The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1903-07-11
or To-Day.

Il Is IN the presence Oh GOu. IL was Wuei
solomon was performing his religion
obligations before the Lord at Gibeoi
that the sense OF his human limitation
and his great need OF wisdom in admin
istering the affairs of his kingdom wer,
borne in upon his soul. II is only wher
one seeks God and comes into His pres
ence that he can get his correct bear
ings and adjust the compass OF human
Judgment. Solomon. amidst the prince
ly splendors OF his court at Jerusalem
surrounded by his courtiers and great
retinue of officials and servants. i'm
mersed in the intricacies of the affairs
OF state. would never have heard God
speaking to him: ASK what l shall
give thee" and would never have felt
a great need outside Of himself and
have asked for Divine wisdom in ad-
ministering the responsibilities Of the
kingdom. He must withdraw from the
rush of human activities, he must get
out of the sound OF human voices that
he might realize that God was factor
in every human activity and that he
might hear His voice speaking. 1t is So
always The king on his throne. and
the humblest peasant In the realm; the
public official directing the affairs Of a
nation. and the most obscure citizen; the
man in whose hands rest great finan.'
cial, commercial and industrial inter-
csts. and the struggling clerk; the
skilled artisan, and the commonest Ia
borer; the gifted and cultured woman
with her wide social and charitable OBJ
legations and responsibilities. and the
shut-in housewife who bears, single
handed. the burdens of her home: the
business woman. struggling amidst the
trials and temptations Of the business
and Industrial world. and the factory
hand whose weary toll keeps her at the
machine in monotonous servitude; the
boy or girl on the playground or In the
schoolroom-all alike have need of that
wisdom which cometh down from the
God of all wisdom. and the realization
of that need is felt only as one with
draws for quiet meditation and prayer.
IF any of you lack wisdom" James
says: and we would add: II you feel
no lack, seek God at Gibeon-the place
OF retirement and worship-and in the
midnight watches the voice of God will
be heard speaking and the soul will cry
out: Lord. l am but little child;
give me wisdom for the duties and the
responsibilities which rest upon me-"
G OURCE of Wisdom.--It is not In
y man. that is certain. The united
wisdom. skill and energy of the peo-
pie of the world after the food but
plunged them headlong to the disaster
and confusion of the tower of Babel.
All the learning of the Egyptians, which
in our day appears as a marvel Of hui
man achievement, was as nothing be-
fore the faith and the rod of Moses
who. following God. led the children OF
Israel in great wisdom and skill out OF
Egypt to the promised land. All the
astrologers and wise men of the far
east could not aid the king of Babylon
in his perplexing dreams and troubled
thoughts, but Daniel who was in touch
with the all-wise, all-powerful God was
not only able to foretell the events of
the future, but to administer the vast
interests of the extensive kingdom In
a manner never before experienced. All
the rabbis and scribes and keen-witted
lawyers of Jesus time, though they
rested neither day nor night in their eff
forts to frame questions that would en-
tangle Him and trip Him up, were like
chaff before the wind, as His God-given
wisdom swept them aside and He passed
on with undertaking step.
We are told that the "foolishness OF
God is wiser than men," God Is called
the God of all wisdom" and Paul, in
his letter to the Romans. exclaims: 20
the depth of the wisdom Of Cod" One |
question which the neighbors and coun-
trymen asked concerning Jesus was:
Whence hath this man this wisdom"
The united arguments of the scholars
and advanced thinkers from every sec
ton of the world were not able to stand
before the wisdom with which Stephen
spake. Why? Because man in touch
with the God of all wisdom is always
more than a match for the wisdom of
the world. God Is the source of all wis
dom. both for temporal as well as spir-
itual things Solomon did not search
the world for the wise men who would
be able to help him administer the king
dom, he did not trust to human abilities.
but sought out God alone at Gideon,
whom he knew was the source of all
wisdom, and obtained from Him the
wisdom he needed. 1t must be so with
you and me. Human advice, human
counselors and your own human wis
dom must not be allowed to crowd God
out, OF obscure your sense of depend
ence upon the God of all wisdom. No.
ASK Of God. that giveth to all men lib
orally and upbraideth not"
DEQUEST for wisdom.-To my mind
II one of the most charming pictures
we have of Solomon is this where. in the
attitude Of little child. he is bowed be-
fore the Lord. One might prefer the
scene OF the matchless splendor and
richness of his palace. his throne, and
his gorgeous apparel and stately dig
nifty, but love to picture the young
king at Gideon clothed with beautiful
humility, and stirred by pure earncot
purpose for the right. talking with God.
and asking. not something for himself,
but something for his people and ma