Solomon builds a temple to honor the Lord. In the prayer of dedication, he anticipates a time when foreign peoples will journey to the temple in Jerusalem because the God of Israel is famous for answering the prayers of all people. Yet the final chapter of 2 Kings describes a foreign nation coming to Jerusalem, not to worship there but to destroy the temple and take the people of God into exile. The tragic history that unfolds between the dedication and destruction of the temple shows how God’s people and God’s kings fail in their commission to reflect his character among the nations. Scriptures referenced include 1 Kings 8:23 ; 2 Kings 25:8–21; 2 Kings 10:12-14; Proverbs 14:12; 2 Kings 11:1–3; 1 Kings 19:17-21.
The psalms comprise the ancient hymnal of God’s people. They express emotions to God or about God. We wrap up our week-long study with...
Noah and his family remained in the ark for over a year, enduring a season of waiting and uncertainty before stepping into a new...
This episode examines how followers of Jesus have demonstrated radical generosity during the most turbulent moments of the modern era, including world wars, pandemics,...
