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238 THE CONVENTION TEACHER [[column 1]] spread themselves everywhere over the country which they cultivated. (26) And Solomon had forty thousand stalls for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. Apparently in ancient days, as in modern days, each horse had a separate crib. We gain some idea from this verse how large and warlike were Solomon's cavalry, his chariots and how well equipped they were. These added to the pomp magnificence of his court and his reign and doubtless heightened the intimidation of the tributary kings. (27) And those officers provided victuals for King Solomon, and for all that came unto King Solomon's table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing. These officers saw to it that king Solomon and his retinue were amply provided for. (28) Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge. Dromedaries are the fleet, one-humped camels. Food for the animals of Solomon were placed within the reach of the officers and distributed according to the need of each. At the present day in the East where oats are not grown, barley is used as food for the horses. (29) And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the seashore. Not only was God good to Solomon in having peace within his borders and plenty of food for himself, his courtiers and guests, but He gave him wisdom and understanding exceeding much. Solomon was possessed of high powers of mind, sharpness of perception, amplitude of soul, capacity for receiving and communicating knowledge. He was gifted as a man of profound thought, of deep understanding, with vast powers of judgement and a broad and diversified experience. largeness of heart-In the Scriptures the heart is often used for the intellect. With the Hebrews heart stood for capacities of the soul. The expression, "as the sand that is on the seashore," was proverbial in reference to numerical multitude. It is said to be used here to denote the amplitude and multiplicity of the knowledge and wisdom of Israel's greatest king. II. SOLOMON'S SIN EXPOSED. (V. 6) (6) And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father. Puffed up by an intellectual pride, Solomon's wisdom became his idol and he persuades [[/column 1]] [[column 2]] himself that it will enable him to solve all mysteries and to rectify all disorders, and thus make him the master both of his own destiny and of the destinies of the people; Nay, of the whole world. He sought to arrogate to himself a power which no created intelligence is privileged to possess. With a debased mind he encouraged polygamy. He began to apostasize. Piety was almost gone. He found himself wholly given over to idol worship. He strayed away from God and practiced evil openly, thought he did not cease his attendance on the worship of Jehovah, punctually making his offerings three times a year in the temple. But his heart was not perfect with God. Solomon gave sanction to superstition. He permitted the heathen women in the kingdom to have their native worship, thus dishonoring the one true God. III. DIVINE ANGER AGAINST SOLOMON. (VV. 9-11) (9) And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice. Observe God's anger against Solomon for his sin; the things he did displeased the Lord. Time was when the Lord loved Solomon and delighted in him, but now the Lord was angry with him, for there was in his sin the most base ingratitude that could be. He turned from God who had appeared unto him twice, once before he began to build the temple, and once after he had dedicated it. God keeps an account of the gracious visits He makes us, whether we do or not. He knows how often He has appeared to us, and will remember it against us if we turn from Him. God's appearing to Solomon was such a confirmation of his faith as should have forever prevented his worshiping any other god; It was also such a distinguishing favor and put such an honor upon him as he ought never to have forgotten, especially what God said to him in both these appearances. (10) And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded. See the most wilful disobedience-this was the very thing concerning which God had commanded him, that he should not go after other gods, yet he was not kept steady by such an express command. Those who gave control over others are apt to forget God's control over them; and, while they demand obedience from their inferiors, to deny it to Him who is [[/column 2]] [[end page]] [[start page]] THE CONVENTION TEACHER 239 [[column 1]] supreme. Notice the anger of God, not any malicious design against Solomon, but His divine displeasure. Had not God expressed no displeasure against Solomon, what mischief might not his example have wrought? How is the angel of God provoked? It is provoked by the turning away of the heart from Him, and justly so, for to do this is to outrage the highest propriety. God is everything that should engage the affections of an intelligent being. To turn one's heart from Him is to go toward demoralizing Him. Man is made in the image of God expressly that his nature may have its perfection in union and communion with Him. To turn away from God must lead to depravation ever more. This is the everlasting damnation. Then let us keep our hearts; no diligence should be spared. Solomon had been forewarned, and so he could not have been ignorant of the glorious character of God. Let us remember that God keeps an account of His favors conferred upon us, though we may forget them. He will remind us of them all in the great day of judgment, which might begin before the end of our living here upon the earth. How slow are we to believe in the inflexibility of divine justice, A king who exacted obedience from his subjects should be the last to forget his duty to God. Solomon forgot God's goodness. [[/column 1]] [[column 2]] (11) Wherefore, the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Solomon must suffer for his apostacy, and the sentence is just. Since he had revolted from God part of his kingdom should revolt from his family. He had given God's glory to an idol, and therefore God would give his crown to his servant. "I will rend the kingdom from thee." Solomon's servant should rule over much of that for which Solomon had labored. This was a great blow and humiliation to Solomon, who gratified himself, no doubt, with the prospect, of the rule of his rich kingdom being his heirs forever. Sin brings ruin upon families, alienates estates, and lays men's honor in the dust. Yet the mitigation of it are very kind, for David's sake: that is, for the sake of the promise made to David. Thus, all the favor God shows to men is for Christ's sake, and for the sake of the covenant made with Him. The kingdom shall be rent from Solomon's house, but not immediately. Solomon shall not live to see it done, but shall be torn out of the hand of his son, a son that was born to him by one of his strange wives. [[/column 2]] TOPIC: HISTORY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT [[column 1]] Among the prophets are reckoned in a separate class certain of the historical books. We begin our history in the Old Testament in Judges, which book is designed to furnish a history of Israel during the period intervening between the death of Joshua and the birth of Samuel, or from the close of the conquest of Canaan to the beginning of the Hebrew monarchy. But this was not its only purpose. The main portion of the book was clearly designed to teach a great religious lesson, to wit, that departure from the service of Jehovah especially in the worship of other gods, brought oppression and disaster upon the people of Israel, from which relief might be obtained by repentance and crying to Jehovah who stood ready to raise up a deliverer, under whom rest from foreign oppression might be enjoyed. The books of Samuel are ranked with the prophets [[/column 1]] [[column 2]] so called, though history. These books have a teaching purpose like the prophets. They give the history of the reigns of Saul and David, all that the writers thought worthy of preservation regarding the greatest of the Hebrew kings, David, his predecessor, Saul, and the imposing personality who forms the connecting link within the monarchy and the period of the Judges. As we open the historic pages of the book of Kings we find the Hebrew nation in the acme of its magnificence, the expression of God's matchless love and fidelity in covenant-keeping, His forebearance and forgiveness as we give a brief review of Old Testament history to the end of Solomon's reign. The Israelite nation was founded by the great hero of faith, Abraham, who went to Canaan about B.C. 1928. His son, Isaac, was born about B. C. 1903, and married Rebecca about B. C. 1864. [[/column 2]] QUESTIONS ON THE LESSON [[column 1]] 1. How is history seen in the Old Testament? 2. What makes God's house a happy [[/column 1]] [[column 2]] one? 3. Who caused Solomon to build the temple? [[/column 2]] [[end page]]
