Theme: GOD IS MIGHTY TO SAVE
Text: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.” – Psalm 46:1-3.
Comment: The Almighty God had inspired His holy prophets to foretell the dooms and travails of mankind in these perilous times, otherwise known as the last days (2Timothy 3:1-5; 2Peter 3:3,4; Jude18). He also gives hope to His sheep, “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee” (Psalm 91:7).
In the fourteenth year of the reign of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib, king of Assyria seized all the fenced cities of Judah, boasting of his military might and challenging the God of Israel. (Isaiah 36:1-7,18-21). The Lord however assured Hezekiah that the adversary would not come to the city, but would be destroyed in his own land. Sennacherib then sent a letter with more blasphemies, warning king Hezekiah not to be deceived by his trust in God. Hezekiah spread the letter before God’s altar and called on the LORD. – Isaiah 37:1-20.
The LORD defended the city for His name sake, and for David’s sake. That same night, an angel smoth 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in their sleep. Seeing their corpses in the morning, Sennacherib fled to Nineveh, and was slaughtered by his two sons while he worshipped before Nisroch, his god (Isaiah 37:33-38). King Solomon was inspired to state, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” – Proverb 18:10; 2 Samuel 22:3.
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