Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-12-03
Solomon
Chooses Wisdom
Sunday Sehsoi LsssOa fas Dec. 9. 1853
Specially Arranged for This Pager


a:l0.
TIAdE.-About 1904 d. C. Cor S7D. The
early part OF Solomon's reign.
PLACE.-Gibeon, a sacred place I'VE or
six miles northwest OF Jerusalem, where
the tabernacle had boon erected for q
time. and with It's buildings had been
center Of religious worship.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
In Joel (2:2s, 29) there is .
prophecy quoted In the Acts (2:l7.1s)
that your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream
dreams" Visions and dreams bring
before US the ideals and possibilities
which we can press forward TO make
real and true. The whole church
should keep before her the vision Of
q perfect church and q perfect world,
the city OF God.
How Solomon Reasoned Out His De-
cision.-Vs. 6.s. Solomon, before de-
Gliding what to choose, carefully con.
sidered his circumstances and needs.
thus showing that well.balanced mind
on which 1t was possible to bestow the
gift OF wisdom.
First Consideration.-The memory
Of what God had done for his father
was a motive for walking In the same
ways. receiving the same favor, and
carrying out to perfect fulhllment
what his father had begun.
Second Consideration.-His work
was laid upon him by God. Solomon
had not sought the place as did Absa-
lom and Adonijah.
v. 7. Thou hast made thy serv.
ant king" The fact that God has
put a man in any position Of trust or
duty creates an obligation TO fulfll
the trust and perform the duty.
Third Consideration. - His youth
and inexperIence. And am but a little
child" He was young and inexpe-
rienced compared with his father,
who came to the throne after a youth
Of activity, and ten or twelve years
Of special training. and seven more az
king over a small kingdom. Il know
not how to go out or come in" This
expression is proverbial for the active
conduct OF affairs. See Mum. 27:l7;
Deut. 1855; Sam. 1913. This was
a strong reason for asking Of God
the things he decided to ask.
Fourth Conslderation.-The great
ness OF the work to be done. v. s.
Thy servant is In the midst OF thy
people" That is. is set over them as
a king. They were turbulent peo-
pie, often going astray. often contend.
ing with each other, with strong Wills
and an impulsive temperament. Prob.
ably there was a strong party opposed
to him. and brothers Of full age ready
| TO lead II. Which thou hast chosen"
II was not only a great nation, but the
nation chosen to represent God be-
fore the world and carry out his king.
dom and teach the world his truths.
All this was far greater responsible.
ity than the ruling OF an ordinary king.
dom. "a great people, that cannot be
numbered" This was a common and
natural expression for a large num-
Der. See Gen. 1915. From the aum.
Der OF men given in Q Sam. EASE and
/ Chron. 2ii5, 6. Il ls inferred that the
population was about 100000. II
would have been very dinlcuit In those
days to get the exact number Of the
people.
Solomon Chooses Wlsdom.-V. O.
Give therefore" In view OF all the
above considerations, and because God
had the gifts in vast abundance. and
he alone was the source and fountain
thereof. An understanding heart
Wisdom for the administration OF his
duties. wise principles. and wisdom In
tho application OF them to the nation
v. 10. And the speech pleased the
Lord" Why? % II was right
noble, unselfish, like God himself (2)
II rendered Il possible for God TO give
him large measures OF the best things
in all the universe. 90 It furnished
an opportunity 70 give many Other
things. God loves to give. He gives
us all we can benefcially receive
The more he can give US. the better
he is pleased.
v. IL. Because thou hast moi
asked for thyself" The selfish mar
cannot receive the gifts God gave Il
Solomon, and he ought not 10 TO
ceiVe what he selhshly asks for him
self. Selnshness Is OF hell. not oi
heaven, and bears the blossoms and
fruits OF the place TO which IL be
longs.
Note that the religious, unselfsh life
is the essential condition on which
the best earthly gifts can safely b
bestowed. The spiritual city Of God
must come before It Is possible OF
safe to have the outward giories and
riches and pleasures which are the
fruit Of the perfect spiritual life.
Just as fast and as Tar rs society be
comes Christianized throughout. 20 faI
will Il be able 70 work out the mos
helpful things which the laws Of na
ture and the will Of man can pro
duee.
The world has been deprived OF thu
best worldly conditions possible. be