Podcast appearances and mentions of king solomon

It is said by many that success can be harder to cope with than failure.  Certainly this was true for King Solomon.  The incredible success we read about in first Kings 9 and 10 is only the prelude to his incredible downfall.  But what a prelude it is.  What does God want us to learn from it?  In this our fifth segment on King Solomon, I examine the weight of success and the call for Christian leaders not only to achieve it but to live it like saints.

Top universities say they've finally discovered the six keys to a deeply satisfying life. Amazingly, King Solomon beat them to it by 3,000 years! Join us for our new series, Human Flourishing, and learn to major on the wisdom of well-being.Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncardIf you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give

The mysterious pillars Boaz and Jachin stand at the entrance of King Solomon's Temple, but their symbolism stretches far beyond biblical architecture. In Freemasonry, these twin pillars represent strength and establishment, duality, initiation, and the gateway to hidden knowledge.In this episode we explore the deeper meaning behind the two pillars found in 1 Kings 7, how they became central symbols in Freemasonry, and how the imagery of twin pillars appears throughout ancient mystery traditions, Kabbalah, tarot symbolism, and modern culture. 2 Pillars Freemasonry NotesWere these pillars merely architectural decoration—or were they symbolic gateways representing the balance between opposing cosmic forces?Merchandise: https://freetherabbits.myshopify.comBuy Me A Coffee: DonateFollow: Website | Instagram | X | FacebookWatch: YouTube | RumbleMusic: YouTube | Spotify | Apple MusicFilms: https://merkelfilms.com Email: freetherabbitspodcast@gmail.comDistributed by: merkel.mediaOutro Music:Joel Thomas – Psy-OpYouTube | Spotify | Apple MusicFollow the ShowIf you enjoy deep investigations into biblical mysteries, secret societies, hidden symbolism, conspiracy theories and ancient esoteric traditions, be sure to follow the podcast and share this episode.Topics discussed in this episode: Freemasonry, Boaz and Jachin, Solomon's Temple, King Solomon, Hiram Abiff, Huram the Tyrian, Albert Pike, Masonic symbolism, Masonic pillars, Freemason initiation rituals, Kabbalah, Kabbalistic Tree of Life, Jewish mysticism, occult symbolism, esoteric traditions, sacred architecture, ancient mystery schools, Pillars of Hercules, Atlantis symbolism, Tarot High Priestess, Boaz meaning, Jachin meaning, bronze pillars of Solomon's Temple, Age of Enlightenment Freemasonry, secret society symbolism, occult symbols in architecture, ancient temple symbolism, sacred gateways, duality symbolism, sun and moon symbolism, masculine and feminine symbolism, mercy and severity Kabbalah, Freemasonry symbolism explained

Sometimes the most profound lessons about faith are found in the simplest parts of creation. Jesus pointed to wildflowers—small, fragile, and easily overlooked—to teach a powerful truth about trust and provision. In Luke 12:27, Jesus tells us to “consider how the wildflowers grow.” They do not work endlessly to secure their future. They do not worry about appearance or provision. Yet God clothes them with beauty that surpasses even the splendor of King Solomon. This invitation is more than poetic imagery—it is a challenge to our anxious hearts. So much of our energy is spent striving: trying to secure financial stability, maintain control over our circumstances, or ensure everything unfolds according to our plans. Worry can quietly dominate our thoughts, convincing us that everything depends on our effort. But the wildflowers tell another story. They grow in quiet dependence. They trust the sun to rise and the rain to fall. Without striving, they flourish exactly as God designed them. Their beauty reflects the care of the Creator who sustains them. Jesus used this image to remind His listeners that if God cares for something as small and temporary as a flower, how much more does He care for His children? Worry often pulls our attention toward what we lack or what might go wrong. But when we shift our focus to God’s provision—seen throughout creation—we remember that He is attentive, present, and faithful. Considering the wildflowers is not about ignoring real concerns. It is about remembering who ultimately holds our lives in His hands. As we seek God first, He promises to provide what we truly need. Main Takeaways Jesus used the wildflowers as a reminder of God’s faithful provision. Worry often distracts us from trusting God’s care. Creation reflects God’s attention to detail and beauty. Faith involves releasing control and trusting God’s provision. Seeking God first brings peace that replaces anxiety. Today’s Bible Verse Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. — Luke 12:27 (NIV) Your Daily Prayer Prayer excerpt for listeners: “Help me trust Your provision and release the worries I’ve been carrying.” Listen to the full prayer here. To view the prayer in written format, visit the links below. Want More? Relevant Links & Resources Continue growing in faith and encouragement: LifeAudio.com – Christian podcasts and devotionals Crosswalk.com – Daily prayers, articles, and Bible study resources This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.orgTrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. https://trinitycredit.org Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Brethren, this Short Talk Bulletin Podcast episode was written by MW Bro Carl H. Claudy, and is brought to us by RW Bro Andy Caron, DDGM 14th Maine. The wages that our ancient brethren received for their work on King Solomon’s Temple are paid no more. In the Lodge, we use them as symbols, and here is their story. Enjoy, and do share this and all of these Podcast episodes with your brothers and your Lodge.

3.8.2026 – Rev. Ben Roberts for Foundry UMC, Washington DC The author has wasted no time being extra scandalous here. It's not just that Jesus is meeting with the Samaritan woman but also that he's doing it at a well. Other biblical narratives of men meeting with women at the well usually ends with some sort of marriage; Isaac and Rebecca.  Jacob and Rachel.  Moses and Zipporah.  These are all encounters at wells. So the overtones for the original audience of this story hint at courtship.  If you've encountered this story before maybe you've heard it sad that this woman social standing should be questioned because of the marriage history that's presented. But Dr. Laura Holmes at Wesley Theological seminary invites us to remember that permission to divorce would have been handed down by male family member it would not have been possible for a poor woman. She couldn't have chosen to get divorced. So the multiple husbands noted in this story likely are “related to tragedies either death or being divorced or both.” So it would be inappropriate to make those sorts of conclusion about here moral or social standing. She also notes for us that we should pay attention to the way that the community responds to this woman's testimony, that many people receive it and believe because of her. If she were ostracized, it is unlikely they would have even listened to what she had to say.  This story also follows closely to that of Nicodemus' the story we heard last week. The contrast being that the Nicodemus story takes place in the middle of the night, but Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well in the middle of the day. Their stories present a series of opposites: “They embody gender, class and status, and ethnic and religious differences. The setup for each encounter also differs: Nicodemus initiates the conversation with Jesus, while Jesus initiates the conversation with the Samaritan woman, and the former is at night (3:2) while the latter is at noon (4:6).”  In both stories, Jesus's answers are interpreted literally causing confusion; when talking of being born again or drinking living water. As Pastor Ginger said last week, very unhelpful answers provided by Jesus. But we see different responses within the confusion. Nicodemus's story somewhat ends after a couple of follow-up questions; he the learned teacher doesn't continue the conversation. While the Samaritan woman asks for the living water and goes and tells others about what she has encountered. So we get some of the feeling that they learned teacher Nicodemus who is inside the community doesn't quite get it what this random Samaritan outsider woman stays engaged and curious.  After the woman asks for the living water, Jesus does something that reveals and points to himself as Messiah. He knows things that haven't be said yet. He tells her about her husbands and current situation, nothing she had shared with him. This, him knowing something that hasn't been reveled,  is enough to begin this revelation and journey for her.  Let's note they have this discussion on worship. Localities are brought up as she says “this mountain” and then says, “but you (y'all) say the place where people MUST worship is Jerusalem.”  We'll talk some more about this, but suffice it to say for the moment the Jewish tradition is telling them that worship must be in Jerusalem, while the Samaritan tradition says it should be on Mt. Gerizim (or this mountain).  She points to this dogmatic divide between their communities and Jesus' response is to say neither Jerusalem nor this mountain. A time is coming when true worship will be in spirit and in truth. Worship that is born not from obligation to ritual but love of heart and active in the world as Jesus was active (mercy, service, justice, compassion). She goes from there and tells others in her community and it's said that many listened to her, came to see Jesus for themselves, and also believed. The woman becomes one of our traditions' first theologians discussing proper worship, first preachers telling her community what Jesus had done, and is every bit a disciple/apostle as those other…guys. And that is lovely.  There are few major stories where the Samaritans were mentioned in the New Testament. We have this story of the Samaritan woman at the well. We have the story of a thankful Samaritan leper. And we have probably the best-known story of the Good Samaritan parable. In each of these cases a person who is Samaritan is held up as an example of someone who did the “right” thing where the more faithful person or the Jewish person in this story does the wrong thing or is just slower at…the thing. For example, in the Good Samaritan parable this is the Samaritan who stops to help the injured person after some priests and Levites had passed by on the other side. Or in the case of the leper the Samaritan is the one who gives thanks and tells the story where the other nine just leave. I'll note that in the other two cases a person is in some ways reduced to being an object lesson, that is they are just held up to teach us something about the ways we're supposed to act. There's not a bunch of character development. We don't learn about the actual people or their communities through these stories. They're just being used to show us something. By comparison, today's story is rather robust for the Samaritan character; despite not being given a name. Last fall (2025) as part of our foundations of sacred resistance series, we did a Bible study that included talking about the Good Samaritan. Someone brought up that it would be helpful for us to expand on who the Samaritans were. Usually we (and the Bible) just note there is animosity between the Jewish community and the Samaritan community. There was one Kingdom and a united monarchy until the time after King Solomon. So we have one Kingdom under David and then under his son Solomon, but after Solomon, the kingdoms and the tribes split. Ten tribes remain in the north, which becomes the Kingdom of Israel, and two remain in the South, which becomes the Kingdom of Judah. The reason for that split is often characterized as a continuation of tax policy and harsh leadership. This would have been around or between 975 and 930 BCE. Whatever the day-to-day on the ground specifics, we end up with two groups where there had previously been one. Differences begin to emerge for a variety of reasons. But we'll start with something that's common, and that is that both groups followed the Torah or the fist 5 books of what we would call the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament (Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy). For portions of this Northern Kingdom that eventually become the Samaritan community, the scriptures stop there without additions of prophetic texts, Psalms or others that Christian circles are familiar with from the Hebrew Bible or Old testament.  And within that holy text of those first five books, there are differences between the Torah used by the Samaritans and the Torah used by the Jews. There are 6,000 differences: half of which are grammatical or small changes for flow, and the other half are larger ones like entire conversations (missing/not included) between characters like Moses and Aaron with Pharaoh and a difference in the 10 commandments. Where we might be familiar with the 10th commandment being “thou shalt not covet,” the Samaritan version has the 10th commandment as an instruction to build and alter at Mount Gerizim (believed to be the place Abraham was going to sacrifice Isacc for this tradition rather than Mount Moriah/The Temple Mount in Jerusalem). So differing scriptures (yet the same), differing instructions, differing locations claiming to be central to the faith if not the center of the world. These realties come together over time. The distinct group of the Samaritans does not really emerge however until after the Assyrian conquest in 722 BCE.  The Assyrians come through and take over the Northern Kingdom (Israel). When the northern Kingdom fell some of the members of the 10 tribes are deported throughout Assyrian territory.  Some remained. But the Assyrians also send colonists and other deported people from other places into the region of the northern Kingdom. And the population that remained from the 10 tribes begins to intermix culturally, religiously, and socially.  Differences are magnified  because of the experience of the Southern Kingdom with the Babylonian exile. Where the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdome sends the people away. The Babylonian conquest takes the people of the southern kingdom in to exile in Babylon (this where books of the prophets come from) but there's an end exile (where there wasn't for the northern kingdom) 200 years later, Persians allow the southern kingdom Judean's to return. This has a big impact on the development of Judaism. And upon their return, while it's said in the book of Ezra, the Samaritans were willing to welcome back these cousins and work with them to rebuild. Those returning did not want to mix because of the ways the Samaritans had mixed with other cultures over the centuries. At some point during the Assyrian conquest and the people being deported. Some lions showed up, killed some people, it was a big mess. It was a whole thing. The Assyrians said, you know, those people we sent into that land don't know how to worship the God of that land. So we need to send a priest back to teach them (2 Kings), because we can't have lions running around killing people. So our tradition, from the start says, those people who remain, those Samaritans who have been mixing, they don't know what they're doing when it comes to worship when it comes to being faithful. They're doing it wrong and need to be fixed. That becomes the one-sided story we inherit. This experience of exile, return and non-return becomes a big divergence for the two groups. The returning Judeans don't want to mix with those people who are doing it wrong. They reject the Samaritan's help. And as the returning Judeans begin to do things like rebuild Jerusalem and the temple after rejecting the Samaritans' help. The Samaritans in turn find ways to oppose its construction by lobbying the Persians.  Laws and prohibitions around mixing and inter-marrying are put in place. The marriage prohibitions persist to this day. Animosity and separation continue to grow over hundreds of years by the time the Jesus story begins. In 128 BCE the Hasmonean's (Judea/Southern Kingdom) destroyed the Samaritan Temple at Mt. Gerizim. Little more than a century later (6-9 AD) around the time of Jesus' birth, the Samaritans dump human bones throughout the temple in Jerusalem, rendering it unclean and unavailable for the Passover celebration. There is long-range tit for tat going on. And at roughly the same time as Jesus' life and ministry and the budding of the early Christian church, the Samaritans were essentially in collaboration with the occupying Romans; collecting taxes and helping keep order compared to the rebellious Jewish community. Samaritan community still exists. By all accounts there are 8-900 people left in the community. The population is mainly split between Tel-Aviv, Israel and Nablus near Mount Gerizim in Palestine/West Bank. There was a NYT article from 2021 called “The World's Last Samaritans – Straddling the Israeli-Palestinian Divide.” So with all of that, recent desecrations and destructions of temples, differing yet the same scripture, vastly differing experiences, prohibitions on marriages and sharing food, and hundreds of years of growing divide; Jesus talks with a Samaritan woman at a well. No shortage of old divides on display for us in the world right now. No shortage of one-sided stories about how awful the other side is, right now. No shortage of stories about how awful we are. No shortage of conflict and suffering because of it. I think I very much like the idea today of Jesus stepping into and interrupting old, entrenched conflict. I like the idea that people, like the woman, are still curious and willing not be held by old tropes and dogmas; social, political, or religious. I like Jesus stepping in and saying not your mountain or ours; it's not what matters and they're not worth staying divided over.  If we keep drinking from these old wells; of nationalism, Christian nationalism, Christian Zionism, racism. Drinking from wells of sexism misogyny, racism, or homophobia. Drinking from the wells of ethnic conflict the wells of polarization. Drinking from these old wells of division and violence will just keep us coming back to these old wells of division and violence. Four years from now, 100 years from now, 200, 700, 3000 years from now. Instead, we're invited to the living water that can satisfy and move us into relationship. And for those who would step into that relationship, having experienced the living water, within them a spring would form and other could experience it too. Through that expansion may  we (with God's help) somehow move closer to the days of Spirit and Truth; changed hearts and just action in the world.

We begin our look at Jack Kirby‘s Black Panther series from the 1970s, introducing a new Kirby character who's a bit too similar to one who first appeared in Captain America! Panther has somehow gotten mixed up in the search for the mate to King Solomon's Frog, an oddball time travel device. The mate is … Continue reading #869 Jack Kirby's Black Panther #1-2: A Ribbit-ing Time Travel Story

It is so much easier to criticize a generation than it is to build one. In this powerful message, guest speaker Clay Scroggins challenges us to move from being critics to "constructors." Looking at the life of Solomon in 2 Chronicles 1, we discover that the greatest gift we can give the next generation isn't better circumstances—it's better capacity. If God gave you a "blank check" and asked what you wanted for the next generation, what would you say? Solomon didn't ask for wealth, fame, or protection; he asked for chokmah—the skill for living. Join us as we explore how to model submission, prioritize skill over status, and introduce the next generation to Jesus, the true and better King who gives wisdom generously to all.

The answer lies in the Book of Ecclesiastes 7:3, given to us by God through the wisest man to ever to live-King Solomon. Hit the button to listen to this episode.Please SUBSCRIBE as a way to help us reach more people all around the globe with God's good word. And...thank you very much for tuning in.-Steven GarofaloBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/reason-for-truth--2774396/support.

In the first book of Kings, the Word of God details the fact that King Solomon built the temple in which God lived.  What is said here in a very matter of fact and simple fashion has profound implications for the way that we view the work of our hands.  In this fourth part of our series on King Solomon we allow the life and example of the good king to challenge our own perspectives about our work and the ability we have to bring faith into our business.

Most of us want to live well. We want good relationships, peace in our decisions, and fewer regrets—but nobody really teaches us how to do that. That's where the book of Proverbs comes in. Proverbs isn't a story and it's not a list of religious rules. It's God's wisdom for real life. It talks about how we use our words, how we choose friends, how we handle money, anger, work, and temptation. Written mainly by King Solomon—one of the wisest people who ever lived—Proverbs was designed to train people, especially the young, in how life actually works. Proverbs shows us there are two paths we can walk: the way of wisdom or the way of foolishness. And the choices we make on those paths shape the lives we end up living. For the next 31 weeks we are going to study every chapter, every word and every truth that flows from the Book of Proverbs. There will be a few breaks through the next 31 weeks for stand alone messages, but by the end of 2026 our hope is that you walk in the ways of the wise and live well.

In the Book of Exodus, God gives His people detailed, meticulous instructions for building His temple—the place where He would dwell among His people. Hundreds of years and nine books later, the temple is finally built by none other than King Solomon. What is so important about this seemingly small fact? Listen in as we explore why it's essential to put God first, and what happens when we stray from this commitment.

In this message from our “No Other Gods” series, we explore the Idol of Pleasure—the belief that happiness and fulfillment can be found in chasing experiences, comfort, and temporary satisfaction. Looking at the life of King Solomon in Ecclesiastes, we discover that even unlimited wealth, power, and pleasure ultimately left him empty. This sermon challenges us to realign our hearts, reminding us that while pleasure can satisfy the moment, only faith and trust in God can define our future and truly fulfill the deepest longings of our lives. Subscribe to be notified of new videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/ValleyRealLife Follow us on Instagram: @valleyreallife Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/valleyreallife Take your next step and connect with us: http://www.vrl.church/connect Are you ready to say YES to following Jesus?: http://www.vrl.church/connect Submit a prayer request: http://www.vrl.church/prayer Partner with us: http://www.vrl.church/give #ValleyRealLife2026 #ValleyRealLifeRecap #ValleyRealLifeQuestions #Bible #ValleyRealLifeChurch #ValleyRealLife #VRL #DanShields #Spokane #SpokaneValley #ChurchinSpokane #OnlineChurchSpokane #OnlineChurch #OnlineChurchService #ChurchSpokane #ChurchSpokaneValley #FaithThatLasts #SpiritualGrowth #YoureInvited #SermonSeries #ChurchOnline #NoOtherGods #idolofpleasure #solomon

Sam and Dylan are back to break down: Comment of the Week chaos and correcting Dylan's Teddy Roosevelt-at-the-Alamo slip, NBA Magic City Night controversy and lemon pepper wing diplomacy, Luke Kornet trying to cancel strip club culture, war hawk theater from Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio, and Chuck Schumer, whether the Iran conflict is about missiles or centralized banks, commanders allegedly framing the war as biblical prophecy and Armageddon talk, the Bledsoe UFO prophecy and Regulus alignment near the Sphinx, AI companies fighting over Pentagon contracts and autonomous killer robots, Sam Altman catching heat for defense deals and surveillance tech, Tim Dillon's theory about Silicon Valley worshipping Babylonian gods, the Seal of Solomon and controlling demons, Remphan and Moloch lore, and how King Solomon allegedly ruined everything chasing sex.   Purchase Sam's Tickets Here: https://samtripoli.com/events/   Yuma, AZ: Mar 7th Hollywood, CA (Comedy Chaos at The Comedy Store): Mar 10th Batavia, IL: Mar 26th–28th Toronto, ON (Catacombs Cafe): Apr 17th–18th Dallas, TX (Hyenas): Apr 24th Fort Worth, TX (Hyenas): Apr 25th Huntington Beach (The Mamba Sports Bar & Grill): June 10th Albuquerque, NM (Hyenas): June 12th-13th 1000th Episode at The Mothership: June 18th Lawrence, Kansas: September 17th & 19th   Buy Our Merch or Sam Will Fight You: https://conspiracy-social-club-aka-deep-waters.myshopify.com/   Check out Dylan's instagram - @dylanpetewrenn   Check out Deep Waters Instagram: @akadeepwaters   Check out Bad Tv podcast: https://bit.ly/3RYuTG0   THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:   BLUECHEW GOLD Use Promo Code "DEEP" at BLUECHEW.COM to get 10% off your first order

Top universities say they've finally discovered the six keys to a deeply satisfying life. Amazingly, King Solomon beat them to it by 3,000 years! Join us for our new series, Human Flourishing, and learn to major on the wisdom of well-being.Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncardIf you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give

WOW!!!

Lloyd is nearing the end of his series through the Proverbs, and as we have mentioned many times, the theme of this book, written by King Solomon, is wisdom. We're not talking about a lot of head knowledge - we're talking about being wise in the things of God! Turn to Proverbs chapter thirty as we join Lloyd Pulley for today's message, titled, "The Mystery and Brilliance of God's Wisdom".

Pastor Matthew joins Phil to talk about King Solomon's interesting take on knowledge and wisdom.

The life of King Solomon was truly extraordinary.  Gifted with outstanding wisdom, King Solomon's wisdom blessed Israel with outstanding abundance.  And even though everything in his life was not worthy of imitation, the Bible is careful to record that he used his gifts to build the temple of God.  This might surprise us.  Why would God want his leader to dedicate himself to building a temple?  It's a question that opens us to a deeper understanding of our own leadership today.

Set against the backdrop of King Solomon's monumental and often brutal Temple construction, "Vile and Impious Wretches: A Novel of King Solomon‘s Temple and the Ancient Middle East," authored by RW Michael A. Czech, is a fictional story that explores the lives of three Craftsmen who murdered Grand Master Hiram Abiff. We explore his unique blend of Masonic education, history, symbolism, and lore into a story very familiar to Freemasons.Show notes and links: Join us on Patreon. Start your FREE seven day trial to the Craftsmen Online Podcast and get instant access to our bonus content! Whether it's a one time donation or you become a Patreon Subscriber, we appreciate your support.Visit the Craftsmen Online website to learn more about our next Reading Room event, New York Masonic History, and our Masonic Education blog!Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify.Subscribe to the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Apple Podcasts.Follow Craftsmen Online on YouTube, hit subscribe and get notified the next time we go LIVE with a podcast recording!Yes, we're on Instagram.Get our latest announcements and important updates in your inbox with the Craftsmen Online Newsletter.Email the host, RW Michael Arce! Yes, we will read your email and may even reach out to be a guest on a future episode.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/craftsmen-online-podcast--4822031/support.Follow the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Spotify.Subscribe to the Craftsmen Online Podcast on Apple Podcasts.Follow Craftsmen Online on YouTube, hit subscribe and get notified the next time we go LIVE with a podcast recording!Yes, we're on Instagram.

Most of us want to live well. We want good relationships, peace in our decisions, and fewer regrets—but nobody really teaches us how to do that. That's where the book of Proverbs comes in. Proverbs isn't a story and it's not a list of religious rules. It's God's wisdom for real life. It talks about how we use our words, how we choose friends, how we handle money, anger, work, and temptation. Written mainly by King Solomon—one of the wisest people who ever lived—Proverbs was designed to train people, especially the young, in how life actually works. Proverbs shows us there are two paths we can walk: the way of wisdom or the way of foolishness. And the choices we make on those paths shape the lives we end up living. For the next 31 weeks we are going to study every chapter, every word and every truth that flows from the Book of Proverbs. There will be a few breaks through the next 31 weeks for stand alone messages, but by the end of 2026 our hope is that you walk in the ways of the wise and live well.

A Place Where God Will Live Ephesians 2:11-22 by William Klock In today's Old Testament lesson we hear King Solomon praying at the dedication of the temple.  The temple was finally completed and Solomon gathered the elders of Israel at the tabernacle, where they offered sacrifices too many to number.  Then with the priests leading them with the ark of the covenant, they processed up the mountain to the temple.  When they'd placed it in the holy of holies, the presence of the Lord, the shekinah, the cloud of his glory descended to fill the temple as it once had the tabernacle.  And Solomon prayed.  He prayed for the new temple and he prayed for his people.  He prayed that they would be faithful.  And then, our lesson today, he prayed for the foreigners, for the gentiles who might come to the Lord's temple having heard of his great name, his mighty hand, and his outstretched arm—that coming to the temple, they would know his glory.  Solomon's kingdom was, however imperfectly, a fulfilment of the Lord's promise to Abraham to make Israel a light to the nations.  And the nations came to Israel and to Solomon, because they saw and because they heard of the Lord's reputation.  Not only had he blessed his people, but in him they saw a god unlike their own.  And so they came, and they saw for themselves the goodness of the Lord, the God of Israel.  And Solomon knew, too, that they would come to the temple that he'd built.  So he prayed that when these foreigners came and prayed, that the Lord would answer them, that he would make himself known to them, so that “all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel.”  Again, this wasn't some one-off prayer that Solomon came up with.  Solomon's prayer is rooted in the promises of God and in the story of his people.  Solomon knew that the world is not as it should be; Solomon knew the Lord's promises to set it to rights; and Solomon knew that God had given an integral role to his people to bring the fulfilment of those promises.  And Solomon great desire was for his people to be faithful to that calling, to that vocation—faithful to be a temple people. Now, this imagery and idea of the temple wasn't new with Israel; it goes all the way back to the beginning of the story.  The garden was God's first temple.  And the man and woman he created—he created them—us—to bear his image.  That means to be his representatives in the temple, to serve him, and steward his goodness to the rest of creation.  We rejected that vocation and the story ever since has been about God restoring his temple and his people.  Two weeks ago, when we looked at Ephesians 2:1-10, we saw how Jesus—the one in whom God and humanity have come together—represents God's work to restore his temple, but we also saw there that, as Paul stresses so much, what is true of Jesus is also true of those who are in him.  One day his people will be raised to be like him—heaven and earth people—but in the meantime, God has filled his church—filled us—with his Spirit as a foretaste and a down payment of that hope.  Brothers and Sisters, that means that we, purified by the blood of Jesus and filled with God's Spirit, we're now the temple—not a temple of bricks and mortar, but a temple of people filled with God's presence. Just as Solomon prayed that the nations would know the glorious reputation of the God of Israel through his people and come to meet him at his temple, our prayer, our desire, our commitment ought to be that the world will know God's glorious reputation through us and come to meet him here.  What God promised to Adam and Eve, to Abraham, to Moses, to the people through the Prophets is now reality in us.  The promise isn't completely fulfilled.  One day the knowledge of the glory of God will fill the earth.  On that day the new creation that began when Jesus rose from the dead will come to full fruit.  Creation and us with it will be made fully new.  God will wipe every last remaining bit of evil from the world and sin and death will be no more.  But, Brothers and Sisters, here's the really important thing here: The church—you and I and everyone else who is in Jesus the Messiah—we are God's vehicle to get the world to that point.  The church is God's means of making his glory known until it fills the earth.  And that ought to get us reflecting on how faithful we are to our mission.  When the world looks at the Church, when it looks at Christians, does what we say and do and live declare the glory of God: his great name, his mighty hand, and his outstretched arm?  (To put it as Solomon did.)  Does what we say and do and live give the world a desire to come to the church to meet God?  Do we at least make the world constructively curious?  If not, we need to reflect on our priorities and on what we're doing. And this is true of everyone who is in Jesus the Messiah, but Paul, writing to the Ephesians who were mostly gentile believers, wants to stress to them just how significant it is that through Jesus and the Spirit they have been made a part of this temple people.  Brothers and Sisters, this is something that we don't spend enough time talking about and reflecting on.  For Paul, the unification of Jews and gentiles in the Messiah was at the heart of the gospel.  It was the proof that God was fulfilling his promises.  This church, made up of Jews and gentiles, men and women, rich and poor, slave and free, all together, unified, one body was a testimony to the glory of God.  In fact, for Paul, it was the testimony of the gospel's power. And I don't think it's even on the radar for many of us today, because we've become so used to and even so complacent about divisions within the church.  Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans, Mennonites, Romans, and Eastern Orthodox—and those are just some older divisions amongst us before we got really split-happy in the last century or two.  And it's not just theology and polity.  I suspect Paul might have at least a little sympathy for those sorts of divisions, especially over serious, gospel-compromising theological matters.  But Paul would be furious to see how we divide over things like language and ethnicity.  The English are here and the Germans are at that Lutheran church and the Swedes at that other Lutheran church and the Italians and Spanish and Filipinos are at the Roman church and the Greeks at the Greek Orthodox, the Russians at the Russian Orthodox, the Ukrainians at the Ukrainian Orthodox, the Syrians at the Syrian Orthodox.  The Dutch are in their Reformed church and the Scots are in their Reformed church.  And there's a church just for Chinese-speakers and another for Afrikaans and so on and on.  And you've got Messianic Jews forming their own synagogues.  And Paul would be shouting at us and asking, “Haven't you read a single thing I've written to you?  Your divisions are undermining the very gospel you claim to preach!” Paul did not want this to happen in the Ephesian churches, but even more than that, he wanted the people in those churches, especially he wanted them to appreciate just what God had done for them in Jesus and the Spirit, because if we understand what God has done to make us one, we'll hopefully be far less likely to let it be undone.  So, Paul writes in Ephesians 2:11-12 and reminds them of what they used to be: “Therefore, remember this: In human terms—that is, in your ‘flesh'—you are ‘gentiles'.  You are the people whom the so-called circumcision refer to as the so-called uncircumcision—circumcision, of course, being something done by human hands to human flesh.  Well, once upon a time you were separated from the Messiah.  You were alienated from the community of Israel.  You were foreigners to the covenants of promise.  There you were in the world, with no hope and no God.” You were gentiles.  Of course, Gentiles didn't think of themselves that way.  They were just regular people; it was the Jews who were weird.  But the fact that Paul can say this to them, “You were gentiles” means that they've now been brought into the family of Israel.  And just in case they might have forgotten the significance of that, he describes them as having been outsiders with this string of descriptors that work up to a crescendo of alienation. First, they were separated from the Messiah—from the rightful King.  The Messiah was some weird thing the Jews were into.  What would Greeks or Romans—who were oh, so superior—want to have to do with him?  And even if they did, the Messiah wasn't part of their story.  Then second, Paul says that they were alienated from the community—the commonwealth as the King James puts it—of Israel.  They were foreigners.  Israel was not their nation and Israel's God was not their God.  Even if they did see something attractive in Israel and went to the temple in Jerusalem—think of Solomon's prayer for the foreign visitors who would come—there was a wall between the court of the gentiles and the court of the women.  In Paul's day there was an inscription on that wall warning that foreigners passed it on pain of death.  Gentiles could look from a distance, but they were cut off from the living God.  And third, they were foreigners to the covenants of promise.  Most of them had never heard of Abraham or Moses, but if they had, that simply wasn't their story and it certainly wasn't their family.  They didn't belong there.  Whatever promises the God of Israel had made, those promises were not for the gentiles.  And Paul then sums it all up and says: You were in the world without God and without hope. I think Paul intends a bit of irony there.  When he says they were without God he uses a word that essentially means they were atheists.  And “atheist” is exactly what the gentiles called Jews and the first Christians.  Because Jews and Christians worshipped only one God and one God might as well have been no god to them with their vast pantheons.  And Jews and Christians refused to take part in the pagan worship and festivals that ran all through gentile life and society.  And so Paul flips it around.  “No, it was you gentiles, separated from the Messiah, alienated from Israel, foreigners to the covenant promises—it was you who were the atheists.  You were the ones without God.  And because of that you had no hope.  And if being called atheists didn't make an impact, I have to think this would have.  Because it's not that the Greeks and Romans didn't understand the idea of hope; it's that they had no reason, no grounds to live with hope.  No one in their world believed in progress the way people do today.  That idea is rooted in our biblical heritage.  They thought things just went round and round in cycles—forever stuck.  And while their philosophers might talk about life after death, it was all very vague and not hopeful at all.  Hesiod imprisoned hope in the bottom of Pandora's box, lost forever.  Aristotle and others wrote about hope as fickle and treacherous—a foolish thing to trust in.  Things could go wrong just as easily as they could go right.  Hope just wasn't a big deal for the Greeks.  But in stark contrast, hope was at the centre of the whole Jewish and early Christian worldview.  As I said last time, no one in the pagan world would have ever dreamed that the gods loved them or even really cared about them, so why would anyone in the pagan world have reason to hope?  So Paul sums it all up: Without God and without hope, the gentiles were alone and lost in the world.  Paul reminds them just how bleak things were for them before they were captured by the gospel.  I think it's a good thing for us to reflect on this ourselves and if we did, I think we would have a greater appreciation for what God has done for us and for what he has made his church. So after painting this bleak and pitiful picture of where these people were before Jesus, Paul cuts through the hopelessness and despair.  Like he did with that great, “But God!” in verse 3, now in verse 13 he practically shouts out, “But now!” “But now, in Messiah Jesus, you who used to be far away have been brough near by the Messiah's blood.  He is our peace, you see.  He has made the two to be one.  He has pulled down the barrier, the dividing wall, that turns us into enemies of each other.  He has done this in his flesh, by abolishing the law with its commands and instructions.” Paul wrote about the Messiah's blood back in Chapter 1.  Jesus' blood is the means through which God has accomplished redemption and forgiveness.  This was the great, once-and-for-all-time sacrifice that the Old Testament sacrificial system was pointing to all along.  In the Old Testament, sacrificial blood was like a disinfectant.  It cleansed the tabernacle and later the temple; and it cleansed the people of Israel so that the holy God could come to his people and dwell with them.  Pagan sacrifices were all about killing valuable animals to placate the gods.  In Israel, the sacrifices were all about the blood—a symbol of God-given life—and that blood was shed to wash away the stain of sin and death so that God could come and dwell and fellowship with his people.  Brothers and Sisters, the blood of Jesus, shed at the cross, has fully accomplished once and for all and for everyone what the Old Testament sacrifices did partially and temporarily.  And in doing that, God has abolished the law. You see, the law was the thing that set Israel apart from the rest of the world and Paul saw that wall in the court of the gentiles as symbolic of it.  The law, like that wall, kept the gentiles out of God's people, out of his covenant, and out of his promises.  The law marked out the gentiles as idolaters and as unclean—unworthy of God's presence.  But Jesus' blood has washed us clean—Jew and gentile alike—making both the law and the wall that kept the gentiles out irrelevant.  In Jesus, God had brought these Greek believers into the family—fully and no longer aliens and foreigners.  And why?  Paul goes on in the second half of verse 15: “The point of doing all this was to create, in him, one new humanity out of the two, so making peace.  God was reconciling  both of us to himself in a single body, through the cross, by killing the enmity in him.” Do you remember the first thing the risen Jesus said to his disciples when he entered that locked-up house where they were hiding after he'd been crucified?  It was “Peace”.  Shalom.  Peace is what the world looks like set to rights.  And so it makes perfect sense that “Peace” would be the first thing Jesus would say to his disciples after rising from death and inaugurating God's new creation.  He'd just begun the work of setting the world to rights.  And for Paul, this new humanity—Jews and gentiles, once divided by the law, but now brought together—this new humanity, the church, is the first sign of God's peace breaking out into the world.  The church is the sign of the new age.  As I've said before, we are God's working model of his new creation.  Jesus has killed the enmity that was once between us and he has reconciled both to God and, through that, to each other.  Jesus' blood as washed us clean and Paul stresses regularly to his fellow Jews, this means there's no longer any reason to consider gentile believers in Jesus to be unclean.  We gentiles, with hearts renewed by the Holy Spirit, have turned away from our idols to serve the living God and by the blood of Jesus he has washed us clean.  And if there's any doubt, Paul would point to the fact that the same Spirit has come to fill the gentile believers who first filled the Jewish believers.  So he goes on in verse 17: “So the [he Messiah] came and proclaimed peace, to you who were far off and to those who were near.  Through him we both have access to the Father in one Spirit.”  Again, it's all the fulfilment of God's promises.  In Isaiah 57 God had promised that he would heal the broken and humble in spirit and give peace: peace for those far off and peace for those who are near.  He's now done that in Jesus and the unity of the church—these people who were once separated, these people who once hated each other—their unity in the Messiah as one people is the proof, the testimony, the witness of God's faithfulness and the power of the gospel. And Paul, again, wants to drive this home.  Look at verses 19 to 22: “So then [—this is the result—] you are no longer foreigners and aliens.  No, you are fellow citizens with God's holy people.  You are members of God's household.  You are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Messiah Jesus himself as the cornerstone.  In him the whole building is fitted together, and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.  You, too, are being built up together, in him, into a place where God will live by the Spirit.” The point of all this is that through Jesus and the Spirit, the living God has welcomed us into this amazing story.  We've been adopted into a family that was not ours.  We were poor, dirty refugees without hope, but God has washed us clean in the blood of Jesus, he has made us welcome members of his family, and most importantly, he has come to dwell with us.  He has filled us—aliens, foreigners, strangers, gentiles—with his Spirit—the presence that he had promised to his own people and in doing that he has made us holy.  And just just because.  God has a purpose for us.  He always has. And this is where Paul stops hinting at things with temple language and imagery and comes out and says it: God has done this in order to establish a new temple.  For centuries the Jews had been waiting for God's presence to return to the temple, not that unlike the way so many Jews today go to the Western Wall and pray for a new temple and God's return.  Brother and Sisters, Paul's stressing that God has, in fact, returned, that he has built a new temple, and that he now dwells with his people.  But not in a stone building on the mountain above Jerusalem.  He has built is new temple and returned to live with his people through Jesus and the Spirit. And, again, that means that we—the church—are God's ongoing means of fulfilling his promises to set creation to rights.  God's presence with us is the sign that one day his presence will fill all of creation.  We are the temple, the working model of new creation.  As we proclaim the gospel, we proclaim the glories of God to the world.  As we live the gospel, we put on display the glories of God to the world.  And our unity in Jesus and the Spirit—something we've often forgotten—is one of the most important ways we ought to be living out the gospel.  Just as there was one temple in Israel, there is only one church.  By our divisions and schism and arguments, by our elevating language and race and nation over the gospel, we've often obscured this reality, but Brothers and Sisters, there is but one church and the unity of that one church across our natural divisions of language and race—and class, and status, and every other way the world divides and separates us—that unity is meant to be a witness.  A witness to the power of the gospel.  A witness to the power of Jesus and the cleansing power of his blood.  A witness to the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer.  And most of all, witness to the faithfulness of God, who has been true to his promises.  And through that, our unity becomes a witness to a bleak and hopeless world of God's coming new creation—not just of the world set to rights, but of humanity set to rights within it: one people, renewed and purified, in fellowship forever with the living God. Let's pray: Gracious Father, you have purified us by the blood of your Son and filled us with your Spirit to make us your temple.  Pour out your grace that we might be faithful stewards of the gifts you have given us.  Teach us to guard the unity of your church, so that the nations will see in us a witness to your mighty hand, your outstretched arm, and your great name.  And when they draw near, hear their prayers, we ask, that they might know your great name as we have, through your Son and through your Spirit.  Amen.

Top universities say they've finally discovered the six keys to a deeply satisfying life. Amazingly, King Solomon beat them to it by 3,000 years! Join us for our new series, Human Flourishing, and learn to major on the wisdom of well-being.Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncardIf you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give

​AA literature and the experiences of my sponsor, King Solomon.

​AA literature and the experiences of my sponsor, King Solomon.

In this episode of the Man Within podcast, Sathiya Sam discusses the evolving perception of masculinity and status in contemporary culture. He argues that self-control has emerged as a new status symbol, contrasting sharply with the traditional notions of excess and indulgence. Sathiya emphasizes that while society has celebrated consumption and indulgence, true strength lies in the ability to exercise restraint. He draws on biblical references, particularly the life of King Solomon, to illustrate the pitfalls of excess and the importance of self-control in achieving emotional maturity and leadership.  

All Is Vanity (Ecclesiastes-Inspired) | Draw Near to God + Poem BreakdownShirah Chante hosts the Teens Draw Near to God Poetry Podcast for teenagers, parents of teens, and anyone who wants to see teens reach their God-given destiny. Using James 4:8, she urges listeners to draw near to God with effort, describing faith as action and emphasizing that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. She challenges listeners to leave sinful habits and pursue a real relationship with Father God through prayer, Scripture reading, and prioritizing God like someone you pursue in a relationship. The episode introduces the poem/song “All Is Vanity” (inspired by Ecclesiastes 1), reads it aloud, and begins a line-by-line discussion, referencing King Solomon, money, wisdom, and the idea that everything in life fades except God's Word and a lasting relationship with Jesus Christ. She leads a salvation prayer, encourages starting in John chapter 3, and closes by inviting viewers to subscribe, share, and return for the continuation of the poem discussion.00:00 Welcome to the Podcast00:50 Draw Near to God02:03 Leaving Sin Behind02:35 Faith Takes Effort03:50 Chasing God Like a Crush04:45 All Is Vanity Intro05:43 Poem Performance07:52 Breaking Down the Lyrics09:48 What Really Lasts12:00 Salvation Prayer13:34 Next Steps and FarewellSupport the show

Amongst the many notable lives of leaders brought to us in the Bible, the life of King Solomon stands out.  Not everything in his life is worthy of imitation, but other aspects of his life seem clearly to indicate the plan of God for us.  And one of those aspects in particular is the benefits that God shows for those who possess wisdom.  In this our second episode on King Solomon we look at the benefits of Godly wisdom in his life and compare it to the wisdom we find in Christ.

Most of us want to live well. We want good relationships, peace in our decisions, and fewer regrets—but nobody really teaches us how to do that. That's where the book of Proverbs comes in. Proverbs isn't a story and it's not a list of religious rules. It's God's wisdom for real life. It talks about how we use our words, how we choose friends, how we handle money, anger, work, and temptation. Written mainly by King Solomon—one of the wisest people who ever lived—Proverbs was designed to train people, especially the young, in how life actually works. Proverbs shows us there are two paths we can walk: the way of wisdom or the way of foolishness. And the choices we make on those paths shape the lives we end up living. For the next 31 weeks we are going to study every chapter, every word and every truth that flows from the Book of Proverbs. There will be a few breaks through the next 31 weeks for stand alone messages, but by the end of 2026 our hope is that you walk in the ways of the wise and live well.

After all is said and done, just what was King Solomon's legacy? The truth is...it's complicated. There was good and bad, faithfulness and idolatry, rise and fall. One takeaway is that by staying rooted in obedience, we can prevent our hearts from drifting. What will our legacy be?? Read more...

Top universities say they've finally discovered the six keys to a deeply satisfying life. Amazingly, King Solomon beat them to it by 3,000 years! Join us for our new series, Human Flourishing, and learn to major on the wisdom of well-being.Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncardIf you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give

Today we'll continue Lloyd's verse by verse study through the Proverbs. These words of wisdom, penned by King Solomon, provide us with a plethora of practical insights on how to do the most important thing we can do on this earth - please God! Turn to Proverbs chapter Twenty-two.

Many people want help getting free from lust and sexual sin. However, not many people want freedom over a love of the world. The problem is, if our lives are full of worldliness, we are fueling the very desires that feed lust. That means freedom will be very difficult, if not impossible. The Bible repeatedly gives evidence of this. Look at Lot, Samson, King Solomon, the entire nation Israel… But there is a way to come out of it and into a life of victory, and that's what Director of Ministry Outreach, Patrick Hudson, shares about in today's sermon from Psalm 73.   Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified Bible Copyright 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

For anyone reading the Bible looking for an example of leadership, the life of King Solomon stands out as a must read.  Not everything that he did was exemplary, in fact much of what he did was problematic.  And yet still, God writes straight with crooked lines.  And looking at his life as it's given us can teach us lessons both good and bad.  Things to do and things to avoid in our own leadership.  We begin our series on King Solomon by looking at his prayer for a listening heart.

Despite the clear romantic themes in Song of Songs, King Solomon's book in Scripture serves as a great narrative of Jesus' sacrificial love for the Church. On today's edition of Family Talk, you will hear from prominent author and speaker, Dee Brestin, about the one-of-a-kind relationship you can have with God. Listen and be blessed as you learn why we are all precious in His sight. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/707/29?v=20251111

Pastor Joe Baker continues the "A Good, Messy, Beautiful Life" series with a powerful message from Ecclesiastes 6 titled “How Can I Be Satisfied?” In this sermon, Joe explores King Solomon's search for meaning and exposes the emptiness of chasing wealth, success, possessions, and “more” without God. Through biblical insight, relatable stories, and practical challenges, he calls listeners to examine their appetites, practice gratitude, and discover true contentment as a gift from God. Ultimately, this message points to Jesus as the only source of lasting satisfaction and eternal life in a restless, consumer-driven world. If you're wrestling with purpose, comparison, or materialism, this teaching invites you to reorient your life around what truly matters. Watch, reflect, and join the conversation as we learn what it means to live fully satisfied in Christ.We'd love for you to subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications to get updates on our latest content and resources that will help more people know Jesus and people know Jesus more.GIVE : We believe that generosity is golden. Freely we have received and so freely we give back to God. If you would like to give to support the work Jesus is doing here please visit: https://www.elevatecc.church/give.Elevate City Church is a Jesus Over Everything Church that launched in the Atlanta Perimeter area on October 4th, 2020.Jesus Over Everything.Give us a follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatecity.church/Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevatecc.churchPodcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3H8BBrEFWxGKsTF8wPSvrn?si=epcQMMrmQIiTpeXEnyxMOQPodcast on itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elevate-city-church/id1536637567Visit our website for more information about who we are as a church and how you can get involved.https://www.elevatecc.church/home

In this sermon, Tommy walks the congregation through Ecclesiastes 12, using King Solomon's final reflections to confront the reality of aging, mortality, and meaning. Written near the end of Solomon's life, Ecclesiastes reflects a man who has experienced wealth, wisdom, pleasure, and power—yet concludes that life lived merely “under the sun” is ultimately meaningless apart from God. The sermon opens by framing Ecclesiastes as deeply honest and intentionally sobering. Solomon repeatedly uses the word “meaningless” to describe life when it is viewed only from an earthly perspective. This is not nihilism, but realism—designed to awaken people, especially the young, before time, strength, and opportunity slip away. Tommy explains that Ecclesiastes 12 is written as an allegory of aging, describing the gradual decline of the human body and mind. Solomon urges readers to “remember your Creator in the days of your youth,” because aging brings psychological, physiological, and eventually physical decline. The mind grows weary, joy becomes harder to find, and life can feel increasingly dark and repetitive. This is the psychological toll of aging when hope is rooted only in earthly things. Physiologically, Solomon's imagery vividly portrays the body breaking down: trembling hands, weakened legs, failing eyesight, loss of hearing, disrupted sleep, and diminished desire. Rather than being crude, the allegory preserves dignity while making the point unmistakable—human strength is temporary, and decline is inevitable. Finally, the physical conclusion is unavoidable: death. The “silver cord” is severed, the “golden bowl” is broken, and the spirit returns to God. Tommy emphasizes that Scripture is clear—death is certain, and judgment follows. Ignoring this reality does not delay it. Yet the sermon does not end in despair. Solomon closes with clarity and hope: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of mankind.” Life gains meaning when lived with God at the center. Obedience, reverence, and eternal perspective anchor life with purpose that aging and death cannot erase. Tommy's central message is clear: wisdom is not found in denying mortality, but in preparing for it. The best time to orient life around God is not later—but now. Discussion Questions What does it mean to live life “under the sun,” and where do you see that mindset influencing your daily decisions? Why do you think Solomon specifically urges people to remember God while they are young? How does facing the reality of aging and death change the way you prioritize your time, energy, and relationships? In what ways can fearing God and keeping His commandments bring meaning to ordinary, everyday life? What is one practical step you can take this week to live with a more eternal perspective? If you'd like, I can also: Condense this into a small-group handout Rewrite it in a more devotional tone Create a teaching outline or sermon recap slide

2 Chronicles 1-9 recounts the life and mission of King Solomon as the great temple builder. All of 1 Chronicles leads to this moment. Solomon's early life is rooted in proper worship of God, which leads him to ask for wisdom to accomplish his duties as king, which God grants in abundance, along with great wealth, for the purpose of spiritual leadership. Enjoy this sample from Lesson 6, "Solomon's Temple is Built and Consecrated (2 Chron 1-9)" from Dr. Nick's ten-part course, "1-2 Chronicles: The Kingdom of the Lord." Anyone can join our community of students and stream the entire audio lesson and full course (and other courses too!) whenever they wish.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Sunday morning, the 15th of February, 2026, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Gospel of Mark 15:37,”And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.” Then we go to John 19:30:”So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” Mission accomplished. The job is done. What an amazing Saviour we have! He didn't stop halfway. He didn't say to His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, ”Lord, I can't do this.” No, he finished the job. You and I must finish what we have started. You know an unfinished job is very ugly, like a half-built building. Rather don't start than stop halfway through. I looked up how long it took for King Solomon to build the first temple. It took approximately seven years and he finished it. What about the second temple? That took almost twenty to twenty-one years to build. We really need to work hard and finish what we have started.Michelangelo, that wonderful artist, when he painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, it took him four years, folks. He had to build his own scaffold. Can you imagine climbing up there? It is very, very high, and then he did it upside down, but he finished that work of art for the glory of God.That young student who's thinking of dropping out of university, don't do it, finish your degree. That marriage that you are working through, ”Angus, we just can't get it right.” Ask God to help you. Philippians 1:6 says:”being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” When you start something, you must finish. It's no good saying you started, rather don't start. Finish the job!Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day.Goodbye.

Most of us want to live well. We want good relationships, peace in our decisions, and fewer regrets—but nobody really teaches us how to do that. That's where the book of Proverbs comes in. Proverbs isn't a story and it's not a list of religious rules. It's God's wisdom for real life. It talks about how we use our words, how we choose friends, how we handle money, anger, work, and temptation. Written mainly by King Solomon—one of the wisest people who ever lived—Proverbs was designed to train people, especially the young, in how life actually works. Proverbs shows us there are two paths we can walk: the way of wisdom or the way of foolishness. And the choices we make on those paths shape the lives we end up living. For the next 31 weeks we are going to study every chapter, every word and every truth that flows from the Book of Proverbs. There will be a few breaks through the next 31 weeks for stand alone messages, but by the end of 2026 our hope is that you walk in the ways of the wise and live well.

Top universities say they've finally discovered the six keys to a deeply satisfying life. Amazingly, King Solomon beat them to it by 3,000 years! Join us for our new series, Human Flourishing, and learn to major on the wisdom of well-being.Let us know you're here! If you have a need or prayer request we can support you: thecompass.net/connectioncardIf you call The Compass your church home or you'd like to partner with us in what God is doing here, near, and far, you can visit thecompass.net/give

In this Parshas Mishpatim review, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe explores the practical, common-sense laws (mishpatim) that follow the Ten Commandments—laws that “make sense” (e.g., damages, theft, honesty, fair treatment)—and contrasts them with chukim (statutes with no apparent reason, like the red heifer). He emphasizes that all mitzvot must be fulfilled because they are God's command—not only because we understand them.Key lessons:Mishpatim vs. Chukim — Mishpatim (rational laws) are intuitive (e.g., don't steal, don't murder); chukim defy human logic (King Solomon couldn't understand the red heifer). Yet both are binding—do them because “God said so,” not just because they “feel good.”No compromise in halacha — Halacha never splits the difference (e.g., no “30-foot sukkah” between 20 and 40 feet). Mezuzah on a slant is the only compromise: vertical (one opinion) + horizontal (other) = slant, reminding us that peace in the home requires compromise.Fulfill mitzvot beyond understanding — Even meaningful mitzvot (e.g., Hanukkah candles for history/light) must be done because commanded—not just for emotion or meaning. When the “feeling” fades, the command remains.Parenting parallel — Children must sometimes obey “because I said so” (no explanation)—builds discipline. Same with mitzvot: intellect (chukim) overrides emotion when needed.Mezuzah as reminder — On a slant to symbolize compromise for shalom bayit (peace in the home). Every glance at a mezuzah reminds: do mitzvot for God's sake, even when logic/emotion fails.The rabbi urges: don't rationalize away mitzvot when the reason doesn't resonate—fulfill them with joy and commitment because they are divine commands. Live intentionally: intellect + heart + command = true avodah._____________This episode of the Parsha Review Podcast is dedicated in honor of Lenny & Teresa FriedmanDownload & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on February 13, 2026, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on February 13, 2026_____________Subscribe: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-review-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1651930083)Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/22lv1kXJob5ZNLaAl6CHTQ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at awolbe@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Torah, #Parsha, #Exodus, #Shemos, #Mishpatim ★ Support this podcast ★

In this Parshas Mishpatim review, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe explores the practical, common-sense laws (mishpatim) that follow the Ten Commandments—laws that “make sense” (e.g., damages, theft, honesty, fair treatment)—and contrasts them with chukim (statutes with no apparent reason, like the red heifer). He emphasizes that all mitzvot must be fulfilled because they are God's command—not only because we understand them.Key lessons:Mishpatim vs. Chukim — Mishpatim (rational laws) are intuitive (e.g., don't steal, don't murder); chukim defy human logic (King Solomon couldn't understand the red heifer). Yet both are binding—do them because “God said so,” not just because they “feel good.”No compromise in halacha — Halacha never splits the difference (e.g., no “30-foot sukkah” between 20 and 40 feet). Mezuzah on a slant is the only compromise: vertical (one opinion) + horizontal (other) = slant, reminding us that peace in the home requires compromise.Fulfill mitzvot beyond understanding — Even meaningful mitzvot (e.g., Hanukkah candles for history/light) must be done because commanded—not just for emotion or meaning. When the “feeling” fades, the command remains.Parenting parallel — Children must sometimes obey “because I said so” (no explanation)—builds discipline. Same with mitzvot: intellect (chukim) overrides emotion when needed.Mezuzah as reminder — On a slant to symbolize compromise for shalom bayit (peace in the home). Every glance at a mezuzah reminds: do mitzvot for God's sake, even when logic/emotion fails.The rabbi urges: don't rationalize away mitzvot when the reason doesn't resonate—fulfill them with joy and commitment because they are divine commands. Live intentionally: intellect + heart + command = true avodah._____________This episode of the Parsha Review Podcast is dedicated in honor of Lenny & Teresa FriedmanDownload & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on February 13, 2026, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on February 13, 2026_____________Subscribe: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-review-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1651930083)Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/22lv1kXJob5ZNLaAl6CHTQ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at awolbe@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Torah, #Parsha, #Exodus, #Shemos, #Mishpatim ★ Support this podcast ★

In this Jewish Inspiration Podcast episode (Day 125), Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe continues the Gate of Truth (Sha'ar HaEmes) from Orchos Tzaddikim, emphasizing relentless commitment to truth in thought, word, and action. Key teachings:Always place truth before you — King Solomon (the “wise one”) teaches to set emes (truth) as your constant guide in all dealings. Make reminders/signs to avoid lying; write down commitments and review them before transactions (business, study, daily life) so truth is fixed in your heart and you don't forget or contradict yourself.Truth in heart & mind — Truth must be implanted and solidified in the heart (not just spoken). Early pious sages sold items at the price fixed in their hearts—even refusing higher offers. If thoughts/commitments risk violation (forgetting), write them down or seek a sage to nullify if needed.Reward of truth — “You decree a word, and it will be fulfilled for you” (Job 22:28)—truthful people's words/thoughts manifest; their dealings (business, lending) reflect unwavering honesty. Hashem fulfills decrees of the truthful.Accept truth from anyone — Don't be embarrassed to accept truth from any person—even small, young, or despised. A precious pearl remains precious regardless of who holds it.Critique & truth — Wise people love truthful critique—it's free self-improvement. Moshe rebuked gently; accept correction without ego. Truth from any source elevates.Modern application — Politicians often flip positions—truth isn't negotiable. We must verify everything against Torah sources (no anonymous claims). Truth stands forever; falsehood collapses. Live congruently: heart, mouth, and actions aligned with emes.The rabbi ties this to daily life: in a world of contradictions (politics, news), prioritize truth over comfort or convenience. Truth connects us to Hashem (Emet); falsehood separates us from our godly soul._____________This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by Peter & Becky BotvinRecorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on September 1, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on February 12, 2026_____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org.Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#JewishInspiration, #Mussar, #MasterClass, #Truth, #Emes, #TruthfulLiving, #Accept, #Critique ★ Support this podcast ★

In this Jewish Inspiration Podcast episode (Day 125), Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe continues the Gate of Truth (Sha'ar HaEmes) from Orchos Tzaddikim, emphasizing relentless commitment to truth in thought, word, and action. Key teachings:Always place truth before you — King Solomon (the “wise one”) teaches to set emes (truth) as your constant guide in all dealings. Make reminders/signs to avoid lying; write down commitments and review them before transactions (business, study, daily life) so truth is fixed in your heart and you don't forget or contradict yourself.Truth in heart & mind — Truth must be implanted and solidified in the heart (not just spoken). Early pious sages sold items at the price fixed in their hearts—even refusing higher offers. If thoughts/commitments risk violation (forgetting), write them down or seek a sage to nullify if needed.Reward of truth — “You decree a word, and it will be fulfilled for you” (Job 22:28)—truthful people's words/thoughts manifest; their dealings (business, lending) reflect unwavering honesty. Hashem fulfills decrees of the truthful.Accept truth from anyone — Don't be embarrassed to accept truth from any person—even small, young, or despised. A precious pearl remains precious regardless of who holds it.Critique & truth — Wise people love truthful critique—it's free self-improvement. Moshe rebuked gently; accept correction without ego. Truth from any source elevates.Modern application — Politicians often flip positions—truth isn't negotiable. We must verify everything against Torah sources (no anonymous claims). Truth stands forever; falsehood collapses. Live congruently: heart, mouth, and actions aligned with emes.The rabbi ties this to daily life: in a world of contradictions (politics, news), prioritize truth over comfort or convenience. Truth connects us to Hashem (Emet); falsehood separates us from our godly soul._____________This Podcast Series is Generously Underwritten by Peter & Becky BotvinRecorded at TORCH Centre in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on September 1, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on February 12, 2026_____________This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)_____________Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback, please email: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Our Mission is Connecting Jews & Judaism. Help us spread Judaism globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org.Your support makes a HUGE difference!_____________Listen MoreOther podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#JewishInspiration, #Mussar, #MasterClass, #Truth, #Emes, #TruthfulLiving, #Accept, #Critique ★ Support this podcast ★

Sheep Without a Shepherd Ther readings and Gospel present . . . . . . the shared human experience of being overwhelmed by responsibility and need. King Solomon, faced with ruling a vast people, does not ask for power, wealth, or long life, but humbly asks God for the wisdom to discern what is truly right. His prayer pleases the Lord because it flows from humility and a desire to serve well rather than to benefit himself. This theme continues in the Gospel, where the apostles return from ministry exhausted and surrounded by endless demands. Jesus invites them to withdraw and rest, yet the crowds follow. When to Entrust the Rest to the Lord Instead of placing the burden back on the apostles, Jesus steps forward as the true Shepherd, caring for the people while his disciples rest. The lesson is clear: human beings are limited, and only God can attend to every need. True wisdom lies in knowing when to act and when to entrust the rest to the Lord. The Homily concludes by applying this truth to the Eucharist. In a world of constant distraction and obligation, worship is a sacred space where believers are invited to set aside their burdens, allow Christ to shepherd them, and receive renewal. The needs of the world will wait; for this moment, the Lord himself provides rest and restoration. Hear more in this Meditation Media. Listen to Sheep Without a Shepherd ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Mark 6: 30-34 First Reading: 1 Kings 3: 4-13 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Art Work The Good Shepherd: Spanish Artist: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo: 1660 The Good Shepherd is an oil on canvas painting, now residing in the Prado Museum in Madrid ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why was this image selected: Murillo's tender depiction of Christ gently guiding his sheep visually embodies the Gospel scene where Jesus sees the crowd as “sheep without a shepherd.” The calm authority and compassion of Christ reflect his role as the one who carries the burden so others may rest.

King Solomon was set up for success. However, some selfish choices would send him a directly into danger. Tune in to find out what happens when the wisest man on earth begins to compromise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Menora in the Temple featured various decorative parts, including goblets, knobs, and flowers. The Gemara details the quantity of each and their specific placement on the Menora. Rav explained that the Menora's height was nine handbreadths from the point where the lowest branches met. The text describes the gold used for the Menora as "michlot zahav." Rabbi Ami interpreted this phrase to mean that all the refined gold from King Solomon's era was used for its construction. Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani explained that the Menora is called "tehora" (pure) because it was shown to Moshe as a heavenly image. The Gemara explores why this same explanation is not applied to the "shulchan hatehora" (the pure table) used for the showbread; in that case, the phrase indicates that the table could potentially become impure. There were other items as well that God had to show Moshe, as they were difficult for him to grasp. The Mishna explains that the two parshiot (sections) in the mezuza are essential. Initially, it is assumed this refers to the small tip of the letter yud (kotzo shel yud), but this is rejected as being obvious. Instead, the Gemara suggests it serves to disqualify a mezuza if its letters are touching one another. Various rabbis discuss different issues regarding the letters hey and yud and whether or not certain formations disqualify them. Rav Yehuda says in the name of Rav that when Moshe went to receive the Torah, he found God attaching crowns to the letters. When Moshe asked why, God showed him Rabbi Akiva, who was extrapolating heaps of laws from every crown. Moshe was taken aback, as he did not understand Rabbi Akiva's teachings. However, once he heard Rabbi Akiva answer a student that a certain law was "a halakha given to Moshe at Sinai," Moshe was relieved. Yet, when he asked God what the reward would be for such a great scholar, God showed him Rabbi Akiva's tragic death, and Moshe was once again disturbed. In both instances, God told Moshe, "Be silent, for this is My decree." Seven specific letters are adorned with three crowns. There were also special requirements for writing the letters yud and chet, with explanations provided for each. The rabbis discuss in which situations mistakes in a Sefer Torah can be corrected and in which situations they cannot.

In this episode of Fellowship of Kingdom Professionals, Michael Blue continues The Wisdom Prayer series by examining King Solomon's focused and unselfish request for wisdom. Drawing from Proverbs 4, Psalm 27, Isaiah 55, and Ecclesiastes 10, this teaching reveals why wisdom is more than knowledge; it is skill for living, leading, and reigning effectively. Solomon's prayer was not motivated by self-promotion, but by a desire to govern God's people with excellence, clarity, and efficiency. Using the powerful analogy of a sharpened axe, Blue explains how wisdom increases effectiveness while reducing unnecessary strain. When the edge is sharp, less strength is required—and more work gets done. If you desire a life and career that brings glory to God, good to people, and gratification to your soul, this episode will guide you in praying the wisdom prayer. New podcast episodes are available every Monday wherever you listen to podcasts.

Solomon is handed the keys to the kingdom, but he accepts them with reluctance—fully aware that he is unequal to the task. In rare humility for a king, he asks the Lord for wisdom to govern well. What God gives him is nothing short of extraordinary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices