The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-07-08
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDSGlOOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR JULY II
SOLOMON AMOUNTED KING.
CBy Y. O. SELLERS. Acting Director OF
sunday School Course. The Moody Bible
Institute % ChicsgoD

The king Ia dead: long live the
king" Old and decrepit at seventy
years OF age, q successor must soon
take the shepherd kings seat Of
power.
David's record In q wonderful one
as an empire builder. an organizer and
an accumulation Of wealth. Read care
fully I Chron. 20 2s. Three characters
are the most outstanding for our con-
sideration In this lesson.
I. David. (a) He had TO make .
selection wv. 20. III but God used Da-
vid TO make his own choice OF Solo
mon. Jedidiah, the beloved OF Jeho-
YAH" q Sam i2:2bD. was he whom
Jehovah desired TO alt upon the throne.
(b) David had q promise he must
needs fulnll tvv. II. 30) While his
second son. who sought to usurp his
throne. 10 engaged with his fellow con-
spirators wv. ., AZ In feasting and
rejoicing In their supposedly easy vic
tory over the aged father. David raj
lies and gives direction for the public
proclamation OF Solomon as king.
thereby redeemins his promise. Many
professed Christians treat their prom
Uses far too lightly. Bath-sheba en-
boldened by her need ". 49, enters
the kings chamber where now another
ministers In her stead. and lays the
facts OF Adonijahs rebellion before
David. concluding her petition with the
dramatic words Of verse twenty. Bath
shebas petition is REINFORCED by the
words Of David's mentor. Nathan wv.
%. 27D. Turning again TO Bath sheba
David emphatically reiterates his de-
termination to carry out to the full
Gods commandments relative 20 his
successor. Even In the hour OF his de-
parture David remembers that It IL
Jehovah that hath redeemed my soul
out OF all distress" ". 2sD. tc) David
then gives careful Command relative
TO the public proclamation OF the new
king wv. 30. 35). Calling to his help
his trusted and tried friends. zadok
the priest. Nathan the prophet tsee .
Sam. l2:9<. 25) and Benaiah the SOL
der q Chron. ii:2a.25). he directs
them to place Solomon upon his own
mule w. 33) and take him to Gihon
there TO be anointed and proclaimed
king In Davtd's stead. Contrast Da-
vid's scrupulous obedience regarding
the use OF horses tDeut 1870 with
that OF Absaiom @ Sam. l5:D and
Adonijah ". 81. Note also II was the
priest and the prophet alone who we're
20 anoint the king ". 3D. In this We
see . parable Of the establishment Of
the everlasting kingdom OF righteous
ness by the Prince Of Peace and not
by means. or use. OF the sword.
This amounting was . symbol Of
dedication to God CLev. s:ls-l2 and
the oil OF our amounting by the Holy
Spirit which Is all essential and suf-
ncient for the subjects OF his king
dom luke a<:<s. Acts 1850. But ~
these were only outward form and
symbol. they must petition Jehovah to
keep the new king ". az. td David
took no chances but steps aside fully.
while he yet lived. that all question Of
solomon's right should be removed
". 36).
u. Solomon. (a) 0ed-ehessn. Il
Chron. 3s:s: 2s:D. Solomon was the
nrst son OF David and Bsth-sheba after
their legal marriage. His name means
Peaceful (sss Chron. 12:O and
may suggest the fact that David had
found the peace OF forgiveness. Solo
mon inherited the strength Of David's
maturity and chastsnins also. and
through his mother. the wisdom OF
Ahithophel. whose advice was - II .
man had inquired at the oracle OF God"
q Sam. ls:13). (b) He was chosen b.
cause Of intercession (ch. l:l7. The
standing OF the Christian 10 what Il 10
In the sight OF God because Of one who
intercedes on our behalf (John III.
(c) He was chosen In the midst Of con-
troversy and ~ against antagonists
". 81. 30 the Christian. chosen b.
fore the foundation Of the world N
Christ. also has great opposition and
. dangerous antagonist and. like Solo
mon. he 10 secure In spite Of the a.
saults Of the evil one Il Cor. 1918.
Jude ~. (d) Solomon was chosen
for . definite work Il Chron. 1s:l0.
The sad spectacle presented today 10
TO see 90 many professed Christians
who seem to have no sense OF rcspon-
sibility much less an appreciation OF
their privileges In Christ Jesus. (e)
Solomon was promised help Il Chron.
2s:s) 90 are we and according to each
days duty so shall thy strength be-"
Il can do all things through Christ
which strengthened me" (Phil. t:l0.
~. AdonIJsh. (s) He was q selfse-
iected king ". % and a. such lacked
not only the approval Of God but the
ability TO execute his designs. He had
Joab the bloody soldier and Abiathsr
the Jealous priest as his conspirators.
yet all combined could not set aside
the decree Of God. (b) He was .
spoiled child. His father had not
displeased him at any time" tall his
life, v. 81. True he was Dsvid's eldest
living son. yet he was not In the line
OF Gods selection. Throughout the
history OF Israel the elder is constant.
ly set aside for the younger He was