Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-09-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
LESSON x, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, SEPT. 6.

lxxxiv, documentary by the Rev. H. NJ.
Stearns.
g. "Then he called for Solomon, his son,
and charged him to build house for the
Lord God of Israel" 1t is written of Da-
vid that the Lord preserved him whittier
soever he went, and that he reigned over
all Israel, executing judgment and justice
among all his people q Chron. xviii, 10,
a. His later years were given to making
preparation for the temple which he de
sired to build for the Lord and which was
built by Solomon on Mount Moriah, where
Abraham offered up Isaac, and which Da-
vid afterward bought from Arannah or
Ornan the Jebusite.
z. "And David said to Solomon, my
son, rs for me, it was in my mind to build
a house unto the name Of the Lord my
God" In chapter xviii, ?, he calls it, "An
house of rest for the ark of the covenant
of the Lord" The ark was the symbol of
the presence of God, for He told Moses
that He would meet with him and com
mune with him from above the mercy seat,
from between the chorubim, and that
there He would dwell among them lex.
XIV, s, 22). Nathan the prophet thought so
well of David plan that he said, "Do all
that is in thine heart, for God is with thee
Chapter xvii, p.
s. Chou shalt not build an house unto
my name because thou hast shed much
blood upon the earth in my sight" This
was the Lord message to David through
Nathan. Compare chapter xviii 3. There
was a ceremonial uncleannoss connected
with the shedding of blood (Num XXI 10,
2O), but from the words Of solomon to Hi
ram i'm l Kings V, 3. IL would also seem that
the hindIance 10 Davld's building the
temple was the wars that were about him
on every side. and the temple must wait
for time Of 81. The tabernacle of Moses
and its lessons are very applicable 10 the
times in whl'h wa live while the temple
of solomon rather points 10 the next age,
the time Of earth 5 rest, WHOM The true Sol
ONION shall reign.
8. "His name shall be Solomon (peace-
ablo), ana l will give peace and quietness
unto Israel in his days" Thus said the
Lord of him who should build the temple
calling him man of rest and saying that
he should have rest from all his enemies.
The other name of solomon, Jedediah (be-
loved Of the Lord) Gil Sam. xii, 20, and
margin) is also very suggestive of Him
who is the true beloved and also the Prince
of Peace. He shall build the temple of
the Lord, and he shall bear the glory and
shall sit and rule upon his throne, and he
shall be "A priest upon his throne" Be
hold the man whose name Is The Branch
! Czech vi, IL, 13). Compare Jer xiii, 3, 6.
TO- He shall build an house for My
name, and will establish the throne
of his kingdom over Israel forever " While
Solomon is surely referred to in these
words and in this lesson and also the tenn
pie which he builded, we may well say in
the words of our Lord, "A greater than
Solomon is here" duke XII, 81. A
throne established forever copld not be for
any mortal man, but David being proph-
ct, knew that God had sworn with an oath
/ TO him that of the fruit of his loins, accord
ing to the flesh, He would raise up Christ
to sit on his throne (Acts ii, 800.
II. Now, my son, the Lord be with
! thee and prosper thou and build the
house of the Lord thy God, as He hath
said of thee" We come back from the
prophetic and Messianic outlook to the
temple then about to be buided at Jeru-
salem. The whole story of the temple and
kingdom of Israel had both a near and a
far off fulfllment, the near being partial,
but the far off being complete and abiding.
To the laJtor we are now in this year 1896
drawing nigh, but how nigh God alone
knoweth. 1.-The Lord be with thee (see
also verse lG) il what we all need as we
live to complete the present building the
church, or body, of Christ built of stones
from all nations (Acts XIV, II; Rev. Y, 9,
10; Eph. ii, 1929.
IL. 'Only the Lord give thee wisdom
and understanding, and give thee charge
concerning Israel" The plans of every
thing concerning the temple were given to
David by the spirit of the LORD (chapter
xviii, 12-1g). All that solomon needed was
wisdom to carry out the plan. and the same
Spirit who gave the pattern would give the
wisdom to complete the work, ii only sol
ONION would rely upon Him. God has a
plan and purpose concerning the compile
ton of the church, and the Spirit will car
ny out the plan through us if only we are
willing and oLuuient. See Eph. ii, 10:
Heb. xiii, 20, u; Isn. xiv, "a: xiii 10.
49, Then shalt thou prosper. i i Be
strong and of good courage Dread not,
NOR he dis,na1ad - Tho c,crot Of ,,r,,.t.,.rit u.