Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-07-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON FOR JULY 4
SECURED EXCLUSIVELY BY THE
BANNER FOR ITS MANY
READERS
ACCORDING TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Text of the Lesson, I Kings III, Ais.
Memory Verses, 8, 19-Golden Text,
Prov. IX, 10-Commentary Pre-
pared by Rev. ID. NJ. Stearns.

sides, Gods and ours. His is always
perfect; on ours is the failure. The
sinfulness of man and the wonderful
grace Of God sum up one phase of the
whole Bible story. Last week we saw
Solomon on the throne OF the Lord as
king and prospecting Il Chron. xxx, 23l.
Today we are told that Solomon loved
the Lord. walking In the statutes OF
David, his father. only he sacrificed
and burnt incense in high places verse
81. That only" does not sound well,
nor does the affinity with Pharaoh.
king of Egypt OF verse |. 1t looks like
the beginning Of wandering. heart
not perfect with the Lord. Egyptian
fellowship, as well as horses and wives,
seems TO be forbidden in Deut. xvii.
lG, IL. In III Chron. /. /, we read that
the Lord his God was with him
and magnifed him exceedingly and
strengthened him in his kingdom"
More he could not ask, and all that was
required Of him was to walk before
God in truth with all his heart and
soul Il Kings ii, 3. ~.
David had prepared for it at Jerusa-
lem, but the tabernacle Of Moses with
the braZen altar and all the other fur
niture was at Gideon QI Chron. 1, 80,
and there Solomon and all Israel offer
ed many burnt offerings Qesson verse
a.. In every sacrifice we should see
the Son Of God and His one great Of
e. oil ~. {ab
not only salvation, but every blessing
comes to us sinners. In all the Old
Testament story were many offerings
and many kinds, but all pointed IL Col
gotha and were all fulfilled in Him, So
that TO US Christ is all. That night
after the great sacrifice the Lord God
appeared TO Solomon. saying, ASK
what | shall give thee" verse B; III
Chron. l. y. He who spared not His
own Son. but delivered Him up for US
all, how shall He not with Him also
freely give us all things?" Rom. viii.
3D. IF We shall ask anything in my
name will do it" John xiv, 14l. These
and many similar assurances are ours.
but who has proved the power of them :!
We must ask according to His will and
that He may be glorifed and then rest
In the Lord and wait patiently for Him.
for His time and way are always best.
Up 10 this time Solomon seems very
humble and conscious OF his untitneSs
for such a position, for he says. II am
but little child; know not how 10
go out or come in" verse -. Such an
attitude toward God is always sure OF
His help and guidance. See Jer. /. 30;
III chron. Xxx. u. Blessed are the poor
in spirit. for theirs is the kingdom with
all its righteousness and peace and joy
even while on the way TO the kingdom
Solomon summed up his need. as he
then saw it. in his request for a wise
and understanding heart. that he might
discern between good and bad and rule
the people in righteousness The Lord
was pleased with his request and
granted him what he asked and also
things he did not ask for, such as
riches and honor, so that both in wis
dom, riches and honor he eXcelled all
others verses -, 49,. After his vision
or dream he manifested his gratitude
by offering sacrifices 10 God at Jerusa
lem 90. There are two expressions in
this lesson for various reasons worthy
OF special attention. Solomon in his
request said that the people over whom
he ruled were like the dust of the
earth in multitude. and it is written
that God gave Solomon wisdom and
understanding exceeding much and
largeness of heart, even as the sand
that is on the seashore QI Chron. |, 8;
| Kings iv. 29J. The two expressions
dust of the earth and sand upon
the seashore" seem to cover the same
ground. Compare Gen. xiii, &c: xxi, II
The thought seems to be that God
gave Solomon wisdom TO meet each in
dividual case as ii might arise. A
notable illustration is given in | Kings
iii, 1928 Ii is written that Solomon's
wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the
children of the east country and all the
wisdom Of Egypt, for he was wiser
than all men; and there came of all
people to hear the wisdom Of Solomon,
from all kings of the earth which had
heard OF his wisdom q Kings iv, 80,
81, 34). We cannot but think OF the
wisdom of Joseph and OF Daniel,
which was greater than all the wisdom
of Egypt and of Babylon, in their days.
But what is that to me? He who gave
this wisdom still lives and Is Himself
the power of God and the wisdom OF
God; the Son Of God who loved me and
gave Himself for me q Cor. 1, "a; Gal.
Ii, 20). 1t is written, IF any Of you
lack wisdom let him ask of God,
and 1t shall be given him, but let him
ask In faith nothing wandering"
There Is wisdom that is earthly.
sensual. deyilish, but the wisdom that
Is from above is first pure. then peace
able. gentle and easy to be entreated
(Jas. 1. 5, G; Ill 15-1O. We need con-
tinually to know the way wherein We
may walk and the thing that we may