The Denver star., 1915-07-17

Text Of the Lesson. Kings iii, 415.
Memory Verses, 9. 1o-Goidsn Text,
Prov. tx, 1o-commentary Prepared
by Rev. D. N. Stsarns.
In every record there are the two
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. 23,.
Today we are told that Solomon loved
David, his father, only he sacriti ced
and burnt incense in high places tverse
81. That "only" does not sound well,
nor does the affinity with Pharao oh,
king of Egypt, Of verse 1. 1t looks like
the beginning Of wandering, a heart
not perfect with the Lord. Egyptian n
fellowship, as well as horses and wives.
seems to be forbidden in Deut. xvii.
16, II. In II Chron. /. l, we read that
1.-The Lord his God was with him
and magnif1ed him exceedingly and
lAtuSu III LIS Au8uOul
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. ~.
The ark of God was in the tent which
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 Gibeon III Chron. l. 30.
and there Solomon and all Israel offer
ed many burnt offerings Qesson verse
II. In every sacrifice we should see
the Son Of God and His one great of
ferinS once for all, by virtue of which
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 to Col
gotha and were all fulfilled in Him. so
that to US Christ is all. That night
after the great sacrifice the Lord G cd
appeared to Solomon. saying, TASK
what l shall give thee" verse 5: II
Chron. /. 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?" from. viii,
32J If We shall ask anything in my
name l will do it" John xiv. l4l. 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 gloritied and then rest
in the Lord and wait patiently for Him
for His time and way are always best.
Up to this time Solomon seems very
humhlo and copScirns of his uu6tuA~a
for such a position. for he says. Il am
but little child; l know not how to
go out or come in verse y, Such an
attitude toward God is always sure Of
His help and guidance. See .Jer. i. 10:
II chron. Xxx. 12. 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 10. 49,. After his vision
or dream he manifested his gra atitude
by offering sacrifices to God at Jerusa-
lem (15). 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
understanding exceeding much and
largeness of heart, even as the sand
that is on the seashore Oh Chron. l. 8:
Kings iv. 29). The two expressions
dust OF the earth and sand upon
the seashore" seem to cover the same
ground. Compare Gen. xiii. 16: xxi, II.
The thought seems to be that God
dividual case as 1t might arise A
notable illustration Is given in | Kings
iii. 1928. 1t 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 ali
people to hear the wisdom of Solomon.
heard of his wisdom q Kings iv, 30.
81. 34). We canpot 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
thia wisdom still lives and ia Hinaa1f