Week 21 Reading Guide
The Divided Heart and the Divided Kingdom
1 Kings 1-16
Big Idea: The transition from David to Solomon reveals the tension between faithfulness to God and the allure of worldly power. Solomon’s wisdom and eventual downfall foreshadow the brokenness of the divided kingdom and humanity's need for a King who reigns with perfect loyalty to God.
Reading Plan
Monday: 1 Kings 1-2 (David’s Final Days and Solomon’s Rise to Power)
Tuesday: 1 Kings 3-4 (Solomon’s Wisdom and Prosperity)
Wednesday: 1 Kings 5-8 (The Building and Dedication of the Temple)
Thursday: 1 Kings 9-10 (Solomon’s Wealth and Worldly Success)
Friday: 1 Kings 11-12 (Solomon’s Downfall and the Division of the Kingdom)
Saturday: 1 Kings 13-16 (The Corruption of Kings in Judah and Israel)
Weekly DNA Questions
Discover
What does Solomon’s life teach us about the dangers of success and the temptation to compromise our faith?
Nurture
How do you see the tension between trusting God and relying on worldly wisdom in your own life?
Act
This week, identify one area in your life where you’ve been divided in your devotion to God. Take a tangible step to surrender that area to Him.
Key Verse: 1 Kings 9:4-5
If you walk before me as your father David walked, with a heart of integrity and in what is right, doing everything I have commanded you, and if you keep my statutes and ordinances, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever.
Reflection for the Week
The story of Solomon’s rise and fall reveals how even the wisest among us can falter without wholehearted devotion to God. The divided kingdom serves as a reminder of the devastating effects of sin and compromise. Jesus, the greater King, came to reunite and restore what sin has divided, offering a kingdom that endures forever through His perfect obedience.
Bible Project Resources
1 and 2 Kings Guide: An overview of Solomon’s reign, the divided kingdom, and the corruption of Israel’s kings.
The Temple: Understanding the significance of Solomon’s temple and how it points to God’s presence with His people.
Solomon, Love Him or Hate Him?: The bad news about Solomon points forward to the good news of the future that will arrive with King Jesus.