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 Sixth Commandment’s prohibition of murder extends beyond physical violence to encompass the "verbal violence" that can assault a person’s dignity and sense of...
The story of the first family in Genesis offers profound lessons about humanity’s relationship with God and each other. From Adam and Eve’s fall...
God has given us promises to provide us with comfort, encouragement, and reassurance during times of trouble. This episode includes a review of several...
