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Lesson:

We can make our own plans, but the LORD has the final word.

Extras

• Character Profiles

  • King Solomon (Temple)

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    King Solomon (Temple)

    

    Solomon was the second son of King David and Bathsheba. King David chose Solomon to inherit his throne instead of his older brother, Adonijah. Solomon is most often associated with three things: wisdom, construction of the Temple, and wealth. God made Solomon wiser and wealthier than any king in the world. Solomon composed some 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. God gave Solomon the task of building the Temple of the Lord. Solomon directed thousands of workers to complete the project in seven years. Solomon was wise, yet he did not always make wise choices. In later years, Solomon did not worship God only; he worshiped idols too which was very displeasing to God. Solomon reigned as King of Israel for forty years. He is credited by many scholars to be the author of three books of the Bible: Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, and most of the book of Proverbs.

    • Bible References

      • 1 Kings 4:29
      • 1 Kings 1:5
      • 1 Kings 1:32-35
      • 2 Samuel 12:24
      • 1 Kings 3:5
      • 1 Kings 3:9-14
      • 1 Kings 4:32
      • 2 Chronicles 9:22
      • 1 Kings 6:37-38
      • 1 Kings 11:1-12
      • Matthew 1:1-7

  • Bathsheba

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    Bathsheba

    

    Bathsheba was a beautiful woman and the wife of Uriah the Hittite. King David took notice of Bathsheba and committed the sin of adultery with her. After King David arranged for Uriah's death on the battlefield, Bathsheba became the wife of King David. Together they had four children, including Solomon and one baby who died of an illness resulting from God's judgment of David's sin. Before David died, Bathsheba worked with Nathan to stop Adonijah's plot to become king instead of Solomon.

    • Bible References

      • 2 Samuel 11:3
      • 1 Kings 1:1-31
      • 2 Samuel 12:15-24
      • 1 Chronicles 3:5
      • 2 Samuel 11:1-27

  • Adonijah

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    Adonijah

    

    Adonijah was David's son by his wife named Haggith. Adonijah began to boast that He would make himself king instead of Solomon whom God had chosen. Adonijah was supported by Joab and Abiathar the priest. Nathan the Prophet and Bathsheba revealed Adonijah's plan to King David. Solomon was quickly anointed as king and Adonijah's plan failed. Solomon showed Adonijah mercy but later had him executed when he once again plotted to sit on the throne as king.

    • Bible References

      • 2 Samuel 12:5
      • 1 Kings 1:1-53
      • 2 Samuel 16:21-22
      • 1 Kings 2:13-25

  • Nathan

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    Nathan

    

    Nathan was a loyal and trusted prophet and adviser to King David and Solomon. Nathan encouraged David to go ahead with his plan to build God a house to store the Ark of the Covenant. But, not so fast--God appeared in a vision and sent Nathan back to David to tell him this was not His will! Nathan also was sent by God to reveal David's sin with Bathsheba. This caused David to repent. Nathan then told David that God had forgiven him. Nathan was instrumental in squashing Adonijah's plot to become king. He was then sent with Zadok the priest to anoint Solomon as heir to David's throne.

    • Bible References

      • 1 Kings 1:38
      • 2 Samuel 7:2-3
      • 2 Samuel 7:4-29
      • 2 Samuel 12:1-25
      • 1 Kings 1:5-40
      • 1 Chronicles 29:29
      • 2 Chronicles 9:29
      • 2 Chronicles 29:25

  • Zadok

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    Zadok

    

    Zadok was a priest who served under King David and then King Solomon. Zadok demonstrated his loyalty to David and when Absalom and then Adonijah tried to steal the throne from David. Upon hearing of the plot from Nathan and Bathsheba, Zadok was sent by David before his death to anoint Solomon as king to fulfill God's will.

    • Bible References

      • 1 Kings 1:8
      • 2 Samuel 8:17
      • 1 Chronicles 6:3-8
      • 1 Chronicles 12: 27-28
      • 2 Samuel 19:11
      • 1 Kings 1:32-40
      • 1 Kings 4:1-2
      • 1 Kings 2:27

  • King David (70s)

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    King David (70s)

    

    King David was about to die. He gave final instructions his son Solomon. He told him to continue to obey God and follow His ways for the rest of his life as Israel's king. David knew that Solomon would have a successful life if he obeyed God. David also had received a promise from God that one of his sons would always be Israel's king if they followed after God and served Him faithfully. David did all he could do to secure God's promise for his family!

    • Bible References

      • 1 Kings 3:6
      • 1 Samuel 17:32-50
      • 1 Samuel 18: 5-9
      • 1 Samuel 19:9-24
      • 1 Samuel 18:1-4
      • 1 Samuel 24, 1 Samuel:26
      • 1 Chronicles 22:6-10
      • 1 Kings 1:1-53
      • 1 Kings 2:1-4
      • 2 Samuel 7:29
      • 1 Samuel 13:14
      • Acts 13:22

• Adventure Guide

  • 

    Gizmo's Bible Adventures - Your New Journey with God

  • 

    Solomon's Temple - Family Discussion Guide

• Videos

  King David Tells Solomon About The Temple

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    King David Tells Solomon About The Temple

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    Adonijah Wants To Be King

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    Bathsheba Approaches King David

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    Solomon Anointed King

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    The Temple Dedicated

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    Solomon's Temple - Salvation Poem

• Q & A

  • Can I make my own plans?

    King David had a good and honorable plan; he wanted to build a Temple to place the Ark of God and to honor God. The prophet Nathan told the king that the Lord was with him and to do what was on his mind. That same night God told Nathan in a vision that His will was NOT for David to carry out his plan. (2 Samuel 7:1-17). King David’s heart was to do something good, yet it did not line up with God’s plan. A temple would be built; however, not at that time, and not by him! By God's command, Solomon would build the temple. Solomon shared with King Hiram that it was now time to build the Temple as God had promised King David (1 Kings 5:3-5).
    
    It is a good thing to prepare and make plans. Yet, we must be willing to adjust or even abandon our plans to line up with God’s plans as David did. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." We may not always understand but we must trust and know that God's plans are for our good. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • 2 Samuel 7:1-17
    • 1 Kings 5:3-5
    • Proverbs 3:5-6
    • Jeremiah 29:11

  • Is it important to finish a job?

    God gave Solomon the task of building the Temple that his father, David, had desired to build. It was a huge task – one that David knew would be a great challenge for young Solomon to complete. David prayed for his son’s success, and reminded him that he could only be successful by obeying God’s plan and serving Him faithfully (1 Chronicles 22:11-12). Solomon did complete the work that he began. 1 Kings 9:1 says, “So Solomon finished building the Temple of the Lord, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do.”
    
    How many times have we started something only to soon lose interest and not finish it? It can be fun and exciting to begin a new task. Often though, once the initial excitement fades, it becomes difficult to stick with it to the finish. Jesus knew it was important to not only start, but also to complete the work that God gave Him. In John 17:4, “I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” Yes, Jesus completed God’s plan, even when it meant suffering and dying on the cross. Jesus knew that God would not receive glory for a job half done! that We must be thankful that Jesus loved us enough not to just start but to finish the work He came to earth to do! Another time, Jesus told His disciples, "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.”(John 4:34). Jesus gave us an example to follow; we must not only start a job, we must finish it!
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • 1 Kings 9:1
    • 1 Chronicles 22:11
    • John 17:4
    • John 4:34

  • Can God's presence be contained?

    No, God cannot be contained.. God's presence is limitless! He is present everywhere at all times (omnipresent). At the dedication of the Temple of the Lord, King Solomon declared, "But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!”(1 Kings 8:27). Yes, the Almighty God whom we serve made the world and everything in it. He is Lord of heaven and earth; he doesn't live in man-made temples (Acts 17:24). During the dedication of the Temple, God’s presence came in a thick cloud that filled the Temple. The glory of God’s presence was too much for the priests, and they could no longer continue their service (1 Kings 8:10-11).
    
    Yet, our glorious God who fills both heaven and earth chooses to live inside all who are have hearts that are humble, broken, and open to Him (Isaiah 57:15). Whatever we can think or imagine about God's presence is too small, and too limited! We cannot go anywhere that God isn't already there. “Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?" says the LORD (Jeremiah 23:24). God cannot be contained, heaven and earth are filled with His presence and glory!
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • 1 Kings 8:27
    • Acts 17:24
    • 1 Kings 8:10
    • Isaiah 57:15
    • Jeremiah 23:24

  • Why must we work together?

    The task of building the Temple for God was too much for one man; or even an entire nation! To complete this huge project, cooperation was needed from thousands of people. Even though God would not allow King David to actually build the Temple, he cooperated by gathering material and supplies for his son, Solomon (1 Chronicles 22:5). God filled King Solomon with wisdom to direct and supervise the work through thousands of people. Solomon made an agreement with King Hiram, a loyal friend of King David, of the neighboring country of Tyre. This king did not serve God, however, both king’s workers successfully labored side by side. King Solomon had well over 150,000 workers who joined with King Hiram’s workers over many years to construct the Temple! What an amazing accomplishment and example of cooperation! (1 Kings 5:1-18).
    
    The Apostle Paul wrote in one of his letters, “Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.” (Philippians 2:2). Yes, whether the task or project is large or small, working in cooperation and agreement with others is as important today as it was in Solomon’s day. In 1 Corinthians 3:8, Paul talks about believers working in harmony together to accomplish God’s work. “The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers.” Remember, we are God’s workers and it is His will that we cooperate with others to complete His purpose on this earth.
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • 1 Corinthians 3:8

  • Are God's promises still valid?

    King David was forbidden by God to build the Temple. However, God made a promise to him that Solomon would sit on his throne and build the Temple. Solomon praised God in front of all of the people of his kingdom at the Temple dedication for keeping His promise that He had made to King David. Solomon also reminded the people of the tablets that were contained in the Ark. The tablets contained the covenant or promises that the Lord made with their ancestors that God brought out of Egypt. (1 Kings 8:20-21). The Bible is filled with God’s promises to His people – that includes us! We can trust God because He is faithful to do everything He has spoken. Psalm 145:13 says, "For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The LORD always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.”
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • 1 Kings 8:20-21
    • Psalms 145:13