Inspire 21-Day Devotional: Illuminating God's WordSample

WEEK 2, DAY 3: CAN WE TRUST THE BIBLE?

The Bible is Consistent

It was a glorious beginning. King Solomon stood before the twelve tribes of Israel, reunited and ready to dedicate this magnificent temple. After rising from his prayer at the altar, he raised his hands over the large crowd assembled there and blessed them. “Not one word has failed of all God’s good promise which he spoke through his servant Moses,” he reminded them. Indeed, true to his word, God had made Abraham’s descendants into a great nation—one that knew and worshiped the one true God, and one that would be a blessing to the nations around them. All would be well, and Israel was surely entering a golden age, right?

Hardly. After a great beginning, Solomon’s heart drifted toward idolatry. As a result, the nation would be split into two—Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and Judah (the Southern Kingdom)—never to be reunited again. And as for these new kingdoms? Although God held out the promise that if they walked in his way and remained faithful to their covenant with him, they would be blessed, these nations chose to walk in their own way. In 722 BC—less than three hundred years after Solomon’s dedication of the Temple—Israel was conquered by the Assyrians and scattered among the nations. Not long after this, and despite seeing Israel’s fall, Judah would be conquered and exiled by the Babylonians. Yet in all of this, God was consistent with the word he had spoken through Moses and the prophets: If the people did not obey him and remain faithful to their covenant with him, they would “be plucked off the land,” scattered, and exiled (Deuteronomy 28:63–64).

The Bible demonstrates time and time again that God is consistent and keeps his word. Indeed, “not one word” will fail of “all his good promises.” The better question is not if God’s word can be trusted, but whether or not we will trust his word. He continues to hold out life and death before us, just as he did for Israel. And as was his desire for Israel, so is his desire for us: “Oh, that you would choose life, so that...you may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19)!

Artifact: The Cyrus Cylinder

After 70 years of exile in Babylon, the people of Judah were allowed to return to their homeland, just as God had promised through the prophet Jeremiah (see Jeremiah 29:10). To fulfill his word, God raised up a Gentile ruler—Cyrus, King of the Persians. Once Cyrus toppled Babylon, he issued a new policy allowing conquered peoples to return to their land and worship their own gods. Cyrus’s decree is recorded on the Cyrus Cylinder: “The gods who dwelt there I returned to their home and let them move into an eternal dwelling. All their people I collected and brought them back to their homes.” While the Jews are not mentioned by name, they were among these groups. The original Cyrus Cylinder is housed in the British Museum in London. A facsimile of the cylinder can be found on the 4th floor of the Museum of the Bible.

Q1. What are the main themes or ideas of the Scripture passage?

Q2. What does this devotional tell me about who God is?

Q3. How does this devotional challenge or encourage me?

Q4. What specific action can I take to live out this teaching?

Q5. Who should I share this with for encouragement or accountability?