The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-12-03
Solomon
Chooses Wisdom
Sunday School Lesson for Dec. 6, 1908
Specially Arranged for This Paper

opecdly Arranged TOT lnlS Paper
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LESSON TEXT Kings sA-16. Mem
Dry verses, TO- II.
GOLDEN TExT.-"The fear OF the
Lord is the beginning of wisdom. prov.
9:lO
TtME.-About 1922 B. C. (or 97D The
early part of Solomon's reign.
pLACE.-Gibeon, a sacred place five or
six miles northwest of Jerusalem, where
the tabernacle had been erected for
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 (2:17-1S,
that your daughters shall prophesy
and your young men shall see visions
and your old men shall dreai
dreams" Visions and dreams brn
before us the ideals and possib!litit.
which we can press forward to max
real and true. The whole chur.
should keep before her the vision
perfect church and perfect wor..
he city of God.
How Solomon Reasoned Out His De
rision.-Vs. 6-S. Solomon, before d,
| Uiding what to choose, carefully CO..
sidered his circumstances and needs
thus showing that well-balanced min.
on which it was possible to bestow tn
| gift of wisdom
First Consderation.-Th 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 fulfillment
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. "-a
| 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 am 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 as
king over a small kingdom. II know
not how to go out or come in" This
expression is proverbial for the active
| conduct OF affairs. See Mum. 27:17;
Deut' 2S:6; 1 Sam 1913. This was
strong reason for asking of God
the things he decided to ask.
Fourth Consideration.-The great
ness of the work to be done. v. 8.
Thy servant is in. the midst Of thy
people" That is. 10 set over them as
king They were a turbulent peo-
pie. often going astray. often contend
ing with each other, with strong Wills
and an impulsive temperament. Prob
ably there was a strong party opposed
to him, and brothers of full age ready
to lead II. Which thou hast chosen
1t was not only great nation. but the
nation chosen to represent God be-
fore the world and carry out his king
dom and teach the world, his truths.
All this was a far. greater responsible
ity than the ruling Of an ordinary king
dom. "A great people. that cannot be
numbered" This WAS a common and
natural expression for a large mum
ber. See Gen. 1916. From the mum.
ber Of men given in Q Sam. 24:9 and
4 Chron. 2l:5. g., II is inferred that the
population was about 100000. II
would have been very dificult in those
days to get the exact number Of the
people.
Solomon Chooses Wisdom.-V. 8
Give therefore" In view of all the
above considerations, and because God
had the gifts In vast abundance, and
he alone was the source and fountain
thereof. "An understanding heart.
. Wisdom for the administration of his
duties, wise principles, and wisdom In
the application of them to the nation
V. 10. And the speech pleased the
Lord" Why? (D 1t was right
noble, unselfish, like God himself. (2l
1t rendered 1t possible for God to give
him large measures Of the best things
in all the universe. 90 1t furnished
; an opportunity to give many othel
: things. God loves to give. He gives
, us all we can beneticially receive
The more he can give US. the better
he is pleased! y n
/ V. IL. Because thou hast no
asked for thyself" The selfish maj
cannot receive the gifts God gave Il
Solomon, ana shey ought not to- re
! 'ceivS what he selfishly asks for him
self. Selhshness Is OF hell, not o
heaven, and bears the blossoms an'
: fruits Of the place to which 1t be
longs. n9 bH .f ~ iIa
/ Note that the religious, unselnsh lif'
is the essential condition on whicl
the best earthly gifts can safely b,
n bestowed. The spiritual city OF Coz
must come before 1t is possible o
safe to have the outward glories' an,
riches and pleasures which are tn
fruit Of the perfect spiritual life.
II Just as fast and as far as society be
3 comes Christianized throughout, 30 IA
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