The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-12-02
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR DECEMBER s.

Subject: solomon's Wise Choice, Kings
ill.,, 4-15-Goldcn Text, Prov. ix., To-.
Memory Verses, IL. ~13--Commentary
on the Days Lesson. z.
I. The festival at Gideon Tvs. l4l. q
event to Gibeon." The first work OF Sol
Gibcon. This was the great high place
till the temple was built. The chronlcler
| informs us that Solomon assembled q great
CONGREGATION with him, and that the brazen
altar made in the days of Moses by Beza.
| leel and the old tabernacle Of the congres
cation" were still existing at that place.
See 2 Chron. Ills. The object OF this
great assembly was to unity the people
| under Solomon, to show the nation that
| his fathers. to extend the influence Of
religion over the nation, and to bring all
| into harmony. s
sThe he Lord u,iiuu appeared" At the close
WAS WAS uplifted Sst to to God. I'm dream Cd
frequently appeared to men in dreams IN
Bible times. "Ask," etc. AS there sis no
limit fixed, an absolutely unlimited range
Of choice is here placed before solomon.
| This would reveal what it was that was
really 'uppermost in his desires. s.
6. Solomon said.' Solomon, before de.
Gliding what to choose, carefully considered
| his circumstances and needs, thus showing
that well-balanced mind on which it was
! possible to bestow the gift of wisdom.
eTsevs moved Solomon 70 make The eSoee
he did. First, God had shown mercy to
David, his father. He spoke honorably. OF
his fathers piety, concealing his faults,
and then introduces himself as the prom
ised great kindness that God had given. to
eousness Danau sa LIS '" nprightness." Truth here
contains all duties to God; righteousness
the duties to men. and uprghtness the
right manner of performing both. Such
grateful humility and such high apprecia.
tion of moral excellence are qualities OK
heart favorable to the reception of Gods
best gifts.
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. It is source OF great
strength and blessing to be in the position
and doing the work to which we are con-
scious that;Go has appointed US. This is
I a strong reason for asking and expecting
/ Gods blessing upon us. "A little child.
and lack of experience. His exact age
at this time is unknown. but he was prob
ably nineteen or twenty. This deyout con-,
sciousness of his.o own weakness was really
: Solomon's best qualification as a ruler. s}
| 8. "In the midst" That is, Solomon is
set over them as king The fourth consids.
Grafton was the greatness of the work
to be done. All ,eyes are turned upon
him, and he is expected to rule and guide
: the people. They were turbulent people,
! often going astray, often contending with
| each other, with strong, wills and an I'M.
pulsive temperament. Probably there was
a strong party opposed to him, and broth.
! ers of full age ready to lead it. Thou
. hast Chosen. 1t was not only a great
: nation, but the nation chosen to represent.
! God before the world. ami carry out His
: kingdom, and teach the world His truths.
! All this was a far greater responsibility
than Che ruling of All ordinary kingdom
Cannot be numbered There seems 10
ises made by God to Abrahsm, more es-.
pecially to Genesis 1916. Th3s:w was com
: mon and natural expressions for 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 2 Sam. 24:9 and Chron. 2l:5, 8, it is
inferred that the population was about
| 6,OOc,000, ~ 81.
| His request accorded with the exhorta-
tions David had given hihs. His petition
was that the Lord would% enlarge and
strengthen his intellectual bowers; give
! him ready discernment in spiritual things,
| and a corresponding dispositions audh furt
nish him with the peculiar talents .Ne5I
ability for government, that he might ad-
! minister justice and judgment rightly for
! the benefit OF the people, and the honor OF
God. "To judge" Absalom wished TO be-
a Judge; Solomon trembled at the under
| himself. but everything was directed to-
ward the good of the people. His choice
was unselish, noble and divine:
PLEASED the Lord Although this con-.
versation is represented as having taken
place in a dream, yet it expressed Solo
mons real desire during his waking mo-
ments. Solomon had prayed the day be.
fore with great frequency; and desired ot
God the gift of wisdom. Hast not asked
mated by what he did not ask: He vas
unselfsh A weaker man would have de-.
sired either (D long life; or (2) riches; or
! (3) the life of his enemies; that le, that
! God would take the life Of his enen.ies,,
or put it in his power to destroy, them. = :.
u, l2. 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. Soiomon'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.
! But although the Lord gave Solomon wis
dom and understanding, yet he doubtless
studied and toi,ed like other men for his
requirements.
moral hinge on which every blessing. OF
God swings. Divine favors and promises
| release no man from the obligations OF
| 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
nsmt which was there in the city y,eDT OF Dnya o.
praise God for all His mercies, and espe..
ciallv fer giving him quiet possession of
the kingdom, and for His glorious appeaS-
ancc to him in the dream, and for>the
w. Solomon's wisd6m (chap. 4:29-34):
In chapter 4:252s ~ have an account of
Solcmon's wealtb<and worldly greatness
and in verses 1854 Of his wisdom. His
wisdom took jmany directions. He was
wise as judge. as an architect, as a states
man, in literature, in science. He had a
comprehensive, powerful mind capable Of
grasping the knowledge of many and diff
| 6cult subjects.
Gains BY Freaks of River.
III