The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-17
SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSEN
CALCULATION AND REVIEW OF IN
TERNATIONAL TOPIC, OCT. rs.
SOlOmon's wealth and Wisdom, as Set
Forth in First Kings Nv, 25-34-God
FulfIIs His Promises.
By Rev JAMES F. GILBERT.


CoNTEXT.-The wisdom of solomon was FIRST
tested and demonstrated in deciding between tvvs
women who claimed to be mothers of the same
child och. iii. 1929, intelligence OF which greatly
added TO his fame. After making this record
the sacred pennlan gives account of the Kings
greatness. naming mis- princes and officers. and
describing the splendor of his kingdom. extend-
ing from the great river unto the land of the
Philistines and the border of Egypt. This in
spired account is in great detail. 1t even men
lions the food that was daily set upon the Kings
table. thus presenting the monarch In the height
OF his glory, with the evident intention OF show
ing that God had been faithful to the covenait
made at Gideon. In reading this passage wa
must bear in mind that the democratic spirit
now abroad in the world did not then exist. A
nations welfare was supposed to begin with The
throne and descend to the people, whereas. in
modern times the reverse theory holds In to-
days lesson the wealth and wisdom OF Solomon
will therefore ba considered.
observation-disclosures is first called (verse
25) to the general condition of the country.
While there was but one nation, it was men,
toned under two se-ctions-Judah the southern,
and Israel the northern-a distinction made in
the early days of David. Throughout the entire
land, from Dan on the north to Beer Shebn on
the south, the people dwelt safely. There were
no incursions of enemies. The Ammonites. Phil
istines, Midianites and other people who had
waged war more or less frequently from the time
of Joshua had been conquered so completely that
they had no disposition to renew the attack.
This profound and universal peace. typical OF
that which came under Messiah der. xiii. g.,
enabled every man to sit unmoIested under hs
own vine and fig tree, enjoying the fruits OF his
industry. (Mic. iv, ~ Forty years of such quiet
and rest and plenty. continuing all the time CT
solomon. devoted to the nobler pursuits of life.
era OF the Hebrew people, for which there was
no parallel before or after. That period lived in
the memory of all as an inSniratiOn- (Zarh- III.
RoYALTY.-From this general survey of the
of the King. He had forty thousand stall OF
four thousand. III Chr. tx, 25) These were
brought for him. together with chariots fropa
xvii, 10. partly as a mark of distinction Gen.
xii. ABB, but chiefly to increase his military
horsemen. This OUTFIT was distributed among
ably to Eastern custom in such matters. Il
affairs required an immense. oflciary. Thess
were classified under twelve heads oversees s I'd
The duty of these oficers was nicely defined.
each having his place and time and work. Some
food for the 'T King ana and h his hoo osesrI prepared II hsa
been estimated from the statement oversees 22-23lr
that three thousand persons were fed at tho
wlSDoM.-so much for the material and tenn
poral; now look at the intellectual and spiritual
wealth. as He had promised. What about the
first part of that promise, that which solomon
plicit. God gave wisdom and understanding ex-
eeeding much 1t was a direct bestowal DANES
Scripture Dob xxi. 81. it was understood. as all
history, teaches, that intellectual vigor cones
through the Spirit. Two modes OF measuring
Solomon's wisdom are employed. 1t gave him
of things, a vast compass OF knowledge. with d
disposition TO use it for the good OF others. Al
East country. Chaldea and Egypt were famous
for learning. Thence the Greeks borrowed theirs,
VRHt nNuhNrnr xnallon tho orant vra, 49, Ia.rs.
been, sending out the products OF their thought
to other lands, they all came short OF solomon.
The knowledge obtained by grace goes beyond
what men gather by labor
always desirable to have a well-known standard
of measure. In a general way a man may be
considered superior to other men, but when
names are given comparison is possible and
correct Judgment is easy. Gods promise was to
make Solomon's wisdom phenomenal. tCh. Ill.
I'D Look at him, then, beside others, his con-
were Ethan the Ezrathite. and Heman. and
Chalcol, and Darda, the four sons OF Mahoi
in the temple music. T Chr, XIV. 1eD They mist
have been held in high repute, because Of their
by the fact that certain psalms. appointed for
the temple service. Were dedicated TO them.
men, who devoted their entire time excilusively to
the poetry and music of the sanctuary, even in
their department solomon was superior.
perior to the heads of the temple psaimody7
What did he more than the men so long and SO
"sSais three thousand I proverbs" These we RI
most of them set in order in a book. CEcci. XII.
practical truth, the result Of experience and OBJ
men. They were priced because Of their self
evident value, and they gave renown to their
ability to penetrate into the nature of human
relations and perceive the consequent duties.
songs. These entered an entirely different de-
partInent of human. thought; They We're rnyth-
for experiences of various kinds. The poets and
EXPRESSED its emotions. But here fiS "A man. "A
king, who combines two rare mental qualities
The one philosophical. the ether highly spiritual.
sCIENTIST.-There was a still wider range of
intellectual activity given to Solomon. He was
departments. lie was a writer on botany in ali
its branches. His acquaintance with the vege-
as that possessed by the scholars of our time.
and 1T wa IS p pepS Imps srst his A system st Of he c wroie a.
the cedar of Lebanon. the most beautiful OF
wall, a clinging Vine highly priced. these mark
ing the extremes of plant life then known. Be-
mails under four great divisions-beasts fowl.
creeping things and fishes. the same as We're
creation. Gen. i, 30) The King, who could
W Wersed ina IL Psvchol senss, ethics Mbais 'n ms ! Iang mar
he was also acquainted with the works of ma
facts.
vIsIToRs.-such a man would be a conspic-
uous figure in any age or country. He belongs
not to one time or land, but 10 worldwide
humanity. Men everywhere feel that they have
rulers came from all parts-to see %solomonY
Certainly not. Curiosity might lead some. but
the greater part desired TO hear his wisdom.
At times and places appointed they sat down
to be taught. This was a compliment to him and
to them--to him because he was believed TO pos
sess these stores of wisdom; TO them because
they desired to obtain from him what would
make them wise. Here is a new role for a King.
Ordinarily he is expected to administer govern
ment, promoting the welfare of his subjects. pro-
tecting them against foreigners. But Solomon
became the worlds teacher. Making long Jour-
neys och. V, -, the high as well as the lowly
entered his school, and then carried home his
wonderful words.
REFLECTIoNs.-It is impossible to estimate
fully the value of the foregoing passage. IL
might be taken to show how faithfully God full
filled His promise, or how great "A blessing comes
to the posterity of the righteous. Some have
said, and possibly with propriety, that Solomon
was a type OF Christ in whom are hid all the
treasures of wisdom. (Col. ii. 81 1t is vastly
more appropriate to deduce these facts-that the
blessing of God brings national prosperity. that
the spirit Of God uuickens mans powers and
prepares them for their highest action; that re-
ligion Is not unfriendly to human learning. but
promotes IT; that temporal and spiritual good
may exist together: that vast wealth may ho
used for the promotion of the peoples welfare:
that a nation. freed from war, blessed with
peace, ruled by a wise God-fearfng sovereign. is
a beacon light TO other nations. a leader along
the pathway of progress. toward the predicted
goal OF a redeemed humanity. psalm cxliv. b)
II.
II all my years were summer. could I know
What my Lord means by His Made white as
snow
II all my days were sunny. could I say.
I'm His fair land He wines al tears away"
70 - Il I.AA- II. - -