Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-12-03
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.


TIME.-The last third of solomon's
reign. B. c. sso-975.
--.es.---er EXPLANATORY esss--sz---s.a
1. The Influences by Which Solomon
Was Led Astray; or, the Rocks on
Which solomon Was Wrecked.-V. 4.
First. Polygamy. Contrary to the
divine law of his kingdom (Deut. 17:1T),
Solomon multiplied wives till he had
partly for the sake of political ALI
ances, partly from ostentation. that he
might be first in this as in all other di-
rections, and partly from sensuahsm.
which is the most common failing of
oriental monarchs.
4. 1T came to pass, when Solomon
was old" Between so and GO years old.
when he ought to have been in his spir.
tual and mental prime. But his great
labors, his burdens of wealth aud pleas
ure and his INDUSTRIOUS polygamy. had
sapped his manhood, weakened his con-
stitution and made him prematurely
old. His wives" many Of them for
eign princesses, the daughter of Pha-
raoh, and women of the Moabites, Am
monites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hit
tites, heathen women, who brought
their heather natures, training and
customs with them. Turned away his
heart after other gods"
Second. An Imperfect Heart. "And
his heart" The word rendered heart
in the Old Testament is very significant.
1t means more than the will, the emo
tons and the affections; it reaches
down into the depths of ones selfhood
out of which thought, feeling, action
flow.
II. The Sins Into Which Solomon
FELIX'S. 81. Solomon's fall was first
a fall within, and then a fall without.
5. For Solomon went after:" Some
commentators think that Solomon
actually worshiped idols, but most
think that his sin was that described
in verse z. where he favored and abettesd
idolatory, by building idol temples, and
supported idol worship. HE went not
fully after the Lord" ''Milcom, the
abomination of the Ammonites:" This
is the same divinity who is called be-
low (v. y Molech. Molech was a fire
god, and was worshiped with human
sacrifices.
Z. ''Then did Solomon as the next
step, build a high place." u shrine
or temple on a hilltop among the trees.
For CheIuosh, local name for Baal,
the sun god. 1.-THE abomination," the
idol and its worship intensely hateful
to God.
All this naturally encouraged i'm
morality, and cruelty, and crime, which
were part of the idolatrous worship.
It was a public dishonoring of God and
the true religion, which he had done
SO much to upbuild.
What God Did to Prevent His Fall
VS.. 9, 10. Solomon was not left to him
self all this time, but God withstood
his downward way. He would make
the way of the transgressor so hard
that he would turn from that way into
the paths of righteousness.
9. And the Lord was angry with
Solomon" The Lords anger is not
a burst OF passion. nor desire to re-
,enge, but a burning Indignation
against wrong; a sense of justice which
would stop the evil-doer in his course
and punish him. All good beings must
have this anger; and it is the more in
tense in proportion to the purity of the
person who feels it, and his clear per-
ception of the evil, and his love for
those who are injured by the wrong.
(which had appeared unto Him
twice. First at Gideon, at the begin
ming of His reign 6: 4-15,) and then a,
Jerusalem, about the middle of His
reign @: 1-9,) in the very height OF His
prosperity. These were special warn
ings and encouragements because of his
great danger.
10. "And had commanded Him."
both in the visions and in His word.
Solomon had the Pentateuch, Joshua
and Judges, and practically both books
Of Samuel. AS wise and learned man
He must have studied these thoroughly
His conduct was direct disobedience OF
a positive command.
The Consequences of His Sin.-Ts.
lib. First A Large Part OF His King
dom Was to Be Taken from His Family.
IL. The Lord said unto Solomon"
Probably by a prophet perhaps Ahijah
Tvs. 29-57,) if still living. Il win surely
rend." viii violently take away. Tho
kingdom from thee, and will give it to
thy servant" Not merely subject, but
officer, employe. This made the decree
the more bitter.
H. notwithstanding, in thy days
will not do it, The threatening had
two gracious and merciful limitations: