The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-10-31
The Sunday School Lesson.
SERIES FOR1896---FOU TIL QUARTER.
Studies in Old Testament Historu
Studies in Old Testament History.


coioio ehO pOtAb udthou ny Our lo5nOu
passage is reached.
The king, preceded by his royal guard
OF five hundred, each soldier bearing
aloft golden shield. has entered and
taken his place on the brazen platform
in front of the brazen altar. A process
sion Of priests has entered bringing the
sacred ark of the covenant, which had
been taken from David's tabernacle on
Zion, to deposit it between the cheru-
BIN in the holy of holies of the temple.
A procession of Levites, accompanied by
four thousand trained singers singing
such songs as have been preserved to us
in the 47th, the 9th, the 98th, the 107th
of the Psalter, has come bringing the
the old tabernacle itself, its brazen altar,
its candlestick, it's table for shew- bread,
its serpent from Gideon to be deposited
as memorials in the chambers of the
temple. A psalm was sung by the choir,
with accompaniment of trumpets and
cymbals and harps, and the refrain by
the congregation was Israels battle cry
God IS good; has mercy e,adureth for
eUer. Incense was burnt, not alone in
the courts; it's aroma filled the temple
area; it was so dense that the priests
we're overpowered, and the whole as
sembly bowed to the ground. By no
method could an Oriental multitude be
more sensibly impressed with the pres
ence of the Eternal One.
Solomon. falling on his knees and
stretching his arms toward heaven be :
gan his prayer.
Reports OF the prayer of dedication
have been preserved to us by both
Kings and Chronicles. The variations
in the report suggest that, before it was
recorded at all, it was oral tradition.
But it's spirit is manifestly preserved,
1t is wonderful prayer. 1t breathe s
the very spirit of the Hebrew faith,
which looked to God for all things for
victory in battle, for rain in drouth, for
p rdon for forsaken iniquity. Certain
OF its phrases recur in the best modern
worshipful utterancee. VIII God IN,
eUery deed, Solomon asked, daceU on the
earth? Behold hedven and the heaven
Of heoUens cannot contain thee; hoaU
much less THIS house that I haze build.
ed. Yet Solomon recognized the uses
OF sacred temple. therefore he prays
again, Harlem thou to the supplication
OF thy servant, and of thy people Israel
achen they shall pray toaOard this place:
yea, hear thou IN heaven thy Dwelling
place; and aolem thou nearest forgive
Our lesson passage is mainly the ben.
ediction which followed the prayer.
L. The Prayer of Dedication
Ends,-vs. "a.
| Solomon had been kneelipg. 1t is the
first record we have of any Israeite as
Stunning this position before the Eternal /.
1t was customary for those in prayer 10
stand. But when king on earth ad
dressed the King of Heaven, there is
manifest propriety in such token of
humility.
The Bible examples of attitude in
prayer are various; the inculcation is
freedom to every worshiper in his own
choice. The attitude of the body is
secondary; the attitude of the soul only
is of primary import. When his prayer
was concluded Solomon stood.
FNhn
To see Solomon standing in his purple
robe; to behold him uncovered because
he stood as in the presence of God; to
see him as ministrant of religious
faith to his people,-was before he had
uttered word, strangely impressive.
How true. how eloquent the words he
utters, with the commanding voice Of
the orator: Blessed be the Lord, that
hath giUen rest to his people Israel, ac-
cording to all that he hath promise d !;
there hath not failed one ,oord of all has
good promise. aotich he promised By the
hand of Moses has servant. The Lord
our God be Nth as. as he aUas cith our
fathers: let him not ledUe as nor for
sake as: that he mag incline oar hearts
to keep has commandments, and his
statutes, and has judgments, tchich he
commanded our fathers.
We feel the spell of spirituality which
was upon the people, while these words
were being uttered. Aspiration and
resolution we're alike in the firal words.
the benediction proper: Let your heart
therefore be perfect Nth the Lord our
God, to aoalk an has statutes. and to keep
has commandments, as at this day
3 The Offering OfSacrifices. -
VS.. 60, 63.
The entire nation had been invited to
offer altar sacrifices. Every householder
who could bring an OK or sheep, every
one that could bring only meal offer
ing, gladly responded. 10 anticipation
Of the unusual altar offerings. it being
plain that the brszen altar could not re-
ceive all the sacrifices, Solomon conse.
Grated other temporary affairs in the
middle of the priests court.
Following the benediction of the king
was an extraordinary scene. A cloud,
made Of the smoke of the burnt { fer
logs mingled with abundance of incense,
had lowered over the temple. This
suddenly being penetrated with the sun.