RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2022/2023 AGE 4-5 TEACHER’S MANUAL SUNDAY 19TH OF MARCH, 2023

[4]And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.

[5]In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

[6]And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

[7]And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

[8]And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

[9]Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

[10]And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

[11]And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

[12]Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

[13]And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

[14]And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

[15]And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

[16]Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.

[17]And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.

[18]And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.

[19]And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it.

[20]And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.

[21]And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.

[22]And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.

[23]Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.

[24]And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.

[25]And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.

[26]Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.

[27]Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.

[28]And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

MEMORY VERSE: Proverbs 3:13 “happy is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gain understanding.”

LESSON AIM: Wisdom is better that strength. Ecclesiastes 9:16

CHILD RELATED TRUTH: You need the wisdom of God to succeed in life

INTRODUCTION: Word of wisdom and knowledge is a spiritual gift, 1 Corinthians 12:8, It is a gift of speaking the truth about a situation or something that comes by revelation from God. It has to do with deep understanding of Biblical truths and perfectly applying it to life situation. How much of Bible truths do you know and apply to life situations that produce results? God wants you as His child to have this gift.

A. Now King Solomon went to Gibeon, to sacrifice there for that was a great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. vs. 4.

B. At Gibeon the lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night and God said “ask whatever and I shall give you.” vs. 5.

C. Solomon acknowledge God’s mercy and kindness to his father David and how has made him now to sit on his throne, but he is a little child, who do not know how to go out or come in and now has to rule his great and countless people. vs. 6-8.

D. He therefore asked for an understanding heart to judge God’s people that he may discern between good and evil. vs. 9. King Solomon realized the need of God’s wisdom to do what is right with God’s people so he asked God to grant him an understanding heart (James 1:5) you too should asked God for wisdom and understanding heart to succeed in life.

E. His request pleased God, then God said to him” because you did not ask for long life, riches and the life of your enemies “behold I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you, and I will give you what you have not asked: both riches and honor so, that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your day vs 10-13

F. Solomon woke up and went to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord and offered up burnt offerings, peace offering and made a feast for all his servants. G. Now two women who were harlots came to the king and stood before him as they fought over one living child. One says “this is my son, who lives and your son is the dead one” and the other says, “No! But your son is the dead one and the living one is my son.” vs. 16-23

H. Then the king said: bring me a sword “so they brought a sword before the king and he said “divide the living child into two and give half to one and half to the other. vs. 24-25. this is wisdom which is application or knowledge the king knows the truth of the rightful owner of the child will be revealed for she will not allow her child to be killed and divided.

CLIMAX: Then the woman who son was living spoke to the king for she yearned with compassion for her child and she said ” my lord, give her the living child and by no means kill him” but the other said ” let him neither be mine nor yours but divide him.” (vs. 26)

CONCLUSION: So the king answered and said answered and said “give the first woman the child and by no means kill him, she is his mother”. And all Israel heard the judgment and feared the king for they saw that the wisdom of God is in him.

CHALLENGE: Wisdom is profitable for direction. Ask God for the word of wisdom and knowledge to know what is good and evil and to apply it to your daily living.