Background: When King David died, his son, Solomon, became king of Israel. At the start of Solomon’s reign, God asked Solomon what he would like him (God) to give him (Solomon). Solomon’s response was deeply pleasing to God, as he asked for wisdom to do his job well. Because of this, not only did God give Solomon wisdom, he promised to bless him with wealth, honour and a long life. The first part of 1 Kings 3 talks about Solomon’s request and God’s response. The second part is the well-known story of Solomon’s wise judgement about a disagreement between two women about a baby.
Circle time
10 minutes
As the children arrive, sit everyone down in a circle. Ask the children what they would wish for, if they had only one wish. Give everyone who would like to contribute the chance to do so. Make sure no one judges anyone else’s choice!
Game: Doctor tangle
10 minutes
Ask someone to be the doctor. Everyone else has to make a circle. Ask them all to stand very close and put out hands to randomly join with each other by holding on! Then ask the group to step back so they can see whose hands are joined with whose. The job of the doctor is to sort out the tangle of people to be a circle, while everyone is still holding hands. The doctor asks people to move around and step over and under the chains of arms that are making the group a big knot instead of a circle!
This game is about problem solving… which needs wisdom! Play this a few times, then finish by explaining that this is a taste of wisdom, what they session is about today!
Bible story
10 minutes
You will need: Bible; pillows and blankets; chairs; baby doll
Set out the pillows and blankets and invite the children to make themselves comfortable. Talk a little bit about sleep and dreams – what’s the strangest dream the children have had? If the children bring up nightmares, then take some time to pray for them to stop and for God to comfort those children.
Say that today’s story is about King David’s son. He has just become king and has settled down to sleep for the night. Read 1 Kings 3:5–15 from a child-friendly translation and ask the children to close their eyes and imagine what’s happening. Once you have finished, ask what children would ask God for – would it be wisdom? Or something else?
Get all the children up and rearrange the blankets and cushions into something that might resemble Solomon’s throne room. Drape blankets over some chairs to make thrones for Solomon and his officials, scatter cushions around the place to make it look palatial! Invite one child to be Solomon and two to be the women who come to talk to him. Give one of the women the baby doll. Everyone else can be officials and courtiers.
Read the next part of this chapter, 1 Kings 3:16–22, with the children acting out what is happening. At the end of verse 22, ask the children what they would have done. How could they have solved the argument?
Finally, read out the last part of the chapter, 1 Kings 3:22–28. Were any of the children right in their guess of what might happen?
Chatting together
5 minutes
Ask the children these questions, making sure everyone has the chance to contribute:
- What was your favourite part of the story?
- What is wisdom and why is it important?
- What did you think of the way that Solomon solved the argument over the baby?
- What have you discovered about God?
Creative response
15 minutes
You will need: a volunteer to tell the children about a time when they had to trust God, even though it was a bit scary
Set out lots of art materials and ask the children to make or draw something that
helps explain what wisdom is. You could use arts materials to draw or paint, or you could use play dough to make models. You could even give the option of both – think what might work best for your group!
Like Solomon’s solution to the problem of the two women, sometimes it is easier to see wisdom in an example than it is to understand it on its own. Ask the children to think and make examples of wisdom.
At the end of the time, let any of the children who would like to, to share what they’ve made and explain to the group why they chose their examples of wisdom and what they mean to them.
Prayer
10 minutes
You will need: incense stick and holder; matches
Invite the group to sit together in a circle. Put an incense stick in an incense holder. At the start of 1 Kings 3, we read about how Solomon lit incense when he prayed. This was partly to do with symbolising he was in a holy place, as God was there. Explain that you are doing the same today and lighting incense to demonstrate that this too is a holy place and time, and that like Solomon, we can still come to God and ask him for wisdom in our lives today.
Either light the incense, or ask an older member of the group to light the incense. Ask everyone to close their eyes and notice the smell of the incense fill the room. As they sense the incense in the room and around them, ask them to let that be a symbol of God’s presence being with them and surrounding them.
Invite them to put the things they’ve made or drawn in the middle of the circle around the incense. In the silence ask the group to ask God in their hearts to give them wisdom for today, tomorrow and the plans and jobs he has for the rest of their lives. If you can’t light incense, then use a battery-powered candle as a spiritual focus instead.
