Sunday School Lesson.

1. Proverbs 5:3-11, 15-23
When Wisdom Was Not Enough.
How could the wisest man on earth
lose his fear of the Lord?
July 5, 2020
His Followers Sunday School Class
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
The glory of God!
1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of
God.
References
• Jeremiah, David, Seeking Wisdom-Finding Gold (Atlanta, GA, Walk Thru
the Bible Ministries, 1994).
• Palmer, Edwin H., The NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 1985).
Focus of Lesson Today
• Solomon’s early years as king and his lifestyle.
• Solomon’s sins and downfall.
• Lessons from Solomon’s downfall.
Introduction to “The Book of Proverbs”
• A collection of 513 of the over 3,000 proverbs pondered by King Solomon.
• Proverbs 9:10 NIV
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
What is wisdom?
• Charles H. Spurgeon: “The right use of knowledge.”
• Samuel Coleridge: “Wisdom is common sense in an uncommon degree.”
• Mark Twain: “Wisdom is knowledge using its head.”

2. The 7 Pillars of Wisdom – Proverbs 1:1-7
1. Wisdom is Development.
2. Wisdom is Discipline.
3. Wisdom is Discernment.
4. Wisdom is Dignity.
5. Wisdom is Discretion.
6. Wisdom is Depth of Understanding.
7. Wisdom is Devotion to God.
How does wisdom come to believers?
• 1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV
30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us
wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
• 1 Corinthians 2:16b NIV
16b But we have the mind of Christ.
• Jesus Christ is our wisdom from God.
• He (wisdom) dwells in us through the Holy Spirit.
King Solomon’s Early Years
• 1 Kings 4:29-34 NIV
29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of
understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s
wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and
greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 He was wiser than anyone else,
including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the
sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. 32 He
spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and
five. 33 He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop
that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles
and fish. 34 From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom,
sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.
God’s Instructions for Kings
• Deuteronomy 17:14-16 NIV
14 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have
taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over
us like all the nations around us,” 15 be sure to appoint over you a king the
Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do
not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite. 16 The king,
moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make
the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you,
“You are not to go back that way again.”

3. God’s Instructions for Kings
• Deuteronomy 17:17-20 NIV
17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not
accumulate large amounts of silver and gold. 18 When he takes the throne
of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law,
taken from that of the Levitical priests. 19 It is to be with him, and he is to
read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his
God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees 20 and
not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law
to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long
time over his kingdom in Israel.
Summary of God’s Instructions for Kings
• God’s choice.
• An Israelite.
• Limited number of horses.
• Do not return to Egypt.
• Do not take many wives.
• Do not accumulate large amounts of silver & gold.
• Read and study the law (Torah).
• Obey God.
• Do not be prideful.
King Solomon Disobeys God
• 1 Kings 11:9-11 NIV
9 The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned
away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.
10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did
not keep the Lord’s command. 11 So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is
your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which
I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you
and give it to one of your subordinates.”
What contributed to King Solomon’s downfall?
1. He had an incredible appetite for wealth.

4. King Solomon’s Appetite for Wealth – Palace
• 1 Kings 6:37-7:1 NIV
37 The foundation of the temple of the Lord was laid in the fourth year, in
the month of Ziv. 38 In the eleventh year in the month of Bul, the eighth
month, the temple was finished in all its details according to its
specifications. He had spent seven years building it.
1 It took Solomon thirteen years, however, to complete the construction of
his palace.
King Solomon’s Appetite for Wealth – Income
• 1 Kings 10:14-15
14 The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents,
15 not including the revenues from merchants and traders and from all the
Arabian kings and the governors of the territories.
• Solomon received 25 tons of gold annually.
• Price of gold today makes this over $1B annually.
King Solomon’s Appetite for Wealth – Gold
• 1 Kings 10:21-22 NIV
21 All King Solomon’s goblets were gold, and all the household articles in
the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of
silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon’s days.
22 The king had a fleet of trading ships at sea along with the ships of Hiram.
Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and
apes and baboons.
King Solomon’s Appetite for Wealth – Horses
• 1 Kings 10:26 & 29a NIV
26 Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred
chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities
and also with him in Jerusalem.
29a They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver,
and a horse for a hundred and fifty.
King Solomon’s Appetite for Wealth – Throne
• 1 Kings 10:18-20 NIV
18 Then the king made a great throne covered with ivory and overlaid with
fine gold. 19 The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. On
both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of
them. 20 Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step.
Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom.

5. King Solomon described his wealth & lifestyle
• Ecclesiastes 2:8 & 10 NIV
8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and
provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the
delights of a man’s heart.
10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work,
and this was the reward for all my labor.
What contributed to King Solomon’s downfall?
1. He had an incredible appetite for wealth.
2. He had an incredible appetite for women.
- Solomon wrote warnings in Proverbs 5.
- Notice stark imagery in descriptions of adultery and faithfulness in
marriage.
Proverbs 5:3-11 NIV (Solomon’s Warnings)
3 For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil;
4 but in the end she is bitter as gall,
sharp as a double-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to the grave.
6 She gives no thought to the way of life;
her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.
7 Now then, my sons, listen to me;
do not turn aside from what I say.
8 Keep to a path far from her,
do not go near the door of her house,
9 lest you lose your honor to others
and your dignity to one who is cruel,
10 lest strangers feast on your wealth
and your toil enrich the house of another.
11 At the end of your life you will groan,
when your flesh and body are spent.

6. Proverbs 5:15-23 NIV (Solomon’s Warnings)
15 Drink water from your own cistern,
running water from your own well.
16 Should your springs overflow in the streets,
your streams of water in the public squares?
17 Let them be yours alone,
never to be shared with strangers.
18 May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 A loving doe, a graceful deer —
may her breasts satisfy you always,
may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
20 Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?
Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?
21 For your ways are in full view of the Lord,
and he examines all your paths.
22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;
the cords of their sins hold them fast.
23 For lack of discipline they will die,
led astray by their own great folly.
• Did King Solomon follow his own advice?
King Solomon’s Appetite for Women
• 1 Kings 11:1-6 NIV
1 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s
daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2 They
were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must
not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after
their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3 He had
seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his
wives led him astray. 4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart
after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God,
as the heart of David his father had been. 5 He followed Ashtoreth the
goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the
Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow
the Lord completely, as David his father had done.
How could a wise man, blessed by God, do this?
• Key – Solomon’s words to Israel when dedicating the Temple built for God.
• 1 Kings 8:61 NIV
61 “And may your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by
his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.”
• Answer – Solomon’s heart was not fully committed to God.

7. A Heart Not Fully Committed to God
• 1 Kings 11:4 & 6 NIV
4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his
heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his
father had been.
6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord
completely, as David his father had done.
Solomon knew better! He wrote these verses!
• Proverbs 3:5-7 NIV
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
Idolatry – Not Fully Committed
• Idol – Anything that replaces God in any area of your life.
• Idolatry is our most basic sin, and in it an exchange is made: God reveals
His truth about Himself, and we trade that truth and walk out with a lie.
• We exchange the glory of God for the glory of the creation.
Idolatry – Worshipping the Creation
• Romans 1:25 NIV
25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and
served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.
• Solomon went from worshipping the Creator to worshipping the creation
(wealth, pleasure).
Lessons from Solomon’s Downfall
1. No person is immune from temptation.
2. No plateau is safe from sin’s allure.
3. No position is safe from sin’s snare.
4. No privileges will protect you from Satan’s reach.
5. At no point can you be lenient toward sin.

8. 1. No person is immune from temptation.
• Wisdom does not automatically immunize anyone against the sickness of
sin.
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV
13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.
And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can
bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that
you can endure it.
Jesus understands temptation
• Hebrews 2:18 NIV
18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help
those who are being tempted.
• Hebrews 4:15 NIV
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our
weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way,
just as we are—yet he did not sin.
Be careful when:
• You say, “_____ is not a temptation for me.”
• You say, “Just this one time only.”
• You say, “No one will know.”
• You say, “God wants me to be happy.”
• HALT - Be careful when you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired!
2. No plateau is safe from sin’s allure.
• Age.
• Married.
• Financially secure.
• Empty Nest.
• Retirement.
• Life’s goals are met.
• 1 Kings 11:4 NIV
4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his
heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his
father had been.
• Solomon compromised his faith trying to please his foreign wives.
3. No position is safe from sin’s snare.
• Solomon was the King and God’s chosen.
• He was the wisest man on earth.
• Satan intensifies his attack on people who should set the godly example.
• Satan is out to make Jesus’ followers look and act like hypocrites.

9. 7 Seasons When You Are Vulnerable to Temptation.
by Reverend Colin Smith
1. Young and single.
2. Beautiful or good looking.
3. Worked hard and become successful.
4. When you have opportunity.
5. Away from home.
6. No one holding you accountable.
7. Temptation over a long period of time.
4. No privileges will protect you from Satan’s reach.
• 1 Kings 11:9 NIV
9 The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned
away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.
• God had talked directly to Solomon twice.
• God had chosen and blessed Solomon.
• 1000 available women did not keep Solomon from lust.
• Having knowledge and wisdom does not mean godly actions will
naturally follow – free will.
• Wealth does not keep you from greed and envy.
• Being “smart” does not keep you from acting stupid.
5. At no point can you be lenient toward sin.
• 1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a
roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in
the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the
world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
• Satan’s tricks:
• Desensitization (slowly lose guilt and shame).
• Delayed punishment from God.
• Doubt – “Did God really say?” (Garden of Eden).
• Pleasure must intensify over time for satisfaction.
• Pride – “I did it my way!”
• Entitlement – “I deserve it!”

10. Solomon’s Final Words on Life
• Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NIV
13 Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.
Closing Scriptures - Forgiveness of our Sins
• 1 John 1:9 NIV
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness.
• 1 John 2:1-2 NIV
1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody
does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the
Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for
ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
John 3:16-17 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not
send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him
might be saved.”
John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me.”
Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NKJV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to
pay the penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the “second death” explained in
Revelation 21:8.

11. Revelation 21:8 NKJV
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with
fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
• Anyone who’s lifestyle is one or more of the sins listed in Revelation 21:8,
will experience the “second death,” if they do not repent.
• To Repent means to turn around, to go in the opposite direction, to turn
away from sin and believe in Jesus.
Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
Romans 6:23b NKJV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 NKJV
7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be
My son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explain to us how to be overcomers.
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that
God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one
believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Do you have questions?
Would you like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or
http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/