Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-12-04
The SABBATH SCHOOL
international! Lesson Comments for
December g.
Subject: SolomOn's Wise Choice, Kings ILL.,
4.l5-Golden Text. Prov. tx, l0-Memory
Verses, II, I3-Commentary on the .
Days Lesson.

ONION was to hold a national festival az
Gideon. This was the great high place
till the temple was built. The chronlcler
informs us that Solomon assembled 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 Chron. lis. 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. Solomon's request Tvs, 5-9). s.:
"The Lord appeared" At the close OF
this season of worship, when his mind
was uplifted to God. I'm a dream" God
Bible times. ASK" ETC. As there is 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.
6. Solomon said.p 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
"Shrewd mercy" Four consid,
erations moved Solomon to make the choice
he did. First, God had shown mercy tc
David, his father. He spoke honorably oil
his, fathers pieety, eeoncealli.ng his faults.
and then introduces himself as the prom
ised great kindness that God had given tc
David in his family. Truth -. :: right
contains all duties to God; righteousness
the duties to men, and uprlghtness the
right manner of performing both. Such
grateful humility and such high aIpprecia,,
ton of moral excellence are qualities OF
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, vet he needed divine assistance
in his work 1t is a source OF great
strength and blessing to be in the position
and doing the work to which we are con.
scious that God has appointed us This is
strong reason for asking and expecting
Gods blessing upon us. "a little child"
The third consideration was his youth
and lack of experience. His exact age
at this time is unknown, but he was prob
ably nineteen or twenty. This devout con-
seriousness of his own weakness was really
Solomon's best qualification as ruler.
s. GIN the midst" That is, Solomon -
SET over tneul DIS hlnB. Lie Ioui vi Sohoi.
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 Poop e,
often going astray, often contendlng 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. ''Thon
hast chosen" Il was not only a great
nation, but the nation chosen to represent
God before the world. and carry out His
kingdom, and teach the world His truths.
All this was far greater responsibility
| than the ruling of an ordinary kingdom.
Cannot be numbered" There seems 10
| ises made bv God to Abraham, more es-
pecially to Genesis 1916. This was a COM
mon and natural expression for large
number. In such a kingdom it would be
very difficult to get the actual number OF
the people. From the number of men given
in 9 Sam. 24:9 and l Chron. 2l:5, 6, it Is
inferred that the population was about
100000.
9. "Give therefore" Because of these
considerations. can understanding heart.
His request accorded with the exhorta-
tons David had given him: His petition
was that the Lord wop.. enlarge and
|
him a ready dlscernment in spiritual things,
and corresponding dispositions and fur.
nis4 him with the peculiar talents and
ability for government, that he might adj
minister justice and judgment rightly for
the benefit of the people, and the honor OF
%God. "To Judge" Absalom wished to be
Judge Solomon trembled at the under
taking. Solomon asked nothing merely for
himself but everything was directed to-
ward the good of the people. His choice
was unselfsh, noble and divine.
III. Gods answer Tvs. 1919. 10, ii.
"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 OF
God the gift of wisdom. Hast not asked y
The greatness of Solomon's request is esti-
mated by what he did not ask: He was
| unselfsh A weaker man would have de-
sired either (D long life; or (2) riches: or
l3) the life of his enemies: that is, that
God would take the life of his enemies,
or put it in his power to destroy them.
u, Is. 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. Solomon's prayer was a
prevailing prayer. God gave him riches
and honor and long life without his ask,
ing, and thus ne received double blessing.
But although the Lord gave Solomon Wis
dom and understanding, vet he doubtless
studied and toiled like other men for his
requirements.
H. Is. eff thou wilt" etc. There is a
moral hinge on which every blessing oil
God swings. Divine favors and promises
release no man from the Obligations oil
righteousness. Solomon never met these
conditions fully. He received much, hut
he would have received much more had
he been faithful to the grace given. Game
to Jerusalem" He had made his prayer
at Gideon. 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
Offered offerings" Solemnly to
praise God for all His mercies, and tspe
cially 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. Solomon's wisdom (chap. 429-34)
In chapter 4:25-28 we have an account Of
Solomon's wealth and worldly greatness
and in verses 1884 of his wisdom. His
wisdom took many directions. He was
wise as Judge, as an architect, as states
man, in literature, in science. He had {
comprehensive, powerful mind capable O.
grasping the knowledge of many and diff
Gcult subjects.