Theme: The Vice of Slander
Text: “Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.” – 1 Timothy 3: 8, 11.
Comment: It is because those who hold positions of responsibility in the Church should be those who are careful in the way they use their tongues that St. Paul laid it down as a rule that those to be appointed deacons should not be “double-tongued” – those who say different things to people on the same issue; people who are hypocrites and outright liars. He also warned that the wives of deacons must not be slanderers as they should serve as good example to others. He also charged the older women, who are entrusted with the duty of teaching the young ones, not to be false accusers. – Titus 2:3-5.
We should recall that it was the unsupportive attitude of Michal to the work of King David, by way of derogatory language, as the ark was being returned to Jerusalem, that made her remain isolated and childless (for King David), until her death. (2 Samuel 6:20-23) If Saphira had helped Ananias, her husband, by advising him against lying in regard to the proceeds from the land they sold, they would not have died untimely. – Acts 5:1-11.
It could be seen that wives play important roles in ensuring that their husbands succeed in their careers by being of good behavior. Indeed, “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.” – Proverbs 14:1.
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