Theme: The Vice of Slander
Text: “Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.” – Isaiah 33:1.
Comment: God Almighty has long ago pronounced woe on those whose stock-in-trade is to malign others. The point that must be brought home to those who take pleasure in slandering their neighbours is that they are putting themselves in danger of God’s judgment. See Psalm 50: 19-22.
A number of times when women lose their husbands, some people accuse the widows of being responsible for the death of the men. Some go to the extent of harassing the women on the basis of mere suspicion – at a time when their hearts are heavy in sorrow and when they deserve sympathy the most. To maltreat a widow is a sin. (Exodus 22: 22-24) Experience has shown that some who are loudest in calling others witches, are the very witches themselves. We must point out however that witchcraft is a sin, and everyone involved in the practice who does not repent cannot escape God’s vengeance. (Deuteronomy 18: 10-13; Revelation 21: 8) The end of witches is never blessed—but marked with anguish and ignominy. However, no one should take the law into his hands or defame the character of another on mere suspicion. The Bible exhorts: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” – Romans 12:19 Revised Standard Version.
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