The Tupelo journal., 1903-12-18
THE LESSON TEXT.
Ir- -A.t ~

w. <hid liz Sdlu 10 the kl1B, II was d
true report that l heard in mine own land
OF thy acts and of thy wisdom.
4 HoWbeit i believed not the words, I'M
III 1 came. and mine eyes had seen II: and,
behold. the half was not told me: thy wis
dom and prosperity exceedeth the fame
which | heard.
8. Happy are thy men, happy are these
thy servants. which stand continually be-
lore thee, and that hear thy wisdom.
3. Blessed be the Lord thy God, which
delghted In thee. to set thee on the throne
OF Israel: because the Lord loved Israel
for ever, therefore made He thee king, to
DO Judgment and Justice.
20. And she gave the king an hundred and
twenty talents of gold. and of spices very
great store, and precious stones: there
came no more such abundance of spices as
these which the queen of Sheba gave to
King Solomon.
GOLDEN TEXT.-When the right
eOus are in authority, the people re-
jOice.-Pr0v. 1852. :
OUTLINE OF SCRIPTURE SECTION.
%Solomon's Second Vision...... Kings 9:1-9.
Solomon's .......1 Kings 9:i0-2S.
The Queens Errand. ...........I Kings lO:1-3
The Queens Observation-Disclosures.
The Queens Gifts...............I Kings 1910.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
The last lesson was on the building
and dedication Of the temple. This tenn
pie was but a part of a magnificent series
of buildings which Solomon built at his
court of Jerusalem. The vision with
which the lesson to-day opens seems to
have come to him at the close of his
building operations.
& Kings 9:1-9.) This vision came to
Solomon at the height of his glory, at
a time when he desperately needed the
reminder and caution it gave him. I'm
limited wealth and power and time for
sels-indulgences expose anyone to terri
BILE temptations. Instead of lamenting
that we have not their opportunities we
should be thankful that we are spared
their temptations. Solomon, with all
hia intellectual keenness, made a
wratched failure of life in the end, be-
cause he did not resist these temptations.
The historian is careful to impress us
with the fact that he did not fall without
repeated warnings, such as this vision
gave him. The choice of life or death
is set before king and poor man alike.
Each one may freely choose his way,
hut walking in that way he must re-
ceive that to which the way leads
F. N. Peloubet.
(Vs. 1929 The material develop
ment of the kingdom under Solomon
is simply marvellous when We remember
that the disorganized period of the judges
had been past hardly q hundred years.
Besides the building and fortifying Of q
great many cities, and the providing Of
a fine water supply system for Jerusalem,
Solomon developed a large foreign COM
merce.
Och. 10:1-3.) THE queen of Sheba:"
Sheba (or Saba was in the southwestern
corner of Arabia on the Red sea. Coins
and many important inscriptions have
recently been discovered there. This
kingdom was wealthy and already an
cient in Solomon's day. Various refer
ences in the Old Testament show that the
Sabaeans were exporters Of gold, pre-
| cious stones and perfumes. Concern
ing the name of jehovah" Solomon's
fame rested quite largely on his temple
building. Game to prove him" Or
test him with pulling catch-questions,
riddles, ETC., a kind of display wisdom
that is greatly admired by ~orientals.
van. Spices" These were royal gifts
among oriental nations because of their
costliness. Arabia is noted for its spices.
'EIot anything hid from the king" He
knew everything she asked him and
more. Much Of his wisdom was of a
sh.ewd, practical order and much of it
was knowledge of plants and animals.
(Vs. 4-9.) when the queen had
seen ALL" The palace and temple, the
magnificence of the whole court, the ad-
m~inistration of the kings household,
ETC., and above all King Solomon him
self. "The sitting of his servants" The
officers and courtiers who sat at the
kings table. Ascent" The great mar
BILE stairway from the palace up to the
temple. There was no more spirit in
her." She was completely overcome by
| what she had seen. She had never
| dreamed of such wonders as she now SAW
| all about her. 1t took her breath away"
Blessed be Jehovah" Recognition of
Jehovah's greatness. but not an indica-
uOu IudJ Suc dDdllIouCQ IuC SOO VI nCT
fathers to follow the God OF Israel. Gods
were supposed in those days to be gods
of particular localities and nations.
(Vs. 10.) AS verse 10 shows, there was
an interchange of gifts, and Solomon
probably gave the queen an amount at
least equal 10 what she brought him.
This was the custom and is still the Gus
tom in many parts OF the eastto-day.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
"a greater than Solomon is here"
Have you come to Him in order to profit
by His wisdom?
This greater than Solomon can answer
all your hard questions. Have you taken
them to Him?
He invites you to commune with Him
of all that is in your heart. Have you
fully opened your heart to Him?
All that has been told you concerning
Him is o than true. "The half has
never been told"
He always gives a great deal more than
Is given to Him. Have you given Him
yourself and all that you have?
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.