The MelVee Sabbath School guest team is chaired by Shaun Ryan and includes Bruce Mutaurwa and Wellington Mpofu. They discuss the fourth lesson of the 4th quarter of 2015. The lesson is based on the book of Jeremiah and looks at the trials of Jeremiah, whose ministry seemed to consist of nothing but rebuke and retribution: when he gave rebuke the leaders gave him retribution.
We see Jeremiah praying in anguishing saying, “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise” (Jeremiah 17:14, NKJV).
The lives and work of God’s prophets, although seeking to be faithful to their calling, were often called to deliver words of warning and rebuke to those who should have known better. The prophets for the most part faced fervent opposition, even retribution, often from the spiritual leaders, those who should have been the first to listen to them. No wonder Jesus said, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous, and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets” (Matt. 23:29, 30).
* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 24.
