This lesson plan is designed to teach children about how Solomon became so wise. According to the Bible, he made this one request from God for understanding. This pleased the LORD and demonstrates the spiritual importance of seeking wisdom. Like all our resources, this Bible lesson is 100% free to use in your ministry. Leave a comment below to offer your own suggestions to help other readers.
Gospel Connection: Wisdom is a major theme in the Bible and we are often told to seek out wisdom from God. The pursuit of knowledge will finally lead to Jesus. Colossians 2:3 says that in Christ, are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Children should learn that knowledge and understanding are gifts from God that should lead us into a deeper relationship with our Savior. Only through learning about his sacrifice on the cross can we finally grasp the wisdom of God.
Bible Story: Solomon – 1 Kings 3:1-15, 6:1-6, 37
Learning Objectives: After this lesson, the children will understand what Solomon asked for from God and what God wanted Solomon to do for Him by retelling the story.
Target Age: Kindergarten – 5th
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Items Needed:
- Bible: 1 Kings 3:1-15, 6:1-6, 37. There is a detailed explanation below to help bring out some of the important parts of the story.
- Magazines, scissors
- 1 large box, glue, crayons
Worship: Use David Songs (extra print out) to lead the children to sing before the Bible lesson.
Teaching Plan “Solomon’s Request”
Welcome Activity: Welcome activities are things to have out for the children to do as they are arriving for class. These activities will get them engaged as soon as they arrive and will help the transition from their parents.
Have the children cut out items from a magazine
- Just tell them to find things that they would put in their house
- Collect these – they will be used later in the lesson
Introduction: Ask the following questions to begin the lesson.
- Talk with them about being a king. What would they do? What would they have?
- What part of the Bible is 1 Kings in? The Old Testament
- What book of the Old Testament is 1 Kings? #11
Read 1 Kings 3:1-15, 6:1-6, 37 (NIRV) aloud to the children.
1 Solomon and Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, agreed to help each other. So Solomon got married to Pharaoh’s daughter. He brought her to the City of David. She stayed there until he finished building his palace, the Lord’s temple, and the wall that was around Jerusalem. 2 But the people continued to offer sacrifices at the high places where they worshiped. That’s because a temple hadn’t been built yet where the Lord would put his Name. 3 Solomon showed his love for the Lord. He did it by obeying the laws his father David had taught him. But Solomon offered sacrifices at the high places. He also burned incense there. 4 King Solomon went to the city of Gibeon to offer sacrifices. That’s where the most important high place was. He offered 1,000 burnt offerings on the altar that was there. 5 The Lord appeared to Solomon at Gibeon. He spoke to him in a dream during the night. God said, “Ask for anything you want me to give you.” 6 Solomon answered, “You have been very kind to my father David, your servant. That’s because he was faithful to you. He did what was right. His heart was honest. And you have continued to be very kind to him. You have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7 “Lord my God, you have now made me king. You have put me in the place of my father David. But I’m only a little child. I don’t know how to carry out my duties. 8 I’m here among the people you have chosen. They are a great nation. They are more than anyone can count. 9 So give me a heart that understands. Then I can rule over your people. I can tell the difference between what is right and what is wrong. Who can possibly rule over this great nation of yours?” 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for that. 11 So God said to him, “You have not asked to live for a long time. You have not asked to be wealthy. You have not even asked to have your enemies killed. Instead, you have asked for understanding. You want to do what is right and fair when you judge people. Because that is what you have asked for, 12 I will give it to you. I will give you a wise and understanding heart. So here is what will be true of you. There has never been anyone like you. And there never will be. 13 “And that is not all. I will give you what you have not asked for. I will give you riches and honor. As long as you live, no other king will be as great as you are. 14 Live the way I want you to. Obey my laws and commands, just as your father David did. Then I will let you live for a long time.”
15 Solomon woke up. He realized he had been dreaming. He returned to Jerusalem. He stood in front of the ark of the Lord’s covenant. He sacrificed burnt offerings and friendship offerings. Then he gave a big dinner for all of his officials.
1 Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord. It was 480 years after the people of Israel had come out of Egypt. It was in the fourth year of Solomon’s rule over Israel. He started in the second month. That was the month of Ziv.
2 The temple King Solomon built for the Lord was 90 feet long. It was 30 feet wide. And it was 45 feet high. 3 The temple had a porch in front of the main hall. The porch was as wide as the temple itself. It was 30 feet wide. It came out 15 feet from the front of the temple. 4 Solomon made narrow windows high up in the temple walls. 5 He built side rooms around the temple. They were built against the walls of the main hall and the Most Holy Room. 6 On the first floor the side rooms were seven and a half feet wide. On the second floor they were nine feet wide. And on the third floor they were ten and a half feet wide. Solomon made the walls of the temple thinner as they went up floor by floor. The result was ledges along the walls. So the floor beams of the side rooms rested on the ledges. The beams didn’t go into the temple walls.
37 The foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid in Solomon’s fourth year. It was in the month of Ziv. 38 The temple was finished in his 11th year. It was in the month of Bul. That was the eighth month. Everything was finished just as the plans required. Solomon had spent seven years building the temple.
Reviw the Bible Reading
- God tells Solomon that he could ask for anything!
- Out of everything in the world, Solomon asks for wisdom in order to rule his country well and under God’s leadership.
- Solomon then builds a temple for God to “live in”.
- God was very specific to how He wanted Solomon to build the temple.
- It took Solomon’s people 7 years to build the temple.
Activity: Making the Temple
“In our Bible Story today, Solomon made a temple for God to live in. All of the people of the city helped build this temple. We are going to build our own temple today. (put the large box in the middle of the room) Here is our temple. But, it’s missing a few things. We need to finish the temple. I’ll need all of your help.”
- Lay out the magazines pictures from the Welcome Activity and have them glue it on the temple.
- Have the crayons available for the children to color the temple
- Talk with the children about windows, doors, etc. for the temple
- Encourage their creativity
Activity: Bible Verse Memorization
“God said, ‘Ask for anything you want me to give you.’ “So give me a heart that understands.” 1 Kings 3:5&9
- God said: point to heaven
- Ask for anything you want: put finger to head as though you are thinking
- Me to give you: act as though you are receiving something
- So give me a heart: cross arms over chest
- That understands: shake head “Yes”
- 1 Kings 3: hold 3 fingers up
- 5: hold 5 fingers up
- and 9: hold 9 fingers up
Do this a few times with the children. Make it fun for them to do the motions and say the words. Involving them in active learning is essential for memorization.
Activity: What Would I Ask God For?
- Have the children get into groups
- Have the children discuss what they would ask God for
- Have some of the children share with the class
Evaluation: Have the children retell the story of Solomon. Make sure that they mention that Solomon asked for wisdom and that God wanted Solomon to build a temple for Him.