The Cecil Whig., 1908-12-05


neariy ruined him.
He ought TO have been the example
OF illustr;ous righteousness for the
world in every age. Instead his life
was a rcproach TO him and his people.
How then can he be called wise?
Here is the story. God asked him
which he would have. He said Wis
dom" God gave him the wisdom and
before his reign ended he seems TO
have thrown it all away
We learned as a child To say Solo
mon WIS the wisest man" We have
learred in manhood that he was also
guilty OF colossal folly. But in its f.
dclity 10 truth lies the value OF the Old
Testament record I, pictures the men
with whom God was working just as
they were. To learn what made the
good men rood end 10 initiate their
examN'e viii he for us wise. To note
well the things which made men bad
ard 20 shun those things will also be
for rs wisdom II was a great choice
that Solomon made when he chose wis
dom This lesson will be valuable II
Il makes us desire TO choose wisdom
The scere oi Solomon's choice was
Gibcon II was a historic spot north
Of jerusalem in the territory OF the
tribe OF BENJAMIN There the great
battle was fought by Joshua. when il is
said "thc sun stood still upon Gibcon."
There the tabernacle stood for many
years in the times OF David and Solo
mon, although the ark was taken to
Zion. There Asahcl ard Amosa we're
slain and there in his old acc Toab was
slain by Solomon. II was really the re-
licious center for the nation until the
Temple was built
THE LESSON.
vs.. !. The king went to Gibcon."
This was 70 perform a great religious
ceremonial IN thanksgiving ior his ac-
cessIun TO the throne A reign that
begins IN devotion and conservation to
God ough; - be good one. But lie
does not consist IN beginnings and end
ings Life lies between these two cx-
tremcS and the acts OF every day de
termine what its character will be
Solomon offered thousand burnt oil
ierngs. hat was no, IN evidence OF
wisdom. Il surely would need vast
wealth to keep up that sort OF offering
long. Perhaps here is the secret oi the
divine offer God knew the king would
need wealth # he went ON like that
He also knew ii he wa, wise he would
not go on like that Hence the offer
VS.. 5. Ask, and | shall give thee"
What promise. II makes one think
OF Jesus ASK and yc shall receive"
he said Whatsoever We shall ask in
my name | will do it," he said Gods
willingness to give is very great. We
seldom prove how great it is But II
is almost sure that ui things that are
right and within the realm OF posi-
b'lity God will give what We ask.
VS. O This is Solomon's answer.
lie rccitcs Gods mercy to his father
Notice how solomon acknowledges
that mercy to David had been in pro
portion oi his truth" his righteous.
ness, and hi, "uprigh,ncs> oi heart.
Those are great qualities David's
lie had not all been like that lie re
eeivcd cha,tscmcnt and misery iur hi,
sins
Solomon showed a ia,r comprchcn
sion OF what had been the secret of
his fathers success
vs.. 7 Here : am exhibition OF hum
blemindcducss did not make myself
king. God has done this. the new king
thinks and he says So Then he con
ieSS'S MS l'u'l ana incNperiencc. u hat
Vas Vas F',ta 'Plrlt Ihrr' was real Wis
uos', w ,,'a' . snort confession.
;s.S' ..'N'' y q great zoe 10 man
!, 49,, ~" nc INhh'c-niihded
- Co. A'a1t pest evidences OF reI
N',' ~. c..., g., .,.., :.
,rr,,,,.. .,. .. ''l.n @ SHOWS ~, lhai ne aP-
pn.r''' ''" Et''i Is ms rcsponsi-
b,., bmna, ,,'.l n' ,p,,P'g over "n.h ne had
H.. oio ''""' ''"R were CHOSEN pee.
Tb.r,. L... ,....-.i.....
,",' "'I never L''h another such
''"''.''. Wv" "'""r'l WIZ" lh., people
~ oEri' Ill.,, ',"lo'"' t.' "',''y' a"d me chmaN
.'", "'t't3 va. .n ,'", .ai'''
,,,, ~. - N'l'l'' tnc P'"''"n. 1t
Cn.,. -, 'o.l s"o'L
M .,. 'I ",,''' >''H".l'S hIaft'