Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-08
Solomon Amounted King
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TOMKINS.
Texts ]. King. !. 1-5a, ii. liz.


third King Of Gods people He began
Splendidly, he ended disastrously. So
long as no obeyed God and kept him
sell faithful TO the statutes OF the AL
mighty he was blessed and honored and
successful: but. like many another man
who has become rich his money was
700 much for him. and II led him away
from Jehovah and caused him to sink
INTO the misery of heather customs.
oui Lesson to-day especially refers to
5o!omon's amounting. There was some
!ttl" difhculty about II. there seems
20 nave been about the amounting OF
sood many or the Kings of that period.
mere were many rivals. and each one
mad hi. following: but Solomon was the
ono whom God had chosen, and there
'ore solomon was finally placed upon
The throne, and his rivals were discom-
htted. though their lives were gracious
l. spared. God has the ordering Of the
affairs OF men. They try TO rebel
against His ruling. and disaster and
trouble result. but Gods ordering re-
mains and is bound finally TO conquer.
Right cannot he defeated. 1t is = com
fort 10 realize that God has a hand IN
the affairs Of men. They may seek
20 oppose Him. TO destroy Him and 10
set up the idols OF their own passions
and foolish judgments. hut soon or late
these are swept aside just as the in
"
houses which the children have made
on the shore, and the Divine VIII con-
trolls we can do nothing against the
truth but for tho truth says ST. Paul
GOD CAN USE YOUTH
AS WELL As OLD AGF;
solomon was young when ne was
chosen. God can use youth as we'll as
old age. If it is only consecraied TO
Him. We may we'll believe IL was
youth OF promise. youth IN which al
ready there breathed the strength
which led Solomon afterwards TO be
called wise. To he sure. the disap-
poin;mcnt Of his old age. which we find
suggested Ia the Book Of Ecclesiastes
takes something from IN" fragrance Of
his early days. but can forget that
FOR a momcn, and rejoice In the Youth
ful enthusiasm which made bright We
may we'll believe. tho closing hours OF
Davi6's l!fe and which gave promise OF
great good for tho future of the king
dom Older people must not rebel
against or fail 70 understand tho ad-
rancemcnt Of those who arc younger
We live In an age when youth Is more
IN demand than ever before. Positions
are largely filled by young men There
IS rapid approach TO maturity to-day
which is different from anything that
has been known before. Let not those
who have pasted tho zenith o! lies
campaign complain ~ this. but let them
rather rejoice that Tho young arc more
capable than they used 10 he and that
they are ready 10 take their place n
the human conflict II IS the part OF
age 10 be generous and 10 guide. so far
as may be possible through experience.
the activities NJ youth. Blu, there must
never be that unpardonable jealousy
which shall suspicion the Young as full
Of error. and which shall make their
Efforts more difficult.
COD CALLS MANY PEOPLE
TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WILL.
Notice the agencies brought TO bear
in connection with the browning OF the
King There was David. his father. OF
course. and Bathsheba. and Nathan.
the prs het. But in addition TO these
there : Zadok. the priest and many
others socated with the tabernacle
worship. All this is interesting as
showing how God calls many people
and uses many things IN tho accom-
nlishinc OF His will Is j, no, so in
our life? Whatever comes to us in the
way Of responsibility should make us
conscious Of our obligations 10 many
OF our brothers We owe much 20
thousands Of people who are daily
serving us. Whatever work I may be
able TO do with my hands or my brain
have been helped to do BIZ thou
sands of men and women. many OF
whom I have never seen. This is one
OF the Interesting truths Of life and
its lesson Is found in the call 20 uni
body. Everybody has claim upon me.
and ! can pass by no man woman
and think that ! am entirely without
obligations. And when l realize this
world wide service rendered me. and
that also may have share in rem
dering such service to another. there
must come n self-reverence and self
control. which will help me 10 be what
God wants me TO be and 10 dc what
God wants me TO do.
SOLEMN AND BEAUTIFUL
LESSON DAVID GIVES son
There is one other lesson. and it is
found In the solemn and beautiful
charge which David gives to his son.
In it he reviews his own life. In II he
warns him Of the enemies Of the king
dom. To be sure, there is n little of
that bitterness concerning his enemies
which was characteristic of the genera
ton in which he lived. but it is also n
warning. which proves how loyal David
was to God Keep the charge of the
Lord thy God. to walk in His ways
Does not that teach us that nation can
hope for pcrmanency and prosperity
where the law OF God is neglected or
the worship of God thrown aside? We
may thank God that In our American
government the President takes his
oath of office with his hand on the
open Bible. We may thank God that
we have our chaplains in Congress and
In our legislatures. we must hold
fast to these things, and we must also
demand that the righteousness OF God
shall rule everywhere among us and
that things contrary to His will shall
he cast down. May God hasten the
day when obedience to His will shall
be counted as the most important
thing.
Dear Lord. as Thou didst anoint Thy
kings Of old to do Thy service so do
Thou anont me. Thy humble child.
that ! may do Thy will in M day and
generation. Help me to give all that
have and all that I am to the
ioy Of Thy service. Make me to
know my duty to all my brothers
and open mine eyes that I may see
the opportunities of life. But. above
all else oh. Thou great and only King
keen me near TO Thee; hold me from