We Believe: Chapter 12
The students will learn:
Solomon's reign was a time of peace and prosperity.
Solomon gained fame for his wisdom.
The Temple was built in Jerusalem.
The psalms teach us how to pray.
Faith Words
wisdom- the knowledge and ability to recognize and follow God's will in our lives.
psalm- a poetic prayer designed to be sung or chanted to some kind of musical accompaniment.
Facts
David's son Solomon succeeded him as king.
The story of Solomon's reign as king is told in the first eleven chapters in the First Book of Kings, and the first nine chapters of the Second book of Chronicles.
David was remembered as a mighty warrior.
Solomon was a diplomat.
Solomon's reign was a time of peace.
Solomon helped Israel to prosper.
During this time the historical books of the Bible began to be written and compiled.
Soon after God granted Solomon wisdom, it was tested by a real-life event.
Two women, each having had a child recently, came to Solomon.
Both women claimed to the mother of a baby that was alive.
All Israel was amazed by Solomon's ability to determine the truth in this case.
We need God's gift of wisdom to live a good life and to be faithful to our covenant with God.
The Temple was built in Jerusalem
The Temple was meant to be the center of worship of the one true God.
The Temple itself consisted of two main rooms: the sanctuary (holy of holies) and the nave.
The sanctuary, which was the innermost part of the Temple, was a small raised room reserved exclusively for God.
The sanctuary contained the ark of the covenant, which was protected by two huge statues of angels called cherubim.
Solomon began to build the Temple about 968 B.C. and completed it eleven years later.
It's completion was so important that the writer of the First Book of Kings compared it to the founding of the Israelite nation on Mount Sinai.
For the biblical writer, the successful completion of the Temple symbolized God's permanent presence among his Chosen People in the Promised Land.
The building of the Temple in Jerusalem was Solomon's greatest achievement.
The psalms are intended for use in public worship.
They help us pray and to deepen our relationship with God.
The psalms are found in the Liturgy of the Hours.
They are also prayed and sung during the celebration of Mass.
The psalms are a good guide to personal prayer.
Four important groupings of psalms:
Royal Psalms - These psalms were composed to celebrate various occasions in the reign of a king.
Hymns praising God and Zion - They focus on god's power and mighty acts or on the glory of Zion.
Laments - A lament is a poem or song expressing sorrow, mourning, or regret.
Wisdom Poems - The are designed to teach rather than to encourage prayer.
The Song of Songs is another important Old Testament book.
It is a collection of love poems. (The Lord is the one who loves, the Israelites are his beloved, and the covenant between them is described as their marriage.)
Constructed Response
From Solomon's story, what do we understand about the gift of wisdom?
We need God's gift of wisdom to live a good live and to be faithful to our covenant with God.
What is symbolic about the successful completion of the Temple during Solomon's reign?
It symbolized God's permanent presence among his Chosen People in the Promised Land.
It is considered Solomon's greatest achievement.
What part do the psalms play in the liturgical life of today's Christians?
They are said during the Liturgy of the Hours
Sung in Mass
Help us to deepen our relationship with God.