Middletown transcript., 1915-07-17
INTERNATIONAL
SUNASUOOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR JULY 1s
SOLOMON CHOOSES WISDOM.
tBy e o. SELLERS. Acting Director of
Sunday School Course. The Moody Bible
Institute of chicago)

Is the beginning of wisdom. Prov. s:1O
r. "
Last week we had the story of a
young man whose childhood was un-
restrained and ungoverned. who
proved to be sad failure, unable to
govern the kingdom he so much de-
sired. Today, by contrast, we study
the life of a younger brother, who,
under better influences, chose the way
that leads to true success. Emphasize
therefore the fact that this Sunday is
Decision Day"
I. Solomon's Part wv. 3-9) (1)
Preparation ". 81. Solomon was look
ing out of the open gateway of life.
Still the text suggests that there was
preparation for his hearing of Gods
wonderful promise, ASK what shall
give thee" (a) He loved the Lord"
". 81. 1t was a wonderful kingdom
David had bequeathed to his son,
enough to entice any young man, yet
it was in the statutes of David" and
In the worship of Jehovah that Solo
mon had his chief delight. (b) He
went to Gibeon" ". ~ because there
at the tabernacle (the temple was
not yet built Jehovah particularly
manifested himself to the people Il
Chron. 21:29; Elk. 29:42, 43 r. W.
The people were still adhering to the
ordinance found in Ex 20:24.
(2) Presentation ". 4). He offered
burnt offerings" a thousand, when
legally one would have sufficed The
tabernacle was type of Christ John
1:14 R. v. and John 14:6) and each
Of the one thousand sacrifices also
pointed forward to the Christ. The
Christian has a better ground where
on to approach God (Heb. 1O:1-22)
than that of countless sacrifices of
rams and bulls.
(3) Revelation ". 81. God appeared
to Solomon in a dream, we have a
better revelation in Jesus and the in
spired Word, still it was a real ap-
pearance to him as subsequent events
prove. (Gen. 2S:12, 13; Matt 1920;
Acts 1879. 10). Scientists themselves
confess that they know comparatively
little about dreams. That God can
and does even in modern times give
us revelations of truth by such means
is witnessed by the book by the late
DIR. A. j. Gordon, "How Christ Came
to Church" That dream transformed
a pastor. Dreams are, however, most
probably the concentrated essence If
the main stream of waking thoughts" 4"
Visions furnish ideals and inspira-
tions. Let the church keep before It.
self the vision of a perfect church,
world and city of God. Life is no
dream, but life is nothing without
great dreams. Doctor Cope.
(4) Position wv. 6, y. In reply to
Gods wonderful permission to Solo,
mon, the setting before him of his
infinite resources, Solomon first of
all acknowledged his debt to David,
his father. Gods kindness, his faith
fulness and bounty" (marg.) to
David had been according to the man
ner of his walking in "uprightness of
heart; and to crown that kindness,
throne" This acknowledgment in
volved a definite obligation or
service for which Solomon felt
his unworthiness. 1t is such a
spirit that God delights to honor
and in response to it he has set
the infinite resources of his power
(John 14:13, IA; 1877; 1915; 1928,
"a; Mark 1924; John 1922; 5:14,
15). Solomon was perhaps twenty
one years of age yet in Gods sight he
is but "a little child"-teachable,
obedient, trusting
(5) Petition wv 8, 81. Seeing the
greatness of the responsibility now
resting ". 81 upon him Solomon's
plea is for wisdom. Already he had
shown that he had in him the root of
true wisdom prov. 1T and Golden
Text. Solomon seemed to realize his
responsibility, first to God and then
to the people, for he said, "Who is
able to Judge this Thy great people"
R. v. This is the true and right rela-
tion of duty, public or private, God
first, the people afterward. Solomon
asked for a hearing heart (see r.
v. marg.). Such a request was of
more value than great riches (Prov.
3:13-18) and was in line with his ia
ther DaVids petition Il Chron. %: 12 !;
29:19); another suggestion as to how
fathers should pray for their sons.
Christians may pray this same prayer
(James 1:5-7) and in addition have
the promise of One, the Holy Spirit,
who shall guide them into all truth
John 1919. It is the Spirits work
to impart wisdom, and thus equipped
the Christian is not overwhelmed by
sense of his ineflciency or his re-
sponsibility. In its last analysis this
petition is for the glory of God, and
as such must prevail (Jas. Az, 81. 1t
represents the highest form of wis
dom, of moral integrity and discern
ment.
II. Gods Part, w. 1915. ~ His
Pleasure (vv. 10, III. Solomon had
not asked for seH, for pleasure nor
for earthly power and hence Gods de-
light God delights in an intelligent
prayer prov. 15:S). 1t is a greater
thing to make a speech that pleases
God than one to please man. Verse
eleven tells of some of the things Sol
omon might have asked for, and
which doubtless many of US would
have asked under the same circum-
stances.
(2) His Performance ". 12). But
Solomon made a more wise choice,
hence Gods pleasure to do not only
all he had asked, according to his
human words, but more also (Eph.
3:20). His name has become a
proverb, synonymous with the great,