The Tupelo journal., 1903-07-17

ton in the room of David his father.
Among the first acts of his reign he
seeks the Lord in sacrifice and worship
at Gideon. The testimony OF Gods
Word in the third verse of the chapter
is that Solomon loved the Lord, walk
ing in the statutes of David his father"
and it is with the deepest reverence and
devotion that this young king recog-
nizes Gods claims upon him n his
need of and dependence upon God.
With lavish hand the king makes his
offerings before the Lord. The smoke
of a thousand burnt offerings assembled
from the multitude of affairs erected
there. The priests and the Levites have
been kept busy in preparing the tocks
of lambs, and the droves OF cattle Tor
the sacrifice. All the nation knows or
the religious devotions of the new king,
and thousands have gathered from all
over the kingdom to share in the cere-
monies. What a revival season was
that for Solomon and the nation! The
hearts of all are quickeneda and God draws
very near unto them. He always does
when the soul s~teadfastly sets itself TO
seek the Lord. And in the stiffness of
the night watches during this great ma
tional religious celebration, God ap-
pears to Solomon in a dream. And the
words of the Lord and the reply of Sol
ONION indicate the burden which was
upon the heart of the young ruler. The
new and great responsibilities require
increased wisdom and abilities. He did
not have the words of our text to ad-
monish and encourage him, but his
heart was open towards God and he felt
the need of more than human help. 1t
was her that God came to him. 1t Is
at such times that the Lord always
comes. The words eff any of you lack
wisdom" imply a condition similar to
that which we find prevailing in the life
of Solomon at this time-responsibili-
ties incurred, modesty in measuring
personal abilities, consciousness of he
need of Divine assistance.
A T the very outset we wish to dispel
n any thought or impression which
may prevail that this visit of the Lord
to Solomon, His request that he ask
of Him his hearts desire, and the gift
of great wisdom in response to the
expression of the wish, are of such a
supernatural character as to partake of
the nature of a fairy tale. Such col
oring could be and has been given to this
Bible story. 1t is fascinating to think
of having the privilege of one wish and
then being suddenly and m~iraculously
endowed with the thing wished for. But
such arc not the facts in this story be-
fore us, I believe; and there. is nothing
in the experience of Solomon at Gideon
which may not have it's reproduction in
the life of everyone. The words of our
text are for all, and they find their full
realization in this experience of Solo
mon. This story has always had its
fascination for children and for older
ones too, but its practical value has
beer largely lost because specifically
and ~supernaturally considered. Solo
mon was not one of those specially IA
vored individuals to whom chance
brought the golden opportunity of ex-
pressing a wish, and then the magic
wand being waved above ~him-presto,
changei-he was quickly transformed
from an ordinary mortal to one en-
dowed with superhuman wisdom. That
is not the way God operates. Solomon
sought God with all his heart, and the
Lord revealed to him the privilege which
the soul always has when in accord with
the will of God, that Of asking and re-
cefving. Or, as our text declares: "Ii
any of you lack wisdom, let him ask
of God, that giveth to all men literally
and upbraideth not; and it shall be
given him"
IT HESE words of James are not in
| tended to imply that there are those
who do not lack wisdom, and who
therefore do not need that wisdom which
comes from above. No man has eve
yet lived who has not needed Divine di-
rection and help in the proper conduct
and administration of human affairs
whether they involved the responsible.
ties of a kingdom or only those of the
work bench in the shop or the care o.
the modest, humble home. But rather
does our text refer to the one who hal
WdhCuCu ~ q oOLDO W thAI ioSh III
dom which has previously existed. Re
sponsibilities in greater or less degree
com to everyone. Modesty in measur
ing personal abilities in coping viii
those responsibilities, and recognition
of the need of Divine wisdom and help
are the lessons which this incident II
the life of Solomon should teach us. LIE
us then consider our text under the fol
lowing heads: The need of wisdom
The source Of wisdom; The request TO
wisdom; the gift of wisdom; The evi
dence of wisdom; and, The influence O
wisdom.
NEED Of Wisdom.-At no time is II
IN realized SO fully as when the SOU
Is in the presence of God. 1t was whel
Solomon was performing his religion
obligations before the Lord at Gibeol
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. 1t is only whe
one seeks God and comes into His pres
ence that he can get his correct bear
ings and adjust the compass of huma,
judgment. Solomon, amidst the prince
iy splendors of hts court at Jerusalem
surrounded by his courtiers and grea
retinue OF oficials and servants, I'm
mersed in the intricacies Of the affair
Of state, would never have heard Go