Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-09-03
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson for September 8,
Is96-David's Love for Gods House
ChroD o1.G-IG
1 Chron. 22:6-16.

1
! Golden Text.-Blessed are they that dwell
IN Thy house; they viii be stin praising
4 Thee.-Psa. S44
The Section includes l Kings 1:1-5S: /
4 Chron. p. and the account OF the carrying
1 out of the command in 22:I7-1s. and David's
preparation of materials for the temple,
/ described in Chron. Is and 80
! Tine.-B. c. l0l6 and 1915. shortly before
I the death Of David.
Professionalism. the capital of the
kingdom
EXPLANATORY.
] l. The Intervening History.-After
T the decisive victory described in our
last lesson, David returned to Jerusa-
lem. But it took some time to unite the
northern and southern sections. ana at
one time there was great danger of q
/ serious division. Then followed several
years OF peaceful Development of the
Kingdom.
/ David's early exposures, his wars, and
I great cares left him a worn-out man
before he was 7o.s As his end drew
nigh. his son. Adonijah, then between
4 so and 80 years old, famous, like his half
brother Ahsalom for manly beauty, but
/ totally unfit to be a king, made an at
! tempt to be his fathers successor. Joab
joined in his plan. Bat the prophet
Nathan. recognizing how unfit Adonijah
was to be king, and how well fitted Solo
man was for the great work, and that
David had named him for the success
sion, succeeded in having Solomon pro-
claimed king before Adonijah's friends
rose from an inauguration feast to
which he had invited them. They fed as
though their house had been struck
with a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
An9 Solomon practically took the
throne.
Is. David's Unfinished Works.. 6-s.
David had accomplished nearly all of
his hearts desire as to his kingdom. He
had found it small and left it great He
found it chaos, and left it finely or
! ganized. He found religion at a low ebb,
and left it earnest, active, organized for
work. But there was one great work
on wGch he had set his heart which he
could not accomplish, and that was the
rearing of temple worthy of the re-
ligion of the true God, and which should
hold up the name of the true God before
the nations, and make permanent in
his own nation the principles and teach
ings of the Divine religion.
6. 'Then he called for Solomon = =
and charged him." The earnestness and
solemnity of this address create an I'M
preston that it was given a little be-
fore the old kings decease.
1T was IN my mind, it was my de-
sire and purpose, Ito build an house,"
etc.
.. But" God forbade him to build the
temple, because, Thou hast shed much
blood" etc. (See Lesson v. on Samuel,
~ David is not blamed for his great
wars. They were necessary wars, not
wars of aggression, but defensive wars.
to keep the enemies of true religion
from destroying the nation and the re-
ligion it represented; or they were exc
cutIve wars for the necessary punish
ment and restraint of crime. "a These
wars took up his time, 50 that he could
not do well the other task, for which his
victories prepared the way. (2) They
untitled him for the best doing of the
great work of peace. This required a
different kind of ability and different
training.
>. His name shall be Solomon:"
which means Peaceful, corresponding
to the German Friedrich. rich in peace.
Il will give peace and quiteness unto
Israel in his days" For the fulfilment
of this prophecy, see ! Kings 4:20-233;
5:4.
10. 81 will ~ establish His king
dom forever" This promise, so far
as Solomon is concerned, is made con-
ditional on his obedience u 10; Chron.
i Is: ~.
III. The Qualities Needed for Doing
/ the Lords Works.. lib First, Gods
presence with sim.
II. THE Lord (Jehovah) be with
thee" God will be with rs when we go
TO Him, live in communion with Him,
and seek to know and do His viii. Every
good comes to those who walk with God
and enjoy His favor and protection.
Second, readiness to do Gods work.
/ His great work was to "builtl the house
/ of the Lord 1t was for this purpose
/ hat God chose him to be king. God
gives rs property. or talents, or attrac-
/ tiveness, or Whatever of good He has be-
slowed upon US, in order that we may
/ aid Gods cause and build up Ills king
dom.
Third, wisdom and understanding.
70. Only the lord give thee wisdom
and understanding" Compare Psalm
70; 1. And for the fulfllment Of this
prayer see / Kings 8. 20; Chronicles
/: -. No work requires more wisdom
than the Lords work. and only He can
give the true wisdom. He giveth that
wisdom literally to all Who ask Him
1 Games /: 81.
10. "Then shalt thou prosper, if thou
talsest heed" So long as mans Will
! is free there must be this condition be-
fore Gods blessing. God wants 10 pros
per us. He greatly desires our happi-
ness, but He cannot reward disobedi-
ence or prosper those who refuse 10
walk in the only way that can bring
true prosperity through holiness.
Therefore, we must fulfill our part Of