The Watchtower, January 15, 1924

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No. 2

.19 .19 .20 .21 .22

Vol. XLV

Semi-Monthly

Anno Mundi 6052 January 15, 1924

CONTENTS

" ROCK OF AGES

Other foundation can’

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A.RANSOMjFOfi;ALL^*<iS:

Multiplied Mercies of God.................

Examples of Mercy................................

World Not Ready for Mercy..............

Center of God’s Mercy..........................

Mercy and Not Sacrifice......................

Vessels of Mercy....................................

Mercy for Those Who Seek................

When Mercy Is Denied..........................

In the Multitude of Thy Mercy...........

Prayer-Meeting Text Comments...........

“He Careth for You” (Poem)...............

The Failure at Kadesh........................

Joshua and the Conquest of Canaan. Letters from Afield...............................

Requests for German Pilgrim.............

.23 .23

.23

.25 .28

.27

.29 .31 .17

“1 will stand upon my watch and will set my foot upon the Tower, and will watch to see what He will tap unto me, and what answer I shall make to them that oppose me.’>—Habakkuk 2:1.

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Upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity; the sea and the waves (the restless, discontented) roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear and for looking ta the things coming nnon the earth (society); for the powers of the heavens (ecclesiastmsm) shall be shaken. . . When ye see these things begin to come*to pass, then know that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Look up, lift Up your heads, rejoice, for your redemption draweth nigh.—Matt. 24:33; Mark 13:29: Luke 21:25-31.

THIS JOURNAL AND ITS SACRED MISSION

THIS journal la onn of the prime factors or instruments, in the system of Bible Instruction, or. “Seminary Extension”, now belli* presented in all parts of the civilised world by the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, chartered A, D. 1884, “For the Pro* motion of Christian Knowledge". It not only serves as a class room where Bible students may meet in the study of the divine Word bn* also as a channel of communication through which they may be reached with announcements of the Society’s conventions and of the coming of lt» traveling representatives, styled “Pilgrims”, and refreshed with reports of its conventions.

Our “Berean Bessona” are topical- rehearsals or reviews of our Society's published Studies most entertainingly arranged, and very helpful to all who would merit the only honorary degree which the Society accords, viz., Verbi Dei Minister (V. D. 11), which translated into English is Minister of Cod’s Word. Our treatment of the International Sunday School Lessons is specially for the older Bible students and teachers. By some this feature is considered indispensable.

This journal stands firmly for the defense of the only true foundation of the Christian’s hope now beli„ so generally repudiated —redemption through the precious blood of "the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom [a corresponding price, a substitute] for all”. (1 Peter 1:19; 1 Timothy 2:6) Building up on this sure foundation the gold, silver and precious stones (1 Corinthians 3: Ills ; 2 Peter 1:6-11) of the Word of God, its further mission is to “make all see what Is the fellowship of the mystery which. . .has been hid in God, ... to the intent that now might be made known by the church the manifold wisdom of God”—“which In other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it Is now revealed”.—Ephesians 3:6-9,10.

It stands free from all parties, sects and creeds of men, while it seeks more and more to bring its every utterance into fullest subjection to the will of God in Christ, as expressed in the holy Scriptures. It is thus free to declare boldly whatsoever the Lord hath spoken—according to the divine wisdom granted unto us to understand his utterances. Its attitude is not dogmatic, but confident; fog we know whereof we affirm, treading with implicit faith upon the sure promises of God. It is held as a trust, to be used only in his service; hence our decisions relative to what may and what may not appear in its columns must be according to our judgment of his good pleasure, the teaching of his Word, for the upbuilding of his people in grace and knowledge. And we not only Invite but urge OUg readers to prove all its utterances by the infallible Word to which reference is constantly made to facilitate such testing.

TO US THE SCRIPTURES CLEARLY TEACH

That the church is “the temple of the living God”, peculiarly “his workmanship”; that its construction has been in progress throughout the gospel age—ever since Christ became the world’s Redeemer and the Chief Corner Stone of his temple, through which, when finished, God’s blessing shall com* “to all people”, and they find access to him.—1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; Ephesians 2:29-22; Genesis 28:14; Galatians 3: 29.

That meantime the chiseling, shaping, and polishing of consecrated believers in Christ’s atonement for sin, progresses; and when th* last of these "living stones”, “elect and precious,” have been made ready, the great Master Workman will bring all together in the first resurrection; and the temple shall be L •'his glory, and be the meeting place between God and men throughout the Millennium.—Revelation 15: 6-8.

That the basis of hope, for the church and the world, ilea in the fact that “Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man,” “a ransom for all,” and will be "the true light which Mghtetir every man that cometh into the world”, “in due time".— Hebrews 2:9; John 1:9; 1 Timothy 2:6, 6.

That the hope of the church is that she may be like her Lord, “see him as he is,” be ‘partaker of the divine nature,’ and share hie glory as his joint-heir.—1 John 3:2; John 17:24; Bassams 8:17; 2 Peter 1:4.

BBiat the present.mission of. the church is the perfbetiag of the saints for the futnze work of service: to develop in herself every grace; to be God's witness to the-world; andto prepareto be kings andprtests in the asst age.—Ephesians 4:12; Matthew 241 14; Revelation 1: 6; 20:6.

That the hope for the world lies in the bid swings -of knowledge and* opportunity to he brought to all by Christ's Millennial hlnjilim. the reatttution ot all that was lost in Adam, to all the wRuueand- obedient, at the hands of their Bedeemer and fata glorified dsurcto when all the wHfuliy wicked wtii bo. destroyed.—Aeta 3:19-23; Isaiah 35.

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STUIHKH IN THE SCRIPTURES

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Sebibs in, Thy Kingdom Come, considers prophecies which mark events connected with “the time of the end”, the glorification of the church and the establishment of the Millennial kingdom; it also contains a chapter on the Greet Pyramid of Egypt, showing Its corroboration of certain Bible teachings : 380 pages, 35c. Furnished also In Dano-Norwegian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Polish, and Swedish, 75c.

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Vol. XLV

No. a

Januaby 15, 1924

MULTIPLIED MERCIES OF GOD

'Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.”—Jude 2.

WHEN St. Jude addressed his epistle to the beloved of God, he held before them the godlike qualities that they might learn and develop the same qualities. Among these is mercy. The Psalmist declares that the mercy of the Lord endures forever. Mercy is defined as forbearance to inflict harm under circumstances of provocation when one has the power to inflict it. It is compassionate treatment of another. It is pity put into action. While the first man must have possessed this godlike quality in his perfection, through the fall he has lost most of it, until we see little or no mercy among the men of earth.

2Men with power exercise it in order to satisfy their own selfish ill will. An instance of this was recently marked by the act of a federal judge. A public official had called attention to the fact that the decision of a certain court was out of harmony with the interests of the people and more particularly in the interests of selfish, heartless corporations. This official who had exercised his right of speech the judge sentenced to a term in prison. This was the very opposite of mercy. Even had the official who wrote the words been guilty of wrong, the generous heart would have exercised mercy. How differently our heavenly Father deals with those who offend him!

3The virtues of men increase slowly, and we mention them by the relative process of addition. God’s mercy is multiplied toward us. St. Jude here urges that those who are consecrated to the Lord should exercise the godlike quality. The apostle Peter says that as Christians we should add to our faith fortitude, and knowledge, and self-control, and patient endurance, and godliness, and brotherly-kindness, and love. We cannot do this unless we also exercise the quality of mercy.

‘The blessings of God are poured out upon his creatures. They are bestowed so lavishly that they are said to be multiplied. We may expect, then, that if we strive to conform ourselves to the divine rules of action the blessings of the Lord, including mercy, will be multiplied unto us.

BGod is the fountain from which flow multiplied mercies, like the waters of a peaceful river. The prophet of God wrote a song dealing with this fountain of mercy, in which he says: “0 give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Then the Psalmist proceeds to say that Jehovah “alone docth great wonders”; that by wisdom he made the heavens and stretched out the earth above the waters; he made the great lights, the sun to rule by day, the moon and the stars to rule by night, and his mercy endures for ever; that it is this mighty God who remembered us in our low estate, provided redemption for us, and feeds us upon the food we need, and leads us into paths of righteousness. “0 give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.”—Psalm 136: 26.

6St. Paul tells us that no temptation comes to us but what is common to man; that is to say, the common temptations of the world we must come in contai1 with. In this hour of hatred and ill will, of cruelty and oppression in the world, what an opportune time for the Christian to consider the subject of mercy and to acquire, insofar as it is possible, this Godlike quality!

’Concerning our great God his prophet writes: “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage ? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he de-lightcth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt east all their sins into the depths of the sea.”-— Micah 7:18, 19.

EXAMPLES OF MERCY

80ur first parents deliberately violated God’s law, subjecting themselves to immediate destruction. It was the mercy of God that permitted them to live on thereafter. It was the mercy of God that preserved the life of Cain and set a mark upon him lest he should be killed by any of those who found him. Mercy spared Noah and his family in the flood. It was the mercy of God that brought Lot and his daughters out of Sodom. When Eliezer went in search of a bride for Isaac, it is stated that mercy directed his steps that way.—Genesis 24: 27.

’Jehovah is under no obligation to do anything for either Jew or Gentile. His law having been infracted, justice could claim the life of all. But he has expressed his purpose of exercising mercy toward both Jew and Gentile in providing a plan of redemption and deliverance for all those who will turn away from unrighteousness and do that which is right. He expresses his absolute right to bestow his mercy upon whomsoever he wills. In bestowing this mercy he is not violating any of his divine attributes. To Moses he said: “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”—Romans 9:15.

10After Jehovah had led the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by the hand of Moses, a song of deliverance was sung unto the Lord, in which Moses referred to the mercies of God. In a more wonderful sense will this be true in a future time, when the Lord has delivered the people from the thraldom of Satan’s empire and placed them upon the highway of holiness that they may journey back to endless peace and happiness. Then in a truer sense can it be said: “Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed; thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.” (Exodus 15:13) This will be true when the Christ has guided the people who obey to the end of the Millennial age and the Lord Jehovah has received them into the blessedness of his eternal kingdom.

"Men are naturally narrow; and when mercy is manifested by them, it is often in a stingy fashion. The mercy of Jehovah is abundantly manifested. “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” (Psalm 103: 8) “Jehovah is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. Jehovah is good to all; and his tender mercies are over all his works.”—Psalm 145:8, 9,

"Concerning his mercy St. Paul says: “God ... is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.” (Ephesians 2:4) St. Peter, extolling the mercy of Jehovah, says: “Who according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a hope of life by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1: 3) Truly, then, plenteous, abundant, rich, great and tender are the mercies of Jehovah.

“Moses was the mediator between Jehovah and the people of Israel God’s covenant having been made with that nation through Moses as mediator. Moses was a type of Christ, the Mediator between God and man, through whom God will exercise his mercy toward the world of mankind. When the spies were sent to spy out the land, upon their return some of them presented an untruthful report; and when Jehovah proposed to Moses to smite them with a pestilence and to create a greater nation, Moses appealed for forgiveness of the people in the following words: “And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.”—Numbers 14:17-19.

THE WORLD NOT READY FOR MERCY

“Before man can receive and appreciate the mercy of God he must be in a heart condition to appreciate it. The world of mankind, long under the dominion of the oppressor Satan, has become exceedingly wicked. The majority of the people have hearts of stone. But they are now reaching their extremity. The hard trials and distressing conditions upon the nations will put mankind in an attitude of mind and heart to receive and appreciate the mercies of God. Their extremity will be God’s opportunity. Then “God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.” (Psalm 57:3) Then the saying will become true: “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth [out of the heart-gardens of a renewed society] ; and righteousness shall look down from heaven [from the new heavens, Christ and his bride]. Yea, Jehovah shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go forth from him [Jehovah] ; and shall set us in the way of his steps”— those who observe and obey the rule of the Messiah.— Psalm 85:10-13.

“God’s mercy is particularly made manifest during the Gospel age toward .those who make a covenant with him by sacrifice and diligently strive to keep that covenant. It is vitally essential that each one who will finally enter into the kingdom shall develop and apply the quality of mercy. He must learn to apply it toward his brethren in particular, and toward all as he has opportunity.

“God manifests his mercy toward those who will compose the Christ; and then through Christ he will show forth his mercy to both Jew and Gentile during the Millennial reign of Christ. Concerning this St. Paul says: “For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their [Israel’s] unbelief: even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.”—Romans 11: 30-32.

"Therefore the way for the Christian now to learn mercy, and how it shall be applied, is to study carefully and consider the mercy as manifested by Jehovah and his beloved Son Christ Jesus toward those who seek to know and do his will. To this end examples as given in the Scriptures are herein set forth. The world has long waited for the time when mercy and blessings will be bestowed upon it. The peoples have groaned and travailed in pain, waiting for the manifestation of God’s mercy through the Christ, not knowing for what they have waited. They soon shall know, because the kingdom is at hand.

18Taking his stand down at the beginning of the reign of Christ when the means by which Jehovah will bring the ransomed race to himself begin to be clearly seen by the peoples of earth, the Psalmist exultingly points out that the long-expected mercy and truth have appeared, saying, “0 sing unto Jehovah a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand [his own great power], and his holy arm [the Lord Jesus, stretched down to lift man up out of the pit], hath gotten him the victory. Jehovah hath made known his salvation: his righteousness [until then concealed] hath he openly showed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: [on the principle of “to the Jew first,” but subsequently] all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before Jehovah, the King. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together before Jehovah; for he cometh to judge the earth; with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.”—Psalm 98:1-9.

HOPING IN HIS MERCY

19The coming reign of mercy and truth is for a special class; it is not for those who invent and practise evil. The wise man asks: “Do they not err [against their own souls] that devise evil ? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good”—the good-hearted, those interested in their fellow men, the only ones fit to be saved and the only ones that will be saved.—Proverbs 14:22.

20It will be by that coming reign of mercy and truth, and by the incident reverence of Jehovah in men’s hearts, that the earth will be cleansed of every evil thing. “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged; and by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil.” (Proverbs 16:6) And those who would be benefited by that reign should embrace its principles and hold fast to them. “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart. So shalt thou find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.”—Proverbs 3: 3, 4.

21As a truly great man is always merciful and could not fail to take pleasure in those who have confidence in him, because they know him as he is, so “Jehovah taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.”-—Psalm 147:11.

22Jehovah is specially watching out for the interests of such, and in Psalm 33:17-22 we seem to have a clear indication that at the time in which we are now living there are many who have such a hope. It will not be merely because they have heard the message that “millions now living will never die” that they shall be spared in the hour of darkness which is to cover all the earth, but because their hope has been centered in Jehovah.

M“A horse is a vain thing for safety; neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold the eye of Jehovah is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for Jehovah : he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him; because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, 0 Jehovah, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.”

240n his own behalf the Psalmist says: “I am like a green [young, vigorous] olive tree [which grows to be thousands of years old] in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.” (Psalm 52: 8) He was sure that he had put his trust in One whose mercies never fail; he was sure that wherever he went all needful provision for his protection and his welfare would be made; for he says: “God is my defence. The God of my mercy shall go before me”—preventing me from harm. —Psalm 59: 9, 10.

THE CENTER OF HIS MERCY

2BThe center of God’s mercy is Jesus. When Mary knew that she was to be the mother of the world’s Savior she said of God: “He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy.” (Luke 1:54) And when Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, “was filled with the holy spirit and prophesied” after John’s birth, he said of Jesus that his coming was “to perform the mercy promised to our fathers” (Luke 1: 67, 72); and in most poetic and beautiful language refers to “the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring [mar-ptn, sunrising] from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”—Luke 1:78, 79.

26What was prophesied of our Lord as respects his mercy was abundantly fulfilled at his first advent, and will be still more completely fulfilled in his kingdom now at hand. His whole ministry was filled with acts of benevolence for the distressed and the unfortunate. The people understood this very well; and it made them long for the coming of his kingdom.

27When the two blind men of Capernaum found their way to Jesus in Capernaum, they were crying out after him, as they followed him to his lodging, “Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.” And what a mercy it was to them, after the windows of the soul had been darkened perhaps for many years, to have them opened again to see the beauties of the Lake of Galilee, the brooks ami fields and woods and rocks, the birds and beasts and fishes, and the ever-changing panorama of the skies I— Matthew 9:27-31.

88 An almost similar incident is that of Bartimeeus and the other blind man sitting by the wayside near Jericho; and “when they heard that Jesus passed by, they cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, 0 Lord, thou Son of David.” (Matthew 20:30-34; Mark 10:46-52) In both cases the needed mercy was forthcoming.

29When the ten lepers of the Samaritan village knew that Jesus was passing through their community on his way to Jerusalem, they knew that it was a possibility for them to escape from their living death; and they lifted up their voices in the cry, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” (Luke 17:11-19) The ten were cleansed, but only one of them had sufficient gratitude to return and throw himself at the Master’s feet. The proportions are no better today. The great multitude of even professed Christians receive the multiplied mercies and favors of God with no thought whatever of giving themselves to him in return, consecrating their all to his service.

80The Syro-Phcenician woman met Jesus with the cry: "Have mercy on me, Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.” Jesus heard her cry, even though she were not an Israelite, and granted the mercy desired.(Matthew 15: 22) A father in Israel addressed Jesus in similar language, for a similar reason, and received a similar shadowing forth of the mercies of the age that is to be.—Matthew 17:14-21.

MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE

’’While Jesus was at Capernaum the Pharisees criticized the Lord because he ate with publicans and sinners; but Jesus reproved them, saying, “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice.”—Matthew 9:12, 13.

82The Lord made another reference to this same prophecy (Hosea 6:6), and quoted it again when on a later occasion the Pharisees took him to task for allowing his disciples to “harvest and winnow” grain on the sabbath day, their offense being the mere gathering of a few grains of wheat as they passed through a field, and the eating of them because they were hungry. (Matthew 12: 1-8) The Lord said that in doing this they were guiltless.

S8Later the Lord reproved the same class (Matthew 23: 1-39) in the most severe language used during his ministry; and the burden of his reproof largely rested in the fact that these supposedly religious leaders of the people were selfish, avaricious and merciless, paying attention to the little things but omitting “the weightier matters of the law, justice, mercy, and faith.”—Matthew 23: 23.

’’Merciful as the spirit of our Lord Jesus must always have been, yet the Father knew that in his prehuman estate he could not be sufficiently so; and hence “it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”—Hebrews 2:17.

35The greatest mercies of Jesus are yet to come. All that has gone before is but a foretaste of that which is to follow. St. Jude admonishes: “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” (Jude 21) The specific thing for which the saints are to look is the Lord’s glorious appearing. (Titus 2:13) The early disciples well knew that the resurrection, even of the Church, could not take place until Jesus should return; and that the world’s restoration must, as a matter of course, await the world’s Restorer. The early Church seems to have been blessed with better reasoning powers than many professed Christians of today.

VESSELS OF MERCY

38The apostle Paul refers to the Church as “the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, even us whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles.” (Romans 9: 23, 24) The Apostle was one of these vessels himself. He never forgot that he had at one time been a persecutor of God’s saints; and so he often referred to himself “as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:25), declaring that the reasons why mercy was gra’ tod to him was so that he might thereafter be a pat i to other believers (1 Timothy 1:16), and because the persecutions were carried on by him in ignorance. (1 Timothy 1:13) And in proportion as he had received mercy from God he was extending it to those to whom he ministered. —2 Corinthians 4:1.

87The Apostle knew full well that the salvation of which he was an heir had come to him not because of his faithful keeping of the law, nor because of works in any other sense of the word; for he declares that it was "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the holy spirit.”—Titus 3:5.

88The apostle Paul was noble-minded; and noble-minded people are always grateful to others who have ministered to them. How it warms our hearts toward him, and toward Onesiphorus, too, when we read of how all that were of Asia turned away from him when he was imprisoned at Rome, with one grand exception I And surely the Lord will grant the Apostle’s request: “The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.”—2 Timothy 1:16-18.

89The apostle Peter, the first one to bear the message to the Gentiles, writing to the “vessels of mercy” scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, tells them that they “are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the- praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”—1 Peter 2: 9, 10.

MERCY FOR THOSE WHO SEEK

40The Lord’s mercies are specially for those who seek his face; “for thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” (Psalm 8G: 5) “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.” (Psalm 193:11) “His mercy is on them that fear him, from generation to generation.”—Luke 1:50.

41It is when we come boldly to the throne of grace that we “obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) It was when the Psalmist said in despair: “My foot slippeth,” that “thy mercy, 0 Lord, held me up.”—Psalm 94:18.

42There are other conditions attached to the bestowal of God’s mercies. They are for those that trust in him (Psalm 32:10); for those that love him (Nehemiah 1: 5); for those that sow to themselves in righteousness (Hosea 10:12); for those that are led by the spirit (Galatians 6:16); and for those that are themselves merciful.—Matthew 5: 7.

43The surest way that one can seek .mercy for himself is to cultivate a merciful attitude toward others—to show mercy and to show it cheerfully. (Romans 12:8) The wisdom that is from above is “full of mercy and good fruits.” (James 3:17) “To do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God” (Micah 6:8), are the three prime requisites that Jehovah requires of all; and the Lord’s parable of the Good Samaritan shows that the real keeper of the commandment, “Love thy neighbor as thyself,” is the one that shows mercy toward the unfortunate (Luke 10: 37) ; and this applies to the spiritually unfortunate quite as much as to the physically unfortunate. (Jude 22) The wise man declares: “He that followeth after righteousness and mercy, find-eth life, righteousness, and honor.”—Proverbs 21:21.

WHEN MERCY IS DENIED

44There is an opposite side to this. To deny mercy to others is to be denied it for oneself. The Psalm of David which showed that another would take the place left vacant by Judas, prophesied: “Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: . . . because that he remembered not to show mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man [Christ Jesus], that he might even slay the broken in heart.” (Psalm 109: 8, 12,16) And in the parable of the unforgiving servants, the one who withheld mercy from his fellow servant had it withheld from himself in turn. “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your heart forgive not every one his brother his trespasses.” (Matthew 18: 35) ‘Tor he shall have judgment without mercy, that showed no mercy; and mercy glorieth against justice.” (James 2:13) One reason given for the approach of the time of trouble is “because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.”—Hosea 4:1.

45It is possible for the Lord’s mercy to be with a person for a time and then, when he has proven unworthy of it, to have that mercy withdrawn, as it was in the case of Judas and as it was in the case of King Saul. There was a time when David was so troubled that he could not commune with God (probably because of his sin in the matter of Uriah); and he thought and questioned deeply whether he, too, had been cast oft, though he had not been. And when God had assured him by Nathan (2 Samuel 7:14, 15) that he never would he, then David pathetically said: “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my sore [wound in the hand, margin] ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled’: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. [Stop and think.] Thou boldest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered [tried to draw comfort from] the days of old, the years of ancient times [God’s dealing with the fathers in bygone years]. I call to remembrance my [own] song in the night [when I was previously happy in the Lord] : I commune with mine own heart, and my spirit made diligent search [for a ray of hope]. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favorable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?”—Psalm 77: 2-9.

46The Lord will not go out of his way to bestow his mercies upon those who love falsehoods and follow vanities rather than realities, when the time has come for them to know and to do what is right. As the Prophet puts the matter: “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.” (Jonah 2:8) It will be an everlasting mercy to all who wish to be right and to do right when those who wish to be wrong and to do wrong are forever cut off; and David prayed for that time to come.— Psalm 143:12.

IN THE MULTITUDE OF THY MERCY

47“I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy,” the Psalmist says (Psalm 5:7); and that is just how we come in. There is no other way in which to gain an entrance into the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. We are all objects of God’s multiplied mercies.

48We have other treasures along with God’s mercy. Once the apostle John (2 John 3) bestows upon us God’s benediction of grace, mercy and peace; and three times the apostle Paul bestows the same benediction. (1 Timothy 1: 2; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4) And the Psalmist declares that "goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”—Psalm 23: 6.

‘’Probably David understood not what he uttered; but we can now see that when he said, “Thy mercy, 0 Lord, is in the heavens” (Psalm 36: 5), the holy spirit of God was looking down the stream of time to the blessed hour when the risen Church of God, with Christ their Lord and Head, shall begin the work of refreshing, the work of raising up the dead and dying race, bringing them back to life, back into the image and likeness of God.

’’When that time comes the Gentiles will indeed “glorify God for his mercy” (Romans 15:9); and fleshly Israel and all mankind will see a new and deeper meaning in the Apostle’s statement concerning his kinsmen after the flesh, a meaning which we hope has been made clearer to our readers as they have given heed to the lesson we have been studying together: “Blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. 0 the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God I how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”—Romans 11: 25-33.

“Truly, 0 Lord, “thy mercy is great above the heavens” (Psalm 108:4); and when we see the gracious arrangements we can but echo for ourselves and for all men the Psalmist’s happy prayer: “0 satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy work [of blessing mankind] appear unto thy servants [eager to get into it], and thy glory unto their children [all mankind]. And let the beauty of our God je upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands, establish thou it.” —Psalm 90:14-17.

62A narrow-minded person is usually unmerciful. He sees the high standard which another should measure up to, but he never himself measures up to it. He does not appreci: t.? the fact that it is impossible for him to measure up to the perfect standard, and hence he is unmerciful to those who do not come to the perfect mark. The one of broader mind sees his own imperfections to a lai'g° degree. He appreciates that he must go to the Lord for mercy, and therefore he is anxious to develop the quality of mercy and manifest it toward others. The more we understand and appreciate the character of God, the more clearly we see the necessity of leaving judgment to him, dealing kindly and gently with all of our brethren in particular and with mankind in general, remembering the words of Jesus: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

QUESTIONS FOR BEREAN STUDY

What object had Jude in mentioning mercy as a godlike quality1 What is mercy? II1.

How is power sometimes wrongfully exercised? Give illustration. II 2

How should the relative increase of man’s virtues be computed''' God’s? What do Jude and Peter urge upon the Christian? | 3, 4.

Where is the fountain of mercy? What does it do for us? | 5.

Is our day an especially propitious time in which to develop mercy? H 6, 7.

Explain some notable examples of mercy. T 8.

Is God under any obligations toward humanity? What did God do to manifest his mercy toward mankind? | 9.

When will Exodus 15:13 have its real fulfilment? 110.

How does man exercise mercy in contrast with Jehovah? f 11,12

Through whom will God exercise his mercy unto man? How was this illustrated in Moses? J13.

What is first necessary for man to experience in order to appreciate the mercy of God? 114.

Does God exercise his mercy according to a plan? f 15-17.

How does the Psalmist speak concerning the coming reign of Christ’ H 18.

Who will not fail to receive the blessings of mercy in the next nc-',r' Is it beneficial to these to have reverence for God and exerei mercy even now? U 19-22.

What are the advantages of putting trust and faith and hope in Jehovah? fl 23, 24.

Where is the center of Jehovah’s mercy? Quote proof texts. fl 25, 26.

In what way did Jesus show forth Gods mercy? Cite instances, fl 27-30.

Which is the more pleasing to> God: mercy or sacrifice? fl 31.

Is it an infringement of the Law to exercise mercy and justice and faith? | 32. 33.

Did Jesus learn some of the superfine qualities of mercy while here as a man ? fl 34.

Are the niceties of this gracious attribute yet to shine forth more resplendently? fl 35.

Are there to be other vessels of mercy besides the Lord Jesus? Who are they? Must they needs be noble-minded persons? fl 36-39. How may we be the continual recipients of the mercy of God, and under what conditions? fl 40-43.

What do we do when we deny mercy to others? Give examples. fl 44.

Having sought for and received the merev of God, is it possible to lose it? Under what circumstances? fl 45. 46.

How do we come into the mercies of the Lord? What other treasures are ours? fl 47-49.

What are God’s provisions for blessing Israel and all the families of the earth? fl 50, 51.

Generally speaking what difference is there between the narrowminded and the broad-minded peoples of earth? fl 52.

THANKFULNESS

“I thank thee, Lord, that I have seen A little of the light;

A glimpse of thy great splendor through The gloom of earthly night

Has shone Into my weary soul, And made my way more bright.

“I thank thee, Lord, that I have Beyond this life’s brief span, A glimpse of love divine that stooped

To rescue fallen man;

Great mystery of mysteries, Once hidden in God’s plan.*

PRAYER-MEETING TEXT COMMENTS

TEXT FOR FEBRUARY 6

"He shall have dominion . . . from sea to sea.”— Psalm 72:8.

THE kingdom of the Lord will be a universal kingdom. Expressed in symbolic phrase, it will constitute the new heavens and the new earth. Satan has been the god of the old heavens and earth, which is now being destroyed to make the way for the kingdom of righteousness and glory. While Satan’s empire has extended over the earth, during all the time God had some witnesses in the earth. During the reign of Messiah, the King of glory, Satan will not be permitted to have any representatives in the earth; for he will be restrained. (Revelation 20:1-3) The kingdom of righteousness will extend from sea to sea and from the great river unto the ends of the earth, and in due time the whole earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. All kingdoms under Satan have been wicked, and the laws thereof have been used to oppress many who love righteousness and to favor the ultra-wicked class. Under the government of Christ the people shall be judged impartially and with righteousness, and the poor with judgment ; that is to say, by fixed rules of action from which there will be no deviation. Then every person shall stand equal before the law. There will be no partiality shown. The kingdom of the Lord will be a government administered in behalf of all the people, the wicked oppressors shall be destroyed, while every righteous act will receive a just reward.

Concerning the blessings that the people will enjoy, the Psalmist in beautiful poetic phrase expressed it thus: “He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass, as showers that water the earth.” Rain is symbolic of refreshing truths. No deception will be permitted to be practised there. It will be indeed a time of refreshing. The people will be literally showered with blessings. Rain upon new mown grass yields a sweet perfume, pleasing and delightful to the soul. Every one so blessed of the new government and responding to that blessing will yield a sweet and pleasing perfume, making joyful every righteous heart. Showers that water the earth make it respond with gladness. Even so the blessings of the Lord upon the people will make them rich in health, strength and peace, fill their hearts with gladness and their lips with songs of praise. From every quarter of the earth the people will come together to praise him. They will learn the truth and tell it to each other. Then “truth shall spring out of the earth and righteousness’shall look down from heaven.” Earth here means organized society, which will learn the truth and speak the truth only and speak it in love. The righteousness of the heavenly phase of the Lord’s kingdom will smile down upon them until it is truly realized that “mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” The affairs of earth will go on from good to better until every one, from the least to the greatest, shall know the Lord and their tongues shall sing praises to the glory of God.

rI his is the blessed kingdom that the church is now privileged to announce. ’Phis is the kingdom of which the faithful members non on earth will form a part. Happy Zion, what a blessed lot is thine! Be of good courage now and press on as the representatives of the glorious King.

TEXT FOR FEBRUARY 13

"Whom he [Jehovah] hath made heir of all things.” —Hebrews 1: 2.

AN HEIR is one who rightfully comes into possession of that which at one time belonged to another. The Lord’s Word declares: “Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4:11) This is a very comprehensive statement and takes in everything. The magnitude of God’s universe cannot be approximated by the mental powers of man. For instance, one standing on Mount Wilson in the clearest of nights, and with the naked eye looking into the heavens in the direction of the constellation of Hercules, cannot see a single star of that group. Applying the eye, then, to the great telescope on that mountain there bursts upon the vision the most marvelous group of bright shining stars, the brilliancy of which dazzle the heavens. The constellation contains many thousands of stars, yea, more stars than the naked eye could behold during the entire night. The beauty and brilliancy of this group of heavenly bodies is entrancing. Truly the heavens declare the glory of God; but that glory is so far beyond human conception that man in his imperfect state cannot know it. These things were created for Jehovah’s pleasure.

All the creatures of the universe—angels, cherubim, seraphim, etc.—God has made for his own pleasure. All the beauties and glories of the earth and the hidden riches of the seas are likewise his. The perfection of the human race reflecting the glory of the Lord will be likewise his. All these things the Scriptures declare shall be possessed by the Lord Jesus Christ as heir of all things. Then every living creature shall come and worship before him, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings; and every tongue shall confess that he is the Christ to the glory of God.

For the encouragement of the members of the body of Christ while journeying the narrow way St. Paul, moved by the power of the holy spirit, wrote: “The spirit itself [Jehovah’s spirit, invisible power] beareth witness with our spirit [mental faculties] that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:16, 17) Thus the Lord assures his people that the faithful ones of the church shall have the indescribable pleasure and blessing of sharing with the Lord Jesus all the glories and beauties of Jehovah’s creation.

Among many things which the Christ will be privileged to inherit, will be the restored race of human beings. Blessed will be that work. In that holy kingdom of Christ they shall lead the obedient ones of the people clear over the highway of holiness and at the end thereof deliver them into the hands of Jehovah God. So thankful will the people be that they will sing the praises of the Christ forever and ever. By faith now seeing these marvelous things in store for the kingdom class, and the blessings that shall flow out to those within the jurisdiction of the kingdom, who now could refrain from joyfully pressing on announcing to the world, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

TEXT FOK FEBRUARY 29

"And unto him shall the gathering of the people he.” —Genesis

THS is a prophetic statement relating to the work of the Christ. The time for this fulfilment is at hand. It means that the peoples of every nation, kindred and tongue, who desire and love righteousness, shall be gathered unto the Lord. Jesus said: “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:16) A sheep is a docile, peaceable and teachable animal; hence it is used to symbolize people that love peace and desire better things. At all times there have been some of this kind of people on earth but who have been deceived by their leaders, or shepherds, yielding to the wicked and seductive influences of Satan. These shepherds have neglected the sheep and have permitted them to sicken, suffer and die. The prophet of God, speaking concerning these false leaders, says that these shepherds have fed themselves and not the sheep. “The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered . . . and they became meat to all the beasts of the field. . . . My sheep wandered through all the mountains [kingdoms] ... my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth.” (Ezekiel 34: 3-6) Again God’s prophet, seemingly looking down to the end of the age, writes: “I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains [kingdoms], as sheep that have no shepherd.” (2 Chronicles 18:16) When Jesus was here in the flesh he saw some of these sheep scattered abroad without a shepherd; and he was moved with compassion for them. (Matthew 9:36) Surely now is the day of joy in his great loving heart when he comes to gathered these scattered ones unto himself. For ages and generations he has awaited Jehovah’s good time to begin this blessed work. Concerning that time the prophet of God wrote: “As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of the places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them ... to their own land and feed them upon.the mountains.”—Ezekiel 34:12, 13.

Gathering the people unto him, the great Prince of Peace will turn to all- the people the pure message of truth, that they may all call upon his name and serve him with one consent. When Jesus was on earth great multitudes flocked to him to receive bodily comfort. This was but a sample of the work of the Christ during the Millennial reign. We can now, with a mental vision, behold the teeming millions fleeing from their environment of sorrow and suffering and hastening unto the great and loving King. Then the Christ will be a priest unto them, ministering unto their needs. He will be a Prophet unto them, teaching them the right way. He will be a King unto them, ruling them with righteousness. Then the people will rejoice as they bask in the sunshine of his love and praise their Prophet, Priest and King. Now the whole world mourns; darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people. The Lord says unto his people: “Arise and shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” Hence the blessed privilege of the remaining members of the body of Christ on earth is to tell the message of peace and consolation to the -world, to bring to them the glad tidings of salvation and to say unto them: Behold the King of glory is here: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

“HE CARETH FOR YOU” 1 Peter 5:7

“How strong and sweet my Father’s care!

The words, like music In the air, Come answering to my whispered prayer—

He cares for thee.

“Yes, keep me ever In thy love, Dear Father, watching from above. And let me still thy mercy prove, And care for me.

"The thought great wonder with It brings. My cares are all such little things, But to this truth my glad faith clings, He cares for me.

"Cast me not off because of sin, But make me pure and true within, And teach me how thy smile to win. Who cares for me.”

THE FAILURE AT KADESH

---Febbuaby 10---Numbebs 13:17 to 14: 45; Deutebonomy 1: 26-40----

MOSES PBAYS FOB BEBELLIOUS ISBAEL—TWELVE SPIES SENT INTO CANAAN—THE OLDER ISBAELITES PEBISH IN THE WHDEBNEgg —IMPOBTANT LESSONS FOB GOD’S PEOPLE TODAY. “Jehovah is with us: fea/r them not."—Numbers H:9.

TODAY’S lesson brings us to an event in the history of Israel which much affected their relationship with God. It was one of the kind which make history and change the course of peoples. Arrived at Kadesh-barnea on the border of Canaan, the children of Israel rebelled against God, even to appointing a leader to take them back to Egypt. The account In Numbers only says such a suggestion was made; but Nehemiah, when reviewing the incident, declares that a rebel leader was appointed.—Nehemiah 9:17.

2The children of Israel were about eleven months at Sinai —an important time in their history, and indeed so to all the human family, from whom in considerable measure they were separated. On the New Year’s day the Tabernacle had been set up, and the consecration of the priests begun. For seven days they were in the court, separate from their people, learning all the particulars necessary to the proper execution of their duties. On the eighth day they were accepted of the Lord, and the ministry of the Tabernacle began. Then as soon as convenient after the keeping of the Passover feast, Israel was prepared for the march to Canaan. On the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, the pillar Of cloud which rested over the Tabernacle moved (Numbers 10:11), an instruction to Israel to follow; and the journey to Canaan was begun.

3The first occasion of the moving of the ark was used by Moses to signify what this meant in the purpose of God. He knew that Israel represented more than the fact of God blessing the people of his choice, and that ultimately God would bring all the world into subjection to his holiness; and in these movements of the ark he saw the future movements of God against his enemies. Moses well understood that the nations of earth were opposed to God. As the ark moved forward Moses, In prophetic song of triumph said: “Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.” And when the ark rested he said: “Return, O Lord, unto the many thousands of Israel.”—Numbers 10 : 35, 36.

MOSES PRAYS FOR REBELLIOUS ISRAEL

*The way of the wilderness was hard. Moses said of that particular journey that it was “through all that great and terrible wilderness.” (Deuteronomy 1:19) At Sinai Israel had a comparatively easy time, Intended for their recuperation after the weariness of Egypt. The cool of the mountains had been pleasant. Now, in this barren and hot journey, through a no-man’s land (and therefore one which saved them from the need of attacking enemies or of being attacked by them), the people began again to complain. Then the mixed multitude that went out of Egypt with Israel “fell a lusting”; and Israel, ever ready to complain, also cried out for a change from the manna and for the tasty food they had enjoyed In Egypt. The people fell to weeping about their hard condition, and the anger of the Ixird was kindled greatly. Moses was also much disturbed in spirit, and he cried to the Lord because of the care and burden of this ungrateful, forgetful people. (Numbers 11:10-15) Jehovah heard Moses’ cry for relief; and seventy elders of the people were chosen, to whom God gave of the spirit of Moses, that they might share with him as caretakers of the people. God also heard the cry of the people for meat; and he gave it to them in such plenty, and they ate so greedily, and for so long a time—a month—that a plague broke out and many died.

5Miriam spoke to Aaron about Moses, and they together complained against him because of the Ethiopian woman he had married. Because of this God smote Miriam with leprosy. Moses had trouble enough to bear without these who were in responsible positions and high places making complaint about him; and God would not have his servant evilly spoken of. God declared that his servant Moses was special amongst all his servants, inasmuch as God would not speak to Moses by vision, but mouth to mouth, apparently; that is, openly, not in dark speeches. In other words, God spoke with Moses, and together they held conversation as friend speaks with friend. (Exodus 33:11) On Moses’ prayer Miriam was healed, but she had to be kept apart seven days for cleansing.

6In time Israel arrived at Kadesh-barnea, on the south border of the land of promise. Deuteronomy 1:2 says that it was eleven days journey from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea; but it is evident that this great host did not and could not complete that journey in so short a time. Indeed, as afore noted, they were on that journey a whole month, during which time they were eating quails.

…