Theme: IT SHALL BE WELL WITH THE RIGHTEOUS
Text:
“In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. – Psalm 62:7, 8.
Comment:
David the Psalmist stresses the fact that God Almighty is the hope of His people, Israel. He will not fail them or forsake them. (Psalm 9:10) This however calls for faith, humility, patience, understanding etc on the part of everyone. We need to pray for strength to be able to withstand temptations. St. James exhorted, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life (everlasting life) which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” – James 1:12.
When Hannah was in dire straits, she prayed fervently to the LORD for a son and backed the prayer up with a righteous vow, and as Eli the priest blessed her request, “she went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad”. This is evidence of faith in God. Scripture states: “All things are possible to him that believeth”, stated Jesus Christ. – Mark 9:23.
God tries the faith of His worshippers but He sure manifests His power for those who remain steadfast by His grace. (See John 9:3) “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed”, declared the Prophet David. He added, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” – Psalm 37:3-5.
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