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Question of the Day

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Question of the Day

Week No Samuel 1 Chronicles 1 Kings Psalms, Psalms, and more Psalms 2 Samuel 1 Chronicles 1 Kings Psalms, Psalms, and more Psalms

Creation Patriarch Exodus Conquest Judges Kingdom Div. Kingdom Captivity Return Silent Gospel Missions End Times Church You are here

Creation: God reveals His goodness through creation and His mercy in response to sin. Patriarchs: God reveals His response to the faithfulness of men (Job, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph). Exodus: God liberates Israel, and leads them to the Pro- mised Land and shapes them into a nation holy to Himself. Conquest: Joshua, relying on God’s presence and power, leads Israel to possess and settle the Promised Land. Judges: Every man does what is right in his own eyes, and Israel falls into a cycle of disobedience, judgment, oppres- sion and deliverance (the sin cycle). Creation: God reveals His goodness through creation and His mercy in response to sin. Patriarchs: God reveals His response to the faithfulness of men (Job, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph). Exodus: God liberates Israel, and leads them to the Pro- mised Land and shapes them into a nation holy to Himself. Conquest: Joshua, relying on God’s presence and power, leads Israel to possess and settle the Promised Land. Judges: Every man does what is right in his own eyes, and Israel falls into a cycle of disobedience, judgment, oppres- sion and deliverance (the sin cycle).

David’s son, Solomon, inherits the throne of IsraelDavid’s son, Solomon, inherits the throne of Israel He starts off his reign differ- ently from his predecessorsHe starts off his reign differ- ently from his predecessors He seeks God in worship He seeks God in worship God appears to Solomon and asks what He can give him God appears to Solomon and asks what He can give him Realizing his great responsibility and limitations, he asks for wisdom Realizing his great responsibility and limitations, he asks for wisdom 1 Kings 3:9 ~ “So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” 1 Kings 3:9 ~ “So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

Since the Fall, man has demonstrated that he is not smart enough to navigate this sinful world.Since the Fall, man has demonstrated that he is not smart enough to navigate this sinful world. Man desperately needs God’s wisdom. Man desperately needs God’s wisdom. Tragically, too few seek the LORD and His wisdom. Tragically, too few seek the LORD and His wisdom. The story of Solomon demonstrates how much leaders need godly wisdom.The story of Solomon demonstrates how much leaders need godly wisdom. Worldly wisdom by itself is insufficient. Worldly wisdom by itself is insufficient. Leaders who seek God’s wisdom lead wisely. Leaders who seek God’s wisdom lead wisely. Everyone benefits from wise leadership. Everyone benefits from wise leadership. Solomon’s request for God’s wisdom benefited others and brought popular endorsement in his reign as king of Israel.Solomon’s request for God’s wisdom benefited others and brought popular endorsement in his reign as king of Israel.

 Solomon Inherits his Father’s Throne  He is “suddenly” burdened with the responsibili- ty of leading God’s people  He is given the task of fulfilling his father’s agenda to built a temple for God in Jerusalem  He does NOT Inherit his Father’s Wisdom  Wisdom is not an inherited trait  Solomon had to determine to seek his out wisdom for himself

 Solomon Earnestly Seeks a Wisdom that Surpasses Knowledge and Human Experience  Solomon’s start as king differs from David or Saul (3,4)  He loves the LORD  He walks in His statutes  He worships Him extravagantly  The LORD Appears to Solomon in a Dream (4-9)  God generously extends an offer (“Ask what you wish Me to give to you.”)  Solomon’s answer  1 Kings 3:9 ~ “So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”  Solomon’s answer reveals much about his self-understanding  Recognition of his own limitations  Recognition of the responsibility that lies before him

 Solomon Sees Wisdom as a Heart Attitude of Dependence on God  This dependence on the LORD allows him “to discern between good and evil” in his own life and in the lives of others  Solomon understood that wisdom is seeing “life situations” from God’s perspective  Strategically, life will make no sense apart from God  Solomon’s Answer Pleases God(10-13)  God gives him a wise and understanding heart  Solomon’s wisdom would distinguish him from all other kings who ever lived  Solomon asks for Wisdom above all other “Things”(13)  But God also grants him all that he did not request  1 Kings 3:13 ~ “I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.”  Solomon is told the Key to Holding on to Wisdom(14)  1 Kings 3:14 ~ “If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.”  Solomon is not to neglect spiritual things as he tends to practical matters

 Solomon’s Wisdom is soon Tested  The Case Presented to Solomon(16-23)  Two harlots  One lying  One telling the truth  Two babies  One alive  One dead  No way to make a fair judgment based on the facts and testimony

 Solomon Moves to get at the Truth(24-25)  Calls for the baby and a sword  Orders the baby to be cut in half and divided be- tween the two women  The Heart of the Truth is Revealed by Solomon’s Wise Move(26-27)  Solomon’s extreme (and shrewd) measure reveals the hearts of the two women  The real mother whose love would rather see her son raised by a liar than be put to death  The lying mother whose jealousy allows her to be content if neither of them have a son

 The Outcome of Solomon’s Wise Judgment(27-28)  The real mother finds justice and is rewarded her son  1 Kings 3:27 ~ Then the king said, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother.”  All Israel hears of the judgment and willingly submits to his reign  1 Kings 3:28 ~ “When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had handed down, they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.”

 God’s Wisdom on Solomon Creates Interest among Leaders of other Nations (1 Kings 10)  The Queen of Sheba travels to Jerusalem to test Solomon’s wisdom  After she sees the truth of Solomon’s legendary wisdom, she blesses God  1 Kings 10:9 ~ “Blessed be the Lord your God who delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel; because the Lord loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”  Man Needs the Wisdom that Comes from God  God’s wisdom is promised to all those who come to Him  James 1:5  God’s wisdom is made available, but we must ask  The world also needs God’s wisdom as it is expressed in our lives

God’s wisdom is often brought out through unusual situations that highlight man’s limitations and God’s eternal perspective. God’s wisdom is often brought out through unusual situations that highlight man’s limitations and God’s eternal perspective. Man’s life situations require more than mere human knowledge to navigate or resolve. Man’s life situations require more than mere human knowledge to navigate or resolve. Each individual must receive wisdom from God for his own day and for his own tasks. Each individual must receive wisdom from God for his own day and for his own tasks. Sin is manifest through those who seek to lead with- out God’s wisdom as they cannot consistently offer unbiased judgment. Sin is manifest through those who seek to lead with- out God’s wisdom as they cannot consistently offer unbiased judgment. Proverbs 29:2 ~ “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.” Proverbs 29:2 ~ “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.” Redemption of God is pictured in the acts of wise leaders who provide justice and resolution of sin and conflict in the lives of others. Redemption of God is pictured in the acts of wise leaders who provide justice and resolution of sin and conflict in the lives of others.

Bible Trivia Test  What message did Ahimaaz, the runner, chicken-out on delivering when it came time to give a crucial word to King David? “The king said, ‘Is it well with the young man Absalom?’ And Ahimaaz answered, ‘When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was.’” (2 Samuel 18:29)“The king said, ‘Is it well with the young man Absalom?’ And Ahimaaz answered, ‘When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was.’” (2 Samuel 18:29)  Why did God not allow David to build the temple? “But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’ (1 Chronicles 28:3)“But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.’ (1 Chronicles 28:3)  What was Abishag the Shunammite woman brought in to do in order to help old King David to stay warm? “So his servants said to him, ‘Let us search for a young virgin…She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm.”(1 Kings 1:2)“So his servants said to him, ‘Let us search for a young virgin…She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm.”(1 Kings 1:2)

 How did Amasa, Joab’s rival for leadership of the military, meet his end? “But Amasa was not on guard against the sword which was in Joab’s hand so he struck him in the belly with it and poured out his inward parts on the ground…and he died.” (2 Samuel 20:10)“But Amasa was not on guard against the sword which was in Joab’s hand so he struck him in the belly with it and poured out his inward parts on the ground…and he died.” (2 Samuel 20:10)  How did Sheba son of Bicri, the Benjamite rebel, meet his end? “’But…Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against King David. Only hand him over...’ And the woman said to Joab, “…his head will be thrown to you over the wall.” …And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. (2 Samuel 20:21-22)“’But…Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against King David. Only hand him over...’ And the woman said to Joab, “…his head will be thrown to you over the wall.” …And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. (2 Samuel 20:21-22) Bible Trivia Test

Next week….. Adult II Couples Class