In 1 Kings 11, King Solomon’s heart drifted away from God, and God was sad and angry about it. This lesson helps children understand that loving God means keeping our hearts faithful to Him, even when it is hard. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God wants all of our hearts. When we follow other things more than Him, we start to drift, but God always keeps His promises and loves us.
Memory Verse
1 Kings 11:4
When Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father was.
(WEB)
Teach the children to cup both hands over their chest like a heart, then slowly turn their hands outward as they say “his heart was not perfect with the LORD.” Repeat the motion together until everyone can say the words while doing it.
The Story: 1 Kings 11 for Kids
King Solomon was a very wise king. God had given him great wisdom, and the people of Israel loved him. But Solomon made some choices that made God unhappy. He married many wives from other nations, and these wives brought their own gods into his life. Solomon began to worship those idols too.
God had warned His people not to do this. He had told them that these foreign gods would turn their hearts away from Him. Sadly, that is exactly what happened to Solomon. When he grew old, his heart was no longer fully devoted to the LORD, the way his father David’s heart had been.
Because of this, God told Solomon, “I will tear the kingdom away from you.” But God also promised to keep one tribe for Solomon’s son, because He had made a promise to David. God never forgets His promises, even when we fail Him.
God also raised up enemies to trouble Solomon. One of them was a man named Hadad, who had escaped from Edom when he was only a little boy. Another enemy, Rezon, gathered men and set up his own kingdom. Solomon’s kingdom began to shrink because his heart had wandered.
Then the prophet Ahijah met a young man named Jeroboam on a road outside Jerusalem. Ahijah tore his new cloak into twelve pieces and gave Jeroboam ten of them. He said, “God will give you ten tribes.” Jeroboam would become king of those tribes, but only if he kept following God faithfully.
Read It Together
1 Kings 11:6
Solomon did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and didn’t go fully after the LORD, as David his father did.
(WEB)
Point out that Solomon did what was evil in the LORD’s sight. Ask the children to notice the words “didn’t go fully after the LORD.” Explain that the problem was not a single mistake but a heart that slowly stopped following God completely.
1 Kings 11:11
Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Because this is done by you, and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant.
(WEB)
Show the children that God was clear about what would happen when Solomon broke his covenant. Explain that God’s words here are serious but also fair, because God had given clear instructions and Solomon had chosen differently.
1 Kings 11:13
However I will not tear away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to your son, for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen.”
(WEB)
Point out the word “however” and explain that even in judgment, God kept a promise. Help the children see that God is faithful to His word and remembers His faithfulness to David, even when people do not.
Talk About It
- What did Solomon love more than God in this story?
- Why do you think God warned His people about other gods?
- What are some things that might pull our hearts away from God today?
- How did God still keep His promise to David even though Solomon disobeyed?
- What is one way you can keep your heart close to God this week?
Activity Ideas
Paper Heart Collage
You will need red or pink construction paper, glue, scissors, and markers. Have each child cut out a large heart and write or draw things that help them love God, such as prayer, church, and kindness. Hang the finished hearts on the wall as a reminder that God wants all of our hearts.
Follow the Leader Heart Walk
Set up a path of masking tape on the floor that winds around the room. Have children walk the path while you call out instructions such as “walk forward” or “stop.” Explain that when we stop listening to God’s voice, we can wander off the path, just like Solomon did. Let the children practice returning to the path when you call “come back.”
Take-Home Promise Card
Give each child an index card and a pencil. Ask them to write or draw one way they will keep their heart close to God this week. Encourage them to place the card by their bed or in their backpack. Tell them to share it with their family at dinner, so the whole household can remember God’s faithfulness together.
Teacher Notes
For adults, 1 Kings 11 shows how gradual compromise can erode devotion. Solomon’s downfall did not happen all at once but through a slow drift of affection, shaped by relationships and cultural pressures. The chapter also reveals God’s justice and mercy together, since He judged Solomon while preserving David’s line for the sake of His promise.
With children, avoid overstating the idea that God punishes every mistake with taking away a kingdom. Keep the focus on God’s love and faithfulness, and remind them that when we fail, God invites us to return to Him rather than rejecting us entirely.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, we want our hearts to belong to You every day. When other things try to pull us away, help us remember Your love and come back to You. Thank You for keeping Your promises even when we are not perfect. Help us follow You with all our hearts. Amen.
