The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 62

III. LIKE AIUz, MANY SAY, "I wn.L NOT ABK." They will not believe in the wonderful charity of God. To some it seems too good to be troe. But many have no room for God's gifts. Their heart is full alrea.dy. "No room for Him in the inn." IY. LIKE SOLOMON, LET us ASK THE BEST GIFTS, That is an instructive fable which tells how Hercules, on attaining manhood, went out into solitude, and sitting down there, deliberated long and anxiously with himself which of the two ways before him it were better to take-the way of pleasUie, or the way of virtue. Such e. crisis, involving such a choice, happens in every life. Solomon must now make his choice, and it really lies between pleasure and duty, between temporal and eterna.1 blessings. He may choose glory, wealth, renown - in a word, earthly pleasure and prosperity-or he may choose character, wisdom, goodness ; in otbei· words, heavenly and abiding treasUie. We know which be chose. So each one of us bas to choose in turn between the showy and the solid, between the higher and the lower, between God and Mammon. " Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide In the strife of Truth with Falsehood, for the good or evil side. • • • Then it is the brave man chooses, while the coward stands aside, Doubting in his abject spirit, till his Lord is crucified." V. JF, LIKE SOLOMON, WE CHOOSE THE BEST GIFTS, THE OTHER AND INFERIOR BLESSINGS ARE THROWN IN WITH THEM. Consider : God gave Solomon wisdom because he asked for it, and at the same time gave him wealth because be did not ask for it. Hie choice of the higher showed be was fit to be entrusted with the lower. The gifts men covet most, viz., "riches and honoUI," are of so little account with God that He adds them as a make-weight. Just as when we buy a jewel the case is thrown in as part of the purchase, so those who choose the better part receive at the same time all that is necessary for them. " Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." And here again observe, that not only is it God's nature to give, but to give " e::i:ceeding abundantly, above all that we ask or think." He is" wont to do more than either we desire or deserve." Thus the disciples asked for a foi= of prayer (Luke xi. 1). Our blessed Lord gave them their desire, and gave at the same time what they never dreamed of asking for-some precious directions as to tlie spirit of prayer, as to perseverance in prayer, &c. (ib. vers. 5-18). The ea.me idea is embodied in a stanza, of Wordsworth's- " I knelt before Thy gracious throne, And asked for peace with snppliaut knee ; And peace was given ; not peace alone, But l01Je and joy and ecstasy." It was in the night visions that God spoke to Solomon. It is in no dreo.m, no vision, but in His own written word, He sa.ys to us, "Ask what I shall give thee:' Which shall we imitate, Solomon. or Ahaz? Shall we have all or none? But it may be said, Solomon's wisdom did him no great service after all. His pra.yer did not keep him from falling. But why was this ? It was just because be cee.s~d to care for wisdom and piety, and ceased to ask for it. Learn, then, in conclus10n- VI. IF, ·LIKE SOLOMON', WE CEASE TO COVET THE BEST GIFTS, AND CARE ONLY FOR TIIE LOWER, WE SHALL CERTAINLY LOSE THE FORMER, AND MAY POSSIBLY LOSE BOTH. So that Solomon's pro.yer may teach us this last _lesson, that "~e':1 ought v.lways to pray, and not to faint." Yes, it seems, as we tlnnk of the begmrung and then of the end of this puissant prince-it seems as if his fatlier's lo.st words must have been prophetic-" If thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast tliee off for ever" (1 Chron. xxviii. 9) ; and Solomon's fall solemnly echoes and emphasizes the words which follow-O that he had laid them to heart I-" Take heed now'' (ver. 10),  TH'.E FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [oB. m.1-Hi.