The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1903-07-11

" your Bibles anC
read the thirC
chapter Of I Kings Solomon has JUS
been called 10 rule over the Jewish na
tinn in the room Of David his father
Among the first acts Of his reign ht
see,ss the Lord in sacrifice and worship
nj Gibeon The testimony OF Gods
Word in the third verse Of the chapter
Is thai Solomon loved the Lord. walk
ing in the statutes Of David his father.
and ii Is with the deepest reverence anG
6erotion that this young king recog-
nsses Gods claims upon him and his
aeea 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 Leyites have
been kept busy in preparing the hocks
of lambs, and the droyes OF cattle Tor
the sacrifice. All the nation knows OF
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 quickened and God draws
very near unto them. He always does
when the soul steadfastly sets itself to
seek the Lord And in the stiffness OF
the night watches during this great ma
tional religious celebration. God APP
pears to Solomon in 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 then that God came to him. 1t is
at such times that the Lord always
comes. The words "if 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 the
need OF Divine assistance.
A T the very outset we wish to dispel
~ 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
supernatural character as to partake of
the nature of fairy tale. Such col
oring could be and has been given to this
Bible story II is fascinating to think
of having the privilege of one wish and
then being suddenly and miraculously
endowed with the thing wished for. But
such are not the facts in this story be-
fore us, believe; and there is nothing
in the experience of Solomon at Gideon
which may not have its 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 It's
fascination for children and for older
ones, too, but its practical value has
been 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.
change!-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-
ceiving. Or. as our text Declares 'If
any OF you lack wisdom. let him ask
OF God, that giveth to all men literally
and upbraideth not; and 1t shall be
given him"
T 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 ever
yet lived who has not needed Divine d.
rection and help In the proper conduct
and administration of human affairs,
whether they involved the responsible
ties Of kingdom or only those OF the
work bench in the shop or the care OF
the modest. humble home. But rather
does our text refer to the one who has
wakened to a sense of that lack OF wis
lom which has previously existed. Re
eponsibilities in greater or less degree
come to everyone Modesty In measur-
ing personal abilities In coping with
those responsibilities, and recognition
OF the need of Divine wisdom and help,
are the lessons which this incident in
the life of Solomon should teach us. Let
us then consider our text under the fol-.
lowing heads. The need of wisdom;
The source of wisdom; The request for
wisdom: the gift Of wisdom; The EVIL
dence of wisdom; and, The influence of
wisdom.
n ICED of wisdom.-At no time is It
~ realized SO fully as when the soul