Making Decisions as a Christian – SS2 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

Making decisions as a Christian means seeking God’s wisdom and acting on it. The note shows how Solomon asked God for wisdom and used it well in judging a case and building the temple. It also shows how unwise policies later weakened his reign, and how Rehoboam’s poor decision divided Israel.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• describe how Solomon asked for and used wisdom;
• explain how the temple was built and dedicated;
• list the unwise policies of Solomon;
• explain how Rehoboam’s unwise decision led to the division of Israel;
• state lessons that leaders can learn from Solomon’s mistakes.

How did Solomon use his wisdom?

Reference: 1 Kings 3:3-28; 4:29-34; 5:1-12; 8:1

Solomon’s request at Gibeon

Solomon succeeded his father David. He had many 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 I shall give you.”

Solomon asked for wisdom. His request pleased God so much that God granted it. God also added to his riches and honour.

The case of the two women

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 of the dead baby claimed the living one as hers. Solomon ordered that the living child be cut in two and each half be given to each woman.

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

Other signs of Solomon’s wisdom

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

How was the temple built and dedicated?

Solomon made arrangements with Hiram of Tyre to supply him with cypress timber and cedar to build the temple of the Lord and his own house. In return, he gave Hiram twenty thousand measures (kors) of wheat and twenty measures of pressed oil each year as food for Hiram’s household.

When the temple was completed, the ark of the covenant was brought into it. Solomon prayed and dedicated the temple to the Lord.

What were the unwise policies of Solomon?

Reference: 1 Kings 9:15-23

There was peace during the reign of Solomon. This made him live in luxury. He began 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 undertook expensive, wasteful and gigantic projects. He spent thirteen years building his own house.
2. The people 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 place.

What was Rehoboam’s unwise policy?

Reference: 1 Kings 12:1-20

Rehoboam was made king in Shechem. Jeroboam heard that Rehoboam had been made king and 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 went to Rehoboam to ask him to lighten the yoke his father Solomon had placed on the people.

Rehoboam asked them to come for a reply after some days. He sought the opinion of the elders, who 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 own people with unbearable taxes. Things started falling apart, and eventually the kingdom was divided into two. Jeroboam became king 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 had toiled to build.

Evaluation

1. What did Solomon ask God for at Gibeon?
2. How did Solomon know the real mother of the living baby?
3. State four unwise policies of Solomon.
4. What advice did Rehoboam’s peers give him, and what was the result?

Assignment

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