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.
Judas Iscariot was one of the original twelve apostles who traveled with Jesus during his three years of ministry. According to gospel accounts, Judas...
In part 2 of this special two-part episode, King Nebuchadnezzar's grandson, Belshazzar, disregards past humblings under God’s hand, hosting a blasphemous feast using sacred...
Jesus delivered sermons as many rabbis did in synagogues and traditional gathering places, expounding on doctrinal truths, telling parables, offering admonition, and engaging his...
