Theme: IT SHALL BE WELL WITH THE RIGHTEOUS
Text:
“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, whoso readeth, let him understand: Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.” – Matthew 24:15, 16.
Comment:
After seeing the follies and brutalities of the First World War, the nations met and set up the League of Nations in 1919 so as to prevent wars through joint efforts. Many people at that time put their hopes in that body rather than look to God Who alone “maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth”. (Psalm 46:9). The League of Nations became an abomination that brought desolation, particularly to nations in Europe with the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939.
At the end of hostilities, the Allied Forces leading other power blocs in the world set up the United Nations Organisation (UNO) on October 24, 1945. Their aim was to form a world government where member-nations would act jointly to solve the problems of the world, end wars and ensure peace for mankind. But the facts so far have informed a more humble and realistic view of man’s incapacity to tackle the challenges that confront him every time.
Jeremiah the prophet lamented: “The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?” (Jeremiah 8:9) Earlier King David had declared, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.” – Psalm 118:8, 9.
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