Theme: GOD IS MIGHTY TO SAVE
Text: “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” – Isaiah 59:1, 2.
Comment: Jehovah’s love for His children is so great that He will never forsake them. (Romans 11:1-4) The text for today makes us to understand also that there is nothing too hard for Him to do for His children who trust in Him. (Genesis 18:14; Numbers 11:23; Luke 1:37). Therefore, if at any time they pray, and call on His Name, but do not get an answer, they should search themselves thoroughly. Perhaps, “sin lieth at the door”. – Genesis 4:7.
After the LORD had destroyed the heathen nations and their gods, out of the land, king Manasseh of Judah built again the high places and altars that Hezekiah his father had broken down. He raised altars for idols in the house of the LORD, sacrificed his children by fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom. (Jeremiah 7:30, 31) He used enchantments, familiar spirits and witchcraft. Therefore, the LORD sent the captains of Assyria to take him away in chains and all Judah with him into bondage. With much afflictions, Manasseh became sober, and humbled himself greatly, before the LORD. God had mercy on him, and had him brought back to his throne in Jerusalem. The king then removed all the altars, temples and idols out of the land, rebuilt all what he destroyed from the Temple of God. He turned the hearts of the people to seek the LORD, and commanded that they worshiped the LORD, God of Israel. – 2 Chronicles 33:1-20.
Theme: COMMENTARY ON HEBREWS 11:32 - 40
Text:“For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it.” – Jeremiah 32:3.
Comment: Because the king and people of Judah had given themselves to the worship of the devil, God Almighty used Jeremiah the prophet to warn them, telling them that if they would not repent, He would make Jerusalem and the temple they took pride in to suffer the fate of Shiloh, where the name of God was in earlier times before it was destroyed and abandoned. (Joshua 18:1; 19:51; 1Kings 14:2.) For warning the people against sin the leaders determined that Jeremiah must die. (Jeremiah 26:1-10) However, some of the elders, together with Ahikam, an officer of the king, intervened to prevent them from their wicked plot.
Again, when the Chaldeans besieged Jerusalem, Jeremiah was instructed by God to tell them to submit to their rule to avoid death and destruction. This was seen as treason for which the leaders of the people convinced King Zedekiah to cast Jeremiah into.a well. But God also delivered him. When we stand up for the truth, even in the face of danger, God will give us victory in the end. St. Paul in his writings recalled God delivered them “from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us” (2 Corinthians 1:10).. He added that God Almighty shall deliver him “from every evil work, and will preserve him unto his heavenly kingdom. – 2 Timothy 4:18