SERIES SUMMARY
The Bible is the story of God as King and becoming King in Jesus. And we are his image bearers, created for royal reflection. But we don’t live in a monarchy, so “kingship” and “royalty” can feel like foreign ideas to us. Yet, we’re still called to recognize and submit to God as King. In the Old Testament, it was God’s desire for a king to reign over his people as a reminder of these things. Specifically, God promised David a son who would reign forever, and we see glimpses of this promised king in Solomon. Through his story, we’re reminded that there should be a royal wisdom that defines us as God’s kingdom of priests, the church. But ultimately, Solomon failed in his royal reflection. So, the question is, what does Solomon’s story teach us about ourselves and God? How can the life of Solomon be instructive to us as God’s people today? And most importantly, how does King Solomon (a son of David) point us to King Jesus (the son of David)?
PASSAGE GUIDE
This passage portrays Solomon as the model of a wise king, whose wisdom embraced understanding, insight, and knowledge. True wisdom is described as a divine gift, rooted in God Himself, and essential for leadership. It is not only intellectual but moral and practical, shaping both personal conduct and the administration of justice. Solomon’s wisdom highlighted the importance of seeing reality rightly, grounding life in reverence for the Lord, and applying discernment in all areas of life.
Wisdom is shown as foundational for moral and ethical living, guiding judgment between right and wrong, and influencing decisions in both sacred and secular matters. It also included technical skill, artistic ability, and administrative excellence. This wisdom had to be taught and passed down, which explains why Solomon collected and contributed to Israel’s wisdom tradition, especially through Proverbs. By connecting to wisdom traditions of surrounding cultures, Solomon modeled how wisdom could engage with life’s complexities while remaining rooted in the fear of the Lord.
God responded to Solomon’s prayer by granting him wisdom, but also wealth and honor, blessings not asked for. This shows that while material prosperity and long life are not inherently wrong, they are secondary to seeking God’s wisdom. The danger lies in misusing or misplacing these blessings. Solomon became remembered not simply for his wealth or success, but for God’s gift of wisdom, which was his defining mark as king. This highlights the biblical truth that when wisdom is sought first, God often provides beyond expectation.
Finally, Solomon’s famous judgment with the two women and the disputed child demonstrates wisdom in action. His discerning decision revealed the true mother and ensured justice. Such rulings set Solomon apart and made his people recognize the divine quality of his leadership. This narrative shows that wisdom is not abstract theory but practical discernment that protects life, ensures justice, and secures the kingdom. Ultimately, it points forward to the greater wisdom of Christ, who embodies God’s justice and mercy perfectly.
We must remember, wisdom is relational and contextual, it isn’t a one size fits all answer. Wisdom includes knowledge but it can’t be reduced to it. Wisdom includes strategy but is not limited to it. Wisdom includes boundaries but is not limited to them. Wisdom listens again, it does relational justice, and it even looks foolish on the front end. There is no wisdom apart from God and the wisdom of his Kingdom is often foolish to the world.
*We are a church located in Greenville, South Carolina. Our vision is to see God transform us into a community of grace passionately pursuing life and mission with Jesus.
SUGGESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY GROUP QUESTIONS
Remember, these are “suggested” questions. You do not have to go through every single one of them. You do not need to listen to both sermons at both campuses to participate in the discussion.
OPENING PRAYER
Pray that you and your group might come to live wisely, a people shaped by God’s wisdom, Word, and way.
OPENING QUESTION
When are times that you have seen wisdom in action, either in a person or a situation?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What key takeaways or Ahas have you had from the passage or from the sermon?
- How does this passage demonstrate what wisdom is and what it looks like?
- How is Solomon portrayed as the model of a wise king in this passage?
- How did Solomon’s role in preserving and teaching wisdom shape Israel’s tradition?
- What does Solomon’s famous judgment with the two women reveal about wisdom in action?
- How can Solomon’s example help us understand the greater wisdom revealed in Christ?
- How do we practice wisdom in the world we live in today?
- How does wisdom shape things like our finances, our parenting, or our relationships?
- In your own life, how do you seek discernment when faced with complex choices?
- What steps can you take to ensure that your pursuit of wisdom stays rooted in reverence for God rather than personal ambition?
Life with Jesus: Read through Proverbs 1 & 2, then write out what you learn about wisdom, what it is, and how it acts.
Life in Community: Ask someone whom you know has wisdom to speak into a situation you are wrestling with.
Life on Mission: Spend time in prayer for someone who is close to you but far from God, ask the Lord to draw them to him.
CLOSING PRAYER
Spend time in prayer for those in the group who are in particular need of wisdom due to a complex situation and circumstance.