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OCTOBER 27
rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also 23 No longer drink only water, but use a little
may fear. wine for your stomach’s sake and your fre-
21 I charge you before God and the Lord Je- quent infirmities.
sus Christ and the elect angels that you 24 Some men’s sins are clearly evident, pre-
observe these things without prejudice, doing ceding them to judgment, but those of some
22
nothing with partiality. Do not lay hands on men follow later. Likewise, the good works of
25
anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s some are clearly evident, and those that are
sins; keep yourself pure. otherwise cannot be hidden.
DAY 26:Why should elders be chosen very carefully?
Paul cautions Timothy:“Do not lay hands on anyone hastily”(1 Tim.5:22).This regards the cer-
emony that affirmed a man’s suitability for and acceptance into public ministry as an elder/pas-
tor/overseer. This came from the Old Testament practice of laying hands on a sacrificial animal to
identify with it (Ex. 29:10,15,19).“Hastily” refers to proceeding with this ceremony without a thor-
ough investigation and preparation period to be certain of the man’s qualifications (as in 3:1–7).
“Nor share in other people’s sins.” This refers to the sin of hasty ordination, which makes those
responsible culpable for the man’s sin of serving as an unqualified elder and,thus,misleading people.
“Keep yourself pure.” Some versions translate “pure” as “free from sin.” Paul wanted Timothy, by not
participating in the recognition of unqualified elders, to remain untainted by others’sins.The church
desperately needed qualified spiritual leaders,but the selection had to be carefully executed.
In v. 24, Paul adds that “some men’s sins are clearly evident.”The sins of some men are mani-
fest for all to see,thus disqualifying them out of hand for service as elders.“Preceding them to judg-
ment.” The known sins of the unqualified announce those men’s guilt and unfitness before all.
“Judgment” refers to the church’s process for determining men’s suitability to serve as elders.“But
those of some men follow later.”The sins of other candidates for elder will come to light in time,per-
haps even during the scrutiny of the evaluation process.
The same is true of good works (v. 25). Some are evident; others come to light later.Time and
truth go hand in hand. The whole emphasis in this instruction regarding choosing elders, accord-
ing to the qualifications of 3:1–7, is to be patient, fair, impartial, and pure (vv. 21–25). Such an
approach will yield the right choices.

OCTOBER 27 And when they had captured him, they
brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of
Babylon, to Riblah in the land of Hamath,
where he pronounced judgment on him.
Jeremiah 39:1–40:16 6 Then the king of Babylon killed the sons of
In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Zedekiah before his eyes in Riblah; the king of
39 Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchad- Babylon also killed all the nobles of Judah.
nezzar king of Babylon and all his army came 7 Moreover he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and
against Jerusalem, and besieged it. In the elev- bound him with bronze fetters to carry him
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enth year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on off to Babylon. And the Chaldeans burned the
8
the ninth day of the month, the city was pene- king’s house and the houses of the people with
trated. fire, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.
3 9
Then all the princes of the king of Babylon Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard
came in and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal- carried away captive to Babylon the remnant
Sharezer, Samgar-Nebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, of the people who remained in the city and
Nergal-Sarezer, Rabmag, with the rest of the those who defected to him, with the rest of the
princes of the king of Babylon. people who remained. But Nebuzaradan the
10
So it was, when Zedekiah the king of Judah captain of the guard left in the land of Judah
4
and all the men of war saw them, that they fled the poor people, who had nothing, and gave
and went out of the city by night, by way of the them vineyards and fields at the same time.
king’s garden, by the gate between the two 11 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave
walls. And he went out by way of the plain. charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan
But the Chaldean army pursued them and the captain of the guard, saying, “Take him
5 12
overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. and look after him, and do him no harm; but
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