The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-11-25
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOB
NOVEMBER 20.
Lesson Text: "The Fame Of Solo
moD." / Kings tx. 1-1O-
Golden Text Matt. xiii,
42--Commentary.

4Z--Commentary.
I. "And when the Queen OF Sheba heard
OF the fame Of Solomon concerning the name
of the Lord she came to prove him with haro
questions" She heard, and she came and
she saw. It was in her own land that she
heard (verse 6), therefore some one who
knew must havetold OF the glory OF Solomon:
We know of "a greater than Solomon.
(Math. xiii, 42). but what are we doing 10
make known His greatness, and His won
drous love and His salvation? Faith cometh
by hearing, but how can they believe VINO
have never heard? from. X, 10 1t was not
merely the fame of Solomon that was made
known, but the name of Jehovah, who gave
him all he had. The exaltation Of any. man,
however great. is not our business, but our
motto is, Jehovah alone shall be exalted"
Elsa. H., II, 17). There Is only one to whom
God has given name that Is above every
name CPhil. H., 9, 1D, and We are here to
magnify Him and make Him known 20 the
ends Of the earth.
2. "And she came to Jerusalem with very
great train, with cameIs that bare spices and
very much gold and precious stones" When
the Son of David, the true Prince OF Peace,
shall reign in Jerusalem. for It shall surely
be because the Lord hath spoken It Luke l.,
so, 33), then the kings of Sheba and Seba
shall offer gifts-yea, all kings shall fall
down before Him, all Nations shall serve
Him." "They snall bring gold and Incense.
and they shall shew forth the praises OF the
LORD" (Ps. lxxii., 10, II, 15; Isa. X, 81: This
was foreshadowed not only in the visit OF tho
Queen Of Sheba and Of all the earth seeking
Solomon to hear his wis lom (verse 2G, but
also in the wise men from the East, who
brought Him gifts gold and frankincenss
and myrrh (Math. H., I'D.
8. "And Solomon told her all her questions.
There was not anything hid from the king
which he told her not" We are not told the
nature of her hard questions, but simply that
the wisdom Of God in Solomon was equal to
every one. In Christ are hid all the treas
ures Of wisdom and knowledge (Col. H., 81,
and there is nothing that We need to know
that He by His Spirit through His word is
not ready to tell US. There are many things
we are not able to bear because Of our car
nality or lack OF faith (John xvi, II; Cor.
ill.,, Q; Heb. ", 12), but If We are teachab!e
and believing He who is with us and perfect
in knowledge will teach US all things Cob
xxxvi., 4; John XVII, 26). Some things we
may not know now, but hereafter (John kill,
Z; Cor. xiii, 12). A friend of mine has
written over thirty hopeful questions and
answers from the book, which can be had in
tract form simply for the postage from L: &
H.
and the Saviour's Answer.")
4, S. "And when the Queen Of Sheba had
seen = "* there was no more spirit in her"
Probably she came with the consciousness
that she herself was some great one, and
doubtless she was in her own land and among
her own people, but now she is in Emman-
uals land aud sees somewhat Of the glory
which Jehovah can give, and she thinks
nothing OF her own any more. When we In
our ignorance Of Gods Righteousness think
We have OF ourselves somewhat worth men
tioning, it only declares that We have not
seen or known His.
6. "And she said to the king, 1t was true
report that heard in mine own land Of thy
acts and of thy wisdom" Although we know
that the report we give from the book con-
cerning our King is all true. how often we
have to say ,"Who hath believed our repori?"
lisa. liii, u. As to the last book in the BIZ
Bile, which more than any other tells Of the
glory Of our King, which has special bless
ing both at the beginning and end OF 1t upon
all who read and keep it, and In which It Is
three times written that its words are faithful
and true (Rev. j., 8; xii, 7; XIX, 9; xxi, 5,
1xii.,6), how few there are who count 1t
true record, while many turn away from 1t
aud talk against It?
7. "Howbeit believed not the words un-
til / came and mine eyes had seen it. and,
behold, the half Was not told me. Thy wis
dom and prosperity exceedeth the lame
which heard" We remember that one OF
the apost es would not believe that the Lord
had risen until he saw for himself, but when
be did see and believe our Lord said to him,
"Blessed are they that have not seen yet
have believed" John xx., 29). Faith in God
brings all blessing to the believer and the
endowment of it, but unbelief shuts the door.
Contrast Gen. xv., 6; Dan. vi, 23; Luke l.,
As; Acts xvii, %; Mark ". S6; John xi., 40,
with Luke l., 20. 62; Heb. ill.,, ~; iv.. 1-9. Do
we who profess to believe in Christ Jesus
give any kind Of true report concerning
Him. that soma may be led to come and see
for themselves? We surely cannot tell 1t all.
=. "Happy are thy men, happy are these
thy servants, which stand continually before
thee, and that near thy wisdom" How
happy should those ba who are accepted In
Christ and blessed with all spiritual blessings
in Him, who ar, made partaker5 OF the
divine nature and Of the glory to be revealed
(Eph. l., l, 8, 6, z; Pet. ". /; II Pet. l., Al,
who are Joint heirs with Christ. laborers to-
gether with God, and here in Christ's stead
as His ambassadors q Cor. ill.,, 9; II Cor. ",
20) But are we?
8. "Blessed be the Lord thy God, which
delighted in thee to set thee on the throne OF
Israel. because the Lord loved Israel fore yer.
lQ6IGlOT6 mauo no luO htus w wv JuhSoaSAt
and Justice" In II Chron. iH., 8, the record
is "to set thee on His throne TO be king for
the Lord thy God See also Chron. xxx.
90, Solomon sat on the throne OF the Lord
as king instead Of David, his father" The
only throne on earth ever called the throne
OF the king OF Israel. and at Jrrusalem shall
yet be the throne of the Lord, aud King
shall sit on it who will execute judgment and
Justice in the earth, and In those days all the
earth shall send gifts to that King and shall
worship Him (Jer. ILL.,, II, ,1S; xiii, 5, g..
TO- "And she gave the king an hundred
and twenty talents of gold, and Of spices
very great store, and precious stones" II
we value talent of gold ut S25, 900 which is
probable a low valuation, We have here
gift Of 53, 900, 600 in gold, not to mention the
spices and precious stones. The next verse
speaks of geld from Ophir. and verse "a
says that 666talents (S16. $50 ,00O) came every
year beside, the wealth Of verse Is. Let It
all suggest to us the Exceeding abundantly
above all we ask or think" OF the grace and
glory Of our God. The Queen OF Sheba was
emptiei of her treasures, but went home
filled with the royal bounty of Solomon
(verse 13), even all her desire and more.
Christ Jesus will do greater things fer U.s.
Lesson Helper.