The Watchtower, July 1, 1942
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“COMFORT” TESTIMONY PERIOD
To Jehovah’s witnesses the month of August is known as the “Comfort” Testimony Period During these 31 days a special effort will be made on the part of Jehovah’s witnesses to comfort as many people as they possibly can with the truths as set forth m the Word of Jehovah God. To aid those who love righteousness the book Children along with the booklet Hope will be offered to the people on a contribution of 25c These two publications set forth a message which shows there is something worth while living for. Those persons who trust m Jehovah’s kingdom and know that this is the only hope for the world will proclaim the message contained in these publications and make them available to as many persons as they can possibly meet during August. “Comfort” Testimony Period will be a blessing to all those who share in the preaching of the gospel. Make your report of activity to your local company servant, or if you are not associated with a company, make your report direct to the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. In a world of distress and perplexity all readers of The Watchtower will agree that comfort to those that mourn is important at this time. Aid those who love righteousness with the message and information you already possess.
“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES
Week of August 2: “Song-Call to Action,” 1-21 inclusive, The Watchtower July 1, 1942.
Week of August 9: “Song-Call to Action,”
22-45 inclusive, The Watchtower July 1, 1942.
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"CHILDREN STUDY QUESTIONS”
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No. LXIII July 1, 1942 No. 13
SONG-CALL TO ACTION
"Jehovah, even Jehovah, is my strength and song.”—Isa. 12:2, Am. Rev. Ver.
JEHOVAH is the most glorious theme of all songs. He is deserving to be praised in joyful, grateful song by all his intelligent creation that lives. All creatures in his likeness he endowed with the power and ability to sing his praises as the heart expression of their adoration and devotion to him as the perfect sum of all righteousness and goodness. When he laid the foundation of the earth his two princely spirit creatures designated as “the morning stars” poured out their exultation in song of praise to the great Creator, and all the spirit sons of God approved and shouted out of sheer joy. At the human birth of Jehovah’s Son, whose birth was a step toward the future creation of new heavens and a new earth, the host of angelic sons of God appeared to the shepherds and let them hear their harmonious voices praising Jehovah and saying in unison: “Glory in the highest unto God! and on earth peace, among men of goodwill.” (Job 38:4-7; Luke 2:13,14, Rotherham) After his warlike victory over ancient Egypt at the Red sea, Jehovah’s prophet Moses led His delivered people in the song: “I will sing unto Jehovah, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. Jehovah is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: this is my God, and I will praise him; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. Jehovah is a man of war: Jehovah is his name.” (Ex. 15:1-3, Am. Rev. Ver.) That song celebrated the war in vindication of Jehovah’s name and word and all-power.
2 Since A.D. 1914 is the day of battle and war, beginning with the first “war in heaven” and culminating shortly in the universal war that involves heaven and earth and commonly called “the battle of Armageddon”. Everlasting peace to the universe can never come until that battle has been fought, and Jehovah of hosts again triumphs gloriously as he did at the Red sea. The words of the song of praise to Jehovah that shall then be sung by those who witness his victory and live have probably not been written as yet. But those having faith in his sure victory may sing now. In fact, Jehovah, the great Composer of song and praise, long ago inspired songs to be written and to be reserved for this very day of battle and war, and which songs must be sung by his singers now, before the final battle for universal domination. The basic theme of all these songs is the same, namely, the vindication of Jehovah’s name by his Warrior nation, The Theocratic Government under Christ Jesus, and the vindication of his indisputable right to the domination of the universe.
3 The present-time “jazz-song” world does not enjoy and join in such songs, but tries to drown out the message thereof with its deafening blare of propaganda. It tries to silence the singers and to prevent any “men of good-will” from catching up and learning the songs of vindication and of life in a new world sustained by Jehovah’s Theocracy. All the religionists complain at the singing and bring down the wrath and power of the governments of this world upon the singers by calling the songs “seditious” and “subversive” and “disturbing to religious peace and the unity of religion and politics”.
4 Under the circumstances, with the whole world ranged up against The Theocracy and despising the name of Jehovah, it requires great courage to sing the songs as the Composer thereof commands. What cares the enemy that the mourning people who are being regimented into a totalitarian new order are comforted and filled with hope by hearing the songs! The enemy only gets madder and feels tormented to desperation and gathers his political, judicial, commercial, military and religious forces together against the little band of singers and steadily сloses in upon them to finally strangle them to keep quiet. Shall the enemy fully stifle the songs of victory in praise of Jehovah’s Theocratic Government! Regardless of the determined effort made to that end, the thing of immediate concern now is that the divine Composer commands his trained ones to sing on and to march ahead, faces to the foe, and singing as they march.
5 The songs were prepared for this day of battle and war, and they must be sung by God’s devoted servants; else he would make the very stones to sing out, that the prophecy of his Word might be vindicated. Not with carnal weapons, nor depending upon Charging horses, nor trusting in the sturdy, seasoned legs drilled by totalitarian masters, do Jehovah’s servants tramp forward in offensive action against the enemies of The Theocracy, but solely clad in heavenly “armour of God” and singing the songs He has put in their mouths. (Eph. 6:11-18) The correctness of this manner of march was foreshadowed in the time of crisis during the days of Jehovah’s typical Theocracy, the capital of which was the holy city of Jerusalem. At that capital city the great Theocrat’s anointed king, Jehoshaphat, sat upon the throne of Jehovah, which throne King David had once occupied. (1 Chron. 29: 23) The political, commercial and religious elements of the anti-Theocratic world, namely, the nations of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, had conspired and federated against Jehovah and his anointed king, and they stormed to the attack upon the city. Jehoshaphat’s name means “Jehovah-vindicated”. Warned of the coming attack, King Jehoshaphat assembled all the nation of Judeans to Jerusalem. He gathered them to Jehovah’s temple on Mount Zion and there prayed for divine help and deliverance, that the Theocracy might be preserved and Jehovah’s name might be vindicated.
6 Then came Jehovah’s instructions by the lips of one of his trained temple singers, a Levite of the musical family of Asaph. The command was, not to hole up and take a stationary defense position, but to march to the offense, undismayed and fearless of the combined enemy of superior numbers and military equipment. The battle was to be Jehovah's, and likewise the victory. In order that the faith and integrity of his covenant people might be tested and demonstrated, Jehovah did not order horse-mounted warriors or horse-drawn chariots or hardened shocktroops strong of leg to take the lead in the aggressive action. Under heavenly guidance Jehovah’s anointed king put the chief emphasis upon declaring God’s name throughout the earth before Jehovah showed his power over the enemy and vindicated his name. “And when he had taken counsel with the people [(Hebrew) And when he had given counsel unto the people], he appointed them that should sing unto Jehovah, and give praise in holy array, as they went out before the army, and say, Give thanks unto Jehovah; for his lovingkindness endureth for ever.” — 2 Chron. 20:21, A.R.V.; Roth.
7 That was contrary to proved and tested military strategy of the world, but it is Jehovah’s way for his Theocratic people, who are not of this world but are in a covenant with him. It is the way of heavenly wisdom. Jerusalem’s gates swung open early in the morning, and with the temple Levite singers courageously to the fore Jehovah’s covenant people marched forth, men, women and children, to witness Jehovah’s “strange act”. All the marchers took up the song. Afar off the battle began. The invisible hosts of Jehovah God must have enjoyed fighting against God’s enemies to the accompaniment of sacred song extolling the name of Jehovah, which name those enemies had reproached. “And when they began to sing and to praise, Jehovah set liers-in-wait against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, that were come against Judah; and they were smitten. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. And when Judah came to the watch-tower of the wilderness, they looked upon the multitude; and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and there were none that escaped.” (2 Chron. 20: 22-24, A.R.V.) That strange deliverance of Jehovah’s covenant people happened as a type or prophetic pattern. The account thereof was preserved in the Bible record for the guidance and comfort of Jehovah’s covenant people living here in the end of the world. So it is authoritatively stated at 1 Corinthians 10:11 (marginal reading).
PROPHETIC SONGS
8 Among the divinely inspired songs that must be sung while the rival world powers grapple together in the total war for world domination is Psalm 147 found in the Bible’s Book of Psalms. In the ancient days before the invention of printing, and when the handwritten copies of the sacred writings were few and possessed mainly by Jehovah’s servants at the temple, these psalms were actually sung at His holy temple on Mount Zion by the Levites assigned to that duty there. Jehovah’s people of Israel, whose covenant with him obligated them to regularly attend the feasts of the Lord at his temple, heard the psalms sung and joined in responses of “Amen” thereto. They thereby became familiar with the psalms of Jehovah as well as other portions of God’s written Word which were read to them at the temple. Those psalms were not mere loose expressions of feeling such as distinguish this so-called “jazz age”, nor were they a mere throwing together of a lot of thoughts at random just to make a rhyme. The Psalms were based upon historical facts which were typical. Therefore those inspired songs were prophetic of things to come in connection with Jehovah’s Theocratic Government under Christ and with its marvelous work of vindicating his name and clearing out all objectors to Jehovah’s universal domination. Jehovah’s anointed King of that Theocracy himself speaks of the prophetic value and purpose of the Psalms. When the experiences of religious persecution, and death on the tree and resurrection from the dead had been fulfilled in him, Christ Jesus met with his faithful disciples and said unto them: “These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” (Luke 24:44) That the disciples thereafter understood all the Psalms to be prophetic is proved in the record at Acts 1:20; 4: 25-28; 13: 32, 33; Hebrews 1: 8-13; 10: 5-13. When studied as a prophecy concerning The Theocracy and its establishment in power, and when compared with the well-known events since A.D. 1914, Psalm 147 fills us with awe, wonder and delight.
HALLELUJAH!
9 Christ Jesus is the One anointed of Jehovah’s spirit of power to serve as his King of The Theocracy. Jehovah also seats with Christ Jesus in the throne of that Theocratic kingdom the obedient ones from among men who enter into a covenant as did their Leader and Head Christ Jesus to do God’s will and who thereafter follow in his footsteps and do God’s will, and not the world’s will, faithfully unto the death. Such ones, being begotten of God’s spirit as his sons and then anointed as his witnesses and assigned to a place in the “body of Christ”, are taken into the covenant with Christ Jesus for the Kingdom or Theocracy. These must die in faith and faithful that they may receive the crown of life immortal in the spirit with Christ the King. These must overcome the world as he did that he may grant them to sit with him in his heavenly throne as he also overcame and sat down with his Father Jehovah in His throne. If they suffer for being witnesses to The Theocratic Government, they shall reign with him therein. It is to these members of the “body of Christ” that Psalm 147 is addressed, particularly to the remnant of those members who are yet on earth to publish God’s name and Theocracy.
10 “Praise ye Jehovah; for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is comely.” (Ps. 147:1, A.R.V.) Note the expression with which this Psalm opens. In the original Hebrew it is “Hallelu Jah”, the name “Jah” being the shortened form for “Jehovah”. Therefore this is one of the eighteen “Hallelujah” Psalms, so called, which open with this rousing exhortation. It is no mere “jazz song” expression or wild “religious revival” camp-meeting outburst, but is an inspired call to action in praising Jehovah to one another and to all the nations, particularly the teachable ones thereof. The anointed remnant here addressed are by their anointing with God’s spirit of power commissioned to be his witnesses, witnesses to his honor and praise and not to his reproach. By their consecration of themselves to do God’s will, even when that will conflicts with dictatorial men, and also because they are taken by Jehovah into the covenant to serve him, they become the servants or ministers of God. By reason, further, of their anointing from him to preach His gospel or good news of the Kingdom they become Jehovah God’s ordained ministers of the gospel. From the binding obligation and responsibility to act as his ordained ministers there can never be any withdrawal, nor may they ever feel that after a period of work and because of advancing years they have done their share in God’s service and they may retire to ease and inactivity and enjoy a pension. Paul the apostle speaks of himself as “Paul the aged”. When so speaking he was not retired on a pension to let others do the work, but was a prisoner in chains at Rome for having kept on preaching and witnessing from house to house in obedience to his divine commission.—Philem. 9,10.
11 To quit preaching and being a witness, because of persecution or for any other selfish reason, this side of Armageddon’s fight means to be unfaithful to one’s ordination or commission and is a breaking of one’s covenant to do God’s will. By so doing one does not fulfill that term of the commission, “Praise ye Jehovah,” but brings reproach upon his name and denies him. Death is the penalty.
12 The “praises unto our God” are written in His Word. They are beneficial, and point the hearers or readers to the only Source of life and blessing and of a righteous and perfect government. Those praises strengthen the faith, and lead one to a trust in Him who alone can give protection and deliverance. Those praises reveal the One who is the Supreme Power and who is to be obeyed and worshiped. Those praises to Him bar the giving of praise to creatures or demons or men and the fearing and heiling and worshiping of such creatures, which course leads to destruction. Hence it is of the highest good to sing praises to Jehovah God in fulfillment of one's obligations as his ordained minister. Nothing could be more vital to the people in this time of “distress of nations with perplexity”, when the world is faced with utter destruction. The faithful servants of Jehovah will be on the alert against being entrapped into any other view of the matter. They will refuse to break their covenant vows and to yield to the world’s pressure to make them cease from praising Him.
13 It is Jehovah God, by his King of The Theocracy, who commands his ordained ministers, “Praise ye Jehovah.” The anointed remnant, who are espoused to Christ Jesus to be of his heavenly bride, obey. They praise Jehovah publicly by spreading his message abroad and thus letting others hear who have a hearing ear. The teachable ones who love righteousness and that which is for their highest good do hear. They show good-will toward Jehovah God and his Theocratic Government. In proof of their good-will and devotion they too consecrate themselves to Jehovah God by faith in Christ Jesus. Thus they also become God’s ministers or servants, with hope of everlasting life on earth under the Kingdom. What must they do now? That which is “good”, namely, praise Jehovah, just as the remnant of Christ’s bride do. The same terms of the commission or ordination apply to them as to the remnant. Hence it is written: “And the Spirit [Christ Jesus] and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come: and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev. 22:17) All of such who discern and appreciate their commission from Jehovah God through Christ and who seriously apply themselves to being Jehovah’s witness as their God-ordained life-work find it is a delightful work of ministry. All the reproaches and persecutions and hardships at the hands of the religionists cannot take away from the real pleasantness of praising Jehovah and his desirable Government to those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. They experience personally how comely it is to praise the Most High God and his King of The Theocracy rather than to make a name for oneself or to praise creatures and organizations of this world.
THE THEOCRACY HERE!
14 “Jehovah doth build up Jerusalem; he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.” (Ps. 147: 2, A. R. V.) This indicates that this Psalm was written after the seventy years of desolation of the typical city of Jerusalem and after the faithful remnant were released from captivity to Babylon. They returned to the site of the holy city and rebuilt the temple and also the city and its walls and hung the city gates thereon. That Jerusalem was the “city of the great King”, said Jesus. (Matt. 5: 35) This marks the time of the grand fulfillment of this “Hallelujah” Psalm as after A.D. 1914. That year the seven “times of the Gentiles”, which began with Babylon’s overthrow of Jerusalem in 606 B.C., ran out, and there the “time of the end” for the Gentile powers in control of the earth began. At the beginning of those seven Gentile times the typical Theocracy at Jerusalem was overthrown and taken away. At the end of those Gentile times, in 1914, the real Theocracy began, when the great King of Eternity, Jehovah God, bade his anointed Son at his right hand to start the exercise of his power as King of The Theocracy. That Theocracy is Jehovah’s capital organization, where he makes his official residence. It is therefore the “city of the great King”, typified by Jerusalem of old.
15 The Theocratic Government under Christ Jesus is the “new heavens” and is “the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband”. (Rev. 21:1, 2, 9, 10) Satan’s organization, which is called “Babylon”, had its headquarters in heaven till 1914. The New Jerusalem, then built up, immediately began war upon the enemies in heaven, and Satan and his demons fought back against the new Government, The Theocracy, but prevailed not and were thrust down to the vicinity of the earth, whipped. What a fall for Babylon! and what a cause for praise to Jehovah! As it is written: “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia!; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: for true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia.” – Rev. 19:1-3; 12:1-13.
16 The Theocracy is Jehovah’s capital organization over the entire universe. All creatures that would enjoy everlasting life and peace must take their stand on the side of that Theocratic capital and be gathered unto it. To prevent this the Devil stirred up the anger of the nations against the new Government in the very year of its birth, A.D. 1914, and the World War broke out. It was the Devil’s scheme to militarize the world and use that condition to scatter Jehovah's organized servants, the spiritual Israelites, and to prevent all announcement of the building up of Jehovah’s capital organization and thereby prevent the gathering of any creatures on earth unto or under that divine government. Jehovah’s servants of spiritual Israel were hated of all nations at war and were cast out from their organized condition of serving Him and the interests of his kingdom. Their hearts were broken at the disorganizing of the work by the religious and political agents of Great Babylon and at all the reproaches that were heaped on God’s name. They suffered great hurt and wounds by violent mistreatment, by betrayals of false brethren and by the cruel misrepresentations published about them by the modern-day Babylonians, particularly those of so- called “Christendom”; which things were intended to damage them beyond all future recovery in the eyes of all.
17 Then for His name’s sake, and for the sake of his elect ones of his “holy nation”, Jehovah suddenly sent his King and Messenger to the temple, in 1918, and stopped the World War shortly thereafter that same year. (Matt. 24:7-13, 21, 22) With Jehovah’s mighty Messenger, Christ Jesus, at the temple as Kling of the new world, who now in heaven or in earth could possibly hinder Jehovah’s message of the Kingdom, or Theocracy, from going to all nations of the habitable earth in fulfillment of the prophecy at Matthew 24:14? No one.
18 Because of throwing the great Babylon down from its heavenly seat the King Christ Jesus was like Cyrus the king of Persia, who released the remnant of Israel from Babylon and sent them back to Jerusalem to engage in the temple work. (Isa. 45:1,13) Immediately after the halt of the World War Jehovah began gathering the faithful remnant of the “outcasts of [spiritual] Israel” to His Theocratic King at the temple. “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” (Ps. 147: 3) This Jehovah did in freeing them from Babylon’s restraint, particularly from the religious fear of creatures and of what they might do to a servant of the Lord for faithfully witnessing for Him. Jehovah revealed to them that he had a further work for them and that his King is at the temple and the time for everlasting rejoicing has come because it is the day for the vindication of Jehovah’s name before all creation. Then Jehovah by his King poured out his spirit upon the faithful remnant yet in the flesh. He sent them out as his official witnesses to all the nations. He brought them into his Theocratic organization, and willingly they submitted themselves to Jehovah and his King as “The Higher Powers”.
19 “He counteth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.” (Ps. 147: 4, A. R. V.) This shows the time as being the night of Satan’s world, the period when “the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people”. (Isa. 60:1, 2) In the dark period is when Jehovah’s stellar bodies rise and shine and declare God’s glory to God-fearing persons on earth. Christ Jesus is Jehovah’s Chief Star, “the bright and morning star,” the foretold “Star out of Jacob”. (Rev. 22:16; Num. 24:17) The remnant of his body members must likewise shine, reflecting his light of the Kingdom, and they do so in obedience to God’s command, and turn many to God’s righteous Government. “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever.” (Dan. 12:3) God counts the number of these stars who shine with Christ Jesus in the firmament of the new heavens, and he numbers them as 144,000. No more faithful ones than this shall be exalted to heavenly glory. – Rev. 7:4-8; 14:1, 3; Luke 12: 32.
20 The names which the persecutors under demon influence call these of the ‘star’ class to condemn and misrepresent them do not matter; only the name which the Creator Jehovah calls them matters. He promised that the time would come when he would call these symbolic “stars” by a new name which his own mouth would name. That name was hidden away in his holy Word. Christ Jesus first officially receives that new name, but he also promised to share it with all the members of his “body”, including the “feet of him”, or the remnant yet on earth after his coming to the temple. To the overcoming remnant he gives a pledge of the new name, like a “white stone, and in the stone a new name written”, and he further says: “I will write upon him the name of my God [Jehovah], and the name of the city of my God [to identify them as citizens of that capital organization], which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him mv new name.”—Isa. 62:2; Rev. 2:17; 3:12; Isa. 43: 10, 12; 44:8.
21 In 1931, after a “work-day” of twelve years of faithful activity in the vineyard of God’s service, the remnant were rewarded with the revelation of their new name, namely, “Jehovah’s witnesses.” Thereafter they joined in the great “Hallelujah” chorus with Christ Jesus, “The Faithful and True Witness,” as never in the years previous. Increasing numbers of persons of good-will heard the joyful sound and took their stand for Jehovah and his Chief Witness and they joined in and swelled the “Hallelujah” song, blending their voices in perfect unity with the remnant of spiritual Israel. These become the Lord’s “other sheep”. They know from God’s Word that the chief work and calling of the remnant is to give a witness to Jehovah in vindication of His name, and that this “one thing” the remnant must do. There are not two things, including a different commission for the “other sheep”. Hence nothing these dear “sheep” could do could take pre-eminence over what is the ordained chief work of the remnant, and therefore the “other sheep” must be the active companions of the remnant in doing the “one thing” of bearing witness to the truth concerning Jehovah and his Kingdom. Thus these “other sheep” become witnesses for Him, on the same wise that the faithful men before Christ’s death, from John the Baptist all the way back to Abel, were the never-quitting witnesses for Jehovah.
SUPREME POWER
22 “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite”; or, “of his understanding there is no number.” (Ps. 147 :5; margin) The number of things which He understands perfectly is as infinite as his universal creation, because he created all good things for his intelligent purposes. He is therefore the Lord and Master, the Supreme One. In contradiction of the Devil, who ordains himself to seek universal domination and who also ordains the political-religious organization on earth to seek “world domination”, the Lord God Jehovah has ordained himself and his Theocratic King, Christ Jesus, to be “The Higher Powers”. (Rom. 13:1-4) Jehovah’s ordination of power alone shall stand the supreme test. He says: “I am Jehovah, that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise unto graven images.” (Isa. 42:8, A. R. V.) His King warns all the covenant people of God to be subject to the Supreme One of the Higher Powers, saying: “For Jehovah your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the terrible, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.” (Deut. 10:17, A.R.V.) His covenant people, therefore, place first importance upon Jehovah’s commands and obey him rather than worldly men. They hail Him as “great”.
23 In obeying Jehovah’s commandment to be his constant witnesses they are “strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might”. (Acts 5:29; Eph. 6:10) Though oftentimes they do not understand the meaning of all the difficulties they meet up -with in his service, yet they trust him without question. They are persuaded that his infinite understanding grasps every detail of his “strange work” in which they are having a part. He understands every part of his organization of his witnesses on earth, understands all their perplexities, understands all their trials and sufferings at enemy hands, and knows how to handle them wisely and competently for his name’s sake and its vindication. There is nothing that the enemy attempt or do that He does not understand, even before their wicked plans are completed. As his courageous servants push ahead against nasty interferences concertedly springing up in all quarters, and as they carefully and anxiously look to what can be done to keep on going, Jehovah God has never failed to guide them and to outmaneuver their enemies with His perfect understanding and attention to the bewildering mix-up of details. His work must go through.
24 Jehovah sets the meek in contrast with the wicked. “Jehovah upholdeth the meek: he bringeth the wicked down to the ground.” (Ps. 147: 6, A. R. V.) The wicked proceed upon the theory that God helps those who help themselves, and they set out to grab at world domination and at religious monopoly and other things unauthorized by Jehovah and in willful opposition to his Theocracy in the face of warning by his meek ones. They therefore ignore the stop signals. They violently trample over the meek to attain their goal, in complete disregard of the righteous laws of the land and the rights and liberties of the meek or teachable ones who look to God and Christ Jesus as their Teachers and who do what they are taught from God’s Word. By self-assumptions and by the help of religion the wicked exalt themselves to positions of power and authority in defiance of Jehovah and his anointed King, even to declaring it illegal to bear the “new name" from God and to preach Jehovah’s Theocracy. But under this crushing world-pressure Jehovah’s everlasting arms hold up his meek and obedient servants, and these trample underfoot the opposition of the wicked and carry on as His ordained ministers of the gospel. Christ Jesus, who is the Meekest of God’s meek ones, already has cast Satan out of heaven and down to the ground and has him and his demon and human agents under his soles as his footstool. At Armageddon He will twist his heel upon them all as upon a viper. Jehovah’s servants will walk over the places where these wicked ones once were.
KEEP SINGING
25 “Sing unto Jehovah with thanksgiving; sing praises upon the harp unto our God.” (Ps. 147:7, A. R. V.) Religious leaders and their allies in public affairs work against the good of the people when they frame mischief by law to prevent the keeping of this commandment of the Most High God. “It is a good thing to give thanks unto Jehovah, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High; to show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning [as by house- to-house calls with the message], and thy faithfulness every night [as by back-calls on the interested meek persons], with an instrument of ten strings, and with the psaltery [sound equipment to accompany the message given by the lips]; with a solemn sound upon the harp. For thou, Jehovah, hast made me glad through thy work [in which I am privileged to have an active personal part]: I will triumph [over the combined enemy opposition] in the works of thy hands.” — Ps. 92:1-4, A. R. V.
26 Here “the harp” symbolizes God’s Word as written in the Bible. The singing or declaration of the message by the voices of Jehovah’s servants must be in tune and harmony with this foundation-toned Word, The Holy Scriptures. In parts of the earth where the enemies of The Theocracy have officially and judicially declared Jehovah’s good work outlawed and taken away the literature explaining the Scriptures, and in other parts where the upset world conditions have made it impossible to get supplies of literature, there Jehovah’s covenant-keeping servants continue as true Christians to preach as the apostle Paul did (Acts 20:20), and using just the Bible itself, either carried with them or already in the homes of the people they visit. They must keep singing praise to Jehovah God.
27 “Who covereth the heavens with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.” (Ps. 147:8, A.R.V.) Those clouds denote Jehovah’s presence by his representative Messenger, Christ Jesus, just as His pillar of cloud by which he guided the children of Israel forty years through the wilderness symbolized Jehovah’s invisible presence with and his protection over his covenant people by His mighty messenger or angel whom he sent before the marching Israelites. His mightiest Angel or Messenger has come to the temple for judgment. He is present with blessings and protection for the faithful remnant who pass the judgment and for the loving “other sheep” who do good to the remnant and whom the King at the temple places on his right side of favor and mercy.
28 The heavenly King of The Theocracy constitutes the “new heavens” in power since A.D. 1914, and the blessings of Jehovah God come down therefrom like refreshing rain upon his faithful servants in the earth, the remnant and their companions. These have had their eyes opened by God’s Word to see the anti- Theocratic, totalitarian “abomination of desolation” standing up in place of and as a substitute for God’s kingdom. Therefore, they have fled from all parts inside and outside of “Christendom” and taken refuge at the “mountains”, the Great Rock Jehovah and the Foundation Rock Christ Jesus, The Higher Powers. (Matt. 24:15-18) There all those who seek meekness and righteousness grow and flourish like the grass, increasing to a multitude without number, and they shall not be cut down by Jehovah’s Executioner of the wicked in the “battle of that great day of God Almighty”.
29 All living creation is dependent upon Jehovah’s providence. “He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.” (Ps. 147:9) When Job was suffering greatly from an incurable affliction and being condemned and persecuted by pious religionists before all the public, Jehovah strengthened Job’s faith in God’s concern for him and unfailing provision for him by pointing to the divine care for the brute beasts away out in the wilderness. Then He asked Job: “Who provideth for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry unto God, and wander for lack of food!” (Job 38:41, A.R. V.) Many who are free and unencumbered, like those wild beasts and birds, and who could devote their entire time to the direct service of The Theocracy in the field, fail or refuse to take advantage of that blessed opportunity. Their excuse is the fear that they will not be taken care of by the Lord while so engaged as pioneers in daily and continuously praising him in obedience to His wise command. As answer to such an excuse the psalmist, and also the man without where to lay his head, Christ Jesus, pointed to the beasts and birds. If God sees to it that the helpless little ravens in the nest, which birds God’s own law classifies as unclean, are fed, will he not also faithfully provide lodging, food and raiment for one in a covenant with Him and who with lips clean of fear of man obediently carries out God’s commandments and glorifies him! The raven was the first creature to go forth from the ark and to stay out and trust to Jehovah God to provide for it in the earth cleansed by the Flood. (Gen. 8: 6,7) “Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls!” (Luke 12: 24) Ask the hard-working pioneers; they will tell you. Neither does Jehovah fail to provide the spiritual food from his table to his servants who maintain their integrity right in the lair of the terrible totalitarian “beast”. By ways as strange as by the ravens which fed Elijah, Jehovah gets his spiritual food through to those who are determined to keep their integrity toward him and his Government even if threatened to starve physically for it as punishment.
30 The totalitarian powers put their trust in speedy vehicles of destruction and glorify the toughened limbs of their tramping hordes that goose-step to the attack on democratic principles and liberties, and on the free and open service of Jehovah God. While this crushing of God-given rights and God-ordained service goes on, the cardinals and other members of the Hierarchy bestow their blessings and pray to God to show his pleasure and grant military victory to these totalitarian aggressors. Will their being clergymen with skirts and crucifixes and split hats induce Almighty God to change his position on the matter and answer their prayers and high-low masses’ The Provider for the weak, innocent young ravens answers: “He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh no pleasure in the legs of a man. Jehovah taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his lovingkindness.”—Ps. 147 :10,11, A. R. V.
31 Said Jesus when a man on earth: “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt. 10: 28) In such fear of God Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane while the traitor Judas led “a great multitude, with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people”, to arrest him and drag him to his death. (Matt. 26: 36-48) Jesus feared to displease Jehovah, his heavenly Father, and he taught and himself illustrated obedience to God rather than to men. Hence to him there came the Father’s voice from heaven: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” (Matt. 17: 5) His faithful remnant and his “other sheep” will therefore wisely do what he tells them to do; “because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” (1 Pet. 2:21) Following his example is the way to have the divine pleasure taken in one, and hence to receive the loving-kindness of God. The Lord God may permit his faithful and true witnesses to suffer long and keenly as in the case of Job. If, however, they refuse to be frightened off from his service by the “strength of the horse” and the “legs of a man”, be they even the two iron “legs” of that terrible image described by Daniel (chapter two), God will in his well-ordered time show them his mercy as he did to Job for keeping his integrity. "Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” (Jas. 5:11) Jehovah never disappoints the hope of those who sound forth His praises and leave the fighting and deliverance to him at Armageddon.
ORGANIZED PRAISE
32 “Glorify, O Jerusalem, the Lord: praise thy God, O Zion.” (Ps. 147:12, Leeser’s translation) Here, both “Jerusalem” and “Zion” picture the capital organization of Jehovah, The Theocracy under Christ the King. Concerning him Jehovah says to all the rulers of this world who have set themselves against Jehovah and his Anointed: “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” (Ps. 2:1-6) Who shall stand with Jehovah’s King on that “hill” or Government which is devoted to righteousness? The Revelation (14:1,3) answers: “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And they sung as it were a new song before the throne [of Jehovah God], and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.”
33 The remnant on earth are gathered into unity with the Lamb of God at Mount Zion. The “other sheep”, who also follow that Lamb, take refuge under that capital organization in submission to The Higher Powers. They are like the non-Israelite Nethinim who returned with the remnant from Babylon to Jerusalem and took up service of assistance to God’s ministers at the temple on Mount Zion. (Ezra 2:43, 58,70; 7:7; 8:17,20; Neh. 7:73; 10:28, 29) The command to “glorify” and “praise” Jehovah God is addressed to “Jerusalem” and “Zion”, that is, to the entire organization as one. This, therefore, is a call to action to the faithful remnant together with their zealous earthly companions, the Lord’s “other sheep”, to serve the Lord God in an organized manner, that is, as one united organization dedicated to the praise and glorifying of the Great Theocrat.
34 Why should these unite to “glorify Jehovah” and “praise thy God”, and be courageous and fearless about doing so? The good and undeniable reason is: “For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. He maketh peace in thy borders; he filleth thee with the finest of the wheat [or, the fat of wheat (margin)].” (Ps. 147:13, 14, A.R.V.) This is cause for the whole Theocratic organization in heaven and earth to rejoice, both the children of Zion who were sleeping in death and who were raised to life in the spirit at the Lord’s coming to the temple in 1918, and also the “remnant of her seed” who are yet alive and remain on the earth; and both parts do rejoice together. And the invisible part with Christ Jesus on Mount Zion join with him in assisting the visible part or remnant in glorifying Jehovah and praising the only true and living God, in whose name they walk from henceforth, even for evermore.
35 No battering ram of the enemy organization can crash in those barred gates of Zion and Jerusalem. That Theocracy is the strongest organization in the universe. Hence there only is the place of salvation for the remnant of Zion’s children. The Nethinim or “other sheep” must flee to it and take refuge under it before the battle of Armageddon begins for. the execution of all those who have not lined up on the side of Zion. Those that persecute the remnant and their companions because they take their stand for Zion and Jerusalem only cause themselves unnecessary troubles and hang a weighty stone about their necks: “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah, and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.” (Zech. 12: 2,3) Let such remember what happened in one night to King Sennacherib’s 185,000 Assyrians that besieged Jerusalem. — Isa. 37: 33-38.
36 Amid all their persecutions for bearing and praising the name of Jehovah God, Zion’s “remnant of her seed” and their earthly companions are blessed above all other creatures on earth. (Matt. 5:10-12) There is no peace and unity in the world, in any worldly nation; for Satan’s house is divided against itself in the contest for world domination. But among those who are separate from the world and in covenant relationship with Jehovah and serving him according to his Theocratic rule there is peace. They pray for this peace to continue among them. (Ps. 122: 6-9) In peace they do the Lord’s work together. Their fighting is only against the demons. (Eph. 6:12) They mark all who cause divisions and disturbances, and avoid them as not being of God’s Theocratic organization. (Rom. 16:17,18) Gathered about the Lord’s table in the presence of their enemies, they feed upon the fullness of the “fat of wheat”, that is, the choicest life-sustaining truths of God’s Word concerning his Theocratic Government under Christ.
“HIS STRANGE WORK”
37 “He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.” (Ps. 147:15) Out from Zion goes forth God’s law to his remnant and their companions on earth, and likewise to them goes forth his word of doctrine from Jerusalem. (Mic. 4:2) His specific command to them is to declare his name throughout all the earth and to publish the Kingdom gospel to all nations. He provides them with the understanding of his Word to that end. This work of publication and of education of the people of good-will must be done before the final end of Satan’s war-riddled organization. The time is limited, very short now, because that disastrous end is so close. Therefore the work must be pressed daily with all one's heart, mind, soul and strength, because it must be done quickly. To the accomplishment of this Jehovah has provided his Theocratic arrangement for his organized people. During the past twenty years he has equipped them with his revealed Word in print in the form of books, booklets, magazines, tracts and leaflets, also with sound equipment on wheels and portable, such as phonograph, and with vehicles of transportation, and with radio transmitters and land wires for telephonic carriage of speeches, and with loudspeakers and public-address systems. By these means, and with a small band of lively, fearless Kingdom publishers permeated with the zeal for Jehovah, God's word has indeed run very swiftly and encircled the world since 1918. It continues to run. Hundreds of millions of pieces of literature have been distributed from house to house, in over eighty languages; 1941 was the greatest year, of the most tremendous distribution in a single year to date. Millions are reading. “Let them read.” Hundreds of millions have heard and other millions yet hear by means of radio and by portable and mobile sound equipment.
38 To religious “Christendom” it is a “strange work", and she objects thereto. The demons now try to regiment the work off the earth and to regiment all the people against it and all the publishers out of it. God's Word will continue to run swiftly until the purpose for which he has sent it forth is accomplished. (Isa. 53: 10,11) What is that purpose? This: to publish God's name and Theocracy world-wide; to serve all, rulers and common people alike, with clear earning; and to point the meek persons of good-will to the way of escape to the mountains of safety, Zion and Jerusalem. There is no time to delay flight. The abomination that maketh desolate” has appeared. Says the King of The Theocracy to the refugees: “But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matt. 24:20.21) The winter is the time of Jehovah’s "strange act” of the great fight of Armageddon, and it follows immediately after the swift running of Jehovah’s Word, “his strange work.” Concerning his "strange act” of the Armageddon "winter” Psalm 147:16,17, A. R. V., says: “He giveth snow like wool; he scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold!”
“HIS STRANGE ACT"
39 Jehovah’s remnant of anointed witnesses and their companions are now undergoing experiences like those of Job. Out of the midst of the storm Jehovah spoke to Job of all His mighty works and asked Job: “Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?” (Job 38: 22, 23) The Job class shall enter into an understanding of those secrets when Jehovah performs his act of vindicating his name at Armageddon. There these phenomena shall operate to God’s praise: “Praise Jehovah from the earth, ye sea-monsters, and all deeps; fire and hail, snow and vapor; stormy wind, fulfilling his word.” — Ps. 148: 7, 8, A. R. V.
40 Then Jehovah will “be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may . . . bring to pass his act, his strange act”. (Isa. 28: 21) At Gibeon Jehovah fought for his covenant people Israel and pitched down from the skies huge hailstones upon the five anti-Theocratic kings and their combined armies: “they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.” And the very sun and moon appeared to stand still that day. Thereby also, besides vindicating his name, Jehovah delivered the people of good-will who were bottled up in Gibeon and threatened with death by the besieging enemies of God. (Josh. 10:9-14) The antitypical downpour of frozen destruction is yet due at Armageddon. Immediately after the Lord God sends his emphatic warning out of the north and troubles the totalitarian-world combine (Dan. 11:44), then the religionists of “Christendom” will say, as long foretold: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” (Jer. 8:20) Then ‘Tris cold” will begin to set in, and they will seek refuge. There the biggest lie behind which the religious-political opposers of Jehovah’s Theocracy will hide for their protection is the “abomination of desolation”, which world organization they declare is the kingdom of God that they want and the real thing is not needed. Taking refuge in this organized lie will not avail at the time of the big fight. Warns Jehovah: “Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.”—Isa. 28: 17.
41 In the winter months during the period of God’s “strange work” his witnesses have pressed on with the Kingdom message, thus losing no time. (Prov. 31: 21) Also his King and the armies of heaven know how to fight in the cold of Armageddon’s battle as pictured in the exploit of King David’s fellow warrior: “And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow.” (2 Sam. 23: 20) Describing God’s “strange work” and the winter action of destruction immediately following, Psalm 68:11,12,14 reads: “The Lord gave the word; great was the company of those that published it. Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil. When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in [Mount] Salmon.” The cold of God’s judgment without mercy comes out of the north. It will be executed at that tribulation of Armageddon against the wicked who have shown no mercy to Jehovah’s Kingdom publishers on earth. Of such opposers of his Theocracy and reproachers of His name, “who can stand before his cold?” Not one. (Job 37:6-10) Those foreseeing this evil to come shortly, should be wise, like the ant, and make provision now to come out of the cold into the warmth of God's refuge. — Prov. 6:6; 30:25.
42 Only those in and under God’s Theocratic organization during that battle shall weather the destructive cold of that terrible winter of Armageddon, and see the fair Kingdom weather that follows thereafter at Jehovah’s command. “He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind [invisible power] to blow, and the waters flow.” (Ps. 147:18) It will be as when the waters of the world deluge had finished their destruction of the ungodly who filled the earth with debauchery and violence: “God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth; and the waters asswaged.” (Gen. S: 1) Then Noah and his companions came forth into the cleansed earth.
43 So too after the winter of Armageddon the remnant and their companions will come forth from their protected place under God’s hiding and enter into the glorious season of the Kingdom in its undisputed power over earth. (Job 37: 22-24) Pointing to the events of our time since 1914 Jesus said: “Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation [including the remnant] shall not pass away till all be fulfilled.” (Luke 21:29-32) Then all that live on earth shall be cheered with the warmth of God’s mercy through his reigning King. Peace shall flow like a mighty river everlasting, and righteousness shall be multiplied on the earth like the waves of the sea, and His blessings shall drop like gentle rain. —Isa. 48:18; Ps. 72:6,7.
FAVOR AND RESPONSIBILITY
44 To whom is Jehovah God now showing these things of his Word, and to whom is he giving his ordinances and regulations to publish that word swiftly abroad? “He showeth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation; and as for his ordinances, they have not known them. Praise ye Jehovah.” (Ps. 147:19,20, A.R.V.; and Roth.) The nations of “Christendom” are like Esau and have sold their claimed birthright for a mess of pottage for their bellies. Contrariwise, like Jacob, the remnant of spiritual Israel have received the approval of Jehovah and obtained the spiritual portion. For his faithfulness and integrity Jehovah gave Jacob the new name of “Israel”, meaning “wrestling with God”, that is, holding fast to Jehovah God and his Theocracy in the time of peril until one’s integrity is proved and the blessing obtained.—Gen. 32:20-28.
45 This showing of the glories of his Word and of what he requires of his covenant people, that is, his statutes, judgments, ordinances and regulations, places a tremendous responsibility upon those of Jehovah’s “holy nation” and their companions, who share their blessings and the accompanying responsibilities. This outstanding favor Jehovah bestows upon them for his name’s sake, which name must be declared throughout the earth before he shows his power over Satan and his organization in the showdown fight. There must be no slowdown; his word must yet run swiftly, for that is the statute and ordinance which his devoted people must obey. The nations of “Christendom” know not His word and Theocratic regulations, and will continue to oppose and persecute in proud, stubborn resistance till Armageddon’s winter freezes them into everlasting inaction. Well foreknowing this stiff opposition to His word and its swift bearers, and well aware of his exclusive mercies and favors to the remnant and their companions out of all nations, the Lord God commands as his closing word: “Hallelujah!” that is, “Praise ye Jehovah!” It is his urgent call to his favored ones to action. The faithful spring to the response.
For Jehovah giveth wisdom; out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding: he layeth up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to them that walk tn integrity; that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his saints.
—Proverbs 2: 6-8, A. R. V.
EVERYTHING FOR THE ISSUE
THE issue is universal domination, or, more broadly stated, Who is supreme, and who shall rule the universe, Jehovah God or Satan! That issue will be decided in vindication of the name of Jehovah. Since this is to be accomplished by The Theocracy, or God’s kingdom under Christ Jesus, the Kingdom is the great doctrine of the Bible. There is the cost of self-denial to pay for any creature on earth to have a share in the vindication of Jehovah’s name. (Matt. 16:24) Those who have a desire to participate in the vindication of His name, whether as members of The Theocracy or as faithful subjects thereof, should study carefully the Theocratic Scriptures, that they may walk worthily before the Lord God. What the world calls “character development” could never alone bring to any creature Jehovah’s approval which means life to that creature. Those who serve Him and receive his approval therefor must do much more than merely lead a course of chastity and cleanliness. Their being chaste and clean is for a higher purpose than for mere respectability; it is for the purpose of being proper instruments in God’s service in behalf of the great issue. Those consecrated to God’s will must do more than merely exercise chastity and cleanliness. They must see to it that their every faculty, in the best of condition possible, is devoted to God and his kingdom.
No compromise can be approved; no neutrality, nor middle course. “What concord hath Christ with Belial! or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel! And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols! for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” — 2 Cor. 6:15-18.
This means that the members of the “body of Christ” and also his “other sheep” must be entirely separate from Satan’s organization and those who support that wicked organization, and must devote themselves unselfishly to God and his kingdom. Have any of the servants of Jehovah, then, a reason for saying they do not need to observe the rules of common decency! Could anyone for a moment conclude that by following a course of decency and chastity and cleanliness, such is the course of self-denial and meets all the requirements of those who gain everlasting life and serve for the vindication of God’s name! Certainly not!
Referring to God’s promises of receiving those who touch not the unclean thing as his children separate from the world, the apostle adds: ‘"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Cor. 7:1) Any filthiness, whether it be of the flesh or of the spirit, is abominable in His sight. Cleanliness of the flesh and spirit is the very opposite of filthiness, and means that the creature must be clean in body and in mind and use the natural faculties with which he is endowed to the glory of God. Having taken his position on the side of Jehovah in the great issue, and having been granted by Jehovah the great privilege of being associated with his Theocratic organization, he must deport himself in keeping with that holy organization.
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