The National tribune., 1896-10-01
SUNDAY MEDITATION.


A Study Of tlle, International Sunday
School Lesson tAppointed for Ocl
IL, 1886. t
Subject: Solomon's wise Choice. ! Kf.
3:sf15.
zone reading these no.t- .hnnid first carefully
study the paragraph from ths Holy Scriptures a.
indicated aboye.i ts
INTRODUCTION.
The coronation Of Queen Elizabeth took place
Jan. Is, 1853 The procession was advancing
when boy, who represented Truth and who
was stationed on trnmplal ARCH descended
just as the Qreen passed beneath and made q
present to her. in behalf of the City of London
OF a Bible. She accepted it very graciously.
drawing it near to her heart aud remarkine
that she regarded it rs the most valuable aud
important testimonial received by her on the
august OCCASION.
ANSWERED AND SUPPLEMENTED.
Data
We find two accounts of Solomon's prayer
that of Kings, 3: 5-15, and that of 2 Chron
1:7-13.
race.
Gibeon was five miles northwest of Jerusa-
lem, five miles southwest of All. three miles
south of Beeroth, three miles north Of Kirjath-
iearim. When Joshua entered Canaan he
seized on Gideon after q fearful battle, the very
moon helping him to victory. JOSH, 10: IL,
Is. 1t was in tho tribe of Benjamin. Joab
defeated Abner at Gibeon. Asahel. Jeab's
brother, was killed at that place. 2 SAM,
2:19-24 Amasa, who commanded Absalom's
rebel army, was assassinated there. SAM,
90: s-12 The tabernacle was there, Il Chron.,
16: 37-39.) while the Ark was at Jerusalem, e
Chron.. l:3, A. David having brought the Ark
thithcr out from its tabernacle proper, Furnish
ing it another tabernacle. 2 SAM, SLY;
Chron., Ia.
Having become thoroughly introduced into
his Kingship Solomon went to Gibeon and
celebrated his Inauguration with grand re-
ligious festival. l XII, 3:1-4, and 2 Chron.,
i:1-6.
1t was the general custom in early days to
locate structures for religious worship on ele-
waited points, called therefore high places. 2
Ch., I3 Justin stated that the temple OF
Apollo was built on Mt. Parnassus Oraclcs
commonly were uttered from hll-tops. The
Temple Of Solomon was erected on Mt. Moriah.
Time
We date this lesson A. NJ 299O, or B. c. 1O14,
and are thus carried back in history for about
5000 years. Four hundred and seventy years
had passed since the 1sraelites set out on the
exodus. We fnd ourselves 238 years before the
FIRST Olympiad began. In about IL years Ho.
mer was born. David had been dead for onl y,
probably, few months. 9: 10, II. What
was the age Of Solomon David a little before
dying spoke to Solomon though he were an
adult. See 80. Ordinarily he is supposed to
have been about 20 years Of age. So say
Abarbinel, Neligan, Jameson, Fausset, Brown.
1t is clear from IL: AZ, a. and IA: 81. that he
had married and had son. Reboboam. born
sometime prior to- his Inauguration. But in
Verse he says, lam but little child" He
referred TO his experience as King. He WIS
q mere infant as TO the throne. After Benja-
min was 30 years old he was called child.
Gen, A 30. So also was Joshua a man be.
yond 80 when Moses called him child. See
Ex., 33: ii. wherc the original is Hebrew
word. meaning boy, child. although it is
translated "a young man" in the Received
Version and also ID tho Revised Version. So
also the original for young men " in Sam.
217, referring to the two sons of Eli. who
were fuli-growa men, means boys Latin,
paeri.
We notice God appeared to Solomon by night
1t was probably while the young King was
asleep.
References.
V. s. Giheon. l. Xxi, 9:2; l Chr, 16 80; 2
Cb.. :3 IL. s.s-s
In dream by night Gen, 2s 11-l3; 2
Chr. III; Ps,. T:3 ass
In vision dream. NJ, -: s; Job, 33: ID
16; st. Matt. 30; 2: l3, 10.
Ask what I shall give thee. Chr, 1:7;
10; St. Matt. 90 :2I. %; ST. Mark, 10: 36-38; !;
st. Matt. o:32; St. Mark. 10: 81: st. Luke,
1S:4I; st. John, II: I3. Ia; IS: 16; 16: :23, "a !;
ST. James. l 5. 6; John, 5: IA. Is.
v. 6. God showed mercy to David. SAM,
7:s-i2; 1877. g; 22:47-5l; 23:l; Chr, % !:
12-l4: 2 Chr, l:5; Ps., 70: S:70-72: S6: IL; 90 !:
2O-2s, 40.
Walked before thee in truth. XII, I'd; 9:
a: XII. 1858; Ps.. l5:2.
Given him a son TO sit on his throne. / XII,
LAS. The son was according to promise, and
hence we have in 9 Chr, 20, LET thy prom
ise" Sam, 7:l2-l6
Servant. Nu., 1871 So Of David. 2 Sam.,
7:5.
On God showing mercy in general see Ps.,
1876; 1l6:7; 1897.
V. Z. Solomon King instead of David. /
Chr, %: 5; % %; 9 Chr, 1:5.
God makes and unmakes Kings. Dam, 9:
2l; 4:25, 32; 5:1s, q.
am but little child Chr, 90 Il; Job,
32:6-s; Jer.. 1:6; ST. Matt. 1925.
For child used as to adult see Gen.. A: 20; ;
Ex., SO IL; Sam, 2:7.
Know not hew to go ont or in. Nu., q: II;
Deu. 3l:2; 1 SAM, 10: is; 2 Sam. 5:2; st.
John. 10, 3, 4, 8.
Y.8 People which Thou (God) hast chosen.
Ex., 10: 5. 6; Deu., 7:6 g.; Sam, IL: 22.
Cannot be numbered. Gen., 13: 16 ldust);
15:5 (stars); %: 81; Nu., %: 10; Chr. 2l:
g 5; 2 Chr, l:9, 10.
V. 8. Give understanding. 1 Chr, 20 :12; ;
90: 10; 2 Chr, /: 10; Ps., 1l9: "a. "a, l44;
Prov, 2:3, 8; 3:13l8
Understanding SO as to judge. XII. 3 %;
Ps., 72:1, 2; Prov. lab; Eco, 2. II, 10; g.:
I5-le
Discern between good and bad. Sam. ID:
II; Is.. 11:24; Cor, 2: IA. 15; Eph, S: II; /;
Phil, / 10; Heb, 5:l4.
Who is able to judge so great people. Ex.,
Sill. 12: 4:l0-l3; Chr, /: 10; Jer, 1:6;
st. Matt, 3: IL, 12; st. Mark, IL; St. Luke,
3: :l6, II; Cor, 2: 16; 3:5.
V. 10. Pleased the Lord. Prov, 1853.
V. ii. Solomon received favorable answer
because he prayed Alright. st. James. 4:3.
Salome was refused her petition because it was
not for right thing. st. Matt, 90: 81; St.
Mark, 10: 81. On general conditions of sue
cessful prayer see Ps., 10: II; 81: IL, 12 Prov,
3:5. 6; Iss., 65: "a; Ro., 8:26, 27; John, S:
IA, Is.
" 12 have given thee understanding. 1
XII. 2:B. g; 3:2s; 4:29 "a; 5:12; 10: 3-s, %,
"a; Chr, l: II. 1SPs,y22i II; 8: 5-S; Prov, 2:
g.; Eec., l: 16; Wisdom, 7:7-10; st. Luke. 2l:
None SO wise as solomon. st. Matt, 1s AZ;
st. Luke, IL: 81; Col, ga.
v. Ii Riches. Xxi, 4:2l-2S; 10:23, 25 q; !;
Prov, 3: l6; Wisdom, Z IL.