The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 182

were 0, representative people aleo in the eenee that in their history God illustrated the genern,l method 0,nd the uniform laws of His moral government. The " strong hand 0,nd the stretched out arm'' here suggests the me.rvellous manifeste.tion of Divine power that mn,rked the career of the people from the beginning, the whole course of providentfol training and morn,l discipline through which they passed. But the principles on which God deals with one nation are the principles on which He deala with 1111. He is no "respecter of persons." The history of the " chosen people " unfolds Hie universal purpose and plan, illuetratee unvarying lawe, the conditions of all personal, social, and national life. And eo it comes to pass that after everj reviow of Israel's experiences we may eay, "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples," &c. (1 Cor. x. 11). Ill. THE ATTRACTION OF THE TEMl'LE FOB ALL LONGING BUMAN HEARTS AS THE SCENE OF GRACIOUS DIVINE MANIFESTATION. That which made it the centre of interest to pious Jews made it eo also to earnest souls of other lands. The truth and mercy symbolized and enshrined there-promises, atoning sacrifices, benedic- tions-answered to universal needs of humanity. Solomon supposes a case in which the vague sense of this should lead the" stranger in a far-off land'' to look with longing eyes, or to bend his steps, towards "the house over which God's name is called." We have no historical record of strangers actually worshipping in the first temple as they did in that built after the captivity ; but God said, " My house shall be called a house of prayer for all people" (Isa. lvi. 6, 7; Mark xi. 17) ; and there may have been many who, with a far-reaching ho.nd of faith, " took hold of His covenant" ae established there. IV. THE RESPONSE GOD GAVE TO EVERY TRUE SUPPLIANT, WHOEVER BE MIGHT BE. "Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place," &c. This intercessory prayer, we may be sure, was answered. God does not awn,ken holy yearnings in any soul that Re will not satisfy. "In every nation, he tha.t feareth him," &c. The sovereignty that reigns over all lands is that of Almighty Love. There is room in the infinite Father's heart for all, even the far-off "stranger," and "the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him."-W. Ver. 49.-0ccasions for Prayer. In the prayer of dedication Solomon suggests occasions on which it would be natural for men to turn to their God. The Divine Presence is constant, but our realization of it is not. Many require the shock of some unexpected or lamentable occurrence to rouse them to prayer. This effect, however, will only be seen in those who have, underlying their forgetfulness and sensuousness, an abiding (though sometimes inopemtive) belief in God. This Israel for the most part had. Hence Solomon's belief that in their future times of distress and difficulty they would turn to Him who dwelt between the cherubims. Analyze the prayer, and see the following occasions suggested as those in which supplication would be natural. I. WHEN MEN MAKE vows AND PROMISES, Compnre ver. 31 with the ordinnnces of Moses (Exod. xxi.i. 7-9). The oath was taken in the presence of God, bec!Luse the thought of Him as the Searcher of hearts would induce serious consitlemtion 0,nd careful exactitude, and because He was tacitly invited by His providence to confirm or to puuish the spoken word. Show how the principle, right in itself, became abused and vitiated, so that Christ condemned the pmctices of His d!Ly (Matt. v. 33-37). Len,rn from the ancient practice (I) that our utterances shoztld be made as by men conscious of the nearness of the God of truth. Apply this to the_ immoralities of some business transactions, to the prevalence of slamler in so01ety, &o. (2) That our resolutions should be formed in a spirit of prayer. How vain the pledge nnd promise of amendment, unless there be acliled to the human resolve the help of God's providence in circumsto.nces, 0,nd the grn,co of His Spirit in the heart I Give examples of each. II. WnEN MEN ARE INJURED OR DEFEATED BY THEIR ADVERSARIES. "When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy" (ver. SS). Nationnl defc:it in war should len,d to self-examinntion on the part of those smitten. Too often the investi- gntion is applied only to ma.terinl rosonroes: incompetent ollicinls are llismisseLl,  18!1 THE FIRST BOOit OF KINGS.