Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-12-02
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
Lesson X.-Fourth Quarter, For
Dec. 6, 1908.
TINE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the kessen, Kings Iii, Ais.
Memory Verses, II, 12-GoIden Text,
Prov. tx, 1o-commentary Prepared
BY Rev. .. M. Stearns.

by Rev. D. M. Stearns.
copyright 1905 by American Press Association
In some Bible studies there are
some words which we do well to carry
with us through those studies, and in
this lesson and the next we should re-
member these words: 'Then sat Solo
mon upon the throne of David, his IA
ther andNhis kingdom was established
greatly" "Then Solomon sat on the
throne of the Lord as king instead Of
David, his father, and prOphesied, and
all Israel obeved him" q Kings Ii, u;
1 Chron. xxx, 23). Another name was
given to Solomon at his birth with
which some do not seem to be familiar
1t Is written, THE Lord loved him,
and He sent by the hand Of Nathan.
the prophet, and he called his name
Jedidiah (beloved of the Lord because
Of the Lord" QI Sam. xii, "a, 25). The
name Solomon, which means peace
able" was given to him before he was
born q Chron. xxi, 8, margin). How
beautifully suggestive the two names
beloved of the Lord, a man of rest, the
Lord giving peace and quietness In his
days. How sadly he failed to let God
work out his plan! How perfectly 1t
will be wrought out in the true Son Of
David, Of whom God said, 'This is
my beloved Son. in whom am well
pleased" CMatt ''' IT; xvii, 81.
How strangely do the first three
verses of our lesson chapter read in
the light Of Gods commands to have
no fellowship with the heather nations
or their idols, affinity with Pharaoh,
king of Egypt; marrying his daughter,
loving the Lord and walking in His
statutes, yet sacrificing and burning
incense in high places! 1t sounds
good deal like the worldly combina-
tons of today, which must so grieve
the Spirit for we are plainly told that
whosoever will be friend of the world
is the enemy Of God GAS. iv, A.. In
these days the tabernacle and the
brazen altar were at Gideon, but the
ark of the covenant was In the tent at
Jerusalem which David had pitched
for 1t, and to Gideon Solomon and his
people went to offer burnt offerings
unto the Lord (verse 4; l Chron. xxi,
%; II Chron. 1, 1-6). All the offerings
appointed by God were typical Of the
one great offering Of His Son. who by
the sacrifice Of Himself put away the
sins Of all who receive Him. Only by
Him have we access to God, and only
by Him can we truly worship God or
serve Him, and for His sake God
does all things for His people, notwith-
standing their unworthiness.
So we read that in that night Jeho-
yah appeared to Solomon, and God
said unto him, ASK what shall give
thee" (verse 5; II Chron. 1, q. God is
the Creator, to whom nothing is too
hard or wonderful der. xxi, 10. and
Jehovah is God coming to man in
grace and a righteousness which He
Himself gives by virtue of His great
sacrifice. He is the same one who
when here IN humiliation said to
poor blind man, what wilt thou that
l shall do unto thee" duke xviii, Al
he said to the apostles and through
them to us: "If We abide in Me and
Ny words abide in you, We shall ask
what ye will and it shall be done unto
you" Whatsoever We shall ask In
My name, that will / do. that the Fa-
Their may be glorifjed in the Son. II ye
shall ask anything In My name. ! will
do it" John XIV, Z; xiv. 10, 1Q. There
is a word also in this connection in lisa.
xiv, II. Concerning the work Of my
hands, command ye me-" In reference
to which tho late John Wilkinson once
wrote me, lit is strong language, and.
though 1t is the Jews by interpreta-
ton, we can take it by application. and
/ take 1t in the modern sense Of your
wishes are commands to me- press
your desires and hold me to my word
Here Is something we seem to know
little about, for we are so lacking IN
oneness With Him in His purpose.
In reply to Gods great offer Solomon
rehearsed the facts concerning the
present situation, the great mercy and
kindness that had been shown to his
father David. his own position as king
over so great a people by the grace OF
God and the great need Of wisdom and
understanding to rule so great a peo-
pie, and he said, "Give me now wis
dom and knowledge, that | may go out
and come In before this people" oversees
90; II Chron. i, $40. judah and Is
rael were said to be many as the sand
which is by the sea in multitude.
dwelling safely, every man under his
vine and under his fig tree, and so God
gave Solomon wisdom and understand
ing exceeding much, and largeness OF
heart, even as the sand that Is on the
seashore, making him to excel all the
wisdom Of the east and Of Egypt so
that people came from all kings to hear
and see q Kings iv, 20, %, 20. 80, 34).
Because Of Solomon's request God
not only gave him what he asked. but
also riches and honor, which he mad
not asked oversees 1914; II Chron. !.
IL, 12). making us think Of Eph. ILL.,
20, 81, and of Him who, speaking of
the queen Of Sheba's visit to Solomon,
said, "a greater thar Solomon is here"
(Matt XII, 42). He is the wisdom of
God and has said to us by His Spirit.
IF any Of you lack wisdom. let him
ask of God. who giveth to all men lib
orally and upbraideth not, and 1t shall
be given him" q Cor. /, "a, 30; Jas. !.
81. He Is ready to be our wisdom for
every day, every hour, every moment
every emergency. every person we
have to deal with.