Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1915-07-15
INTERNATIONAL
SUNlYSQlOOL
LESSON
fBy e. o. SELLERS. Acting Director o.
Sunday School Course, The Moody Bib,
Institute of Chicago)
LESSON FOR JULY 10
SOLOMON CHOOSES WISDOM.

LESSON TEXT Kings S:4-15.
GOLDEN TExT-The fear of Jehoval
is the beginning of wisdom Prov. s:l
| r. ".
Last week we had the story of g
| young man whose childhood was un
restrained and ungoverned, who
proved to be sad failure, unable te
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. 800 az
Preparation ". 80. 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 l shall
give thee" (a) He loved the Lord
(v. 81. 1t was 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. ID He
went to Gideon" ". ~ because there
at the tabernacle (the temple was
not yet built) Jehovah particularly
manifested himself to the people q
Chron. 21.29; Elk. 29:42. 43 r. W
~ Presentation ". A.. He offered
| burnt offerings" a thousand, when
| legally one would have sufficed The
| tabernacle was type of Christ John
1:14 r. v. and John 14:6) and each
| of the one thousand sacrifices also
| pointed forward to the Christ The
! Christian has a better ground where
| on to approach God (Heb. 10: 1927
than that of countless sacrifices OF
rams and bulls.
(3) Revelation ". 81 God appeared
to Solomon in dream, we have d
| better revelation in Jesus and the in
spired Word, still it was real ap.
prove. (Gen 2S:12, 10; Matt. 1920;
Acts 1879, 10Y Scientists themselves
| confess that they know comparatively
| little about dreams. That God car
and does even in modern times give
US revelations of truth by such means
is witnessed by the book by the late
| DIR. A. J. Gordon. How Christ Came
to Church" That dream transformed
pastor.
| (4) Position wv 6, y. In reply tt
| Gods wonderful permission to Solo
mon, the setting before him of his
all acknowledged his debt to David
his father. Gods kindness, his faith
| fitness 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 OF
service for which Solomon felt
his unworthiness.
(5) Petition wv 8, 81. Seeing tn.
| greatness of the responsibility nov
resting ". 81 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 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 q Chron. 22:12;
29:19); another suggestion as to how
fathers should pray for their sons.
| II. Gods Part, Wv. 1915. ~ His
Pleasure wv. 10, ID. Solomon had
not asked for self, for pleasure nor
for earthly power and hence Gods de.
| light. God delights in an intelligent
prayer prov. 1879. 1t is a greater
| thing to make speech that pleases
God than one to please man. Verse
eleven tells of some of the things Sol
ONION might have asked for, and
| WulCu uOuUtlcSS Iuduy VI 10 wouiu
have asked under the same circum.
stances
(2) His Performance w. 12). But
Solomon made more wise choice.
hence Gods pleasure to do not only
all he had asked, according to his
human words, but more also (Eph
1920. His name has become a
proverb, synonymous with the great
est wisdom ". %, Oh. 4:29-34; SIP,
etc.). Seeking what seemed to be the
minor thing God gave him the best
| Matt 6:33; Rom. 1892; Oh. 10:23-29)
and that which thou hast not asked" "
(3) His Promise ". 14). AS though
to heap up his goodness, as sort OF
reward of merit. God offered Solo
mon "long life" on one condition only,
| viz, obedience Such a promise Is