One night in Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream. God said, “Tell me what I should give you.”

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment; the breadth of his understanding was as infinite as the sand on the seashore.

“God does not really live on the earth! Look, if the sky and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this temple I have built!

Everyone in the world wanted to visit Solomon to see him display his God-given wisdom.

and had warned him about this very thing, so that he would not follow other gods. But he did not obey the Lord’s command.

God also brought against Solomon another enemy, Rezon son of Eliada who had run away from his master, King Hadadezer of Zobah.

Just then a prophet from Judah, sent by the Lord, arrived in Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing near the altar ready to offer a sacrifice.

You have sinned more than all who came before you. You went and angered me by making other gods, formed out of metal; you have completely disregarded me.

The woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a prophet and that the Lord really does speak through you.”

Also seat two villains opposite him and have them testify, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”

She said to her husband, “Look, I’m sure that the man who regularly passes through here is a very special prophet.

Then he said, “May God judge me severely if Elisha son of Shaphat still has his head by the end of the day!”

The Lord made an agreement with them and instructed them, “You must not worship other gods. Do not bow down to them, serve them, or offer sacrifices to them.

You must carefully obey at all times the rules, regulations, law, and commandments he wrote down for you. You must not worship other gods.

Pay attention, Lord, and hear! Open your eyes, Lord, and observe! Listen to the message Sennacherib sent and how he taunts the living God!

They have burned the gods of the nations, for they are not really gods, but only the product of human hands manufactured from wood and stone. That is why the Assyrians could destroy them.

Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power, so that all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you, Lord, are the only God.”

Each day men came to help David until his army became very large.

The Lord was so furious with Uzzah, he killed him, because he reached out his hand and touched the ark. He died right there before God.

David went in, sat before the Lord, and said: “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you should have brought me to this point?