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.
Seeking to honor Mordecai, King Xerxes consults Haman, who unwittingly advises an elaborate reward for the very man he wishes to destroy. The irony...
Matthew 12:20, “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” When Matthew wrote these words, he...
1 Corinthians offers a profound look into the early Christian life, highlighting both the theological richness and the everyday challenges within the Corinthian church....
