"Yes" with lip and heart. But now after coronation, vision, prayer, and gracious promise, he takee up the enterprise, and lifts up the responsibility, and makes the resolution all his own. II. 'l'mi: ADDING TO RESOLUTION THE C0MMENOEl!a:!'IT OJ' ACTUAL WORK. Resolutions there have often been, and strong ones, determinations alike deliberate and enthusiastic, which nevertheless have gone the same way by which, to a proverb, mere good inten- tions so very frequently go I Solomon's immediate setting to work is by far the simplest, surest safeguard, He makes the preparations nearest to hand, and that were within his own command. He seeks the help of others at a distance, both forecasting bis own needs for the work, and also drawing upon memories of his father's doings and his father's experiences. Ill. SuOJI BEGINNING 01!' ACTUAL WORK AS WAB PROOF AGAINST THAT FERTILE S0UROE OF FAILURE THAT COMES 01!' STUMBLING ON THE THBESH0LD. Early disappointments go a long way toward disheartenment. And early disappointments originate most frequently in one or both of two causes-viz. in letting things drift, go by default, or take their own chance; or, on the other hand, in a busy disorder. Many a promising work of a man of good intention has been wrecked in these ways. But here there was order in what Solomon did at home, and distinctness and order in what he asked for far away from home. And it all told. .All helped him and his work to find favour with God and man. Lastly, TWO GREAT TBIDUTARIES TO SUCCESS m THE MORAL QUA.Lr.tIES WHICH SoLOM0N EXHIBITS, as shown in : 1. The great respect he has to " the ordinance for ever to Israel," which centred in "the house to the Name of the Lord," to be dedicated to him, with all its various services (ver. 4). 2. The humble estimate he rightly entertains of himself, in all comparison of the work which he had to do, and him for whom it was to be done (vers. 5, 6).
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-The three elements i11, hwman purpose. "And Solomon determined to build a house," etc. And whence came this purpose of the king's heart? From the depths of his own soul; or were there not other elements besides that of his own volition? This determination which is here chronicled as a simple act of one mind was, as most of our resolutions are, more complex in its character than it seemed. I. THE OUTSIDE HUMAN ELEMENTS-the human element which is outside ourselves. In this case David's influence had much, very much to do with it. It was he who initiated the work (2 Sam. vii. 2). Moreover, he urged Solomon to proceed with it after his own death, and even laid by stores in partial preparation for it (1 Chron. xxii. 11, 14). Solomon, in "determining" to build a house, was really resolving to go on with an undertaking which he had already promised his father to CBJTY out. Who shall tell how much the thought and the desire of other people influence ,the choices we are making, and consequently the course we are pursuing P Perhaps it is very seldom indeed that we "determine" to enter a new path without owing much to the influence of others; it may be, as in Solomon's case, to the action of a past generation, or it may be to that of our contemporaries and companions. Only he who searches the most secret chambers of the soul can tell how much of our best resolves is due to the influence of our best friends. II. THE DIVINE ELEMENT. God had already given his distinct sanction and encouragement to the proceeding (2 Sam. vii. 13). And this Divine decision, com- municated by the Prophet Nathan, must have had a very powerful weight in Solomon's determination. It would seem to be enough, of itself, to decide th11 matter. How much God has to do with our decisions we do not know, but probably more than we ordinarily imagine. We often and earnestly ask him to affect our mind and will by the enlightenment and influence of his own Spirit; we believe that he bas access to us and power over us, and can tonch and quicken us at his will. Why should we not believe that he is frequently, continually with us, acting upon us, controlling and directing us, powerfully and graciously affecting our determinations and our character? III. 'l'HE INDIVIDUAL ELEMENT. However much in Solomon's decision was due to the sources, Divine and human, outside himself, there wos rooro left for his own 24 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONIOLES. [oa. IL 1-18.
individue.lity, He determined to proceed with the work. It was not under compulsion, but with the full consent of his own mind, that he began and continued and completed the noble task. He gave himself to it, he threw his strength into it; so much had he to do with it the.t it could be said with truth that II Solomon built him a house." When all other influences are taken into the account, it still remains true that our actions are our own ; that ultime.tely we determine upon the couree which honours or dishonours our life, which makes or roars our character, which ensures or spoils our prospects. In view of these three elements in human purpose, there is ground for: 1. Gratitude; for we owe much of our most fruitful actions to the suggestion and counsel of our friends. 2. Humility; for we owe more than we know or think to the inspiration of God. 3. A deep sense of re8p<YnSibility ; for it is in the depths of our own nature we are determining the complexion of our life and the destiny of our soul.-0.