Evening star., 1920-09-11

broad and thorough, but wisdom is
greater than knowledge. 1t is asso-
ciated with conduct and character.
The personality. poise and power OF
Solomon won the hearty commenda-
tion of the queen.
She saw the evidence of his pros
perity in the magnificent temple, roy
al palaces and public works which
Solomon had erected. His profits from
foreign trade on one item alone are
reported as amounting to $11.250,-
000." Wealth is essential to national
progress. Social service workers i'm
form us that poverty when united
with slum life or in crowded congest-
ed quarters tends toward immortality.
Poor housing and food will produce
diseases as well as lack of clothing
and bad sanitation. Misuse of wealth
will destroy nations glory. while
wise use of it will promote the
country's welfare and destiny Bal
kis. as the Queen of Sheba is some
times called, witnessed Solomon's us"
of his wealth. which is the acid test
of wisdom and religion, and com
mended him.
She marked the peaceful condition
of the people. ShDaw his genius in
his private and public parks and gar
dens, pools and farms. She enjoyed
the music of his trained singers, both
men and women. with their harrs
of rare red sandalwood and gold. She
had participated in the royal BAN
quets when his golden tables were
filled with the contributions of every
land. The movements of his richly
gowned slaves, with their quiet, well
trained movements, watching for the
comfort of each guest, with the LAYERS.
dishes and goblets all made from the
gold of Ophir, possibly white gold.
She had witnessed some of the great
festivals at the temple and gave credit
to Jehovah for the wisdom of the
king, for her Investigations proved to
her mind that God was the source
of SoIomon's glory and of his nations $
greatness.
One who studies the live of the
great son of David will agree with
the Queen of Si>.ka that Solomon
owed all that he rsd to God. She
gave to her host as d gift 120 talents
of gold, estimated to be worth nearly
So 500 900, and such spices as the city
had never seen befS~e. and also valu-
able jewels. The s>9 thing about the
glory of Solomon is that it justifies
the saying of Gray-"the paths or
glory lead but to the grave-tor ms
glory proved destructive to the ma
tion. The day OF victory and glory is
| full Of peril to every nation. His
polgamous marriages and desire to
cement international relationships by
| liberal views concerning other re-
ligions resulted in his and his coun-
try's undoing. "The wise are take
| in their own craftiness." for he failed
along the lines of his greatest power.
He has advised US Ito keep the heart.
| for out of it is the issues of life" He
| failed here. for he allowed the strange
| women. whom he loved. to turn his
| heart away from God. SO that created
| idols for heather worship. God did
| not wink at his sin, for he punished
| it heavily and severely by giving the
kingdom to one of his servants and
| Solomon's time, but his last days were
bitter, In spite of his wealth. He was
haunted by the premonitions Of the
coming downfall of his house, al
| though q portion was to be saved for
| his son to rule over. He was harasse
nv nlots and his enemies so that his
| days were shortened. He reaped
what he sowed for not walking in the
ways of the Lord. which is the path
way to peace, prosperity and power.