The Glenwood post., 1924-03-20
Lesson for March %
THE REIGN OF SOLOMON

THE REIGN OF SOLOMON
LESSON TExr-u chron. 1:7-12;
Kings 11:6-11.
GOLDEN TEXT-The fear of the Lord
10 the beginning Of knowledge.-Prov.
III.
PRIMARY ToPIC-A Young Kings
Dream.
JUNIOR ToP1C-Solomon's Choice.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-solomon's Wisdom and Folly.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Lessons From Solomon's Reign.
the particular text assigned and make
a survey Of Solomon's reign.
!. Solomon Anointed King Il Kings
1:5-4O).
David had heretofore failed to show
the people who should be king after
him ". 20). Through the combined
appeals Of Bathsheba and Nathan, he
ls now stirred to action. 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. eolomon's Wise Choice III Chron.
1:7-12).
1. Gods Gracious Offer ". y. This
offer followed Solomon's lavish sacri-
fee to the Lord. God said, ASK what
shall give thee" thus placing very
wide possibilities before the king. God,
as 1t were, signed blank checks and
turned them over to Solomon to fill in
any amount that his heart desired.
This offer to Solomon was no excep-
tional one, for opportunities equally
limitless are placed before us. God
is saying to every one Of His children,
ASK. and 1t shall be given you"
John 15:7).
The Lords gracious offer brought the
king face to face with the responsible
ity Of making his choice. Solomon
did not ask for wisdom for vain dis
play, but for the good Of others. He
desired inward worth, not outward
show. In this choice, he asked for
two particular things:
~ That Gods promise to his ia
ther, David, might be established.
(2) That wisdom would be given to
him to perform his duties.
8. Gods Unstinted Gift to Solomon
". 11). Solomon's petition pleased the
Lord. Because ne put wisdom first
God saw that he could be trusted with
material goods also.
III. The Glory Of soiomon's Reign.
/. His Extensive Kingdom Il Kings
4:21-25). He ruled over the kingdoms
from the Euphrates river to the Medi-
terranean sea, except the Phoenicians,
and they were in alliance with him.
2. His Great Wisdom Il Kings
4:29-34). 1t excelled that of the Chai-
deans. Persians and Egyptians. He
had singularly comprehensive mind.
He was:
~ A moral philosopher. He spake
three thousand proverbs.
(2) A poet. His songs were one
thousand five.
(3) A botanist He spake of trees
from the cedar tree, which was in Leb-
anon, even unto the hyssop.
(D A zoologist. He spake of beasts
and of fowl, and of creeping things.
and of fishes.
3. The Temple Il Kings 5-6). This
was an exact reproduction of the tab
ernacle, double in size. executed In
marble and gold The amount of la
Dor, skill and money expended on the
building was exceedingly great Il
Chron. % :14-16).
4. His Royal Palaces Adjoining the
Temple Il Kings y. He was nearly
twice as long in building these as In
building the Lords house.
3. His Commerce II Kings 9:26-2S.
Compare II Chron. 8 and :21). His
trading ships went east as far as the
Indian ocean, perhaps even to India;
and west as far as Spain.
6. His Army and Navy Il Kings
10 O:28-29). This was for more than
display. He put his nation into a
state of preparedness.
This greatness was associated with
the name of the Lord. 1t was known
that his fame was due to his relation
with the living God.
~. soIomon's Failure Il Kings
II :6-12).
Because Solomon did evil In the
sight Of the Lord, the Lord was angry
with him and assured him that the
kingdom would be rent from him and
given to his servant. However, for the
sake Of David. he would not bring this
lived. Solomon's chief offenses were
alliances with foreign powers through
marrying kings daughters. This COM
promise weakened his moral nature
and he soon followed his wives In the