The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-17
SOLOMON LIFE AS EXAMPLE FOR MAN Dr. Duncan Takes Text rem
 Nehemiah GREAT MAN WAS TEMPTED But in His Old Ace He Wrote the Fa- nous Words, "Fear God and
 Keep His Command
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GREAT MAN WAS TEMPTED

pr. James A. Duncan took as a text for his sermon at the First Methodist church last night the 18th verse of the 18th chapter of Nehemiah: Did not Solomon, King of Israel, sin by these things? Yet among many nations was there no King like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him King over all Israel" In part, he spoke as follows:
 "When a person first looks at this passage in the Scriptures he Is struck by the peculiarity of the conditions. AL though Solomon Is said to have snned, yet he was beloved of his God. This brings up discussion of the old question of whether or not Solomon was ever re- stored to his place in the eyes of God, after his downfall. It is evident, in my opinion, that he was, for we read or Gods love for him in a book written by a historian years after, so no one can say that he was prejudiced in Solomons favor. But before continuing further, let us go back to the early life of Solo,. mon and from there trace the changes that appeared in his character.
 "When Solomon was a young man God appeared to him one night In a vision and told him to pray for whatever he wished and it would be granted him. He did not pray for great wealth or great power. but instead he asked that God give him wisdom to rule his subjects in a just and wise manner This was an ex- cellent beginning for a young man, but after he became established as King over Israel many temptations were thrown in his way and he did not have the power to resist them all. It is not strange that a King should be tempted, for while they are above us all in wealth and power they are but men, Although Solomon was ruler over vast and mighty coun- try, at peace with the surrounding na- tions and in possession of all that he could desire, he fell when tempted.
 'The cause of Solomon's trouble was his relations with the other nations. Israel was country that stood aloof from all others and God had decreed that it should, for He did not wish the ideals and standards of His chosen people to become contaminated with the lower ones of the other nations and peoples How ever, Solomon became tired of this state of affairs and he thought that the bor- ders of Israel were too close to hold his ideas. He gradually took up the customs of the other people and married foreign wives and finally he erected a magnifl- cent temple to Jehovah upon one hill. and upon another, he reared temple to the gods of his Egyptian wife
 'rWhen Solomon did this he was begin ming to believe that one religion was as good as another. That is one of the greatest faults that the men of today have. They believe that all religions lead to the same place; that one is just as good as another.
 s'Let us prove the fallacy of this be- lief by looking into the characters of the people of the different religions. Take China for an example. The Mongolian has been living in Asia for ages, modern civilization all around him, but he has not advanced one step higher in the mem- ory of man. For countless ages he has been following the customs established by his ancestors, worshipplng their gods and believing that it Is wrong to pro- gress Japan is different but is just as bad That race believes in heather gods but has advanced wonderfully In the past century Nevertheless, their customs are just as abomniable in the eyes of Chris tian as those of the Chinese. So 1t Is with the other heather people.
 After a while, Solomon realized that he was losing his soul. He desired some- thing, yet he knew not what 1t was that he wished. It was the same kind of a desire that is felt by the rich men of today; something new and unusual How ever. he finally found that his soul was crying for God. Then it was that he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. This is one of the saddest books that has ever been written. The keynote of it Is sound- ed when Solomon, old and debauched with his life of luxury, realizes, almost too late, that he has been a sinner and says: "vanity of vanities; all Is vanity" He closes with the line: Fear God, and keep His comman.ments for this is the whole duty of man.
 'How different was the Apostle Paul He had followed his Savior through trials and naQ SuHeTeu d great uedl lOT tiit faith that he professed, yet he knew that the reward that awaited him in the life to come was worth 1t all. My friends I believe 1t is all right to enjoy life to get wealth and even to live In lux ury but do not make that your whole aim in life. That was where Solomon erred Let the first thought that Is in your mind ever be the keeping of Gods commandments. My brethren, may each of you live such a life that when the time comes for you to die you will not be overcome with sorrow, as Solomon was, but instead may you be able to say like Paul: "I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith: henceforth there Is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day"