STARTING WELL, BUT ENDING POORLY AND SADLY (Solomon)

 

1 Ki. 1:5, 10, 13, 17, 20, 21, 28, 30, 43          What had king David’s oldest son, Adonijah done that he shouldn’t have done?

 

What good character trait does Solomon display toward his prideful brother, Adonijah (1:51-53)?

 

Are you merciful toward people who do you wrong?                   Why?

 

2:5, 6, 8, 29, 44, 46     What good character trait does Solomon display here?

 

Do you obey the wise advice of your father (if he’s a godly man)?

Or, of a spiritual leader or discipler/trainer (Heb. 13:17)?                        Why?

 

3:3       What good things are said about Solomon?

 

Do you love the Lord and obey His commandments as a way of life?       If so, to what degree, and why?

 

2 Chron. 1:1    What does it say was God’s relationship and action toward Solomon?

 

Could this be said of God toward you?                Why?

 

1:2, 3, 6           For what does Solomon bring the leaders of Israel to God’s tent of meeting, the tabernacle?

 

Do you use your influence to motivate others to worship (give supreme respect/honor, allegiance/devotion, and obedience/service to) God?                  If so, how?

 

And do you yourself publicly express your devotion to God (like Solomon)?                     If so, how?

 

1 Ki. 3:4-6       What does Solomon credit God with?

 

Do you recognize God as the One who put you in the good position or situation that you’re in now (e.g., being in a doctrinally accurate, biblical ministry; being trained by a godly leader; being a teacher-trainer of others; being a ministry leader; having a good job; etc.)?

 

3:5, 9, 11, 12, 28; 5:12 (2 Chron. 1:10, 11)    When God asks Solomon what he’d want Him to give him, what does Solomon ask for?

 

What didn’t Solomon ask for?

 

If God were to ask you what you’d want, would your answer be for self­ish things or for that which would help you to better serve God or for something else that would honor God and help others?

What would you ask for specifically, and why?

 

5:4       For what does Solomon credit God?

 

Do you credit God for all the good things that you have and exper­ience (see Jas. 1:17)?

 

5:5; 6:14         What good character trait of Solomon is shown here?

 

Would you say that obedience to God is characteristic of your life?           Why, and how?

 

8:1, 5   How did Solomon express his worship of God?

 

How do you express your worship (supreme allegiance, honor, reverence, devotion, respect, priority) of God publicly?

 

8:20     What does Solomon say God has done?

 

Do you share with people your confidence in God’s faithfulness and promises?                 If so, how?

 

8:22-30, 54-56; 2 Chron. 6:13; 7:5    What good traits of Solomon do you find in these passages?

 

Are you reverent toward, dependent upon, knowledgeable of, hum­ble and generous toward God and your public worship of Him?                        Why, and how?

 

2 Chron. 7:12  What does this say about God and Solomon?

 

Does God hear your prayers?                 How do you know (Psa. 66:18; Jas. 4:3)?

 

2 Chron. 8:12, 13; 1 Ki. 9:25 What does Solomon regularly do according to the commands of Moses from God?

 

Is your obedience to God’s commands consistent/regular or sporadic?                  Why?

 

1 Ki. 10:26; 2 Chron. 9:25, 28           What did Solomon do that he shouldn’t have, according to Deut. 17:16?

 

When things are going really well for you because God is blessing you, do you begin to relax spiritually, get self-confident, and start compromising your obedience to God?           If so, could you mention one area of compromise?

 

The next time God blesses/prospers your life, what steps will you take to insure that you won’t compromise your obedience to Him?

 

1 Ki. 11:1-11, 33; 9:6, 7, 26, 28         List seven other areas of sin that Solomon com­mits (see Deut. 17:17; 7:1-5; Ex. 23:31-33; 34:12-16)?

 

 

 

What was Solomon’s main weakness (11:1, 2)?

How did these pagan women influence him?

 

Are you pursuing marriage to a non-Christian or carnal Christian contrary to God’s commands (see 2 Cor. 6:14, 15; 1 Cor. 5:11; 15:33; 2 Tim. 2:22; Prov. 22:5, 10, 24)?

 

Or, are you pursuing riches for yourself contrary to God’s commands in Matt. 6:19; 1 Tim. 6:8-11; Prov. 23:4?

Or, are you worshipping (giving supreme devotion and priority to) other gods (e.g., sports, career, home, car, education and degrees, clothes, music, TV, movies, computers, family, hobbies, material possessions) against God’s commands, as in Ex. 20:3; Lk. 4:8; 1 Cor. 10:14?

Is your heart wholly devoted to the Lord God, obeying Him in godly living (1 Pet. 1:15), evangelizing the spiritually lost (Matt. 28:19, 20), and building up believers into Christ-likeness (Rom. 14:19; 1 Thes. 5:11; Eph. 4:11-13)?

Why?

 

What consequences did Solomon pay for his disobedience (11:11, 14, 23, 26)?

 

Do you want to end up like Solomon?                 If not, what will you do to make sure that you don’t?

 

 

Beware!!!!!!

Don’t get spiritually lazy and sloppy as time goes on in your Christian life!!

Don’t get self-confident and stop being de­pendent upon God every day of your life!!

Stay obedient!!