The Dolores star., 1920-08-27
LESSON FOR AUGUST 29
BEGINNING OF soLomon,s REIGN


LESSON TEXT Kings is: 3I3.
GOLDEN TEXT-The fear OF the Lord,
that is wisdom: and to depart from evil
Is understa nding.-Job 2s:28.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Solomon's Choice.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Solomon's Wise Be-
ginning.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
Choosing the Best Things
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
True Wisdom and How to Get 1t.
I. Solomon Anointed King q: 5-4O-
David had hitherto failed to show
the people who should be king after
him ". 2O). He Is now stirred to
action by the combined appeals OF
Bathsheba and Nathan. He immed-
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 ~
u. SoIomon's Acts to Establish His
Kingdom q: 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 IL not destroy
his rule.
l. Adonijah placed under survei-
lance wv. 4l-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.
2. Adonijah executed r.: 1925.
Solomon ordered him executed be
cause he made an underhanded effort
to become king.
3. Abiathar removed from the priest
hood e. &c. 27). This man had 1oineG
Adonijah in his plot of usurpation.
Solomon removed him from office and
appointed Zadok in his stead -r' -
4. Joab executed (2:2S-35). :.Joah.
too. was party in Adoni jah's rebel
lion. Beside this he had treacheroHs-
ly murdered his rivals in the army.
He was succeeded in the generaIshtp
by Benaiah.
5. Shimei executed G. 1866. 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
GA. 81.
Solomon made lavish sacrifice to
the Lord. 1t was not that the Lord
cared for the number of animals. but
the attitude of the mans heart to-
ward him. ASK what | shall give
thee" placed very wide possibilities be
fore the king. God. as it were, signed
blank checks and turned them over
to solomon to fill in any amount that
his heart desired.
~. SoIomon's Wise Choice e 500.
The Lords gracious offer brought
the king face to face with the re
sponsibility of making choice. God
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 a great king.
For n 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 ple-
| mentS set in motion by the uSurper.
| Adoniiah. were to be dealt with. In
| his reply to God he pleads that he
was not king rs Il 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
| l.. Il -.
| positions of honor and trust we should
not become high-minded and vsi:, out
| humbly present ourselves before God
| for help.
V. Coos Unstnted Gift to SoIomon
(3:10-l5).
Solomon'S 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. G: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 90 to God
with confidence (Jars% :5). God
| blessed solomon with n Singularly
| comprehensive mind (I Kings .o9-35)
| He was a botaniSt, Zoologist, archi-
tect. poet, and moral philosopher.
When we ask what God wills. we shall
surely get what we ask.