The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1908-01-24


Of David's death this was the nrs'
thought which occurred to King Hi
ram. Would the new King Sol
ONION have the desire and the ability
10 carry out the will and wishes OF his
father? He had seen the young man
but once, and that was upon the oc'
easion 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 a worthy king. he
had muttered to himself as King
David had brought the young lad to
his side and lad 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 Dayid's son." exclaimed
Hiram. Whatever the young nan
may be, we shall strive to show him
kindness for his father David's sake"
So 1t 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 lsrael's king and delight to
await his pleasure"
1T may be-" thought Hiram, as he
indicted the message, that II will
bring to the mind of Solomon the
great commission which his father
David desired him to perform. viii
the young man realize his great Oppor-
tunity or will the other things Of the
kingdom occupy his thoughts? Per
haps he win desire conquest rather
than the building of a 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
reign, and he noted with a certain de.
gree of hopefulness that king and PEG.
pie were devoted to the service and
worship of the God OF Israel.
But how can he delay the build.
ing Of a house to his God? What can
he do with all the gold and silver
which his father David gathered? And
the cedars of Lebanon grosn in
Sheir desire to find place In a build
ing to David's Cod" and Hiram
sighed within him.
What Is that" he asked as at
that moment a servant interrupted his
r%everie. "a messenger from King
Solomon? Show him I'm at once"
Eagerly Hiram waited while the
eourtier entered and made his obei.
sance.
Il will hear at once the message
from the son of my friend David"
without further delay the courtisr
unrolled his parchment and read:
TO Hiram, king of Tyre: Thou
knOwest how that David, my father,
could not build an house unto the
name of the, Lord his God for the
wars which were about him on every
side, until the Lord put them under
the soles of his feet"
With the beginning of the reading and
the first reference to the building OF
a Rouse to the Lord HiraIn's face lit
up with a glow, his eyes sparkled with
a rev enthusiasm, and he exclaimed
under his breath: Blessed be the
naIne Of the Lord this day which hath
given David a wise son over his
people"
The messenger paused and looked
up hastily, but being treasured by the
lively interest which Hiram was TAX.
ing in his reading, he continued:
Command thou now, therefore, that
they hew me cedar trees out Of Leb.
anon"
THE Lord be praised, The Lord
be praised" Hiram cried fervently as
the message was completed. And
turning to his servant he hastily sun.
moned his secretaries and had in
scribed at once a message to King
Solomon, saying:
81 have considered the things which
thou sentest to me for: and | will d.
all thy desire concerning timbe, of
cedar and concerning timber Of fir"
Which message when Solomon read
he thanked the Lord and took courage
in the great undertaking, saying,
gratefully:
Surely Solomon hath found 4
friend in the friend Of David my
A.