The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-12-01
Sic
5lmoasl- School
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR DECEMBER 8.

Subject: Solomon Chooses Wisdom,
Kings 3:4-15--GoIden Text,
Prov. 9:1O--Commit Verses IL,
12--Commentary.
TIME. --1O14 B. G. PLACE.
EXPOSITION. soIomon,a
Prayer to Jehovah, 40. Solomon
went to Gideon because the Taber-
nacle, the place where Jehovah PEI
culiarly manifested Himself to His
people, was there q Chron: 1929;
Chron. lib, Z, r. "; Elk 29:42. az,
r. w. Until the Temple superseded
It, that, is where men who longed ia
meet God went, the place God Him.
self had appointed The Tabernacle
was type of Christ (Jno. TIA, r.
W, 1t is in Him that we meet God
tJno. 1850. Each one of the thou.
sand burnt offerings that Solomon
oHered also pointed forward to
Christ. In Him there is a better
ground of approach to God than il
countless slain beasts (Heb. 10.1-
22l The desire with which Solomon
went to Gibson was satisfied, God met
him there. Twice in his life was it
granted Solomon to meet God (cf. CHI.
9:2; 11.9). To many of us it lis
granted to meet God far more fire.
quently than that. The appearance.
was in dream, but it was real APP
pearance (cf. Gen. 28:12, 13; M.
1875; Job 33:14, Is; Matt. 1.2O.t
2;13, 10; Acts 1879, 10). That God
really spoke to Solomon, and that the
whole incident was no product Of a
disordered fancy, is evident from the
outcome Solomon really obtained
what God promised at this time. 1t
was a wonderful thing that God said
20 solomon, ask what / shall give
thee God setting all the infinite re-
sources of His power at the disposal
OF a man. But He says the same won
derIul thing to each humblest child
q COD to-day emo. 1913, IA; 1877;
Matt ~, 8; Mark 1924; Jno.
10 l6; 1923, "a; l Jno. 1922; 5:14.
15). Before asking for ANYTHING.
Solomon acknowledged the wonderful
goodness of Jehovah already mani
rested toward his father and himself
lcf. Phil. 4:6; Col. 4:2) Gods great
kindness (R. VI to his father in
the past encouraged Solomon to ask
great things for himself in the pres.
ent. Gods dealing in kindness with.
David was according to David's sin.
cere, righteous and upright walk (cf,
ch. ga; 1876; K. 20:3, A: Ps. 1851
q; 18:20-24; l Jno. 1929 A crown.
Ing manifestation of Gods kindness
was that He had given him a son to
succeed to his position and his work.
Solomon speaks of his father by q
more honorable title than king, Thy
servant David" Jehovah Himself
had conferred this title upon David
f ~ Sam. $3.50. Solomon recognized
that he owed his own present exalted
position entirely to God (cf. Dan.
2:zl; 4:25, 81; 5;1S, 21). He also
recognized his own utter insufficiency
I for the position. He was perhans
tWenty-one years of age at this time.
In his own eyes he was s.but little.
child" (cf. l Chron 29:1; Jer. 1:6:,
Lu. laid. He saw the greatness OF
the responsibility that had been laid
upon him. He asked therefore. for
an understanding heart literally.
nearing heart" i. e., heart that
should hear the voice of God. What he
asked is OF more value than all honors.
and all riches prov. 3:13-18; 16:16).
His fathers words to him and PRAYER
for him had suggested to Sol
ONION this request Il Chron. 22.12.
29:l9). Those words had gone deem
INTO Solomon's heart. This great
tnlng that Solomon asked we may all
ask and get GAS. 1:5-7). 1t was not
Tor his own sake that Solomon asked
lor an understanding heart, but for
the peoples good, and above all be-
cause tney We're Jehovah's people. In
the maj ANALYSIS the chief aim of the
prayer was Jehoyah's glory. That is
the chief aim of all true prayer.
Ill. Jehovah's Answer to Solomon.
1918. God was pleased with Sol.
omon's prayer. He is always pleased
with an intelligent prayer (Prov.
1888. He mentions some of the
Things that Solomon might have
asked, things that many would have
asked had they had Solomon's oppor-
tunlty. But Solomons choice was
much wiser. A wonderful thing God
says to him, 81 have done according
to thy Words Think of it. the in
finite God doing according to the
words of finite man. But He often
does that (Jno. 1870. Solomon got
what he had asked, but he got 1t in a
more abundant measure than he had
asked. His wisdom became noted
throughout the earth, and throughout
all ages (v. 2S; CHI. 4:29-34; 5:12:
lO:3-S, 23, 24). God also gave him
exceeding abundantly above what he
.tSnS1 WIS 1Apls Q ~. IL we seek the
best thing, God will give us with it
the minor things Matt. 6:SS; Ps.
ES4:11, IL; RIO. S:32). His riches
were enormous (ch. 10:23-29). Wis
dom which he sought came bringing
riches and honor in her hand (cf.
Prov. S:l6). God made Solomon still
another promise, but this was condi-
tlonal upon his future conduct (v.
l4) The promise was lone life; the
condition, obedience. Obedience to
Gods laws is the great secret of
longevity (Deu. 5;16; 25:15; Prov.
81, 2, 16; Tim. 4:8). All Gods
richest blessings are conditioned upon
obidence tActs 5:32; Jno. 14:15-23).
Solomon did not fulfill the condition
and missed the promised blessing, he
died comparatively young Il X.
l1:42) He showed his appreciation
Of Jehovah's goodness in the only way
known to him. The sacrifices that we
offer are different Gle. 1915, 16, r..
VI but have the same purpose.