Solomon is such an interesting Biblical character. He is called the wisest man, and yet he makes the most foolish mistake. No, it was not that he got involved in a land war in Asia, it was that he turned his back on God and went after other gods. He forgot that wisdom comes from God! Here’s what you can talk to your kids about this week.
- Bible Passage: 1 Kings 11-12
- Main Point: God divided Israel into two kingdoms because Solomon sinned
- Key Passage: Proverbs 2:6-7
- Big Picture Question: Where does wisdom come from? Wisdom comes from God through His Word.
Solomon started strong. He recognized his weakness and his need for wisdom from God. So he sought wisdom from God and received it. But early on there is a crack in his armor: he take foreign wives. Now, there is nothing wrong with foreigners. They have a special place in the kingdom of God and Israel is supposed to treat them well. Leviticus 19:34 says “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” Solomon’s trouble was not that foreigners were around, but that he mistook treating them well with accepting their false gods.
Solomon trifled with YHWH God by entertaining the idea that there were other gods as well. He even built high places for these other gods, places where people could go and worship them! The king that made the great temple of God made competing places of worship for false gods. How foolish for such a wise king.
When Solomon acted foolishly, God decided that there would be a consequence: his kingdom would be torn in two. His son, Rehoboam, would cause this division by also acting foolishly. Instead of listening to wise counsel from his father’s advisors, he listened to his friends who tickled his ears, and his own pride pulled the country apart.
Still, God kept his promise to David. David would always have a king on the thrown in Israel. God would not take Jerusalem from David’s family. God redeemed even these foolish kings actions and brought through David’s line the all-wise King Jesus.
We all do foolish things from time to time. Share with your kids a time when you did something foolish, and share how the consequences worked out. Maybe you can think of a time that, though you were foolish, God redeemed it in your life. Warn against the foolishness of turning away from God and toward things that are not God.
Have a great week.
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