The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-12-02
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comm:n!s for
December 6.
Subj.e: Solomon's WISE Choice. .ings H..
4.l;-G Golden Text, Prov TX l0--Mcmory
Verses, u, I3-comnentary on the
Days Lesson.

Days Lesson.
i. The festival at Cibeon Tvs. l.4). 4.
went to Gibeon." The first work of Sol.
omon was to hold a national festiva, at
Gideon. This was the great high place"
till the temple was built. The chronicer
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 congrc.
cation, were still existing at. that place.
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.
"The Lord appeared" At the close OF
this season, of worship, when his. mind
was upiiftcd to God. I'm DREAM God
frequently appeared to men in dreams in
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
8. solomon said" Solomon, before de.
Gliding what to choose. carefully considered
his circumstances and needs, thus showing
that wel!-balanced mind on which il was
P2SiIsibied PSIrsd to bestow the gift ro 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 father 5 piety. -onceaing 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
conta ins all duties to God; righteousness
the duties to men, and uprightness the
right manner of performing both. Such
grateful humility and such high appreca-
tion OF mora excellence are qualities OF
heart favorable to the reception OF Gods
best gifts.
:. ''Thy 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.
scious that God has appointed us. This is
a 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 ace
al this time is unknown, but he was prob.
ably nineteen or twenty. This devout con.
sciOusness of his own weakness was really
So'omon's hest Qualification as ruler.
8. I'm the midst" That is. Solomon Is
set over them as king. The fourth consid-
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 a turbulent peop'e,
often going astray. often contcnding with
each other, with strong wills and an i'm
puislve temperament. Probably there was
a strong nartv opposed to him. and broth.
ers of full age ready to lead it. "1hou
hast chosen" ]. was not only 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 a far greater responsibility
than the ruling Of an ordinary kingdom
be reference in these words to the prom
ises made hv God to Abraham more es.
peciallv to Genesis 1916. This was n 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 gwen
in . Sam. $40 and Chron. 2l:5, G, it is
inferred that the population was about
G,000,0O0
o. Give therefore," Because Of these
considerations. An understanding heart"
His request accorded with the exhorta-
was that the Lord would enlarge and
strengthen his intellectual powers; give
him a ready discernment in spritual things,
and corresponding dispositions and fur
nish him with the peculiar talents and
ability for government, that lie might adj
the benefit OF the peop'e, and the honor OF
God. TO Judge" Absa,om wished to he
n 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 unse,hsh, noble and divine.
III. Gods answer Tvs. lO.l5). 10, II.
"Plcased the Lord" Although this con.
versation Is represented as having taken
place in a dream, vet it expressed 500
mons real desire during his waking mo-
rents. Solomon. had prayed the day be.
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 (ll long life; or (2l 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.
II, 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
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, vet he doubtless
studied and toiled like other Een for his
acnulrements.
IA, l5. "If thou wit etc. There is a
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 Giheon, 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 espe.
cialv 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. So!omon's wisdom (chap. 4:20-34).
In chapter 4:25-23 we have an account of
So'omon's wealth and worldly greatness
and in verses 29-34 OF his wisdom. His
w-.,om took many directions. He was
wise as Judge. as an architect, as a states
ma. in literature, in science. He had
com -rehensive, powerful mind capable OF
~ L.