The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-12-02

International Lesson Comm:n!s for
December 6.
Subtle: So!omon's Wise Choice, .ings III.
4.l;-Golden Text, Prov TX l0--Memory
Verses, u, I3--comneutary on the
Days Lesson.

Nttscs, u, vi tnt
Days Lesson.
J. The festival at Cibeon Tvs LAY. 4.
"N ent to Gibeon" The first work of Sol.
omon was to hold national festival at
Gibeon. This was the great high place"
till the temple was built The chronicler
informs us that Solomon assembled n great
congregation with him, and that the brazen
altar made in the days of Moses by Beza.
leel and the Old tabernacle of the congre
cation were still existing at that place.
See 2 Chron. l:l.6 The object of this
great assembly was to unity the people
under Solomon. to show the nation that
he stood by the religion and the God of
his fathers, to extend the influence of
religion over the nation, and to bring all
into harmony.
II, .so!omons request Tvs, SOY. s.
'',rhe Lord appeared" At the close OF
this season, OF worship, when his mind
was upIiftcd to God "In dream" God
frequently appeared to men in dreams in
Bible times. Ask" etc AS there is no
limit fixed. an absol lutely unlimited range
OF choice is here placed before solomon.
This would reveal what it was that was
really uppermost in his desires.
6. solomon said" Solomon, before de-
Gliding what to choose, carefully considered
his circumstances and needs, thus showing
that .wel!.balanced mind on which it was
possible, to bestow the gift of wisdom.
erations moved solomon to make the choice
he did First. God had shown mercy to
David, his father. He spoke honorably OF
his fathers piety, ~oncealing his faults,
and then introduces himself as the prom'
ised great kindness that God had given to
David in his family. Truth . . right
eousness =. .uprightness." Truth here
contains all duties to God; righteousness
the duties to men, and uprightness the
right manner OF performing both. Such
grateful humility and such high apprecia-
tion of moral excellence are qualities OF
heart favorable to the reception OF Gods
best gifts.
T. ''rhy servant king" The second con.
sideration was because he was king. Al.
though Solomon recognized the fact that
God and not man had placed him upon
the throne, yet he needed divine assistance
in his work. 1t IL source of great
strength and blessing to be in the position
and doing the work to which we are con.
scous that God has appointed u.s. This il
a strong reason for asking and expecting
Gods Blessing upon u.s. a little chid.'
The third consideration was his youth
and lack OF experience. His exact ace
a this time is unknown, but he was prob
ably nineteen or twenty. This devout con.
scousness OF his own weakness was really
So'omon's hest Qualification as ruler
3. I'm the midst" That is. Solomon is
set over them as king. The fourth consd-
Grafton was the greatness of the work
70 be done. All eyes are turned upon
him. and he is expected to rule and gulde
the people. They we're turbulent peop,e,
OFTEN gong astray, often coNtcnding with
each other, with stronc wills and an i'm
pusive temperament. Probably there was
a strong party opposed to him. aud broth.
ers of full age ready to lead it. Thou
nt nt,'t
nation, but the nation chosen to represent
God before the world. and carry out His
kingdom, and teach the world Ills truths
All this was far greater responsibility
than the ruling OF an ordinary kingdom
Cannot be numbered" There seems TO
he reference in these words to the prom
ises made hv God to Abraham. more es-
peciallv to Genesis 1916 This was a COM
mon and natural expression for a large
number. In such kingdom it would be
very difficult to get the actual number OF
the people. From the number OF men gwen
in . Sam. 2l:0 and ! Chron. 2l:5 G, it is
inferred that the population was about
G,000, 900
8. Give therefore" Because Of these
considerations. "An understanding heart"
His request accorded with the eNhorta-
tions David had given him. His petition
was chat the Lord, world enlarge and
strengthen HIS intellectual Dowers: give
him ready discernment in spiritual things,
and corresponding dispositions and fur
nsh him with the peculiar talents and
ability for government, that he might ad-
minister Justice and judgment rightly for
God. "To Judge" Absaom wished to be
n judge Solomon trenbled at the under
taking. Solomon asked nothing merely for
himself. but everything was directed to.
ward the good OF the people. His choice
was unse,fish, noble and divine.
PLEASED the Lord Although this con-
versation is represented as having taken
place in dream, vet it expressed 500
mons real desire during his waking MO-
rNents. Solomon had prayed the day be.
fore with great frequency. and desired OF
God the gift OF wisdom. Hast not asked"
The greatness of Solomon's request is esti-
mated by what he did not ask. He was
unse'fish. A weaker man would have de-
sired either On long life: or (2l riches: or
49, the life OF his enemies; that is, that
God would take the life OF his enemies.
or put it in his power to DESTROY then.
IL, l3. According to Thy words" Those
are accepted OF God who prefer spiritual
blessings to temporal, and are more de-
sirous to be found in the way of duty
than preferment So'omon's prayer was a
prevailing prayer God gave him riches
and honor and long life without his ask.
ing, and thus he received double Blessing.
dom and understanding, vet he doubtless
studied and toiled like other Ten for his
acnuirements.
a. IL. "If thou wit" etc. There is
moral hinge on which every blessing of
God swings. Divine favors and promises
release no man from the obligations ut
Righteousness. Solomon never met these
conditions fully. He received much, but
he would have received much more had
he been faithful to the grace given. Game
to Jerusalem" He had made his prayer
at Gibeon. and there God graciously met
him: but he returned to the capital again
where he might in holy alteration present
himself before the sacred ark OF the cove
nant. which was there in the city OF David.
"0ffered offerings" Solemnly to
praise God for All His mercies, and espe-
callv for giving him quiet possession OF
the kingdom, and for His glorious appear.
ance to him in the dream, and for the
promise made to him.
w. Soomon's wisdom (chap. 4:20-3D.
In chapter 4;25-2S we have an account OF
So'omon's wealth and worldly greatness
and in verses 29-34 OF his wisdom. His
wi-.om took many directions. He was
wise as a Judge, as an architect, as a states
ma. in literature, in science. He had 3
com -rehensiye. powerful mind capable Of
grasping the knowledge of many and dif.
fcult subjects.