Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-03
Sunday School Lesson

through Him that the kingship had
| come to him and a boldness. born of
confidence, that God would recognize
| it to be His duty to fit the inexperi.
enced King TO perform the duties of
| his office
His request for wisdom lacked the
deep spirituality that marked David s
| life. S0lOmons practice of worship
ping at the high places and his con.
tracing for a marriage by treaty with
the Pharoah Of Egypt was the enter.
ing wedge for his failure in latter
years, when through his many treaty
marriages, he found himself forced to
permit the worship Of heather idols in
Palestine. His request for wisdom
to aid him to rule his empire contained
no petition that he should be given
power to regulate his own life. so
that his character would be one of per-
sonal Righteousness. His prayer
marked new era in the worlds his
tory. 1t was a forward movement.
but culture without character can not
save an individual or nation.
Gods Favorable Answer.
Gods favorable answer shows that
Jehovah was delighted in the fact that
Solomon did not seek wealth, health,
power or mastery over his enemies.
Although this was only a dream, it is
evident that Solomon by his personal
effort attained scholars knowledge
in botany, zoology and philosophy. The
wisdom he sought was more than
knowledge, for he wished to know how
to use his position, power and posses
sion. In the Old Testament wisdom
is a technical term, signifying a
knowledge of the principles and laws
according to which God governs ma
ture and the lives of men," Solomon
possessed all this and has been recog-
nized throughout the centuries for his
shrewdness. sagacity and scholarship.
IF the fear of the Lord is the be-
ginning of wisdom" Solomon unfor-
tunately did not follow always the
statutes of his father, David. In lat
ter days, he neglected to consider that
wisdom is better than rubies, and
that all things that may be desired are
not to be compared unto it." There
was a condition expressed in connec-
ton with Gods gifts, which in the
days of his prosperity he forgot. The
Lord in promising him the answer TO
his prayer. assured him that the bless
ings, which He would give the king
would continue if he kept Gods stat
utes and commandments. When Solo
mon commenced to forget God and
turned to his own selfishness and sin
the kings downfall began.
We are taught that ''if any man
lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who
giveth to all men literally, and up
braideth not, and it shall be given
him." Our knowledge will depend
upon our doing His will. He still
treats men, as Solomon dreamed
Jehovah would treat him, for accord
ing to the promise of the Lord Jesus
if we "seek first the kingdom of God
and His righteousness, then ''all
these things will be added unto you"
Unselfishpess is certain to reap God S
blessing. The one who sows the seeds
of selfishness and sin will reap what
he sows. "He that loses his life shall
find it, and he that saves his life shall
lose it," Let us not follow in all things
the example of Solomon, who is, &C
cording to Dean Stanley, the chief ex-
ample in sacred history of what meets
us in common history--the union of
genius and crime Culture without
Christ will mot save men. Every per-
son who seeks salvation through Him
will come into the possession of wis
dom. which will increase as they walk
in the way Of the Lord and obey Him
in their daily life. Culture is valueless
if the worms of sin are allowed to eat
at the roots of our individual life and
national deVelOpment