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.
At the end of his life, Joshua recounts the goodness and mercy of God. He shows the people the reasons why they have inherited...
Today we wrap up our brief study of the book of Hosea. This book, with its themes of unfaithful love, judgment, and the promise...
Today we continue our new series on what it will take for 2021 to be a year of spiritual growth with Part 3. We...
