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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
August 1924
SEPTEMBER 7, 1924 (Lesson 49) SOLOMON MADE KING 1 Kings, Chapters 1-3
In King David’s kingdom, living on Mt. Moriah in Jerusa lem was a farmer named Oman. One day Oman and his four sons were threshing wheat. In the center of the large, smooth, hard earth floor which was called a threshing-floor, there was a great mound of wheat which had been loosened from the sheaves. To separate the grains of wheat from the straw, an ox-team dragged a wooden sled with pieces of iron fastened to it over the wheat, going round and round the floor. Do you think you would like to have been the small boy or girl who was sometimes allowed to stand on the sled and drive the oxen? As the men carried in the sheaves and loosened them they probably talked together about the people who were dying with the terrible disease which had broken out all over the country from the north to the south. It must have been worse than the “ flu” which took so many in our own country a few years ago. All at once Oman happened to look toward the city of Jerusalem and in the air over the city he saw what he thought was the angel of death, with a sword in his hand stretched out over the city. Oman and his four sons were so frightened that they ran and hid, perhaps, in some of the sheaves of wheat. Oman was not the only one who saw this strange vision, for King David in Jerusalem saw it, too. He was greatly grieved because of the sickness •among his people, for he knew that because he had not kept God’s commandments perfectly, but had been proud in his heart, this sorrow and death had come upon his people. When King David saw the vision of the angel of death, he fell upon his face and prayed that God would save the people from this ter rible disease and death. While the King was praying, the prophet who taught the people about God came and told King David that God wanted him to go to the threshing- floor which belonged to Oman and there to build an altar and offer his sacrifices and prayers. When Oman saw the King coming he went out from his hiding place to greet) him. King David said to him, “ Sell me the place of this threshing-floor that I may build an altar to the Lord that the plague may be stayed from the people.” Oman gladly offered the place to the King, and even his oxen as sacrifices and the wooden sled for the fire. Then King David and the people with him quickly built an altar and offered sacrifices called the “ burnt-offering” — which was to say “ Thank You” to God because He had removed King David’s sins from him as “ far as the east is from the west;” and a “ peace-offering” which was to say “Thank You” to God for His mighty power and His great love to His people. Because King David was keeping God’s commandments in offering the sacrifices, God sent fire down from Heaven upon the altar as a sign to the King that his prayer was heard. Then God commanded the angel of death, “ It is enough. Stay now thy hand.” The angel of death put his sword away as God had commanded him. As soon as God spoke, all death and disease stopped. How happy King David must have been as he went back to his home, to know that he was God’s very own child. How do we become God’s children? Who can repeat our memory verses— John 1 :12; 1 John 1 :9 ; Psalm 23:4 and John 1 4 :1 4 ,15 . Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father we thank Thee for these wonderful promises. Make them a reality in every one of our hearts and forgive us our many sins. We ask it in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Golden Text: “ 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.” James 1:5. Gntline: (1) The Provision of David for a Successor.
(2) The Passing of David. (3) The Prayer of Solomon. Introduction:
I and II Kings were originally one book, and were called the “ Third and Fourth Books of the Kingdom.” The key
word is “Royalty” (1> Ki. 2 :1 2 ; 11 :13 ). DIVISIONS OF THE BOOK OF I KINGS: (1)
The Death of David, and
LESSON
ious Reign of Solomon, Chs. 1-11. (2) The Revolt of Jeroboam and Estab- lishment of Two Kingdoms, Chs.. 12 - 22 .
EXPOSITION T. C. Horton
A FURTHER DIVISION WOULD BE: (1) Solomon’s Reign.
Characterized by *five words: Wisdom, Work,. Wealth, Weakness, Wickedness. Distinguishing Characteristics: An Extended1 Empire; Extensive Foreign Relations; Enter prises of Magnitude; Excessive Extravagance;. Exceeding Sins.
(2) Solomon’s Fall. (3) Revolt of the Ten Tribes. (4) Sin of Jeroboam. (5) The Prophet Elijah.
We will consider these three chapters which tell of the’ death of David and the accession of Solomon to the throne,, under the three heads given above. (1) THE PROVISION OF DAVID FOR A SUCCESSOR.. We face two plots here— one by Adonijah, the son o f Haggith, who makes known his purpose to be king. He was; the brother of Absalom. The counter-plot was by Nathan,, the prophet, who persuaded Bathsheba to see the king and) lay the matter before him. Adpnijah was afflicted with ambition, which is character ized as “ a desire to be the greatest no matter at what cost.” ' This is the sin which so often dominates the church, the- pulpit, the Christian worker. This is the sin which has; brought so many lives and so many good projects into dis repute. “ Pride goeth before a fall.” “Whosoever exalt- eth himself shall be abased.” It has never been difficult to gather a crowd, large or small, around a banquet table and promote the plan of an ambitious man or woman, but it is usually those whose- motives are not founded on high ideals, or who have some selfish aim in view, who respond to such a call. This is a sad state of affairs, but never so sad as when it can be said of the Lord’s work. With Adonijah, it was a religious festival and the high priest was there, but contrast those who gathered, with those who did riot. (vs. 8-10). “But Zadok, the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah. *** But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.” David Assures Bathsheba, vs. 28-31. Solomon was the first son of David and Bathsheba after their legal marriage, and the promised son upon whom the blessing should rest (1 Chron. 2 2 :9 ).
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