Review - Kings In Cups

REVIEWING THE KINGS WE HAVE STUDIED:
After studying nearly forty lessons on King Saul, King David, and King Solomon, perhaps this would be a good time to review the many facts that we have learned about these three kings. It never hurts to review!

Children learn through play. While it might not be a healthy diet of constant fun and games for the serious Bible student, from time to time it is nice to play a game or two to see if the students are retaining what you are teaching them. Try this easy, inexpensive, and Biblical review game!

Visual Aid:  Large "cards" with questions about the kings, so that the students can duplicate the words on their own cards..

Materials needed:  three paper or plastic cups for each student, marker, 3" x 5" cards or paper cut to those dimensions, a pencil, and a sharp memory.

Directions For "Kings In Cups"

1. Hand out three cups and a marker.
2. The student may write one name "Saul," "David," and "Solomon" on each cup.
3. Hand out 12-15 index cards to each student.
4. The student writes the question that they see on your pre-written "card" on their small index card.
5. Also, write the verse that answers the question on the back of the card.
6. Finish writing all cards.
7. How to play...

• Stack the written cards face down in front of the three cups with one king's name on each cup.
• A card is drawn, read out loud, and placed in the proper cup.
• Continue until all cards are in cups.
• Take the cards out of one cup and read out loud again to see if it is in the right cup. If there is any discrepancy, the student reads the verse on the back of the card.
• There isn't any 'winning' to this game; it is simply a game to test the knowledge of the student.
• Feel free to alter the rules and directions of this game!
• Tuck all cards into stacked cups for easy take-home!

Sample Questions:

1. Which king met the Queen of Sheba? (Solomon)
2. Which king was taller than everyone? (Saul)
3. Which king fought the Philistines all of his life? (Saul)
4. Which king played the harp? (David)
5. Which king had a good friend named Jonathan? (David)
6. Which king killed a giant? (David)
7. Which king built a temple for the LORD? (Solomon)
8. Which king had a peaceful kingdom? (Solomon)
9. Which king was kind to a past king's son who couldn't walk? (David)
10. Which king threw javelins? (Saul)
11. Which king spared King Saul's life? (David)
12. Which king spared King Agag and lost his own kingdom? (Saul)
13. Which king was jealous of David? (Saul)
14. Which king was the wisest king? (Solomon)
15. (Trick question because there are two answers!) Which king was anointed by Samuel? (Saul and David)
16. Feel free to add many more!

Words Of Encouragement Along The Way #9- Your Influence

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and trodden under the foot of men." Matthew 5:13 

What influence you have over your Bible students! 

• YOU have the power to inspire your students to love and treasure God's Word because it came from God!
• YOU are able to instill the belief in them, that when all goes wrong, that God still loves them and that they truly are never alone.
• YOU are able to give them the thoughts and words from God's Word that will help them through this difficult life. 
• YOU are able to help shape young children into becoming those who believe that God helps those who serve Him.
• YOU are able to teach young, impressionable minds about character and integrity through a study of Bible characters.
• YOU are able to help your students in a way that no worldly classroom teacher can because you have the Words of Life.
• YOU have influence over your students that will last a lifetime.
• YOU have the ability to not only extend influence over your students, but will also have an influence over all whom your students will have influence over in their lifetimes.

Are you prayerfully planning your lessons? It is within your power to make a difference in your students' lives by the knowledge you impart each week. Are you doing your best?

Words of Encouragement Along The Way #8 - Are Numbers Important?

Have numbers ever mattered to God? Sometimes we play the "Numbers Game" and think that if we have a full classroom of students, then we are successful as a Bible teacher and are pleasing to God. We believe if our numbers are in the single digits, we are a failure. Is this true?

As we have studied these many months now, we know that numbers have never meant much to God. Single digits were sometimes admirable in God's eyes. We remember David and Goliath and the Philistine army. How about Noah? Only eight people survived the flood and Noah had been preaching for a very long time. Think back to our lesson on Gideon and his brave 300 soldiers. 32,000 men, even 10,000 fighting soldiers were too many for the LORD! No, numbers have never been important to God!

So, how about the attendance in our classroom? Of course, the more interested, curious minds who have a desire to learn about God, the better, but what if our numbers are small? Is the LORD pleased with small numbers as well? Should we feel like a failure because we have only a few, or perhaps, only one student in which to teach God's Word
Every student is important in God's eyes and is worthy of learning God's Word. The Bible teacher's responsibility to each and every student in the class is to teach to the best of their ability, no matter the number. We never know where God's influence will go in this world. We teach that others might be taught (2 Timothy 2:2). One well-taught student can do much good for the cause of Christ.

Let us not be sluggish when it comes to small classes. May we put just as much work in to teaching one as we would if there were 40! We do not know where the Word will rest after we are gone (Hebrews 11:4). Let us always do our best for the LORD!

Lesson - Troubles At The End Of Solomon's Life

VERSES:   1 Kings 11:1-43

MEMORY VERSE:   Revelation 2:10   "...be thou faithful until death and I will give thee a crown of life."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:   Nehemiah.  Write "Nehemiah" on small slips of paper and hand out at the end of class.

PRAYER:   Pray that we will ever treasure God's Word and always live close to him, obeying His commandments, and loving Him always.

SPECIAL SONG:   Read, Read Every Day (see February - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #1 on this blog), The Family In God's Plan (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #4 on this blog)

VISUAL AID:   A large Activity (see Activity below)

LESSON POINTS:

• The Bible is a wonderful book that has many lessons for those who take the time to read His Word. God wants us to read these Old Testament stories, so that we can learn from them (Rom. 15:4; Gal. 3:24) and, by living the way that pleases Him, we may live an easier life. We don't need to only learn from our own mistakes, but we can also learn from others' mistakes. Like Solomon's mistakes.
• In this great book, God not only tells us the good things that men do, He also tells us of the bad. We have sad news in our lesson today. King Solomon had everything good in life. He had riches, peace, fame, honor, and wisdom, yet he did a terrible thing when he was very old. 
• Over the past few months, we have studied many times about marriage and how God wanted one man and one woman to love each other for their entire lives. God never said to marry more than one wife, yet some men did. (Acts 17:30). That is what Solomon did. Solomon had 700 wives and princesses and 300 concubines, which was definitely more than one!! And his wives turned his heart away from God. A person would think that Solomon, with all his wisdom, his dedication to the building the temple, and his strong will, would never have strayed away from God, but he did. The Bible says in 1 Kings 13:6 that Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not do as his father David did. 
• Solomon should have known better, but he made special places to worship IDOLS!! God did not tolerate idolatry. Solomon made the places for his wives to worship and God was angry about it. He was angry because they had turned Solomon's heart away from God and God had commanded him to stay close to Him and walk in His ways and there would be rewards for obeying. When giving the law to Moses, God said that He was a jealous God and God always says what He means. He is still a jealous God, even today. And remember? God said that he would have a long life and that his son would continue to reign on his throne if Solomon remained true to God. BUT if Solomon strayed from God, then there would be consequences. The consequence was that God would take away Solomon's throne and He would give it to Solomon's servant instead. However, as a compassionate God, God said that He would not take the throne away in Solomon's time, but in his son's time and He would not tear away all of the kingdom, but for David's sake and Jerusalem's sake, He would let Solomon's son keep one part of the kingdom.
• Then the LORD stirred up a few of Solomon's enemies, a prince in Edom named Hadad, a man named Rezon, and Solomon's own servant, Jeroboam. They all caused Solomon much grief and strife. Jeroboam was the servant to whom the LORD gave the kingdom. God made the same conditional promise to Jeroboam that he made to Solomon. He said  through a prophet named Ahijah that IF Jeroboam would listen to God and walk in His ways and do that which was right in God's sight, then God would be with him and would build him a sure house as he built for David and would give Israel to Jeroboam.
• When King Solomon heard these things, he was going to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam ran away to Egypt and stayed there until Solomon died. 
• Solomon reigned forty years and died and was buried in the city of David. His son, Rehoboam, reigned in his place.

"Older Student" Tips:

• As we begin studying the different kings that ruled Israel, we find that the kings were always compared to David. Here, 1 Kings 13:6 says that Solomon "went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father." Let's watch for this as we study.
• We need to learn a lesson from this story. King Solomon stayed close to God all of his life, but right at the very end, he turned to idolatry instead of staying close to God. Rev. 2:10 tells us that if we are faithful until death, then we will receive a crown of life. If we obey God all of our lives and give up at the end, then we have lost it all.

ACTIVITY:   "Solomon's Sin"
Materials needed:  9" x 12" blue construction paper, scraps of other colors, especially red, marker, glue, scissors, crayons.

1. Hand out blue paper.
2. Write "Solomon's Sin" and "1 Kings 11" at the top of the paper.
3. Draw a line across the paper under "Solomon's Sin."
4. In large numbers, write "1", "2", and "3" down the left side of the blue paper.
5. Color the word "sin" in red.
6. Cut three hearts out of the red scrap of paper.
7. Glue each heart down the middle of the paper (see picture above).
8. Cut two scraps of paper of the same color into 2" x 4" rectangles.
9. On one scrap write "Solomon" and on the other scrap, write "Solomon's."
10. Glue "Solomon" beside the number 1.
11. Glue "Solomon's" beside the number 3.
12. On a different color scrap of paper, cut two 2" x 4" rectangles.
13. On one scrap of paper, write "his wives" and on the other scrap of paper, write "Solomon's wives."
14. Glue "his wives" on the right side of the #1 heart.
15. Glue "Solomon's wives" on the left side of #2 heart.
16. On a different color of scrap of paper, write "IDOLS."
17. Glue "IDOLS" on the right side of #2 heart.
18. On a different color of scrap of paper, write "turned from God."
19. Glue "turned from God" on the right side of #3 heart.
20. Discuss the paper before leaving class so the students understand that because of Solomon's wives and their love of idolatry, Solomon sinned a terrible sin.

Lesson - The Queen of Sheba

VERSES:   1 Kings 10:1-13

MEMORY VERSE:    1 Kings 10:1   "And the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD..."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:   Ezra.  Write "Ezra" on small slips of paper and hand out to the students at the end of class.

PRAYER:   May we be as curious about God' Word as the queen of Sheba was about King Solomon and his wisdom.

SPECIAL SONG:   This Little Light Of Mine (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog)

VISUAL AID:   Chalkboard or Whiteboard drawings of the queen of Sheba asking questions of King Solomon. Map, showing Jerusalem and noting that Sheba is not on the map. Bring at least two spices to class that the students may smell (might not let the students smell the pepper; on second thought, might want to leave out the pepper all together, except to mention that there are many different spices that we use every day!).

LESSON POINTS:

• King Solomon walked in God's ways. He had built the temple for the LORD, was extremely wealthy, his kingdom was one of peace, and he was the wisest man that ever lived. His fame was spreading to faraway lands--like a place called Sheba. The Bible does not say a whole lot about Sheba, but we do know that it was "south" (Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:31). There was one who ruled over the place called Sheba and she was a queen. We don't know her name or much about her, but we know that she was curious about this king named Solomon who lived in Jerusalem, so she went for a visit.
• The queen of Sheba must have been wealthy herself because when she arrived in Jerusalem to meet King Solomon, she brought many presents. The Bible says she came to Jerusalem with a very great train. In Old Testament times, trains like we know trains had not been invented, yet, so this train meant that there were A LOT of people and camels traveling to one place! The camels were bearing gifts for Solomon. The queen of Sheba had come from far away, so she brought special spices from her country, gold which was very valuable, and precious stones which must have been valuable, too, and gave them to the king. Did King Solomon need her gifts? Maybe not, but the queen of Sheba was very generous and wanted to give King Solomon presents. Sometimes when we go visit someone for the first time, we bring the ones we are visiting a present, too. Maybe a plant or food, it doesn't really matter what it is, but we want to give our new friends a "hello" gift. That is what the queen of Sheba did!
• The queen of Sheba was also very wise because the reason she wanted to visit King Solomon was to talk to him. She wanted to ask him questions and, the Bible says, "to commune with him of all that was in her heart." She wanted to meet this wise man, whose fame had spread to her faraway land. 
• So, King Solomon answered all of her questions and there was not anything that he hid from her. Everything she wanted to know, he told her. She had seen all of King Solomon's wisdom, the temple that he had built, the food at his table, all of his servants and the ones who ministered to him, the things that he wore, his cupbearers, and the way by which he went up to the house of the LORD, she was left breathless. She was in awe of all that she saw and heard.
• The queen of Sheba said that what she had heard about King Solomon was true. Before she had come to Jerusalem, she had not believed what she had heard, but when she came and saw with her own eyes, she said only half had been told to her. Solomon's wisdom and prosperity far exceeded his fame. She said that his servants were happy to serve him and hear his wisdom. She said, "Blessed be the LORD who delights in you and set you on the throne of Israel, King Solomon!" She could see and understand that the LORD was behind everything she had seen and that the LORD loved his people because He had placed such a wise man to rule over them. 
• After the queen of Sheba had given all of her presents to King Solomon, he, too gave her presents in return. He gave her what he wanted to give and, also, whatever she asked for. Then, after a good visit, she and her servants turned and went back to Sheba.

"Older Student" Tips:

• It is interesting that the queen of Sheba realized that the LORD was behind King Solomon's wealth and prosperity and wisdom. Nothing is said of her believing or that she worshiped the LORD, yet because of Solomon's wisdom, she believed. 
• We might not think of spices being special today, but in the Old Testament times, spices were very valuable because it was hard to find them and transport them to where a person lived. Spices were a great present for Solomon, and, of course, gold is always a good gift!

ACTIVITY:   "The Queen of Sheba Brings Presents to King Solomon"
Materials needed:  two different spices, 9"x 12" blue construction paper, 5" x 12" light brown construction paper, 9" x 12" dark brown construction paper, scraps of leftover paper (hopefully a small piece of gold paper for everyone), crayons, scissors, glue, markers.

1. Hand out blue paper. This is the background of blue sky.
2. Hand out light brown paper and tear off the very top edge of the paper, so it looks like low mountains.
3. Glue mountains onto blue paper.
4. Hand out dark brown paper.
5. Cut two large ovals (about as big as your fist) with one hump each, two small ovalsfor the camel's heads, two thick curves for the camels' necks, and eight small strips of dark brown paper for legs (cutting one strip in half for two tails).
6. Cut one of the large ovals in half.
7. Cut one strip in half and, on one end of each, cut like grass. These are camels' tails.
8. Glue the whole large oval in the middle of the paper.
9. Glue one curve for a neck.
10. Glue one small oval to the top of the neck.
11. Glue four legs.
12. Glue tail.
13. Glue half of the other oval to the left of the middle camel.
14. Glue two legs.
15. Glue one tail.
16. Glue the other neck on the right of the blue paper.
17. Glue the other small oval on top of the neck.
18. Glue one leg to the tight of the middle camel. (See picture above.)
19. Draw faces on camels.
20. Decorate camels' humps with small pieces of paper. These are hump rugs.
21. Color hump rugs.
22. Cut three small packages for King Solomon.
23. Fold top edges of packages.
24. Glue ONLY THE EDGE of the presents or they cannot be lifted to reveal the presents. Place them on top of the hump rugs.
25. Lift packages carefully.
26. Under one package glue a small wedge of gold paper. This is the gold.
    
27. Under the other packages, put a little glue.
28. Sprinkle each spice on the glue that is under the packages.
    
29. Write "The Queen of Sheba Brings Presents To King Solomon" and "1 Kings 10" at the top of the blue paper.
30. Let the students lift the presents and smell the spices as they tell the story.

Lesson - Solomon's Temple

VERSES:   1 Kings 6:1-38; 2 Chronicles 3:1-6:3

MEMORY VERSE:   1 Kings 6:13   "And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:   Review all Old Testament Book from Genesis to 2 Chronicles. Sing the song, "The Books of the Old Testament" (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog)

PRAYER:   May we have as much determination in us to do God's Will as Solomon did.

SPECIAL SONG:   Read, Read Every Day  (see February -Songs We Sing In Bible Class #1 on this blog)

VISUAL AID:   Cedar chips, a large Activity (see below)

LESSON POINTS:

• 480 years after the children of Israel came out of Egypt, Solomon began to build the temple. It took him 7 years to build it, but it was magnificent and it pleased the LORD. It was 60 feet long, 40 feet wide and 60 feet high. It had a porch and narrow windows. When Solomon's men and Hiram's men were building the temple, they made everything away from where they were building it, so that no one could hear an ax, or hammer, or any tool of iron. There were winding stairs and it had three stories.  The walls were made of cedar from Tyre and no one could see the stones beneath the cedar. There were beautiful carvings of gourds and open flowers. A sanctuary in the inner part of the temple for the ark of the covenant was lined with gold; in fact gold covered most everything. 1 Kings 5:22 says that the whole temple was covered with gold, even the floor! It was the most beautiful building ever!
• Inside Solomon's temple. it was very ornate or decorated. Two cherubim were made of olive wood,18 feet high, perfectly matched, then covered with gold.  The walls were carved the wood with cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. There were two wreaths with 400 pomegranates. Pots, shovels, and basins were made of brass. All the vessels for the house of God were made of pure gold. The engravers took their time and, in the end, it was the most beautiful temple!
• What did God say about the temple? He said that if Solomon walked in his statutes, executed his judgments, and kept His commandments and walked in them, then he would establish His word with Solomon, just as He had with David. He would live with the children of Israel and would not forsake His people. The LORD is always pleased with obedience more than all the sacrifices a person could offer or the words that a person promises.
• When everything in the temple was finished and completely done, 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 says that the cloud filled the temple and that it was the glory of God. 

"Older Student" Tips:

• We cannot imagine how beautiful Solomon's Temple was. Solomon had a high standard in building the temple and it showed! He had the best workmen and they did their best work. God always wants our best!

ACTIVITY:  "Solomon's Temple"
Materials needed:  9" x 12" blue construction paper, 5" x 12" green construction paper, 8" x 10" piece of shiny gold paper (poster board, gift wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, or something you can find around the house to recycle), glue, scissors, marker or crayon.

1. Hand out blue paper.
2. Hand out green paper.
3. Tear top edge off of green paper.
4. Glue green paper to bottom of blue paper.
5. Cut three graduating gold rectangles.
6. Glue gold rectangles to green paper (see picture), one on top of the other. This is the temple.
7. Cut a half-circle out of the left over gold paper.
8. Glue semi-circle to top of the temple.
9. Out of gold scraps, cut a winding staircase.
10. Glue staircase to temple.
11. Cur narrow rectangles out of scraps of gold.
12. Glue windows to temple.
13. Cut two larger squares for doors.
14. Glue doors to bottom story of temple.
15. Write "Solomon's Temple" and "1 Kings 6" at top of blue paper.
16. Scattered around blue paper, write "Narrow windows," "3 stories," "covered in gold," "porch," "built in 7 years," "very decorated," "winding staircase."

Lesson - Solomon Prepares To Build The Temple

VERSES:   1 Kings 5:1-18;  2 Chronicles 2:1-18

MEMORY VERSE:   1 Kings 5:9   "My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea..."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:   2 Chronicles.   Write "2 Chronicles" on small slips of paper and hand out to the students at the end of class.

PRAYER:  Thank God for the friends we have to love and with whom we share life. By making sure our friends are good friends and ones that will keep us close to God, we can make life better for ourselves.

SPECIAL SONG:   Be Patient And Kind (see April - Lesson - Joseph Meets His Brothers Who Hated Him on this blog)

VISUAL AID:   Cedar chips, Bible Map, showing Tyre and Jerusalem

LESSON POINTS:

• Solomon was determined to build a house or a temple for the LORD. It was a place where the ark of the covenant would be kept and where the LORD could dwell instead of the thick darkness (1 Chronicles 6:1, 2).  Solomon was going to build a temple to the LORD and dedicate it to Him where sweet incense could be burned, where the showbread would be kept, and where sacrifices would be offered. Solomon wanted to build a great house for the LORD, but he needed something. He needed help.
• King David had a friend who lived by the sea in Tyre and his name was Hiram. King Solomon sent Hiram a message that said that David, his father, was not able to build the LORD a house because there had been many wars all around David and he had to fight. But now Solomon said that there was rest and peace all around him and he was going to build a house for the LORD, but he needed Hiram's help to do it. Solomon said that he needed men who knew how to work with wood, brass, gold, silver, stone, fine linen, purple, crimson, and blue cloth. He needed people who knew how to carve  and engrave. Solomon said he knew that Hiram would be able to send men who could help him. Solomon's men and Hiram's men would work together. In return, Solomon would pay Hiram in food:  20,000 measures of wheat and 20 measures of pure oil. We learned last time that a 'measure' was about 6 bushels or 220 liters. That was a lot of food!
• Hiram was extremely happy when he heard Solomon's words and said that the LORD was blessed to have David's wise son rule over His people. He sent word to Solomon that Solomon could count on him to help. He would send the cedar trees that Lebanon were known for and also fir trees by way of the sea. He would float the trees down the coast to wherever Solomon wanted. 
• So, Solomon gave Hiram food as payment, Hiram gave Solomon trees and knowledge to build the temple, and God gave Solomon wisdom. Hiram and Solomon made an agreement--an agreement between friends.
• Where were they going to get all the working men? Remember way back when we were studying about Samuel and the judges? Remember the people wanted a king instead of a judge and God said through Samuel that a king would take their sons and make them work for him? (1 Samuel 8:10-19) God tells it true. That is what King Solomon did! He used their sons for his workers. He arranged for 30,000 men to work one month for the king and then stay at home for two months in order to get everything ready for building the temple. There was a lot of work to be done!

"Older Student" Tips:

• What a smart way to move all those cedar and fir trees from Tyre to Solomon! They floated right down the coast and they ended up right where they needed to be! Hiram really did know how to help, didn't he?
• King Solomon needed a lot of manpower, too. Read 2 Chronicles 2:17, 18 to see where he found his laborers. 
• Many times, First and Second Kings and First and Second Chronicles tell the same stories as we have found out in this lesson.

ACTIVITY:   Moving The Cedar Trees To Jerusalem
Materials needed:  8" x 10" blue construction paper, 8" x 10" gold construction paper, 2" x 4" yellow scrap pf construction paper, scraps of light blue paper and brown paper, glue, scissors, marker, crayons.

1. Hand out blue large blue paper.  This is the sea.
2. Hand out gold paper.
3. Looking at the map in the Visual Aid area above, cut a wiggly line down the middle of the paper. This is the land.
4. Glue the land on the right side of the sea.
5. Glue 2" x 4" yellow rectangle to top of blue sea.
6. Write "How Solomon Got Cedar Trees for The Temple" and "1 Kings 5:8-10" in the yellow rectangle.
7. Looking at map, draw a black dot where Tyre should be. Write "Tyre" beside the dot.
8. Looking at map, draw a black dot where Jerusalem should be. Write "Jerusalem" beside the dot.
9. Cut a small, long oval out of the scrap of blue paper. This is the Dead Sea.
10. Glue to the middle bottom of the gold paper.
11. Cut an even smaller blue circle out of the blue scrap.
12. Glue smaller circle a little ways above the Dead Sea. This is the Sea of Galilee.
13. Connect the two seas with a tiny black line. This is the Jordan River.
14. Cut small, slender snips of brown scrap. These are the cedar logs.
15. Glue the logs in the blue water, but close to shore.
16. Write "The Great Sea" in the middle of the blue paper.
17. Finish the map by writing "Egypt" on the gold paper on the bottom left.

Lesson - The Peaceful Time of Solomon's Reign

VERSES:   1 Kings 4:20-34

MEMORY VERSE:   1 Kings 4;29  "And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much...."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:   1 Chronicles.   Write "1 Chronicles"  on small slips of paper and hand out to the students at the end of class.

PRAYER:   Thank God for His mercy and love towards us. We know when we do God's Will and not our own will that He loves us and cares for us.

SPECIAL SONG:   The Wise Man (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog)

VISUAL AID:   Bible map showing Solomon's kingdom, a large Activity to keep in class to read (see below)

LESSON POINTS:

• When Solomon had asked God for wisdom instead of long life, riches, or death to his enemies, God was so pleased with Solomon's request that God had promised Solomon that he would be given wisdom, and also riches and honor. Long life was a conditional promise which meant that there was something Solomon had to do in order to receive long life and that was he had to walk in the ways of his father, David, and obey God's commandments. God always keeps his promises. Always! 
• The people of Judah and Israel were numbered like the sands on the seashore. They ate, drank, and were merry without fear of war anywhere. All nations brought Solomon presents, paid tribute to him, and served Solomon all the days of his life. 
• In one day, Solomon and his people ate 30 measures of flour, 18 measures of meal, 10 fat oxen, 20 oxen out of the pastures, 100 sheep, besides, deer, roebucks, gazelles, and fattened birds. 
• His kingdom was huge! (Look on map.) It included the land south of the Euphrates River, and down to the Gulf of Aqaba near the Red Sea. It was a great area. The best part was that Solomon had peace all around him. Solomon's reign was very different from King David's reign. There were no wars or battles all the days of Solomon's reign as king. It was a time of peace..
• God gave Solomon many riches. He gave him 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots and 12,000 horsemen. He gave him officers who would prepare the food for Solomon and all that came to the king's table; they lacked nothing. Even the horses and camels had all they wanted to eat. 
• God gave Solomon much wisdom and understanding and compassion. Solomon's wisdom could compare with no one else's, no matter where the lived. He was the wisest man who ever lived and he was very famous.  
• He spoke 3,000 proverbs and he had 1005 songs. He spoke of the cedar trees in Lebanon, animals, birds and fish. People came from everywhere to hear Solomon's wisdom and paid him much honor and respect. God truly blessed Solomon.

"Older Student" Tips:

• What a wonderful time to live! During Solomon's reign there was peace and security, much food, and people were happy. During King David's reign as King Of Israel, they felt safe because he ,through God's care, protected them, but there was much unrest. There was war after war after war and much bloodshed. Which king would you have rather lived under, David or Solomon?
• Discuss the word "conditional" and what it means. 
• A 'measure' is about 6 bushels or 220 liters.

ACTIVITY:   "The Peaceful Times Of Solomon's Reign" Book
Materials needed:  five sheets of 9" x 12" construction paper--orange, green, red, purple, and yellow--for each student, stapler, staples, marker, crayons, scissors.   NOTE:  Due to more drawing than usual, it is helpful if the Bible teacher cuts all 9" x 12" in half for each student and staples ten different colored paper together for younger students. If this is done by the teacher, please skip to #5.)

1. Hand out five sheets of different colored construction paper to each student.
2. Cut all papers in half.
3. Stack ten papers.
4. Staple 'book' three times on edge of book.
5. On cover, write "The Peaceful Tim Of Solomon's reign" and "1 Kings 4:20-34."
   
6. Open to next page, write "There was food." at the top of the paper.
   
7. Open to next page, write "It was a huge kingdom." at the top of the paper.
   
8. Open to next page, write "There were no battles or wars." at the top of the paper.
   
9. Open to next page, write "Solomon was rich." at the top of the page.
   
10. Open to next page, write "Even the horses and camels had food." at the top of the page.
    
11. Open to next page, write "Solomon was the wisest man." at the top of the page.
    
12. Open to next page, write "Solomon had honor and respect." at the top of the page.
    
13. Open to next page, write "He spoke 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs." at the top of the page.
    
14. Open to next page, write "God blessed Solomon." at the top of the paper and "Solomon obeyed God" at the bottom of the paper.
    
15. After writing the words, the students may go back and draw simple pictures depicting the words at the top of each page.
16. This should be a nice book for the students to take home and read.

Lesson - Solomon's Desire Granted

VERSES:   1 Kings 3:1-28

MEMORY VERSE:   1 Kings 3:9   "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart..."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:  2 Kings.  Write "2 Kings" on small slips of paper and pass out to students at the end of class.

PRAYER:   May we all pray for wisdom from God that we may live justly before God.

SPECIAL SONG:   The Wise Man (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog)

VISUAL AID:  A large Activity (see below)

LESSON POINTS:

• Solomon loved the LORD and he followed in the steps of his father, David, by walking in the commandments of the LORD. One day, King Solomon went to the city of Gibeon and offered 1,000 sacrifices to the LORD. While he was sleeping that night, God talked to him in a dream. God asked Solomon what He should give him. Think of that! God asking Solomon what he wanted and God would give it to him! What would we want if we were asked that question? What could Solomon have asked for and received from God?(Students offer suggestions.) 
• Solomon answered God in a  very humble way. He said that God had been good to his father, David, and showed him great mercy for walking before God in truth, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. That meant that David had been doing what God wanted him to do. Solomon said that now God had let him him sit on David's throne. Solomon went on to say that he felt like a little child while he was reigning over the people of Israel, not knowing how to come in or go out. So, Solomon asked for an understanding heart to judge God's people. Solomon asked God who was able to judge over a multitude of people that could not be numbered.
• Solomon's speech pleased God, and God replied to Solomon, "Because you have not asked for a long life or riches or asked the life of your enemies, but asked for understanding, I am giving you a wise and understanding heart which no one has ever had before you or after you. I will also give you those things that you have NOT asked for, both riches and honor. If you keep my commandments and will follow in your father's ways, then I will also give you a long life." Solomon woke up and realized it was a dream. He then went to Jerusalem and stood in front of the ark of the covenant and offered up many offerings and made a feast for his servants.
• Soon after Solomon had dreamed his dream, there were two women who had just had babies and both came into Solomon's court for judgment. One woman said that the two women lived in the same house and each had delivered a baby. One woman had laid on her baby in the night and it had died. That woman whose baby had died, got up in the middle of the night, found that her baby was no longer living and, while the other woman slept, took her baby and replaced it with her dead baby. She had switched babies! The woman who was talking said that when she rose up in the morning and was going to feed her own baby, she discovered that the baby was dead, but that it was not her baby, but the other woman's baby! The second woman said, "No, my baby is the living baby and your baby died!" The first woman said, "No, the dead baby was yours; mine was the living baby!" Hmmmm...now how was King Solomon to know which lady was telling the truth? He did not know these two women and he certainly had never seen the babies! What would King Solomon say?
• Finally, the king said, "You say my son lives and her son died. But you say my son lives and her son died. Bring me a sword!" The soldiers brought a sword before the king. King Solomon said, "Divide the living baby and give half to one woman and half to the other woman." The woman who really was the mother of the living baby said, "Oh, my king! Give her the living child and please do not harm it!" The other woman said, "Let the baby be neither hers nor mine, but divide it." Then the king answered and said, "Give her (the real mother) the living child and do not kill it. She is the mother."
• Everyone throughout Israel heard of the king's judgment and how wise he was. They knew that God's wisdom was in Solomon to judge the people. The wisdom had come from above.

"Older Student" Tips:

• It is interesting to note that every king of Israel is rated by whether he walked in the statutes of David as we will see in the coming kings' reigns.
• Solomon realized that, because of David's goodness, God had blessed David with a son to sit on his throne. That son was Solomon and Solomon was thankful.
• Only one blessing that God promised Solomon was conditional and that was long life. Solomon had to walk in God's ways and obey His commandments before Solomon received a long life.

ACTIVITY:
Materials needed:  9" x 12" green light green construction paper, 5" x 8" yellow construction paper, scraps of dark green, orange, and blue construction paper, marker or crayons, glue, scissors.

1. Hand out light green paper.
2. Write "Solomon Asks For Wisdom, But Receives Much More!" and "1 Kings 3" at the top of the paper.
3. Hand out yellow paper.
4. Cut yellow paper's edges, resembling a large cloud.
5. Write "WISDOM" in the middle of the yellow paper.
6. Hand out dark green scrap paper.
7. Cut edges off of dark green paper, so that it resembles a medium cloud.
8. Write "RICHES" in the middle of the dark green paper.
9. Hand out orange scrap paper.
10. Cut edges off of orange paper, so that it resembles a small cloud.
11. Write "HONOR" in the middle of the orange paper.
12. Hand out small scrap of blue paper.
13. Cut edges off of blue paper, so that it resembles a tiny blue cloud.
14. Write "LONG LIFE" in the middle of the blue paper.
15. Fold top edge of yellow paper down.
16. Glue yellow edge ONLY in the very middle of the light green paper.
17. Lift yellow paper up.
    
18. Fold top edge of dark green paper down.
19. Glue dark green edge ONLY under the yellow paper.
20. Lift dark green paper up.
    
21. Fold top edge of orange paper down.
22. Glue orange edge only under the dark green paper.
23. Life orange paper up.
    
24. Glue blue paper under orange paper.
25. Press down all papers, so that only the yellow paper shows, and hides all the extra promises that God makes to King Solomon.
    
26. When telling this story, gently lift up each 'cloud', revealing another promise!
27. BONUS: Students learn "large", "medium", "small", and "tiny".

Lesson - King Solomon's Judgments

VERSES:   1 Kings 2:12-46

MEMORY VERSE:   1 Kings 2:12.   "Then Solomon sat on the throne of his father, David, and his kingdom was established greatly."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:  1 Kings.  "Write "1 Kings" on small slips of paper and hand out to the students at the end of class. 

PRAYER:   Pray for our friends and our loved ones that they may be given good health. May we, too, learn to love and obey God and remember the things we learn in the Bible.

SPECIAL SONG:  Books Of The Old Testament (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog)

VISUAL AID:   A large Activity (see below)

LESSON POINTS:

• King Solomon was now the third king of Israel, and he set out to do those things which his father had told him to do or to finish what David could not. There were many potential threats to Solomon's kingdom, and he realized that he must take care of these threats if he was to live in peace,
• Remember that Solomon had spared his brother, Adonijah's, life after he had been bold enough to assume that Adonijah was to be the king of Israel. We also remember that Adonijah had been a spoiled child and grew up to be a spoiled man. 
• One day, Adonijah went to Solomon's mother, which was not his mother, and made a request that she should go to King Solomon and ask for him. This was something that was not usually done. Adonijah knew that King Solomon would never refuse anything his mother wanted, so he had come to her to get what he wanted! Bathsheba said she would ask Solomon for him. Solomon loved his mother and, where usually a king's court was formal and forbidding, it was different when his mother, Bathsheba, came into Solomon's court. King Solomon got up off his throne to meet his mother. He bowed himself to her, sat back down on his throne, and arranged for a chair to be brought in for Bathsheba. She sat on Solomon's right side which was a place of honor. All the things that Solomon did showed that King Solomon was honoring his mother.
• When they sat down, she told Solomon that she had a request of him. King Solomon asked her what it was; he would not tell her no. But as Bathsheba spoke, making Adonijah's request and not for herself, King Solomon knew that Adonijah was behind this visit. King Solomon took the request through his mother as an insult and a great character flaw in Adonijah. Solomon told his mother that he remembered that Adonijah, Joab, and Abiathar had tried to take the kingdom of Israel away from him. King Solomon's answer must have surprised Adonijah because the king's answer was, "No!" Then King Solomon told Benaiah to take care of Adonijah and Adonijah died that day.
• Next, King Solomon remembered Abiathar and how he had sided with Adonijah, so he told Abiathar that he was was worthy of death, but he would not kill him because Abiathar had bore the ark of the covenant under David's reign. Abiathar was told to go back to his fields to live and he could not be a priest anymore. Zadok was the priest. 
• Also, King Solomon remembered Joab and how he had been against King Solomon reigning as king and had helped Adonijah try to be king, so Solomon told Benaiah to go and get Joab and bring him to King Solomon. Joab must have known bad news was coming because he ran into the tabernacle of the LORD and held the horns of the altar. When Benaiah reported to Solomon that Joab would not come, Solomon told him to kill Joab and Benaiah killed him and then buried him at Joab's own house.
• There was also a man who King David had promised not to kill even though the man was disrespectful to King David when Absalom had tried to take over the kingdom of Israel. His name was Shimei and, at the time, was a very rude and crude person to David. Now, King Solomon remember Shimei and told him to build a house in Jerusalem, but to never leave the house. It was kind of like house arrest. Shimei did what Solomon said, but, one day, Shimei's servants had left him and Shimei went after them. Someone told King Solomon and he called for Shimei. When Shimei came before Solomon, Solomon reminded him of their agreement and how Shimei had broken this oath. Solomon also told him that he knew about about how wicked Shimei had been to his father, David, and now Shimei had to pay. Benaiah was commanded to kill Shimei as well. King Solomon had fulfilled all of his father's wishes.

"Older Student" Tips:

• Even at a young age, Solomon showed signs of wisdom because he worshiped God and obeyed him. He did not act out of revenge or hatred, but a calm sense of uprightness and honor. He fulfilled his father's last wishes, and he did it in a way that was one of honor.
  

ACTIVITY: King Solomon's Judgments Card Game
Materials needed:   12" x 18" yellow construction paper, 12" x 18" blue construction paper. marker, scissors.

1. Hand out yellow paper to students.
2. Fold top edge of yellow paper down two inches.
3. Fold the rest of the paper into fourths.
4. Draw on lines to divide areas.
5. At top of paper, write "King Solomon's Judgments" and "1 Kings 2:12-46"
6. In each section, write one name:  Adonijah, Abiathar, Joab, Shimei.
7. Hand out blue paper.
8. Fold blue paper into eight sections.
9. Cut blue paper on folded lines, making eight cards.
10. On Adonijah's two cards, write "He asked Solomon's mother to make a request" on one card, and "NO!" on the other card.
11. On Abiathar's two cards, write "He could not be a priest anymore" one one of Abiathar's cards and "Go back to his fields" on the other card.
12. On Joab's two cards, write "He held the horns of the altar" on one card and "Killed and buried at his own house" on the other card.
13. On Shimei's two cards, write "He was disrespectful to Solomon's father, David" on one card and "Broken oath = death" on the other card.
14. To play this learning game, Place yellow paper on table. Mix the eight cards up very well. Turn cards upside down on table. One person draws a card and reads it out loud, then places the card on the correct name that is written on the yellow paper. If the person makes the incorrect answer, then they must place the card on the bottom of the deck. Then, it is the next person's turn. Rotate in this manner until all card are placed on the correct names. Important: Everyone cheers for everyone else.

Lesson - King David Dies

VERSES:   1 Kings 1:1-2:11

MEMORY VERSE:   1 Kings 2:1.  "I go the way of all the earth: be strong therefore, and show yourself to be a man."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:  Review the first ten Bible books again.

PRAYER:   Pray that we will always follow the LORD like David followed the LORD. May He be with us like He was with David. 

SPECIAL SONG:   Children, Obey Your Parents (see March 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #4 on this blog)

VISUAL AID:   Chalkboard or whiteboard drawing of Bathsheba coming in before King David and asking if Solomon was going to be king. Erase Bathsheba, then draw Nathan the prophet before David. The erase Nathan and draw Bathsheba again and David promising that Solomon would be king.

LESSON POINTS:

• When a person is king, it seems that they are constantly aware of who is trying to take their place. Remember Absalom? He tried to take King David's job as king, didn't he? But the LORD was not with Absalom, and Absalom was not chosen king by God, so he failed. When David was very old and had circulation and health problems, Adonijah, his fourth oldest son (2 Samuel 3:1-5), tried to be king. Just like Absalom, he prepared chariots and horsemen, and had fifty men run in front of him and say, "Here comes Adonijah! Here comes Adonijah!", so that people would turn and look at him and bow. Adonijah exalted himself or put himself before others. King David never did that. David was a man after God's own heart. King David was humble. Adonijah was never disciplined by his parents. His father never said, "No, Adonijah. You cannot do that!" Adonijah was a spoiled child and grew up to be a spoiled man. 
• Adonijah talked to Joab and Abiathar, and they both helped Adonijah try to become king. Adonijah did not talk to Zadok, the priest, Nathan, the prophet, or Benaiah, the loyal and trusted bodyguard. No, Adonijah chose the people whom he wanted to help him become king. He knew that those men were loyal to King David and would tell King David what Adonijah was trying to do. So, Adonijah killed sheep and oxen and sent for all the king's sons, the men of Judah, but he did not call Nathan, Benaiah, the mighty soldiers, or Solomon, his brother.
• Nathan, the prophet went to talk to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother and asked her if she had heard that Adonijah was trying to be king and King David did not know it. He told her that she should get up and go right then to ask King David if Solomon was going to reign as Israel's next king. He said to ask David why Adonijah was reigning as king. Nathan said after Bathsheba talked to the king, then he would come in later and confirm her words. Bathsheba did as Nathan advised her.
• When Bathsheba came in to see King David, he asked her, "What would you like?" Then she asked him about Solomon and told him all about Adonijah and the ones who he had gathered together like Joab, but had not called Solomon. She said that all of Israel's eyes were on David and what he was going to do. After Bathsheba left, Nathan came into the room and told on Adonijah. King David called for Bathsheba again and made a vow that Solomon would reign after he died. David called in Zadok, Nathan and Benaiah and told them to put Solomon on King David's own mule and take him to Gihon and anoint him king over Israel.They did what David said with gladness and blew the trumpet and said, "God save King Solomon!" All the people except those who were with Adonijah were extremely happy and made a great noise.
• Adonijah heard what had been done while they were eating. Abiathar's son, Jonathan, came in to the room and told them that David had made Solomon king and now he sat on King David's throne. Everyone who heard this in the room was greatly afraid and hurriedly got up and went to their own houses. Adonijah was afraid of King Solomon and went and held on to the horns of the altar. A person who did this was wanting refuge, so they would not be killed. When it was told to King Solomon what Adonijah had done, he said only if one who had no wickedness in him would be spared, so they brought in Adonijah. Adonijah bowed low to honor King Solomon and he was spared his life. King Solomon told him to go to his own home and he did.
• After this, David said his last words to Solomon and told him many things to do and how to behave himself while he was king. Solomon obeyed his father. So, David died and was buried in the city of David which was Jerusalem.
• David reigned forty years as King of Israel and had come far from the young shepherd boy who liked to to play the harp. When David grew to be a man, not only was he a mighty soldier who won many battles and wars, but he was a great writer who wrote many of the Psalms that we have in our Bible. What made David great in Israel was that He always loved the LORD.

"Older Student" Tips:

• God was with him. David loved the LORD and showed his love to God by doing his commandments. When David sinned and displeased God, David was always quick to say he had sinned, then repented or changed his ways, and asked God for His forgiveness. We can also show God how much we love Him by obeying Him the same way David did.

ACTIVITY:   Solomon is anointed king.
Materials needed:  12" x 18" orange construction paper, marker, tape,scissors.

1. Since this a long story with many points today, the activity is a short one, but still one that the students will enjoy.
2. Hand out paper to students.
3. Roll sheet of paper on the diagonal.
4. Tape to secure.This the horn that was blown after Solomon was anointed king.
5. Students cut off the uneven edges of the larger end of paper..
6. Write carefully "King Solomon Is Anointed King" and "1 Kings 1:39",
7. Reinforce the idea that Zadok the priest poured oil from the tabernacle upon Solomon's head, blew on the trumpet, then the people said, "God save King Solomon!"  Students blow on their trumpets, then say, "God save King Solomon!"