The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-10-14
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
OCTOBER 1S.
Lesson Text: "Solomon's Wealth and
Wisdom," I Kings, w., %
34-Golden Text: I Sam.
H., 3O-Commentary.

H., 3O-Commentary.
25. "And Judah and Israel dwelt safely,
every man under his vine and under his fig
tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the
days OF Solomon" For little while he
seems to have reigped peacefully over all
the territory promised to Abraham. Com
pare verse 81 with Gen. xv., 1s. 1t was a
faint foresha owing OF Jer. xiii, S, 6, when
the Lord shall raise unto David q righteous
Branch, and King shall reign and prosper
and shall execute Judgment and justice In
the earth. InHis days judah shall be saved.
and Israel shall dwell safely, and this Is His
name, whereby He shall be called "the Lord,
our Righteousness. Then there shall be
war no moro, and Israel shall walk In the
name OF the Lord their God forever and
ever.
26. "And Solomon had 10000 stalls OF
horses tor his chariots and IL, 600 horsemen.
Compare chapters K, 26-29; xi, 1-6, with
Deut. xviii, 1911, and in the light OF those
passages this verse Of our lesson will make
one tremble for Solomon. "Woe to them
that go down to Egypt for help and stay on
horses and trust in chariots because they are
many and in horsemen because they are
strong. but they look not unto the holy One
OF Israel, neither seek the Lord" lisa. XXX,
y. Better to say. "Some trust in chariots,
and some In horses, but we will remember
the name OF the Lord our God" FPS. xx. y.
Israel was chosen to be separate from and
unlike all other Nations, the great distin-
gushing feature Of their National life being
the presence In their midst Of the living and
true God rs their King and Lawgiver, Pro-
tector and Deliverer, In whom alone they
were to trust.
~. "And those officers provided victual
for King Solomon, and for all that came unto
King Solomon's table, every man In his
month. They lacked nothing" 1t must
have been a great company to provide for
and must have required much wisdom and
forethought to have sufficient for all. But
the God OF Israel fed millions supernaturally
for forty years, and they lacked nothing.
The Lord Jesus feed more than 5000 one af-
ternoon In an emergency, and he had onlya
few loaves and fishes to do 1t with, but all
were filled and an abundance over When
he sent the disciples, without purse orscript,
they testified that they lacked nothing duke
xxil., 35).
2S. Charley also and straw for the horses
and dromedaries brought they unto the place
where the officers were, every man accord
ing to his charge" This also must have
been great care. but our God careth for all
creatures which he has made. "The eyes Of
all wait upon Thee, and Thou givest them
their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine
hand enc, satisfest the desire Of every living
dered from bis royal bounty all that Israel
had need OF day by day without fail (Ez. vi,
9). How much more will our God supply
all the need OF all His creatures phil. w., 19.
29. "And God gave Solomon wisdom and
understanding exceeding much and largsness
of heart, even as the sand that Is on the sea-
shore" This compared with verse 20, as
mentioned In last weeks notes, indicates
wisdom sufficient for every difficulty that
might arise In all the Nation. God careth
foT each indi,i lual, and no child OF God
should hesitate TO say, "He careth for me-
"He thinketh upon me-" The wisdom and
God. He could take no credit to himself for
It, and 1t was that God, the God Of Israel,
might be honored, and not Solomon.
80. "And Solomon's wisdom excelled the
wisdom Of all the children Of the east COIN
try and all the wisdom OF Egypt" because It
was the wisdom OF God and not OF men. 30
was 1t also with Joseph in Egypt and Daniel
in Babylon, for each was filed with the Wis
dom Ct God. The apostle Paul Is careful to
tell US that his speech and preaching were
not with enticing words OF mans wisdom,
power, that their faith should not stand IN
the wisdom OF men. but In the power Of God
Il Cor. H., 4, 81. He also tells US that Christ
is the wisdom Of God, and the power OF God
Il Cor. l., 24). A study Of these two chap
ters Is bracing to the simple minded.
81. For he was wiser than all men, and
his fame was In all Nations round about.
For the reason already stated. Solomon's
wisdom excelled all others, and the fame
that spread abroad was "the fame OF Solo.
mon concerning the name OF the Lord"
Thn {nka mo
Of this record Is the fact that He who gave
Solomon such wisdom Is also made unto US
wisdom U Cor. l., 80, 91), not, however. that
we might glory In ourselves, but In the Lord,
our wisdom, His thoughts and ways are as
far above ours as heaven is above the earth.
Therefore 1t Is surely wisdom to let oil our
thoughts be brought into captivity to Him
Elsa. w., 8, 8; II Cor 4, 81.
so. "And he spake three thousand prov
eibs, and bis songs were q thousand and
fve." Many Of his proverbs We hnve and
will have study therein next week. OF all
his songs We have the one called "The Song
OF sones," which is all concerning Him who
is altogether lovely. And yet some OF the
wise people OF Chicago decided that 1t was
not at to form O part Of new Bible which
has been especially prepared for the youth
OF that city. True the wisdom OF men Is
foolishnees with God. David said that bis
psalms were spoken by the Spirit OF God q!
Sam. xiii, q, and doubtless Solomon would
acknowledge the same, for 1t Ia written very
plainly that his wisdom was the gift OF God.
SO. land he spake oitrees, from the cedar
tree that IL In Lebanon even unto the hyssop
that springeth out Of the wall. BE spake
also Of beasts and OF fowl md Of creep.
Ing things ana OF flshes.'' Thus he would
seem to have n great student, and next
to the law OF I, cd what could he study with
more profit than the works OF Godr Al!
study must, however. be to the glory OF
God, and thar we may tue better know Him,
for all must be subject to Him who IN all
things must have tho pre-smlnenee (Col.
81. "And there came Of all people to hear
tie wisdom OF Solomon, from all kings OF
the earth which had heard OF Ills wisdom,
50 It was with "a greater than Solomon"
and 80 It will bc In the coming days when
Jerusalem shall again be tho throne OF the
Lord and all the Nations shall be gathsrsd
UNTO is. tc the nnuo OF the Lord, to Jeruss-
lem. Stsy 1t bs our daily delight to SIT at
Hia feet and hear His word, thus giving Elm
pleasure and bringing The grestssr pessi5!e
profit to ourselves for time and eternity
{jas. ILL.,, II; Luke T., es).-Lesson HelDsr.