30 And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place. and when thou hearest, forgive. in a spirit that degrades all its dignities, and renders all its high and courtly doings essentially sor lid and vulgar. And it is no mere sentimentality to say that there may dwell in a lowly mechanic's or household servant's breast a spirit that dignifies the coarsest toils, and "renders drudgery divine." Herod of old was a slave, though he sat upon a throne; but who will say that the work of that carpenter's shop at Nazareth was not noble and kingly work indeed? So live that your work, whether in the church or in the world, may become a discipline for that glorious state of being in which the church and the world shall become one; where work shall be worship and labor shall be rest; where the worker shall never quit the temple, nor the worshipper the place of work, because "there is no temple therein, but the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple thereof." John Caird. 30. Toward this place. The Lord was not essentially more present in the temple than else. where. Yet he had recorded his name in the temple, and it was a peculiar type of the human nature of Christ. The sacrifices, the incense burnt, the whole service performed at the temple, were typical of the Redeemer's oblation and intercession. The temple therefore must be continually adverted to in all their prayers. Accordingly the Israelites when distant from Jerusalem were accustomed to turn their faces towards it, as expressive of dependence on the services there performed by the priests, and of their communion with the worshippers of Jehovah. Scott. - Hear thou in heaven. Hear the prayer which ascends or is sent to thy dwelling-place, to heaven. Keil. - When thou hearest, forgive. For. giveness of sins can alone remove the curse which transgression draws after it. Keil.-Confess your sins, and look gratefully, obediently to Christ, the author and finisher of your faith. This beginning is your duty and your privilege to-day; it is even now within your reach. "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved;" you shall have a present, progressive, and everlasting salvation. The guilt of sin shall be pardoned, the power of sin broken, and the effects of sin forever supplanted by the grace of God. Buddington. It is wonderful that creatures so sinful as we are should be allowed to pray at all. When we consider what we are, and what God is, we may well tremble when we come to him, and fear lest he should reject us. But he has encouraged us to come, even with "boldness, to the throne of grace." This does not mean that we are to come without deep reverence and humility, but that we are to pray with a full persuasion that God will answer us. There are many examples of answers to prayer. Hezekiah prayed, and the army of Sennacherib was smitten with death. Elijah prayed, and fire came down to consume his sacrifice. The apostles prayed, and the Holy Ghost descended on them with miraculous gifts. The church prayed, and Peter was delivered from prison by an angel. We are not to expect that all we ask for respecting this life will be given us, for we often desire what would do us harm. We may be sure, however, that God will give us what is best. But when we pray for blessings for our souls, for pardon, and holiness, and salvation, we may be quite certain of being answered: for we are told that if we ask any thing according to God's will, he heareth us; and we are also told that God is "willing that all men should be saved." You need not wait until you can enter a church to pray, you may pray everywhere. And Jesus is always waiting for the prayers of poor sinners, so that not one ever escapes his notice. His ear is always open. Newman Hall. — As the king concluded, the cloud which had rested over the holy of holies grew brighter and more dazzling; fire broke out and consumed all the sacrifices (2 Chron. 7:1); the priests stood without, awe-struck by the insupportable splendor; the whole people fell upon their faces, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, "For he is good, for his mercy is forever." Which was the greater, the external magnificence or the moral sublimity of this scene? Was it the temple, situated on its commanding eminence, with all its courts, the dazzling splendor of its materials, the innumerable multitudes, the priests in their gorgeous attire, the king with all the insignia of royalty on his throne of burnished brass, the music, the radiant cloud filling the temple, the sudden fire flashing upon the altar, the whole nation upon their knees? Was it not rather the religious grandeur of the hymns and of the prayer, the exalted and rational views of the divine nature, the union of a whole people in the adoration of the one great, incomprehensible, al mighty, everlasting Creator. Millman. 134 LESSON VI. AUGUST 6, 1876. SOLOMON'S PROSPERITY. 1 KINGS 10:1–10. [B. C. 992.] 1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions.1 PARALLEL PASSAGE.-'Prov. 1:5, 6. CONNECTION. In ordinary circumstances, the wisdom of a Jewish king would have been but little heard of beyond the immediately neighboring nations: but the extended conquests of David; the large dominions of his son; the great and magnificent works and undertakings of that son; his extensive commerce by sea and land; his connection with the Phoenicians, who, of all people, were from their position qualified to spread such intelligence far and wide; and even Solomon's too numerous matrimonial connections with foreign princesses, all contributed to spread his reputation abroad. In some cases, foreign princes repaired themselves to Jerusalem, to view his glorious and curious works of art, and to hear his sage utterances; others sent ambassadors to felicitate him and to bring back all they could gather of his wisdom. This concourse of foreign princes and nobles from all parts, with their magnificent retinues, and curious and costly offerings, must have given singular liveliness and splendor to Jerusalem during the reign of Solomon. It must have supplied continual matter of admiration and entertainment to the citizens, who could not but feel great contentment, and some human exaltation, in the glory thus reflected upon them, from the greatness and wisdom of their sovereign. Kitto. 1. Queen of Sheba. Probability unites with ecclesiastical history, and with the Jewish traditions and Mohammedan accounts, in describing her as queen of the Sabæan kingdom of Yemen, and Mariaba or Saba, as the seat of its government. This point is so well established by Bochart and others, that it may be received as an ascertained fact. It is besides verified by the terms employed by our Saviour in alluding to this pilgrimage. He calls her the "queen of the south," or Yemen, which is in Hebrew, as in Arabic, the proper word for South; and he speaks of her as having come from the utter. most parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, which exactly corresponds to the Joktanite kingdom of Sheba, Saba, or Sabæ, which is terminated by the Indian Ocean, whose waters, biending with those of the Atlantic, divide Asia from Africa. It may be added that all the precious commodities which the queen brought to Jerusalem were such as the region thus assigned to her was in old time famous for producing. Kitto. - The kingdom of Sheba embraced the greater part of Yemen, or Arabia Felix. The classics are generally agreed in according to the Sabai the chief riches, the best territory, and the greatest numbers of the four principal peoples of the Arabs which they name. Smith's Dictionary. — Concerning the name of the Lord. It is thought by the Jewish writers that the queen was turned from her dumb idols to worship the living God, under the instructions of Solomon. There is nothing unlikely in this. Indeed, the words which connect "the name of the Lord" with the wisdom of Solomon, give much sanction to the opinion that the search for religious truth, the true "wisdom," was the main object of her journey. Kitto. Our Lord's testimony as to the motives which influenced the queen of Sheba sufficiently refutes the disadvantageous surmises which have often been entertained and advanced. She had heard the fame of Solomon "concerning the name of the Lord," and she came to hear his wisdom. The report of his knowledge in the truth and precepts of religion, of his piety and zeal in the worship of Jehovah, and of the wisdom given him, peculiarly attracted her attention. And she came to propose many questions to him, which perplexed her mind upon those important subjects. She could meet with no one who could clear them up to her; and she desired to prove him whether he could or not. Scott. -Hard questions. The Hindoos, especially their females, take great delight in riddles, apologues, and fables. By this method they convey pleasure, instruction, or reproof. See them in their marriage feasts or in their "evenings at home," how pleasantly they pass their time in thus puzzling each other, and calling forth the talents of the young. Roberts.-No name is given to the queen in Scripture. The Arabians call her Balkis. According to their accounts, the princess sent ambassadors with a letter to Solomon before she went herself. With them she sent five hundred youths dressed like maidens, and the same number of maidens like young men, with instructions that they 2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. 3 And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not. 4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, 5 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the Lord; there was no more spirit in her. were to behave accordingly in the presence of Solomon. She had also a thousand carpets prepared, wrought with gold and silver, a crown composed of the finest pearls and hyacinths, and many loads of musk, amber, and aloes, and other precious products of South Arabia. To these she added a closed casket, containing an unperforated pearl, a diamond intricately pierced, and a goblet of crystal. The letter thus referred to these things: "As a true prophet, thou wilt no doubt be able to distinguish the youths from the maidens; to divide the contents of the enclosed casket; to perforate the pearl; to thread the diamond; and to fill the goblet with water that hath not dropped from the clouds, nor gushed forth from the earth." When they reached Jerusalem, Solomon told them the contents of the letter before they presented it, and made light of their mighty problems. He caused the slaves to wash themselves, and from the manner in which they applied the water, detected their sex. He directed a young and fiery horse to be ridden through the camp at the top of its speed, and on its return caused its copious perspiration to be collected in the goblet. The pearl he perforated by a stone occultly known to him. The threading of the diamond puzzled him for a moment; but at length he inserted a small worm, which wound its way through, leaving a silken thread behind it. Having done this, he dismissed the ambas sadors without accepting their presents. This, and the reports her emissaries brought, determined the queen to visit Jerusalem in person. When she came, Solomon, who had heard a piece of scandal about her, no less than that she had cloven feet, first of all demonstrated his sagacity by the mode in which he tested this report. He caused her to be conducted over a crystal floor, below which was real water, with a quantity of fish swimming about. Balkis, who had never seen a crystal floor, supposed there was water to be passed through, and therefore slightly lifted her robe, enabling the king to satisfy himself that she had a very neat foot, not at all cloven. Kitto. 2. Spices, gold. A very great retinue, agreeable to her rank, intending to try Solomon's wealth and generosity, as well as his wisdom. Yet she came not as one begging, but brought enough to bear her charges; nothing mean or common, but gold and precious stones and spices, because she came to trade for wisdom, which she would purchase at any rate. Henry.—Solomon does not name the price of truth, because its value was beyond all price. Buy it at any rate. It cannot be too dear. A. Fuller. — No sacrifice should be deemed too great for the attainment of divine truth, for it is more valuable and precious than all other acquisitions combined. Muenscher. They who go from one end of the earth to another and venture everything in search of worldly gain, may well put to shame many Christians who care so little for the Lord and their own salvation. Quesnell. - Communed. She had the liberty of propounding to him all questions respecting which she desired a solution, probably either in natural or divine things. Patrick. 3. Solomon told her. He informed her no doubt with particular care concerning God and his law and instituted worship, that she might be persuaded to serve the Lord whom now she sought. Henry. 4. The house he had built. Not the temple, but the royal palace. Keil. 5. The ascent. It appears that the king had a private entrance into the temple, which is to be sought on the west side of the temple area. Keil. We are told by Sir George Staunton, in his account of the first presentation of the British embassy, that on his entrance into the tent the emperor of China mounted immediately to the throne by the front steps, consecrated to his use alone. He also informs us that one highway was reserved for the use of the emperor alone. This was rendered perfectly level, dry, and smooth. Burder. -No more spirit in her. She was perfectly astonished. The phrase very properly denotes a very high degree of astonishment. Pyle. -She fainted. I have seen precisely the same effect produced. A lady who was herself an artist, viewing some exquisitely finished Oriental paintings, was so struck with astonishment that she twice nearly fainted, and was obliged to leave the room. A. Clarke. - -The question of the influence of Solomon's reign (and wealth) upon Israel. The court, the family residence, and the entire surroundings of Solomon rose almost at one bound from the severe but noble simplicity of the reign of David to the highest style of luxury and splendor known to 6 And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. 7 Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it; and, behold, the half was not PARALLEL PASSAGES. told me thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. 8 Happy2 are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. 11 Cor. 2:9, 10. 2Prov. 8:34. the most cultivated and wealthy nations of the age. Nay, more; for Solomon had the honor before the Sovereigns of Tyre, Egypt, and Sheba, of having surpassed them all in taste and splendor, inventing and perfecting new appliances for all earthly delights. The barriers set up in the Mosaic law against conformity to outside luxury and pomp were suddenly swept away; no court on the face of the earth surpassed or even equalled Solomon's in its magnificence. He led, they only followed. What was the influence of all this upon the masses of the people? Was there not a quickening passion for horses and chariots, for palaces and equipage, for luxuries of the table, and for ornamentation in dress? If not, there must have been a marvellous virtue among the masses, or a strange suspension of the normal laws of human nature. To what extent the immense influx of wealth to the throne by commerce and otherwise reached the people, giving them facilities for its accumulation, it may be difficult for us to determine absolutely. It is, however, safe enough to infer that there was a great body of men not enriched and not elevated in point of style, or even of the comforts of life, by the new influences which were bringing such wealth to their king. There was an immense demand for hard work, and Solomon drew heavily upon the solid muscle of thousands and tens of thousands of men drafted into this service. It would be very like all other workings of human nature, if, having the power to coerce such labor, he did not pay wages enough to improve the condition of these laboring classes. The fact comes out very clearly after his death that the people had felt the burden of these levies for service and of their government taxes, and were quite ready for revolution if their request for relief were denied. The state of the working men, the millions, of Israel was therefore not improved but deteriorated by the influences of Solomon's reign. This deterioration was by no means favorable to either the religious or the social and general culture of the people. Cowles. 6, 7. Usually things are represented, both by common fame and our own imagination, much greater than we find them when examined; but here the truth exceeded both fame and fancy. Those who through grace are brought to experience the delights of communion with God will say that one half was not told them of the pleasures of Wisdom's ways and the advantages of her gates. Glorified saints much more will say that it was a true report they heard of the happiness of heaven, but that the thousandth part was not told them. (1 Cor. 2:9.) Henry.-There is another kingdom of which a greater than Solomon is king. A kingdom more full of glory and wisdom, with a nobler temple, and richer palaces, and greater works than any which Solomon builded. Every one has heard of this kingdom; and some make the journey to prove its glories, and satisfy the "hard questions" of their hearts. And every one who thus visits this kingdom of Religion joins with the queen of Sheba in saying that they did not believe the half that was told them, but they now find that all that was told them was not half of the truth. Irreligious men do not and cannot conceive the full blessedness of the religion of Christ. They do not believe what Christians say of it. It seems to them the exaggerated utterance of excited feeling. And yet Christians cannot express to them one half the true glory and peace, and heavenliness of Christ in the soul. It is impossible for those who have not experienced religion to understand half its blessedness, though they can know enough thereof to know that it is unspeakably blessed. Does the sensualist see the beauty of holiness? Does the selfish man feel the charm of perfect love? Can the pleasure-seeker know the beatitude of giving up all to Christ? or the man with the muck-rake and earth-bound eyes conceive what it is to walk with God like Enoch of old? All the telling in the world, all the eloquence of an angel, cannot reveal to the world one half the blessedness to be found in the kingdom of Jesus. — At the time of the invasion of Xerxes, the Spartans found no favorable omens, and two noble citizens of wealth and birth offered themselves to be sent to Xerxes in place of the murdered messengers. On their way they came to Hydarnes, a Persian, made governor of a maritime people of Asia, who asked why they would not become servants of Xerxes instead of enemies, for how happy he would make them. They answered, "Hydarnes, your advice is not impartial, for you advise as having tried one state but being inexperienced in the other. What it is to be slaves you know perfectly well. But you have never tried liberty, whether it be sweet or not. For if you had tried it, you would advise us to fight for it; not with spears only, but even with hatchets." Herodotus. 8. Happy are thy men which stand before thee. When the king of Persia is seated in public, his sons, ministers, and courtiers stand erect with their hands crossed. They watch the looks 9 Blessed1 be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the Lord loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice. 10 And3 she gave the king a hun dred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon. PARALLEL PASSAGES.-1Ch. 5:7. 2Ps. 72:2. Ps. 8:15. Ps. 72:10, 15. of their sovereign, and a look is a mandate. A principal part of the regal state in Persia consists in the number of men who stand before the monarch. And we learn from the address of the queen of Sheba to Solomon that he was not indifferent to this part of Eastern splendor. Paxton.-"Oh, happy school of Christ where he teaches our heart with the word of power, where the book is not purchased nor the master paid! There life availeth more than learning, and simplicity than science," wrote Peter of the cells to a young disciple. It was a natural exclamation, but the answer to it is, that to the true Christian every school will be a school of Christ. Each science, each history, each literature, will be to him but a fresh volume of divine revelation. "My child," said St. Columban to Luanus, when he saw how ardently he devoted himself to learning, "thou hast asked a perilous gift of God. Many out of undue love of knowledge have made shipwreck of their souls." "My father," replied the boy with deep humility, "if I learn to know God, I shall never offend him, for they only offend him who know him not." "Go, my son," replied the abbot, charmed with his reply, "remain firm in that faith, and the true science shall conduct you on the road to heaven." Farrar. — It is a great advantage to be in good families, and to have opportunity of frequent converse with those that are wise, good, and communicative. Many have this happiness who know not how to value it. With much more reason may we say this of Christ's servants, "Blessed are they that dwell in his house, they will be still praising him." Henry. 9. God delighted in thee. It more than doubles our comforts if we have reason to hope they come from God's delight in us. Henry. To do justice. He has made thee king not that thou mightest live in pomp and pleasure, but to do judgment and justice. This she kindly reminds Solomon of, and no doubt he took it kindly. Both magistrates and ministers must be more solicitous to do the duty, than to secure the honors and profits, of their places. To this she attributes his prosperity, not to his wisdom, for bread is not always to the wise, but whoso doeth judgment and justice it shall be well with him. Henry. 10. Spices. Arabia has been in all ages celebrated for sweet-scented trees and shrubs. Burckhardt mentions that one morning at sunrise, when he was on the road from Tayef to Mecca, every tree and shrub exhaled a delicious fragrance. The tree from which incense distils is found along the shores of the Indian Ocean. The gardens of Tayef, among the mountains, are renowned for roses of such exquisite beauty and fragrance that they are sent to all parts of the country. Encyclopædia Britannica. - Gold. Among the ancients Arabia was celebrated for its wealth in precious metals. Yet according to the accounts of modern travellers Arabia possesses no mines of gold or silver. Some precious stones, as the onyx, the ruby, and a kind of agate called the Mokha-stone, are common in Yemen and Hadramant. The English Cyclopædia. - She made a noble present to Solomon. Those that are taught of God give him their hearts, and the present will be more acceptable than this of gold and spices. Mention is made of the great abundance Solomon had of his own, notwithstanding she presented and he accepted this gold. What we present to Christ he needs not, but will have us so to express our gratitude. Henry. LESSON VII. AUGUST 13, 1876. THE CALL OF WISDOM. PROVERBS 1:20-33.. The proverb has its origin in the nature of man, and is admirably adapted to the wants of social life, especially in its earlier stages. The proverbs current among a people unquestionably have no small Influence upon their character. They are to the morals of a nation what gold coin is to its currency, portable, rich, and always passable; or, as Cicero says, "They are the salt-pits of a nation; treasured |