1. Chapter 10 God’s Wisdom

2. Vocabulary

3. Elders – older people Elders – older people Idols – false gods Idols – false gods Ark of the Covenant – box that held the Ten Commandments Ark of the Covenant – box that held the Ten Commandments Holy of Holies – the most sacred part of the Temple that held the Ark of the Covenant Holy of Holies – the most sacred part of the Temple that held the Ark of the Covenant

4. Notes

5. Introduction Clowns/comedians show us: 1) how absurd people can be; 2) how to laugh at ourselves

6. Who Is Wise? Being wise does not mean being smart Being wise means: Recognizing cause-and-effect relationships Telling the difference between right and wrong Seeing beyond appearances Learning from experience Exercising good judgment Communities need wise people in order to survive

7. Solomon’s Request Solomon became king after his father, David Challenges Solomon faced as king: Kingdom was spread out Various groups in kingdom at war with each other Some people were worshiping idols Needed dwelling place for Ark of Covenant

8. Solomon’s Request (ctd.) Solomon knew he needed God’s help, went to a mountain and prayed God said he would give whatever he asked for Solomon asked for understanding heart to judge God’s people God blessed him abundantly because he was unselfish

9. A Different Wisdom Solomon built first Temple in Jerusalem (1 st king to worship God in permanent place)Solomon built first Temple in Jerusalem (1 st king to worship God in permanent place) Solomon became known all over ancient world for his wisdomSolomon became known all over ancient world for his wisdom Solomon’s rule = golden years of IsraelSolomon’s rule = golden years of Israel Wise sayings are important to many nationsWise sayings are important to many nations Solomon’s wisdom was different – without God, human wisdom is uselessSolomon’s wisdom was different – without God, human wisdom is useless

10. Solomon’s Temple Destroyed by Babylonians in 587 B.C. Rebuilt twice No trace of Ark of Covenant Only one wall of second Temple stands today Remaining wall known as Western Wall or Wailing Wall, sacred to Jews

11. Beyond Human Wisdom Five wisdom books in Bible: Job Proverbs Sirach Ecclesiastes Wisdom Contain good sense & rules for good behavior

12. Beyond Human Wisdom (ctd.) Message of wisdom books: Do good, you will prosper; do evil, you will suffer Book of Job = religious novel, deals with why bad things happen to good people Job = good prosperous man Loses everything, becomes miserable, but never goes against God God rewards Job’s faith by restoring his life We still don’t know why good people suffer

13. Beyond Human Wisdom (ctd.) Words about suffering from Book of Wisdom seem to describe Jesus Jesus = wiser than human wisdom, stronger than human strength Shows greatness & goodness of God’s power & wisdom; He IS God’s power & wisdom

14. Hagia Sophia The Holy Wisdom of God Eastern Christian church Istanbul, Turkey Was basilica, Islamic mosque, now museum

15. http://www.lucyreesartist.me.uk/jester%20.jpg (jester picture)http://www.lucyreesartist.me.uk/jester%20.jpg http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dkimages.c om/discover/previews/760/339179.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.dk images.com/discover/Home/People-and- Society/Religion/Christianity/Bible/Bible-Stories/Bible-Stories- 357.html&h=425&w=415&sz=35&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=oz - pmd6rVyuCNM:&tbnh=126&tbnw=123&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dki ng%2Bsolomon%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den (King Solomon picture)