv Ia fp, n
had offered his prayer of conservation. vs. %
and 81. For the prayer, SEQ Verses % to SO.
We learn from 9 Chron.. s. 13, that he had
| constructed brazen scaffold with q platform
about five and one-half feet above the pave.
| lnent, and about nine feet square, SO that in
praying to God aud blessing the people he
might he SO elevated that all could see him.
The Circumstances.
Prior to the construction of the tabernacle at
| Mt. Sinai it does not appear that the Israelites
had places where the people could assemble for
worship. The tabernacle, once built, gave op.
portunity to q limited extent for such general
gatherings of the Israeltes. The tabernacle
was however, small and movable, and quite
tent-like. 1t served well during tho migra-
tory days OF the Jews but was unsuitable after
the nation had become settled and COMPARE
lively freed from civil and international an
noyances 1t entered the mind of David to
build grand temple but he was forbidden the
work account Of liise associations with de.
strnctive wars necessitated in gaining and set
thing the territory given To the Jews. $50
o. We III lofk 4, 50