Superbook

Lesson:

Ask God to give you wisdom and guide you in your decisions.

Extras

• Character Profiles

  • King Solomon

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    King Solomon

    

    Solomon inherited King David's throne. Solomon loved the Lord and honored his father's request to follow God's ways. In a dream God told Solomon he could have anything he asked. Solomon asked God for wisdom to govern God's people. God was so pleased with Solomon's request that He gave Solomon what he didn't ask for - riches and fame! Samuel used his gift of wisdom to settle a difficult argument between two women that could not be solved by human wisdom alone. When all of Israel heard the king's decision, they were in awe of him and saw God's wisdom in him!

    • Bible References

      • 1 Kings 3:28
      • 1 Kings 3:16-28
      • 2 Samuel 12:24-25
      • 1 Kings 1:5
      • 1 Kings 1:32-35
      • 1 Kings 3:5
      • Matthew 1:1-7
      • 2 Chronicles 9:22
      • 1 Kings 4:32
      • 1 Kings 6:37-38
      • 1 Kings 11:1-12
      • 1 Kings 11:42
      • 1 Kings 3:9-14

  • King David (70s)

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    King David (70s)

    

    King David was about to die. He gave final instructions his son Solomon. He told him to continue to obey God and follow His ways for the rest of his life as Israel's king. David knew that Solomon would have a successful life if he obeyed God. David also had received a promise from God that one of his sons would always be Israel's king if they followed after God and served Him faithfully. David did all he could do to secure God's promise for his family!

    • Bible References

      • 1 Kings 3:6
      • 1 Samuel 17:32-50
      • 1 Samuel 18: 5-9
      • 1 Samuel 19:9-24
      • 1 Samuel 18:1-4
      • 1 Samuel 24, 1 Samuel:26
      • 1 Chronicles 22:6-10
      • 1 Kings 1:1-53
      • 1 Kings 2:1-4
      • 2 Samuel 7:29
      • 1 Samuel 13:14
      • Acts 13:22

• Adventure Guide

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    Gizmo's Bible Adventures - Your New Journey with God

  • 

    King Solomon - Family Discussion Guide

• Videos

  King David Advises Solomon

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    King David Advises Solomon

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    King Solomon Asks For Wisdom

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    King Solomon Listens To Dispute

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    King Solomon Settles Dispute

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    King Solomon - The Salvation Poem

• Q & A

  • Will God give me wisdom and direction?

    King David had died and now his son Solomon was on the throne. How would he handle the responsibility and the pressure of leading God’s people? Who could he go to for trusted help? Solomon did the right thing; with a humble heart he turned to God and asked for wisdom. Solomon described himself as like being a little child who didn’t know his way around. He told God that no man could do such an important job alone. He sought the Lord’s direction and discernment to know right from wrong. God gave Solomon what he asked for. He made Solomon wiser than anyone on the earth. And, God was so pleased with Solomon’s request that God gave him what he didn’t ask for; riches and fame! Solomon was also promised a long life if he obeyed God’s commands. Solomon used God’s wisdom to give judgment for a heartbreaking situation with two mothers and their babies. “When all Israel heard the king’s decision, the people were in awe of the king, for they saw the wisdom God had given him for rendering justice.” (1 Kings 3:28).
    
    Solomon asked for wisdom and God gave it to him and much more. What would you answer if God asked you the same question that He asked Solomon? Proverbs 4:7 says simply, “Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!” Wisdom begins and ends with God. God is our endless source of knowledge and understanding for every decision in this life. All we need to do is ask. “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” (James 1:5).
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • 1 Kings 3:10

  • Do I need to honor my parents?

    King David challenged Solomon to be a courageous man, obey God’s commands, and follow all His ways. If he did this, Solomon would be successful in all he did. We read that Solomon loved the Lord and followed all the decrees of his father David. (1 Kings 2:1-3). Solomon was successful because of his obedience. He had more wisdom and wealth than any king on earth because of God’s blessings upon his life. (1 Kings 3: 12-13). It is important for us to honor our parents; so important that God made it one of the Ten Commandments. Ephesians 6:1-3 says, "Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.”
    
    This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” As believers in Jesus, we belong to the Lord and must show honor to our parents. How do we do this? To honor someone means not only to obey, but also to show respect with our actions and words. To honor in a way that pleases the Lord, we must not only obey but also do it with a right attitude and heart. That means without grumbling and complaining!
    
    The Greek word for honor means “to prize and value.” Jesus modeled what it means to prize and value parents. When Jesus was twelve years old, He honored His parents, Joseph and Mary, when they found Him in the Temple. “Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.” (Luke 2:51). Jesus rebuked the religious leaders for their disregard of God's commandment to honor parents. They taught it was more important to follow church traditions than to show honor to their parents! (Matthew 15:3-6). Solomon wrote in the book of Proverbs about honoring your parents. “My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.” (Proverbs 3:8-9). When we honor our parents, listening and obeying what they say, we will receive wisdom, grace, and honor!
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • 1 Kings 3:3

  • I am young, do I need to live for God now?

    David knew it was time for him to leave the earth as every human being must do. He made sure that he had reminded his son Solomon to give priority to following God's ways. David knew that if Solomon faithfully followed God, he would enjoy God's blessings in his life no matter where he went or what he did. When we are young, it may seem like this world will last forever. As we grow older, we begin to realize that time is very short compared to eternity. Our thoughts and plans should stretch beyond this earth!
    
    Hebrews 13:14 says, “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.” It is so easy to focus on our needs and wants each day rather than God’s will for our lives now and beyond. 1 John 2:17 says, “And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” Doesn’t it make sense to focus on what will last forever? The earth is not our permanent home; this life will not last. The things of God are forever while the things of this earth are temporary. James 4:14 reminds us of this reality. “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone.”
    
    Time is short and we must make the most of it. There is nothing wrong with pursuing success and possessions on this earth. But, it cannot be our primary focus. Seek God for His purpose for your life and pursue it with all you've got - today! Jesus said: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21). Time is short, pursue the things of God that will last forever!
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • Hebrews 13:14

  • How can I live an honest and true life?

    In 1 Kings 3:6, Solomon spoke to the Lord in a dream about his father. “Solomon replied, “You showed great and faithful love to your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you.” As a follower of Christ, wouldn't that be the ultimate compliment to receive? Any godly parent would be thrilled to hear their child describe them this way. To be honest, true, and faithful is the very definition of integrity. Acts 13:22 says, “But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, 'I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.'”
    
    Was David perfect? No! He committed many sins including adultery and murder. But, David repented before God and pleaded for forgiveness and mercy. Yes, David sinned, but God restored him and and blessed his life. It was not the failures that Solomon remembered; it was David's passionate pursuit of God! Here is what God later told Solomon. “As for you, if you will follow me with integrity and godliness, as David your father did, obeying all my commands, decrees, and regulations, then I will establish the throne of your dynasty over Israel forever.” (1 Kings 9: 4-5). David had sinned, but God still used him as an example of integrity, godliness, and obedience.
    
    So, how can we live a life that is honest, true, and faithful? The answer is, we can't – on our own! We need help, and God gives us help by from the Holy Spirit who lives in us. God’s Spirit leads and guides us in all truth (John 16:13). When we choose to follow His directions, we will walk in integrity. The Holy Spirit also produces God’s traits, fruit, or characteristics in us! “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (Galatians 5:22-23). Do you want to be known as honest, true, and faithful? Listen to God’s Spirit that lives in you – He will guide you in the truth of God’s Word so you can live a life of integrity!
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • 1 Kings 3:6

  • Do I need to love others?

    God came to Solomon in a dream and told Solomon he could have anything he wanted. Solomon did not selfishly ask for riches and fame. Solomon said, “Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?” (1 Kings 3:9). Solomon’s prayer was to receive God’s help to rule God’s people. He wanted to make good decisions and judge according to God’s Word and will. Solomon loved and cared for God’s people. He cared enough to make this request above anything else he could have asked for!
    
    To truly love God, we must also love His people. There are no exceptions! 1 John 4:7-8 says, “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” God is not just filled with love; He IS love; the source of love! Think of what these verses say - If we don’t love one another, we do not know God!
    
    This Passage makes it clear that loving God and others go hand and hand. Jesus replied, “‘you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39). How important is it to love God and others? Jesus said it was the second most important commandment and just as important as the first commandment! God is love; so since we are made in His image, we were created to love too! (1 John 4:16; Genesis 1:27).
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • 1 Kings 3:9