The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-11-12
the SUNDAY soHooL.

THE SUNDAY oOHoOL.
I.ternssienai Issosa fss Nevsmbsr -,
isee-Ged's Disssiag upsn soaonon-
Arranged from Peioubst's Notss.1
GOLDEN TExT.LThs blessing Of the
Lord, II maketh rioh. and He addeth no
sorrow with it-Prov. 10:11
THE sECTION includes e:l-e and the
parallel account In Chron. S:11-21.
TIME.-Probably b. c. se2. In the 18th
year Of solomon's reign. when In the height
Of his prosperity he needed another warn
ing. (Eee under verse ~
PIACE.-Jerusalem
EXPLANATORY.
The Need Of Repeated Warnings-v.
/. "When Solomon had finished the
building" etc. The buildings were be-
gun early in the fourth year Of his reign
Il Kings e:D, and the temple was
finished in the 11th year and sth month,
being IN years in building Il Kings
e.3s). His own palace took % years
more Il Kings 7:D. Thus his great
work of building occupied about 20
years Il Kings 9:1o), and brought Sol
omon to the Gath year Of his reign and
the 44th of his age.
Solomon at this time was in all his
glory. His fame had reached other ma
dons. He had become very rich from
his commerce. He had grown luxurious.
"All Solomon's desire which he was
pleased to dos" He had hitherto had
nc check upon his prosperity. What
ever he wished he had.
The Vision of the Two Ways.-vs.
2, 8. 2. The Lord, Jehovah, appeared
to Solomon a second time, because Of
the dangers that were now threatening
him. He was in perilous need, and God
took every method Of saving the king
from going and leading the people in
the wrong way.
3. II have heard thy prayer" Some
have thought that this reference to Sol
omon's prayer Of dedication and the
similar order Of thought in what fol-
lows implies that this vision was sent
Immediately after the dedication Of the
temple. But it clearly implied in the
first verso that II was after the compile
tion Of his palace 13 years later. The
reference to the prayer 10 perfectly
natural, for that prayer was not merely
the feeling Of Solomon st the time, but
was the desire Of his heart. Now, when
there was danger Of its being forgot
ten, IL was recalled to his mind. The
temple itself was q perpetual reminder.
IT have hallowed this house to put
Ny name there forever" Iaccept It a.
mine; and my purpose has not changed.
Mine eyes," TO watch over II, and to
note the sincere worship that WIN 60 up
from It. sand Mine heart" in love, and
affection, and care. not only see, but
! delight in II. I will care for It as for
the apple Of mine eye. II shall be a
peculiar treasure. "Perpetually" Twill
keep my part Of the covenant. This
temple shall never be destroyed or in.
jured through any neglect Of mine.
Then God, in this vision, puts clearly
before the king the two ways-the way
Of Life and the way Of Death.
The Way of Life.-vs. I, s. 4.
IF thou wilt walk before Me as David,
thy father. walked, in integrity Of
heart, and in righteousness:" (cl. ch.
3: 9, IA; II: 34). David was not perfect,
% our author tells US elsewhere (ch. IS:
&: ct. ch. I. 9; 2 Sam. "a: 10Y. His In
tegrity consisted in his unvarying 10y.
atty to the true God.
8. "Then will establish the throne
-. forever:" There was always this
condition imposed.
The Way of Death. - We. 60. 8.
"Butif ye shall atall (who.ly) turn from
following Me: T" etc. Themeaning IL rath.
er 'if ye shall wholly turn away from
following Me-" See the parallel passage
in Chronicles e Chron. 7:19) .-"H ye
turn awny and forsalze Ny statutes" !"
The Israelites were not to be cut OF,
except for an entire defection.-Cook
"And serve other gods:" The Israel.
ties were exposed to two forms Of for.
saking God; one was by crimes, dis
orders, and all breaking Of the second
table Of the law. which naturally and
necessarily led TO ruin, and the other
was by o neglect Of religion and turn.
ing to idols, which led to breaking o1
al the other commandments. The whola
tendency Of idol worship was 10 I'm
purity Of life. The neglect Of God took
away the restraining Influences OF n,
Mgion and the very life and soul e1
morals.
:. "A proverb and . byword:" ''Thl
very name Of Israel win become Q prov.
erbial expression significant Of disas.
trous failure" to BE- used in mocksry
and sarcastic scorn.
PRACTICAL SUG0EeTIONe.
Tho very kindest thing friend can
90 for m % to admonish ms when de- ars
going wrong.
Tho wise man always foresees the
evil. He takes wide outlook into the
future to see where different paths
lead. It u not fear. or cowardice, but
wisdom which leads him to do this.
The fear Of the evil consequences Of
sin is not the basis of character. II
II not the handspring Of true life. II
Ia only help to the partially good, and
q motive to those who have not YET
chosen the right and safe way.
There are great and peculiar DANGER
in prosperity, against which there Il
0reat need of n warming voice