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Dig into this week's study: 1 Kings 3:9-15
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#1—Read it!

1 Kings 3:9-15 (NASB)

[Solomon prayed...]
v. 9 "So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"

v. 10 It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.

v. 11 God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice,

v. 12 behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.

*See note in #2 Investigate It!

#2—Investigate it!

Click on the highlighted words to find out their meaning. Check out the word origin. Record your findings on your WordStudy Sheet. Compare the meanings of words in the passage. Find definitions of any other words you don't know in a dictionary or search for them here.

Note: Several words are repeated several times in this passage. Use the back of your worksheet, to record the repeated words. Why might this repetition be significant? Carefully compare the meanings of "understand(ing)", and "discern(ing)."

-» Online or in your own Bible, look back over the previous chapters to answer as many of the following questions as you can. (Hint: Check the first chapter or the verses just preceding the passage, headings, footnotes, and/or other notations.)

Who wrote it?
To whom was it written?
When was it written?
Where was it written?
Why was it written?
Other facts.

You can learn even more by looking in a Bible commentary. Or try looking up key words in a concordance to find other scriptures where the word is used.

#3—Write it!

On your WordStudy Sheet, tell in your own words what you think each verse means. Use the information you gathered above to guide you as you think through each verse. Describe any new understanding of the story you get from learning the background information.

#4—Apply it!

Now that you have an idea what the verses are saying, how could they apply to you? On your WordStudy Sheet write what you think each verse could mean in your life. Is there something you should do? Or something you need to change? Get "up-close-and-personal" as you think about it!

#5—Pray!

Ask God to help you do the things you learned about in today's study. Be specific! When we pray specifically, God answers specifically!

#6—Share it!

Share your study with your parents or your teacher and get their feedback on your conclusions.

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