Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/293

 But the  other  said:  “Let  it  be  neither  mine  nor  thine,  but divide it.”

Then the  king  commanded  the  child  to  be  given  to  her  who would rather  give  it  up  to  another  than  have  it  killed,  knowing that she  must  be  its  mother. The report  of  this  judgment  having gone abroad,  the  people  all  feared  the  king  and  knew  that  the wisdom of  God  was  in  him. How necessary  it  is  that  kings  and rulers should  examine  in  the  spirit  of  justice  and  wisdom  all  cases brought before  them!

God's Goodness  to  Solomon  was  wonderful.  What  gifts  did  He bestow  and  what  promises  did  He  make  the  young  king?

Love of  God  and  our  neighbour.  Solomon,  by  his  great  virtues, had made  himself  worthy  of  God’s  gifts  and  graces. He loved  God above everything  and  served  Him  with  a willing  heart. Moreover he loved  his  people  and  was  full  of  zeal  for  their  good. He therefore prayed to  God  to  give  him  the  gift  of  wisdom  to  enable  him  to  govern his people  well  and  provide  for  their  spiritual  and  temporal  welfare.

His humility  was  most  pleasing  to  God.  He  showed  it  by  his words: “Thou  hast  made  Thy  servant  king,  who  am  but  a child.”  In him  were  fulfilled  the  words:  “To  the  meek  God  will  give  grace” (Prov. 3,  34).

Prayer for  spiritual  gifts.  Solomon’s  prayer  was  pleasing  to  God, because firstly  he  made  it  with  a humble  heart;  and  secondly  because he did  not  pray  for  riches  or  long  life,  but  for  far  higher  gifts. This shows us  that  we  must  not  pray  only  for  temporal  blessings,  such  as health  or  a good  harvest  or  peace  and  so  forth,  but  above  all  for higher and  more  precious  gifts,  such  as  the  forgiveness  of  sins,  virtue, and especially  for  the  grace  to  do  our  duty  in  our  own  state  of  life. In the  “Our  Father”,  the  model-prayer  taught  us  by  our  Lord,  there are five  petitions  for  spiritual  gifts,  and  only  two  for  temporal  gifts, the fourth  and  the  seventh,  even  these  two  being  combined  with  spiritual petitions. Bear in  mind  our  Lord’s  exhortation  and  promise: “Seek  ye, therefore, first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  His  justice,  and  all  these  things shall be  added  unto  you”  (New  Test.  XXI).