SESSION 7 Solomon Asks for God’s Wisdom Summary and Goal Solomon prayed for wisdom, and God granted him incredible blessings in response. We see how he requested God’s wisdom, how he reigned in wisdom, and the blessings that resulted from his wisdom. We also see how desperately God’s people today need the wisdom and insight that only comes from walking with God. Main Passages 1 Kings 3:5-28 1 Kings 4:29-34 Session Outline 1. The Request for Wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-15) 2. The Reign of Wisdom (1 Kings 3:16-28) 3. The Results of Wisdom (1 Kings 4:29-34) Theological Theme God’s promise to make His people a light to the nations began to come true during the reign of Solomon, a king whose wisdom came from God. Christ Connection Solomon reigned with great wisdom and insight, and he foreshadows the coming of a greater king— Jesus, in whom is hidden “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3). Missional Application God calls us to depend on Him for wisdom from above and to live wisely before others as a testimony to our all-wise God. Date of My Bible Study: ______________________ 79 © 2016 LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser. Session Plan Solomon Asks for God’s Wisdom Session 7 Introduction Pack Item 1: Start things off by connecting Daniel Goleman’s concept of “emotional A Kingdom Established intelligence” with what the Bible calls wisdom (leader p. 82; PSG p. 65). Display this poster in a Take a few minutes and discuss some of the great leaders place that will help group members follow the of history. What made them great leaders? storyline of Scripture, to remember where we’ve been and where we are going. Note that as Christians, we believe that wisdom is God-given and must go beyond the world’s perspective (leader p. 82; PSG p. 66). State that Solomon would display wisdom like no other leader in Israel’s history (leader pp. 82-83). Then summarize this session about Solomon’s request for Point 1 Option wisdom (leader p. 83; PSG p. 66). Show the video clip from the movie Aladdin 1. The Request for Wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-15) when Genie explains the Highlight that God appeared to Solomon in a vision, allowing him to ask for limitations on his ability to grant wishes. what he needed as a ruler (leader p. 83; PSG p. 66). www.youtube.com/ watch?v=zB1oTrDyu-c Imagine if God told you to ask for anything from Him. What immediately comes to mind? What would you be most Then ask groups of 2-3 to read John 14:13-14 and likely to request? James 1:5 and discuss the following questions (consider writing them Read 1 Kings 3:5-15, emphasizing that Solomon asked specifically for on a board or sheet of wisdom from among the many things he could have chosen. Call attention paper for groups to have; also available on the DVD to Solomon’s posture, how he saw himself as he prayed. Explain how in The Gospel Project for seeing ourselves as we truly are should lead us to beg God for His wisdom Adults: Leader Pack): (leader pp. 83-84; PSG pp. 66-68). • People in our culture sometimes view God as a genie. How would you In what areas of your life do you feel self-sufficient? explain the difference between genies and the In what areas would you most likely lean on your own God of the Bible? understanding and not ask for God’s wisdom? • What is the difference between Solomon’s response to God’s offer Show how Solomon’s purpose for requesting God’s wisdom was others- and Aladdin’s response to Genie’s offer? centered and why this kind of request is pleasing to God (leader p. 85; PSG p. 68). 80 Leader Guide For what relationships in your life do you most need God’s wisdom right now? Why? For Further Discussion 2. The Reign of Wisdom (1 Kings 3:16-28) What similarities are there Read 1 Kings 3:16-28, noting that the story shows how God answered between asking God for wisdom and children asking Solomon’s prayer (leader pp. 85-86; PSG p. 69). for help from their parents? What differences are there When have you sensed the Lord granting you wisdom as between asking God for you gave advice to someone or as you made a decision? wisdom and children asking Explain the circumstances. for help from their parents? Compare our asking God for wisdom to children asking parents for their help (leader p. 87). Explain that there are problems in life in which a solution Point 3 Option is not clear and that they will require us to ask God for wisdom (leader p. 87; Provide groups of 3-4 with PSG p. 70). a copy of Proverbs 3:13-18 (see leader p. 88; a template is available on the What keeps us from expecting God to joyfully grant us DVD in The Gospel Project wisdom when we ask for it? for Adults: Leader Pack), and ask the groups to write a parallel version of this 3. The Results of Wisdom (1 Kings 4:29-34) section of Proverbs but Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 4:29-34 (leader p. 87; PSG p. 70). Refer to with the competing idea of pursuing something other Proverbs 3:13-18 to show that we are at our best when we are walking in than wisdom (ex. fame, God’s wisdom (leader p. 88). pleasure, wealth). After a few minutes, ask the following questions: Tell the group that wisdom is to be desired more than money, power, or • Was this “proverb” easy to approval. One area we especially need wisdom is in the area of mission—God write? Why or why not? gives wisdom so we can better announce the gospel to the world. Say that • How does your “proverb” compare to James 3:13-18? if we are going to be salt and light in this world, we need wisdom to rightly Is it more like “wisdom relate to the non-Christians around us (leader p. 88; PSG p. 71). from above” or more like “earthly wisdom”? Why? What are some ways you can celebrate God’s wisdom in your life? Christ Connection: Solomon How would you explain to someone that wisdom is more reigned with great wisdom valuable than wealth, power, or approval? and insight, and he foreshadows the coming of a greater king—Jesus, Conclusion in whom is hidden “all the treasures of wisdom and Point out that Solomon’s story shows us much to emulate. Stress that more knowledge” (Col. 2:3). importantly Solomon’s life stirs within us a longing for a true king—Jesus ........................................................ Christ, the perfect King who rules and reigns in infinite wisdom. Mention Missional Application: God Paul’s words in Colossians 2:3 about all wisdom being found in Christ calls us to depend on Him (leader p. 89; PSG p. 72). Apply the truths of this session with “His Mission, for wisdom from above and to live wisely before others Your Mission” (PSG p. 73). as a testimony to our all-wise God. Session 7 81 Expanded Session Content Solomon Asks for God’s Wisdom Session 7 Introduction Voices from What makes a great leader? We could list many things here: a the Church prestigious education, high intelligence, a proven track record of “Wisdom should not be achievement, a charismatic personality, or the ability to cast vision. These equated with intellectual giftedness or philosophical qualities could make a great leader, but they do not guarantee brilliance. Wisdom great leadership. expresses itself in the way one lives. Human beings In Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman argues that what makes do not have the capacity a great leader is not a high IQ or off-the-charts talent. What makes to acquire wisdom on their own, for that would require a great leader, he argues, is someone with a high level of emotional ascending to heaven, and intelligence. Emotional intelligence is the sum of five skills: self-awareness, thus those who are wise 1 put their trust in the words self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skill. revealed by God.” 2 Though he sometimes misses the mark in his analysis, Goleman –Tom Schreiner was essentially describing what the Bible calls wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. It’s knowing what to do when, quite frankly, we don’t know what to do. A good leader is a wise leader. Good leaders must know how to manage themselves, relate well to others, and discern between good and evil. They know how to navigate in choppy waters. Take a few minutes and discuss some of the great leaders of history. What made them great leaders? As Christians, we believe that wisdom must go beyond the world’s perspective because we believe wisdom comes from an all-wise God. God desires to give us wisdom as part of our relationship with Him. As we pursue Him by faith, He generously gives us the wisdom we need to live a life pleasing to Him. In considering wisdom, we turn to the story of Solomon, the wisest of the kings of Israel. When God freed the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt, they were to be a light to all the other nations around them.