The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1896-10-03

Cf his reign. ana
nj. choosing that
which woc Wis, and right ''S'''''
of that which might naturally seer" '''''
desirable to an ambitious young
Tho lesson to he taught is found w '"'
different affects set before every ''.,'
at the b,ripniuE Of life, the ohl"'' WIN
II is the wisest to choose. and IN" '$"'''''
pnS motives for so choosing. h'''! '
gumCut, illustration and example S"'''
be cmnlovod to pcrslla,lc each sCho'a' ',
mako the right choice a"d I" "'""'
Low. ,,o
The section includes Kings >: S-,'' Wv
porallcl C,rouiclps I: It's. | '\'hSS =
20: and the Scripture texts given 'r'.'
Time y G. 1Gj5 the carly part OF oo'''
mons reign. ,,v,s
Place. Gideon. u high hill six "',,,'
north OF Jerusalem now cave"
Here was the ancient Na",'
structcd by Moses g enron =
Solomon lS or % years old, :,
To-dav's lesson includes Kings 3d. IL
follows: T.,
g. "Thc Lord appeared To Solomon ~
n dream" It was probably AT 'h' ''''
of this season of Worship. when ms "f''''
had been elevated into a high STATE "
religious rcrvor by the pro'rac,eh SCI
vices And God sad, Ask what S'''
give thee As there is no Imitation u
the implied offer. an absolutely unli'n'''o
range of choice L. here placed Neiore
Solomon
C. Chou hast showed unto thy serVahl
David my father great mercy, ''aN'' ia,
no claim, and put forth none, 1t WIS -"
Of mercy. "Accordng as he wake" W.
fore thee in TRUTH" In sincere d'No''o''
to God. in the true worship OF the N"'
God. THAT thou hast given him Il son &c
sit on his throne 1t is great favor 'o
have Gods blessings to us continued 10
our children, and thus to make our III
tluence for good enduring. :,
T. Thou hast made thy servant KING
He was chosen by God to be king. ana ny
the aid of Gods prophet he had cameo
the throne And am but little en- IT,
He was young and Inexperienced com
pared with his father, who came to the
throne after a youth of activity. and ten
or twelve years of special training. ana
seven more as king over a small KING
dom. II know not how TO go out or como
in This expression is proverbial for the
active conduct Of affairs. tSce Mum. -
II: Deut. rs: 6: Sam. Is: B)-Cook.
s. "Thy servant is IN the midst OF IN!
people" t. e., is set over them as KING
(Which thou hast chosen 1t was not
only a great nation, but the nation chosen
&c 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 to be
reference in these words to the prom
:Ses made by God to Abraham more
especially to Genesis Is: l6.
o. "Give therefore thy servant an I'M
Outstanding heart" There We're two d.
rections in one or the other of which n
young kings desires would naturally
lead "To Judge thy people" Administer
the government in all its departments.
That ! may discern between good ana
bad" /. e.. right and wrong. justice and
Injustice. what plans are good for the peo-
pie and what are bad. For who is able
to Judge this thy so great a people, The
larger the number of people the more wis
dom and ability 1t required to govern
them.
10. And the speech pleased the Lord "
Why? % 1t was right. noble. unse'tsh'
like God himself (2) 1t rendered It posi-
BILE for God to give him large measures OF
the best things in all the universe. t| 1t
furnished an opportunity to give many
other things God loves to give. He gives
us all we can benefcially receive. Inc
more he can give us, the better he Is
pleased.
II. Because thou hast not asked
for myself" He had not seltishly asked
the things which would merely give glory
and pleasure to himself.
u. 10, l have given thee wise and
an understanding heart for which he
had asked See Kings 3: 1928, and 4:
1884, together with the descriptions of
Soomons temple and palaces. govern
mental plans and commerce. so that
there was none like thee before thee, y
ETC. This has been literally fulfilled In
history He had wisdom and understands
ing exceeding much, and largeness OF
heart. even az the sand that Is on the
seashore q Kings 4: 49,
49, II 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 IL: 3D.--Cook. Both
riches and honor" See the next lesson.
IA. And If thou wilt walk in my ways
will Iengthen thy days The
promise here is only conditional. AS the
condition was not observed q Kings II:
1-s), the right to promise was FORTE ted,
and It was not fulfilled. He died at the
age of sixty. ten years younger than his
father David.
Is. "And Solomon awokc and behold It
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-
salem" his home. and the other sanctu-
airy where the ark was placed. Here he
continued the Jacrificial feast.
Practical. I. The case. as presented
here, is good both for proof and for illus
tration of the principle that when men
covet earnestly and supremely the best
gifts God loves not only to give these
best things thus preferably and supreme
" sought but to throw IN the lesser
things as unasked g.atuitles-in business
phrase-into the bargain. Give your full
heart and Chief endeavor to seeking the
kingdom of God and biz righteousness,
and nd will see to, TIE .Hling OF your
cun with aN,3,,iy good as nav ~ best for