Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-07-09
SON BEGINS To PLOT
|. FOR FATHERS THRONE
Takes Advantage of His Feeble
ness and Starts Scheming;
Plans Frustrated
SOLOMON GOES TO RESCUE
The international Sunday School
Lesson For july I | Is Solo
mon Amounted King
SOLOMON GOES TO RESCUE
(By William T. Ellis)


the fathers shoulders, holding the
old torch higher. Does not the real
test of a father come in rearing sons
who are greater than himself? 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 (aside
from any part their mothers may
have had to do with the case) was
that their father let them have their
own way. They were spoiled as
our significant colloquialism has 1t.
Undisciplned, they grew wilful ana
vain and selfish beyond reason. These
good-looking, egotstical fops stand
like Lots wife, as pillars of remem-
brance, to warn others against their
fate. There never was a selfish, un-
restrained and indulged boy who did
not reap bitterness in his own spirit.
Action and excitement abound in
our lesson story. Old King David
was in his dotage. His oldest son.
throne. although everybody knew
that David had promised it to Bath
sheba. How the friends of Solomon
circumvented the scheme of Adoni-
jah by another plot, completes the
story.
The Plotting of Princes
Taking advantage of the seclusion
of King David, in his growing feeble
ness, and indifference to public ar
fairs, Adonijah began to put himself
more prominently in the public eve:
He rode forth in state, with royal
trappings and outrunners, IN
warned by the example of his brother,
Absalom, he tried to steal the hearts
of the people. Like many another
politician since, he mistook the flat
teries of the self-seekers nearest him
as the voice of the people. That willy
warrior, old Joab, and shrewd Abba
thar, the priest, used the young man
as their tool; for they had evidently
entertained the ambition to be king
makers. There was nothing in Adon-
ijahs 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 Davids famous heroes were not
hidden because their loyalty to the
king was known to be unshakable.
At this great feast 1t was planned
that the cry should arise, Long live
king Adonijah" The whole affair
was to be given the appearance of a
spontaneous outburst of popular
opinion, and on this wave Adonijah
was to ride to the throne. Every
thing went according to schedule,
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; and
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 un-
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
told the person most interested, Bath
sheba, the mother of Solomon, of the
plot to deprive her son of his prom
ised throne. Then, with her wit added
to his they arranged that both of
them should go in to the king in sue
cession, and stir him to recollection
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.
The thing was done king fashion.
And King David said, Call me Ia
dok 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
ride upon mine own mule, and bring
him down to Gihon:
And let Zadok the priest and
n" than the prophet anoint him there
king over Israel; and blow ye with
the trumpet, and say, God save King
Solomon.
Then ye shall come up after him,
that he may come and sit upon my
throne; for he shall be king in my
stead: and / have appointed him to
be ruler over Israel and over Judah.
And Zadok the priest took an
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 eaFtn rent WIFI lne Sounu Oh
them
That noise reached the conspira-
tors at their feast, and drove the
icicle of terror into their hearts.
The true quality of these selfish poll
ticians was revealed for Then all the
guests of Adonijah were seized with
terroSand 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.
Grown 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-
fection." Defeat all enemies and
temptations as David defeated Adon-
ijah, by crowning Solomon. Never
mind about taking up a quarrel and
C mbat; simply Grown Solomon"
Positive actions win; negations never
succeed. Spend no time in disprov-
ing the right OF the Adoniiahs of
temptation in your life; simply crown
the rightful king of your affection and
service. Darkness cannot be swept out
of a room with a broom let in the
light. and the darkness will disap-
pear.
Our own day needs to take to
heart this experience. We are deeply