Solomon

Product Summary

Main Characters:

King David and Bathsheba, their sons Solomon and Adonijah; the Priests; the two women and the child

Scriptural References:

2 Samuel 12:24, I Kings 1:5-53, I Kings 3:5-28, I Kings 4:29-33, I Kings 5:3-5, I Kings 6:1-38, I Kings 7:15-53 & I Kings 11:42-43

Overall Theme:

Solomon’s wisdom comes from God.  Solomon puts his faith in God, and God gives the great King the power to understand human nature, the power to make judgments with great wisdom and the courage to stand up for his belief in God’s will.

Summary:

King David was renowned for his wisdom.  On his deathbed, he anoints his younger son, Solomon, to be King of Israel.  Solomon’s older brother, Adonijah feels he should be King instead, and tries to wrest away the crown.  Solomon displays God-given wisdom and courage confronting his brother, saying he will not live in fear as King, so Adonijah can either kill his brother or accept that Solomon is King.  Faced with Solomon’s courage, his brother says he will obey God’s will.

Solomon prays to God for the wisdom of King David, confiding, “I feel no wiser than a little child.”  The Lord appears to Solomon and tells him, “Solomon,  because thou asked for wisdom to do good, and not for personal gain, I will give you a wise and  understanding heart.  Behold, there shall be none wiser than you.”

Solomon’s wisdom is soon put to the test when two women appear at his court.  Both claim to be the mother of a small infant.  Solomon calls for a sword and orders that the child be cut in two.  “Give each mother one half,” he declares.

One woman does nothing, saying she is obeying the order of the King.  The other woman cries out that she lied about being the mother and begs the King to spare the child and give it to the first woman.  Realizing that a true mother will do anything to save the life of her child, Solomon gives the child to the second woman.

From every nation they come to seek the wisdom of Solomon, and the greatness of Israel is increased.  Solomon lives for many years and, to show his gratitude, builds a great temple to God’s glory.

Background:

Wisdom always demands courage.  Fortunately, these gifts from God come together.  God tells us that He will bless us with the strength we need, if we come to him as Solomon did – as a child – and put our complete trust in Him.