week of 8/24

Unit 12  Session 4

SHARE GOD'S WISDOM

1 Kings 10:1-10

 

Key Concept:

Sharing God's wisdom points people to Him.

When the Lord gave Solomon the opportunity to ask for anything of Him, Solomon humbly requested wisdom. This pleased the Lord, Who also blessed Solomon with great wealth and honor. News of Solomon's wealth, renown, and especially his wisdom spread among the nations surrounding Israel, and emissaries were sent from those nations to listen to and learn from Solomon's great wisdom. The queen of Sheba - modern-day Ethiopia or Yemen - was one who came to Jerusalem to see for herself if what she had heard about King Solomon was true. 

As you read 1 Kings 10:1-10:

✞   Consider that as believers, we always have opportunities to share

    godly wisdom with others.

     

✞   Recognize that as we live out our faith, God's love should be seen 

    by others who don't yet know Him.

week of 8/17

Unit 12  Session 3

LIVE WITH WISDOM

ECCLESIASTES 3:1-15

 

Key Concept:

God's timing is perfect, and everything is a gift from God.

Wisdom literature in the Bible includes the books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. This genre wasn't unique to ancient Israel but was popular throughout the ancient Near East. Nations such as Egypt and Babylon wrote down wise sayings before Israel did. In Scripture, however, the wisdom books only address one God and generally speak to human flourishing by living according to God's holy will.

As you read Ecclesiastes 3:1-15:

✞   Acknowledge that while we long to know the future, only God knows

    His purpose for everything.

     

✞   Celebrate that God is awe-inspiring and just in all His ways.

week of 8/10

Unit 12  Session 2

WORK WITH WISDOM

1 KINGS 6:8-413; 38:3-11

 

Key Concept:

God desires to dwell with His people.

King Solomon grew in the Lord's wisdom, gaining fame as the wisest person on earth (1 Kings 4:29-34). Israel flourished under his rule, and the Lord gave His people peace on all sides from conflict or war. Solomon then turned his attention to the construction of the temple for the Lord that God and David had appointed him to build. First Kings 6-7 details the building and furnishings of the temple with a brief interruption describing the building of Solomon's palace (7:1-12). After completing the temple, Solomon assembled the people of Israel to celebrate the ark of the covenant being brought within its sacred walls.

As you read 1 Kings 6:8-13 ; 8:3-11:

✞   Notice that God reminded Solomon that walking in His ways was the

    prerequisite for His dwelling with His people.

     

✞   Reflect upon God's glory, which is more magnificent than any building

    human beings could make to contain it.

week of 8/3

Unit 12  Session 1

ASK FOR WISDOM

1 KINGS 2:1-4 ; 3:3-15

 

Key Concept:

Wisdom from God is better than riches.

As David neared death, he reminded his son Solomon of the covenant the Lord had established with him and his descendants (2 Samuel 7:1-17). David's reign had been far from peaceful, and his walk with the Lord had been far from perfect, yet he held fast to the Lord's promises and faithfulness as he passed the crown to Solomon to follow the ways of the Lord. After Solomon fulfilled his father's final requests, reined in potential threats to his throne, and solidified his rightful position as king (1 Kings 1-2), the Lord appeared to the new king in a dream with an unexpected question.

As you read 1 Kings 2:1-4 ; 3:3-15:

✞   Note that David's parting words to Solomon were for the new king to walk

    in God's ways.

     

✞   Reflect upon the fact that Solomon could have asked for anything from the

    Lord, but he asked for wisdom and discernment for the role the Lord had

    appointed him to.

week of 7/27

Unit 11  Session 4

THE LORD'S FORGIVENESS

2 SAMUEL 11:1-5 ; 14-17; 12:7-14

 

Key Concept:

God desires our repentance.

After declaring His covenant with David, God helped David continue to subdue his surrounding enemies. David also sought out a way to show kindness to the family of his friend Jonathan, who had died with his father, Saul. David even attempted to show kindness to the new king of the Ammonites after his father died, but the new king humiliated David's ambassadors and ignited another war. For one part of this war, David led his troops to victory. But at a later time, when kings normally went out to war, David chose to send out his army while he stayed behind in Jerusalem. Sadly, this decision set the stage for a downfall into grievous sin.

As you read 2 Samuel 11:1-5; 14-17; 12:7-14:

✞   Reflect upon the truth that little steps of carelessness often will lead to

    bigger steps of sin.

     

✞   Recognize that the Lord forgave David after his repentance, but he would

    still experience dire consequences for his sin.

        

week of 7/20

Unit 11  Session 3

THE LORD'S PEOPLE

2 SAMUEL 7:18-29

 

Key Concept:

As God's people, we can be assured of God's promises.

After Saul's death, David became king over the tribe of Judah and eventually over all of Israel. David moved the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem with great rejoicing. And in 2 Samuel 7, David finally enjoyed rest from his enemies. As David relaxed in his house, he noted the grandeur of his palace compared to the tent where the ark of God dwelled. So David wanted to build a house for the Lord, and initially, the prophet Nathan encouraged David to do so. Though David had good intentions, the Lord intervened and corrected David. It would not be David who built a house for the Lord but the Lord would build a house for David.

As you read 2 Samuel 27:18-29:

✞   Recognize that God's goodness to David was so that God could redeem

    a people for Himself.

     

✞   Meditate with joy that God keeps His promise for our good to be a 

    blessing to His people.

        

week of 7/13

Unit 11  Session 2

THE LORD'S KING

1 SAMUEL 24:3-12; 16-20

 

Key Concept:

God is merciful, so we must be too.

Not long after Saul brought David into his royal court, Saul noticed that not only was the Lord with David, but the people admired David as well. When David, who had been put in charge of the army, returned from battle and the women sang of his victories as greater than Saul's, the king seethed and thought, "What more can he have but the kingdom?" (1 Samuel 18:8). Saul then despised David and tried to kill him multiple times. Eventually, David - the anointed king - fled and hid in caves. In one of the caves, David had an opportunity to destroy Saul, who had attacked him without cause, but instead, he chose mercy.

As you examine 1 Samuel 24:3-12; 16-20:

✞   Consider that while the culture around us may become more antagonistic

    toward God's people, we still must show mercy.

     

✞   Recognize that it is in the kindness of God that leads us to repentance

    and that kindness can change a hardened heart.