1 Kings

1 Kings 4: God gives great wisdom

Begin in prayer

Before we read about Solomon's officers and his great wisdom, let us stop and wait on the Lord together. Ask Him to make us humble, to show us that all wisdom is His gift, and to point us to Christ.

Come, and see God’s deeds — awesome work on behalf of the children of men.

Psalm 66:5

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You give wisdom and peace, and help us to trust You and Your Son, Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Solomon rules all Israel, and he has princes, priests, scribes and officers to govern the land. Twelve officers provide food for the king's household, each one for a month of the year. Judah and Israel are as many as the sand by the sea, and they live safely under their own vines and fig trees. God gives Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and he speaks three thousand proverbs. People of every nation come to hear the wisdom that God gave him.

As you read 1 Kings 4, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God gave Solomon great wisdom, and people from every nation came to hear it.

The chapter begins with the king's government, the princes, priests and scribes who served him (verses 1 to 6). Twelve officers each fed the king's household for one month of the year, so nothing was lacking at his table (verses 7 and 27). Judah and Israel were many as the sand by the sea, and each man sat under his own vine and fig tree (verse 25). That peace had a source, for God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding as wide as the sand on the seashore (verse 29). His wisdom excelled the wisdom of the east and of Egypt, and he spoke three thousand proverbs (verses 30 to 32). People of all nations came to hear it, sent by kings who had heard of his wisdom (verse 34). Solomon's gift was not his own. To those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ is the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1 verse 24).

How does 1 Kings 4 show us that God gave Solomon great wisdom, and that people from every nation came to hear it?

God gives Solomon wisdom and understanding.

God gave Solomon abundant wisdom and understanding, as wide as the sand on the seashore (verse 29). His wisdom was greater than that of the wise men of the east and Egypt (verses 30 and 31). He spoke three thousand proverbs and wrote a thousand and five songs (verse 32).

The people live safely in the peace God gave.

Judah and Israel lived safely, and each man sat under his own vine and fig tree (verse 25). The king had peace on all sides, so the people were free to eat, drink and rest (verses 20 and 24). That peace came through the king whom God had made wise.

Christ is the wisdom of God, and He makes peace by His cross.

Solomon's wisdom drew people from every land, but God gave it to one king (verse 34). Paul calls Christ the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1 verse 24). Paul says that Christ Himself is peace, and that He made peace by His cross (Ephesians 2 verses 14 and 16).

Memorise

God gave Solomon abundant wisdom and understanding, and very great understanding, even as the sand that is on the seashore.

1 Kings 4:29

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I thank God for what He gives me, and will I come to Christ?

People came from every nation to hear the wisdom that God gave Solomon. Jesus is greater, for He is the wisdom of God, and the nations are told to come to Him.

Our sin has made us enemies of God, and no wise saying can end that war. Jesus ended it at the cross, where He gave His life as a ransom and made peace by His blood. God raised Him to life, and He rules in peace today. His blood is enough to make peace.

So come to Him, turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus. Solomon's wisdom could not bring peace with God. Jesus can. Whoever believes in Him is brought to peace with God, and He will not turn down a sinner who comes.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God gives wisdom, and that Jesus is the wisdom of God who makes peace by His cross. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He gave Solomon great wisdom, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

It will happen in that day that the nations will seek the root of Jesse, who stands as a banner of the peoples; and his resting place will be glorious.

Isaiah 11:10

Father, thank You for giving Solomon great wisdom. Thank You for Jesus, the wisdom of God, who makes peace by His cross. Grant each of us a heart that turns from sin and trusts Jesus. Help us to thank You for every good gift this week, and keep us near to You. Amen.