Lesson 10: Solomon - Wisdom, Prosperity, Temple

Introduction: When we hear the name Solomon, we immediately think 
of wisdom, wealth, and the temple.  He is also remembered for his 
unfaithfulness.  In the next three lessons we will study this 
important character in Bible history.

I. Solomon Established As King (1 Kgs. 2 & 3)
	A. Adonijah's plot fell apart, his support evaporated, 
	   and he was left pleading for his life (1 Kgs. 1:1-53).
	B. Solomon spared him, but Adonijah still coveted the 
	   throne.  He asked for the hand of Abishag the 
	   Shunamite in marriage.
	C. This plan failed also and he was executed (2:13-25).
	D. Joab and Shimei were also executed, and Abiathar was 
	   exiled (2:26-46).
	E. Solomon made an alliance with Egypt and married 
	   Pharaoh's daughter (3:1).


II. The Request For Wisdom (1 Kgs. 3)
	A. Solomon loved the Lord and offered sacrifices at 
	   Gibeon, one of the great high places.
	B. God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, "Ask!  
	   What shall I give the?"
	C. In asking for wisdom, Solomon showed his concern for 
	   serving God first.  Therefore, God blessed him with 
	   power, wealth, and long life if he remained faithful 
	   (3:14).
	D. Now, instead of sacrificing at Gibeon (a high place), 
	   Solomon offered sacrifices in Jerusalem before the 
	   ark of the covenant.


III.Solomon's Wisdom Displayed (1 Kgs. 3:16-28)
	A. Solomon displayed his wisdom in revealing the true 
	   mother of the living child.  
	B. Solomon's wisdom was greater than the Egyptians and 
	   was know world-wide.

Principles:
	1. Our priorities should be to serve God first, others 
	   second, and ourselves last.
	2. We should worship as God commands.
	3. God gives wisdom and prosperity. 


IV. Solomon's Prosperity (1 Kgs. 4:20-28)
	A. Judah and Israel prospered.
	B. Solomon's reign extended over a wide area (4:21).
	C. Gold was imported by the shipload, and silver 
	   was so common that it had no worth (2 Chron. 9:13-28).
	D. God blessed Israel with prosperity through the 
	   wisdom of Solomon.

V. Solomon Builds The Temple (1 Kgs. 5 & 6)
	A. Before he died, David instructed Solomon to build 
	   the temple.
	B. Solomon had close ties with Hiram, King of Tyre, 
	   as had his father before him.
	C. A labor force out of Israel went to Lebanon in shifts 
	   of 10,000.
	D. 70,000 carried burdens, 80,000 quarried stone, and 
	   3,300 supervised (5:13-18).
	E. Promise of God during the building of the temple 
	   (6:11-13).  Compare 2 Sam. 7:12-16.


VI. The Temple (1 Kgs. 6)
	A. The building 
		1. Date: 480 years after the exodus (vs. 1)
		2. Length:  60 cubits;  width:  20 cubits;  
		   height:  30 cubits (vs. 2)
		3. Porch:  20 x 10 cubits (vs. 3)
		4. Windows (vs. 4)
		5. Three stories of compartments outside the 
		   walls of the temple proper (vss. 5-6)
		6. House built of stone (vs. 7)
		7. Door to side-chambers, and stairs (vs. 8)
		8. House covered with beams and planks of cedar 
		   (vs. 9)
		9. Stories:  each 5 cubits high (vs. 10)
	B. Internal arrangements of the temple building
		1. Walls of cedar, floors of fir (or cypress) 
		   (vs. 15)
		2. The inner sanctuary - "the most holy place" 
		   - 20 cubits (vs. 16)
		3. In front of the sanctuary - the holy place 
		   - 40 cubits (vs. 17)
		4. Cedar walls - ornamentation (vs. 18)
		5. Most Holy Place - place for the ark of the 
		   covenant (vs. 19)
		6. Most Holy Place - a perfect cube, overlaid with 
		   gold (vs. 20)
		7. Inside of house overlaid with gold, chains of 
		   gold before sanctuary (vs. 21)
		8  Altar overlaid with gold (vs. 22)
		9. Two cheubim in the inner sanctuary (vss. 23-28)
	       10. The walls, floors, and doors - and their 
		   ornamentation (vss. 29-35)
	C. Completion of the temple (vs. 37-38) 

 
Questions:
1. Why was Gibeon called the "great high place" (2 Chron. 1:3; 
   1 Chron. 21:29)? 
2. What attitudes did Solomon's prayer reflect?  Describe God's 
   response.
3. How is 1 Kgs. 4:20 related to Gen. 22:17; 32:12?  How is 
   1 Kgs. 4:21 related to Gen.  15:18-21?
4. Why was Adonijah's request for Abishag the Shunammite a 
   threat to Solomon's authority?
5. Why was Joab executed (2 Sam. 3:22-30; 20:8-12; 1 Kgs. 1:7), 
   Shimei told to stay in Jerusalem (1 Kgs. 2:8-9; 
   2 Sam. 16:5-14), and Abiathar exiled?  How was this a 
   fulfillment of God's word (1 Sam. 2:31-36)?
6. Comment on wisdom as it relates to the following passages.  
   Job 28;  Prov. 1:20-2:22; 1 Cor. 1:19-21; Js. 1:5.
7. How was Jesus greater than Solomon (Mt. 12:42)?
8. Jesus said, "...it is hard for a rich man to enter the 
   kingdom of heaven" (Mt. 19:23-24).  How does wealth affect 
   us?  Comment on Prov. 30:7-9; Lk. 12:13-21; Mk. 12:43-44.
9. What was the significance of the temple (1 Kgs. 8:13; 
   27-30; 9:3)?
10. Describe Israel's worship in the early years of Solomon's 
    reign.  What were the "high places"?  Compare 1 Kgs. 3:2 
    with Lev. 17:1-9 and Deut. 12:2-5, 13-14.  Some people feel 
    that they can worship God anywhere.  Does it matter to God 
    how or where we worship?  Is it important to assemble with 
    the saints to worship?