Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-11-27
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments for
November ~.
Subject: David's Charge to Solomon, I Chron.
xviii, l.io-0oiden Text, Prov. i'll, s.
Memory Verses, T. l0-Commen!ary
on the Days Lesson.

I. The assembly OF prilccs Tvs. -. },
.. And David assembled, etc. ms :, re.
fers to the persons whose names and offices
are mentioned in the preceding chapter.
An assembly convened consisting OF tne
princes of tribes, captains and suDordinate
officers of the army, stewards OF the royai
household and mobiles of the land. Inc ma
tion was well represented. and the OCCASION
was solemn and important STOOD up.
He gas now very old and chiefly ,conined
to his bed, and while he was addressing
his son Solomon he continued on the bed,
but when all the principal nobies OF his
kingdom came before him he received
strength to arise and address them stand
ING. 'Ny brethren Although David IS
their superior and speaks with dignity ana
authority, yet his spirit is humble, ana al,
fectionate. II had in mine heart. DaVld
had intended to build the temple, until
God denied him the privilege and promised
him son who should build it. ITO build
an house" David had accomplished nearly
all Of his hearts desire as to his kingdom
He had foyqd it small and left it great.
lie found it chaos. and left it finely organ,
lied. He found religion at o low ebb, ana
left it earnest. active. organized tor work
But there was OLE great work on when ne
had set his hea.S which he could not ac'
complish, and ttat was the rearing OF
temple worthy of the religion of the true
God. and which shonid ho,d up the name
of the true God before the nations. and
make permanent in his own nation the
principles and teachings Of the divine re-
l2ion.
8. d. "a man of war The wars OF
David were not carried on against Gods
will. In many cases they were expressly
ordered by Jehovah. and often called the
{ = Il b. n,Nn lNlI -lN
Israel in Canaan, wars and bIoOdshed could
not be avoided Yet this was not in har
mony with the symbolism of peace and
quiet which were to be embodied in the
house OF Jehovah. Hence it could not be
done by David in his time. David is not
Named 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 tl' religion it represented: or the;
were executive wars for the necessary pun
ishment 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. .. They un.
fitted him for the best doing of the great
work of peace. This required different
lind of ability and different training. 8.
1t was fitting that the ten.Dle Of the true
God for all the world should ne a temple
of peace. 1t was intended to proclaim
peace. to bring peace. to teach peace to
individuals and to nations. It's victories
were to be victories of peace; into it was
to come the Prince of Peace, proclaiming
'''peace on earth. good will to men,
the different steps mentioned here. David
refers to the tribe, the family and the in
dividual. One after another was set aside
and at last he was chosen.
III. Solomon declared successor Tvs.
So. 5, g.. MANY sons. y See chap. $40.
Solomon" The meaning is peaceful"
He was SO called because his reign was to
be a peaceful one, and also because, being
peculiarly associated in prophecy with
David's greater Son in whom the throne
of his kingdom should be established for.
siah who is The Prince of Peace. Upon
the throne" Note the qualifications need.
ed to successfully do Gods work: ]. The
presence and help Of the Lord. .. A per-
feet heart ". 81. 5. Readiness and ability
to do the Lords work ". g.. 4. Perfect
obedience to God w. 81. Solomon .
shall build" God had appointed Solomon
to do this work, and nothing could en-.
courage him more than a knowledge OF
this fact My SON." A most precious
promise to David that his con should re-
ceiye fathers care from the Lord, and a
most cheering message to offer to Solo:
promise is this! And yet this same prom
Use is made to every one who will turn to |
God and serve Him faithfully. An earthly
father is exnected to o. care for, ~ pro-
vide for, (S) otect. and ~ correct his
children. God will do all of this for His
children. All we have comes from God.
He has watched over us during our entire
lifetime, providing for us and protecting
us from harm and danger. But the best
of oil is that He has promised to correct
us. When we do wrong and 60 astray He
providences, (3) by the entreaties OF our
friends. "a by the prayers of Christians,
and thus endeavors to win us back to the
right way. We should learn to love, trust
and obey Him in all things. Those who
do this are saved from many difficulties
7. s. "Wil establish" Added to His
bender care should be the strength. power
hnd authority of the Lord. There could be
10 I, nation greater than Israel: for God was
far as Solomon is concerned. is made con-
Hitional on his obedience. BE constant"
1t is the constant, steady obedience that
is pleasing to God. "To do" etc. There Is
no way to usefulness and success in doing
Gods work except by a careful obedience
TO His law. For that law will O) show
him what to do, (2) give him the qualities
of mind and heart which bring success,
and 81 enable him to work by example as
wei as precept. "Alay possess" The
F.ord designed and promised prosperity to
Solomon, but it must not be expected on
nny other condition than obedience to the
same laws of government that had fixed
the standard for others. The fundamental
principles must be observed, else all the
structure would be lacking.
, III. David's charge to Solomon Tvs. Q,
10) 8. "Know thou" Become thorough.
ly acquainted with God "Of thy Father"
God had been true to David and sustained
and kept him for many years. "Serve
Him" etc. We can serve God acceptably
only rs we have 4 perfect heart and a
willing mind. Cast thee off" The Lord
Fs no respectOr of persons, and Solomon
The king would have no favor shown him
IF he failed to obey the Lord. He would
fare no better than the poorest subject in
his kingdom. "Take heed now" Notice,
b. The anxiety of David for the moral and
spiritual welfare of his son. David cared
first for character, and next for circum-
stances. He believed that if the heart were
right with God things would of themselves
go right with men. 3. The willingness of
Solomon to receive such counsels. How
different was his spirit from that of Adoni.
jah Il Kings l-5). Though young high
spirited, of princely rank. and already an.
ointed king, he bows to listen to his aged
father. Lessons of reverence for age and
respect to parents are to be drawn from
this.