The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-08-27
LESSON FOR AUGUST 20
BEGINNING OF soLoMoN's REIGN

LESSON TEXT-I Kings 1:5; 3:13.
GOLDEN TEXT-The fear of the Lore.
that is wisdom: and to depart from evil
Is understandng.-Job 2S:2S.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Solomon's Choice
JUNIOR TOPIC-Solomon's Wise Be-
ginning.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Choosing the Best Things
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
True Wisdom and How to Get 1t.
!. Solomon Anointed King a: 5-40).
David had hitherto failed to show
the people who should be king after
him (v. 20). He is now stirred to
action by the combined appeals of
Bathsheba and Nathan. He immedi-
ately sent for the faithful three Ia
dok, Nathan and Benaiah, and bade
them to anoint Solomon king. They
speedily executed their commission
and soon the people shouted God save
king Solomon"
II. Solomon's Acts to Establish His
Kingdom a: 41-2: 46).
Coming to the kingdom at such a
time as this, he noted certain danger
Gus elements which. if allowed to de
velop, would weaken If not destroy
his rule.
l. Adoniiah placed under surveil-
lance wv. 41-53). Though he had at
tempted to usurp the kingdom, Solo
mon placed him on good behavior. In
this treatment, Solomon displayed
both clemency and dignity, which are
praiseworthy in a ruler
q Adonijah executed e.: 13-25).
Solomon ordered him executed be
cause he made an undetermined effort
to become king.
3. Abiathar removed from the priest
hood e :26, 27). This man had joined
Adoniiah in his plot of usurpation.
Solomon removed him from office and
appointed Zadok in his stead.
4. Joab executed e :2S-35). Joab.
too. was party in Adonijah's rebel
lion. Beside this he had treacherous-
ly murdered his rivals in the army.
He was succeeded in the generalship
by Benaiah.
3. Shimei executed (2:36-46). Shimei
had deserted David and Joined his
enemies, even bitterly cursed him.
Solomon first paroled him and confined
him to Jerusalem, but when he broke
his parole he had him executed.
III. Gods Gracious Offer to Solomon
(3:4, 50.
Solomon made a lavish sacrifice to
the Lord. 1t was not that the Lore
cared for the number of animals. br
the attitude of the mans heart t,
ward him. ASK what / shall gi,
thee" placed very wide possibilities b,
! fore the king God. as it were. signe
blank checks and turned them owe
| to Solomon to fill in any amount tha
his heart desired.
w. Solomon's Wise Choice % :6-9).
The Lords gracious offer brought
the king face to face with the re-
sponsibllity of making a choice. Goo
so deals with his children that a
choice must be made by everyone
Solomon was keenly sensible of the
difficulty and the responsibility of his
position. David was great king.
For a young man to take up the work
of an illustrious father and push it
to completion is a most difficult task
Besides all this, the disturbing ele-
ments set in motion by the usurper,
Adonijah, were to be dealt with. In
his reply to God he pleads that he
was not king as a result of his own
choosing, but because of Gods loving
kindness. All who have been called
of God to fill positions of honor and
trust can truly exercise that same
boldness of faith. When called to
positions of honor and trust we should
not become high-minded and vain, but
humbly present ourselves before God
for help.
v. Gods Unstinted Gift to Solomon
g :10-15).
Solomons speech pleased the Lord.
The Lord is always pleased when we
place ourselves before him in such
attitude. Solomon got more than he
asked for. Because he put wisdom
first, God saw that he could be trust
ed with material good. also. Christ
taught the same thing when he said.
Seek We first the kingdom of God
and his righteousness and all these
things shall be added unto you."-
Matt. 6:33. He that puts God and
spiritual things first in time and i'm
portance can be trusted with tempor-
al things. That which God promised
him above what he asked was riches.
honor and length of days. All who
feel the lack of wisdom can go to God
with confidence (James 1:5). God
blessed Solomon With a singularly
comprehensive mind (I Kings 4 :29-34).
He was a botanist, zoologist, archi-
tect. poet, and a moral philosopher.
When we ask what God wills. we shall