The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 65

' he selected Solomon, their youngest imd gentlest brother, to be king over one of tht! richest kingdoms in the world, and to rule His own people in the time of their greatest prosperity. It may be that some lads here, who are little thought of, mo.y become the l~aders of a_ nation to a nobler life, the teachers of their age, to whom the world will gladly hsten. But whatever sphere you have to fill, you will only be rea~y t-0 fill it well ~hen you begin, !l'6 Solol:Ilon began his reign, by listening to the voice of God. This was the most mterestmg part of Solomon's life. He was now at bis best. Ascending his father's throne, he was conscious of his responsi- bility, and asked God to give him wisdom (Ja.mes i. 5, 6). In youtli our future is generally decided. If we go wrong tlien, it is not easy to be set right. An injury done to a linng thing dwing its growing time is irreparable. The man who was crippled when he was a child, the tree blasted when it was a sapling, cannot by any subsequent care be made straight and whole. Solomon, however, started well- going up to the ancient tabernacle in Gibeon, to offer sacrifice to the Lord. Let us see what preparation Sowmon had for the dream spoken of here. Many a child says, " I wish God would come to me, and tell me I might ask for what- ever I liked. I often say my prayers, but God does not seem real to me. I never see Him or hear Him." You will not see Him as did Solomon, nor hear Him as did. Samuel. But you may feel Him in your thoughts-in the prompting to do right, or to speak the truth when doing this may get you into trouble ; and in the relief and rest you know after telling God about the sorrow you have. [Quote part of Faber's hymn: "Dear Jesus, ever at my side." Tell some story of a child who has found help, relief, and rest in :erayer. This will bring the old story of Solomon near to the experience of children.J · • Three things prepared Solomon for listening to God. • I. SoLOMON HAD coME FROM WORSHIP. Describe the old tabernacle, now pitche4 on the top of the hill at Gibeon; tlie coming of the procession of nobles, soldiers, priests, &c., to tlie sacred festival; tlie offering of tlie thousand victims ; the song of praise, the united prayers, &c. This worship prepared the young king for his dream. Children go to Sunday schools who are seldom foU'nd in God's house. Trace tlie lads and girls leaving the senior classes to spend tlieir Sundays in pleasure and sin-tlieir forced me1'.iment, their ac¥ng hearts. TJ:,ving ~ forget God, th~y are not prepared to see Him as Solomon did. Contrast with this tlie day i.pent m worship. The children whose hearts are uplifted by sorigs of praise, who have bee~ hearing of the love of God in Christ, who have been reminded of those who knew the Lord, are prepared to say, as Samuel said, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant hearetli l '' II. SOLOMON WAS ALONE WITH Goo. The crowd had dispersed. The shouts, and songs, and music were silent. The stars shone down on the camp, and in hie own royal tent the young king had retired to rest. As he slept he dreamed, and a happy night followed a holy day. Dreams were often used by God in olden days. Give examples. These were overruled, but they were natural. A dream is th'e product of familia.r tlioughts. Boys don't dream of protoplasm, of which they know nothing, but of cricket, lessons, companions, &c. The elements of a dream are in the mind before sleep; e.g., the Midianitish soldier dreamt of a barley cake, which was his ordinary food; the Egyptian butler, of Pharaoh's cup; the baker, of 'hiii white baskets ofLakemeats, &c. So Solomon had been thinkingabouthiskingdom- the greatness of his father, the overruling providence of God; he had been filleil with a desire to rule wisely, had been fired with devotion during the day, and all these things re-appeared in his dream. If you have never had such dream, you have had quiet tunes when you were ill, or before going to rest, when God seemed 1·eal to you. Recall the first time when the old form of prayer hau a new meaning, when God seemed close, and loving, and gracious. An example from child life may be readily found. III. SOLOMON WAS LISTENING TO Goo, who said, "Ask what I shall give thee." Sometimes children wish that the fairies, of whom they read, actually existed; that one, with her fair form and beautiful wag.d, "\"'10-..tld come and say, "Ask what I shall give thee." Many, like Cinderella, would exchange drudgery for glitter. en. m. 1-16.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 59