Notes on the International Lesson.
By W. N. Glenn
No king ever came to the throne of Israel with a brighter prospect than that which was presented before Solomon. David had a life of warfare, but his son had been promised by the Lord a reign of peace. See 1 Chron. 22:7-10. And Solomon acknowledges “rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.” 1 Kings 5:4. And he also had dominion over a larger extent of territory than any king before or after him. BUT this was not all; the Lord seemed disposed not to limit the favors he would bestow upon Solomon, the son of David. He had made a covenant with David, as noted in a former lesson, and this was continued to Solomon. And now after Solomon had made a great sacrifice at Gibeon, which was then the principal place of worship, the Lord appeared unto him in a dream and just opened his great store-house before him. “Ask what I shall give thee.” SOMEONE will say, How highly favored was Solomon,—the Creator of the universe saying to him, Take your choice of all my choice blessings. Just think a moment; the humblest child of Abraham has the same invitation held out before him, on the same conditions: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7. How many are making Solomon’s choice to-day and choosing wisdom to do the work of the Lord? “I AM but a little child; I know not how to go out or come in.” Of course Solomon was young, about twenty years old, but this is about the age when young men, especially those who have been reared in affluence, naturally feel very important and self-sufficient. There seems to have been a genuine humility here; there must have been a real sense of insufficiency for the great responsibility, else the Lord would not have intrusted him to choose without stint what should be done for him. “Ask what I shall give thee,” will never be said by the Lord to anyone but the truly humble. “GIVE therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people.” Solomon seemed to appreciate the value of wisdom, as many of his proverbs are laudatory of its acquisition. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; and with all thy getting get understanding.” Prov. 4:7. Whether one be high or low, rich or698poor, it matters not with the Author of wisdom. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Jas. 1:5. But let us beware of the “wisdom of this world,” which is “foolishness with God.” BOTH David and Solomon closely connect wisdom and understanding with the keeping of the law. “Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son.” Prov. 28:7. “Through thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.” Ps. 119:104. “Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies.” Verse 98. “I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.” Verse 100. “Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” Verse 34. “A good understanding have all they that do his commandments.” Ps. 111:10. “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments;” “so shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.” Prov. 3:1, 4. “AND the speech pleased the Lord.” God is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever, consequently such a choice is just as pleasing to him now as it was in Solomon’s day. It was the greatest thing the young king could have asked, for it carried everything else with it. The Lord would have us ask much of him; he never tires of giving, nor do his resources ever diminish. “Ye have not, because ye ask not.” Jas. 4:2. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” “I HAVE also given thee that which thou hast not asked.” If God’s gifts were limited to our asking, we would fare poorly indeed. Knowing not what is best for us, like children we are liable to ask for that which we could not properly use. How much better to ask for that wisdom which includes everything else which it is proper and profitable for us to have. Of the temporal things, God knoweth we have need of them. “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” God gave riches and honor in addition to what Solomon asked, and then promised him length of days if he would continue to walk in the commandments of the Lord. But Solomon did not continue in the Lord’s way; he used the riches and honor to consume upon his lusts, and he became an old, broken-down man before he was fifty years old. He fell far short of his possibilities, and why?—Because he surrounded himself with worldly influences; he became “unequally yoked together with unbelievers,” lived in adultery, made a special point of pleasure, and these unhallowed influences naturally “turned away his heart” from the true service of God. Solomon’s life is a conspicuous example, both of the wisdom of fidelity to God and of the folly of following the world. “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.”
W. N. GLENN. BY the shores of the Mediterranean I noticed the great fact that there is no tide, but one constant abiding fullness, reaching up to all the strands, and rocks, and caves around it. At the Straits of Gibraltar I ceased to wonder that the inland sea was always full, when I saw that there was a constant communication with the mighty Atlantic. So, directly any human soul understands that it may live moment by moment with every aperture of its being thrown wide open to the Spirit of God, that man cannot help being filled, as he is thus in contact with the infinite ocean of Deity.