"In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy ... And now, 0 LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered or counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant AN UNDERSTANDING HEART to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?" (I Kings 3:5-9).
    The Lord approved Solomon's unselfish choice. He knew that Solomon wanted to be a good king. He had made a spiritual choice -- not desiring gold, power, victory and fame, but wisdom whereby he might be fitted to fulfill his mission. Such a choice always pleases God. He loves for His children to choose that which is best.
    James declared that the reason men pray and fail to receive is because they ask that they may con-

sume God's gifts on their own lusts. God is never pleased by a selfish prayer; He is always pleased when we ask for that which may be used in blessing others.
    Materialistic praying may bring a curse instead of a blessing. Remember the story of Midas, who desired the power to change everything he touched into gold? His request was granted; and the fruits he plucked, and the food he put into his mouth, turned to gold until, finally, in the agony of starvation, he was compelled to cry for the withdrawal of that power. It was to him a curse -- not a blessing.
    So it is for those who live for mere worldly wealth: in obtaining it their souls are allowed to go hungry. Solomon was wise in asking ONLY for wisdom -- leaving the rest to God's choice. And he acted without the knowledge of a promise given by Christ: "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you".
    What are YOU asking of God? Is it worthwhile?

    "Hem in the day with prayer and it will be less likely to ravel out before night."

    Like the cloud that was "darkness" to the Egyptians, but gave "light" to Israel, God appears differently to His friends and to His enemies. To His own people He is light, comfort, joy, protection and gladness; but to such as reject Him, He is darkness, terror and inflexible judgment. The very thought of God's presence fills loving Christian hearts with the warmth of love, confidence and peace; but the same thought makes the unreconciled sinner tremble.
    The providence of God also has this same double aspect. An enlightened Christian can see love everywhere --- the love of God. He views His Father's hand ordering all things with loving wisdom. And though he may not always understand he can trust and wait in confidence. But to the person who is at enmity with God the very same providence is a dark mystery -- filled with dread and alarm. He can never feel safe --- anywhere. He has no assurance of protection, no consciousness of love anywhere in the vast universe.
    To the ungodly death is a heavy cloud --- charged with lightning's and thunder. To the Christian it is a glorious blaze of divine love pouring brightness and peace on every side. The difference will be the same in the day of judgment. To those who love Him, Christ on the throne will be all-glorious, and His appearance will give unspeakable joy; but to the ungodly His presence will be an appearance of the most appalling terror.
    WHICH SIDE DO YOU SEE ??

    The ancient Israelites were exhorted to clap their hands and shout triumphantly, "For the LORD..is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us and the nations under our feet .... Our God is King over all the earth. ..God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of His holiness", (Psa. 47:1-3, 7-8). "The mighty God, even the LORD hath spoken....Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence...He shall call to the heavens from above and the earth, that he may judge his people....the heavens shall declare his righteousness, for God is judge himself," (Psa. 50:1-6).
    The LORD is pictured as clothed with majesty and strength. His throne is "established of old"; and He is from everlasting. He is mightier than the voice of many waters. His testimonies are very sure, and holiness becomes His house for ever, (Psa. 93).
    In Psalm 95 the LORD is pictured as "a great God, and a great King above all gods". He is the God of Israel. They are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His faithful hand. The King of Israel is to be feared above all gods, "For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens". Israel is admonished to 'worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. Say among the heathen that the LORD REIGNETH: the world also shall be established that it shall not be

moved; he shall judge righteously", (Psa. 96). When the LORD reigns, the earth will "rejoice and the isles will be glad at the remembrance of His Holiness (Psa. 97), Worship and praise are due unto Him who rules in righteousness. The 100th Psalm calls for such praise.
    No wickedness shall avoid Messiah's wrath or the fire of His jealousy. He will make a speedy riddance of ungodly men. The prophetic admonition is given that men "seek the Lord" in righteousness , and meekness, for "it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger", (Zeph. 1:14-18; 2:1-3). "Wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather all nations, that I may assemble all kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy", (Zeph. 3:8). Only then will He "turn to the people a pure language", that they may call upon His name, and serve Him with one accord.
    Under Messiah's rule Israel will be purified from the filthiness of her abominations (Ezek. 36:25-35), and the land will be purified and restored to the beauty of Eden (Isa. 35). In that day the desert shall blossom as a rose, the eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as a deer, and the tongues of the mute shall sing. Springs will appear in the wilderness and streams in the

desert. Great will be the peace of Israel when Messiah reigns. When the people of the earth learn to sit at Messiah's feet and let Him arbitrate their disputes and guide their behavior, THEN shall they know universal peace. "He shall judge the people with righteousness and thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor....In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the mmon endureth", (Psa. 72:2-4, 7).

    "Rejoice greatly, 0 daughter of Zion; shout, 0 daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass...and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from river even to the ends of the earth", (Zech. 9:9-10).
    It is truly a soul-stirring picture that Zechariah paints of the coming Messiah. This great King appears as the Prince of Peace ..... vindicated, victorious and lowly. He comes triumphantly and yet in the guise of peace. Instead of riding a war horse, he rides a humble beast used by kings and notables on missions of peace. There will be conflict -- ending in glorious victory for the people of God. The temporary triumph of the enemy will be forgotten when Messiah, in all His might, shall put all enemies under His feet and establish His kingdom in Jerusalem. As the capitol, Zion shall then be the HOLY City of God.
    The hope of Israel was certainly rooted deeply in divine revelation!

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