Character Studies

Lesson 19

SOLOMON

"Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin."    (Neh. 13:26)

SOLOMON THE PRINCE
2 Samuel 12-18
    1. Promise of Power
    2. Loved by the Lord
    3. Learning Wisdom
· David and Bathsheba's son
· "Loved of the Lord" - 2 Sam. 12:25
· Grew up amidst great family turmoil

SOLOMON'S EARLY REIGN
1 Kings 1-3; 2 Chron. 1
    1. Possession of Power
    2. Loved the Lord
    3. Requesting Wisdom
· Attempted coup by Adonijah - 1 Kgs. 1
· David's charge to Solomon - 1 Kgs. 2:1-9
· Solomon is crowned king - 1 Chron. 29:21-25
· Solomon's throne is established - 1 Kgs. 2:12-46
· Solomon's prayer for wisdom is granted, and more - 1 Kgs. 3; 2 Chron. 1

SOLOMON'S GOLDEN YEARS
1 Kings 4-10; 2 Chron. 2-9
    1. Peak of Power
    2. Built by the Lord
    3. Living Wisely
· The prosperity and wisdom of his reign - 1 Kgs. 4:20-34
· Building the temple and palace - 1 Kgs. 5-7; 2 Chron. 2-5
· Dedication of the temple and other accomplishments - 1 Kgs. 8-9; 2 Chron. 6-8
· The queen of Sheba - 1 Kgs. 10:1-13; 2 Chron. 9:1-12
· Solomon's great wealth - 1 Kgs. 10:14-29; 2 Chron. 9:13-28

SOLOMON'S SAD DECLINE
1 Kings 11
    1. Passing of Power
    2. Turned from the Lord
    3. Living Foolishly
· Solomon's wives and idolatry - 1 Kgs. 11:1-13
· Solomon's adversaries - 1 Kgs. 11:14-40
· Solomon's death - 1 Kgs. 11:41-43; 2 Chron. 9:29-31

LESSONS FROM SOLOMON
· Wisdom is knowledge faithfully applied.
· Like Solomon, we should pray for wisdom (Jas. 1:5-8).
· God is able to bless us beyond our expectation.
· Who we choose to marry will affect the rest of our lives, especially our service to God.
· Effective leadership can be nullified by an unfaithful personal life.
· Moral and religious compromise is sin.
· God dwells with His people in His temple, the church.
· God keeps His promises of punishment as surely as His promises of blessing.

QUESTIONS
1. Why was Gibeon called "the great high place?" (1 Kgs. 3:4; 2 Chron. 1:3;
1 Chron. 21:29)

2. What attitudes are reflected in Solomon's prayer? (1 Kgs. 3:5-9)

3. How did God answer Solomon's prayer? (1 Kgs. 3:10-14)

4. Give an example of Solomon's wisdom. (1 Kgs. 3:16-28)

5. Who supplied Solomon with the materials to build the temple? (1 Kgs. 5)

6. How long did it take to build the temple? Solomon's palace? (1 Kgs. 6:38; 7:1)

7. Describe Israel's worship in the early years of Solomon's reign (1 Kgs. 3:2). Compare 1 Kgs. 3:2 with Lev. 17:1-9 and Deut. 12:2-5, 13-14. Did it matter to God where Israel worshipped? (1 Kgs. 9:3)

8. What did the queen of Sheba learn about Solomon? (1 Kgs. 10:1-10) How is Jesus "greater than Solomon"? (Matt. 12:42)

9. Who (what) turned Solomon's heart away from God? (1 Kgs. 11:1-8; Neh. 13:26)

10. What did God promise to do as a consequence for his sins? (1 Kgs. 11:9-13)

11. Who was Jeroboam? What did Solomon try to do to him? (1 Kgs. 11:26-40)

12. From Ecclesiastes, tell what things from which Solomon tried to find happiness. Did he succeed? What did he conclude was the purpose of life? (Eccl. 12:13-14)