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.
In Jeremiah 29:13 we read, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” And this was true...
Episode 9 begins with Michelle rehearsing “Steady Ground,” a worship-infused anthem affirming God’s presence in storms and uncertainty. Her delivery is sincere and anchored...
In Episode 26, Gaius Cassianus Varro delivered his closing argument against Paul of Tarsus, bringing the prosecution’s case to its conclusion. He acknowledged that...
