The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-12-03
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR DECEMBER o.

Subject: Solomon Chooses Wisdom,
4 Kings 3:4-15--Goiden Text,
Prov. 0:fO-Commit Verses II,
12-Commentary.
TIME. - 1014 d. c. PLACE. -
Gibeon
EXPOSITION. - I. Solomon's
Prayer to jehovah, 40. Solomon
went to Gibeon because the Taber-
nacle, the place where Jehovah pc
culiarly manifested Himself to His
people, was there q Chron. 21:29;
Q Chron. 1:3 Z, r. "; Elk. 29:42, 43,
r. W. Until the Temple superseded
It, that is where men who longed to
meet God went, the place God Him
self had appointed. The Tabernacle
was type OF Christ tJno. 1:14, X.
W. 1t is in Him that we meet God
(Jno. 1870. Each one OF the thou
sand burnt offerings that Solomon
offered also pointed forward to
Christ. In Him there is better
ground OF approach to Cod than In
countless slain beasts (Heb. 10:1-
22). The desire with which Solomon
went TO Gibeon was satisfied, God met
him there Twice in his life was 1t
granted Solomon to meet God (cf ch.
go; 11;9). To many of us 1t is
granted to meet God far more fire.
quently than that. The appearance
was in a dream, but 1t was real APP
paarance (cf Gen. 2S:12. 13; Nu.
1876; Job 1914, Is; Matt. 1920;
2:13, 10; Acts 1879, 10). That God
really spoke to Solomon, and that the
whole incident was no product OF a
dlsordered fancy, is evident from the
utcome-Solomon really obtained
what God promised at this time. 1t
was a wonderful thing that God said
to Solomon, "ask what / shall give
thee"-God setting all the infinite re-
sources of His power at the disposal
Of man. But He says the same won
derful thing to each humblest child
of God to-day (Jno. 1913, ID; 1877;
Matt. 7:7, 8; Mark 11:24; Jno.
/ 1916; 1923, "a; Jno. 1922; 5:14,
! 15). Before asking for anything,
! Solomon acknowledged the wonderful
| goodness of Jehovah already mani
| tested toward his father and himself
| (cf. Phil. 4:6; Col. 4:2). Gods great
Kindness" (R. W to his father in
/ the past encouraged Solomon to ask
| great things for himself in the pres
David was according to David's sim
cere, righteous and upright walk (cf.
5h. ga; 1855; X. 20:3. 4; Ps. 1851,
2; 1S:20-24; 1 Jno. 3:22). A crown
ing manifestation of Gods kindness
was that He had given him son to
succeed to his position and his work
Solomon speaks of his father by a
more honorable title than king, "Thy
servant David" Jehovah Himself
had conferred this title upon David
q Sam. 1850. Solomon recognized
that he owed his own present exalted
position entirely to God (cf. Dan
2:21; 4:25, 80; 5:1S, 21). He aisC
recognized his own utter insuficiencJ
for the position. He was perhaps
twenty-one years of age at this time
In his own eyes he was "but lIttl,
child" (cf. l Chron. 29:1; Jer. 1:6
Lu. 14:11). He saw the greatness O
the responsibility that had been lait
upon him. He asked, therefore, 70
an understanding heart"-llterally
a hearing heart" i. e., a heart tha
should hear the voice OF God. What h
asked is of more value than all honor
and all riches prov. 3:13-1S; 1910
His fathers words to him and praye
for him had suggested to Sol
ONION this request Il Chron. 22:12
29:19). Those words had gone dee
into Solomons heart. This grea
thing that Solomon asked we may a
ask and get Gas. ESD. 1t was nc
for his own sake that Solomon aske
for an understanding heart, but fo
the peoples good, and above all bt
cause they were Jehovah's people. |
/ the final analysis the chief aim of tn
= prayer was Jehovah's glory. That
= the chief aim of all true prayer.
: III. Jehoyah's Answer TO Solomon
) 1918. God was pleased with So
: omon's prayer. He is always please
r with an intelligent prayer (Pro
$3.50. He mentions some OF IL
! things that Solomon might ha,
Y asked, things that many would ha'
Y asked had they had Solomon's oppo
= tunity But Solomon's choice WI
e much wiser. A wonderful thing GC
= says to him, II have done accordir
e to thy words" Think of 1t, the 1
;. finite God doing according to Il
: words of a finite man. But He oft,
4 does that Ono. 15:D. Solomon z
9 what he had asked, but he got 1t in
! more abundant measure than he h;
o asked. His wisdom became not
e throughout the earth, and througho
d all ages ". 2S; ch. 4:29-34; 5:1
u 10: 3-S, 23, 24). God also gave hi
J exceeding abundantly above what
= asked tcf. Eph. 3:20). II we seek t
st best thing, God will give us with
II the minor things Matt. 6:33; ]
n 84:11, IL; Ro. S:32). His rich
n were enormous (ch. 10:23-29). w
II dom which he sought came bringi
n riches and honor in her hand {
At Prov. S:16). God made Solomon 81
II another promise, but this was con
tional upon his future conduct
20 14. The promise was lone life; I
e. condition, obedience. Obedience
~ Gods laws is the great secret
ny longevity (Deu. SIG; 25:15; Pr
aT 81, 2, 16; l Tim. 4:8). All Go
is richest blessings are conditioned III
ut obidence (Acts 5:32; Jno. 14:15-2
Solomon did not fulfill the condit
and missed the promised blessing,
died comparatively young Il
HEAD. He showed his appTeciat
r. OF Jehovah's goodness in the only '
e known to him. The sacrifices that
offer are different (He. 1915, 16,
" hut have the aama nurnosa