The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-07-09
LESSON FOR JULY II


GOLDEN Tx thou the God OF
thy father, and serve him with q perfect
heart and . willing mind. I Chron. 2S:a
"The king is dead; long live the
king" Old and decrepit at seventy
years Of age. . successor must soon
take the shepherd kings seat OF
power.
David's record is q wonderful one
as an empire builder, an organizer and
an accumulation Of wealth. Read are
fully I Chron. 1928. Three characters
are the most outstanding for u con-
s~ideration in this lesson.
.. David. (a) He had to make a
selection wv. 20, 27) but God used Da-
vid to make his own choice of Solo
mon. Jedidiah, 'the beloved Of Jeho-
vah." e Sam. 12:25), was he whom
Jehovah desired to sit upon the throne.
(b) David had a promise he must
needs fulfill (vv. II. 300. While his
second son, who sought to usurp his
throne. is engaged with his fellow con-
spirators a(vv. 8, AL in feasting and
rejoicing In their supposedly easy vic
tory owe the aged father. David raj.
lies and gives direction for the public
proclamation OF Solomon as king.
thereby redeeming his promise. Many
p~rofessed Christians treat their prom
Uses far too lightly. B~ath-sheba en-
boldened by her need ". 16) enters
the kings chamber where now another
ministers in her stead, and lays the
facts Of Adonijah's rebellion before
David, concluding her petition with the
dramatic words Of verse twenty. Bath
sheba's petition is REINFORCED by the
words Of David's mentor, Nathan wv.
20, 27). Turning again to B~ath-sheba
David e~mphatically reiterates his de-
termination to carry out to the full
Gods commandments relative to his
successor. Even in the hour Of his de-
parture David remembers that it is
Jehovah that hath redeemed my soul
out Of all Distress ". 29). (c) David
then gives careful command relative
to the public proclamation of the new
king wv. 80, 35). Calling to his help
his trusted and tried friends, Zadok
the priest, Nathan the prophet (see 2
Sam. 1924, 25) and Benaiah the sol
der Il Chron. 11:22-25), he directs
them to place Solomon upon his own
mule ". 33) and take him to Gihon
there to be anointed and proclaimed
king in David's stead. Contrast Da-
vid's scrupulous obedience regarding
the use of horses (Deut. 1870 with
that of Absalom e Sam. 15:1) and
Adonijah ". 81. Note also it vas the
priest and the prophet alone who were
A. nn-lr< <hz 1S-- 70 -0AN To- <lsc MA
see a 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 a symbol OF
dedication to God Lev. S:19-12) and
the oil Of our amounting by the Holy
Spirit which is all essential and suf-
ficient for tle subjects of his king
dom duke 24:49, Acts 1853. But as
these were only outward form and
symbol, they must petition Jehovah to
keep the new king ". 34). (d) David
took no chances but steps aside fully,
while he yet lived, that all question of
Solomon's right should be removed
". 35). Solomon had the added Sc
curity in that he had been appointed
also by Jehovah to be a prince over
Israel and Judah. 1t was Benaiah the
soldier who, true to his training. re-
ported to the king the execution Of
his orders and swears fealty to his sue
cessor, at the same time interceding
for Jehovah's blessing upon Solomon.
~. Solomon. (a) G~od-chosen. q
Chron. 1856; 29:1). Solomon was the
Are< COW IS nox,;d o-d no%h choho oc%--
their legal marriage. His name means
Peaceful" (see I Chron. 22:9) and
may suggest the fact that David had
found the peace of forgiveness. Solo
mon inherited the strength of David's
maturity and Christening also. and
through his mother, the wisdom of
Ahithophel, whose advice was as If q
man had inquired at the oracle of Cod
e Sam. 1929. OBJ He was chosen be-
cause of intercession Och. I'D. The
standing of the Christian Is what 1t ia
in the sight of God because of one who
mercedes on our behalf (John I'D.
CO. He was chosen In the midst of con-
troversy and as against antagonists
". g.. So the Christian, chosen be-
fore the foundation of the world in
Christ. also has great opposition and
a dangerous antagonist and. like Solo
mon. he Is secure In spite of the as
saults of the evil one Il Cor. 1913.
Jude 24). (d) Solomon was chosen
for q definite work Il Chron. 2s:10).
The sad spectacle presented today ia
to see so many professed Christians
who seem to have no sense of respon-
sibility much less an appreciation OF
their privileges in Christ Jesus. (e)
Solomon raj promised help q Chron.
28:9) so are we and according to each
days duty so shall thy strength be-"
81 car do all things through Christ
which strengthened me" (Phil. AID.
The people ". 400 accepted Solomon,
born to the purple" as one worthy
the position. We are chosen to be
"kings and priests unto Cod" to be
saints because God has chosen US Gin
the beloved" This is a great honor
q Cor. 1:2-6:2), all that is required ID
the gift OF Jul heart.
III. Adonijah. (a) He was a self-se,
-