The Watchtower — June 1, 1965

Do You Want to Hear the Truth?

WHEN a child is caught telling a lie, it is likely to be punished. Parents want to hear the truth from their children.

When your government asks you for income tax, they want to hear the truth. They would not appreciate it if you lied about your income, and they could take action against you.

A husband and wife want to hear the truth from each other. It distresses and angers them for one to practice deception on the other.

People generally want to hear the truth from others in life’s daily activities. They resent it when they feel or know others are not telling them the truth.

Yet, while most persons want to hear the truth in such matters, it is a sad fact that when it comes to even more important matters dealing with life and death, with one’s relationship to God, and with one’s obligations to his fellowman, many do not want to hear the truth.

For instance, when Jesus Christ walked the earth he performed many marvelous things for the people’s benefit. He did so much good that “great crowds approached him, having along with them people that were lame, maimed, blind, dumb, and many otherwise, and they fairly threw them at his feet, and he cured them; so that the crowd felt amazement as they saw the dumb speaking and the lame walking and the blind seeing, and they glorified the God of Israel.” (Matt. 15:30, 31) Not only did Jesus perform these powerful works, but he also fulfilled in detail the many things foretold in the Hebrew Scriptures about the Messiah. Humble people were happy to see and acknowledge him. They were glad to hear the truth about this wonderful man.

On one occasion Jesus encountered a man who had been born blind. How pitiful! What this man would have given to have someone restore his sight! Jesus did just that. Using the miraculous power given to him by God, he restored this man’s sight! But was everybody happy to hear about this? No. Some were not. In fact, the healed man was led before religious leaders, the Pharisees, who asked him how he regained his sight. He told them it was Jesus who had healed him. Yet, in the face of verified evidence, they said of Jesus: “This is not a man from God, because he does not observe the Sabbath.”—John 9:16.

So prejudiced were they against Jesus that they would not acknowledge the truth concerning him or what he had done for this blind man. When they asked the one who had been blind what he thought of Jesus, he said: “He is a prophet.” (John 9:17) Even the man’s parents were called to testify, and they stated: “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.” There was no doubt about it. He had been born blind and Jesus had healed him. But the Pharisees called the blind man again and stated bluntly concerning Jesus: “We know that this man is a sinner.” The blind man, knowing the truth, answered: “One thing I do know, that, whereas I was blind, I see at present.” Then he added: “This certainly is a marvel, that you do not know where he [Jesus] is from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does his will, he listens to this one. From of old it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of one born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing at all.”—John 9:18-33.

That should have convinced them! But truth does not convince those who do not like to hear it. Nor did it in this case, for the reaction of the Pharisees was as follows: “In answer they said to him: ‘You were altogether born in sins, and yet are you teaching us?’ And they threw him out!” (John 9:34) The Pharisees could not face up to the truth. They did not want to hear it, so proud and prejudiced were they.

On another occasion, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. This too was verified by many witnesses. How happy the friends and relatives of Lazarus were at this great manifestation of God’s power working through Jesus! Why, even some who had not previously believed in Jesus did so then: “Many of the Jews that . . . beheld what he did put faith in him.” (John 11:45) But what of the Jewish supreme court and the priests? Above all others, these were the ones that should have been willing to hear the truth. Instead, they said of Jesus: “If we let him alone this way, they will all put faith in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” Yes, they were worried about their power and prestige. The truth did not interest them. Therefore, unbelievable as it may seem, “from that day on they took counsel to kill [Jesus].”—John 11:48, 53.

If that sounds incredible, equally incredible was what followed: “The chief priests now took counsel to kill Lazarus also, because on account of him many of the Jews were going there and putting faith in Jesus.”—John 12:10, 11.

No doubt about it. Those religious leaders did not want to hear the truth. Yet thousands of others heard and accepted it, although these did not include the proud, the prejudiced, or those hungering for power and money. Humble persons, those who loved God, who loved what is right, were the ones that accepted the truth.

Do you love truth? Would you have listened to the truth about Jesus in his day? Do you say, Yes? Then what about today? Do you want to hear the truth as Jesus preached it? If so, do not let pride or prejudice close your ears to truth. Do as God-fearing persons in the first century did. Analyze what you are told about God and his purposes. Listen to those who want to explain the Bible to you. Compare what you hear with the facts found in your own copy of God’s Word.—Acts 17:11.

Whatever the cost in time or effort, “buy truth itself and do not sell it—wisdom and discipline and understanding.” By so doing you will please God, in whose hands your future lies.—Prov. 23:23.

Check Your Heart

How Can You Do So? Why Is It Urgent Now?

THE human heart is truly a marvelous organ. Every hour, under average conditions, it pumps seventy-five gallons of blood, and in emergencies can increase this to 430 gallons. Think of it! The heart can pump well over a ton and a half of blood an hour to bathe all the body’s cells with this precious fluid! Despite its power, however, if it is not given proper care, the heart can develop disease. The trouble may be hardening of the arteries, malfunctioning of the heart valves, or envelopment of the heart in fat. These conditions are often contributed to in no small measure by heavy eating, overindulgence in alcohol and severe and prolonged anxieties.

While complete cure of physical heart ailments may not at present be possible, proper treatment can lengthen the life of patients. Usually the physician will prescribe a greatly reduced intake of rich foods and alcoholic drinks, and will encourage the sufferer to face the demands of life with greater calm. He may tell the patient to avoid any kind of emotional strain or emergency situation. The health of the heart can be aided immensely by proper care.

But despite the importance of the health of the physical heart, the health of the figurative heart is far more important. Observe how God’s Word the Bible shows this: “More than all else that is to be guarded, safeguard your heart, for out of it are the sources of life.” This figurative heart is the seat of affection, and hence is the source of motivation. It is that faculty of the person that accounts for the basic reasons why we speak and think and act as we do. So whether our actions are good or bad, pleasing to God or displeasing to him, depends upon the condition of this figurative heart.—Prov. 4:23.

Daily our “heart” keeps receiving thoughts and impressions from the mind and nervous system, these being fed to the seat of affection as a result of the things we read, hear, see, think about and do. Then, in turn, from this figurative heart there flows outward an almost constant stream of feelings and expressions of love or hate, which reveal what kind of persons we really are on the inside. Since it is on the basis of these expressions of the heart that God judges us, the “sources of life” can truly be said to come from there. How vital, then, that we should regularly check the condition of this figurative heart!

Jesus Christ himself admonished his followers to pay attention to the condition of their hearts. When giving his well-known prophecy regarding the last days and the events that would mark his second presence in Kingdom power, he directed this caution to his followers who would be living at that momentous time: “But pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down with overeating and heavy drinking and anxieties of life.” (Luke 21:34) Since fulfilled Bible prophecy indicates that we are now living during the time of which Jesus spoke, it is vital that we heed his counsel to pay attention to our hearts. Do you know how to check the health of your heart?

HOW TO CHECK THE HEART

In order to obtain an accurate appraisal of its condition we must examine ourselves honestly. No other human is in position to do this, for no other human can read with certainty what our innermost thoughts, hopes, ambitions and desires are. So, in making this check, our purpose should be to find out whether the things in our heart are pleasing to God. And if we find that there are adjustments that need to be made, then we should acknowledge this, and take steps to discipline our heart in what is right in God’s sight.

What does an inspection of your heart reveal? Do you find it to be weighed down with material cares, concerning itself primarily with eating and drinking and the anxieties over making a living? It is true that to provide an adequate living for yourself and family often requires long hours of labor at some secular job. This is understandable. However, what Jesus said to check is whether your heart has become so weighed down with these ordinary matters of living that you no longer give proper attention to spiritual matters, such as prayer to God, His promises of a new system of things and what you can do to serve Him.

In order to make this check, ask yourself: Upon what are my affections set? To what does my interest turn when it is not necessary that it be focused on the work at hand? Does it immediately turn to what I want to do to satisfy my desire for personal pleasures? Is it regularly occupied with what movie or TV program I want to see? with what clothes I desire? or with parties, sports or romance? Am I continually planning how I can advance in my work or profession in order to reap a greater material reward? Are my concerns filled completely with the everyday requirements of life—shopping, cooking, care of the home, and so forth? Am I so burdened down with these cares and with satisfying personal desires that I seldom give attention to what God says in his Word and what I as a Christian should be doing, or do I relate all the affairs of life to the fact that I am a Christian?

Jesus appreciated that his followers would have many obligations to care for. It was for this reason that he gave the warning not to allow these matters to weigh down their hearts and prevent them from embracing God’s truth. Jesus realized the danger, for he was acquainted with how people to whom he spoke in the first century had their hearts so filled with other things that the message of truth could not penetrate. He said of a crowd of such persons: “The heart of this people has grown thick, and with their ears they have heard with annoyance, and they have shut their eyes; that they might never see with their eyes and hear with their ears and get the sense of it with their hearts and turn back, and I heal them.”—Matt. 13:15.

Certainly we do not want our hearts to become so calloused to spiritual things that we are annoyed when Bible truth is spoken. But this can happen if we set our hearts on material things and desires and always fill our minds with such matters. Remember that Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount: “Stop storing up for yourselves treasures upon the earth . . . Rather, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . . For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”—Matt. 6:19-21.

Just as there is danger of developing a diseased physical heart without even realizing it, so it is possible that our figurative heart, the seat of affection or motive, may become diseased without our recognizing it. That is why we must regularly check our hearts, examining desires and motives. The Christian apostle Paul emphasized how necessary this was, when he wrote: “Beware, brothers, for fear there should ever develop in any one of you a wicked heart lacking faith by drawing away from the living God.”—Heb. 3:12.

WHY URGENT NOW

Jesus showed why it is urgent to check our hearts now, saying: “And suddenly that day be instantly upon you as a snare. For it will come in upon all those dwelling upon the face of all the earth.” (Luke 21:34, 35) What day was Jesus speaking about? Why, that momentous day of God’s execution of judgment when all who refuse to heed His Word and live according to it will be wiped from the earth. No one with a wicked heart will be spared!

In this connection, please remember how the inspired apostle identified a wicked heart. He said that it is one “lacking faith by drawing away from the living God.” Yes, a wicked heart is not only one that dwells on immoral things, but also a heart that is so weighed down with eating and drinking and anxieties over livelihood that it shoves God and his Word aside. Notice how Jesus showed that failing to respond to the significance of the times was the error of the people who perished in the global deluge of Noah’s day.

“Just as the days of Noah were,” Jesus said, “so the presence of the Son of man will be. For as they were in those days before the flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; and they took no note [of God’s message preached by Noah] until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be.”—Matt. 24:37-39; 2 Pet. 2:5.

Since we are now living in a day comparable to that of Noah, being surrounded by multitudes of persons who are drowsy and insensible of heart, it is vital that we heed Jesus’ counsel: “Keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that are destined to occur, and in standing before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:36) To stay awake spiritually we must study God’s Word and associate regularly with people whose hearts are fixed on the service of God. This will keep our faith strong and will prevent us from “drawing away from the living God.” It will aid us to ‘keep on seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,’ relegating all other matters to a secondary place in our lives.—Matt. 6:33.

The Kingdom, together with all power of judging, has now been given into the hand of the Son of man, Christ Jesus. (John 5:22) Those who remain ‘standing before him’ and who will be counted worthy of life in the new system of things beyond God’s judgment execution, will be those whose hearts are right, those whose hearts are not weighed down with the cares of this life but are pure and quick to perceive what the will of God is and prompt to respond with appreciation to his many undeserved kindnesses.

How urgent it is, then, to pay attention to our heart condition! God’s kingdom and its interests should be first in our life. Unlike the fleeting things of this life, the Kingdom will stand forever. As wholehearted supporters of it we can escape the destruction destined to come upon this selfish system of things, and stand approved before the Son of man. So, by all means, take care of your heart! Heed the Bible counsel: “More than all else that is to be guarded, safeguard your heart, for out of it are the sources of life.”—Prov. 4:23.

Joyfulness All the Day Long

“Look! My own servants will rejoice . . . Look! My own servants will cry out joyfully.”—Isa. 65:13, 14.

1. What unhappy conditions today make it questionable to talk about being joyful?

WHO dares to talk about being joyful all day long when conditions are what they are? Everyone knows this situation we live in is no fool’s paradise of pleasure, no storybook fairyland of merriment. Instead of being idle dreamers, dwelling in a ‘Hollywood’ movie world of make-believe, we people have to face up to the grim realities of this tragic world. The cruel times in which we live fill the hearts and minds of men continually with doubts, fears, distrust and hatreds, and these, in turn, produce joy-killing strife, violence, mental illness and suicide on a scale heretofore unknown. Truly this system of things is in a very unhappy state of affairs, and the mighty politicians, clergymen and scientists join in the cry of the common people in lamenting these depressing conditions.

2. How do political and religious leaders view present world conditions?

² For example, not so long ago Sir Anthony Eden was reported by The Observer (London, September 11, 1960) as saying: “The free world is confused and in considerable danger, greater danger, as I believe, than at any time since 1939.” John Sutherland Bonnell, famed minister of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, when speaking before more than 3,500 persons attending the general council of the United Church of Canada, declared: “The modern world is adrift and despondent, has lost its bearings and has no clearly defined goals, no design for living, no unity of purpose and no spiritual centre of God. The soul is empty and disillusioned in this atomic age.”—Regina Leader-Post, September 19, 1960.

3. And how do conditions look through the eyes of some scientists?

³ Scientists are also heard weeping with the rest. Under the frightening headline “Man Faces Extinction, Says Professor” the Daily Telegraph and Morning Post (London, August 31, 1961) reported: “A solemn warning that mankind faces the danger of extinction was given to-night by Prof. Sir Wilfrid Le Gros Clark, in his presidential address at the opening in Norwich of the 123rd annual meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.” This newspaper then quoted Sir Wilfrid directly: “The frightening question is now beginning to present itself whether the civilisation which mankind has slowly and laboriously built up over a period of many thousands of years can avoid disastrous dissolution as the result of uncontrollable or, at any rate, uncontrolled, struggles for political power or economic superiority. . . . This is not to be taken as a melodramatic statement. It expresses a truth which is quite evident to anyone who cares to read the signs of the times. . . . The dangers which now threaten the unity of mankind are formidable indeed. And time is getting very short.” Surely today, the time is even shorter than when these gentlemen voiced the above expressions of fear and anguish.

4, 5. In spite of these conditions, why should we give consideration to the subject of joyfulness?

⁴ Why, then, in this dark night of global distress and sorrow, should consideration be given to the matter of joyfulness, a subject that seems altogether untimely and impractical? It is because the great Jehovah, the only true and living God, the Creator of heaven and earth, foretold that here in the very midst of this calamitous condition there would be a great outcry of joyfulness. In fact, this accurate Foreteller of the future said there would be two classes of people living at this same period of human history. One class would be those in great sorrow and distress; the other would be exceedingly jubilant. Read Jehovah’s own words of prophecy as recorded by his servant Isaiah, in Isa chapter 65, verses 13, 14:

⁵ “Look! My own servants will rejoice, but you yourselves will suffer shame. Look! My own servants will cry out joyfully because of the good condition of the heart, but you yourselves will make outcries because of the pain of heart and you will howl because of sheer breakdown of spirit.”

6. What is the difference between being lighthearted with laughter and possessing real joyfulness?

⁶ To be sure, this old system is full of entertainers, merrymakers and clowns of all sorts, not to mention peddlers of the so-called “happy pills,” all of whom induce much lighthearted laughter among those who are “lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God.” (2 Tim. 3:4) But please note the difference and distinction between happiness and true joy. One may be happy, gay, lighthearted and indulge in much laughter in the company of certain companions or due to the immediate circumstances. Drunkards often do a lot of boisterous laughing. But are such ones truly joyful? No, not at all. For joy finds its roots much deeper than in a mere spasm of giddiness or in a momentary state of being gay and full of noisy laughter. Joy has been defined as a deep-rooted rapturous emotion. Says Webster’s New International Dictionary, Second Edition, page 1888: “Joy is deeper-rooted than delight, more radiant or demonstrative than gladness.” It is not based on immediate and shifting circumstances but on basic principles of truth, on sound unshakable reason. True joy gives one an inner calm, a peace and contentment, a sense of confidence and power strong enough to carry one through even a raging storm of adverse circumstances.

7. Do the peoples and leaders of the world have true joyfulness?

⁷ Obviously the politicians, the clergymen and the scientists of this evil Satanic system of things, and all those who support and follow them, do not have this true joyfulness, but, as noted above, are among those who “suffer shame,” who “make outcries because of the pain of heart,” and who “howl because of sheer breakdown of spirit.” Jesus also accurately described this joyless class in his great prophecy about our day, saying that men would “become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth.”—Luke 21:26.

8. Who, then, are the only ones having joyfulness all the day long?

⁸ Who, then, stand out in this sad world in conspicuous contrast by their exhibition of joyfulness all the day long? Jehovah himself identifies them as “my own servants,” that is, worshipers and witnesses of Jehovah who are dedicated to his service. You too, whoever you are and wherever you live, can easily recognize these joyful people, Jehovah’s anointed witnesses and their companions, for they are scattered throughout the inhabited earth in more than 194 countries and islands of the sea, speaking more than 162 languages. These servants of Jehovah are the only ones who are able to display this mark of identification, for this genuine joy is part of their heritage from Jehovah.

9. Is the displaying of joy an optional matter on the part of Jehovah’s servants?

⁹ Manifesting joyfulness all the day long is not something discretionary on the part of these individuals. Rather, it is a mandatory requirement upon all of Jehovah’s public servants. Writing under inspiration the apostle Paul commands: “Always rejoice in the Lord. Once more I will say, Rejoice!” “Always be rejoicing.” (Phil. 4:4;1 Thess. 5:16) Joy, you must remember, is one of the fruits of God’s spirit that Christians are required to produce just as much as faith, love, kindness, peace, long-suffering, goodness, mildness and self-control. “You must rejoice before Jehovah your God in every undertaking of yours.”—Deut. 12:18; Gal. 5:22, 23.

REASONS FOR JOYFULNESS

10. What is one of the reasons why Jehovah’s people are always rejoicing?

¹⁰ Besides being commanded to rejoice “always,” “in every undertaking,” there are at least eight distinct reasons why Jehovah’s servants are joyful at all times. The first of these is their knowledge of the truth as contained in the Holy Bible. They have a knowledge of Jehovah’s sacred name, a knowledge of his attributes, his purposes, his principles, his laws and will for his creatures. This knowledge of the Truth sets his people free from any misgivings and doubts. It frees them from the many grievous lies, superstitions and fears that plague mankind in general. Surely a most compelling reason for rejoicing!—John 8:32; 17:3, 17.

11. Give another reason why Jehovah’s witnesses have joy continually.

¹¹ A second cogent reason why Jehovah’s people have joy continually is that they are able to have their sins forgiven. Such forgiveness of sins is on the basis and through the merit of Jesus’ precious ransom sacrifice, and is made available to them because of their faith, dedication and constant prayers. How could they have joy and at the same time be engaged in a futile striving against sin and with a guilty conscience constantly striking them? Rather, with joyful thanksgiving they join Paul in saying: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for . . . by means of him we have the release by ransom through the blood of that one [Jesus Christ], yes, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his undeserved kindness.”—Eph. 1:3, 7.

12. What is a third cause for this joyfulness?

¹² A third reason why Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions, in contrast with all others, are joyful amid present conditions is that they accept the historical events of the past fifty years as overwhelming evidence and proof conclusive that the long-prayed-for kingdom of God was established in the heavens in 1914. It is even more true of these modern-day Christians than it was of first-century Christians of whom Jesus said: “Many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things you are beholding and did not see them, and to hear the things you are hearing and did not hear them.” So the marvelous time in which we are living is another cause for joy.—Matt. 13:17.

13. What is “the faithful and discreet slave,” and how has it caused the Lord’s people to rejoice?

¹³ Jehovah has given his servants in these troublesome times a fourth reason for rejoicing, for his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, has raised up “the faithful and discreet slave” and has appointed him over all his belongings. (Matt. 24:45-47) This “slave” class serves as an earthly channel of communication for God’s people, providing them with an understanding of Jehovah’s purposes and giving them direction in the doing of his will. With such direction they are enlightened, strengthened and are united in their worship of the only true and living God. Without this means of communication they would be scattered and lost.

14. In what else do God’s people find a source for rejoicing?

¹⁴ Another, the fifth reason for joyfulness, is the sweet association that Jehovah’s people have with one another, not only in their local congregations, but also in their larger circuit, district, national and international assemblies. They make up a genuine Christian society, for they demonstrate a sterling love for one another as they seek the good and the welfare of their brothers. Concerning them it is written: “Look! How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!”—Ps. 133:1; 1 Cor. 10:24.

15. Explain how the witnessing work of Jehovah’s people is another source of joy.

¹⁵ The dynamic activity of Jehovah’s witnesses provides a sixth source of joy, that of telling others the good news about God’s kingdom and the blessings it offers to all mankind. Sharing this good news with others brings great joy both to the Witnesses and to their listeners. Even the worldling Mark Twain recognized this principle when he wrote: “Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of a joy you must have somebody to divide it with.”

16. What threefold prosperity do Jehovah’s witnesses enjoy?

¹⁶ The great prosperity of Jehovah’s Christian society of witnesses, a seventh reason for their continual song of joy, is really threefold. Not only are they basking in the sunshine of a spiritual paradise due to the light of Truth shining ever so bright, not only are they rejoicing in the numerical prosperity of over one million active ministers in the field, but they are also overjoyed with the material prosperity Jehovah has given his people in the form of new branch offices, new printing equipment and beautiful new Kingdom Halls, which are springing up all over the world!

17. (a) What is an eighth reason for the Witnesses to rejoice all day long? (b) Are any prevented from sharing in this privilege and joy?

¹⁷ The eighth, and in some respects the most important of all, yet one that is based on the other seven reasons for joy, is the privilege Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions have of sharing in the vindication and sanctification of the greatest and most sacred name in all the universe, the name Jehovah! Their privilege in this regard is that of keeping integrity both in their conduct and in their ministry of preaching and teaching. What a privilege this is! Think of it, the privilege of making the heart of the great Jehovah glad by taking a wise course of obedience, and thus proving the Devil a liar. If unable to do anything else because of old age or infirmities or cruel imprisonment, still Jehovah’s dedicated servants find their deepest joy in the grand privilege of maintaining faithfulness even to the point of death!—Prov. 27:11.

18. (a) Explain why the mistreatment of the Witnesses has not killed their joy. (b) In this regard what did Jesus, Paul and James say?

¹⁸ In recent years thousands of Jehovah’s witnesses have fiendishly been tortured to death in dictatorial countries because of refusal to compromise their faithfulness to Jehovah. By thus proving integrity under Satanic pressure they have made Jehovah’s heart glad. In turn, this has given God’s people deep inward joy, which is really the secret of their strength. Their enemies, of course, cannot understand how “the joy of Jehovah” could prove to be such a tower of strength and an impregnable stronghold. (Neh. 8:10) Nevertheless, Bible lovers are well aware of this great truth. They know that it was this same joy that was set before the Faithful and True Witness, Jesus, and that enabled him to endure the shame and suffering of death on a torture stake. (Heb. 12:2) In his Sermon on the Mount this great integrity-keeper promised that his faithful followers would likewise share in this joy. “Happy are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them. Happy are you when people reproach you and persecute you and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against you for my sake. Rejoice and leap for joy, since your reward is great in the heavens; for in that way they persecuted the prophets prior to you.” To this the writer James adds: “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet with various trials. Happy is the man that keeps on enduring trial, because on becoming approved he will receive the crown of life, which Jehovah promised to those who continue loving him.”—Matt. 5:10-12; Heb. 10:34; Jas. 1:2, 12.

AVOID THE DANGERS OF LOSING JOY

19. Tell how some in times past lost their joy.

¹⁹ When Cain saw his brother Abel preferred above himself he lost his joy. God warned him but Cain ignored the warning. Korah, Miriam and others in the wilderness let envy rob them of their joy, and to their own harm. Judas Iscariot, because of a bad heart condition, also let joy slip away from him and he finally ended up a suicide.

20. (a) How can faith prevent us from losing our joy? (b) What does faith depend upon in large measure?

²⁰ To keep our joyfulness requires faith. Faith depends in no small degree upon personal Bible study as well as regular attendance at congregational meetings of Jehovah’s people. Faith will help us to overcome one of the greatest obstacles to joy, namely, worry. Instead of worrying, let us do what we can to straighten out matters, and, if there is nothing else we can do, pray about it and then leave the matter in the able hands of Jehovah.

21. How can appreciation for what God has done for one prove to be a safeguard against losing faith?

²¹ We must have appreciation too, appreciation for what God has done for us, if we are to keep our joy. With such appreciation we will not let any form of injustice, such as discrimination or partiality, rob us of our joy. Instead of letting evil harden us, we will let it soften us. Are we discriminated against because of nationality, culture, education or skin color? Then let us remember that, with all this imbalance, we are still far better off than those not discriminated against but who do not have the Truth and a knowledge of Jehovah’s purposes; just as in Jesus’ day a slave who was a Christian was far more blessed than a freedman who was a nonbeliever. If you are a person who is introverted and inclined to feel sorry for yourself because of being misunderstood, do not let such a disposition bleed you of your joy. Rather, try to appreciate the reasons why you are not understood, and, if you cannot, remember that Jehovah understands.

22. How can we prevent physical or mental sickness from robbing us of our joy?

²² Or is your problem one of sickness, or are you physically or mentally handicapped? Do not let such things steal away your joy. Better is the lot of the physically blind than that of the spiritually blind! Are you poor in material possessions? Call to mind what Jesus said about the widow’s mite. Paul too wrote that our contributions to God’s cause are acceptable according to what we have and not according to what we do not have. If we are giving 100 percent, then, no matter how little it is, we are contributing to the vindication of Jehovah’s name in total, and we will have Jehovah’s approval and gain everlasting life in his new order of things. So do not let the suffering from physical or economic handicaps rob you of your joy! “In every way we recommend ourselves as God’s ministers . . . as sorrowing but ever rejoicing, as poor but making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things.” So rejoice with thanksgiving that yours are not spiritual handicaps!—2 Cor. 6:4, 10; Luke 21:1, 2.

23. What helpful encouragement does the apostle Paul give us in this regard?

²³ Or it may be that we have weaknesses of the flesh that tend to rob us of our joy. However, do not let these things discourage you. Call to mind how the apostle Paul had to struggle with the weaknesses of the flesh. “The good that I wish I do not do, but the bad that I do not wish is what I practice. . . . when I wish to do what is right, what is bad is present with me. Miserable man that I am!” Yet this did not rob Paul of his joy! For he continues: “Who will rescue me from the body undergoing this death? Thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” The thing to do is not to give up fighting, but, rather, continue browbeating the body and leading it as a slave to the will of God.—Rom. 7:19, 21, 24, 25; 1 Cor. 9:27.

24. Under the pressures of the times, what other suggestions are offered as a prevention against loss of joy?

²⁴ In addition to the above suggestions it will also be helpful toward remaining joyful all day long if we have good judgment, lay proper plans, and exercise self-control in carrying out such plans. Take an inventory of what you have at your disposal in the way of time, energy, money and personal influence. Prayerfully consider just what you can do in the way of private study as well as ministerial service in the field. Then make a budget and resolve in your heart to stick to it. At the same time do not be fanatical or an extremist. People who can never do enough and who are overconscientious often end up having a nervous breakdown, and this certainly is not the way to be joyful all the day long. Use the spirit of a sound mind. Be moderate in habits.—1 Tim. 3:2, 11; 2 Tim. 1:7.

25. Explain how contentment can prevent one from losing joy.

²⁵ For our joy to endure we also need to have contentment. We must not only appreciate what we have, we must also be content to be without things. Paul learned this lesson, saying: “I have learned, in whatever circumstances I am, to be self-sufficient.” “Having sustenance and covering, we shall be content with these things.” Godly devotion together with self-sufficiency gives the sweet joy of contentment free from anxiety. “Throw all your anxiety upon him, because he cares for you.”—Phil. 4:11;1 Tim. 6:6, 8;1 Pet. 5:7.

26. What else is necessary if one is to remain joyful?

²⁶ Another important factor in retaining joyfulness is humility and submissiveness to theocratic rule. If we think we are passed up or ignored regarding a certain privilege of service, do not let disappointment rob us of our joy. Never forget the fact that Jehovah is running his organization, and it is He who puts the members in their places as it pleases the Creator, not the creature. Promotion is not from any other source than Jehovah. (1 Cor. 12:15-30; Ps. 75:6, 7) So make sure you do not have the spirit of rebellion, for rebels are never joyful. Better it is to give thanks and rejoice over the service privileges one has, no matter how seemingly small they may seem. Humble sons of Levite Korah declared: “I have chosen to stand at the threshold in the house of my God rather than to move around in the tents of wickedness.”—Ps. 84:10.

27. Against what other dangers must we be on guard if we are to remain joyful?

²⁷ We must also be on guard against letting ill will or resentment find a lodging place in our hearts, for we simply cannot bear a grudge or ill feelings and at the same time be joyful. Rather, cultivate brotherly affection. Let no one rob you of your joy, no matter what he says or does. As it is written: “Do not hurry yourself in your spirit to become offended, for the taking of offense is what rests in the bosom of the stupid ones.”—Eccl. 7:9.

28. In contrast with the world of mankind, what is the blessed lot of Jehovah’s witnesses, and why?

²⁸ Certainly the world of mankind today is without joy due to its forsaking Jehovah and his righteous laws. On the other hand, the joy of Jehovah’s servants is exceedingly great, all because they have strong faith, show keen appreciation, use good judgment in planning their activity, are self-sufficient and content in their lot in life, are meek and humble and submissive and show brotherly love and tender affection toward one another.

29. In review, what are some of the principal things over which God’s servants rejoice?

²⁹ Jehovah, in turn, gives his servants many things over which they rejoice all the day long. They have the truth, the truth about Jehovah and his purposes and will for them. They see the fulfillment of Bible prophecies and have the bright hope of the Kingdom. They have the provision of Christ’s ransom sacrifice. They have the faithful and discreet slave as a governing body. They enjoy great prosperity and privileges of service in association with the New World society. Above all, they are sharing in the rare privilege of contributing toward the sanctification and vindication of Jehovah’s precious name.

30. For what superlative reason do Jehovah’s witnesses rejoice, as long ago foretold?

³⁰ Stated in brief, Jehovah’s servants rejoice and are full of exultation all the day long because Jehovah is with them, in their very midst, to bless and uphold them in their faithfulness and integrity. This is exactly as the prophet Zephaniah said it would be among Jehovah’s servants in this time of the end. “Rejoice and exult with all the heart,” for “Jehovah your God is in the midst of you. . . . He will exult over you with rejoicing. . . . He will be joyful over you with happy cries.”—Zeph. 3:14, 17.

Increase Your Praise of Jehovah!

“Jehovah is great and very much to be praised.”—Ps. 145:3.

1. What has occurred since World War II that is thought by many people to be in fulfillment of Bible prophecy?

WITH mixed interest many people have observed how, since World War II, many thousands of Jews have returned to the land of Palestine. This fact, together with the building up of the economic and military strength of that country, the recognizing of Israel’s sovereignty by all the great powers of the world, and the seating of the Republic of Israel as a member of the august United Nations organization, is hailed by many people, both Jews and non-Jews, as taking place in fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Let us, therefore, examine some of the sacred prophecies to see whether the facts warrant such a conclusion.

2. Among other things, what did Zephaniah and Jeremiah foretell would occur to the captives of Judah and Israel?

² More than 2,600 years ago God inspired his prophet Zephaniah to write: “‘I will save her that is limping, and her that is dispersed I shall collect together. And I will set them as a praise and as a name in all the land of their shame. At that time I shall bring you people in, even in the time of my collecting you together. For I shall make you people to be a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth,’ . . . Jehovah has said.” A few years later this same Jehovah God declared by the mouth of another faithful servant, Jeremiah, these words: “I will bring back the captives of Judah and the captives of Israel, and I will build them just as at the start. And I will purify them from all their error with which they have sinned against me, and I will forgive all their errors with which they have sinned against me and with which they have transgressed against me. And she [Jerusalem] will certainly become to me a name of exultation, a praise and a beauty toward all the nations of the earth who will hear of all the goodness that I am rendering to them.”—Zeph. 3:19, 20; Jer. 33:7-9.

3. (a) For such divine prophecies to be fulfilled by natural Israel, what would have to occur? (b) But what are the facts of the matter?

³ Now, what is the case with the natural Jews who have returned to Palestine? Have they been built up and restored to the former state of affairs enjoyed by their forefathers during the reigns of David and Solomon, when they were happily united under a God-given constitution administered by a God-appointed king sitting upon “Jehovah’s throne”? (1 Chron. 28:5; 29:23) Have they been set up as a people for the name of Jehovah and as a people of praise and exultation to Jehovah among all of earth’s inhabitants, as would be necessary in order to fulfill these prophecies? It is so obvious to all informed people that the answer to these questions is “No” that documented evidence is unnecessary. Politically and socially there is not the slightest semblance of a theocracy, that is, a God-ruled government, among the Jews of Palestine today. Religiously they are divided into many cults, including strict orthodox, liberal “freethinkers,” and rank atheists. Instead of being a nation of people who are praising Jehovah among all of earth’s inhabitants by publishing and making known his fame and glory, they scrupulously refuse even so much as to pronounce or mention Jehovah’s distinguished name in their laws or literature, or in their conversation; not even in their prayers!

4. (a) In this regard, what can be said of heathendom, the Communists and the Moslems? (b) How has Christendom miserably failed as a “people to be a name and a praise” to Jehovah?

⁴ To whom, then, do the above Bible prophecies have reference? Not to heathendom whose people worship millions of gods of their own making, and who, for the most part, never even heard of the great name of the true God Jehovah. The “godless” Communists who dominate a great portion of the earth’s surface bitterly hate and fight against the name of Jehovah and are against his Word of truth, the Holy Bible. The same is true of millions of Moslems throughout the earth. Well, what about Christendom with her nearly 920,000,000 members? Alas! Christendom is a dominant part of the United Nations and as such is very much a part of “the present wicked system of things” of which Satan the Devil is god. She therefore constitutes herself “an enemy of God.” (Gal. 1:4; 2 Cor. 4:4; Jas. 4:4; Eph. 2:2) Furthermore, like Judaism, Christendom deliberately tries to hide Jehovah’s holy name from the people by never mentioning it in her pulpits and by removing it from her popular translations of the Bible. As a result there are millions of people in Christendom who have never heard of the holy name Jehovah.

5. What conditions does the account of Belshazzar’s feast well depict?

⁵ All together, Christendom, heathendom, Judaism, the Communists and the Moslems are united in their opposition to Jehovah and his kingdom by Christ Jesus. Unitedly this world empire of false religion joined together in a great Belshazzar festival during World War I, and in their intoxicated condition they blasphemed Jehovah, whose witnesses they persecuted, and boisterously praised their own gods of gold, iron, wood and stone.a—Dan. 5:4, 23.

6. What is the one and only organization of people today that is bringing praise and glory to Jehovah’s holy name?

⁶ It is quite well known that there is only one organization of people today that has been immovably established despite persecution and ‘set as a praise’ for Jehovah’s name. More than thirty years ago they were given a name that was based on Jehovah’s Word, namely, Jehovah’s witnesses. (Isa. 43:10) These are, not Jews according to the flesh, but, rather, spiritual Judeans (meaning, ‘praisers of Jehovah’), spiritual Israelites composed of many nationalities who have been brought out of captivity to Babylon the Great.—Rom. 2:28, 29; 9:6; Eph. 2:11-18; Heb. 8:7-13.

7. Under what other terms are these praisers of Jehovah identified in the Scriptures?

⁷ These people, Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions, are the only ones in the earth who are praising and blessing the most important, the most wonderful and the most holy name in all the universe, the name of Jehovah! Other scriptures identify this singular class as “fearers of Jehovah,” ‘seekers of Jehovah,’ “the meek ones,” “the upright ones,” ‘the afflicted and poor ones.’—Ps. 22:23, 26; 33:1; 74:21; Jer. 20:13.

8. From the prophecies and the physical facts, how do we know that these spiritual Israelites will not be gathered together into one country like Palestine?

⁸ When Zephaniah’s prophecy says these people would be collected or gathered together it does not mean in a physical way to a certain geographical location, for the prophecy continues to say that they would become “a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth.” So it is understandable why Jehovah’s witnesses are scattered the world around in 194 different lands, among peoples speaking more than 162 languages. Simon Peter related how God “for the first time turned his attention to the [non-Jewish] nations to take out of them a people for his name. And with this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written, ‘After these things I shall return and rebuild the booth of David that is fallen down . . . in order that those who remain of the men may earnestly seek Jehovah, together with people of all the nations, people who are called by my name, says Jehovah.’”—Acts 15:14-17.

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE PRAISERS

9. What grand privilege do Jehovah’s anointed witnesses and their companions have, as outlined in Psalm 113?

⁹ O what a wonderful privilege to be identified as, and associated with, these united praisers and witnesses of Jehovah! To them the command of Psalm 113:1-3 is given: “Praise Jah, you people! Offer praise, O you servants of Jehovah, praise the name of Jehovah. May Jehovah’s name become blessed from now on and to time indefinite. From the rising of the sun until its setting Jehovah’s name is to be praised.” As servants and slaves of Jehovah his witnesses are most happy to do this, for indeed Jehovah is worthy of all praise.—Ps. 135:1-3.

10. In glorifying Jehovah, what do his praisers have to talk about?

¹⁰ Paraphrasing the 145th Psalm Ps 145: ‘Jehovah is great and very much to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. Generation after generation [that is, grandfathers and fathers, grandmothers and mothers, together with teen-agers and younger children], yes, generation after generation of his witnesses will commend Jehovah’s works, and about his mighty acts they will tell. The glorious splendor of his dignity and the matters of his wonderful works they will make their concern. They will talk about the strength of Jehovah’s own fear-inspiring things, and, as for his greatness, they are the ones who will declare it. With the mention of the abundance of his goodness they will bubble over, and because of his righteousness they will cry out joyfully.’

11. What did Jesus say would result if his followers let their light shine?

¹¹ When Jesus said to his followers: “You are the light of the world,” he also explained why they must let their light shine, saying: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father who is in the heavens.” This means that, the more time Jehovah’s witnesses spend in letting their light shine forth in the house-to-house ministry, the more the people will be encouraged to give glory and praise to the Father Jehovah.—Matt. 5:14-16.

12. For what reasons do Jehovah’s witnesses go from house to house?

¹² But do not these Witnesses in going from house to house persistently and persuasively offer literature to the people? Yes. But the placing of a magazine or a book is just a means to an end in that it furnishes the publisher of God’s kingdom the opportunity to call back on the interested householder. And what is their object in calling back on interested people? In order to start a Bible study with them. So the ultimate goal Jehovah’s witnesses have in going from house to house and letting the light of the Bible shine is to aid and encourage people to study their own Bibles, so that they, in turn, may also praise the greatest of all gods, Him alone whose holy name is Jehovah!

HOW TO INCREASE PRAISE TO JEHOVAH

13. What suggestions are given for publishers who cannot engage in the field service on weekends?

¹³ It has been observed that some publishers of God’s kingdom are irregular in their activity because it is impossible or inconvenient for them to engage in the field ministry on weekends or some evenings before congregational book-study times. If this is the case with you, then engage in the ministry at a time during the week when it is suitable; and if you are regular in your activity, you will be able to increase your individual praise to Jehovah. Congregational servants, especially congregation book study conductors, should give special attention to aiding and encouraging all lovers of God’s kingdom to engage in the field service at such times as it is suitable for the publishers.

14. In a twofold way, how can mature publishers increase praise to Jehovah?

¹⁴ Sometimes mature ministers aid new ones to get started in the house-to-house ministry, but then they fail to carry through in the training program by not assisting these new ones to make return calls and start Bible studies of their own. Here is an excellent twofold way for individuals to increase their praise to Jehovah: (1) by the mature ones making more backcalls on interested persons and conducting more Bible studies themselves, and (2) by their also helping the less mature ones to engage in this wonderful feature of the ministry.

15. What very important reason should publishers have in mind when considering entering the pioneer service?

¹⁵ Many individuals have given serious thought to entering the full-time ministry called the pioneer service, and in this connection they have no doubt considered the many added privileges and blessings that such a career will mean to them individually. If you are such a person, have you ever thought of the far more important reason for pioneering? Have you ever considered it as a means of increasing your praise of Jehovah? If you have this all-important and overriding motive for becoming a full-time minister, this in itself will make it worth all that it may cost you to start and stay in the pioneer service.

16. (a) The fruitage of Jehovah’s spirit produces what good results? (b) In this connection, what did both Jesus and Paul say?

¹⁶ The fruitage of Jehovah’s spirit, we are told, is “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control.” (Gal. 5:22, 23) This kind of beautiful and pleasant fruitage results in good relations between individuals and in greater peace and unity in the theocratic organization. But Jesus pointed out that there was another very important reason for bearing this kind of Christian fruitage. He said: “My Father is glorified in this, that you keep bearing much fruit and prove yourselves my disciples.” Paul also had in mind the praise and glory of the great Jehovah when he wrote: “This is what I continue praying, . . . that you . . . may be filled with righteous fruit, which is through Jesus Christ, to God’s glory and praise.”—John 15:8; Phil. 1:9-11.

17. (a) Besides personal blessings received, what else results from attending meetings of the Lord’s people? (b) Is your mere presence at the meetings sufficient?

¹⁷ You no doubt are aware of the many blessings received by you from attending congregation meetings of the Lord’s people. But do you think of the praise Jehovah receives by your attending these meetings? The psalmist David declared: “In the middle of the congregation I shall praise you [Jehovah].” “From you my praise will be in the large congregation.” (Ps. 22:22, 25) More than a thousand years after these words were written, the apostle Paul at Hebrews 2:12 quoted and applied them to the Greater David, Christ Jesus. So as disciples of Christ and as ambassadors substituting for him you must have this same mental attitude toward attending meetings. Remember too, it is not so much your bodily presence at the meetings as it is your participation in the discussions, both mentally and vocally, that gives you a part in praising Jehovah.

18. Explain how your participation in the congregation meetings can bring greater praise to Jehovah.

¹⁸ At the Watchtower study, at the service meeting, at the theocratic ministry school, at the congregation book study, you have many opportunities of improving your language, your way of speaking, your presentation of the Kingdom message, your efficiency as one of Jehovah’s ministers, and this, in turn, brings greater praise to Jehovah. This training also qualifies many individuals to receive greater responsibilities in the organization, some as servants and overseers, some as circuit and district and branch servants; and, while these added privileges of service bring individual blessings, the overall result is increased praise to Jehovah.

19. What is required of overseers and servants in the organization if they are to be a praise to Jehovah?

¹⁹ Those who are given these greater responsibilities of service should remember the divine principles: “Everyone to whom much was given, much will be demanded of him,” and “whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of all,” to the glory of God. (Luke 12:48; Mark 10:44) Therefore, to the praise of Jehovah, let all servants and overseers and all mature ones in the congregations take the lead in showing love and long-suffering and in being tactful, and with tenderness and compassion let them care for the needs of their fellow publishers. Not by bossing, not by browbeating, not by lording it over the flock of God, but by showing the proper example and by helping and aiding your brothers and sisters in every possible way, will the praise of Jehovah be increased in your territory.—1 Pet. 5:1-3.

20. How will assisting one another in the field service increase Jehovah’s praise?

²⁰ This matter of aiding one another is not limited to dealing with your brothers at the Kingdom Hall but also extends out to assisting others in the field service. “The generous soul will itself be made fat, and the one freely watering others will himself also be freely watered.” (Prov. 11:25) So whenever you plan to engage in the house-to-house or back-call or home Bible study activity, ask yourself: “Whom can I invite to go along with me?” Are you a pioneer who goes alone simply because “I just have to get my time in before the end of the month”? Stop and think. If you get in only two hours instead of three, due to helping three weak ones, think how much more praise this means to Jehovah. Four times two equals eight hours instead of your individual three. Maybe you will be praised more by men if you put in more hours working by yourself, but Jehovah is praised more when more praisers are in the field. Paul counsels: Keep “an eye, not in personal interest upon just your own matters, but also in personal interest upon those of the others.”—Phil. 2:4.

PRAISING JEHOVAH WITH THE POWERS OF SPEECH

21. How, according to the Psalms, should we use our organs of speech?

²¹ So often the Scriptures refer to the organs of speech (the mouth, lips, tongue) being used to praise Jehovah. For example: “He put in my mouth a new song, praise to our God.” “O Jehovah, may you open these lips of mine, that my own mouth may tell forth your praise.” “With lips of joyful cries my mouth offers praise.” “My mouth is filled with your praise.” “I shall laud Jehovah very much with my mouth, and in among many people I shall praise him.” “May my lips bubble forth praise.”—Pss. 40:3; 51:15; 63:5; 71:8; 109:30; 119:171.

22. (a) When are we to use our speech abilities praising Jehovah? (b) How do the Scriptures warn against misuse of our powers of speech?

²² When are you to use your powers of speech to praise Jehovah? Only when you engage in the field ministry? Only when you attend congregational meetings? Psalm 34:1 answers: “I will bless Jehovah at all times; constantly his praise will be in my mouth.” Paul also emphasized this matter of constancy in giving praise to Jehovah at Hebrews 13:15, where he wrote: “Through him [Christ] let us always offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which make public declaration to his name.” It is therefore wholly incompatible with Christian conduct to use your mouth, lips and tongue to speak forth filthy or obscene talk. “Let a rotten saying not proceed out of your mouth, but whatever saying is good for building up as the need may be, that it may impart what is favorable to the hearers.” In this same letter to the Ephesians the apostle also classifies foolish talking along with fornication and shameful conduct, saying that no person who practices these things “has any inheritance in the kingdom of the Christ and of God.” Therefore, his apostolic order is, “Let fornication and uncleanness of every kind or greediness not even be mentioned among you, just as it befits holy people; neither shameful conduct nor foolish talking nor obscene jesting, things which are not becoming.” (Eph. 4:29; 5:3-5) Asks the Bible writer James: “A fountain does not cause the sweet and the bitter to bubble out of the same opening, does it?” So at all times let your powers of speech bubble forth only the sweet praises of Jehovah.—Jas. 3:11.

23. How must we conduct ourselves in this system of things, and with what results?

²³ Not only must you keep your fountain of speech clean and pure, but you must also guard your conduct in general if you are to reflect Jehovah’s praise. For, says the apostle Peter, “maintain your conduct fine among the nations.” Why so? In order, Peter continues, “that . . . they may as a result of your fine works of which they are eyewitnesses glorify God.” (1 Pet. 2:12) So when dealing with outsiders you must be patient and long-suffering. You must show kindness and neighbor love. You must exercise self-control. You must prove your uncompromising integrity to Jehovah when facing the everyday issues. And there are so many issues presented by this materialistic, sex-crazed system of things, including such vital matters as blood transfusions, regimented servitude and saluting of images of the State, all of which must be met with the same intelligent determination as displayed by first-century Christians who boldly declared: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.”—Acts 5:29.

24. How can parents increase praise to Jehovah?

²⁴ You dedicated parents, you love and cherish your children very much, do you not? You want them to live forever as united worshipers of Jehovah, do you not? Therefore do as Psalm 78:4 suggests: ‘The praises of Jehovah and his strength and his wonderful things that he has done do not hide from your sons. Relate them even to the generation to come.’ So, by teaching and training your children in Jehovah’s laws and commandments, you parents will be expanding and increasing Jehovah’s praises.

25. Can you children also increase Jehovah’s praise?

²⁵ Now, you children and you teen-agers, do not think that this matter of praising Jehovah is a privilege reserved “for adults only.” You too, by watching your conduct in the home, in the congregation, in the neighborhood and in the school, can greatly magnify the glory of your loving Creator. Satan and his agents are very much opposed to you young ones worshiping and serving Jehovah, and they will try to stop you, just as the religious rulers of Jesus’ day tried to prevent children from praising Jehovah. In rebuking that Satanic crowd Jesus asked them: “Did you never read this, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings you [Jehovah] have furnished praise’?” (Matt. 21:16) So also today, Jehovah it is who has provided and furnished you young ones with the privilege and ability of praising Him. Therefore seize hold and make good use of these privileges!

26. So for what grand, overwhelming reason should this song of praise be increased, as declared in 1 Chronicles 16:31 and Psalm 97?

²⁶ As Jehovah’s people around the world, and regardless of your age or sex or national origin or economic status, make sure you individually put these things into practice, and in the days to come may you all increase the volume of your song of praise to Jehovah. Certainly it is not to the Republic of Israel or to Christendom, but to you united worshipers and witnesses of Jehovah that the invitation is given: “Be praising our God, all you his slaves, who fear him, the small ones and the great.” (Rev. 19:5) Really, you have the grandest song to sing that was ever written. What a theme it has! “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be joyful, and let them say among the nations, ‘Jehovah himself has become king!’” (1 Chron. 16:31) The popularity of this song will increase until, soon now, every breathing thing will be praising Jehovah to time indefinite, even forever! So keep on singing. Keep on increasing your individual and collective praise of your Grand Creator, all to your own everlasting blessing and to the glory, honor, vindication and eternal praise of Jehovah!—Pss. 97:1; 145:2; 150:1-6.

[Footnotes]

How Many Days Do You Plan to Attend?

PLAN to attend what? Why, the “Word of Truth” District Assemblies of Jehovah’s Witnesses. On Wednesday, June 9, the first ones open in Dublin, Eire, and in Edinburgh, Scotland. During the following weeks assemblies will be held in Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, and, finally, in Berlin, Germany. A thousand persons from the United States and Canada are planning to attend these assemblies, along with tens of thousands more from Europe. Will you be there? If so, try to arrange to be on hand right from the opening day.

Of course, those who will not be in Europe this summer will by no means be left out, because the “Word of Truth” District Assemblies will also get under way in North America in June. The first will open at Seattle, Washington, on June 24; and, during eleven successive weeks, a total of thirty assemblies will be held throughout the United States and Canada.a Later in the year there will be like assemblies in other lands.

WHAT TO EXPECT

What is the purpose of all these assemblies? Why will hundreds of thousands of persons be arranging their vacations to attend?

The main appeal is the Bible. From the first day to the last the program will focus attention on God’s “Word of Truth.”

Fundamental Bible truths will be thoroughly discussed, enhancing the understanding of those present and strengthening their faith. Practical counsel from God’s Word on the problems of everyday life will be considered—problems with which you are confronted. Instruction will be provided to enable those present to share their beliefs with others, and to do so effectively. What’s more, there is no admission charge, and from the first session to the last, no collection will be taken.

The assembly programs will vary in length, depending on where you attend. The assembly in New York will run for six full days; most of the others will be four days. But in every case sessions will open at about two o’clock on the first day with the chairman’s talk on the appropriate theme “God’s Word Keeps Your Faith Alive.” How true that is! And how beneficial it will be to hear the matter discussed!

Regardless of how many days the program runs in various cities, Thursday afternoon will feature discourses on archaeological confirmation of the Bible and Biblical chronology. In the evening the keynote address of the assembly will be given—“Answering the Question ‘What Is Truth?’” This is one of the principal sessions of the assembly, one that sets the pace for what is to come. It is a session we feel that you will want to attend.

For the benefit of those who have advanced in their study of the Bible to the point of dedication, there will be arrangements for baptism on Friday morning; and even those who have not yet progressed to that point will find it most beneficial to be on hand to hear the discourse that will be given.

That afternoon consideration will be given to “The Bible’s Place in the Modern Home.” What place does it occupy in your home? Do you use it as a family? Those who are present at the assembly on Friday afternoon, we feel sure, will grow in appreciation of how much the Bible can add to the happiness of their home. The afternoon session will conclude with an hour talk on a matter that affects all of us: “Slaves of Men or Slaves of Your Repurchaser—Which?” Be sure to hear it!

As is customary at assemblies of Jehovah’s witnesses, meetings are held for the benefit of those who are Christian overseers. No doubt you have often wished that you could sit in on such a program and hear what is discussed by these mature men in the Christian organization. At this assembly you will have that opportunity, because the two-hour program Friday evening for appointed servants will be thrown open to the entire assembly, for your benefit.

On Saturday attention will be given to problems with which everyone is confronted in these days—problems of morality. How should Christians act, what should they do when face to face with the countless moral issues of our day? Whether a parent, a young boy or girl, or older person, you will find much help in the symposium scheduled for Saturday afternoon. The program that afternoon features another subject too, one that may stir considerable anticipation on the part of Jehovah’s witnesses, and one that we feel you will want to be present to hear: “Let God Be Found True.”

In the evening there will be a series of demonstrations and discussions helping you to become equipped to put your finger on Scriptural information that you need, when you need it. Have you ever wished you had at your fingertips satisfying arguments to prove to a skeptical person that the Bible is indeed the inspired Word of God? Can you offer a convincing array of archaeological evidence and proof of the fulfillment of prophecy that will satisfy others? Can you produce evidence to show that the Christian’s position of neutrality today is the same as that of the early Christians? If you were asked questions on scores of different Bible questions, could you turn to scriptures to answer them all? The program Saturday evening will help you to learn how you can do just that. But the spiritual feast for the day is not yet finished. The day will conclude with a full-hour Scriptural discourse on “Benefits from God’s New Covenant Spreading Worldwide.” Arrange to stay until the entire program for the day has concluded.

The final day of the “Word of Truth” Assembly opens on Sunday morning at nine o’clock. Along with talks to stimulate appreciation for the contents of both the Hebrew and the Greek Scriptures, the entire Bible, there will be a full-hour session of heartwarming, encouraging advice on “Applying the Word of Truth to the Problems of Life.” It is the type of thing that will help you to make wise decisions and to walk in harmony with God’s Word.

While the entire assembly is open to all persons who are interested in God’s Word, the talk scheduled for delivery at three o’clock Sunday afternoon will be specially advertised for the public. It contains information that will be encouraging to them, a discussion of Bible truths that will strengthen their faith. Even though they may not have been Bible students in the past, they will find that it is something that they can grasp and appreciate. The subject for this one-hour public talk is “World Government on the Shoulder of the Prince of Peace.” Indeed a timely subject! One that you will want to hear.

Following the public talk, some may start to think of travel home. But those who have ever attended one of these assemblies before know that the program is not yet over, and that they would not want to go before hearing the closing remarks. If you have never had the pleasure before, stay this time and you will know why others do.

PLANNING TO ATTEND

Assembling to worship God with persons of like precious faith is a joyful event for lovers of Bible truth. Long ago the psalmist David expressed his feelings regarding the matter this way: “I rejoiced when they were saying to me: ‘To the house of Jehovah let us go.’” (Ps. 122:1) Are not these your sentiments also? They are the sentiments of persons around the world who love God and his Word.

In previous years when the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society arranged assemblies these Bible lovers made great effort to attend; they appreciated what a blessing it would be to them and their families to be present. Two years ago the “Everlasting Good News” Assembly was held in cities around the world. Although Stockholm, Sweden, was the nearest assembly city to Denmark, it was, nevertheless, hundreds of miles away. Despite this, two sisters from Vejle, Denmark, pedaled on their bicycles 540 miles to be there!

The following week the “Everlasting Good News” Assembly was in Milan, Italy, and among those present was a young man paralyzed from the chest down. The man had recently come to a knowledge of God’s Word of truth, and, although he lived hundreds of miles away in Spain, he was determined to be in Milan. After arriving with great effort, each day it was necessary that he be carried on his stretcher-bed from his sleeping quarters in the First Aid department to the sessions—but he did not miss even one of the talks! Friday morning he was baptized in symbol of his dedication to Jehovah.

Even children put forth much effort to attend and to help their families to attend assemblies. In Australia many Bible lovers had great distances to travel to reach the Around the World assembly location in Melbourne. One young boy of eleven rose at five o’clock each morning to collect bottles before school, sold papers in the evenings, cut lawns and did many other odd jobs to earn his fare. His sister, age nine, grew flowers and sold them, and also performed odd jobs for the neighbors. In this way they helped the family with the heavy expense of attending the assembly.

How many days did these Bible lovers plan to attend? Not for just a day or two, but for the entire assembly—being on hand from the opening session. When the Around the World assembly opened in Seoul, Korea, 5,947 persons were in attendance at the first talk, which was about one thousand more than the peak number of Kingdom preachers in the entire country! Practically every publisher was there, and many had brought along newly interested persons for the very first day!

But attending an entire assembly requires advance planning. It takes real effort, especially if there is a long distance to travel. So now is the time to make your arrangements to be on hand at one of the “Word of Truth” District Assemblies. Be there from the opening day! A rich spiritual blessing awaits you.

[Footnotes]

A Nation That Opposes God Cannot Stand

NO NATION wants to throw away its national sovereignty. No nation wants to deteriorate into decay and ruin, and even less to fall into the destructive hands of an enemy nation. Yet, unnecessarily so, nations or governments, because of foolish ideologies, such as making the State or ruler a god, or because of the influence of religious leaders, have been led into opposition to God and his kingdom by Christ, and have lost their sovereignty. Witness the ruin of the governments of Hitler and Mussolini. Such governments may last a while, but they are bound to come to a disastrous end, because they refuse to recognize that world sovereignty, in the final analysis, is in the hands of the Almighty God.—Dan. 4:34, 35.

There are nations on earth today, some even so-called Christian nations, that oppose Jehovah God and refuse to permit within their boundaries the preaching of the good news of God’s kingdom by Christ as the only government that can bring the solution to earth’s problems. They go so far as to arrest and imprison Jehovah’s witnesses, who visit the homes of the people with this Bible message. Such preaching is not against the nations’ interests, for it promotes peace and moral strength. God will establish his government firmly in the earth. Jehovah’s witnesses only proclaim that truth. If the Creator has a heavenly government for mankind that he himself will establish, would it not be in the best interests of their people for rulers to acknowledge this government and surrender their sovereignty when the time came for its superior administration of earth’s affairs?

Why do nations take a foolish course of opposition to God and unnecessarily cut short their existence? (Ps. 2:1, 2) How can it be avoided? An analysis of the reasons behind the fall of Babylon, a mighty world power that exercised a short-lived world domination of less than a hundred years, will help us to see why this is so. This series of articles makes a study of ancient Babylon to give the full background necessary to an understanding of Babylon’s modern counterpart, Babylon the Great of the Bible book of Revelation, to be later discussed.

NATIONS HAVE FOLLOWED BABYLON’S PATTERN

By taking into serious consideration the reasons for the fall of Babylon, nations can avoid taking the same bad course, if they desire. The Bible tells us that today, in this time of judgment, rulers must hasten to make peace with Jehovah God’s enthroned king Jesus Christ, and not fight against him and the preaching of the good news of the Kingdom if they want to live. And even though the nations may refuse to take heed, individuals within the nations can separate themselves from such a course of action and be saved.—Ps. 2:10-12; Rev. 18:4.

As to Babylon, first of all she got a start in opposition to God by reason of her very founder, Nimrod, who was a rebel against God. He led men into wars of conquest and caused much bloodshed. (Gen. 10:8-12) After his death he was worshiped as a god. This false worship spread throughout the earth, and we find that religions of all the pagan nations practice the worship of Nimrod under various names. Even Christendom has defiled itself by embracing Babylonish doctrines such as the trinity, adoration of the Virgin Mother and immortality of the human soul.a

Babylon was full of idol images, and was bitterly against God. God was correspondingly against her. He called her people “inhabitants of Leb-kamai,” which means “inhabitants of the Heart of Those Rising Up Against Me,” or, according to a Jewish translation of Jeremiah 51:1 (Leeser): “Those that dwell in the midst of my opponents.” Consequently God promised to bring a destroying wind against her. He would send his harvesters and winnowers, the armies of Cyrus, to cast Babylon’s inhabitants into the air, as it were, so that the wind would catch them and blow them away as chaff. (Jer. 51:2; compare Matthew 3:11, 12) Jeremiah, chapter fifty-one, to which we will now make primary reference, goes on to describe Babylon’s sins and her judgment.

Babylon felt that her gods were strong, especially her god Merodach (who represented Nimrod), and that her army was invincible. On the other hand, she reasoned, Israel, Jehovah’s nation, had no real God to protect her, no husband, and was like a widow. But Israel’s God was very much alive and able to prove that he was still the Husband and Protector of his people. Not realizing this, Babylon had shown no compassion for Jehovah’s people when destroying Jerusalem and its temple in 607 B.C.E. Therefore no compassion was to be shown her as Jehovah repaid her for cutting his people to pieces. (Jer. 51:3-5; Isa. 54:5-7) This fact would be a good thing for nations to know, who treat Jehovah’s people on earth just as they please, as though they had no Protector and Caretaker in the heavens above.

Some rulers today may become powerful enough to make the world reel. They should remember that Babylon was a powerful nation, powerful enough to make all other nations drunk, crazed from getting a taste of her destructive power. She even held God’s people in captivity. She thought she would stand forever. But she was full of the error of false religion. This error rendered her weak and eventually inanimate. In the meantime the Israelite captives were required to detach themselves from her error, not getting involved in her false religion and her greedy materialism, thereby sharing in her guiltiness and becoming inanimate with her when she would be made inanimate in her day of calamity. They must be ready when Babylon fell to move quickly, to return to reestablish true worship in Jerusalem or Zion.—Jer. 51:6, 7.

SOVEREIGN GOD AVENGES INJUSTICES

One may wonder why idolatrous Babylon ever came to hold Jehovah’s people in captivity. This came about because of the sin into which the kingdom of Judah had fallen. Judah was warned repeatedly. The fall of the neighboring ten-tribe kingdom of Israel to Assyria in 740 B.C.E. should have shaken her to her senses, but Judah rebelled against God’s sovereignty and became extremely corrupt, to the point that Jehovah had to chastise the nation. Babylon succeeded Assyria as the Third World Power. God permitted this. Nevertheless, he would have protected his people from being swallowed up by her, but because of Judah’s sins he used Babylon as a convenient instrument of punishment. From Babylon’s viewpoint, however, she did what she did because of pursuance of her selfish schemes for complete world domination and committed ungodliness, wickedness, cruelty and greediness and was especially puffed up against Jehovah, praising her god Merodach and taking vengeful spite out on Jehovah’s people. She, in turn, had to drink the cup of the wine of Jehovah’s rage.

In this fifty-first chapter of Jeremiah, a prophecy given in 614 B.C.E., seventy-five years before her fall, Jehovah taunts Babylon in advance, telling the nations to try to ease her pain with some balsam, but he says she cannot be healed. Why? Well, her wickedness had been great already because of her idolatry, but now, because of her treatment of Jehovah’s people and his temple, including the willful desecration of the temple vessels, her sins had piled up until her judgment reached into the heavens. So Jehovah had to call her to account in harmony with his quality of righteousness. Therefore, in settling the account with her he did so with deeds of righteousness that his people could later recount to his praise.—Jer. 51:8-10.

O how boastful the Babylonians had been toward Jehovah when they thought they had done something great against him by destroying his temple in Jerusalem! Therefore it was a requirement of justice for him to bring Babylon down to the dust. For this he used another instrument, the armies of the Medes and Persians. The action actually transferred world power to them, but they did not realize that they were being used by Him. They thought it was their idea. Little did they know that it was Jehovah’s command that caused them to ‘polish their arrows’ against Babylon so they would penetrate more deeply, and to ‘fill their circular shields’ by getting the bodies of thousands of their warriors behind the shields for protection and moving forward to the attack. It was an idea that Jehovah had formed and expressed even back in the time of the prophet Isaiah, and it had to be carried out against Babylon’s inhabitants. His temple, in ruins, had to be avenged.—Jer. 51:11, 12.

Babylon, misled by her many idol images, practiced demon religion and was therefore like the one whom she worshiped, Satan the Devil. So what she did in subjugating the nations was out of greed, to enrich herself and to exploit these nations for her own selfish benefit and for the praise of her gods. Might God possibly let her go or favor her because of her greatness and wealth? Her treasures would mean nothing to God and he could not be bribed by these to withhold his vengeance upon her. So determined was he that he swore by his own soul to fill Babylon with conquerors like locusts for number. Swearing by his own soul would indicate that he, who had the power to create the earth and all living things upon it and all the power in the universe to bring rains, winds and phenomena, which the gods of Babylon were powerless to do in the least measure, would be fully behind this, Babylon’s destruction. She really did not have a chance to escape.—Jer. 51:13-18.

A “BURNT-OUT MOUNTAIN”

Babylon from the very start had no share in Jehovah, and wanted none, just as nations today who want no part in Jehovah’s worship. Babylon’s founder Nimrod desired no inheritance in him. (Gen. 10:8-10) Because of Jehovah’s faithful friend Abraham and his descendants Isaac and Jacob, God selected the nation of Jacob and thus Jacob (Israel) was his inheritance to praise him and be his witnesses. He was the staff for support of the nation of Israel, and it could lean on him. (Jer. 51:19; Deut. 7:7, 8; 2 Ki. 13:23; Isa. 43:1, 10-12, 21) Israel’s sole hopes for survival or restoration as a nation hinged on their loyalty to Jehovah. When they rebelled, even they could not stand. The prophecy at Jeremiah 51:20-24, addressed to Nebuchadnezzar, proves that Babylon was merely Jehovah’s weapon to destroy Jerusalem because of Jerusalem’s sins and as a weapon to wreak vengeance on other nations that opposed God and hated his people. However, because of Babylon’s vicious badness displayed in destroying Zion, she, in turn, had to fall in a far more permanent way. He addresses her as the Third World Power and decrees that she cannot continue standing, because of opposing him, saying: “ ‘Here I am against you, O ruinous mountain,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘you ruiner of the whole earth; and I will stretch out my hand against you and roll you away from the crags and make you a burnt-out mountain.’” (Jer. 51:25) Whether likening Babylon to a volcano overflowing with lava or likening her to a mountain as a symbol of political government, the Almighty God’s judgment is here made clear.

As to the symbolic application, Revelation 17:9, 10 speaks of seven mountains where the woman sits on top: “And there are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet arrived.” The Babylonish empire was one of those five kingly mountains that had fallen in the apostle John’s time, but she was more ruinous than the two mountains, Egypt and Assyria, that had preceded her, the first two world powers of Bible history. But though she towered above the crags, Jehovah could push her over, for he has “weighed with an indicator the mountains, and the hills in the scales,” and, to him, “the nations are as a drop from a bucket.” (Isa. 40:12, 15) So in 539 B.C.E. he would throw Babylon down from her lofty position. Like nuclear fire the fire of his judgment would burn her through and through so that in her debased position she no longer would have the strength and fixedness of a towering, deep-rooted mountain. She would be burnt-out and destined to crumble to ashes. As the initial stage of his burning her, he commands the armies of Cyrus, as was the custom in those days, to sanctify themselves for the warfare. These included the “kingdoms of Ararat, Minni and Ashkenaz,” apparently territories Cyrus had conquered. From all Cyrus’ dominion they were called, “like bristly locusts” for number. Really, unknowingly they would act as Jehovah’s “sanctified ones.” Defeat at the hands of these armies would be only the start of Babylon’s downward course until finally she would become a desolate waste to time indefinite. (Jer. 51:26-29) It has come true, for now only ruins that have been dug up or uncovered in modern times are left, being a mere tourist attraction at which the train makes a temporary halt.

BABYLON’S DECAY SETS IN

Babylon’s bad course of action had brought on national weakness and decay. On the night of Babylon’s fall many of the warriors were too drunk to rise up to fight and were killed as they lay in their armor. (Jer. 51:3) The others were fearful and became like women, taking to flight. (Jer. 51:30) The inhabitants of Babylon had a preview of this weakness of her warriors before Babylon fell, as we read in The Encyclopedia Americana:

Nabonidus, last king of Babylon . . . fought a battle within sight of Babylon, was utterly defeated, and then, while most of his army found safety within the great walls, he himself with a small force entered Borsippa, an important town southwest of Babylon; possibly hoping by this movement to force Cyrus to divide the Persian host. His stepson Belshazzar (Bilshar-uzur), . . . apparently cosovereign, conducted the defense of Babylon. After the fall of the capital, Nabonidus surrendered, was kindly treated by Cyrus, and even made governor of the province of Carmania.b

However, not only were the soldiers weak and in a panic to flee to what they thought was safety behind Babylon’s walls, but King Belshazzar himself, after hearing the interpretation of the handwriting on the wall, became terrified and this terror turned to despair when, a while later, the runners came from different parts of the city to report that the city had been captured at every end, the fords were seized and the papyrus boats were burned to prevent the escape of the Babylonians.—Jer. 51:31, 32.

Jehovah likened Nebuchadnezzar to a great snake in that he ‘swallowed down’ his people. He had acted like the dragon or sirrush, which was a symbol of the god Marduk or Merodach whom he worshiped. He filled himself with the Jewish nation’s pleasant things, the precious utensils of Jehovah’s holy temple in particular. He wrenched the nation off its home territory as if it were something unclean. This brought bloodguilt upon his nation and she must pay for it by being trampled like the mire of the streets and brought into the lowest shame, crushed to pieces by the symbolic threshing and stamped down solid like a threshing floor. The prayer Zion made must be answered, for Jehovah to pay back Babylon with the same kind of treatment that she had meted out to Zion and spill the blood of her inhabitants to settle the account. Let it be noted, however, that the captive Israelites did not do any threshing themselves, just as none of God’s people shares in a fight against the nations. It was Cyrus’ armies God used, just as he will use the heavenly, angelic armies of the Greater Cyrus, Jesus Christ, to carry out his vengeance on Babylon the Great and all those who remain under her influence.—Jer. 51:33-35.

WHAT IT MEANS TO US

In our modern time Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion, has misled the nations, and according to the prophecy in Revelation, will lead them into a fight with God. (Rev. 17:5, 9, 14) Opposing God, they bring bloodguilt upon themselves and so have to be threshed: first of all, Great Babylon, the mighty world empire of false religion, as foretold in the prophecies of Micah and Revelation; afterward, the political nations that have allowed Babylon the Great to influence them against Jehovah’s sovereignty and the proclamation of it by his witnesses. It is a God-ordained principle that “righteousness is what exalts a nation, but sin is something disgraceful to national groups.” A national group that brings such disgrace on itself is sure to go into ruin, for “wicked people will turn back to Sheol, even all the nations forgetting God.”—Prov. 14:34; Ps. 9:17.

Whatever course nations may take, individuals can escape from Babylon the Great now, just as the Jews escaped in 537 B.C.E., by considering seriously what God’s Word says about her. They can detach themselves—flee from the midst of her for their lives to avoid partaking of her sins and receiving of her plagues. This quick action is the only way to deliverance from everlasting destruction.—Rev. 18:4.

[Footnotes]

Praise Jehovah in Song

WHAT a pleasure it is to hear many happy voices raised and blending in melodious song! And especially for dedicated Christians is it a pleasure when such voices are raised in praise of Jehovah God, the Creator. Yes, the most noble use to which the human voice can be put is in praise of Jehovah God, the One who made the human voice with its capacity for song and endowed human creatures with the ability to compose music.

Most fittingly, singing by large choirs was a part of the formal temple worship among the ancient Israelites. They occupied no mean place in temple service, as can be seen by references to them in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, upward of twenty times. In the book of Psalms, which is really composed of songs, we find some 130 references to singing and songs and as many references in the rest of the Scriptures. And is not the book of Psalms the largest of the sixty-six books of the Bible?

When the time came for Christianity to replace the worship of Jehovah under the Law we likewise find reference made to music. Thus when Jesus and his apostles had completed the celebration of the first Lord’s evening meal, we read that they sang praises and then went out into the garden of Gethsemane.—Matt. 26:30.

The apostle Paul appreciated the value and importance of Christians’ singing, even as seen from his instructions to the Christians at Colossae: “Let the word of the Christ reside in you richly in all wisdom. Keep on teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, praises to God, spiritual songs with graciousness.” By singing aloud the fine sentiments that appear in such songs—and the songs sung by Jehovah’s witnesses at their meetings are not mere beautiful-sounding phrases but are filled with Scriptural examples of praise and weighty admonition—we will be “admonishing one another,” not just ourselves.—Col. 3:16.

No question about it, congregational singing is a beneficial part of the pure worship of the Christian witnesses of Jehovah. It is no mere formalism, but is singing that is to be entered into wholeheartedly by all in attendance. Why, such singing is often the only active part some are privileged to take at gatherings of God’s people; this being especially true of the larger assemblies, where perhaps not one in a hundred has opportunity to admonish from the platform or otherwise take an active part in the worship.

Since singing is a form of worship of Jehovah and one of the means by which we can admonish others as well as ourselves, Christians should guard against becoming careless or indifferent regarding it. Just as in prayer; when public prayer is offered at a gathering of the servants of Jehovah, we do not occupy our minds and hands with other things, but stand silent and attentive, so as to enter into the spirit of the prayer. So with our songs when there is congregational singing, we give them our attention, in this case by wholehearted singing.

Therefore, let all Christians enter heartily into the singing of Kingdom songs at their gatherings for worship, be they large or small. We cannot think otherwise than that Jehovah God is pleased to hear his earthly servants praise him in song, and certainly we can never praise him enough for all he has done for us. So let us not neglect this form of praise and thanksgiving. Nor to be overlooked is the blessing of singing together. Christians cannot help but benefit from joining in songs of praise. And even though they may not feel like singing at the time, perhaps because they are rather tired, without a doubt if they enter into the singing to the best of their ability it will help to revive them both physically and spiritually.

It is also well to remember that it is not the size of the congregation nor the natural or cultivated ability to sing that is important, but the joining in singing from the heart, with one’s mind on what one is singing, even as is the case in prayer. It is such singing that brings praise to Jehovah as well as blessings to those who take part in it.

A great aid in such singing is an instrumental accompaniment. However, a piano is not indispensable. A violin, guitar, or even a mouth organ can serve well, and in many places such instruments are used.

So let all praise Jehovah in song, doing so in a manner that will bring honor to Him and a blessing to those singing!

Make Our Discipleship Known by Brotherly Love

BECAUSE of rioting in a certain Nigerian town a couple fled to Port Harcourt. There the husband, who had recently begun to study the Bible with the witnesses of Jehovah, was able to find shelter among them. His wife, who was very much opposed to the Witnesses, sought in vain to find a haven with the members of her own religion. In the end she was glad to accept the hospitality offered by the Witnesses. Because of this I expression of love, this couple, as well as I the leader of the wife’s erstwhile religious group, have taken their stand for Jehovah and his kingdom.

But is that not the way it should be? It is, for Jesus said: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.”—John 13:35.a

The Christian Greek Scriptures abound with examples of such love among the early followers of Jesus. It continued for a time after the death of the apostles. Thus historians tell that those Christians considered one another as brothers and were willing even to die for one another.

How can we in this twentieth century show this Christian brotherly love in a practical way? First of all by faithfully attending all the congregational meetings if we are at all able to do so. “Love is long-suffering and kind. . . . It bears all things, believes . . . hopes . . . endures all things.” But how can it do that if a person does not even associate with his brothers? Only by associating with our brothers can we even have the opportunity to show brotherly kindness, as by friendly greetings. When we come together at meetings we can also encourage one another by our comments on the lesson.—1 Cor. 13:4, 7; Heb. 10:23-25.

We can also manifest brotherly love by assisting the weak and inexperienced ones in the ministry. Do not begrudge the time and effort this takes, for, remember, love “does not look for its own interests,” but is willing to inconvenience itself for the sake of helping others.—1 Cor. 13:5.

Still another way of showing brotherly love is by praying for one another. Prayer unites Christians, even as can be seen from the experience Paul had at Ephesus, as well as from his many references in his letters to his praying for others.—Acts 20:36-38; Rom. 1:9-12; Eph. 1:15-19; Phil. 1:3, 4; Col. 1:9-12.

Nor should we overlook the opportunity to show Christian brotherly love by seeking to build one another up at social gatherings. At such times let us take care not to act indecently, and not to rejoice in unrighteousness but to rejoice with the truth. This we can do by means of Bible games and telling of experiences in the ministry, or telling how we became Witnesses.—1 Cor. 13:5, 6.

Brotherly love by which we can make our discipleship known, however, is by no means limited to spiritual assistance. If our brothers are in need of material help because of reverses, sickness, old age or because of the demands that the ministry makes upon their time, let us come to their aid to the extent we are able to do so.—1 John 3:17, 18.

Yes, in all such ways and in other ways too, we can make our discipleship known by brotherly love, by which we can give proof to all that we are indeed Christ’s disciples. The apostle Paul manifested this love by his ministry in person as well as by means of his letters. As he once wrote to Christians who were coming short in this regard: “Our mouth has been opened to you, Corinthians, our heart has widened out. You are not cramped for room within us . . . So, as a recompense in return—I speak as to children—you, too, widen out.” By those words is not Paul implying that love and maturity go hand in hand? So let us show ourselves mature by widening out in our hearts toward our Christian brothers.—2 Cor. 6:11-13.

Truly, “love never fails.” And why does it never fail? Because, as the Shulammite maiden well said: “Love is as strong as death is . . . Its blazings are the blazings of a fire, the flame of Jah. Many waters themselves are not able to extinguish love, nor can rivers themselves wash it away.”—1 Cor. 13:8; Song of Sol. 8:6, 7.

“God is love,” and since he is eternal, love will never end. Being made in his image, we are capable of exercising unselfish love, and only by doing so can we hope to reap life eternal. Brotherly love is something we will always need to exercise, for it is a debt we will never be able to pay in full. But by always paying on this debt we can, during this present wicked system of things, make our discipleship known to unbelievers in a most favorable way.—1 John 4:8; Rom. 13:8.

[Footnotes]

Loving Attitude Overcomes Opposition

◆ A young man in the Philippine Islands became the only one in his family to accept the truth about God’s kingdom. When he became one of Jehovah’s witnesses, he soon faced severe opposition from his wife. He stated: “The opposition was so fierce at times that I felt I could not go on, but I was strengthened by scriptures such as Romans 12:21: ‘Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good.’

“After my dedication and baptism my wife’s hatred of the Bible truths as taught by the Witnesses became more intense. When she saw me regularly attending congregational meetings and sharing in ministerial activity, she told me that if I did not stop attending the meetings she would go to the Kingdom Hall and cause a scene in front of all the other Witnesses to embarrass me. Still I did not retaliate or get angry but showed a loving attitude and continued my service to Jehovah.

“During the next few months my wife did her best to hinder my ministerial work. She refused to wash and iron my clothes or to prepare my food when I was going out in the field ministry. Instead of repaying her in the same way, I remembered the scripture in Romans and showed her even more loving consideration than ever before. I helped her in home duties and did not complain when I had to prepare my own food and clothes. As a result of this loving attitude, she began to realize that I was practicing right Christian conduct and she changed her entire attitude. Now she cooperates in helping me prepare for meetings and is happy that I am serving Jehovah. You can imagine my joy at this time to see her studying the Bible along with me.”

Questions From Readers

● In speaking of Jehovah God, Psalm 104:3 says: “The One building his upper chambers with beams in the very waters, making the clouds his chariot.” How can God be said to be building in “the very waters”?

Psalm 104:3, together with its context, has reference to things above; that is, to things higher than the earth and which are in the heavens. Hence this verse speaks of Jehovah as building his upper chambers with beams. These may be said to be in the very waters, inasmuch as the clouds that bear water float about in the upper atmospheric regions or in Jehovah’s upper chambers, as compared with man away down on the earth. Thus it is added in poetic language that Jehovah makes the clouds his chariot upon which to ride.

● How can it be said that God’s visible organization was made strictly theocratic or was fully theocratic in structure by 1938, when there are revisions and changes from time to time in organization instructions?

First of all, we must recognize what is meant when we say God’s visible organization was made strictly or fully theocratic. The term “theocracy” means “God rule” or “rule by God.” Therefore, if an organization is to be fully theocratic it must be directed and controlled altogether by God or by the forces that he operates. Of course, Jehovah was directing his organization before 1938, and it was accomplishing his purpose for that time, but he allowed his servants considerable latitude as to the control of the organization, even permitting them to elect by democratic vote those who would serve as their representatives. However, this was not the way the early congregation operated in the days of the apostles. It was the apostles themselves, not the congregation, who made appointments to service positions and it was through the apostles that the active force of God was transmitted. (Acts 14:23; 19:6) Also, it was the governing body of the apostles and older men at Jerusalem, moved by God’s spirit, who made decisions as to how the congregations were to conduct themselves. (Acts 15:28) So, after Jehovah came to his temple in 1918, he began to restore this fully theocratic arrangement and to put into effect stricter controls on the visible organization. It was a gradual process; so it was not until 1932 that the untheocratic, democratic method of voting men into eldership was stopped.

This strengthening of theocratic controls continued over a period of twenty years, from 1918 to 1938, and corresponds to the twenty-year building program of Solomon, in which time he completed Jehovah’s temple, his own house, the porch of judgment and the House of the Forest of Lebanon or the armory. In 1938 Jehovah revealed this correspondency to his servants and it was published in The Watchtower in a two-part article entitled “Organization.” This appeared in the issues of June 1 and 15 and proved conclusively that Jehovah’s organization must henceforth be guided and directed by Jehovah’s spirit through the visible governing body made up of those servants whom Jehovah himself would appoint. The concluding paragraph in this series stated: “Jehovah’s theocratic government is now in full control of the people of God.”

But this did not mean that the organization would stand still or that new projects or new methods of performing service would not be initiated. On the contrary. In these same articles on “Organization,” The Watchtower called to our attention that after Solomon completed his twenty-year building he embarked on a nationwide building program. How this was to be done in fulfillment of the type, or what it was to accomplish, was not then known, but The Watchtower said: “With full confidence we will wait, and we shall see.” Today we are seeing some of the results of the worldwide building program of the Greater Solomon, Jesus Christ, and as we view what has been accomplished we realize that it could be only by God’s spirit and through a growth and development of God’s people themselves. New features of the work have required new methods, which has meant revisions and changes from time to time in organization instructions, but it is all a part of the advancement of Jehovah’s theocratically controlled organization under the immediate direction of Jehovah God himself. Therefore, these revisions and changes are themselves fully theocratic, so they do not alter in any way the fully theocratic structure of the organization.

Announcements

FIELD MINISTRY

Since Jehovah God loved the world of mankind so much that he gave his only-begotten Son to die on their behalf, those who appreciate that love are likewise under obligation to manifest love. This love moves them to serve God, to expend themselves on behalf of fellow believers, and to carry to others the good news about God’s loving provisions for all mankind. For that reason, Jehovah’s witnesses will continue to call at the homes of people everywhere to discuss the Bible with them, and during June they will be offering the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures and the book “All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial,” with two booklets, for $2.

IS PEACE POSSIBLE?

Peace is the desire of all people, yet the nations of this world have not been able to attain it, not even within the borders of individual nations. So commonplace has violence become that many persons view it as an inevitable evil of life. But is it? Will conditions never change? For your peace of mind and assurance of future happiness send for and read the beautifully illustrated hardbound book From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained. It is only 75c.

EUROPEAN ASSEMBLIES

Conventions featuring instruction in God’s Word of Truth are being sponsored by the Watch Tower Society in many parts of the world this year. You are welcome to attend. Admission is free. The dates and locations for the European assemblies are as follows:

June 9-13: Tolka Park, Dublin, Eire; Scottish Rugby Union, Edinburgh, Scotland.

June 17-20: Ullevål Stadion, Oslo, Norway.

June 23-27: Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland.

June 30-July 4: Feyenoord Stadium, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

July 7-11: Palais des Expositions, Charleroi, Belgium; Exhibition Hall, Luxembourg, Luxembourg.

July 14-18: Sportfeld St. Jakob, Basel, Switzerland; Stadhalle, Vienna, Austria.

July 21-25: Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS

July 4: Joyfulness All the Day Long. Page 328.

July 11: Increase Your Praise of Jehovah! Page 334.