Lesson Date: March 10, 2013

Focal Scripture Passage: 1 Kings 3:3-14, 24-28; 4:29-34

AIM: To lead students to identify and describe the elements of Solomon’s wise prayer, and to encourage them to be wise in their attitudes, prayers, and actions.

 

Before class: Read the notes on 1 Kings 3 – 4 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Have enough copies of the handout titled “The Prayer of a Wise Man” for your anticipated attendance.  Have pens or pencils on hand for those who might need one.  Write the following question on the marker board or chalkboard: “If You Could Have Anything You Wanted, What Would You Ask For?”  Write or print the following scripture references on index cards or small pieces of paper: John 15:5; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Ephesians 3:20; Philippians 4:13; James 1:5; James 3:17.  Enlist some volunteers to look up the verses and be prepared to read them to the class when you call for them.

 

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Read the question written on the board.  Remind the class that as kids we heard the fairy tale about a genie in a magic lamp who would grant three wishes to his owner.  Ask: “Did you ever think about what you would ask the genie for if you had the chance?”

From time to time we hear about someone receiving a huge inheritance or winning a lottery jackpot of tens of millions of dollars.  Ask: “Have you ever thought about what you would do if you suddenly had virtually limitless money?”

Tell the class that we have all probably dreamed about fairy tale scenarios such as those, but in today’s lesson they will learn about a real man who really had the opportunity to ask for anything, with the assurance that he would get whatever he asked for.  Ask the following rhetorical question: “What would you ask for?”

 

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1.     Review.

a.     Briefly remind the class of the historical setting of the book of 1 Kings.

b.     Ask them what happened in last week’s lesson.  Remind them that Solomon was now king of Israel.

c.     Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s memory verse (1 Pet. 5:6).

2.     God’s Amazing Offer to Solomon.

a.     Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 3:3-4.

b.     Ask: “How does the Bible describe Solomon’s relationship with the Lord?” (he loved the Lord and was as faithful to Him as his father David had been; his only shortcoming was that he sacrificed to the Lord on the high places).

c.     Use the map to show where Gibeon was located.

d.     Explain that “high places” were open areas on hilltops that had been used by the Canaanites to worship their pagan gods.  The Lord told the Israelites to destroy all of the high places, but they failed to obey.  Over time, the Israelites began worshiping Almighty God in the very high places He had commanded them to destroy.  (See the notes on verse 4 in the Sunday School Teacher Book for interesting facts about the location of the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant at that time.)

e.     Read 1 Kings 3:5.

f.      Tell the class that God spoke to Solomon in a dream at night.

g.     Ask: “What did God say to Solomon?” (“Ask what you want and I’ll give it to you”).

3.     Solomon’s Wise Prayer.

a.     Give everyone a copy of the handout titled “The Prayer of a Wise Man” (and a pen or pencil if needed).

b.     Tell the class to listen very carefully to Solomon’s prayer, as you read 1 Kings 3:6-9. 

c.     Using the handout as your guide, lead the class to identify and describe the elements of Solomon’s wise prayer.  Ask them to fill in the blanks as they identify the correct words (underlined and in bold type below). 

d.     Ask: “What two things did Solomon thank God for in verse 6?” (His mercy and kindness in the past).  David had walked before the Lord in truth and righteousness. 

e.     Ask: “Could Solomon claim credit for his father’s goodness or for God’s mercy and kindness?” (no; he had nothing to do with either). 

f.      Re-read the end of verse 6 and first half of verse 7.  Ask: “Did Solomon brag on himself?” (no).

g.     Tell the class we have all seen athletes and other famous persons who brag on themselves and their amazing abilities.  Solomon was king of Israel, but rather than thinking he was really great, he recognized that his position and blessings were gifts from God, not based upon his abilities.

h.     Ask: “What did Solomon say about his abilities in verse 7?” (he was like a child who didn’t know anything).

i.      Ask the class to suggest a word for the next blank (Solomon recognized and admitted his limitations).

j.      Ask: “According to verse 8, what did Solomon say about the job ahead of him as king of Israel?” (Solomon recognized the size and difficulty of the job God had given him).  Remind the class that God promised to give Solomon anything he asked for.

k.     Re-read verse 9.  Ask: “What did Solomon ask God for?” (wisdom to be able to do the job God had for him).

4.     God’s Response to Solomon’s Prayer.

a.     Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 3:10-14.

b.     Ask: “How did God feel about Solomon’s request?” (He was pleased).

c.     Referring back to the handout, ask: “According to verse 11, what did Solomon NOT ask for?” (long life, riches, or the death of his enemies).  Instead, Solomon asked for wisdom and discernment to judge and rule his people.

d.     Ask: “According to verse 12, what did God give Solomon?” (a wise and understanding heart; more wisdom that anyone else).

e.     Ask: “According to verse 13, what else did God give Solomon?” (the things he did not ask for – riches and honor).

f.      Ask: “According to verse 14, what did God promise to give Solomon if he walked in God’s ways like his father had done?” (long life).

5.     Solomon’s Wisdom Demonstrated.

a.     Briefly lecture on verses 16-23 using the following outline:

·       Two harlots came before Solomon with a dispute.  They shared the same house and they had both recently given birth to new babies.

·       One woman accidentally lay on her baby during the night, causing the baby to die.  In the morning, she swapped her dead baby with the other woman’s living baby.

·       Each woman claimed that the living baby was hers.  There were no witnesses, so it was one person’s word against another’s.

b.     Read 1 Kings 3:24-25.

c.     Ask: “What did Solomon wisely do?” (ordered that the living baby be cut in half, with each woman receiving on half).

d.     Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 3:26-28.

e.     Ask: “What happened in verse 26?” (one woman begged that the baby’s life be spared and that the baby be given to the other woman, but the other woman wanted it cut in half and killed).

f.      Ask: “How did Solomon know which woman was the real mother?” (the real mother wanted to keep her baby alive, even if it meant losing the baby to the other woman).

g.     Solomon gave the living baby to its mother.

h.     Ask: “How did Israel react to Solomon’s great wisdom?” (they saw that God’s wisdom was in him, so they respected him).

6.     Solomon’s Great Wisdom and Fame.

a.     Tell the class that Solomon appointed regional governors and other leaders to help him lead Israel.

b.     Read 1 Kings 4:29-34.

c.     Tell the class that Solomon was wiser than the wisest men on earth.  He wrote many proverbs and songs.  Some of his work is preserved for us in the Old Testament books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.

d.     People came from all over the world to hear Solomon’s great wisdom.

 

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Tell the class that in this lesson they have learned about the prayer of a truly wise man.  Use the completed handout to review the elements of Solomon’s wise prayer.  Note the fact that this prayer does not present a formula we can follow to get God’s blessings.  Read the title of the handout.  Solomon’s prayer was not just a prayer for wisdom, it was a wise prayer prayed by a wise man.

Tell the class that many people in our modern, self-centered world are overly impressed with themselves, their achievements, and their abilities.  Solomon recognized the wisest truth any human being can grasp: he recognized that he was nothing and God was everything.

Tell the class that one of the most empowering things a child of God can ever do is to realize that he or she cannot live for God or serve God without God’s help.  Until we realize our weakness, we won’t turn to God for help.  Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.  The only place we ever find God’s strength is in our weakness: in our weakness we become strong.  Ask the previously enlisted volunteers to read John 15:5 and Philippians 4:13.  Only when we understand that we are powerless do we truly trust God to work through us.

Solomon asked God to give him wisdom, but God gave him more than he could ever imagine.  That’s the way God works.  Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read Ephesians 3:20.

Ask: “Do you need God’s wisdom and help?”  Ask the previously enlisted volunteers to read James 1:5 and James 3:17.

Remind the class that this lesson has been about the prayer of a wise man.  Ask: “Are you a wise person?  Do you recognize your limitations?  Do you see the size and difficulty of the tasks God has given you, compared to your inadequate abilities?  If so, you are a candidate for God’s blessings.”

Encourage everyone to be wise in their attitudes, prayers, and actions this week.

 

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize James 1:5.  Tell them to remember how God answered Solomon’s prayer, and to ask the Lord daily for the wisdom they need to live for Him and serve Him.