“The Wise and Foolish King ”
Click below to download the Cornerstone Connections leader’s guide and student lesson. This week’s resources also include two lesson plans and a discussion starter video which offer different ways of looking at the topic. Each lesson plan includes opening activities, scripture passages, discussion questions, and real-life applications.
Among the many lessons to be learned from the life of Solomon is the important one about the dangers of unfettered prosperity.
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES
OVERVIEW
Our story today is a difficult one. How can someone who is so close to God, and so intelligent, end up like King Solomon? It’s not a new concept. In fact, Lord Acton wrote in 1887, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or the certainty of corruption by authority. There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it” (Lord Acton, Acton-Creighton Correspondence, 1887). Our lesson will focus on the final chapter of Solomon’s life and what guidance we can gain in order to not make similar choices.
OPENING ACTIVITY: LEADERSHIP CHARADES
DISCUSSION
TRANSITION
Did you know that you can drink so much water that you can die from it? There are not lots of reasons why it happens, but it can happen. Solomon was one of those people who did things to excess, like having way too many wives. He may have first gotten married for the right reason, but it turned into a very bad addiction which goes to show that even really smart people make mistakes and don’t always make the best decisions. Let’s see what we can learn from the final chapter of Solomon’s life and a few principles about leadership from scripture.
BIBLE STUDY GUIDE
Read 1 Kings 11:1-43.
King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2 They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 5 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.
7 On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. 8 He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.
9 The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. 11 So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”
Solomon’s Adversaries
14 Then the Lord raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom. 15 Earlier when David was fighting with Edom, Joab the commander of the army, who had gone up to bury the dead, had struck down all the men in Edom. 16 Joab and all the Israelites stayed there for six months, until they had destroyed all the men in Edom. 17 But Hadad, still only a boy, fled to Egypt with some Edomite officials who had served his father. 18 They set out from Midian and went to Paran. Then taking people from Paran with them, they went to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave Hadad a house and land and provided him with food.
19 Pharaoh was so pleased with Hadad that he gave him a sister of his own wife, Queen Tahpenes, in marriage. 20 The sister of Tahpenes bore him a son named Genubath, whom Tahpenes brought up in the royal palace. There Genubath lived with Pharaoh’s own children.
21 While he was in Egypt, Hadad heard that David rested with his ancestors and that Joab the commander of the army was also dead. Then Hadad said to Pharaoh, “Let me go, that I may return to my own country.”
22 “What have you lacked here that you want to go back to your own country?” Pharaoh asked.
“Nothing,” Hadad replied, “but do let me go!”
23 And God raised up against Solomon another adversary, Rezon son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah. 24 When David destroyed Zobah’s army, Rezon gathered a band of men around him and became their leader; they went to Damascus, where they settled and took control. 25 Rezon was Israel’s adversary as long as Solomon lived, adding to the trouble caused by Hadad. So Rezon ruled in Aram and was hostile toward Israel.
Jeroboam Rebels Against Solomon
26 Also, Jeroboam son of Nebat rebelled against the king. He was one of Solomon’s officials, an Ephraimite from Zeredah, and his mother was a widow named Zeruah.
27 Here is the account of how he rebelled against the king: Solomon had built the terraces and had filled in the gap in the wall of the city of David his father. 28 Now Jeroboam was a man of standing, and when Solomon saw how well the young man did his work, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the tribes of Joseph.
29 About that time Jeroboam was going out of Jerusalem, and Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh met him on the way, wearing a new cloak. The two of them were alone out in the country, 30 and Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces. 31 Then he said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘See, I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon’s hand and give you ten tribes. 32 But for the sake of my servant David and the city of Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, he will have one tribe. 33 I will do this because they have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Molek the god of the Ammonites, and have not walked in obedience to me, nor done what is right in my eyes, nor kept my decrees and laws as David, Solomon’s father, did.
34 “ ‘But I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon’s hand; I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of David my servant, whom I chose and who obeyed my commands and decrees. 35 I will take the kingdom from his son’s hands and give you ten tribes. 36 I will give one tribe to his son so that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put my Name. 37 However, as for you, I will take you, and you will rule over all that your heart desires; you will be king over Israel. 38 If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you. 39 I will humble David’s descendants because of this, but not forever.’ ”
40 Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam fled to Egypt, to Shishak the king, and stayed there until Solomon’s death.
Solomon’s Death
41 As for the other events of Solomon’s reign—all he did and the wisdom he displayed—are they not written in the book of the annals of Solomon? 42 Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. 43 Then he rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son succeeded him as king.
DISCUSSION
Read Matthew 20:25-28.
25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
DISCUSSION
Read Galatians 1:10.
10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
DISCUSSION
Read Luke 12:48.
48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
DISCUSSION
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
DISCUSSION
APPLICATION
Many individuals possess intelligence without embodying kindness. Exceptional leaders, however, not only possess vast knowledge but also wield it wisely for the greater good. Solomon, endowed with great intelligence, occasionally deviated from God's guidance, resulting in his own downfall. This prompts reflection on whether God erred in granting Solomon wisdom and wealth or if it underscores God's allowance for human free will.
A significant lesson from today's discourse underscores that wealth and knowledge alone cannot address all of life's challenges. Instead, prioritizing a connection with God proves more crucial than the pursuit of prestige or power.
FOLLOW UP
Here are two activities that can be used as follow-up.
SCRIPTURE PASSAGE
LEADER’S NOTE
For a Relational Bible Study (RBS) you’ll want to get into the Scripture passage and encourage the youth to imagine participating in the story while it’s happening. Then you will be able to better apply it to your own situation today.
You will need to ask God for the Holy Spirit to be present as your small group discusses the questions (no more than 3-6 people in a group is recommended). Start with the opening question. It is a personal question and the answer is unique for each individual. There is no right answer and nobody is an expert here, so don’t be surprised when you hear different responses. You are depending on the Holy Spirit to be present and to speak through your group. Say what God prompts you to say, and listen to what others share.
Take turns reading the chapter out loud. Follow that with giving the students some time to individually mark their responses to the questions (a PDF version of the handout is available as a download). This gives each person a starting point for responding when you start to share as a group. Next, begin the discussion by asking the students to share what they marked and why on each question as you work your way through. Feel free to take more time on some questions than others as discussion warrants.
Encourage each person in the group to apply what is discussed to their personal lives and to share with the group what they believe God wants them to do. Then ask them to pray that God will help each of them to follow through in doing so. Remind them to expect that God will show them ways to live out the message of this passage in the coming week, and that they are free to ask others in the group to help hold them accountable.
OVERVIEW
This narrative focuses on King Solomon's spiritual decline due to his marriages with many foreign women, contrary to God's explicit command for Israelite kings not to intermarry with nations that worshiped other gods. Solomon, despite his initial wisdom and devotion to God, succumbs to the allure of political alliances through marriages to princesses from surrounding nations. He accumulates seven hundred wives, many of whom were from among the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites, along with three hundred concubines.
These foreign wives significantly impact Solomon's spiritual devotion. They lead him astray from wholehearted devotion to Yahweh, encouraging him to build high places for their gods. Solomon, influenced by these women, constructs altars and idolatrous sites for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, and for Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites, among others.
God, angered by Solomon's blatant disregard for His commandments and the alliance with pagan practices, intervenes by raising adversaries against Solomon. Hadad, the Edomite, and Rezon, the son of Eliada, become thorns in Solomon's reign, causing continual opposition and challenges to his rule.
Additionally, the prophet Ahijah predicts to Jeroboam, one of Solomon's officials, that he will become ruler over ten tribes of Israel after Solomon's reign, marking the division of the kingdom. This prophecy is a consequence of Solomon's disobedience and idolatry. God's promise to Jeroboam is a warning signifying the imminent splitting of the united kingdom into two—the larger part to Jeroboam and the smaller part, consisting of Jerusalem and the tribe of Judah, to remain under Solomon's son for the sake of David's legacy.
Despite God's warnings and the repercussions outlined, Solomon remains unrepentant. His heart is hardened, and he persists in his idolatrous practices. Consequently, God declares that He will take away the kingdom from Solomon's descendants, leaving one tribe under Solomon's son to maintain David's legacy and honor the chosen city of Jerusalem.
“Wise Yet Stupid!”
Share on a time when you were successful and did something stupid.
Read 1 Kings 11:1-13.
King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2 They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 5 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.
7 On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. 8 He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.
9 The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. 11 So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”
1. What command did God give to the Israelite kings that Solomon disobeyed?
2. How many wives did Solomon accumulate during his reign?
3. What influence did Solomon's foreign wives have on his faith?
4. Which idols did Solomon build high places for?
5. What enemies did God raise against Solomon due to his disobedience?
6. Who did the prophet Ahijah prophesy would rule over ten tribes after Solomon?
7. How are you currently using the wisdom God has given you?
8. What are some steps you can take to consistently follow God’s will?
SUMMARY
This detailed account illustrates Solomon's tragic departure from God's commands, leading to severe consequences for the unity and integrity of the kingdom of Israel, highlighting the dangers of compromising spiritual integrity for political gain or personal desires.
APPLICATION
This story is the tragic decline of one blessed with great brilliance. God desired and designed it for him to be king of Israel with the view of sharing His power and splendor to the whole world. He could not rule his passions and selfish desires; therefore, he fell to his ruin.
Below, find some application activities to interface with this lesson. These are simply to provide ideas for your usage, or to invite you to imagine and create some of your own, as you impact the lives of teens for God’s glory.
