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 second commandment's prohibition against human-made images exists because God intended to provide the only perfect image Himself: Jesus Christ. As Paul explains in...
The Parable of New Wineskins (Matthew 9:16-17) is Jesus’ powerful response to those who questioned why His disciples did not follow traditional religious practices...
The transition from December 31st to January 1st is marked by lots of long standing traditions. New Year's superstition and folklore come from around...
