KING SOLOMON,

191

CXXXIV.

inc pPOLOMON.

   
  
 

2 IOLOMON was now king.
< De His reign was a very
xx ¥} happy one; not like
4)| David’s, full of sorrow

and trouble. But some
sad things happened in the begin-
ning of Solomon’s reign. Adonijah
rebelled again, and was put to death.
Joab, too, was slain, because he was
in Adonijah’s conspiracy, and be-
cause of the murders he had for-
merly committed. Abiathar was
sent away. Solomon could not let
him be priest any longer, for he also
had rebelled with Adonijah; but
Solomon did not put him to death,
because he had once been a kind
friend to David. Was Shimei
killed? Not at first; Solomon
commanded him to stay quietly at
his own house in Jerusalem, and
promised him safety there; butif he
went away from Jerusalem, Solomon
told him he should die. Shimei
stayed at his house three years; and
then he disobeyed the king, and
went to Achish, at Gath. Shimei
soon returned to Jerusalem; but he
had disobeyed Solomon, and there-
fore he was slain. All this was very
sad, but we know it was right for
these wicked men to die. Sin must
be punished. Perhaps God does not
punish it directly; He waits many
years ; He gives time for repentance ;
for he does not wish people to die in
their wickedness. God is ready to
save all, and He will forgive the
most wicked people, if they repent
and turn to Him. But if not, He
cannot wait for ever. He cannot
forget sin which is unrepented of,

 

and unforgiven; not washed away
in the blood of Jesus. At last He
will punish all rebellious sinners, as
He punished wicked Adonijah, and
Joab, and Shimei, after so many
years.

All was quiet now: Solomon could
reign in peace, because his wicked
enemies were dead. And did he re-
member all that his father had told
him? Did he try to serve God, and
to teach his people to serve Him too ?
Yes, Solomon loved the Lord. He
was young, and did not yet know
much ; but he wished and prayed to
know more.

Solomon went to Gibeon, to sacri-
fice there. The tabernacle which
Moses made, was at Gibeon, and the
brazen altar. But the ark was at
Jerusalem, in the tent which David
had made for it. Solomon offered a
thousand burnt-offerings upon the
altar at Gibeon. He had great pos-
sessions, and he liked to give much
of what he hadto God. He wanted
to show his love and his thankful-
ness to Him. And Solomon offered
his sacrifices in faith.

When the sacrifices were ended,
and Solomon lay down to sleep,
God appeared to him in a dream.
God came to encourage and to com-
fort young Solomon. He spoke to
him, and said, “ Ask, what I shall
give thee.” How kind God was, to
promise Solomon to give him what
he asked! What did Solomon
choose? Did he choose riches, or
possessions, or honors? No, he
wanted what was better than these.
He knew that worldly things must