Times-promoter., 1908-01-24

cidents years before which had
brought them together in friendly in.
tereourse these two kings, had main
tanned the most cordial relations.
The merchants of the busy CONNER
cial Tyre found good markets in the
kingdom Of Israel for their merchan-
disc, which came to that port from
all parts of the world, for the Tyreans
were great traders. And in exchange
they took the fruits and the grains,
the sheep and the cattle, which the
land of Israel produced so bountifully.
And so as result there had come to
exist between the kingdom of Tyre
and the kingdom of Israel the most
friendly intercourse. And Hiram de-
lighted in this friendship which the
good King David showed towards him.
Hiram was great lover of the truest
and best In manhood, and long before
he had come to the kingdom and
while yet David was fleeing hither and
thither to escape the murderous wrath
Of Saul, he had felt a great admira-
tion for the bold young adventurer
who was ever ready to strike a. blow
in defense of the weak and the op-
pressed. Stories reached him from
time to time of the bravery and skill
| of the indomitable warrior and his
! hardy band, and when a few years
after he (Hiram) came to the throne
nf Two and trancrirnd IN To
rael which gave David the kingdom,
he sent deputation with gifts and
cordial messages of greeting. This
had been the beginning of close in
timacy between the two, and when
few years later it came to his ears
that David desired to build himself
house, he had sent the great cedar
timbers from Lebanon, and the house
had been built. And then when he
heard that King David desired to build
a house to his God, he had hastened
to again offer him the timbers from
Lebanon. But for some reason, which
he never clearly understood, David's
plans had been suddenly checked, and
to his offers David had merely sug-
gested that perhaps some day he
might renew the offer to his son.
And now that the news had come
OF David's death this was the first
thought which occurred to King Hi
ram. Would the new King Sol
omon have the desire and the ability
to carry out the will and wishes of his
father? He had seen the young man
but once, and that was upon the oc-
casion Of one of his visits to Jeru-
salem, but he remembered how he had
been struck by the beauty of the
young man.
"Ah, but it takes more than beauty
OF person to make worthy king" he
had muttered to himself as King
David had brought the young lad to
his side and had whispered in Hiram's
ear that God had promised that the
boy should sit upon his throne.
And now his beloved friend David |
was dead and his son Solomon sat |
upon his throne Would he prove a
worthy son? Would he escape the |
manifold pitfalls which would sur
round him in his exalted position?
We'll, the friend of David will be
the friend to David's son" exclaimed |
Hiram. Whatever the young man
may be, we shall strive to show him
kindness for his father David's sake
So it was that among the first to
send words of greeting and encourage
ment to the young ruler of Israel was
the king of Tyre, these significant
words being part of the message:
"The cedars of Lebanon make obei-
sance to IsraePs king and delight to
await his pleasure"
1T may be-" thought Hiram, as he
indicted the message, that it will
bring to the mind of Solomon the
great commission which his father
David desired him to perform Will
the young man realize his great oppor-
tunity. or will the other things of the
kingdom occupy his thoughts? Per-
haps he will desire conquest rather
than the building of temple for his
God"
Nearly four years went by and HI
ram waited. No word had come from
King Solomon of his purpose to build
the house of God in accordance with
the wishes Of David his father. Yes,
Hiram had heard Of the growing
splendor OF the kingdom. He had
heard of the grace and wisdom which
marked the beginning of Solomon's