Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-05

CONTEXT.-At the beginning of his
reign Solomon was magnanimous toward
those who had opposed him (chapter i:i1-
so. But under the instruction of his
father. who died shortly after the anoint
ing, there came change of policy tchap
ter ii:1-1D. Adonijah, the would-be king,
was put to death because he asked for
Abishag as wife tchapter ii:2j>. Abiathar
was thrust out of the priesthood. Joab.
through fear. had fed to the tabernacle
and laid hold on the horns of the altar.
but there he was slain (chapter ii:2S-3J).
Shemei. who had cursed David as he fled
from Absalom was shut up in Jerusalem
by the kings order. and on going out was
executed (chapter ii:36-46). These deeds
of blood. deemed to be necessary to estab-
lsh the royal authority. show that
Israel pursued methods common in other
nations, of which are records in profane
history. Among his first acts as king.
Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh by
marrying his daughter. Although this
was contrary to the law Deut., vii:3), he
yet walked i'm the statutes of David.
QUESTION.-David had brought the
ark OF the covenant to Jerusalem Oh Sam.
vi:13). and had deposited it there in
new tent made for the purpose. But the
tabernacle of Moses, then 800 years old.
had been set up at Gideon, an elevated
spot about six miles north of Jerusalem.
There staff of priests, set apart to such
service, offered daily sacrifices upon the
brazen altar. and fulfilled other require
ments of the law q Chr. xvi:4O). Thus
Gideon had become the seat of public. re-
ligiOn. and so remained until the temple
was erected Verse -. Hence Solomon
repaired to Gideon to perform religious
rites. He went with all the congregation.
the great officers of the state, the cap
tans of hundreds and thousands. the
Judges. the governors and the chiefs of
the fathers. A thousand animals were
sacrificed verse ~. The ceremonial was
magnificent the changing trumpets and
musical instruments ringing through the
valley Il Chr, Xvi:42). At night, after
day of such sacred rights. God came to
the young king. BY his spirit he made
ence, asking this question, What shall
l give thee?"
GRATITUDE.-This was a remark
able inquiry. When God appeared to
Abraham. to Moses, to Joshua, and to
Samuel. it was to secure their service.
eek. iii:1O) In this instance he seeks
to bestow a gift, anxious only to know
the pleasure of the recipient, who is
even now favored among men. Solo
mons reply was in four parts. each eX
hibiting some phase of his character.
First he reverts to the goodness shown
10 MS father Werse %. the goodness OF
God, measured by the righteousness that
had marked David's career. In this there
was the spirit of genuine gratitude, first
to the Author Of all our blessings Games.
i:1T. and second. to his father, who had
set before him such godly example and
had bequeathed the results of his holy
life. 1t was eminently proper that Solo
mon should begin with this backward
look. Most young men look forward
build castles cherish ambitions and en-
terrain great schemes. But they who
consider first what has gone before, and
what relation they sustain to those who
preceded them, are in condition to turn
with far better spirit to the future. The