The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-12-17
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson In the International Series
for December 20, IOC3-Quccn OF
Shcba's visit 10 Solomon.
THE LESSON TENT.
q Kings fOI-10)

THE LESSON TENT
q Kings loI-l0)
l. And when the queen OF Sheba heard
OF the fame Of Solomon concerning the
name of the Lord, she cane to prove him
with hard questions.
| 2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very
Great train, with camels that bare spices,
and very much gold and precious stones:
and when she was come to Solomon, she
communed with him Of all that was in her
| heart
g. And Solomon told her all her quos-
uons: there was not anything hid from the
king, which he told her not.
| T. And when the queen OF Sheba lad
seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house
that he had built.
9. And the meat OF his table and the sit
| ting OF his servants, and the attendance
| Of his ministers, and their apparel, and
his cupbearers, and his ascent by which
he went up unto the house of tthe Lord;
| there was no more spirit in her.
| g. And she said to the king, II was a
true report that I heard In mine own land
of thy acts and OF thy wisdom.
| {. Howbeit | believed not the words, un-
| I'll | came, and mine eyes had seen It: and,
behold. the half was not told mo: tiny wis
dom and prosperity exceedeth the fame
| which | heard
| s. Happy are thy men. happy are these
thy servants. which stand continually be-
|
| .. Blessed be the Lord thy God, which
| delighted In thee. to set thee on the throne
| OF Israel: because the Lord loved Israel
| for ever therefore made lie thee king, to
| 90 judgment and justice
| 10. 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.-whcn the right
cous are in authority, the people re-
| joice.-Prov. 20,2.
OUTLINE OF SCRIPTURE SECTION.
Solomons Second Vision......l Kings e:l-9
Solomon's Enterprises.......l Kings 9lo-&.
The Queens sErrand............l Kings lo:l-3
The Queens Acknowledgement. .....,.......
..............,.........l KINGS lo'4-S
Inc queen Gl1ts...............l hlngs lu'IV
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
The last lesson was on the building
and dedication of the temple. This tenn
pie was but 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.
Il 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 1t gave him. IN
limited wealth and power and time for
self-indulgences expose anyone to terri
bic temptations. Instead Of lamenting
that we have not their opportunities we
should be thankful that we are spared
their temptations Solomon, with all
his intellectual keenness, made a
wretched 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
"but walking in that way he must re-
ceive that to which the way leads. -
F. N. Peloubet.
(Vs. 10-2S) 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 hundred years.
Besides the building and fortifying Of a
great many cities and the providing of
fine water supply system for Jerusalem,
Solomon developed large foreign COM
merce.
(Ch. 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 puzzling catch-questions.
riddles, etc, kind of display wisdom
that is greatly admired by orientals.
"a very great train" An eastern cara
van. Spices" These were royal gifts
among oriental nations because of their
costliness Arabia is noted for its spices
"Not anything hid from the king" He
knew everything she asked him and
more. Much of his wisdom was Of a
shrewd, practical order and much of II
was knowledge of plants and animals.
(Vs. 4-9) When the queen had
seen ALL" The palace and temple, the
magnifcence of the whole court, the ad-
ministration 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
Jehovahs greatness, but not an indica-