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.
The Ten Commandments progress structurally inward, moving from our relationship with God and external actions toward others to a final commandment that stands completely...
The Bible often illustrates the Christian life as a battle against sin and Satan. We are soldiers of Christ in spiritual warfare. In Ephesians...
The 10 guidelines for abundant living are derived from God’s immutable law. We explore 10 passages from the psalms that speak to this law,...
