Wisdomfied part 1-King Solomon's Example




Prepare your heart:  Read Deuteronomy 4:1-8.  Meditate on the verses the Spirit draws your attention to.  Pray in preparation for the study that you will see that there is no “statues and judgments as righteous” as His wisdom and be drawn to learn and walk in them.



As I introduced the study to you, I mentioned that Proverbs was mainly written and assembled by King Solomon.  Let us look into how he became wise as an example for us.





1.       Read 1 Kings 3:5-14 and 2 Chronicles 1:7-12. 

·         How does Solomon see himself before God? 

·         What qualities does he acknowledge please God?

·         Why does he ask for wisdom?

·         What is God’s response to his request?  What reasons does He give for responding the way He does?

·         In the NASB (which is the version I use to study) he grants Solomon wisdom and discernment.  What is the difference between the two?



2.       Read 1 Kings 4:29-34, 10:1-13, 2 Chronicles 9:1-12

·         What things was Solomon famous for?

·         How was his wisdom described?

·         What was the response of the Queen of Sheba to his knowledge?



3.       Read Psalm 72:1-19 (a Psalm of Solomon in celebration of his blessings)

·         What does Solomon say he will do?

·         What honor does he ascribe to God?

·         How will the people benefit from his wisdom?



What actions do you see in each section of scripture that we read as a phase of Solomon’s journey toward wisdom?  I think these passages show that first Solomon was humble and asked for wisdom.  Next as his fame spread he applied the wisdom and blessings God had delivered to him.  Last he praised God for bestowing His blessings of wisdom, riches, and honor.  But does the story end there?  Did he remain faithful to wisdom and keeping God’s commands?



4.       Read 1 Kings 11:1-13

·         How did his heart change?  What actions lead to this turning away from God?

·         How did God respond to his change?  What consequences happened as a result of putting aside wisdom for sin?



Though he had been warned, though he was fully wise, Solomon did not put his knowledge in to practice and guard this wisdom.  Finish the passage you read about God’s laws in Deuteronomy to prepare your heart.  Back in chapter 4, read verses 9-31.  In this passage Moses is describing the consequences of his sin in striking the rock in Meribah (see Numbers 20:10-13).  So what are we to do if Solomon, the most wise of all men, and Moses, the one who received the law and walked so closely that his face shone with God’s glory (Exodus 34:30) couldn’t remain faithful to this wisdom they were given?  There is good news.  Romans 6:17 says “But thanks to God that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed.” 



So in the first part of this study, spend time deciding how you will guard your heart against our human tendency to know of God and not obey.  To find wisdom but not use it.  To get puffed up (Habakkuk 2:4) instead of humble.  Be like Solomon, ask for wisdom, apply it and praise him, yet see in his example not to leave God’s teaching.  If you like, comment below to give other women studying ideas of staying true to the wisdom we receive. 



Humbly committed to a wise and discerning heart,

-Rayna










Comments

Rayna said…
One of my ideas is to share with other believers what I'm learning from God so it will stay fresh in my mind...
August 23, 2011 at 4:19 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Study Introduction: Developing a Ministry of Reconciliation

Image
My husband and I finished a four-year process of home building this last February.   Throughout the process we had paperwork, permits, receipts, product manuals, samples of materials, and even some tools and parts left by the sub-contractors that looked important.   So we kept them all.   We put them in a box.   People that know me well know that I love efficiency and organization.   But for this I just needed a box.   A place to put all this stuff that I know I’m supposed to have but don’t have time to deal with.   Stuff that is probably important, but thrown in none-the-less.   It gives me comfort to know at any time I can dig around in this box and find what I need when I need it. Today it occurred to me that my faith is like this box.   One of the fun things about building (and there really isn’t a lot of “fun” involved so you hang on to the joys no matter how small) is getting to customize many things.   One of the things we chose are timers for our bathroom so you can turn the fa
Read more

Devotional: Balance

This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life -1 Thess 4:11 I thought I’d mix things up and share something I’ve been learning a lot about lately: balance.   This verse above has been in my head quite a lot as I’ve been feeling different demands start to pull on me.   All of us have so many different responsibilities and interests that take our time; from family life and work, to hobbies and social events.   It seems like the calendar in my house is often running the show.   In this chapter Paul is writing about how Christians should live.   The word ambition means to be fond of honor, strive to bring something to pass and make a certain state your aim.   Then a few words later Paul then describes the tone of our day-to-day life as quiet.   This doesn’t mean you should be shy or a doormat, but to rest, cease from labor, not to be running around, to say nothing and hold one’s peace (this is my constant need!).   A friend once shared that you may be doing good things, but God has
Read more

Christmas: The Promises of God

Image
  During advent season, many pastors retell the Christmas story to their congregants.  It is a blessing to hear afresh the narrative of how our Lord came to earth, answering the long-awaited hopes of His people.  After 400 years of silence, the angels sang praise of His immanent arrival to shepherds.  One my favorite decorations I set up is the nativity.  I’ve collected pieces over the years that visually express how the story unfolds in the synoptic gospels.   This year, I’m reflecting on a more distant part of the Christmas story, the one that started in Genesis 3, where our ancestors ate of a tree in disobedience and sin entered the world.  The curse was upon the earth and humanity has suffered in sin ever since.  Genesis 3:15 predicts the enmity between humankind and its oppressor to end when the Offspring will come who will crush his head, rendering the snake, one symbol of Satan found in scripture, ineffective.  1 John 3:8 says the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy th
Read more