The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1908-12-04
Solomon
Chooses Wisdom
Sunday School Lesson for Dec. 9. 1908
Specially Arranged for This Paper

~
Lord is the beginning Of wisdom.
BIO.
TIME.-About 1922 B. c. Cor s7r. The
early part of Solomon's reign.
PLACE.-Gibeon, a sacred place nve OF
six miles northwest of Jerusalem. where
the tabernacle had been erected for Q
time, and with Its buildings had been .
center of religious worship.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
In Joel (2:2S, 29) there is
prophecy quoted in the Acts (2:17-lSJ
that your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream
dreams" Visions and dreams bring
before US the ideals and possibilities
which we can press forward to make
real and true. The whole burcn
should keep before her the vision o.
a perfect church and a perfect world,
the city Of God.
How Solomon Reasoned Out His Dc
cision.-Vs. 6-8. Solomon, before de-
Gliding what to choose, carefully con
sidered his circumstances and needs,
thus showing that well-balanced mind
on which 1t was possible to bestow the
gift of wisdom.
First Consideration.-The memory
of what God had done for his father
was a motive for walking in the same
ways, receiving the same favor, and
carrying out to perfect fulfllment
what his father had begun.
Second Consideration.-His work
was laid upon him by God. Solomon
had not sought the place as did Absa'
lom and Adonijah.
v. Z. Thou hast made thy serv-
ant king" The fact that God has
put a man in any position Of trust or
duty creates an obligation to fulfill
the trust and perform the duty.
Third Consideration. - His youth
and inexperience. And I I'M but a little
child" He was young and inexpe.
rienced compared with his father,
who came to the throne after a youth
of activity, and ten or twelve years
of special training, and seven more az
king over a small kingdom. Il know
not how to go out or come In" This
expression is proverbial for the active
conduct of affairs. See Mum. 27:17;
Deut. 1855; 1 Sam. 1913. This wal
a strong reason for asking OF Got
the things he decided to ask.
Fourth Consideration.-The great
ness of the work to be done. V.
"Thy servant is in the midst of tn.
people" That is, is set owe them a
a king. They were a turbulent pee
pie, often going astray, often contend
, ing with each other, with strong will
and an impulsive temperament. PROT
ably there was a strong party oppose
to him, and brothers of full age read
o to lead it. (Which thou hast chosen.
1t was not only a great nation, but tn
q nation chosen to represent God b.
q fore the world and carry out his KIM
4 dom and teach the world his truth
All this was a far greater responsible
ity than the ruling of an ordinary kim
dom. "a great people. that cannot
numbered This was a common an
natural expression for a large nur
a Der. See Gen. 1876. From the nur
l. Der of men given in 2 SAM. 24:9 an
l. / Chron. 21:5, 6, it is inferred that tt
If population was about 100000.
would have been very difficult in tho'
If days to get the exact number Of Il
people.
g Solomon Chooses Wisdom.-V.
r. give therefore" In view Of all Il
N above considerations, and because G.
had the gifts in vast abundance, al
,r he alone was the source and founta
ia thereof. "An understanding hear
70 Wisdom for the administration Of /
duties, wise principles, and wisdom
a the application Of them to the matte
=. v. 10. "And the speech pleased t
Lord" Why? ~ It was rigl
noble, unselfish, like God himself. {
It rendered 1t possible for God to 81
him large measures Of the best thin
~ In all the universe. 90 1t furnish
an opportunity to give many ott
Oh things. God loves to give. He civ
a US all we can %beneficially recei
70. The more he can give US, the bet
n he Is pleased.
a ". IL. because thou hast 80. I.
70, asked for myself" The selfish m
cannot receive the gifts God gave
Solomon, and he ought not to
4. ceive what he selfishly asks for b
We BOIL. oclucAlACoS 40 Va ACA, AVs
st. heaven, and bears the blossoms g
of fruits Of the place to which 1t
ba longs.
- Note that the religious, unselfish
is the essential condition on VIII
the best earthly gifts can safely
e bestowed. The spiritual city Of {
ny must come before 1t is possible
safe to have the outward glories
riches and pleasures which are
fruit Of the perfect spiritual life.
81 Just as fast and as far as society
'er- comes Christianized throughout, SO
Ter will it be able to work out the m
'yl- helpful things which the laws OF
ard ture and the will Of man a ]
ent duce.
md The world has been deprived Of