Theme: SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD
To seek first the Kingdom of God means to make diligent effort or give priority attention to matters concerning the Kingdom of God and the practice of righteousness in order to be blessed, not only in this world, but in the world to come by the grace of God. This comes from realization of the fact that nothing can be compared to life eternal. Every other thing should therefore be secondary and therefore dispensable. Our Lord Jesus Christ used parables to illustrate the importance of the Kingdom of God. For example, in Matthew 13:44-46, it is written: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” – Matthew 13:44-46.
Text: “And now, O LORD my God … Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.” – 1 Kings 3:7-10.
Comment: The text for today was part of the prayer which King Solomon made in answer to the latitude given him by God Almighty to ask for anything he wanted. Solomon could have requested for long life or riches or the life of his enemies. But he only asked for understanding so that he would have the wisdom to be able to judge the people, to be able to discern between good and bad. (1 Kings 3:9) That was his priority. God not only granted his request but added other blessings also, such that Solomon had wisdom and largeness of heart “even as the sand that is on the sea shore” and “there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom”. (1 Kings 4:34) He was also exceedingly rich. Silver was so common that they were in “Jerusalem as stones”. (1Kings 10:21) As people of God, we should also have as our priority the acquisition of spiritual knowledge. This would enable us to be at peace with God and excel in life. Above all, the wisdom of God gives life in the world to come. The Bible says: “Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.” – Proverbs 2:3, 4, 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