prophets and kings-第11章
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should actuate the followers of Jesus。 Our divine Master has given an example of how His disciples are to work。 To those whom He bade； 〃Follow Me； and I will make you fishers of men〃 （Matthew 4：19）； He offered no stated sum as a reward for their services。 They were to share with Him in self…denial and sacrifice。
Not for the wages we receive are we to labor。 The motive that prompts us to work for God should have in it nothing akin to self…serving。 Unselfish devotion and a spirit of sacrifice have always been and always will be the first requisite of acceptable service。 Our Lord and Master designs that not one thread of selfishness shall be woven into His work。 Into our efforts we are to bring the tact and skill； the exactitude and wisdom； that the God of perfection required of the builders of the earthly tabernacle； yet in all our labors we are to remember that the greatest talents or the most splendid services are acceptable only when self is laid upon the altar； a living； consuming sacrifice。
Another of the deviations from right principles that finally led to the downfall of Israel's king was his yielding to the temptation to take to himself the glory that belongs to God alone。
From the day that Solomon was entrusted with the work of building the temple； to the time of its completion； his avowed purpose was 〃to build an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel。〃 2 Chronicles 6：7。 This purpose was fully recognized before the assembled hosts of Israel
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at the time of the dedication of the temple。 In his prayer the king acknowledged that Jehovah had said； 〃My name shall be there。〃 1 Kings 8：29。
One of the most touching portions of Solomon's dedicatory prayer was his plea to God for the strangers that should come from countries afar to learn more of Him whose fame had been spread abroad among the nations。 〃They shall hear；〃 the king pleaded； 〃of Thy great name； and of Thy strong hand； and of Thy stretched…out arm。〃 In behalf of every one of these stranger worshipers Solomon had petitioned： 〃Hear Thou； 。 。 。 and do according to all that the stranger calleth to Thee for： that all people of the earth may know Thy name； to fear Thee； as do Thy people Israel； and that they may know that this house； which I have builded； is called by Thy name。〃 Verses 42； 43。
At the close of the service； Solomon had exhorted Israel to be faithful and true to God； in order that 〃all the people of the earth may know；〃 he said； 〃that the Lord is God； and that there is none else。〃 Verse 60。
A Greater than Solomon was the designer of the temple； the wisdom and glory of God stood there revealed。 Those who were unacquainted with this fact naturally admired and praised Solomon as the architect and builder； but the king disclaimed any honor for its conception or erection。
Thus it was when the Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon。 Hearing of his wisdom and of the magnificent temple he had built； she determined 〃to prove him with hard questions〃 and to see for herself his famous works。 Attended by a retinue of servants； and with camels bearing
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〃spices； and gold in abundance； and precious stones；〃 she made the long journey to Jerusalem。 〃And when she was come to Solomon； she communed with him of all that was in her heart。〃 She talked with him of the mysteries of nature； and Solomon taught her of the God of nature； the great Creator； who dwells in the highest heaven and rules over all。 〃Solomon told her all her questions： there was not anything hid from the king； which he told her not。〃 1 Kings 10：1…3；2 Chronicles 9：1； 2。
〃When the Queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom； and the house that he had built； 。 。 。 there was no more spirit in her。〃 〃It was a true report；〃 she acknowledged； 〃which I heard in mine own land of thine acts； and of thy wisdom： howbeit I believed not their words； until I came； and mine eyes had seen it：〃 〃and； behold； the half was not told me： thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard。 Happy are thy men； happy are these thy servants； which stand continually before thee； and that hear thy wisdom。〃 1 Kings 10：4…8； 2 Chronicles 9：3…6。
By the time of the close of her visit the queen had been so fully taught by Solomon as to the source of his wisdom and prosperity that she was constrained； not to extol the human agent； but to exclaim； 〃Blessed be the Lord thy God； which delighted in thee； to set thee on the throne of Israel： because the Lord loved Israel forever； therefore made He thee king； to do judgment and justice。〃 1 Kings 10：9。 This is the impression that God designed should be made upon all peoples。 And when 〃all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon； to hear his wisdom； that God had
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put in his heart〃 （2 Chronicles 9：23）； Solomon for a time honored God by reverently pointing them to the Creator of the heavens and the earth； the Ruler of the universe； the All…wise。
Had Solomon continued in humility of mind to turn the attention of men from himself to the One who had given him wisdom and riches and honor； what a history might have been his！ But while the pen of inspiration records his virtues； it also bears faithful witness to his downfall。 Raised to pinnacle of greatness and surrounded with the gifts of fortune； Solomon became dizzy； lost his balance； and fell。 Constantly extolled by men of the world； he was at length unable to withstand the flattery offered him。 The wisdom entrusted to him that he might glorify the Giver； filled him with pride。 He finally permitted men to speak of him as the one most worthy of praise for the matchless splendor of the building planned and erected for the honor of 〃the name of the Lord God of Israel。〃
Thus it was that the temple of Jehovah came to be known throughout the nations as 〃Solomon's temple。〃 The human agent had taken to himself the glory that belonged to the One 〃higher than the highest。〃 Ecclesiastes 5：8。 Even to this day the temple of which Solomon declared； 〃This house which I have built is called by Thy name〃 （2 Chronicles 6：33）； is oftenest spoken of； not as the temple of Jehovah； but as 〃Solomon's temple。〃
Man cannot show greater weakness than by allowing men to ascribe to him the honor for gifts that are Heaven…bestowed。 The true Christian will make God first and
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last and best in everything。 No ambitious motives will chill his love for God； steadily； perseveringly； will he cause honor to redound to his heavenly Father。 It is when we are faithful in exalting the name of God that our impulses are under divine supervision； and we are enabled to develop spiritual and intellectual power。
Jesus； the divine Master； ever exalted the name of His heavenly Father。 He taught His disciples to pray； 〃Our Father who art in heaven； hallowed be Thy name。〃 Matthew 6：9； A。R。V。 And they were not to forget to acknowledge； 〃Thine is 。 。 。 the glory。〃 Verse 13。 So careful was the great Healer to direct attention from Himself to the Source of His power； that the wondering multitude； 〃when they saw the dumb to speak； the maimed to be whole； the lame to walk； and the blind to see；〃 did not glorify Him； but 〃glorified the God of Israel。〃 Matthew 15：31。 In the wonderful prayer that Christ offered just before His crucifixion； He declared； 〃I have glorified Thee on the earth。〃 〃Glorify Thy Son；〃 He pleaded； 〃that Thy Son also may glorify Thee。〃 〃O righteous Father； the world hath not known Thee： but I have known Thee； and these have known that Thou hast sent Me。 And I have declared unto them Thy name； and will declare it： that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them； and I in them。〃 John 17：1； 4； 25； 26。
〃Thus saith the Lord； Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom； neither let the mighty man glory in his might； let not the rich man glory in his riches： but let him that glorieth glory in this； that he understandeth and knoweth Me；
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that I am the Lord which exercise loving…kindness； judgment； and righteousness； in the earth： for in these things I delight； saith the Lord。〃 Jeremiah 9：23； 24。
〃I will praise the name of God； 。 。 。 A
