August 1927
511
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
International Lesson Commentary
Heart of the Lesson—K .L .B . Devotional—David L. Cooper Little Folk—Mabel L. Merrill
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S eptember 4, 1927 Solomon’s Wise Choice Lesson Text—1 Kings 3:1-15
do simply with wisdom for the discharge of the responsibilities of his kingly office. We could desire that his prayer might have gone farther and included yearning after inward godliness, personal conse cration, unbroken communion with God. Comparing Solomon with David, his father, there is this distinctive difference in character. David’s spirit of piety is. absent: The king’s prayer at Gibeon, noble as it was, might have risen to a higher level. This significant lack in Sol- mbn’s life explains his protracted fall later. David would shave asked first for “a clean heart and a right spirit.” Without these, the most comprehensive perception in the handling of great affairs, is of no enduring worth. This truth, Solomon had to learn through a dreary round of bitter disappointments. It is indeed necessary that we should phiv for an understanding mind. What ever our business, it should be a part of our daily prayer that we may have cor rect understanding. God stands ready to give us judgment in business matters, But let us hot forget that if we would have peace of heart and the. full blessing of God, our first desire should b.e that we might have daily grace of heart to walk in the’ footsteps of Jesus Christ, God’s Son. — o — P ith and P oint : That which is laid out iri promoting true fellowship with God is never wasted (v .' 4). A man’s dreams are often an index of his true condition, for they indicate what has made the deepest impressions on him when he was awake (v. 5). God never gives blank checks to those He .cannot trust to fill them out (v. 5 ). C' Before we ask new blessings, it is well to acknowledge those already received (v. 6). The wisdom of God is’ for those who have the spirit of a child (v J7 ). The wise man grows under responsibil ity, riot merely swells up (v. 9). God is always pleased with the prayer that puts first things first (v. 11). True wisdom either brings prosperity with it, or sweetens the want of it (v. 13). — o — ■ S uggestive Q uestions .Was it lawful for Solomon to marry Pharaoh’s daughter, unless there should be, on her part, an abandonment of idol atry? (Ex. 34:16; Deut. 7: 3; cp. Psa. 45: 10 - 11 .) How early did the Lord love Solomon? (2 Sam. 12:24; cp. 1 Kgs. 3:3.) Does God make a proposition to us sim ilar to the one He made Solomon? (V. 5; cp. Jn.- 14:13-14; 15:7.) To whom does God transmit His wis dom? (Lk. 10:21; 1 Cor. 1:27-28.) What is still God’s delight? (V . 10; cp. Prov. 15:8.) How does God often answer our pray ers? (V. 12; cp. Isa. 65:24; Mk. 11:24.)
little faith. Those who ask for that which will enable the Father to be glorified in the Son (Jn. 14:13), will just as certainly have it bestowed upon them today. God’s Word is ever saying to His chil dren: “A sk what I shall give thee.” “Ask and it shall be given.” We must con tinually choose-^yet in our choosing we must seek to know the choice of the Holy Spirit for us, otherwise we shall ask amiss (Rom. 8:16; Eph. 6:18). Solomon wisely replied: “Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked be* fo r e thee in truth” (v. 6). The mercies of God are doubly sweet when we see them passed on to us through godly par ents. Solomon did well -in acknowledging the mercies already received, before ask ing new ones. The King felt fus insufficiency. “I am but a little child,” he said. “I know not how to go out or come in” (v. 7). The knowledge of our limitations is a great essential. Some, learn only as does the blind horse—by butting against the hard wallri Absalom, a fool, thought himself competent to be a judge. Solomon, a wise man, trembled at the undertaking. Solomon realized the vastness of his charge. He was in the midst of “a great people.” He is indeed a discerning man who feels the responsibility of the posi tion he is in. It is better to feel smaller than your job than to feel above it, es pecially if in- realizing your insufficiency, you look to the God who is able to make you sufficient. " Give thy servant an un derstanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad." Thus the king voiced his heart-felt need. “The speech pleased the Lord” (v. 10). God is delighted when divine discernment is the object of our prayer. “I f any man lack wisdom, let him ask o f God who giv- eth liberally and upbraideth not" (Jas. 1:5). Let us remember that practical sa gacity, clear intelligence, quick discern ment of matters, are gifts which may be sought of God, arid He gives His Word that such wisdom will be imparted. When we ask wisely, God is pleased to do for us what goes beyond our asking. If our first desire is for spiritual bless ing, if we reveal indifference to temporal things, God is pleased to throw in the sec ondary along with the primary. “Because thou hast not asked riches fo r thyself, nor the life o f thine enemies . . . . Lo, I have given thee a wise and understand ing heart . . . . and I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and honor" (vs. 11-13). Solomon’s request was comparatively good; certainly far above the reigning de sires in the hearts of most men. It should be noted, however, that the request had to
m i are now leaving behind the, story of David and his reign over Israel and taking up that of the accession of his son, Solomon. The opening chap
ters of 1 Kings re cord David’s declin ing strength, the plots of Adonijah, Nathan a n d Bathsheba to seize the kingdom, the anointing of Sol omon, and his father’s
solemn charge to him. David’s death is then briefly recorded and we plunge at once into the account of Solomon’s al liance with Pharaoh and his marriage with Pharaoh’s daughter, acts which were undoubtedly causes of his later de cline. “Pharaoh” is used in the Bible as the title of Egyptian kings, not as a proper name. It cannot be decided with cer tainty which Pharaoh it was wh o s e daughter Solomon married. The mar riage evidently took place in the first years of his reign. This wife may have embraced Judaism, as we find no reproach against him for the marriage. The daughter of Pharaoh does not seem to have been implicated in the charge later brought against Solomon’s other foreign wives, of having led him into idolatrv (1 1 :1 -7 ).. ' We are told at the outset that “Sol omon loved, the Lord” (v. 3 ). That was a good beginning, yet at this early date when all seemed so fair, the germs of evil are not wanting. This taking of a wife out of Egypt was probably a diplo matic move to get on the good side o f Pharaoh. At any rate,, it was the begin ning of many unions with strange women who became Solomon’s downfall. With a retinue of the nation’s repre sentatives, Solomon offered sacrifices up on the altar ’ of Moses before the Taber nacle at Gibeon. Gibeon, a city of the Levites, located upon a mountain summit six miles north of Jerusalem, is called in 1 Kgs. 3:4 “the great high place.” It was the fitting spot for this vast concourse of prominent men to recognize God’s estab lishment of a new reign and acknowledge their need of divine favor. This sacred festival, was drawing to a close when “in Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream” (v. 5). It was no ordinary dream, for God spoke to the mind and quickened Solomon to true ac tion. “A sk what I shall give thee!” This was the gracious word to the young mon arch. Now we shall see what Solomon is capable of receiving. Does not God, every day, make to His children offers as large and liberal as this? Our niggardly asking reveals our
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