prophets and kings-第7节
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ome； let us worship and bow down： Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker。〃 Psalm 95：3…6。
Both in public and in private worship it is our privilege to bow on our knees before God when we offer our petitions to Him。 Jesus； our example； 〃kneeled down； and prayed。〃 Luke 22：41。 Of his disciples it is recorded that they； too； 〃kneeled down； and prayed。〃 Acts 9：40。 Paul declared； 〃I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ。〃 Ephesians 3：14。 In confessing before God the sins of Israel； Ezra knelt。 See Ezra 9：5。 Daniel 〃kneeled upon his knees three times a day； and prayed； and gave thanks before his God。〃 Daniel 6：10。
True reverence for God is inspired by a sense of His infinite greatness and a realization of His presence。 With this sense of the Unseen； every heart should be deeply impressed。 The hour and place of prayer are sacred； because God is
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there。 And as reverence is manifested in attitude and demeanor； the feeling that inspires it will be deepened。 〃Holy and reverend is His name；〃 the psalmist declares。 Psalm 111：9。 Angels； when they speak that name； veil their faces。 With what reverence； then； should we； who are fallen and sinful； take it upon our lips！
Well would it be for old and young to ponder those words of Scripture that show how the place marked by God's special presence should be regarded。 〃Put off thy shoes from off thy feet；〃 He commanded Moses at the burning bush； 〃for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground。〃 Exodus 3：5。 Jacob； after beholding the vision of the angel； exclaimed； 〃The Lord is in this place； and I knew it not。 。 。 。 This is none other but the house of God； and this is the gate of heaven。〃 Genesis 28：16； 17。
In that which was said during the dedicatory services； Solomon had sought to remove from the minds of those present the superstitions in regard to the Creator； that had beclouded the minds of the heathen。 The God of heaven is not； like the gods of the heathen； confined to temples made with hands； yet He would meet with His people by His Spirit when they should assemble at the house dedicated to His worship。
Centuries later Paul taught the same truth in the words： 〃God that made the world and all things therein； seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth； dwelleth not in temples made with hands； neither is worshiped with men's hands； as though He needed anything； seeing He giveth to all life； and breath； and all things； 。 。 。 that they should seek the Lord； if haply they might feel after Him； and find
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Him； though He be not far from every one of us： for in Him we live； and move； and have our being。〃 Acts 17：24…28。
〃Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord； And the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance。 The Lord looketh from heaven； He beholdeth all the sons of men。 From the place of His habitation He looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth。〃
〃The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens； And His kingdom ruleth over all。〃
〃Thy way； O God； is in the sanctuary： Who is so great a God as our God？ Thou art the God that doest wonders： Thou hast declared Thy strength among the people。〃 Psalms 33：12…14； 103：19；77：13；14。
Although God dwells not in temples made with hands； yet He honors with His presence the assemblies of His people。 He has promised that when they come together to seek Him； to acknowledge their sins； and to pray for one another； He will meet with them by His Spirit。 But those who assemble to worship Him should put away every evil thing。 Unless they worship Him in spirit and truth and in the beauty of holiness； their coming together will be of no avail。 Of such the Lord declares； 〃This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth； and honoreth Me with their lips； but their heart is far from Me。〃 Matthew 15：8；9。 Those who worship God must worship Him 〃in spirit and in truth： for the Father seeketh such to worship Him。〃 John 4：23。
〃The Lord is in His holy temple： let all the earth keep silence before Him。〃 Habakkuk 2：20。
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Chapter 3
Pride of Prosperity
While Solomon exalted the law of heaven； God was with him； and wisdom was given him to rule over Israel with impartiality and mercy。 At first； as wealth and worldly honor came to him； he remained humble； and great was the extent of his influence。 〃Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river ＇Euphrates＇ unto the land of the Philistines； and unto the border of Egypt。〃 〃He 。 。 。 had peace on all sides round about him。 And Judah and Israel dwelt safely； every man under his vine and under his fig tree； 。 。 。 all the days of Solomon。〃 I Kings 4：21； 24； 25。
But after a morning of great promise his life was darkened by apostasy。 History records the melancholy fact that he who had been called Jedidiah；〃Beloved of the Lord〃 （2 Samuel 12：25； margin）；he who had been honored by God with tokens of divine favor so remarkable that his wisdom and uprightness gained for him world…wide fame； he who had led others to ascribe honor to the God of
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Israel； turned from the worship of Jehovah to bow before the idols of the heathen。
Hundreds of years before Solomon came to the throne； the Lord； foreseeing the perils that would beset those who might be chosen as rulers of Israel； gave Moses instruction for their guidance。 Directions were given that he who should sit on the throne of Israel should 〃write him a copy〃 of the statutes of Jehovah 〃in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites。〃 〃It shall be with him；〃 the Lord said； 〃and he shall read therein all the days of his life： that he may learn to fear the Lord his God； to keep all the words of this law and these statutes； to do them： that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren； and that he turn not aside from the commandment； to the right hand； or to the left： to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom； he； and his children； in the midst of Israel。〃 Deuteronomy 17：18…20。
In connection with this instruction the Lord particularly cautioned the one who might be anointed king not to 〃multiply wives to himself； that his heart turn not away： neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold。〃 Verse 17。
With these warnings Solomon was familiar； and for a time he heeded them。 His greatest desire was to live and rule in accordance with the statutes given at Sinai。 His manner of conducting the affairs of the kingdom was in striking contrast with the customs of the nations of his timenations who feared not God and whose rulers trampled underfoot His holy law。
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In seeking to strengthen his relations with the powerful kingdom lying to the southward of Israel； Solomon ventured upon forbidden ground。 Satan knew the results that would attend obedience； and during the earlier years of Solomon's reignyears glorious because of the wisdom； the beneficence； and the uprightness of the kinghe sought to bring in influences that would insidiously undermine Solomon's loyalty to principle and cause him to separate from God。 That the enemy was successful in this effort； we know from the record： 〃Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt； and took Pharaoh's daughter； and brought her into the City of David。〃 I Kings 3：I。
From a human point of view； this marriage； though contrary to the teachings of God's law； seemed to prove a blessing； for Solomon's heathen wife was converted and united with him in the worship of the true God。 Furthermore； Pharaoh rendered signal service to Israel by taking Gezer； slaying 〃the Canaanites that dwelt in the city；〃 and giving it 〃for a present unto his daughter； Solomon's wife。〃 I Kings 9：16。 This city Solomon rebuilt and thus apparently greatly strengthened his kingdom along the Mediterranean seacoast。 But in forming an alliance with a heathen nation； and sealing the compact by marriage with an idolatrous princess； Solomon rashly disregarded the wise provision that God had made for maintaining the purity of His people。 The hope that his Egyptian wife might be converted was but a feeble excuse for the sin。
For a time God in His compassionate mercy overruled this terrible mistake； and the king； by a wise course； could
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have checked at least in a large measure the evil forces that his imprudence had set in operation。 But Solomon had begun to lose sight of the Source of his power and glory。 As inclination gained the ascendancy over reason； self…confidence increased； and he sought to carry out the Lord's purpose in his own way。 He reasoned that political and commercial alliances with the surrounding nations would bring these nations to a knowledge of the true God； and he entered into unholy alliance with nation after nation。 Often these alliances were sealed by marriages with heathen princesses。 The commands of Jehovah were set aside for
