Making Decisions as a Christian SS2 Christian Religious Studies (CRS) Lesson Note

SOLOMON’S WISDOM I KINGS 3;3-28;4;29-34;51-12;8-1

Solomon succeeded his father –David. During this time, he had a lot of responsibilities resting on his shoulders. As was the custom, Solomon went to Gibeon to offer sacrifice to God. The Lord appeared to him in a dream and said ‘’Ask what l shall give ‘’.He asked for wisdom. Solomon’s request pleased God so exceeding that he granted him his request. He also added to his riches and honour. Solomon used his wisdom to Judge the case of two harlots who lived in the same room and both had babies. One of the babies died and the mother now claimed to be the living baby. Solomon ruled that the living child be cut into two and each half be given to each woman

However, the real mother of the living child wept and asked the king not to slay the baby, instead, it should be given to her rival who insisted that the baby be divided. From their utterances, Solomon knew the real mother and gave her the baby.

Apart from judicial matters, his wisdom was manifested in other ways. In all, Solomon spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs thousand and five. He was reputed to be the wisest man then.

BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE AND ITS DEDICATION

Solomon made arrangements with Hiram of Tyre to supply him with cypress timber and cedar with which to build the temple of the Lord as well as his house. In return, he gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of Kors wheat and twenty measures of pressed oil as food for his household yearly. When the temple was completed, the ark of covenant was brought into the temple and he prayed and dedicated it to the Lord.

UNWISE POLICIES OF SOLOMON AND REHOBOAM / HOW SOLOMON MISUSE HIS WISDOM I KING 9: 15-23

There was peace during the reign of Solomon. This made him live in luxury.  He embarked on expensive projects and wasted a lot of human and material resources. 

The following were Solomon’s unwise policies which made his wisdom short-lived:

1. He embarked upon expensive wasteful and gigantic ventures or projects.  He built his own house for thirteen years.

2. The people paid through their noses as they were heavily levied.  

3. The people were also subjected to forced labour.

4. He married from countries God had warned the Israelites not to marry from.

5. He had an uncontrollable desire for women. Altogether he had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines.

6. This led to the fall of Solomon and the division of Israel as a nation.  He died and his son Rehoboam reigned in his stead.  

REHOBOAM’S UNWISE POLICY 1 KGS. 12: 1-20

Rehoboam was made king in Shechem.  Hearing that Rehoboam had been made king, Jeroboam returned from Egypt where he had gone to seek asylum after going into self-exile for fear of Solomon.  Jeroboam and some elders of Israel to Rehoboam to lighten the yoke his father Solomon placed on the people.  Rehoboam asked them to come for a reply after some days.  Rehoboam sought the opinions of the elders who in turn told him to listen to the plea of the people. He also asked his peers but they advised him wrongly and he heeded their advice. He spoke to the people roughly and said he would chastise them with whips and scorpions.

Rehoboam’s expensive taste made him overburden his ownple with unbearable taxes. Things started falling apart, and eventually, the kingdom was divided into two.  Jeroboam became over ten tribes of Israel known as the Northern Kingdom while Rehoboam reigned in Judah Thus, Rehoboam’s unwise decisions and diplomatic blunder led to the division of Israel which David toiled to build.

ASSIGNMENT 

1. What lessons can Nigerian leaders learn from Solomon’s mistake?
2. Justify or condemn those decisions taken by Solomon under the circumstances.