The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-10
CRY WILLIAM T. ELLIs.l

Here comes the son, to stand on
the fathers shoulders, holding the
old torch higher. Does not the real
test of a father come in rearing sons
who are greater than hfmself2 Solo
mon outshone David, by David's help
That line of reasoning must not be
insisted upon too strongly for there
was Absalom and Adonijah. Real
life has a way of confounding our
simple rules. Still, we know that one
reason why these two sons of David
failed so tragically 6aside from any
part their mothers may have had TO
do with the case) was that their fathor
let them have their own way TheY
were Spoiled as our significant col
Journalism has it. UndiSciplined, they
grew wilful and vain and seIflsn De
yond reason. These good-look1ng,
egotistical tops stand, like Lots wife,
as pillars of remembrance, to warn
others against their fate There never
was a selfish, unrestrained and IN
dulged boy who did not reap plttef-
ness in his own spirit
Action and excitement abound In
our lesson story. old King David
was in his dotage. His oldest son.
Adonijah began to plot for the throne,
although everybody knew that David
had promised it to Bathsheba. How
the friends of Solomon ciircumVenteo
the scheme of Adonijah by another
plot, completes the story.
The Plotting of Princes.
Taking advantage of the secluslon
of King David, in his growing feebie-
ness, and indifference to puphc al
fairs Adonijah began to put hl1n-
self more prominently in the pubnc
eye He rode forth in state. with royal
trappings and outrunners UnWarneo
by the example of his brother AID.
salon. he tried to steal the hearts or
the people. Like many another pol
itician since. he mistook the batteries
of the self-seekers nearest him as the
voice of the people. That willy war
rior. old Joab. and shrewd Abiathar
the priest, used the young man as
their tool; for they had evidently en-
tertained the ambition to be king
makers. There was nothing in Adorn-
jah's selfish life to teach him to see
through the designs of these traitors
to the king.
Coached by these courtiers, the
plotting prince planned a great feast
a short distance below the city. All
the princes were invited except Solo
mon, and most of the leading men of
the nation, Zadok, the priest, Nathan,
the prophet and Benaiah, the captain
of the host, and others of Davld's IA
NOUS heroes were not hidden because
their loyalty to the king was known
to be unshakable- At this great feast
it was planned that the cry should
arise. Long live King Adonijah." The
whole affair was to be given the ap-
pearance of a spontaneous outburst OF
popular opinion and on this wave
Adonijah was to ride to the throne.
Everything went according to sched-
ules except that prompt action by Solo
mons party was not looked for.
The Prophet Who Was a Minute Man.
Often the criticism is made that
good men are not practical ana
that preachers cannot put through
their own program of reform. Here
was Nathan, the fearless prophet, who
had rebuked King David for his sin:
surely he was merely a fearless, I'M
safe dealer in abstract righteousness.
Not a bit of it. When it came to real
efficiency he proved himself superior
to Joab and Abiathar and all the rest
of the gang of court politicians
His program was simple. First, he
tol1 the person most interested,
Rashsheba, the mother of Solomon, of
the plot to deprive her son or MS
promised throne. Then, with her wit
added to his they arranged that both
of them should go in to the king in
succession, and stir him to recoHec-
ton of his promise They trusted the
aroused spirit of David to do the rest.
And it did. Once awakened to a
knowledge of the plot, the king gave
swift orders for the immediate coro-
nation of Solomon, on that very day
Ths thing was done king fashion:
'-And King David said, Call me
Zadok the priest, and Nathan the
prophet, and Benaiah the son of Je-
hoiada And they came before the
king.
THE king also said unto them,
Take with you the servants of your
lord, and cause Solomon my son to
ride upon mine own mule, and bring
him down to Gihon:
And let Zadok the priest and Ma
than the prophet anoint him there
king over Israel: and blow We with the
trumpet. and say, God save King Solo
mon.
.'Then We shall come up after him,
that he may come and sit upon my
throne; for he shall be king in my
stead: and 1 have appointed him to
be ruler over Israel and over Judah.
And zadok the priest took an
horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and
anointed Solomon. And they blew the
trumpet; and all the people said, God
save King Solomon.
And all the people came up after
him, and the people piped with pipes,
and rejoiced with great joy, so that
the earth rent with the sound of
them"
That noise reached the conspirators
at their feast, and drove the icicle of
terror into their hearts. The true
quality of these selfish politicians was
revealed for Then all the guests of
Adonijah were seized with terror and
rose up and each went his way" An
hour ago the prince seemed the most
popular man in the kingdom; now he
is forsaken by all, and forced to seek
sanctuary at the horns of the altar,
where he won the pardon of his
brother.
'tCroWn Solomon
DR.. Wayland Hoyt used to preach,
especially to young men, a great ser
mon based on this story. His theme
was in DR.. Chalmers great phrase
THE expulsive power of a new af-
lection" Defeat all enemies and
temptations as David defeated Adon-
ijah, by browning Solomon. Never
mind about taking ND a quarrel and