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.
Jesus’ sermon in Luke 6 is sometimes called the Sermon on the Plain. The content of the Sermon on the Plain (or the Sermon...
We wrap up 1 Chronicles reflecting on one of David’s final prayers. We examine the seven actions that mark David’s spiritual leadership. We look...
The Psalms, originating from the Greek word "psalmos," were religious songs meant for musical accompaniment, especially on stringed instruments. Their poetic nature conveys the...
