137
April, 1945
SUNDAY
Outline and Exposition B. B. S utcliffe Points and Problems H omer A. K ent Golden Text Illustration
SCHOOL
A lan Sr P earce Childrens Division M ildred M. C ook Object Lesson G ladys B owman , I llustrator
LESSONS
LESSON FOR MAY 6 The Hebrew Monarchy A t Its Height I and 2 S amuel ; 1 K ings 1 to II
n. S olomon ' s G reatness (9:26; 10:26-28)
LESSON T E X T : 1 Kl. 9:1-7, 26; 10:26-28; 11:4, 11. GOLDEN T E X T : “ Blessed Is the nation whose God Is the Lord’’ (Psa. 33:12). DEVOTIONAL READING: Psa. 122. Outline and Exposition I. S olomon ' s C ovenant (9:1-7) A FTER the house of the Lord covenant with him. In answer to Solomon’s prayer the Lord said He would hallow the house; He would put His name: there forever. This promise is still on record and, as far' as the earth is concerned, Jerusalem is the place where God’s name is cen tered, and to which His heart turns continually. It is beautiful to Him beyond all other cities (cf- Psa. 48:1- 3; 87:1-3; Isa. 60:7-14; and other pas sages). While God’s favor toward Jerusa lem is perpetual, the promise con cerning Solomon was conditional. If Solomon and his nation would obey the voice of the Lord, the kingdom would be established; but if not, then Israel would be sent out of her land and become a proverb and a byword among the nations. Alas, Israel dis obeyed, and this promise has been literally fulfilled, as we see today. But there still remains the uncondi tional promise concerning Israel and the holy city of Jerusalem (cf. 2 Sam. 7:10, 16). All alignments and realign ments of the nations, and all the changing fortunes of war among them, cannot invalidate the promise which one day will be fulfilled, for Israel will come to her destined place. Then Jerusalem will be the pride of the whole earth, the city wherein thi living God will be honored.
Lesson material is based on outlines of International Sunday School Lessons, copyrighted by International Council of Religious Education; used by permission.
Solomon built a navy at the stra tegic point of Ezion-geber at the head of the eastern arm of the Red Sea, in the southern border of Palestine. This provision would give protection against' assaults from the south, and also against attacks from Edom. Even in that day control of the sea was im portant, and Solomon knew its value. Throughout his own land he estab lished chariots and horsemen. Pri marily these were to keep order with in the kingdom, but they were also intended for united action against either rebellion or invasion. The horses for the chariots were purchased from Egypt and brought up in droves, each drove at a price (cf. v. 28, R.V.). With such an army arid navy as this, Solomon could feel secure in his kingdom. Added to the army and navy, Sol omon had fabulous wealth. Silver was as common as stones in Jerusa lem, and cedar trees became as plen tiful as the sycamore trees. In outer and inner wealth Solomon had no equal, because God fulfilled His prom ise, giving to him wisdom and un derstanding beyond any other man (cf. 1 Ki. 3:11-13). III. S olomon ' s F ailure (11:4,11) P salm 33:12 In his old age, Solomon departed from God because of the influence of heathen women whom he married (v. 4). He began to worship heathen gods, Ashtoreth of the Zidonians and Milcom of the Ammonites. However wise he was, he still had the old na
had been built and dedicated, the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time and entered into
ture within, the nature which is al ways in rebellion against God, and ever ready to defeat the purpose God has for those who will obey Him. The old nature need not and will not have the ascendency in the life so long a s - the individual yields to the indwell- ., ing Spirit of God who can make him “more than conqueror.” But the old ’ nature is never cast out, is never im proved, and never will be, because it cannot be submissive to the will of God (cf. Rom. 8:5-8). Constant vic tory requires constant appropriation of divine grace. Because of his idolatry Solomon met the discipline of God (v. 11). He was told that the kingdom would be turned from his family and given to his servant. That servant was Jero-. boam, who later became the ruler over the northern kingdom of Israel, leaving but two tribes for Solomon’s family. These two tribes were left for David’s sake, not because of Solo- \ mon. The kingdom had been prom ised to David in perpetuity, and God would fulfill that promise (cf. 2 Sam. 7:10-16). In the meantime punish ment necessarily would be meted out to Solomon for his sin. But God is gracious and long suffering. In spite of all Solomon’s deflections, the pur- pose of God concerning Israel will yet be fully wrought out upon the earth
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