The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-09-03
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson for September
1800-David's Love for Gods House
Chron. 22:0.10.

4 Chron. 2a:0.16.
ARRANGED from Peloubet's Notes.1
Golden Text.-Blessed are they that dwell
In Thy house; they will be still praising
Thee.-Psa. N:4
The Section includes 1 Kings l:1-5s;
out Of the command in 22:17-1s, and David's
preparation of materials for the temple,
described in Chron. % and %.
Time.-B c. 1016 and 1015. shortly before
the death of David.
kingdom.
EXPLANATORY.
l. The Intervening History.-After
the decisive victory described in our
last lesson, David returned to Jerusa-
lem. But it took some time to unite the
northern and southern sections, and at
one time there was great danger Of
serious division. Then followed several
years of peaceful development of the
kingdom.
David's early exposures, his wars, and
great cares ''left him a worn-out man
before he was TO-" AS his end drew
nigh, his son, Adonijah, then between
80 and 40 years old, famous, like his half
brother Absalom for manly beauty, but
totally unfit to be king. made an at
tempt to be his fathers successor. Joab
Joined in his plan. But the prophet
Nathan, recognizing how unfit Adoniiah
was to be king, and how well fitted Solo
man was for the great work, and that
David had named him for the success
siol, succeeded in having Solomon pro-
claimed king before Adonijahs friends
rose from an Inauguration feast to
which he had invited them. They fled as
though their house had been struck
with a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
AND Solomon practically took the
throne.
Il. David's Unfinished Work.-Vs. 6-s.
David had accomplished nearly all of
his hearts desire as to his kingdom. He
had found it small and left it great He
found it chaos, and left it finely or
ganized. He found religion at a low ebb,
and left it earnest, active, organized for
work. But there was one great work
on which he had set his heart which he
could not accomplish, and that was the
rearing of temple worthy of the re-
ligion of the true God, and which should
hold up the name of the true God before
the nations, and make permanent in
his own nation the principles and teach
ings of the Divine religion.
E. "Then he called for Solomon
and charged HIM" The earnestness and
solemnity of this address create an i'm
preston that it was given little be-
fore the old kings decease.
T. "It was in my mind, it was my de-
sire and purpose, "to build an house,"
etc.
8. "But," God forbade him to build the
temple, because, "Thou hast shed much
blocd:" etc. (See Lesson ", on 2 Samuel,
~ David is not blamed for his great
wars. They were necessary wars, not
wars of aggression, but defensive wars.
to keep the enemies of true religion
from destroying the nation and the re-
ligion it represented; or they were exc
cutive wars for the necessary punish
ment and restraint of crime. ~ These
wars took up his time, so that he could
not do well the other task, for which his
victories prepared the way. (2) They
untitled him for the best doing Of the
great work of peace. This required
differen. kind of ability and different
training.
0. His name shall be Solomon"
which means Peaceful, corresponding
to the German Friedrich, rich in peace.
II will give peace and quiteness unto
Israel in his days." For the fulflment
of this prophecy, see 1 Kings 4:20-23;
5:4.
10. 81 will *#* establish His king
dom ~ forever" This promise, so far
ls Solomon is concerned, is made con-
ditional on his obedience ". 10; Chron.
%: y.
III. The Qualities Needed for Doing
the Lords Work.-Vs. 11-13. First, Gods
presence with him.
II. "The Lord (Jehovah) be with
thee:" God will be with us when we go
to Him, live in communion with Him,
and seek to know and do His will. Every
good comes to those who walk with God
and enjoy His favor and protection.
Second, readiness to do Gods work.
His great work was to build the house
Of the Lord:" 1t was for this purpose
that God chose him to be king. God
gives us property, or talents, or attrac-
| tiveness, or whatever of good He has be-
slowed upon us, in order that we may
sid Gods cause and build up His king
| dom.
Third, wisdom and understanding.
12. "Only the Lord give thee wisdom
and understandings" Compare Psalm
72: 1. And for the fulfillment of this
prayer see 1 Kings 3: 12; 2 Chronicles
/: 12. No work requires more wisdom
than the Lords work, and only He can
| give the true wisdom. He giveth that
wisdom literally to all who ask Him
(James 1: 81.
10. ''Then shalt thou prosper, if thou
| takest heed" So long as mans will
| is free there must be this condition be-
fore Gods blessing. God wants to pros
per us. He greatly desires our happi-
ness, but He cannot reward disobedi-
ence or prosper those who refuse to
walk in the only way that can bring
true prosperity through holiness.
L.