Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-10-06


which woo 1r,.a and right, instead
of that which might naturally seem NJ
desirable to an ambitious young ~
The lesson to be taught is tounu -,
different objects set before es.iS n,nich
at the beginning of life, the ooJeS asons
it is the wisest to choose. anu III. or,
and motives for choosing SoNId
. Sument, illustration and eHai'p Iar n
be employed to persuade each ,o ir
make the right choice anu W ~
now. ar +bn
The section includes Kings 3: S-io a. A.
parallel, 2 Chronicles l: Ills Law
90; and the Scripture texts given f So,o.
Time. b. c. l0l5, the early p"r'
mons reign ;,oa
Place. Gideon, high hill six ni I,h
north of Jerusalem, now ca nua con-
Hero was the ancient tabernaeie
structed by Moses e Chron' l. "'
Solomon. IS or 90 years ola: az &c
To-days lesson includes hhss 'A''
follows: t.
3. The Lord appeared to Solomon ~
a dream" 1t was probably at tno ,n5
of this season of worship, wheh hio 80
had been elevated into high s'a'e %
religious fervor by the protractea se r
vices. And God said, ASK what ! So =,
give thee" AS there is no Limitation
the implied offer, an absolutely uhi,
range of choice is here placed ooi'''
Solomon. .
6. Thou hast showed unto thy serTa
David my father great mercy. paw" n on
no claim, and put forth none. IL waS
of mercy. According as he walReu ue
fore thee in TRUTH In sincere deVotloh
- God, n the true worship or the .iue
God. That thou hast given him son "
sit on his throne" Ii is a great 1aVor W
have Gods blessings to US continued u
our children. and thus to make our III
ring
Z. Thou hast made thy servant kihS.
He was chosen by God to be king. anu W
the aid of Gods prophet he had gaines
the throne And am but little ch'lo.
He was young and inexperienced com
pared with his father, who came 10 the
throne after a youth of activity, ana teh
or twelve years of special training, ana
seven more as king over a small king
dom. Il know not how to go out or come
in" This expression is proverbal TOT tne
active conduct of affairs. (See Mum. 90
II; Deut. 2S: 6; Sam. Is: l3)-Cook.
s. Thy servant is in the midst OF tiny
people," l. e., is set over them as a hihs.
which thou hast chosen" IL was iol
only great nation, but the nation CHOSEN
to represent God before the world, ana
carry out his kingdom, and teach the
world his truths. "A great people, that
cannot be numbered" There seems 10 pe
a reference in these words to the prom
Uses made by God to Abraham, more
especially to Genesis 10: l6.
8. GIVE therefore thy servant an I'M
Outstanding heart" There were two d.
rections in one or the other OF when d
young kings desires would naturally
lead. ITO judge thy people" Administer
the government in all its departments.
That / may discern between good ana
bad" /. e., right and wrong, justice ana
injustice, what plans are good for the peo-
MI nd uh hat had
to judge this thy so great peopleg the
larger the number Of people the more WIS
dom and ability it required 10 govern
them.
10. And the speech pleased the Lord
Why? Cd 1t was right, noble, unselhsn'
like God himself. 90 1t rendered 1t possi-
BILE for God to give him large measures OF
the best things in all the universe. CD 1t
furnished an opportunity to give many
other things God loves to give. He gives
us all we can beneficially receive. The
more he can give us, the better he Is
pleased.
H. Because thou hast not asked
for myself He had not selhshly asked
the things which would merely give glory
and pleasure to himself.
u. 10, / have given thee wise ana
an understanding heart" for which he
had asked. See l Kings 3: 1928, and 4:
1884 together with the descriptions OF
Solomon's temple and palaces, govern
mental plans and commerce 80 that
there was none like thee before thee"
etc This has been literally fulfilled In
history He had wisdom and understand
ing exceeding much, and largeness OF
heart, even as the sand that is on the
seashore q Kings 4: 29).
10. Il have also given thee that which
thou hast not asked" Here we see a
striking illustration OF that law of the
divine government. Seek we first the king
dom of God and his righteousness. and all
these things shall be added unto you"
Matt. 6: SO; Luke u: 3D.-Cook. Both
riches and honor" See the next lesson.
A. "And If thou wilt walk in my ways
/ will lengthen thy days" The
promise here is only conditional. AS the
condition was not observed Il Kings IL:
Isl, the right to promise was forfeited.
and II was not fulfilled. He died at the
age of sixty, ten years younger than his
father David.
l5 "And Solomon awoke, and behold 1t
was a dream" But the results were real.
because what was done in the dream ex-
pressed what Solomon really was and
actually chose And he came to Jeru-
SALIENT" his home. and the other sanctu-
airy where the ark was placed. Here he
continued the sacriflcial feast.
Practical. /. The case as presented
here is good both for proof and for illus
tration OF the principle that when men
covet earnestly and supremacy the best
gifts God loves not only to give these
best things thus preferably and supreme
ly sought, but to throw in the lesser
things as unasked gratuties-in business
phrase-into the bargain. Give your full
heart and chief endeavor to seeking the
kingdom of God and his Righteousness,
and God will see to the hlling OF your
cup with earthly good as may be best for