792
THE K I NG ' S B U S I N E S S
mother of Solomon, to make the request. The king received her and gave her a s e a t u p o n the
appeared unto Abraham in a dream (Acts 7 :2). He appeared unto Jacob (Gen. 28:12, 13). The angel of the Lord appeared unto Moses (Ex. 3:12). He appeared unto Joseph, the husband of Mary (Matt. 1:20). He appeared to Paul (Acts 18:9, 10). In every experience in which there is blessing, God takes the initiative. The challenge of God is “ Ask what I shall give thee?” The lesson is really one of prayer and its answer. (John 15:7). “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 14:13, 14; 15:16; I John 3:21, 22; 5:14, 15). God loves to give; giving glorifies Him. His challenge is in grace, in good ness, in generosity. Whoever refrains from receiving, or refuses to receive, robs God. God puts Himself at the dis posal of men (Jer. 33:3). Solomon showed wisdom when he asked for wisdom. He took the attitude of a child, the place of humility (Matt. 18:4; Prov. 15:33; 1 Cor. 1:28 “ I am nothing” ; Luke 7:42 “ I have nothing” ; 1 Cor. 4:4 “ I know nothing” ). Solomon looked backward and saw what God had done; he looked inward and saw his own weakness; he looked outward and saw the great need. He looked upward and saw God .as the source of supply. He recites , to Jehovah His mercies, “ Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David, my father.” This was the title God had given David (2 Sam. 7 :5). It is a great title. Paul loved to call him self “ bond servant” or “ slave.” Solomon speaks of God’s grace and favor to his father; of his own unworthi ness, his own insufficiency. He acknowl edges God as the One who had made him king, and pleads for wisdom to dis charge his great office. (2 Chron. 1:10). This is what David desired for him (1 Chron. 22:12). The source of power for the best ser vice is found in Isa. 11:2, 3:
LESSON” EXPOSITION X.. C. Horton
throne. To grant her request would have in validated his own reign,— for the mar rying of Adonijah to Abishag would have constituted him king. Solomon saw through the scheme which had evidently been concocted by Joab and Adonijah and denied it, order ing Adonijah and Joab to be put to death. Benaiah was put in the place of Joab, and Zadok put in the place of Abiathar, the priest. O u t lin e . (1) Solomon’s Regal Sacrifice, vs. 4. (2) Solomon’s Request of Jehovah, vs. : , ^ 5’ 9. (3) God’s response, vs.' 1-15. (1) SOLOMON’S REGAL SACRIFICE, vs. 4. Solomon went to Gibeon, where was the tabernacle (2 Chron. 1 :3). This was the meeting place where God met with man (Ex. 29:42, 43). The taber nacle was a type of Christ. God meets man in Christ. (John 1:14). “The Word became flesh and dwelt (taber nacled) among us; and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.’’ (John 1.4:5). “I am the' Way, the Truth and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.’’ Here Solomon made a great feast and offered a thousand burnt offerings. The burnt offering is the sin offering. The purpose o.f this feast was to unite the people under the new king, and to awak en new Teligious influences. It was an evident custom in the inauguration of a king. (1 Sam. 11:15). (2) SQLOMON’S REQUEST OF JEHO VAH, vs, 5-9, Jehovah appeared to Solomon by night in a dream, and promised to give him what he should ask for. God. always begins with Himself. He
Made with FlippingBook HTML5