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.
Through Amos, God condemns the marked oppression, the flagrant injustice, the unwonted luxury and extravagance, the shameless feasting and drunkenness, and the gross immorality...
We wrap up our week-long call for listeners to embrace boldness in this New Year. We feature inspiring words of Scripture and clips from...
In Galatians 5, Paul emphasizes the profound freedom believers have in Christ, a freedom that liberates from the power of sin, guilt, and the...
