The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-10-09
THE SUNDAY n o
International Lesson for October H. ls0o
-solomon's Wise Choloe-l Kings -
ALA.

GOLDEN TExT.-The fear OF the Lord
- the beginning OF wisdom.-Psa. III 10.
THE SECTION includes I Kings Sis:
the parallel. 2 Chronicles l:l-i3: I Kings
20: and the Scripture texts given below
TIME.-B. c. lOl5. the early part OF Solo
mons reign.
PLACEL-Gibeon. a high hill six miles
north OF Jerusalem. now called Ill Jib.
Here was the ancient tabernacle con-
structed by Moses q Chron. i.S.
LESSON NOTES.
The Great Festival at nibeon.-Solo-
mon, after "a number of preliminary diff
ficulties, had come into a settled peace.
which lasted almost 40 years. The
first work of Solomon was 10 old the
great national festival at Gideon. "A COM
manding elevation about six miles
north of Jerusalem. because here stood
The ancient tabernacle C Instructed by
Moses and the brazen altar made by
Bezaleel. nearly 500 yeas before, I'M
der the shadow OF Sinai e Chron. !: 3,
81; and because here Zadok, the high
priest from the time of Saul. had charge
Of the religious sacrifices" This was
the great high pace. till the temple
was built. Here Solomon went in an i'm
posing civil. religious and military
procession of the leaders of the whole
nation. and. with oriental magnifccnce.
he "offered a thousandfold holocaust in
sacrifice TO Jehovah"
Solomon's Dreamy. 5. 1.-THE Lord
appeared IN a dream" This was the first
Of three dream messages to Solomon.
I'm approval of his sacrifice"
V. s. And God said: ASK what /
shall give thee" AS there is no limita-
ton in the implied offer. an absolutely
unlimited range of choice is here placed
before colomon. lie might ask any
thing that omnipotence could supply.
This would reveal what it was that
was really uppermost in his desires.
Solomon. before deciding what TO
choose. carefully considered his cir
cumstances and needs. thus showing
that well balanced mind on which it
was possible to bestow TIE gift of wis
dom. The record of this is in verses 6
To s. The first consideration rhn6 pre-
scented itself TO him was Gcd's mercy to
Lis father David. A second considera-
ton was that God had placed him in his
present position. He hal been chosen
by God 10 be king. third considera-
ton was his youth ard inexpcricnce.
And the last and most Impressive con-
sideration was the greatness of the
work to be done.
v Q. Give therefore thy scrvantan I'M
derstanding heart There we're two d.
rections in one or the other of which a
young kings desires would naturally
tend. He would either ask greatness,
glory. victory. riches for himself
through his country. and long life in
which to enjoy them ". ~; or ne
would ask for fitness to do his work as q
king. and thus be a bcnefactor to his
nation. Solomon chose the latter. An
understanding heart meant wisdom for
the administration of his duties, wise
principles and wisdom in the applica-
tion Of them. ITO Judge Thy people,"
Administer the government in all its de-
partments. THAT | may discern be-
tween good and bad" |. e., right and
wrong. Justice and injustice. what plans
are good for the people and what are
bad. For who is able to judge this Thy
so great a = eople?" The largert the num-
Der Of people. the more wisdom and
ability il takes TO govern them. Many
officers can command n hundred men;
few can wisely manage an army OF a
million.
The Double Blessing.-Ns. 1918. The
choice was made in a dream. but it ex-
pressed Solomcn's real desire. "And
the speech pleased the Lord"
ii. because thou hast not asked
for myself" lie had not selfishly
asked the things which would merely
give glory and pleasure to himself.
~. 40. | have given thee a wise end
understanding heart" for which he had
asked.
~. II have also given thee that which
thou hast not asked" Here we see a
striking illustration OF the law of the
Divine government: Seek We first the
kingdom Of God and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added unto
you Matt. 6:33: Luke l2;3I.
IA. "And il thou wilt walk in my
ways / VIII lengthen thy days
The promise here is conditional. AS the
conditions were not observed q Kings
HIS. the right TO promise was for
fcited. and it was not fulfilled. He died
at the age Of go. ten years younger than
his father David.
Is. And Solomon awoke. and behold
IL was a dream" But the results were
real. because what was done in the
dream expressed what Solomon really
was and actually chose. And he came
to Jcrusalem:" his home. and the other
sanctuary where the ark was placed
Here he continued the sacrifcial feast
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
"Dreams become significantwhen they
are the concentrated essence of the
main stream Of the waking thoughts
and picturcsquely exhibit the tendency
of the character.
You must choose; your refusal Il
choose Is itself a choice. and IL Is tn,
liberty to choose your own aim in life
y and ut last your W destiny. tina
, makes life so serious."-Heber Evans.
Everyone is a little child in the pres
: ence of God and eternity. and the vas
issues of life. There is a great dea