1, 2. (a) Why is it so important to “be vigilant with a view to prayers”? (b) What questions about prayer should we ask ourselves?

“THE most difficult time of the night to stay awake is just before the dawn of a new day,” says a man who used to be a night worker. Others who have to stay awake all night would probably agree with him. We can compare this to the time we are living in. We are at the very end of Satan’s world. It is like the darkest moment of the night, and Christians today need to fight to stay awake. (Romans 13:12) To fall asleep spiritually would be very dangerous. It is necessary that we “be sound in mind” and that we continue to “be vigilant with a view to prayers.”​—1 Peter 4:7.

² Because we are so close to the end of Satan’s world, it is wise to ask ourselves: ‘How much attention do I give to my prayers? Do I use every form, or type, of prayer, and do I pray continually? Do I often pray for others, or do I pray only about the things I need or want? How important is prayer for my salvation?’

CARRY ON EVERY TYPE OF PRAYER

3. What are some types of prayer?

³ When Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he mentioned “every form of prayer.” (Ephesians 6:18) When we pray to Jehovah, we often ask him to give us what we need and to help us solve our problems. The Bible says that he is the “Hearer of prayer,” and because he loves us, he listens when we ask for help. (Psalm 65:2) But when we pray, we should not only ask for the things we need. We should also praise Jehovah, thank him, and supplicate him.

4. Why should we often praise Jehovah in our prayers?

⁴ There are many reasons why we should praise Jehovah in our prayers. For example, we want to praise him when we think of “his works of mightiness” and “the abundance of his greatness.” (Read Psalm 150:1-6.) Just look at Psalm 150. In six verses, it mentions praising Jehovah 13 times. Another writer of the Psalms showed his deep love for Jehovah when he sang: “Seven times in the day I have praised you because of your righteous judicial decisions.” (Psalm 119:164) Jehovah surely deserves to be praised. So we should praise him in our prayers “seven times in the day,” that is, very often.

5. How is being thankful in our prayers a protection?

⁵ Another type of prayer is thanksgiving. In his letter to the Christians in the city of Philippi, Paul wrote: “Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6) Because we live in the last days of Satan’s world and are surrounded by people who are “unthankful,” it is important for us to thank Jehovah from our heart for all of his blessings so that we do not become like the world. (2 Timothy 3:1, 2) The world is dominated by an unthankful attitude. If we are not careful, we can begin to imitate that attitude. But if we are thankful when we pray, we will be happy and will not complain about our life. (Jude 16) When family heads pray with their families and include thanksgiving in their prayers, it will encourage their wives and children to be thankful.

6, 7. What is supplication? What may we supplicate Jehovah for?

⁶ Supplication is sincere prayer with intense emotion. What may we supplicate Jehovah for? We can ask Jehovah for his help when we are being persecuted or when we have an illness that threatens our life. At times like these, it is understandable that we would beg Jehovah for help. But should we do this only when we are being persecuted or when we are sick?

⁷ To help us answer this question, let us consider what Jesus said in his model prayer when he spoke about God’s name, God’s Kingdom, and God’s will. (Read Matthew 6:9, 10.) There is so much wickedness in this world, and the governments cannot give people even the most basic things they need. This gives us good reason to supplicate God for his name to be sanctified and for his Kingdom to remove Satan’s rule from the earth. This is also the time to pray to Jehovah to have his will done on earth as it is being done in heaven. So we should stay vigilant and use all types of prayer.

“PRAY CONTINUALLY”

8, 9. Why should we not judge Peter and the other apostles for falling asleep in the garden of Gethsemane?

⁸ Peter wrote to Christians to “be vigilant with a view to prayers,” but at least on one occasion, he himself had not done that. He was one of the disciples who fell asleep while Jesus was praying in the garden of Gethsemane. Even though Jesus had told them to “keep on the watch and pray continually,” they fell asleep.​—Read Matthew 26:40-45.

⁹ Instead of judging Peter and the other apostles for falling asleep, we should remember that they were very tired because of everything they did that day. They prepared and celebrated the Passover that evening. Then Jesus gave instructions for the Lord’s Evening Meal so that his disciples would know how they should observe the Memorial of his death. (1 Corinthians 11:23-25) The Bible says that “after singing praises, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” To get there, they had to walk through the streets of Jerusalem. (Matthew 26:30, 36) By then, it was probably long after midnight. If we had been in the garden of Gethsemane that night, we too might have fallen asleep. Jesus did not criticize his tired apostles. Instead, he recognized that “the spirit . . . is eager, but the flesh is weak.”

10, 11. (a) What did Peter learn from his experience in the garden of Gethsemane? (b) What do you learn from Peter’s experience?

¹⁰ Peter learned a painful but very important lesson the night he fell asleep in the garden of Gethsemane. Earlier Jesus had said: “All of you will be stumbled in connection with me on this night.” But Peter answered: “Although all the others are stumbled in connection with you, never will I be stumbled!” Jesus then said that Peter would deny him three times. But Peter did not believe him and said: “Even if I should have to die with you, I will by no means disown you.” (Matthew 26:31-35) Jesus’ words came true when Peter later denied knowing him. When he realized what he had done, Peter felt so bad that he “wept bitterly.”​—Luke 22:60-62.

¹¹ From his experience, Peter learned not to trust so much in himself. Prayer helped him with this. How do we know? Because it was Peter who wrote that we should “be vigilant with a view to prayers.” Do we listen to this Bible counsel? Do we pray continually, showing that we depend on Jehovah? (Psalm 85:8) We should also apply Paul’s counsel: “Let him that thinks he is standing beware that he does not fall.”​—1 Corinthians 10:12.

NEHEMIAH’S PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED

12. Why is Nehemiah a good example for us?

¹² Another good example is Nehemiah. He was the cupbearer to Persian King Artaxerxes about 450 years before Christ. Nehemiah prayed to Jehovah with his whole heart. The Bible says that he had been fasting and praying for days about the difficult situation of the Jews in Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 1:4) When Artaxerxes asked him why he was looking sad, Nehemiah immediately “prayed to the God of the heavens.” (Nehemiah 2:2-4) What was the result? Jehovah answered his prayers in a way that helped His people. (Nehemiah 2:5, 6) This experience must have strengthened Nehemiah’s faith!

13, 14. What should we do to have strong faith and not allow Satan’s efforts to discourage us?

¹³ If we pray continually as Nehemiah did, it will help us to have strong faith. Satan has no mercy, and he often attacks us when we are weak. For example, if we have a serious illness or if we are very depressed, we may begin to feel that God does not value the time we use to preach each month. Some of us have thoughts that may be very distressing, perhaps because of bad experiences we have had in the past. Satan wants us to believe that we are worthless. He tries to use these negative feelings to weaken our faith. But if we are “vigilant with a view to prayers,” we can have strong faith. The Bible says that our faith is like a large shield that will make it possible for us to stop “all the wicked one’s burning missiles.”​—Ephesians 6:16.

¹⁴ If we are “vigilant with a view to prayers,” we will not be taken by surprise by a test and be unfaithful to Jehovah. When we face tests and trials, we should remember Nehemiah’s example and immediately pray to God. It is only with Jehovah’s help that we can resist temptations and endure tests of our faith.

PRAY FOR OTHERS

15. What should we ask ourselves about praying for others?

¹⁵ Jesus prayed intensely for Peter so that the apostle’s faith would not fail. (Luke 22:32) The Christian called Epaphras, who lived in the first century, imitated Jesus’ example. Epaphras made efforts to pray for his brothers in Colossae. Paul wrote to them: “He prays hard for you all the time, that you may stand fast, ripe in conviction and wholly devoted to doing God’s will.” (Colossians 4:12, The New English Bible) We should ask ourselves: ‘Do I make a real effort to pray for my brothers around the world? How often do I pray for my brothers and sisters who have suffered because of a natural disaster? When was the last time I made an effort to pray for those who have heavy responsibilities in Jehovah’s organization? Have I recently prayed for someone in the congregation who is having difficulties?’

16. Does it matter if we pray for our brothers and sisters? Explain why.

¹⁶ Our prayers to Jehovah for our brothers and sisters can truly help them. (Read 2 Corinthians 1:11.) Jehovah does not have to act because many of his servants pray for something again and again. But he is happy to see their genuine interest in one another as he answers their prayers. So we should take our responsibility to pray for others seriously. We should imitate Epaphras and show love for our Christian brothers and sisters by making the effort to pray for them. If we do this, we will be happier, because “there is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.”​—Acts 20:35.

‘OUR SALVATION IS NEAR’

17, 18. How will it help us if we are “vigilant with a view to prayers”?

¹⁷ Just before Paul said that “the night is well along; the day has drawn near,” he wrote: “You people know the season, that it is already the hour for you to awake from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than at the time when we became believers.” (Romans 13:11, 12) God’s new world is near, and our salvation is closer than we may think. This is not the time to fall asleep spiritually. We should never allow this world to take away the time we need to be alone to pray to Jehovah. Instead, we need to “be vigilant with a view to prayers.” If we do that, it will help us to have “holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion” as we wait for the day of Jehovah. (2 Peter 3:11, 12) The way we live our life will show if we are awake spiritually and if we really believe that the end of this wicked world is near. We must “pray incessantly.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) We should imitate Jesus and find a place where we can be alone to pray to Jehovah. If we take enough time to pray to Jehovah, it will draw us closer to him. (James 4:7, 8) This will be a wonderful blessing!

¹⁸ The Bible says: “In the days of his flesh Christ offered up supplications and also petitions to the One who was able to save him out of death, with strong outcries and tears, and he was favorably heard for his godly fear.” (Hebrews 5:7) Jesus supplicated Jehovah and made petitions to Him, and he stayed faithful to God to the end of his life here on earth. Because of Jesus’ faithfulness, Jehovah resurrected his Son and gave him immortal life in heaven. We too can be faithful to our heavenly Father no matter what temptations or trials we will have to face in the future. If we are “vigilant with a view to prayers,” we can have the prize of eternal life.

1. What could make us impatient?

THE last days of Satan’s system began in 1914 when Christ was made King in heaven. That year, a war started in heaven, and at some point Jesus threw the Devil and his demons down to the earth. (Read Revelation 12:7-9.) Satan knows that he has only “a short period of time” left. (Revelation 12:12) But this “short period” has lasted longer than some of us expected. Have we become impatient while we wait for Jehovah to bring Satan’s system to an end?

2. What questions will this article answer?

² It can be dangerous to be impatient. Why? Because when we are impatient, we might do things without first thinking carefully. So, what can help us to have a waiting attitude? This article will help us by answering the following questions. (1) What can we learn about patience from the example of the prophet Micah? (2) What events will be the signal that the end is near? (3) How can we show that we are grateful for Jehovah’s patience?

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM MICAH’S EXAMPLE?

3. What were conditions like in Israel during Micah’s time?

³ Read Micah 7:2-6. Jehovah’s prophet Micah saw the Israelites become less and less faithful to Jehovah, and during the rule of King Ahaz, they became extremely unfaithful. Micah compared the unfaithful Israelites to a plant with thorns that can injure a person. Those Israelites were like that plant because they treated others badly, causing them harm. The situation was so bad that even family members did not love one another anymore. Micah understood that he could not change the situation himself, so he prayed to Jehovah with his whole heart. Then he waited patiently for God to act. Micah was sure that Jehovah would correct the situation in His own time.

4. What difficulties do we have?

⁴ Like Micah, we too have to live among selfish people. Many are “unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection.” (2 Timothy 3:2, 3) It may make our life very stressful when workmates, schoolmates, and neighbors show a selfish attitude. But some of us have an even bigger challenge. Jesus said that his followers would have opposition from their family. His words are similar to what we read at Micah 7:6. Jesus said: “I came to cause division, with a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a young wife against her mother-in-law. Indeed, a man’s enemies will be persons of his own household.” (Matthew 10:35, 36) It can be very difficult when family members who do not serve Jehovah make fun of us and oppose us. If this is our situation, we should not give in to this pressure. Instead, we must remain loyal to Jehovah and patiently wait for him to correct the situation. If we continue praying for his help, he will give us the strength and wisdom we need to remain faithful to him.

5, 6. How did Jehovah bless Micah? What did Micah not see happen?

⁵ Jehovah rewarded Micah for his patience. Micah saw the end of wicked King Ahaz and his rule. He saw Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, become king and help the Israelites return to pure worship. Micah also saw how the prophecy he had written about Samaria was fulfilled when the Assyrians invaded the northern kingdom of Israel.​—Micah 1:6.

⁶ But Micah died before he could see the fulfillment of all the prophecies Jehovah had inspired him to write. For example, Micah wrote: “In the final part of the days . . . the mountain of the house of Jehovah will become firmly established above the top of the mountains, and it will certainly be lifted up above the hills; and to it peoples must stream. And many nations will certainly go and say: ‘Come, you people, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah.’” (Micah 4:1, 2) Micah was determined to remain loyal to Jehovah even to death, no matter what people around him did. He wrote: “All the peoples, for their part, will walk each one in the name of its god; but we, for our part, shall walk in the name of Jehovah our God to time indefinite, even forever.” (Micah 4:5) Micah waited patiently during difficult times because he was sure that Jehovah would fulfill all of His promises. The faithful prophet trusted in Jehovah.

7, 8. (a) What reason do we have to trust in Jehovah? (b) What will make time seem to pass more quickly?

⁷ Do we trust in Jehovah as Micah did? We have good reason to do so. We have seen the fulfillment of Micah’s prophecy. During these last days, millions of people from all nations and tribes and tongues have come to “the mountain of the house of Jehovah.” Even though they are from nations that often fight one another, these worshippers have beaten “their swords into plowshares,” and they refuse to “learn war anymore.” (Micah 4:3) It is a great honor to be one of Jehovah’s peaceful people!

⁸ We all want Jehovah to bring an end to this wicked system soon. But for us to wait patiently, we need to think the way Jehovah thinks. He has chosen Jesus Christ to judge people, and He has already set a day to do this. (Acts 17:31) But before that day comes, God is giving all people the opportunity to get “accurate knowledge of truth,” to apply what they learn, and to be saved. We need to remember that lives are in danger. (Read 1 Timothy 2:3, 4.) Soon, the end will come. If we are busy helping people to get to know Jehovah, it will seem that the time left is passing more quickly. And when the end comes, we will be glad that we kept busy in the preaching work!

WHAT EVENTS WILL BE THE SIGNAL THAT THE END IS NEAR?

9-11. Has 1 Thessalonians 5:3 been fulfilled? Explain.

⁹ Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3. Soon, the nations will say “Peace and security!” If we do not want to be deceived by this, we need to “stay awake and keep our senses.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6) We will now discuss some events that have prepared the way for this important announcement.

¹⁰ After each of the two world wars, the nations desperately wanted peace. After the first world war, the League of Nations was formed to bring peace. Later, after the second world war, people hoped that the United Nations could bring peace. Government and religious leaders have trusted in those two organizations. For example, the United Nations declared 1986 as an International Year of Peace. That year, many political and religious leaders met with the head of the Catholic Church to pray for peace.

¹¹ However, that announcement and others like it did not fulfill the prophecy at 1 Thessalonians 5:3 about “peace and security.” Why not? Because “sudden destruction” has not yet happened.

12. What do we know about the announcement of “Peace and security”?

¹² Who will make this significant future announcement of “Peace and security”? What role will the leaders of Christendom and of other religions have in this? How will the governments be involved? The Bible does not tell us. What we do know is that no matter how this announcement is made and how convincing it sounds, there will not be true “peace and security.” Satan will still be in control of this system. It is completely rotten and will not change. It would be very sad if we believed this satanic propaganda and did not stay neutral!

13. Why are angels holding back the winds of destruction?

¹³ Read Revelation 7:1-4. While we wait for 1 Thessalonians 5:3 to be fulfilled, powerful angels are holding back the destructive winds of the great tribulation. What are they waiting for? The apostle John wrote that the anointed “slaves of our God” must receive their final sealing.a (See footnote.) When this important event is finished, the angels will let go of the winds of destruction. What will happen then?

14. What shows us that Babylon the Great will soon be destroyed?

¹⁴ Babylon the Great, that is, the world empire of false religion, will be destroyed, just as she deserves. When that happens, no one will be able to help her. We can already see that her end is near. (Revelation 16:12; 17:15-18; 18:7, 8, 21) A lack of support can now be seen when news reports criticize religions and their leaders. Despite this, religious leaders do not feel that they are in real danger. They are so wrong! After the announcement of “Peace and security!” the governments will suddenly attack false religion and completely destroy it. Babylon the Great will be gone forever! Surely it is worth waiting patiently for these historic events.​—Revelation 18:8, 10.

HOW CAN WE SHOW THAT WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR GOD’S PATIENCE?

15. Why has Jehovah waited patiently?

¹⁵ Even though people have dishonored Jehovah’s name, he has waited patiently for the right time to act. Jehovah does not want any honesthearted people to be destroyed. (2 Peter 3:9, 10) Do we feel the same way? Before the end comes, there are different ways to show Jehovah that we are grateful for his patience.

16, 17. (a) Why should we want to help those who have stopped serving Jehovah? (b) Why is it urgent that those who have stopped serving Jehovah return to him now?

¹⁶ Help those who have become inactive. Jesus said that there is joy in heaven when just one lost sheep is found. (Matthew 18:14; Luke 15:3-7) Jehovah cares deeply about those who have shown that they love him, even if they are not serving him right now. It makes Jehovah and the angels happy when we help people return to Jehovah.

¹⁷ Are you among those who are not serving God right now? Maybe you stopped going to the meetings because someone in the congregation hurt your feelings. Perhaps some time has passed since then. So ask yourself: ‘Is my life better now, and am I happier? Did Jehovah offend me, or did an imperfect human offend me? Has Jehovah God ever done anything to harm me?’ Jehovah has always treated us well. Even though at this moment we may not be keeping our promise to serve him, he still lets us enjoy the good things he offers. (James 1:16, 17) However, soon Jehovah’s day will come. Now is the time to return to our loving Father, Jehovah, and to the congregation. This is the only safe place to be in these last days.​—Deuteronomy 33:27; Hebrews 10:24, 25.

18. Why should we support those taking the lead?

¹⁸ Loyally support those who take the lead. As a loving Shepherd, Jehovah guides and protects us. He has appointed his Son to be the Chief Shepherd of the flock. (1 Peter 5:4) Elders in more than 100,000 congregations take time to shepherd each one of God’s sheep. (Acts 20:28) When we loyally support those who take the lead, we show Jehovah and Jesus that we are grateful for all they have done for us.

19. How can we close ranks?

¹⁹ Draw close to your brothers. What does that mean? When a trained army is attacked by an enemy, the soldiers close ranks, that is, they come closer together so that there are no gaps in the fighting line. That way they create a defense that cannot be broken. Satan is increasing his attacks on God’s people. Now is not the time to fight against our brothers. Now is the time to draw close to one another, to overlook the imperfections of our brothers, and to trust in Jehovah.

20. What should we do now?

²⁰ So let us keep our relationship with Jehovah strong and show a waiting attitude. Let us patiently wait for the announcement of “Peace and security!” and for the final sealing of the anointed. After that, the four angels will let go of the destructive winds, and Babylon the Great will be destroyed. While we wait for these historic events to happen, let us follow the direction from those assigned to take the lead in Jehovah’s organization. Close ranks against the Devil and the demons! Now is the time to follow the counsel of the psalmist: “Be courageous, and may your heart be strong, all you who are waiting for Jehovah.”​—Psalm 31:24.

1. Why could the plan of the kings of Syria and Israel not succeed?

IN THE eighth century before Christ, sometime between the years 762 and 759, the king of Israel and the king of Syria started a war against the kingdom of Judah. They wanted to invade Jerusalem, remove Ahaz as king, and make another man king, perhaps someone who was not from King David’s family. (Isaiah 7:5, 6) But that plan could not succeed. Jehovah had promised that there would always be someone from David’s family ruling as king. And what Jehovah says always comes true.​—Joshua 23:14; 2 Samuel 7:16.

2-4. How was Isaiah 7:14, 16 fulfilled (a) in the eighth century before Christ? (b) in Jesus’ time?

² At first, it seemed that Syria and Israel would win the war. In just one battle, Ahaz lost 120,000 soldiers! And his own son Maaseiah was killed. (2 Chronicles 28:6, 7) But Jehovah was watching. He remembered his promise to David, and He sent the prophet Isaiah with a very encouraging message.

³ Isaiah said: “Look! The maiden herself will actually become pregnant, and she is giving birth to a son, and she will certainly call his name Immanuel.” He added: “Before the boy will know how to reject the bad and choose the good, the ground of whose two kings you are feeling a sickening dread will be left entirely.” (Isaiah 7:14, 16) It is true that the first part of this prophecy applies to the birth of the Messiah. (Matthew 1:23) But the kings of Syria and Israel did not attack Judah in Jesus’ time, so the prophecy about Immanuel must have also had a fulfillment in Isaiah’s time. What was it?

⁴ Soon after Isaiah made that announcement, his wife became pregnant. Their son was named Maher-shalal-hash-baz. This child may have been the “Immanuel” whom Isaiah spoke about.a (See footnote.) In Bible times, a child might be given one name at birth, perhaps as a reminder of some special event, but be called by another name by his parents and relatives. (2 Samuel 12:24, 25) We cannot say that Jesus was ever called by the name Immanuel.​—Read Isaiah 7:14; 8:3, 4.

5. What foolish decision did King Ahaz make?

⁵ While Israel and Syria were focused on Judah, the nation of Assyria was also planning to conquer the region. Assyria was an aggressive nation that was becoming more and more powerful. According to Isaiah 8:3, 4, Assyria would conquer Syria and Israel before attacking Judah. Ahaz, the king of Judah, should have trusted in God’s word through Isaiah. Instead, he made a foolish agreement with the Assyrians. As a result, the Assyrians later became cruel rulers over Judah. (2 Kings 16:7-10) As a shepherd, or leader, of Judah, Ahaz should have protected his people. But he failed. We might ask ourselves, ‘When I have important decisions to make, do I put my trust in God or in men?’​—Proverbs 3:5, 6.

A NEW SHEPHERD ACTS DIFFERENTLY

6. How was Hezekiah different from Ahaz?

⁶ Ahaz died in the year 746 before Christ, and his son Hezekiah became king in his place. The people of Judah were now poor, and they had stopped worshipping Jehovah. What would be the first thing Hezekiah would do as king? Would he try to make the nation rich again? No. Hezekiah loved Jehovah and was a good shepherd of the nation. The first thing he did was to help the people to worship Jehovah again. When he understood what God wanted him to do, Hezekiah obeyed immediately. He set an excellent example for us!​—2 Chronicles 29:1-19.

7. Why did the Levites need the support of the new king?

⁷ The Levites had the serious responsibility of helping the people to worship Jehovah again. So Hezekiah met with the Levites and promised to support them. The faithful Levites at that meeting may have cried for joy when they heard the king say: “You are the ones whom Jehovah has chosen to stand before him to minister to him.” (2 Chronicles 29:11) The Levites had received a clear command to help the people worship the true God!

8. What else did Hezekiah do to help the people worship Jehovah again? What was the result?

⁸ Hezekiah invited all the people of Judah and Israel to a great Passover celebration. After the Passover, the people celebrated the Festival of Unfermented Cakes, which lasted seven days. They enjoyed the festival so much that they celebrated it for seven more days. The Bible tells us: “There came to be great rejoicing in Jerusalem, for from the days of Solomon the son of David the king of Israel there was none like this in Jerusalem.” (2 Chronicles 30:25, 26) That festival must have been very encouraging for all the people. We read at 2 Chronicles 31:1 that as soon as they finished the celebration, “they proceeded to break up the sacred pillars and cut down the sacred poles and pull down the high places and the altars.” The nation had returned to Jehovah. This helped them to be prepared for the troubles that would soon come.

THE KING PREPARES FOR TROUBLE

9. (a) How were the plans of Israel put to an end? (b) At first, what success did Sennacherib have in Judah?

⁹ Just as Isaiah had said, the Assyrians conquered the kingdom of Israel and took the people away from their country as prisoners. This put an end to Israel’s possible plan to choose a king for Judah who was not from David’s family. But what were Assyria’s plans? They now came to conquer Judah. The Bible says: “In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib the king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and proceeded to seize them.” Sennacherib conquered 46 cities of Judah. Imagine how you would have felt if you had lived in Jerusalem at that time. The Assyrian armies were quickly conquering Judah’s cities and getting closer and closer to your home!​—2 Kings 18:13.

10. Why might Micah’s prophecy have encouraged Hezekiah?

¹⁰ Hezekiah knew of the danger, but he did not panic and ask for the help of a pagan nation, as his unfaithful father, Ahaz, had done. Hezekiah trusted in Jehovah. (2 Chronicles 28:20, 21) He may have known of the words of the prophet Micah, who said about the enemy, “the Assyrian”: “We shall also have to raise up against him seven shepherds, yes, eight dukes of mankind. And they will actually shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword.” (Micah 5:5, 6) These words from Jehovah would have encouraged Hezekiah. They showed that Jehovah would use an unusual army to defeat the Assyrians.

11. When will the prophecy about seven shepherds and eight dukes have its most important fulfillment?

¹¹ The prophecy about seven shepherds and eight dukes (“princes,” The New English Bible) would have its most important fulfillment after the birth of Jesus, the “ruler in Israel, whose origin is from early times.” (Read Micah 5:1, 2.) In fact, this fulfillment is in the future, when an “Assyrian,” or enemy, attacks Jehovah’s servants. What army, led by his Son, will Jehovah use to defeat the enemy? We will answer this question later in the article. But first, let us see what we can learn from what Hezekiah did when the Assyrians attacked.

HEZEKIAH ACTS WISELY

12. What did Hezekiah and those with him do to protect God’s people?

¹² When we feel that we cannot solve a problem, Jehovah is always willing to give us the help we need. But he does expect us to do all we can about the problem. Hezekiah did what he could. The Bible tells us that he got advice from “his princes and his mighty men,” and he decided “to stop up the waters of the springs that were outside the city.” Hezekiah also “took courage and built up all the broken-down wall and raised towers upon it, and on the outside another wall.” He even “made missiles in abundance and shields.” (2 Chronicles 32:3-5) During this time, Jehovah used Hezekiah, his princes, and the faithful prophets to protect and shepherd His people.

13. What was the most important thing that Hezekiah did to prepare the people for the Assyrian attack? How did Hezekiah’s words help the people?

¹³ Next, Hezekiah did something that was even more important than protecting the waters of the springs or strengthening the city walls. Because he was a good shepherd, he gathered the people and encouraged them with the words: “Do not be afraid nor be terrified because of the king of Assyria and on account of all the crowd that is with him; for with us there are more than there are with him. With him there is an arm of flesh, but with us there is Jehovah our God to help us and to fight our battles.” Hezekiah reminded the people that Jehovah would fight for them. This helped them to have faith in God and to be brave. Hezekiah and his princes and mighty men, as well as the prophets Micah and Isaiah, showed that they were good shepherds, just as Jehovah had promised through his prophet.​—2 Chronicles 32:7, 8; read Micah 5:5, 6.

14. What did Rabshakeh say? How did the people react?

¹⁴ The king of Assyria and his army set up camp at Lachish, southwest of Jerusalem. From there, he sent three messengers to Jerusalem to tell the people to surrender. The main messenger, known as Rabshakeh, spoke to the people of Jerusalem in their own language. First he tried to convince them not to listen to Hezekiah but to obey the Assyrians. Then he lied by promising to take them to a land where they could have a comfortable life. (Read 2 Kings 18:31, 32.) Rabshakeh also told them that the gods of other nations had not been able to protect their worshippers and that Jehovah would not be able to protect the Jews either. Wisely, the people chose to ignore these lies and false accusations. Today, Jehovah’s servants often follow their example.​—Read 2 Kings 18:35, 36.

15. What did the people of Jerusalem need to do? How did Jehovah save the city?

¹⁵ Of course, Hezekiah was upset. But instead of asking another nation for help, he asked for Jehovah’s help through Isaiah. The prophet Isaiah told Hezekiah: “This is what Jehovah has said concerning the king of Assyria: ‘He will not come into this city nor will he shoot an arrow there.’” (2 Kings 19:32) All that the people of Jerusalem needed to do was to be brave and not give up. Jehovah would fight for them. And he did! “It came about on that night that the angel of Jehovah proceeded to go out and strike down a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians.” (2 Kings 19:35) The people of Jerusalem were saved, not by what Hezekiah did to protect the city, but by Jehovah’s power.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

16. Who today are represented by (a) the people of Jerusalem (b) “the Assyrian” (c) the seven shepherds and eight dukes?

¹⁶ The prophecy about seven shepherds and eight dukes has its most important fulfillment in our time. In the past, the people of Jerusalem were attacked by the Assyrians. Soon, Jehovah’s people will again be attacked by an “Assyrian,” or enemy, that will try to destroy them. The Scriptures refer to that attack as well as the attack of ‘Gog of Magog,’ the attack of “the king of the north,” and the attack of “the kings of the earth.” (Ezekiel 38:2, 10-13; Daniel 11:40, 44, 45; Revelation 17:14; 19:19) Are these different attacks? We do not know. The Bible could be using different names to describe the same attack. What army does Micah’s prophecy say that Jehovah would use against this cruel enemy, called “the Assyrian”? A very unusual one. The Bible says that this army is made up of “seven shepherds” and “eight dukes,” or princes. (Micah 5:5) Who are they? They are the congregation elders. (1 Peter 5:2) Today, Jehovah is using many faithful elders to shepherd and to strengthen his people for the future attack of “the Assyrian.”b (See footnote.) Micah’s prophecy tells us that they will “shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword.” (Micah 5:6) One of the weapons they use to defeat the enemy is “the sword of the spirit,” God’s Word.​—Ephesians 6:17; 2 Corinthians 10:4.

17. What four lessons can the elders learn from the account we have discussed?

¹⁷ Elders, you can learn some helpful lessons from what we have just discussed: (1) The best thing you can do to prepare for the future attack of “the Assyrian” is to strengthen your faith in God and help your brothers to do the same. (2) When “the Assyrian” attacks, you must be completely convinced that Jehovah will save us. (3) At that time, the direction that you receive from Jehovah’s organization may seem strange or unusual. But all of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether we agree with them or not, because obeying these instructions will save our lives. (4) If any are putting their trust in the education of this world, material things, or human organizations, they must change their way of thinking now. You must be ready to help any who may not be putting their complete trust in Jehovah.

18. How can remembering this account help us in the future?

¹⁸ The time will come when we will seem to be as helpless as the people of Jerusalem in Hezekiah’s time. When that happens, Hezekiah’s words can help us to keep our faith strong. Let us remember that with our enemies “there is an arm of flesh, but with us there is Jehovah our God to help us and to fight our battles”!​—2 Chronicles 32:8.

1, 2. Why does Jehovah compare himself to a shepherd?

JEHOVAH compares himself to a shepherd. (Ezekiel 34:11-14) This helps us to understand what Jehovah is like. A loving shepherd feels responsible for the lives of the sheep he cares for. He leads them to where there is food and water and carries their newborn. (Psalm 23:1, 2; Isaiah 40:11) He watches over the sheep day and night and protects them from wild animals. (1 Samuel 17:34, 35; Luke 2:8) He searches for any sheep that have wandered away from the flock and cares for those that are injured.​—Ezekiel 34:16.

² In ancient times, most of God’s people were shepherds and farmers. So they understood why Jehovah compared himself to a shepherd. They knew that sheep need care and attention to be healthy and to survive. In a similar way, people need care and direction from Jehovah. (Mark 6:34) Without Jehovah’s care and direction, people suffer. They do not know what is right and what is wrong, and they have no one to protect them. They are like “sheep that have no shepherd.” (1 Kings 22:17) But those who allow Jehovah to shepherd them have everything they need.

3. What will we learn in this article?

³ We too understand how Jehovah is like a shepherd. We see that he is caring very well for his people today. We will learn how he directs us and cares for our needs. Then we will discuss what we must do to benefit from Jehovah’s direction and care.

THE FINE SHEPHERD APPOINTS OTHERS TO HELP HIM

4. How does Jesus care for Jehovah’s sheep?

⁴ Jehovah has appointed Jesus to be Head of the Christian congregation. (Ephesians 1:22, 23) Jesus, “the fine shepherd,” is just like his Father. Jesus loves the sheep and cares for them. He even gave his life for the sheep. (John 10:11, 15) What a wonderful gift the ransom is for all humans! (Matthew 20:28) Jehovah’s purpose is that everyone who shows faith in Jesus “might not be destroyed but have everlasting life”!​—John 3:16.

5, 6. (a) Whom has Jesus chosen to care for his sheep? What must the sheep do to benefit from Jesus’ care? (b) What is the main reason we want to follow the direction of the elders?

⁵ How do the sheep show that Jesus Christ is their Shepherd? Jesus said: “My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) The sheep listen to the Fine Shepherd’s voice by always following his direction. This includes obeying those he has appointed to help him shepherd the flock. In the first century, Jesus chose his apostles and disciples to shepherd his followers. He told them to teach and feed his “little sheep.” (Read John 21:15-17; Matthew 28:20) As the good news continued to be preached, more and more people became disciples of Christ. So Jesus made sure that there would be mature shepherds to care for the congregations.​—Ephesians 4:11, 12.

⁶ Later, Paul wrote to the elders in the congregation of Ephesus and told them: “The holy spirit has appointed you overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God.” (Acts 20:28) Elders today have also been appointed by holy spirit. Why can we say that? Because they have been appointed based on requirements written in God’s inspired Word. So when we obey the elders, we show respect for Jehovah and Jesus, the two greatest Shepherds. (Luke 10:16) This is the main reason why we willingly obey the elders. But there are other reasons we should follow their direction.

7. How do the elders help you keep your friendship with Jehovah strong?

⁷ The encouragement and direction elders give their brothers and sisters is always based on what the Bible says. The elders do not want to tell their brothers how to live their lives. (2 Corinthians 1:24) Instead, they want to help them to make their own decisions based on Bible principles. By doing so, the elders help the congregation to be united and peaceful. (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40) The Bible says that the elders “are keeping watch over your souls.” This means that the elders want to help each person in the congregation to stay close to Jehovah. So they are quick to help a brother or a sister who is about to make, or has already made, a bad decision. (Galatians 6:1, 2; Jude 22) We have so many good reasons for being “obedient to those who are taking the lead.”​—Read Hebrews 13:17.

8. How do the elders protect the congregation?

⁸ The apostle Paul, as a caring shepherd, warned his brothers in Colossae: “Look out: perhaps there may be someone who will carry you off as his prey through the philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8) This warning helps us to see another reason why it is important to obey the elders’ direction. They protect their brothers from those who want to lead them away from Jehovah. The apostle Peter warned that “false prophets” and “false teachers” would try to get weak Christians to disobey Jehovah. (2 Peter 2:1, 14) Today, elders must give similar warnings when needed. The elders are wise Christians who have experience in life. They were appointed as elders because they have shown that they clearly understand the Scriptures and are qualified to teach the truth from the Bible. (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9) Their maturity, balance, and Bible-based wisdom help them to give good direction to their brothers and sisters.

THE FINE SHEPHERD FEEDS AND PROTECTS THE SHEEP

9. How does Jesus feed and direct the congregation today?

⁹ Jehovah uses his organization to teach and direct all the brothers and sisters worldwide. We receive much Scriptural counsel in our publications. At times, the organization also gives guidance directly to congregation elders. The elders receive this guidance from letters or from instructions delivered by traveling overseers. In all these ways, the sheep receive clear direction.

10. What responsibility do caring shepherds have when a brother or a sister has left the congregation?

¹⁰ Caring shepherds have the responsibility of protecting and caring for the sheep. Christian elders are especially concerned about those whose faith has become weak or those who have made serious mistakes. (Read James 5:14, 15.) Some may even have wandered away from the congregation and stopped serving God. What will a caring shepherd do to help? He will do all that he can to search for these ones and encourage them to return to the congregation. Jesus said: “It is not a desirable thing with my Father who is in heaven for one of these little ones to perish.”​—Matthew 18:12-14.

HOW SHOULD WE VIEW THE IMPERFECTIONS OF THE ELDERS?

11. Why may some find it difficult to obey the elders?

¹¹ Jehovah and Jesus are perfect Shepherds. The human shepherds they use to care for the congregation are not. This fact may make it difficult for some to obey the elders. They may think: ‘The elders are imperfect humans just like us. Why should we listen to their counsel?’ True, the elders are imperfect. But we must not focus on their imperfections and mistakes.

12, 13. (a) In the past, what mistakes did responsible servants of God make? (b) Why did Jehovah want the mistakes of responsible men written in the Bible?

¹² The Scriptures are honest about the mistakes of men whom Jehovah used to lead his people in the past. For example, David was anointed as king of Israel, but he later sinned against God. He slept with a married woman and then killed her husband. (2 Samuel 12:7-9) Also think about the apostle Peter. Even though he was given great responsibility in the Christian congregation, he too made serious mistakes. (Matthew 16:18, 19; John 13:38; 18:27; Galatians 2:11-14) Except for Jesus, no humans since Adam and Eve have been perfect.

¹³ Why did Jehovah have the mistakes of some of his responsible servants written in the Bible? One reason was to show that he can use imperfect men to lead his people. In fact, he has always done this. So we should not use the imperfections of the elders today as an excuse to complain against them or to ignore their authority. Jehovah expects us to respect and obey them.​—Read Exodus 16:2, 8.

14, 15. What can we learn from the way Jehovah gave instructions to his people in the past?

¹⁴ It is extremely important for us to obey the elders. Why? Think of how Jehovah gave instructions to his people so that they could survive difficult times in the past. For example, when the people of Israel left Egypt, God used Moses and Aaron to give important instructions to the people. Also, to survive the tenth plague, the Israelites had to obey instructions. They were told to have a special meal, slaughter a sheep, and splash some of its blood on their doorposts and right above their doors. Did God speak directly to the people? No, the people had to listen to the older men who received instructions from Moses. (Exodus 12:1-7, 21-23, 29) In this way, Jehovah used Moses and the older men to direct the people. Today, Jehovah uses Christian elders to do this.

¹⁵ You can probably think of many other times in the Bible when Jehovah used humans or angels to give instructions to his people. In many cases, these instructions saved their lives. In all these situations, God decided to give others the authority to speak in his name and to tell his people what they needed to do in dangerous times. We have every reason to expect that Jehovah will do the same for his people at Armageddon. Of course, elders who have the responsibility of representing Jehovah or his organization today must be very careful never to go beyond the authority that has been given to them.

“ONE FLOCK, ONE SHEPHERD”

16. What is the “word” we need to listen to?

¹⁶ Jehovah’s people are “one flock” under “one shepherd,” Jesus Christ. (John 10:16) Jesus said that he would be with his disciples “all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.” (Matthew 28:20) As King in heaven, he is in full control of all the events that will happen before he comes to destroy Satan’s world. How can we stay united and safe in God’s organization? The Bible answers: “Your own ears will hear a word behind you saying: ‘This is the way. Walk in it, you people.’” This “word” includes what Jehovah teaches us in the Bible and what he and Jesus say through the shepherds they have appointed.​—Read Isaiah 30:21; Revelation 3:22.

17, 18. (a) How are God’s people in danger? What can we be sure of? (b) What will we learn in the next article?

¹⁷ The Bible says that Satan is “like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone.” (1 Peter 5:8) Like a wild and hungry animal, he hunts the flock, waiting for the right moment to attack a sheep who is weak or who has wandered away from the flock. This is one good reason why we should always stay very close to the congregation and to our “shepherd and overseer.” (1 Peter 2:25) Revelation 7:17 talks about those who survive the great tribulation. It says that Jesus “will shepherd them, and will guide them to fountains of waters of life. And God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.” What a wonderful promise this is!

¹⁸ The responsibility of Christian elders to shepherd the congregation is very important. How can these appointed men make sure that they treat Jesus’ sheep with care? We will answer this question in the next article.

1, 2. (a) When sheep are well cared for, what is the result? (b) Why were many people in Jesus’ day like sheep without a shepherd?

SHEEP do well only when they have a caring shepherd. One book about raising sheep says that if a shepherd simply leaves his sheep to eat in the field but does not care for their other needs, the sheep become weak and sick within a few years. But when a shepherd cares well for each of his sheep, the whole flock will be strong and healthy.

² The same is true in the congregation. The care and attention that Christian shepherds give to each sheep will benefit the whole congregation. You may remember that Jesus felt sorry for the crowds because “they were skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36) Why were the people in Jesus’ day like sheep without a shepherd? Because those who were responsible for teaching them God’s Law were harsh and demanding, and they did not do what they taught others to do. Instead of loving the people and caring for them, these religious leaders made it very difficult for them to serve God. The people felt as if they were carrying “heavy loads” on their shoulders.​—Matthew 23:4.

3. What should elders remember as they care for the sheep?

³ Today, elders have a serious responsibility. The sheep whom they care for belong to Jehovah and to Jesus. These sheep are so precious to Jesus, “the fine shepherd,” that he even gave his life for them. He “bought” them with his own “precious blood.” (John 10:11; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18, 19) Elders should always remember that their overseer is Jesus Christ, “the great shepherd of the sheep.” So they are responsible to him for how they treat the flock.​—Hebrews 13:20.

4. What will we learn in this article?

⁴ How should Christian elders treat the sheep? Everyone in the congregation is encouraged to “be obedient to those who are taking the lead” among them. But Jehovah also tells elders not to be “lording it over those who are God’s inheritance.” (Hebrews 13:17; read 1 Peter 5:2, 3.) How can elders continue “taking the lead” without “lording it over” the flock? In other words, how can elders care for the needs of the flock without going beyond the authority that God has given to overseers?

“IN HIS BOSOM HE WILL CARRY THEM”

5. What do we learn about Jehovah from Isaiah 40:11?

⁵ The prophet Isaiah said about Jehovah: “Like a shepherd he will shepherd his own drove. With his arm he will collect together the lambs; and in his bosom he will carry them. Those giving suck he will conduct with care.” (Isaiah 40:11) This scripture describes how Jehovah cares for the needs of those who are weak or who need protection. He knows the needs of each person in the congregation and is happy to help, much like a shepherd knows the specific needs of each sheep in his flock. Also, just as a shepherd sometimes carries a newborn lamb close to him, Jehovah will give us comfort and special care when we face a great test or difficult times. He is “the Father of tender mercies.”​—2 Corinthians 1:3, 4.

6. How can an elder imitate Jehovah’s example?

⁶ What a wonderful lesson a shepherd in the congregation can learn from our heavenly Father! Like Jehovah, he must pay attention to the needs of the sheep. If an elder knows what difficulties they are having, he will know when and how to give them the encouragement and support they need. (Proverbs 27:23) This means that an elder must take the time to talk with his brothers and sisters and to listen to them. Although he is careful to respect their privacy, he does pay attention to what he sees and hears in the congregation and lovingly takes time to help “those who are weak.”​—Acts 20:35; 1 Thessalonians 4:11.

7. (a) How were God’s sheep being treated in the days of Ezekiel and Jeremiah? (b) What can we learn from Jehovah’s rejecting unfaithful shepherds?

⁷ Think about the attitude of the shepherds of God’s people during Ezekiel and Jeremiah’s day. Jehovah rejected those shepherds because they should have been caring for his sheep but were not doing so properly. Jehovah said: “My sheep continued to be food for every wild beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, and my shepherds did not search for my sheep, but the shepherds kept feeding themselves, and my own sheep they did not feed.” The people suffered because their leaders were selfish and greedy. (Ezekiel 34:7-10; Jeremiah 23:1) God has rejected the leaders of Christendom for similar reasons. What important lesson can elders learn from Jehovah’s rejecting unfaithful shepherds? They must give Jehovah’s flock proper and loving attention.

“I SET THE PATTERN FOR YOU”

8. How can elders imitate Jesus’ excellent example when counseling their brothers?

⁸ Because humans are imperfect, some in the congregation may not clearly understand what Jehovah expects of them. They may make decisions that are not based on Bible principles, or the way they act may show that they are not yet mature Christians. How should elders react? They should imitate Jesus’ patience with his disciples. The disciples argued a lot about which one of them would become the greatest in the Kingdom, but Jesus never became angry with them. He continued to teach them and to give them loving counsel about showing humility. (Luke 9:46-48; 22:24-27) He even washed their feet to show them what it means to be humble. Today, elders too must show humility.​—Read John 13:12-15; 1 Peter 2:21.

9. What attitude of the apostles did Jesus need to correct?

⁹ The apostles James and John showed that they thought being a shepherd meant ruling over others. They asked Jesus for an important position in the Kingdom. But Jesus corrected their attitude and taught them to think differently. He said: “You know that foreign rulers like to order their people around. And their great leaders have full power over everyone they rule. But don’t act like them. If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others.” (Matthew 20:25, 26, Contemporary English Version) The apostles needed to resist the desire to “lord it over” their brothers, that is, to be telling them what to do all the time.

10. How does Jesus want elders to treat the flock? How did Paul set a good example?

¹⁰ Jesus expects elders to treat the flock the same way that he treated it. They must be willing to serve their brothers and sisters, instead of acting as their masters. Like Jesus, the apostle Paul humbly served others. He told the elders in the congregation of Ephesus: “You well know how from the first day that I stepped into the district of Asia I was with you the whole time, slaving for the Lord with the greatest lowliness of mind.” Paul wanted the elders to be humble and work hard for their brothers. By his example, Paul taught the elders how to “assist those who are weak.” (Acts 20:18, 19, 35) In a letter, he told the Corinthians that he was not the master over their faith. Instead, he was a humble servant of God just like them, and he wanted to help them to serve God with joy. (2 Corinthians 1:24) Paul is a good example of humility and hard work for elders today.

GIVE COUNSEL BASED ON “THE FAITHFUL WORD”

11, 12. How might an elder help a brother to make a decision?

¹¹ The counsel that a congregation elder gives must always be based on “the faithful word,” the Bible. (Titus 1:9) Also, his counsel is given “in a spirit of mildness.” (Galatians 6:1) Instead of trying to force his brothers to act in a certain way, a good shepherd tries to help them make their own decisions based on their love for Jehovah and for his Word. For example, an elder might help a brother make an important decision by discussing Bible principles or an article in our publications. He might ask the brother to think about how different choices could affect his relationship with Jehovah. The elder can then remind him how important it is to ask God for guidance in prayer before making a decision. (Proverbs 3:5, 6) After the discussion, the elder will allow the brother to make his own decision.​—Romans 14:1-4.

¹² The only authority that the elders have comes from the Scriptures. So it is very important that they use the Bible well and always base their counsel on it. By doing so, elders do not go beyond the authority God has given them. After all, the sheep do not belong to them. In the end, each one in the congregation is responsible to Jehovah and Jesus for the decisions he or she makes.​—Galatians 6:5, 7, 8.

“EXAMPLES TO THE FLOCK”

13, 14. In what ways must an elder be an example to the flock?

¹³ After Peter told the elders not to be “lording it over” their brothers, he encouraged them to be “examples to the flock.” (1 Peter 5:3; footnote) How may an elder be an example to the flock? Think about two qualities that a brother must have to serve as an elder. First, he needs to be “sound in mind.” This means that he clearly understands Bible principles and knows how to use them in his life. He stays calm in difficult situations and thinks carefully before making decisions. Second, he must be “presiding over his own household in a fine manner.” This means that if an elder has a family, he must be a good example as a husband and father, for “if indeed any man does not know how to preside over his own household, how will he take care of God’s congregation?” (1 Timothy 3:1, 2, 4, 5) Brothers and sisters in the congregation feel that they can trust elders who have these qualities.

¹⁴ Elders also set a good example by taking the lead in the preaching work, as Jesus did. Preaching the good news of the Kingdom was an important part of Jesus’ life on earth, and he taught his disciples how to do this work. (Mark 1:38; Luke 8:1) Today, publishers enjoy preaching with the elders. They see the elders’ zeal for this important work and can learn from their way of teaching. When elders regularly use their time and energy to preach the good news even though they have very busy lives, the congregation is moved to show the same zeal. Elders can also set a good example for their brothers by preparing for the meetings, giving comments, and doing work such as cleaning and maintaining the Kingdom Hall.​—Ephesians 5:15, 16; read Hebrews 13:7.

“SUPPORT THE WEAK”

15. What are some reasons why elders make shepherding visits?

¹⁵ A good shepherd is quick to help a sheep that is hurt or sick. In a similar way, elders need to be quick to help those who are suffering or who need counsel or encouragement. The elderly and the sick may need help with their everyday needs, but they especially need encouragement and comfort from the Scriptures. (1 Thessalonians 5:14) Young ones in the congregation may be fighting against “the desires incidental to youth.” (2 Timothy 2:22) Elders help all in the congregation by making shepherding visits. During these visits, they try to understand the difficulties their brothers are having and give them encouragement from the Bible. If elders are quick to give their brothers and sisters the help that they need, many serious problems can be avoided.

16. When someone in the congregation has a serious problem, what can the elders do?

¹⁶ What if a brother in the congregation has a serious problem and his relationship with Jehovah is in danger? The Bible writer James said: “Is there anyone sick among you? Let him call the older men of the congregation to him, and let them pray over him, greasing him with oil in the name of Jehovah. And the prayer of faith will make the indisposed one well, and Jehovah will raise him up. Also, if he has committed sins, it will be forgiven him.” (James 5:14, 15) Even if the brother who is “sick” does not “call the older men,” elders should be quick to help him as soon as they become aware of his situation. When they pray with and for their brothers and support them during difficult times, the elders show that they are good shepherds who are encouraging their brothers to continue to serve God with joy.​—Read Isaiah 32:1, 2.

17. When elders imitate “the great shepherd,” how does the congregation benefit?

¹⁷ Christian elders work hard to imitate Jesus Christ, “the great shepherd,” in all they do in Jehovah’s organization. These responsible men help the flock continue to grow stronger and to serve God faithfully. We are very grateful for our loving shepherds and our Great Shepherd, Jehovah.