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Solomon's Wisdom - the Difference Between Wisdom and Knowledge

An assembly from the Culham St Gabriel archive

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)


To consider the difference between wisdom and knowledge.

Preparation and materials

  • You will need an interesting container, such as a decorated box, a treasure chest or a wrapped parcel with bows and so on. Into it place a large, impressive-looking 'fact' book or CD-ROM of one.
  • You will also need a flip chart.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Bible story in the passage 1 Kings 3, which is about Solomon asking for and being given the gift of wisdom and how he used it during his reign as king, so that you can tell his story in the 'Assembly', Step 5.


  1. Engage the children's interest by asking them to guess what might be in the box. You might like to tell them that it may be the best gift they could ever receive.

  2. Ask them to give you some of their ideas as to what would be the best gift they could ever receive. Write them down on the flip chart so all can see them.

  3. Reveal the contents of the box and ask the children what they think. Is it a good gift? The best ever? Why is it  . . .  or, maybe, why is it not?

  4. Tell the children that there was once a king who was so loved by God, because he was a good man, God promised to give him anything he asked for as a gift. The king asked for wisdom.

    Explore with the children what 'wisdom' is. Go on to tell them that God was so pleased with his choice he also gave the king wealth and power.

  5. Tell all or part of the story of Solomon.

  6. Say that we have to remember knowing everything is very different from making good choices. King Solomon did not ask to 'know everything' but to be wise. The gift in this box may help us to have wisdom because the more we know, maybe the more able we will be to make good choices.

Time for reflection

In the story, God was pleased with King Solomon because his choice of gift showed that he cared more for others than for himself. Solomon wanted to be wise, to know the difference between good decisions and bad decisions, between right and wrong, so he could help others by making wise decisions.

Think of times when you might have helped others by making a 'wise' choice or decision.

Dear God,
Help us to care for others by being wise and caring for everyone.
Help us to learn what is right and wrong so we can lead a life that pleases you.
Help us make good choices in all our decisions.

Publication date: October 2015   (Vol.17 No.10)    Published by SPCK, London, UK.
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