The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-10-07
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOB
OCTOBER IL.
Lesson Text: "Solomon's Wise
Choice" Kings III. 5-15-Golden
Text; Psalm cxi.. 1O-Com-
mentary.

8. 'sIn Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solo
mon in dream by night. and God said. ass
having reigned forty years. seven at Hebron
and thirty-three at Jerusalem q Kings H..
10. 11). Solomon was strengthened in his
kingdom, and the Lord his God was with
him and magnihed him exceedingly. The
ark of God was in the tent which David had
pitched for it at jerusalem. but the taber.
nacle and altar Of bu' t Offering. etc., were
still at Gibeop (II Chron. l., 1-4l. Thither
Solomon and many Of the people went to
offer burnt offerings, token Of whole hearted
surrender to God 10 serve Him only. It was
In that night that the Lord appeared to him
as here recorded. Hear the Lori saying
similar words to us in John xiv. 13. IA.
6. "David, my father. walked before thee
in truth and in righteousness and in upright
ness of heart with thee" Solomon begins
his request by speaking Of Gods great mercy
or bounty to his father. The mer,ies Of the
Lord are good topic for every morning, for
they are new every morning. His compass
sions foil not. Great Is His faithfulness
Liam. ill.,. %. 23) He Is the Father OF Mer-
c1es III Cor. l.. 81. Solomon speaks OF his
fathers walk before the Lord and with the
Lord. Like Abraham, he walked before God
(Gen. xviii. y. and. like Enoch, Noah and
Levi. he walked with God (Gen. ", "a; vi,
0; Nal. H.. g..
T. "I am but little child. L know not
how to 60 out or come m" Acknowledging
his Indebtedness to the Lord G,d OF his
father for his position. he ronfesses his help
lessness and ignorance. He is but child
and knows not anything. When Jeremiah
long after this was callei of God to be His
prophet. he also said. "Ah. Lord God. I can
not speak, for am a child" but the Lord
said to him most comforting words, which
also He Is saying to you and ma if only we
have Aars to hear them (Jer. l., Coy. His
fathers words. by the Soirit, concerning
going out and coming In (Ps. oxi., 81, should
have greatly helped him. for they have
helped many.
g. "Thy servant ia In the midst OF thy peo-
ple, which thou hast chosen" So also was
the Lord in the midst of His people, for He
had chossn them that He might dwell In
their midst, and thus make them a people
different from all other people on the earth
aud separated from all other people. For
that reason the tabernacle was built. See Ex.
XIV. 8; xxxlii.. 16 The future glory OF Is
rael shall he Jehovah in their midst for r,ver
more (Ezek. xXyvli., 2S; Zsph. ill.,, 17) The
greatest fact in every gathering Of Gods
people now Is the presence OF the Lord In
their midst (NIath. xvii, 20) ard not the
presence of this or that important person.
9. "Give, therefore, thy servant an under
standing heart to judge thy people, that
may discern between good and bad" The
request is worded little differently in II
Chron. l., 10. "Give me now wisdom and
knowledge, that may 90 out and come In
before this people" but the substance Of Il Is
the same. that he may have wisdom to do
right before God in the matter of the king
dom and in the midst OF this people like the
dust of the earth In multitude q Kings w.,
~; II Chron. l.. 81. Great comfort for each
Of us in the matter Of wisdom Is found In
Jas. t.. 5, 6.
10. "And the speech pleased the Lord, that
Solomon had asked this thing" 1t is posi-
BILE to please God and have the joyous con-
sciousness of il. Our Lord Jesus said, II do
always those things that please Him" (Johu
viii., 29). aud Paul says in Thess. H., 1.
"Not as pleasing man, but Col, who trieth
our hearts" The secret OF it is In yielding
fully to God. that He may work in US that
which is we'll pleasing In His sight (Hab.
xiii, 21).
II. "And God said unto him, Because thou
hast asked this thing and hast not asked
for thyselt lon. life. neither hast asked
riches for thyself." Our Lord Jesus never
sought anything merely for Himself. 1t
does me good to quote His words, II seek
not Mine own will: seek not Mine
own glory" (John v, 30; viii, SOY,
and to remember that "Even Christ pleased
not Himself (Rom. XIV, 81. have also been
helped by Jeremiah's words to Baruch. his
scribe: "Seckest thou great things for thy.
self Seek them not" (Jer. XIV, 81. I be-
lieve the best and most joyous life is to let
God Himself be our portion (Lan. ILL.,, 24)
and live to be channel OF blessings to
others. "Be content II God thou hast hav.
ing Him, thy need Is past"
u. "Behold. have done according to thy
words. Lo, have given thee wise and an
understanding heart" Inasmuch rs Israel
was as the sand which is by the sea In null.
titude God gave Solomon wisdom and under.
standing as the sand that is on the seashore
q Kings w., 20, 29) or wisdom for every case
that might possibly come before him. In
lustration Of this wisdom. and the people saw
that the wisdom OF Col was in him to do
Judgment.
13. "And have also gir0n thee that
which thou hast not asked, both riches and
honor" Here is our Lords exceeding
abundantly." If we are willing to live Sun.
TO Him" and "for Sii5 pleasure" there will
be no need to ask ANYTHING for ourselves. "I'
any man serve Me, lim will My Father hon.
or, lS always true. Ii us UelleferS III CnllS'
we would ooly accept as true our standing
in Him and live to honor Him and glorify
Him, We would never need to ask anything
for ourselves. but would daily find the prom.
ise true. "My God shall supply all your
need according to His riches In glory by
Christ Jesus (Phil. w.. 19).
II. "And If thou wilt walk In MY ways,
then will lengthen thy days" Length OF
days upon the land given them by God was
a special promise to Israel In connection
with obedience (Ex. xx., l2). Again In Ps.
xci., 16, we read concerning him who trusts
in God. "With long life will satisfy him and
show him My salvation" The believer In
Christ who has thus become part of His
body rejoices tnat Christ in his life, and that
because Christ lives he shall live also;
whether IN the mortal body or absent from
the body, OF in I'm immortal body. be Is Will.
ing to leave wholly to the will OF Goa.
Is. "And Solomon awoke, Gnd. behold, II
was dream" But il was none the less a
resllty, for God spoke to His servants iD
dreams and visions Of the night (Job x1xiii.r
IA, 15). Some think that If God would come
to them in q vision or dream they would be,
neve more readily, and some think that /,
one rose from the dead they would believe.
but it Is written that If we believe not Moses
and the prophets we would not believe even
one risen from the dead (Luke XVI, 3l.-
Iaaacn Halnpr