Conflict & Courage

Chap. 190 - A Late Awakening      Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:11.  {CC 196.1}        By his own bitter experience, Solomon learned the emptiness of a life that seeks in earthly things its highest good. He erected altars...

And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom. 1 Kings 4:34.  {CC 195.1}        In the days of Solomon the kingdom of Israel extended from Hamath on the north to Egypt on the south, and from the Mediterranean Sea to the river Euphrates. Through this territory ran many natural highways of the world's commerce, and caravans fro...

The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22.  {CC 194.1}        Many envied the popularity and abundant glory of Solomon, thinking that of all men he must be the most happy. But amid all that glory of artificial display the man envied is the one to be most pitied. His countenance is dark with despair. All the splendor about him is but to him mockery of...

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24.  {CC 193.1}        So gradual was Solomon's apostasy that before he was aware of it, he had wandered far from God. Almost imperceptibly he began to trust less and less in divine guidance and blessing, and to put con...

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord. 2 Corinthians 6:17.  {CC 192.1}        Many who started out in life with as fair and promising a morning, in their limited sphere, as Solomon had in his exalted station, through one false and irrevocable step in the marriage relation, lose their souls, and draw others down to ruin with them. As Solomon's wives turned his heart...

 And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. 1 Kings 4:33.  {CC 191.1}        As the years went by and Solomon's fame increased, he sought to honor God by adding to his mental and spiritual strength, and by continuing to impart to others the blessings...

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5.  {CC 190.1}        The God whom we serve is no respecter of persons. He who gave to Solomon the spirit of wise discernment is willing to impart the same blessing to His children today. . . . When a burden bearer desires wisdom more than he desires wealth, power...

I am but a little child. . . . Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people. 1 Kings 3:7, 9.  {CC 189.1}        The language used by Solomon while praying to God before the ancient altar at Gibeon reveals his humility and his strong desire to honor God. He realized that without divine aid he was as helpless as a little child to fulfill the responsibilities resting on him....

And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly. 2 Chronicles 1:1.  {CC 188.1}        Not in the surpassing wisdom, the fabulous riches, the far-reaching power and fame that were his, lay the real glory of Solomon's early reign; but in the honor that he brought to the name of the God of Israel through a wise use of the...

Now these be the last words of David. 2 Samuel 23:1.  {CC 187.1}        David's "last words," as recorded, are a song--a song of trust, of loftiest principle, and undying faith:       "David the son of Jesse saith,        And the man who was raised on high saith,        The anointed of the God of Jacob,        And the sweet psalmist of Israel:        The Spirit of Jehovah spake by me: . . . .     ...

Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. Psalm 71:9.  {CC 186.1}       David entreated the Lord not to forsake him in old age. And why did he thus pray? He saw that most of the aged around him were unhappy, because of the unfortunate traits of their character being increased with their age. If they had been naturally close and covetous, they were most disagr...

Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord. 1 Chronicles 29:9.  {CC 185.1}        From the very opening of David's reign one of his most cherished plans had been that of erecting a temple to the Lord. Though he had not been permitted to execute this design, he had manifested no less zeal and earnestness in its behalf. He...

And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him. 2 Samuel 18:17.  {CC 184.1}        David and all his company--warriors and statesmen, old men and youth, the women and the little children--in the darkness of night crossed the deep and swift-flowing river. . . . Hushai's counsel had achieved its object, gaining for David opportunity fo...

Chap. 177 - A Foolish Wise Man      The Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom. 2 Samuel 17:14.  {CC 183.1}        Ahithophel urged upon Absalom the necessity of immediate action against David. . . . This plan was approved by the king's counselors. Had it been followed, David would surely have been slain, unless the Lo...

When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me. Micah 7:8, 9.  {CC 182.1}        Conscience was uttering bitter and humiliating truths to David. While his faithful subjects wondered at his sudden reverse of fortune, it was no mystery to the king. He had often...

But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. Psalm 3:3.  {CC 181.1}       With the memory ever before him of his own transgression of the law of God, David seemed morally paralyzed; he was weak and irresolute, when before his sin he had been courageous and decided. His influence with the people had been weakened. And all this favored the designs of his unnatural...

By this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. 2 Samuel 12:14.  {CC 180.1}        Through successive generations infidels have pointed to the character of David, bearing this dark stain, and have exclaimed in triumph and derision, "This is the man after God's own heart!" Thus a reproach has been brought upon religion, God and His word have been blasphemed, sou...

And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. 2 Samuel 12:7.  {CC 179.1}        As time passed on, David's sin toward Bathsheba became known, and suspicion was excited that he had planned the death of Uriah. The Lord was dishonored. He had favored and exalted David, and David's sin misrepresented the character of God and cast reproach upon His name. It tended to lower the standard of godliness in Is...

The thing that David had done displeased the Lord. 2 Samuel 11:27.  {CC 178.1}        When in ease and self-security he let go his hold upon God, David yielded to Satan and brought upon his soul the stain of guilt. He, the Heaven-appointed leader of the nation, chosen by God to execute His law, himself trampled upon its precepts. He who should have been a terror to evildoers, by his own act streng...

For our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organizations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil. Ephesians 6:12, Phillips.  {CC 177.1}        The Bible has little to say in praise of men. Little space is given to recounting the virtues of even the best men who have...

Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God smote him there for his error. 2 Samuel 6:6, 7.  {CC 176.1}        The fate of Uzzah was a divine judgment upon the violation of a most explicit command. Through Moses the Lord had given special instruction concerning the transportation of the ark. No...

How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished! 2 Samuel 1:27.  {CC 175.1}        Twice David had had Saul in his power; but when urged to slay him, he had refused to lift his hand against him who had been consecrated by the command of God to rule over Israel. . . .  {CC 175.2}        David's grief at the death of Saul was sincere and deep, evincing the generosity of a noble nature. He...

The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. Proverbs 11:5.  {CC 174.1}        On the plain of Shunem and the slopes of Mount Gilboa the armies of Israel and the hosts of the Philistines closed in mortal combat. Though the fearful scene in the cave of Endor had driven all hope from his heart, Saul fought with desperate valor for his throne...

It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. Acts 1:7.  {CC 173.1}        The witch of Endor had made agreement with Satan to follow his directions in all things; and he would perform wonders and miracles for her, and would reveal to her the most secret things, if she would yield herself unreservedly to be controlled by his Satanic majesty. This s...

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Ecclesiastes 9:5.  {CC 172.1}        When Saul inquired for Samuel, the Lord did not cause Samuel to appear to Saul. He saw nothing. Satan was not allowed to disturb the rest of Samuel in the grave, and bring him up in reality to the witch of Endor. Go...