Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1915-07-15

Last week we had the story of a
young man whose childhood was I'M
restrained and ungOverned, who
proved to be a 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"
|. Solomon's Part wv. 500 ~
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 a 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. % He
went to Gibeon' ". A because there
at the tabernacle (the temple vas
not yet built) Jehovah particularly
manifested himself to the people Il
Chron. 21:29; Elk. 29:42, 43 r. W.
(2) Presentation ". ~. He offered
burnt offerings a thousand, when
legally one would have sufficed. The
tabernacle was a type of Christ John
ia r.. V. and John 1850 and each
Of the one thousand sacrifices also
pointed forward to the Christ. The
Christian has a better ground where
on to approach God (Ileb. 10:1-22)
than that of countless sacrifices Of
rams and bulls.
go 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. 1:2O;
Acts 1879, 100. Scientists themselves
confess that they know comparatively
little about dreams. That God can
and does ever in modern times give
US revelations of truth by such means
Is witnessed by the book by the late
DR.. A. ]. Gordon. "Ilow Christ Came
to Church" That dream transformed
a pastor.
ca Position wv. G, ~. 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,
he, Solomon, is the son to sit on his
throne" This acknowledgment in
volved a definite obligation or
service for which Solomon felt
his unworthiness.
(5l Petition wv S. 9). Seeing the
greatness of the responsibility now
resting ". s. upon him Solomon's
plea is for wisdom. Already he had
shown that he had in him the root of
true wisdom prov. IL 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'
ton 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.
3:13-1S) and was in line with his IA
Their David's petition Il Chron. 22:12;
29:19): another suggestion as to how
fathers should pray for their sons.
a.. Gods Part, Wv. 1915. ~ His
Pleasure wv. 10, IL. Solomon had
not asked for self, for pleasure nor
for earthly power and hence Gods de-
light. God delights in an intelligent
prayer prov. $3.50. 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
ONION 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 q
proverb, synonymous with the great
est wisdom ". 2S, Oh. 4:29-S4: 5:12,
etc.. Seeking what seemed to be the
minor thing God gave him the best
Matt. 6:S3; Rom. S:32; Oh. 10:2S.29)
and that which thou hast not asked
(3) His Promise ". 14). AS though
to heap up his goodness, as a sort OF
a reward of merit, God offered Solo.
mon long life on one condition only,
viz. obedience. Such a promise Is
ours and the world has yet to realize
the wisdom of Gods ordinances for
the good of our physical well being
(Deut. sic; 25:15; Prov. al; 14:15.
80: Tim. 4:S). All of Gods prom
ises are conditioned upon IL obedi.
ence. 1t is sad TO think that with all
of his wisdom Solomon failed to learn
the wisdom OF obedience Il Kings
HAD and died a comparatively
young man.