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.
This dramatic monologue captures the awe-inspiring moment of creation through the eyes of a celestial being who witnessed the birth of the universe. From...
The early chapters of Genesis provide not only an account of creation and the fall but also a window into the development of human...
Maisie and Grandfather awake on Boxing Day, excited to continue their annual tradition of visiting a soup kitchen. Maisie fondly recalls meeting a girl...
