WAEC SSCE - Christian Religious Studies - 1989

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In the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus used five loaves and two fish. According to the Gospel accounts, Jesus had compassion on the large crowd of people who had gathered to hear him and had been with him for many hours, and he asked his disciples to find food for them. All they could find were five loaves of bread and two fish, but Jesus blessed the food, broke it and gave it to the disciples to distribute to the people. To their amazement, everyone was fed and there were even twelve baskets of leftovers.

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Joshua and Caleb were two important figures in the Bible who are mentioned in the book of Numbers. They were both among the twelve spies who were sent by Moses to scout out the land of Canaan, which God had promised to the Israelites. According to the Bible, Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim, while Caleb was from the tribe of Judah. So the answer to the question is: "Judah and Ephraim".

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In this context, the word "cup" symbolizes the suffering and death that Jesus knew he would have to endure for the salvation of humanity. The cup represents the physical, emotional, and spiritual anguish that he would experience during his crucifixion. Jesus knew that this was his mission on earth and that he had to fulfill it, but he also expressed his human reluctance and asked his Father if there was any other way to achieve salvation. So, the correct answer is 'Death'.

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The effect of suffering on a Christian is to strengthen his faith. Suffering is a common experience that Christians face, and it can come in different forms such as persecution, illness, or personal loss. However, through suffering, a Christian's faith can be tested and refined, resulting in a stronger and more mature faith. Suffering also allows a Christian to identify with the sufferings of Christ and serves as an opportunity to display the love and grace of God to others. Therefore, suffering can be a beneficial experience for a Christian, as it helps them grow in their faith and reliance on God.

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According to the Epistle of James, it is necessary to consider it a joy when encountering trials because it produces steadfastness (also translated as endurance or perseverance) in one's faith. This means that going through difficult times and maintaining one's faith despite the challenges helps to strengthen and deepen that faith. In essence, trials and difficulties are viewed as an opportunity for growth and strengthening of one's faith rather than a reason for despair or giving up.

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The vision of Peter at Joppa was meant to teach him that in Christianity, there is no racial discrimination. According to the story in the Bible, Peter had a vision of a sheet full of different types of animals which were considered unclean by Jewish law. A voice told him to kill and eat them, but Peter refused, saying that he had never eaten anything impure. The voice responded by saying, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." This happened three times. Later, Peter received a message from a Gentile (non-Jewish) man named Cornelius, who asked Peter to come and preach to his household. Despite his initial reluctance, Peter accepted the invitation and realized that the vision was a message from God telling him that Gentiles were not unclean, and that Christianity was open to people of all races and nationalities.

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The statement 'Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world' refers to Jesus, and it means that through His death, Christians are cleansed of their sins. The phrase "Lamb of God" is symbolic of Jesus being the ultimate sacrifice, as in the Old Testament times when a lamb was sacrificed to atone for sins. Jesus' death on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice, which took away the sins of the world for all those who believe in Him. Therefore, this statement affirms the Christian belief that Jesus' death on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice and a means of salvation for all believers.

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According to 1 Peter, those who resist authorities will merit the judgment of constituted authority and God. In 1 Peter 2:13-14, it is stated that Christians should submit themselves to every human authority for the Lord's sake, whether to the emperor or to governors as those sent by him to punish evildoers and to praise those who do good. Therefore, if someone resists such authorities, they will face judgment not only from the human authority but also from God. The passage emphasizes the importance of respecting authority and submitting to it, rather than rebelling against it.

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In the Epistle of James, the effectiveness of prayer depends on constancy in faith. James emphasizes the importance of faith in prayer and highlights that those who pray must believe in God's power and ability to answer their requests. He emphasizes that those who doubt are like waves of the sea driven and tossed by the wind and that they should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Therefore, the key to effective prayer, according to James, is to have unwavering faith and trust in God.

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According to Peter, using freedom as a pretence for evil is not a Christian freedom. In his first letter to the Christian believers in Asia Minor, Peter emphasized the importance of living a godly life and doing what is right, even in the face of persecution. He taught that Christians have been set free by Christ but this freedom does not give them a license to do whatever they want, especially if it is sinful. Instead, he urged them to use their freedom to serve God and others, and not to use it as an excuse to do evil or harm others. Therefore, the correct option is "Using freedom as a pretence for evil".

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Moses was keeping flock of his father-in-law on mount Horeb. According to the Bible, Moses fled from Egypt to the land of Midian, where he married Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro. Jethro was a priest of Midian and had given Moses refuge. While in Midian, Moses tended to his father-in-law's flocks on Mount Horeb. It was on this mountain that Moses encountered the burning bush and received his call from God to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.

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God recommended Abraham to circumcise his male descendants as a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham. In the Old Testament of the Bible, God made a covenant with Abraham, promising him many descendants and blessing him and his descendants. Circumcision was a physical sign or seal of this covenant, and a way for Abraham and his descendants to show their faith and commitment to God. Therefore, circumcision is seen as a mark of the covenant and a sign of faith in God.

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The parable that illustrates the Day of Judgement is "The Wheat and the Tares". In this parable, Jesus tells the story of a man who sows good seed in his field, but an enemy comes and sows weeds among the wheat. The owner of the field instructs his servants to wait until harvest time to separate the wheat from the tares. This represents the judgement that will take place at the end of time, when the righteous and the wicked will be separated. The wheat represents the righteous, who will be gathered into God's kingdom, while the tares represent the wicked, who will be cast into the fires of hell.

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According to the Bible, the water that flowed out of the Garden of Eden divided into four rivers: the Pishon, the Gihon, the Tigris, and the Euphrates.

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In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that the only ground for divorce is unfaithfulness in marriage. This is based on his words in Matthew 5:32, where he says "But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery." This means that a spouse who commits adultery is the only legitimate reason for divorce in the eyes of God. While other reasons for divorce, such as insult, infertility, disagreement, or desertion, may be common in human relationships, Jesus specifically taught that they are not acceptable reasons for ending a marriage. He emphasized the importance of faithfulness and commitment in marriage, and encouraged spouses to work through their problems and differences rather than seeking divorce. Overall, the Christian teaching on divorce is based on the principle of lifelong commitment and fidelity in marriage, with divorce being allowed only in cases of unfaithfulness.

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Judah and Benjamin led in the rebuilding of the Temple after the exile.

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The contest on Mount Carmel was a demonstration to show that Yahweh was supreme to other gods. The contest was between the prophet Elijah, who served Yahweh, and the prophets of Baal, who served Baal. The challenge was to see which god would answer their prayers by sending fire to burn up their sacrifice. The prophets of Baal prayed all day, but nothing happened. Then Elijah prayed to Yahweh, and immediately fire came down from heaven and burned up his sacrifice. This demonstrated that Yahweh was the true God and that He had power over nature.

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It was Barnabas who introduced Paul to the disciples in Jerusalem after his conversion. In Acts 9:27, it says, "But Barnabas took him [Paul] and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus."

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During the trial of Jesus, the Jews preferred that Pilate should release Barabbas. Barabbas was a notorious criminal and a revolutionary who had been imprisoned for his role in a rebellion against Roman rule. When Pilate offered to release either Jesus or Barabbas as a gesture of goodwill towards the Jews during the Passover festival, the Jewish leaders incited the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. Pilate eventually gave in to their demands and released Barabbas while condemning Jesus to be crucified.

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According to Ezekiel, the wicked should change their ways and live. This means that God is willing to forgive and spare the wicked if they turn away from their evil ways and choose to live righteously. The prophet emphasizes the importance of repentance and obedience to God's commands. This is reflected in Ezekiel 18:23, which states "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?" Therefore, the correct option is "should change his way and live".

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When Samuel said to Saul, 'To obey is better than sacrifice', he meant that God values obedience to His commands more than offering sacrifices. Saul had disobeyed God's instruction to completely destroy the Amalekites and their possessions. Instead, he spared the king and the best of the livestock for sacrifice. Although Saul's intention was to offer a sacrifice to God, his disobedience to God's explicit command rendered his sacrifice unacceptable to God. Therefore, Samuel emphasized the importance of obedience to God's word above offering sacrifices.

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The example from 1 Corinthians that illustrates Christian unity is "the different parts of the human body working together." This analogy emphasizes the idea that just as every part of the body has a specific role to play and must work together in order for the body to function properly, every member of the church has a unique gift or talent to contribute to the overall health and well-being of the community. It highlights the importance of unity and cooperation among members of the church to achieve a common goal, just as different parts of the body work together to achieve movement and stability.

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The theme of Paul's letter to Philemon is forgiveness. In this letter, Paul appeals to Philemon to forgive his runaway slave, Onesimus, and accept him back as a brother in Christ. Paul even offers to pay any debts that Onesimus owed Philemon. The letter emphasizes the importance of forgiveness, reconciliation, and love among Christians, and it also shows how Paul used his authority to advocate for Onesimus and promote Christian unity.

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According to Christian belief, Christians become sons of God through adoption by faith in Jesus Christ. This means that when a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, they become a part of God's family and are considered His children. This adoption is not based on any particular ethnicity or works of the law, but rather on faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that through this adoption, Christians receive the Holy Spirit, who helps them to live a life that is pleasing to God and to grow in their relationship with Him.

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The main theme of Amos' prophecy in Israel was on justice and righteousness. Amos was a prophet in the Old Testament, and he delivered a message from God to the people of Israel, warning them about their unfaithfulness and corruption. Amos spoke out against the social injustices of his time, such as the mistreatment of the poor, the exploitation of workers, and the abuse of power by the ruling elite. He called on the people to repent and turn back to God, and to live a life of righteousness and justice. Amos believed that true worship of God required not only religious rituals, but also a commitment to social justice and ethical behavior. Therefore, his prophecy emphasized the importance of treating others with fairness and compassion, and living a life that reflected God's values of justice and righteousness.

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Deborah made the statement "the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman" to Barak. This is recorded in Judges 4:9 in the Bible. Deborah was a prophetess and a judge in Israel who instructed Barak to lead an army against the Canaanite army led by Sisera. She prophesied that the Lord would deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman, and this was fulfilled when Jael, the wife of Heber, killed Sisera by driving a tent peg through his head while he slept in her tent.

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The fruits of the new life, as described in the Bible, are the positive characteristics that should be evident in the life of a Christian who has been born again. These include being raised with Christ, setting one's mind on things that are above, putting to death what is earthly, and putting on love. The phrase "putting on the old nature" is not a fruit of the new life, but rather a reference to the old, sinful nature that has been put to death through faith in Christ. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is "Putting on the old nature".

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The teaching of Paul that "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" emphasizes humility. This means that God favors those who are modest and respectful, and who do not have an inflated sense of their own importance. Those who are humble acknowledge their limitations, weaknesses, and mistakes, and are willing to learn from others. In contrast, those who are proud are self-centered and arrogant, and do not recognize their need for help and guidance. According to Paul, humility is a key characteristic that enables individuals to receive God's grace, which is his unmerited favor and blessings.

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According to Paul, the main condition for justification is faith in Christ's redemptive work. Paul taught that salvation is a gift of God's grace, which cannot be earned or deserved by human merit or ability to keep the law. It is through faith in Jesus Christ that one can receive this gift of salvation and be justified in God's sight. This means that God declares a sinner righteous because of their faith in Jesus Christ, and not because of any works or merit they have done. Therefore, faith in Christ's redemptive work is the main condition for justification according to Paul.

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Jesus' use of an ass during the Triumphant Entry signifies that He was a humble Messiah. In the Bible, the use of an ass or donkey as a mode of transportation was symbolic of humility and peace, as opposed to a horse which was used by kings and conquerors. By entering Jerusalem on a donkey, Jesus was demonstrating his humility and peaceful nature, and his willingness to serve others rather than seeking personal glory or power. This act also fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, which states that the Messiah would come riding on a donkey.

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(a) The election of a successor to Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:15-26)

In the days between the ascension and Pentecost, about one hundred and twenty believers gathered together in Jerusalem. Peter stood up among them and explained that the Scripture had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who had guided those who arrested Jesus. Judas had bought a field with the reward of his wickedness and there met a terrible end; the field was called Akeldama, the Field of Blood. Peter cited the Psalms: "Let his habitation be desolate" and "Let another take his office (bishopric)."

Peter then set out the qualification for the replacement: he must be one of the men who had accompanied them all the time the Lord Jesus went in and out among them, from the baptism of John until the day Jesus was taken up, so as to be a witness of the resurrection. Two men met this condition: Joseph called Barsabas (surnamed Justus) and Matthias.

The believers then prayed, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell." They cast lots, and the lot fell on Matthias, who was numbered with the eleven apostles, restoring the number to twelve.

(b) Two lessons from this incident

1. Seeking God's guidance in decisions: the church prayed and sought God's will before choosing a leader, teaching us to depend on God in appointments and important decisions.
2. Leadership carries qualifications and accountability: a leader must have genuine experience and integrity, and unfaithfulness (as with Judas) leads to loss of position and honour.

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(a) Paul's teaching on the use of individual talents (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12)

Paul teaches that every believer has been given gifts by the grace of God, and that these gifts differ from one person to another. He uses the picture of the human body: just as the body has many members with different functions, yet forms one body, so believers are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. No member should think itself more important than another, and none is useless.

His main points are:

• Gifts come from God's grace: talents are not earned but graciously given, so no one should be proud or think of himself more highly than he ought.
• Gifts are diverse: Paul lists prophecy, ministry (service), teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership (ruling) and showing mercy, as well as wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, tongues and their interpretation.
• Gifts are for the common good: the same Spirit distributes them for the profit of all and the building up of the church, not for selfish display.
• Each gift should be used diligently and in its proper measure: he who teaches should teach, he who gives should give with liberality, he who leads should lead with diligence, he who shows mercy should do so with cheerfulness.
• Interdependence and unity: the members should care for one another so that there is no division in the body.

(b) Two ways this teaching applies to Christian living today

1. Serving the church with one's abilities: Christians should identify and use their talents (singing, teaching, giving, administration, evangelism) to build up the church rather than burying them or seeking self-glory.
2. Humility and cooperation: believers should appreciate the gifts of others, avoid envy and pride, and work together in unity, recognising that every member matters in God's work and in society.

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(a) Circumstances that led Daniel into the lion's den (Daniel 6)

Under Darius the Mede, Daniel was one of three presidents set over one hundred and twenty satraps. Because an excellent spirit was in him, Daniel distinguished himself so greatly that the king planned to set him over the whole realm. This provoked jealousy among the other presidents and satraps, who sought a charge against him. They could find no fault or corruption in him, for he was faithful, so they concluded, "We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel except concerning the law of his God."

They therefore tricked the king into signing an irrevocable decree, under the law of the Medes and Persians, that for thirty days anyone who prayed to any god or man except the king should be thrown into the den of lions. Daniel, knowing the decree was signed, continued his practice of praying three times a day with his windows open toward Jerusalem, giving thanks to God as before. His enemies caught him in prayer and reported him. Though the king was distressed and laboured until sunset to deliver him, he was bound by his own law and reluctantly ordered Daniel cast into the den, saying, "Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you." God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so Daniel was found unhurt in the morning. The king then cast his accusers into the den, where the lions overpowered them.

(b) Two lessons from this episode

1. Faithfulness to God even under threat: we should remain loyal to God and continue our devotion regardless of hostile laws or danger.
2. God delivers and vindicates the righteous: God protects those who trust Him, while the wicked are trapped by their own evil schemes.

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(a) Paul's teaching on the ideal family relationship (Ephesians 5:22-6:9; Colossians 3:18-4:1)

Paul sets out a Christian household in which each member has clear duties, all rooted in reverence for Christ and mutual submission: "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

• Wives and husbands: Wives should submit to their husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is head of the church. Husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, and as they love their own bodies, nourishing and cherishing them. Marriage reflects the union of Christ and the church.
• Children and parents: Children should obey their parents in the Lord, for this is right, and honour their father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise. Fathers should not provoke their children to anger but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
• Servants and masters: Servants should obey their earthly masters sincerely as serving Christ, and masters should treat servants justly, without threatening, knowing that they too have a Master in heaven who shows no partiality.

The ideal is a home marked by love, respect, obedience, discipline and fairness, ordered under the lordship of Christ.

(b) Three areas in which many families have deviated from this teaching

1. Breakdown of love and submission between spouses: quarrels, unfaithfulness, domestic violence and divorce have replaced love and mutual respect.
2. Neglect of children's upbringing: many parents fail to discipline and give godly instruction, while some provoke or abuse their children, and many children disobey and dishonour their parents.
3. Injustice and disregard of duties: employers/masters oppress and cheat those under them, and workers/servants serve unfaithfully; the fear of God is often absent in family and household dealings.

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(a) The healing of the nobleman's son and the role of faith (John 4:46-54)

Jesus returned to Cana of Galilee, where He had turned water into wine. A certain nobleman (a royal official) whose son lay sick at Capernaum heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee. He travelled to Him and begged Him to come down and heal his son, who was at the point of death.

Jesus first tested and rebuked the tendency to depend on signs, saying, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe." The nobleman, undeterred, pleaded again, "Sir, come down before my child dies." Jesus then said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke and departed, without any visible proof.

As he was going down, his servants met him with the news that his son was living. When he asked at what hour the boy had begun to recover, they said, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." The father realised it was the very hour when Jesus said, "Your son lives." As a result, he himself believed, together with his whole household. This was the second sign Jesus did after coming from Judea into Galilee.

The role of faith in the miracle:

• The nobleman came to Jesus in the first place out of faith that Jesus could heal his son.
• His faith was tested when Jesus did not go with him but only spoke a word of healing.
• He believed the mere word of Jesus and acted on it by going home, showing faith without physical evidence, the kind of faith Jesus commended.
• His faith grew and became complete when the miracle was confirmed, spreading to his entire household.

The account teaches that Jesus honours faith that trusts His word, and that genuine faith leads to further and deeper belief.

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(a) The resurrection and Jesus' appearance to the women (Matthew 28:1-10)

As the Sabbath ended, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow, and the guards trembled and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." He then commissioned them, "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and behold He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him." With fear and great joy the women ran to bring the news to the disciples.

On the way, Jesus Himself met them, saying, "Rejoice!" They came, held His feet, and worshipped Him. Jesus said, "Do not be afraid; go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me." Meanwhile the guards reported to the chief priests, who bribed them to spread the lie that the disciples had stolen the body.

(b) Significance of the resurrection to Christians

• It proves that Jesus is the Son of God and that His claims are true.
• It is the foundation of Christian faith; without it, as Paul says, faith is vain.
• It guarantees the forgiveness of sins and the believer's justification.
• It assures Christians of their own resurrection and eternal life.
• It shows Christ's victory over sin, death and the devil.
• It gives hope, courage and joy, and forms the basis of the Christian gospel and mission.

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(a) The story of Joseph and his rise to leadership in Egypt (Genesis 37-41)

Joseph was the favourite son of Jacob in Canaan, marked out by the coat of many colours and by two dreams in which his brothers and parents bowed before him. Out of envy his brothers plotted against him; when he came to them at Dothan they stripped him of his coat, cast him into a pit, and sold him to Ishmaelite (Midianite) traders for twenty pieces of silver. They dipped the coat in goat's blood and told Jacob a wild beast had devoured him.

In Egypt Joseph was sold to Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh's guard. God prospered him and he was made overseer of the whole household. When Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him, Joseph refused, saying, "How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" She falsely accused him and he was thrown into prison. Even there the Lord was with him and the keeper put all the prisoners under his charge.

In prison Joseph correctly interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh's butler and baker: the butler would be restored and the baker executed, which came to pass. Two years later Pharaoh dreamed of seven fat and seven lean cows, and seven full and seven withered ears of corn, which none could interpret. The butler remembered Joseph, who was brought before Pharaoh. Joseph explained that the dreams foretold seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine, and advised that a wise man be appointed to store grain. Pleased, Pharaoh said, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?" He set Joseph over all Egypt, second only to himself, giving him his ring, fine linen and a gold chain. Thus Joseph rose from slave and prisoner to prime minister of Egypt.

(b) Two leadership qualities in Joseph

1. Wisdom and foresight: he planned ahead by storing grain during the years of plenty to save the nation from famine.
2. Integrity and self-control: he resisted Potiphar's wife and remained faithful and God-fearing even under temptation and injustice.

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Characteristics of Christian life in the community (1 Peter)

Peter, writing to believers scattered as strangers and pilgrims, describes how they should live together and among unbelievers. The marks of Christian community life he sets out are:

• Holiness: "As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct," for it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." Believers must abstain from the sinful desires of their former life.
• Brotherly love: having purified their souls, they should love one another earnestly from a pure heart, showing sincere affection within the fellowship.
• Unity and sympathy: Peter urges them to be of one mind, having compassion, loving as brethren, being tender-hearted and courteous, not returning evil for evil but blessing instead.
• Submission to authority: they should obey civil rulers, and servants should respect their masters, doing good to silence ignorant accusations.
• Good conduct before outsiders: they should keep their behaviour honourable among the Gentiles so that unbelievers may glorify God.
• Humility: all should clothe themselves with humility toward one another, for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble; the younger should submit to elders.
• Patient endurance of suffering: they should not be surprised at fiery trials but rejoice to share Christ's sufferings, entrusting themselves to a faithful Creator.
• Sober watchfulness and prayer: being sober and vigilant because the devil prowls like a roaring lion, and being fervent in prayer.
• Hospitality and service: using their gifts to serve one another as good stewards of God's grace, and offering hospitality without grumbling.
• Faithful spiritual leadership: elders should shepherd the flock willingly, not for money, and not as lords but as examples.

In sum, Peter presents a community distinguished by holiness, love, humility, submission, good works and patient hope in the midst of a hostile world.

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(a) The source of Solomon's wisdom and how he misused it (1 Kings 3; 11)

Source: After Solomon became king he loved the Lord and offered a thousand burnt offerings at Gibeon. There God appeared to him in a dream and said, "Ask what I shall give you." Instead of asking for long life, riches or the death of his enemies, Solomon asked for "an understanding heart to judge the people, that I may discern between good and bad." This request pleased God, who granted him a wise and understanding heart such as none before or after him, and added riches and honour. Thus the source of his wisdom was a divine gift from God in answer to a humble and unselfish prayer. His wisdom was displayed in the judgement between the two harlots claiming one child, and it drew the Queen of Sheba to test him with hard questions.

How he misused it: In his later years Solomon turned from the very God who gave him wisdom.

• He married many foreign wives and had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines, contrary to God's command.
• His wives turned his heart after other gods; he built high places for Chemosh, Molech and Ashtoreth and worshipped idols.
• He imposed heavy taxes and forced labour on the people to fund his lavish building projects, breeding discontent.
• He loved luxury and self-indulgence, using his God-given gifts for personal glory rather than God's honour.

Because of this God was angry and declared that the kingdom would be torn from his son and divided.

(b) Four lessons from this misuse

1. Gifts and talents should be used for God's glory, not for selfish or sinful ends.
2. No one is above falling; even the wisest can be led astray by wrong company and lust.
3. Disobedience and idolatry attract God's judgement.
4. We must guard against the corrupting influence of ungodly friends and marriages, and remain faithful to the end.