The fall of a wise king

1 Kings 3; 4:29-34; 9:1-9; 11:1-13.

To help preadolescents understand the importance of obeying God and remaining firm in their promises.

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 10:12, NIV*).

Have you ever heard your students belittle themselves? Do not be surprised. Physical changes, school challenges and growing concern about what peers think make preadolescents think badly about themselves. They may feel uncomfortable with the changes they are experiencing; or when compared to the beauty prototypes that the media preaches, they may ask themselves: “How can I be beautiful, strong or smart like them?”

This lesson will teach them that for God there is something more important than beauty, strength and knowledge: obedience out of love. Even being the wisest man in the world, King Solomon made bad decisions every time he disobeyed God. In Deuteronomy 10:12, we do not read that beauty, strength and knowledge were part of the requirements to develop a good relationship with God, but rather to honor, love, serve and obey him.

Read 1 Kings 3; 4:29-34; 9:1-9 and 11:1-13. Solomon was less than 20 years old when he became the new king of Israel. What a huge responsibility for a young man! He was to rule a great nation, taking the place of David, a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).

The covenant that God had made with David was now the responsibility of Solomon. That is why he said to God: “I am young” (1 Kings 3:7), and asked him to give him an “understanding heart” (3:9).

God honored his request by giving him wisdom. In addition, God gave him wealth, honor and long life. The only condition was that he walk in the ways of God, keeping his precepts and commandments as David, his father (3:14) had done.

But, Solomon did not fulfill his part of the covenant. From the beginnings of his reign, he was inconsistent in his observance of the law. He married foreign women, practiced worship rituals in forbidden places and, as often happens, all this led to disobedience.

Deuteronomy 17:17 forbade the Israelite king from having many wives. Solomon broke that law by having 700 wives and 300 concubines. These foreign women alienated him from the one true God, bringing judgment against Solomon.

The 40 years of Solomon’s reign ended in chaos and violence. Honoring the covenant with David, God allowed Rehoboam, David’s grandson, to reign over Judah. The tribe of Benjamin joined Judah, while the other 10 tribes united under the rule of Jeroboam.

The wisdom of the world vs. the wisdom of God

Divide into two groups. Give each group three statements from Student Activity Sheet #353-A. Allow them to debate whether each statement refers to the wisdom of God or the wisdom of the world.

Tell them that today’s lesson will explain more about the difference between what people think and what God knows is best for us.

Be prepared to tell this story by studying the following passages in advance: 1 Kings 9:4-7; Ecclesiastes 1:12-14 and 1 Kings 11:11-13.

Before beginning the story, ask the group to sit in a circle and for those with Bibles to look at the study passages. As you tell the story, you can also ask a student to read the passage you want to emphasize. In conclusion, explain that when Solomon died, his son Rehoboam reigned over the tribe of Judah, and the tribe of Benjamin joined it. Jeroboam became the king of the ten remaining tribes.

Promises and warnings

Have them find Student Activity Sheet #353-B for this activity. There they will find a biblical passage that talks about what God promised Solomon, and the conditions necessary for it to be fulfilled. Tell your students to read the paragraph and circle the promise. Then underline the conditions, and with double lines the warning.

Consequences

Allow time for your students to read 1 Kings 11:11-13. Then, complete the verses found on Student Activity Sheet #353-C. Then, discuss what could have happened if Solomon had kept the covenant he made with God and obeyed his commandments. Explain that the consequence of his disobedience was that the kingdom was divided and the people returned to sin, worshiping false idols.