The Watchtower, October 1, 1943
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“DEFEAT OF PERSECUTION” TESTIMONY PERIOD
With this Testimony Period during the entire month of October the new book “The Truth Shall Make You Free" will be released for public distribution This will be offered in combination with the new booklet Freedom in the New World, on a contribution of 25c. As this Testimony Period will be observed world-wide, where the Kingdom publishers are not supplied with this new literature they will proceed with their intensified testimony work using the latest book and booklet on a contribution to correspond. Our readers and all persons of good-will are welcomed to a part in this mighty educational movement, fearless of persecution, because it is only through past “defeat of persecution” by obedient and courageous proclamation of the Kingdom message under opposition that this announced Testimony Period can be carried out, by God’s grace. This period therefore represents a triumph for God’s truth and cause, and all wishing to share therein we are ready to put in touch with the proper organized group of Jehovah’s witnesses, upon request. All due preparation for this world-wide testimony should now be completed, as to your supplies, territory and time. Then you will have special results to report at this month’s close, either direct to us or to the company with which you associate in field service.
“THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE"
With great gratitude to the “God of truth” the Society here announces this new publication “The Truth Shall Make You Free” The release of the publishers’ edition of this book was a loudly applauded feature of the “Free Nation’s” Theocratic Assembly held simultaneously in August in more than 100 cities The truths set out in unbroken sequence m the 384 pages of this book, illustrated with art work in color, will amaze and delight you and equip you unto the present fight for freedom. The book is in violet cloth binding, with gold-stamped title and relief design, and contains instructions as to how to study and also a complete index of all Scripture texts cited therein. “The Truth Shall Make You Free” is now offered on a contribution of 25c a copy, mailed postpaid to any address. Release of the book for general distribution world-wide is announced elsewhere.
“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES
Week of November 7: “The Free Nation Keeping Truth,” 1-22 inclusive, The Watchtower October 1, 1943.
Week of November 14: “The Free Nation Keeping Truth,” 23-41 inclusive, The Watchtower October 1, 1943.
Vol. LXIV October 1,1943 No. 19
THE FREE NATION KEEPING TRUTH
"Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in."—Isa. 26:2.
JEHOVAH'S day is Freedom’s day! It begins with the birth of the free Nation. Mighty blows for freedom throughout the universe follow, struck by that Nation. The field of action is heaven and earth. Heaven first feels the joy of the clearing out of the enemy. No mere blasting of squadrons of airplanes out of the skies is that, to guarantee the freedom of the air. No; it is the downing of man's great oppressor from his heavenly seat of power to the confined quarters of the earth, there to face execution within a “short time". The jubilant cry loudly rings throughout the heavens: “Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Anointed One, because that accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast out.”—Rev. 12:1-10, Emphatic Diaglott translation.
2 The free Nation, clothed with power and authority and bringing salvation to men, is the kingdom of God's Anointed One, God’s most highly exalted Son, who now enters in actively upon his authority. The Nation's Father is Jehovah God, who bestows the kingdom upon his Son. Its mother is Jehovah's universal organization of faithful, holy creatures and is called Zion. The birth of the Nation of the Anointed One came at God's appointed time, in A.D. 1914, before the travail of the “war in heaven" began. Concerning that event without equal God's prophet said long ago: "Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.”—Isa. 66: 7,8.
3 Zion’s other “children”, besides the “man child” or Anointed King of the new Nation, must be brought forth as citizens of the Nation. As it was foretold in the Psalms: “And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the Highest himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there.” (Ps. 87:5,6) The new Nation is called Zion after its mother. It was foreshadowed on earth by a capital city of the same name, Zion, whose first king was David of the tribe of Judah, and which city ruled over the nation of the twelve tribes of Israel.
1 What events In heaven at the beginning of Jehovah’s day mark It as Freedom’s day?
2 What is the “free nation", what is its parentage, and when was it born?
3 As what, therefore, are her other “children" brought forth, and what is the new nation called, and by what was it foreshadowed?
4 David, in order to reign in Zion, first had to endure the pain and travail of fighting to oust the heathen enemies from the stronghold of Zion and then make it his royal capital. Thereby the complete occupancy of the city of Jerusalem was gained. (2 Sam. 5: 6-9) Thither King David brought his royal household, and there his successor, Solomon, was born. (2 Sam. 12: 24, 25) In the day of Jehovah, however, the birth of the “man child” Government takes place before the “war in heaven”. After that fight to oust the devilish enemies of freedom the bringing forth of the other “children” or members of the free Nation takes place. Although the Anointed King of the Nation is heavenly, he was once on earth and called “The Son of man”; and the other members of the Nation are also called from among men, to be “born in Zion”, the highest privilege. It being therefore no earthly nation, those called to be members thereof may not, while on earth, subvert, meddle in or interfere with the political organization of any worldly nation.
5 The capital city or ruling organization which the Most High God has chosen and which he put in power in 1914 is Zion, or the New Jerusalem. This was pictured long ago in the action Jehovah God took in the affairs of the nation of Israel; of which this is written: “He refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: but chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds.” (Ps. 78:67,68,70) Jehovah God therefore used the nation of Israel under King David to picture the free spiritual Nation, of which his Son, Christ Jesus, “the Lion of the tribe of Juda," is the “Lord of lords, and King of kings”. He is the Head of the Nation, and all his followers who prove faithful in his footsteps to the death are the members of his royal “body”. The Scriptures definitely state that the membership of this National body is 144,000 and One, Christ Jesus being the Head One and representing the entire Nation of spiritual Israelites.—Rev. 7: 4-8; 14:1, 3; 20:4, 6.
4 How does the beginning of David's reign on Mount Zion differ from the birth of the "man child” Government, and why Is It no earthly nation?
5 How was God's choice of his ruling- organization long ago pictured, and of whom or how many is the membership of that nation composed?
6 The wicked adversary of Jehovah and Christ Jesus is that “accuser of our brethren”, Satan the Devil. The city or ruling organization which he opposes against Zion is made up of wicked spirits like himself and also of official representatives among men. It is called “Babylon”. It was pictured by that ancient foe of freedom, Babylon, the oppressor city on the river Euphrates. Babylon was founded by Nimrod, who defied Jehovah as God, put the people in fear of himself, took away their liberties, set himself up as the first human king on earth, and established religion over his subject people. Only true worshipers of Jehovah God, such as Noah, Shem, and other faithful ancestors of King David remained free of Nimrod and his political, commercial, religious organization, Babylon. Satan's visible organization not merely included the city of Babylon on the Euphrates, but took in “all the kingdoms of the world”. Satan himself so declared to Christ Jesus when tempting Jesus with the bait of world rulership if He would renounce Jehovah God and fall down and worship Jehovah's adversary.—Matt. 4:1-11.
7 Satan's organization Babylon, therefore, included the nation of Moab. This nation lay on the eastern side of the Dead sea opposite from the tribe of Judah. Being a part of Satan’s organization and hence representing it, the religious nation of Moab became a symbol of Satan’s organization as a whole. The capital or chief city of Moab was named “Ar”, which means “city"; and it is sometimes spoken of in prophecy as standing for the whole nation of Moab. (Num. 21:15,28; Deut. 2:9,18,29; Isa. 15:1) The lofty city of Ar and the entire nation of Moab were the continual foes of God’s chosen nation, from and after the time that they refused to supply provisions to the Israelites when journeying to the Promised Land and hired the unfaithful prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites and to lay a religious trap of Baal- worship for them. (Numbers 22,23,24; 25:1-5) Hence God’s instruction to the Israelites was: “Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.”—Deut. 23: 3-6.
8 Moab showed great pride in itself, but contempt for God’s chosen nation. They enjoyed considerable economic prosperity and the resulting wealth and treasure. (Jer. 48: 7, 26, 27, 29, 33, 36) Their counterparts today are the religionists of “Christendom", namely, the religious, commercial and political leaders who practice religion for selfish gain, making commerce out of religion. “Christendom” today compares with the lofty city of Ar of Moab. She is the loftiest “city” on earth, making practically all the rest of the earth her colonial possession for selfish exploitation. “Christendom” is the most powerful section of the visible part of Satan’s organization Babylon. The modern-time Moabites are proud. They have great contempt for the spiritual Israelites of today, those who are begotten of God’s spirit and called to be members of his “holy nation”, Zion. They are for always opposed to the kingdom of God, and they conspire with all other worldly powers against those spiritual Israelites on earth who visibly represent the Kingdom. (Ps. 83:3-8) The modern Moabites exalt themselves against the Holy City, Jehovah’s kingdom, and, in opposing its rule of the earth, they are against the freedom of the people.
6 What is the organization Satan opposes against Zion, how was it pictured, and what does its visible part include?
7 Where was Moab located, what was its capital, and what early acts marked it as the toe of God's chosen nation?
8 Who are the counterparts today of Moab and of Ar, and what is the conduct of the modern Moabites respecting spiritual Israel?
PROPHECY OF DOOM
9 The day of Jehovah, beginning in 1914, is the appointed time for him to settle the score with all his opposers, including the modern Moabites and their mighty city. This he does by the birth of the new Nation, his kingdom, pictured by the mountain of Zion. Commercial “Christendom” and her worldly allies refuse to acknowledge the newborn Nation and its rulership, and tumultuously assemble their might to maintain world domination by an association of nations, a global government. Concerning those events of the day of Jehovah his prophet foretold, saying: “Wherefore have nations assembled in tumult! or should peoples mutter an empty thing? The kings of earth take their station, and grave men have met by appointment together, against Jehovah and against his Anointed One [saying]: Let us break asunder their bonds, and cast from us their cords! He that sitteth in the heavens will laugh, my Lord will mock at them: then will he speak unto them in his anger, and in his wrath confound them: Yet I have installed my king, on Zion my holy mountain.” —Ps. 2:1-6, Rotherham.
10 Jehovah’s right hand is one of almighty power applied in behalf of righteousness. It now tests in his capital organization Zion, and will deal blows of destruction against the modern Moabites and their lofty religious city. On the day of Jehovah this must occur, and of this the prophecy says: “For in this mountain shall the hand of the Lord [Jehovah] rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill. And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim.” That is, as the swimmer in the Orient swims hand over hand, beating the water with powerful blows and a loud noise, so Jehovah by his installed King on Mount Zion will smite the modern Moabites and their commercialized religious organization repeatedly with hard, swift blows, right and left, as He advances his cause in the very midst of his enemies.
9 What does Jehovah settle on His day. and by what? and what action do the nations and their rulers take in that connection?
10 What is Jehovah’s right hand, where does it now rest and how will He spread forth his hands in the midst of modern Moab?
11 “And he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands. And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust.” (Isa. 25:10-12) Instead of Jehovah and his kingdom, the modern Moabites of “Christendom” make religion and their association of nations, fortified by military power, their high tower of defense behind the walls of which to take refuge. (Pss. 9:9; 46:7,11; 59:6,16; Jer. 48:1; marginal readings) By his judgment messages against religion as delivered by his faithful witnesses since 1918 Jehovah God has dealt crushing blows to “Christendom” and the international supergovernment which she now proposes to bring out of the pit of inaction and revive. These messages of truth and prophecy are merely preliminary to the violent smiting which He will give “Christendom” at the execution of these judgments in the “battle of that great day of God Almighty”, the battle of Armageddon.—Rev. 16:14-16.
12 The prophecy of the doom of modern Moab, “Christendom,” continues, illustrating how the God of righteousness humbles the proud religionist organization and exalts his approved organization that worships him in faithfulness and that praises his name. “In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.” (Isa. 26:1) That day is the “day of Jehovah of hosts” beginning with the birth of his Theocratic Government by Christ and ending with the vindication of His name at the battle of Armageddon. It is a day when the prophecy of Christ Jesus comes true, that kingdom should rise against kingdom, and total nation against total nation, and that famines, pestilences, persecution of Christians, and continual “distress of nations, with perplexity", should disturb “Christendom” and her religious hierarchy. These things are visible signs that the “war in heaven” began in 1914 and that the invisible demon part of Satan’s organization Babylon has been cast out of heaven and brought down to the earth and made the footstool of Zion’s King, Christ Jesus. It is a day of general disillusionment for all peoples, and by it “Christendom” and religion have not been exalted and glorified in the minds of the people, but all is uncertainty, unsettlement, and revolutionary movement. Religion and “Christendom” have failed the people. Religion will again fail when she gets on top of the international peace machinery after the total war and seeks to ride it to security and prosperity and lasting peace.
11 What is modern Moab’s “fortress of the high fort of thy walls", and how does Jehovah God smite It low to the dust?
12 On Jehovah’s day. whose special prophecy comes true, and how? and what success do "Christendom" and religion have?
13 Amid such circumstances in “Christendom”, who, pray, can sing a song of confidence? The prophecy answers: Those “in the land of Judah”. Judah was the land of which Zion was the capital city, and where its king “sat on the throne of Jehovah” as His Theocratic representative. Judah, therefore, now pictures the earthly condition of those who are in line for membership in the heavenly Zion, Jehovah’s capital organization. These have consecrated themselves to its interests and faithfully hold fast to it as the only rightful Ruling Power of the earth. The name Judah means praise and was given in praise to Jehovah God. (Gen. 29:35) The people in the covenant with God and who praise his name Jehovah are those in the “land” singing the song, namely, Jehovah’s witnesses. Such praise rs of Jehovah today are the remnant of those to whom the apostle Peter writes, saying : “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” - 1 Pet. 2:9.
14 As the Lord God by Christ Jesus interprets his prophecies to his witnesses, they discern that Babylon has been dislodged from heaven and that the lofty religious organization of modern Moab has been rejected of him, its religion has been exposed as being demonism, and the city of “Christendom” is doomed to utter destruction at Armageddon. As Jehovah’s witnesses they take up his judgments as written beforehand against His enemies and declare them against these opposers of the newborn Nation, God’s kingdom with Christ Jesus in the throne. As against such bad news for the enemy, they sing forth good news for all “men of good-will” who long for deliverance from Babylon’s abominations and oppressions and who pine for security, peace, prosperity and life-long happiness under a lasting, righteous organization. The singers of Judah, or Judeans, sing out fearlessly to all: “We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.” (The Douay Version Bible inserts the word “Zion” into this text.)
13 . In "that day" who and where are the ones that can sing the song of confidence, and what fitting words does Peter’s first epistle address to them?
14 . According to divine interpretation of prophecy, what do they discern respecting Satan's organization? and what do they declare against the enemy, and what to all "men of good-will"?
15 It is Zion of which these “Judeans” are singing, the strong and invincible Theocratic Government of the true and living God. It was exalted to power with the enthronement of Christ Jesus as King of the new Nation, the "holy nation”, in 1914. Its strength was at once demonstrated by the war waged against Babylon, Satan's mighty world organization, which was beaten and thrust down to the earth to stay down and out. Of Zion’s King it was prophesied: “The Lord [Jehovah] shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.” (Ps. 110:1, 2) His rod of strength will shortly “strike through kings in the day of his wrath”, and Zion will remain victorious in the field.—Ps. 110: 5.
16 An international police force, no matter of what strength and striking power, cannot guarantee a durable peace with freedom and security, nor will it be able to stand the terrible shaking of all man-made, artificial things at Armageddon. The one and only hope of lovers of life and liberty is God’s "strong city”, The Theocracy. Those who take refuge in and under it find themselves encircled with indestructible walls and bulwarks of God’s protection and power, and which he has appointed to guarantee the salvation, security, deliverance and endless freedom of all who faithfully abide there. This is the truth! even though the dwellers in the lofty city of the modern Moabites scoff, and deny and try to suppress “this gospel of the kingdom”. The choice must be made by the people, either to trust in the postwar supernational "city” of men's creation and take refuge in it, or to heed the Judeans’ song of the "strong city” of God's kingdom and to haste to it for safety and preservation, in hope of life in a righteous new world. The prophecy declares that the song should be sung in this day of Jehovah, and all efforts of the “Moabites” will fail to quiet the song of Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions of “good-will”. The word of God’s prophecy will not return unto him void, unfulfilled.
NATION THAT KEEPS TRUTHS
17 The Kingdom of saving strength has been put in operation, and the way to its salvation has been cast up and thrown open in this glorious day of Jehovah. Through the prophecy the Lord God causes the command to go forth to the King of his “strong city”, Zion: “Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth [(margin) which keepeth truths] may enter in.” (Isa. 26: 2) At Christ’s coming in his kingdom he is attended by all his holy angels, and these he uses to carry out Jehovah’s command as gatekeepers. The “gates” were flung open after his coming to the temple for judgment in 1918. This was immediately after having cast Satan and his demons out of heaven, whereby mighty Babylon suffered a fall from which she will never rise. The prophecy (Isa. 66: 7, 8) foretold that after the “man child”, or Government of the new Nation, had been brought forth to power and Zion had successfully come through the travail of the “war in heaven”, then she would bring forth her other “children”. The Scriptures disclose that after Christ s coming to temple judgment in 1918 he raised the faithful ones who had been called to the Kingdom and who had faithfully followed him and were then sleeping in death. The sleeping saints were thus brought forth and acknowledged and identified as members and joint heirs with the King Christ Jesus in the capital organization Zion. — 1 Thess. 4: 13-16; 1 Cor. 15: 49-57.
15 Of what do those "Judeans” sing, and how was it and will It yet be demonstrated to be a "strong" city?
16 (a) Why, then, is God's "strong city" the only hope for life and liberty, and between what, therefore, must the people choose? (b) Will "this song" be sung, and why?
17 To whom was the command to ‘open the gates’ addressed, when vere they opened and who were first to enter in?
18 As for the remnant who were alive on earth and seeking to serve the Kingdom interests, Christ Jesus on his throne at the temple judged them. He examined how they kept their integrity under the test then sorely trying God’s consecrated people, and how they were volunteering for the witness work, the "song” that was yet to be “sung in the land of Judah" to the praise of the Most High God, the Father of the new Nation. During and for a short time after World War I the religious enemies of the truth and their allies had brought those of the faithful remnant into captivity and had sought the spiritual death of these, if not, also, their physical extinction. Now, by His wondrous acts of deliverance and by the enlightenment and freeing power of the truth, Jehovah’s King brought forth these prisoners of the enemy and set their feet on the highway to Zion, Jehovah's Theocratic organization. The remnant must be brought into it as approved members of Zion. Jehovah's acknowledgment of them as approved ones in line for the Kingdom constitutes Zion’s bringing foith on earth of her other children. These are then anointed of the Lord God to be his visible representatives of Zion, the capital organization. “The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God." — Ps. 87: 2, 3.
19 Isaiah’s prophecy represents the remnant as approached unto the city and outside her walls, when the call from heaven goes forth: “Open ye the gates, and let the just nation, that keepeth the truth, enter in.” (Douay) The remnant are in line to be of that “holy nation”, The Theocratic Government, which is a righteous nation and a just. They ‘seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness’, and the greatest work of righteousness is the vindication of His name. Under the pressures of World War I they had been in large measure guilty of iniquity of lip, refraining from publishing the name and kingdom of God as commanded and as obligated to do in fulfillment of their covenant with him. Now by the power of his spirit and of his truth Jehovah’s King at the temple purges them from that unrighteousness of lip and fills them with courage and boldness to be his witnesses. Therefore the delivered remnant rejoice in the Lord’s salvation and say: “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death [at the hands of the enemy]. Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord: this gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter. I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.”—Ps. 118:17-21.
18 Concerning what did the Judge Christ Jesus examine the remnant, and how did Zion bring these forth on earth as her other children?
19 Where does the prophet Isaiah represent the remnant as standing, from what had they been purged, and what words of the psalmist do they say?
20 The truth is not a religion, but is the righteous laws and commandments of Jehovah God, and the faithful testimony concerning his name and purpose and Theocratic Government, and the reliable, enduring, fixed and incontrovertible facts concerning his works and doings toward his favored people and against his wicked enemies. Jehovah is a “God of truth”, and his Word is the truth. “The wicked have told me fables: but not as thy law. All thy statutes are truth: . . . For ever, O Lord, thy word standeth firm in heaven. Thy truth unto all generations.” (Ps. 118: 85, 86, 89, 90, Douay) “All his works are done in truth.” (Ps. 33:4) “Thou art near, 0 Lord: and all thy ways are truth.” (Ps. 118:151, Douay) “The works of his hands are truth and judgment. All his commandments are faithful: confirmed for ever and ever, made in truth and equity.” (Ps. 110:7,8, Douay) The King of His righteous nation, when faced with death on the tree, refused to deny the truth, and said to the Roman governor. Pontius Pilate: "I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”—John 18:37.
21 The King now bears the title “The Faithful and True Witness”, and all of his free nation hear his voice of testimony and are of the truth. The remnant of his free nation whom Zion has brought forth as her children after her travail of “war in heaven” must imitate their King and bear witness to the truth of God’s kingdom. They do not follow religion and its fables and traditions of men and its works of selfdeception, but follow and obey and do the truth. Therefore at the temple judgment their King and Judge purged the remnant of all soils of contact with religion. Then he gave them the truth and thus a clean identification as Christians and witnesses of Jehovah God. (Zech. 3:1-5) As being lined up for membership in the “royal priesthood”, they must keep the truth. “For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips.” (Mal. 2:7, 6) They keep the truth, not by remaining silent about it, for that would mean denying the truth by letting the error stand unchallenged. They keep the truth both by being faithful to it and by telling it out to others. “A faithful witness will not lie.” (Prov. 14: 5) The continual giving forth of the truth fixes it more deeply and inerasably in the heart and mind of the truthteller.
20 (a) What is the truth? (b) What relation do Jehovah and his King have to the truth?
21 (a) How must the remnant of the free nation imitate their King? (b) Being in line for the "royal priesthood", what must they keep, and how?
22 God has favored no other people on earth with the truth than the remnant of his Theocratic organization. (Ps. 147:19,20) This divine grace has not been restricted to them for their selfish enjoyment, but that they might “arise and shine” and be witnesses of Kingdom truth in all the world for a witness to all nations. “The lips of the righteous feed many: . . . The lips of the wise disperse knowledge.” (Prov. 10:21; 15:7) The Lord has turned to his tried and faithful remnant of people a “pure lip, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent”. (Zeph. 3:9, margin) The approved and anointed remnant will continue to preach “this gospel of the kingdom in all the world for a witness” down till the final end of this world comes, regardless of the hatred and violent opposition of all nations. Thus, by God’s grace, they prove themselves as of that “nation which keepeth the truth”. No one that loves the lies of religion can be of that nation and enter into Zion. (Rev. 21:27) No lover of religious lies can be associated with that nation, and those “strangers” of good-will who now become the companions of the remnant must likewise love the truth and must keep it by faithfully witnessing to it.
“PURPOSE SUSTAINED"
23 It is a time of intense and bitter opposition to the truth and its proclamation. For the hardening of the remnant and their companions in their purpose to serve the Lord and show forth his praises, the prophetic word says to Him: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isa. 26: 3) The italicized words in the Authorized Version reading of this text show themselves to be insertions; and a more literal and emphatic reading of the text is: “An imagination supported Thou fortifiest peace—peace! For in Thee it is confident.” (Young) Or: “A purpose sustained thou wilt guard, [saying] Prosper! Prosper! because in thee hath he been led to trust.” (Rotherham) The mind is that faculty of the brain with which we gather information and reach a conclusion; but the word that the prophet here uses means, not the faculty with which to think, but the thing thought or framed in the mind. (Isa. 29:16) The thing that fills the mind of Jehovah’s remnant and their companions is not a vain imagination, but is a knowledge of His purpose. God's purpose has been revealed and made clear to them, namely, to maintain His universal domination and to vindicate His holy name by His kingdom under Christ Jesus. This divine purpose the Almighty God sustains and will make it to continue prospering until it is consummated in a finished reality to the glory of his name. He declares: “I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.”—Isa. 46:11.
22 (a) Why has God restricted his truth to his remnant, and how do they prove themselves of the "righteous nation" that keeps it? (b) Who only can be associated with that nation?
23 (a) What is a more literal reading of Isaiah 26 3 than in the Authorized Version Bible? (b) Why is the word "purpose" preferable to "mind"? and what is the purpose Jehovah sustains, and to what extent?
24 The purpose of His covenant people now is in harmony with the divine purpose. Their resolve is to declare Jehovah’s name, which name stands for his purpose toward his creatures, and to obey his commandments for the furtherance of his irresistible purpose. His purpose is that his name shall be declared by them throughout all the earth before he shows his power over Satan the Devil and all his organization. (Ex. 9:16) Because of the stiffening opposition of the modern Moabites, the remnant and their companions do not drop their purpose to keep their integrity toward God and to be faithful witnesses that endure unto the end. Under all the pressure, crowding and encroachments of the enemy they sustain their one purpose, without even the thought of its abandonment. Having consecrated and entered into a covenant to serve the Most High God, whose name is Jehovah, and knowing that Jehovah’s purpose does not change but will triumph over all opposition, they establish themselves in their own purpose to colabor with God, no matter how long it takes. Nothing do they permit to separate them from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus; and of them it is written: “Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.”—Ps. 112: 6-8.
25 In this purpose and determination Almighty God also sustains, upholds and stays them up, because it is in harmony with his own will and purpose. (Pss. 37:17, 24; 54:4; 3:5; 51:12; Isa. 59:16) He guards them therein, and answers their prayer amidst this total war: “Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.” (Ps. 118:25) He blesses their faithful keeping to their purpose with progress, granting them victories over the modern Moabites and also success in ‘fishing’ and ‘hunting’ for the scattered and strayed “other sheep” of the Lord. (Jer. 16:16) He unites his people in this one approved purpose, and keeps them in peace among themselves that their lips may not be diverted from this righteous purpose. As it is written: “I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” (Isa. 57:19, 21) And why does the Lord thus bless them, and why are they able to be strong, uncompromising and unchangeable in their purpose? The prophecy answers with this response to the Lord: “Because he trusteth in thee.” —Isa. 26: 3.
24 What is the purpose of Jehovah's covenant people, and what do they do respecting it, as confirmed by the psalmist?
25 How does the Lord deal with them in respect of their purpose, and why are they able to be strong and unchangeable therein?
26 Having stated the above guiding rule or principle, the prophet exhorts the remnant of the righteous, truth-keeping nation: “Trust ye in Jehovah for ever, for in Jah Jehovah is a rock of ages.” (Isa. 26:4, Young) The “rock of ages” denotes “everlasting strength”, immovable, inexhaustible. (Authorized Version) Christ Jesus is the Rock upon which he builds his church, but Jehovah God is the overtowering “Rock of ages”. To Him the prophet Moses sang: “I will proclaim the name of Jehovah: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. The Rock, his work is perfect.” (Deut. 32:3,4, Am. Rev. Ver.) “There is none holy as Jehovah; for there is none besides thee, neither is there any rock like our God.” (1 Sam. 2:2, Am. Rev. Ver.) Therefore in these “last days” when the earth of Satan's visible organization is being moved and shaken and men are trusting in the haven and shelter of another ‘rock’, Jehovah God has brought his name and his everlasting organization to the fore that his people might have an unshakable, ever-abiding Rock in which to take refuge and to trust safely through the time of “great tribulation”. —Matt. 24: 21, 22.
27 Men are now beginning to put their trust in a new idol, the new order of international collaboration, to save themselves from a third World War and to secure for them and for their posterity the “four freedoms”. But “their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges”. (Deut. 32:31) Christ Jesus foresaw the establishment of that “abomination of desolation” in the place of God’s holy kingdom, and warned us today: “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, . . . then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains"; that is, seek refuge in Jehovah, the Eternal Rock, and in his Image, Christ Jesus. (Matt. 24:15, 16) Conditions may become ever so threatening, the wicked may spring as the grass, and the workers of iniquity may flourish in their global new order; they may finally close in on us to ‘eat up our flesh’, yet we may unwaveringly trust for ever in Jehovah. He ‘will set us up on a rock’ unassailable and unascendable by our bloodthirsty foes. (Pss. 92: 7; 27:1, 2, 5) “Blessed be Jehovah my rock, who teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight." — Ps. 144:1, Am. Rev. Ver.
26 Who is the “rock of ages", what does this expression denote, and why has his name and organization been brought to the fore in this unsettled time?
27 In what new idol are men beginning to put trust, what warning did Jesus therefore give us who see this, and why may we 'trust forever’ in Jehovah under coming assaults?
ABASEMENT AND EXALTATION
28 The capital city of the proud, wealthy Moabites was built on an eminence or hill that commanded all the surrounding plain. The postwar super-government of “Christendom" and of all the globe will he built on high, and the “great whore" of Babylon will ride that many-headed creature. As it is written: “And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” (Rev. 17:1-6, 18) That lofty city will not reign over Jehovah’s faithful, trusting remnant and their companions, and will therefore try to tread these lowly ones lifeless to the ground. However, these “poor and needy” ones may keep their trust unshaken in Jehovah, because, when the “international new order” oppressors reach the peak of their power and domination, then the prophecy will be fulfilled: “For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust. The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.” (Isa. 26: 5, 6) But Zion, our strong city, will continue exalted forevermore.
29 Zion, Jehovah’s capital organization under Christ, is Theocratic. Therefore those who are born in her keep her regulations, because these are from God, who is the Head of Zion and of her King Christ Jesus. The faithful remnant have always desired to walk in the way of His regulations. It is a matter of eternal life that they do so now, because it is the day of judgment since the Lord’s coming to the temple in 1918. Jehovah is the Most Upright One. By his regulations or organization instructions and truth he provides an even, level and upright way for his covenant people to walk during this period of total war and during the human attempt at total peace thereafter. Accordingly the prophecy reads: “The path of a righteous man is even; O Upright One! the track of a righteous man thou makest level. Surely in the path of thy regulations, O Jehovah, we waited for thee; unto thy Name and unto thy Memorial [name] was there a longing of soul: with my soul longed I for thee in the night, yea, with my spirit within me I kept on searching for thee, for when thy regulations extend to the earth, the inhabitants of the world will have learned righteousness.”—Isa. 26: 7-9, Roth.
28 (a) Where was Moab’s capital city built, and what does this picture for after this war? (b) What will that lofty city try to do to God’s “poor and needy” ones, and then what will He do to her?
29 (a) What do those brought forth as other children of Zion do as to her regulations, and why? (b) By such regulations what does Jehovah provide for them, and what does the prophecy therefore say?
30 During the night of darkness which descended upon the consecrated ones about 1918 by reason of the action of the modern Moabites and their religious allies, the faithful longed for light and the execution of the Lord’s judgments for their deliverance. They sought him early, immediately after the close of World War I, desiring to know his regulations governing their future course of conduct. Then the Lord led them over the highway, the way of holiness, to Zion and to service in his Theocratic organization. The reproach which rested upon the Lord's memorial name because of their captivity and inactivity they longed to see lifted through their deliverance. So Jehovah, by his Elect Servant Christ Jesus, loosed them from their restraints, and now they freely and boldly sing forth his name, showing that Jehovah is the name of the true God, who is their Liberator and the Liberator of all them that now seek him.
31 By the Lord’s revealed judgments and regulations the faithful remnant have learned righteousness and therefore shun the worldly contamination and unrighteousness of religion. The “strangers” within their midst, the Lord’s “other sheep", have heard the judgments of Jehovah God proclaimed by His remnant of witnesses. Such of them as have already heeded the Kingdom message of this day of judgment have done good to the brethren of the King Christ Jesus and thus have learned righteousness. Their righteous acts of faith are seen in their zealous work in the witness field at the side of the remnant, the King’s brethren. More of these good-will “inhabitants of the world” will yet learn righteousness as a certain result of the continued proclamation of truth by the remnant and their companions. Such “inhabitants” will both learn and then do righteousness, as now commanded: “Seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah’s anger.”—Zeph. 2: 3, Am. Rev. Ver.
32 The King Christ Jesus is on his throne at the temple, attended by all his holy angels, and the proclamation of the Lord’s requirements or regulations for life in the New World serve as a keen two-edged sword to separate the people. The Lord’s “other sheep" are severed away from the wicked "goats”. Great favor or mercy has been shown to these “goats” to permit them to remain till now and to have an equal opportunity with the “sheep” to hear the Kingdom message. The remnant and their “sheep” companions are walking openly before all the world in the “land of uprightness” as witnesses to the majesty of God’s kingdom; and Jehovah has manifestly uplifted his hand for their deliverance, protection, guidance and prosperity in His service. The religionists have been able to observe all this zeal of Jehovah's people and to profit by it, if they will. But do they? The prophecy answers: "Let favor be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness will he deal wrongfully, and will not behold the majesty of Jehovah. Jehovah, thy hand is lifted up, yet they see not: but they shall see thy zeal for the people, and be put to shame; yea, fire shall devour thine adversaries.” (Isa. 26:10,11, Am. Rev. Ver.) Jehovah’s covenant people are hereby advised that they may expect to brush up with the wicked “Moabites” and their allies and to fight against their encroachments continuously until the judgment fire of the battle of Armageddon devours such opposers and persecutors.
30. During what night did the remnant long and search for Jehovah what did they long for respectine his name, and how is such longing now satisfied?
31. Because learning righteousness by God’s judgments that do remnant do, and how is it being shown that the "inhabitants of the world” are likewise learning righteousness?
32. How has favor been shown to the wicked in the "land of uprightness”, and their refusal to learn righteousness results how to Jehovah's people and to themselves?
33 The remnant and their companions shun all dealings with such wicked ones and waste no consecrated time in controversies with them, but let them go their own willful, stubborn way and take the consequences of which they have been forewarned. We seek no debates or controversial arguments with those who refuse to see and who envy the zeal of God’s people. It is now a time of “peace to men of good-will”; and Jehovah God has appointed the way of peace for his remnant and “other sheep”. The war of Armageddon is ordained for the wicked, with destruction of all their works; but as for the Lord’s zealous and courageous witnesses the prophecy says: “Jehovah, thou wilt ordain peace for us; for thou hast also wrought all our works for us.” (Isa. 26:12, Am. Rev. Ver.) It is God that is working among his people both to will and to do of his good pleasure, and he has accomplished all the results for them thus far. To Him must go all the credit for the success, progress and prosperity of the witness work till now and of that which will climax his “strange work” in the near future. Were it not that He has “wrought all our works for us”, this visible organization and its work would have come to nought in that crucial year of 1940. But men cannot overthrow it, because in reality they are fighting against God in trying to do so. (Acts 5:38, 39) Almighty God has ordained peace, or prosperity and achievement of success, for his anointed remnant and “other sheep”; and such it is bound to be for those enduring to the end of the work.
33. (a) How has Jehovah ordained peace for his people, and what course, therefore, do they take? (b) How has he "wrought all our works for us", and how is this manifest?
FREE FROM OTHER LORDS
34 Having now passed through the wide-open gates and entered in within Zion’s walls and bulwarks of salvation (Isa. 60:11), these delivered and protected ones can take up the next words of the prophet and say: “O Jehovah our God, other lords besides thee have had dominion over us; but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased [(margin) they are Rephaim], they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all remembrance of them to perish.”—Isa. 26: 13, 14, Am. Rev. Ver. (Rephaim giants once occupied Moabite territory. - Deut. 2:11.)
35 The modern Moabites have tried to lord it over the Lord Jehovah’s people, till within recent years. Today they are pushing the idea that all peoples, including Jehovah’s covenant people, are the property of the State and that "Caesar” has the prior and sole claim upon them. The religious element among the “Moabites” have persuaded the political element like King Eglon of old to believe themselves to be “the higher powers”. Down to the year 1929 even Jehovah’s witnesses had not been delivered from the popular view that the political rulers of this world are the "higher powers” to whom Christian souls are commanded by God to be subject. But by publishing the truth on Romans 13:1-7, in The Watchtower of June, 1929, the remnant were given the freedom of the truth that Jehovah God and Christ Jesus are exclusively “The Higher Powers”, whom Christians must obey rather than obey men opposed. The year previous, namely, in 1928, by the publication of the book Government, the Lord God also revealed to them that “Christianity is not a religion”, but is of the truth. It was because of not understanding these vital facts of truth that God’s consecrated people succumbed to conspiring religious, political and commercial elements in 1918 and fell into captivity and permitted other lords to regulate, hinder and restrain their Christian activity.
36 In ancient times the Moabites under fat King Eglon oppressed Jehovah’s people eighteen years. Correspondingly, eighteen years after 1918, or in 1936, Jehovah God made emphatic to his people the truth that all religion is of the Devil. Hence during those intervening eighteen years, and particularly since 1929, when the persecutions upon Jehovah’s witnesses in Germany and America and elsewhere began to increase in severity and magnitude, his remnant under Christ Jesus prepared themselves like Judge Ehud, the ambidextrous Benjamite. The Lord provided the remnant with the large dagger of these Theocratic truths. Then, in His due time, particularly from 1936 on, Christ Jesus by his remnant on earth has plunged the cold steel into the paunch of pudgy King Eglon and caused his dirt to be exposed. (Judg. 3: 12-30) Since then, also, the Lord's "other sheep” have been fulfilling the picture of the Kenite woman named Jael, who took the hammer and tentpin and nailed the head of King Eglon's fellow conspirator, Captain Sisera, to the ground. (Judg. 4: 18-24) Thereafter, according to the ancient type, the power of the Moabites and of the Canaanites over Jehovah's chosen nation was broken.
34 Having passed within Zion's gates, what do the delivered ones then confess and say, according to prophecy?
35 How, and till when, had other lords besides Jehovah had dominion over his consecrated people?
36 Since 1918, like whom have Jehovah's remnant prepared themselves against modem Moabites and then struck for freedom, and likewise the Lord's "other sheep"?
37 Today, as a result of like action, the totalitarian monstrosity and the religious lords are as dead to Jehovah's people. Spiritually, therefore, Jehovah's remnant of witnesses are free, thus fitly representing on earth His righteous and holy nation, the new Nation of Zion. The Jael class, or “other sheep”, are standing unbreakably with the remnant in this freedom wherewith Jehovah by Christ Jesus has made them free; and together they all say now, this very day: “O Jehovah our God, other lords besides thee have had dominion over us; but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.” The political powers, with the full connivance of religious clergy, may take Jehovah’s people into custody by sheer physical force. They may deprive them of their unrestrained bodily movement in a concentration camp, and may ban them, as in Germany. But always and for ever they fail to crack and bind the spirit of truth and freedom within the hearts of Jehovah's faithful ones; and the making mention of His name and purpose continues to go on, as in Nazi Germany, where the Hitlerites find the underground witness work to be the one that they cannot control, break up or subdue, as reported by the Munich newspaper Neueste Nachrichten as recently as June of this year. (Boston C. S. Monitor, June 29, 1943, page 7)
38 The judgments of the Lord written aforetime in his "Word have had bold declaration and doomed those "lords” to destruction. They are for ever dead to the Lord’s people already and shall never again live as “higher powers” to them. They are deceased; and those “Rephaim”, or totalitarian and religious giants of Satan’s demonized organization, shall never again rise to spiritual power over Jehovah’s “free nation” and put them in any bondage to the Lord's enemies, either now or in the postwar period of a super-State, dominated by religion. Till Armageddon’s fight they may continue to trouble Jehovah's people, as did that Moabite named “Sanbailat the Horonite”, who accused Nehemiah of sedition and tried to lure or frighten him off from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. But Nehemiah armed his builders and met Sanballat’s threat with the command to the workers on the wall: “Fight for your brethren!” and Jerusalem’s walls were built to completion. (Neh. 2:10,19; 4:1-14; 6:1-16) Finally, when those who have in the past lorded it over Jehovah’s people do die and decease at Armageddon’s war of execution, they shall literally go into extinction, without hope of rising and living in the new world which is without end. The sanctimonious harlot of religion leads them down thither. (Prov. 2:16-18; 9:13-18; 21:16) Jehovah's judgments proclaimed by his witnesses have already visited them and greatly incensed them; but at Armageddon the execution of those judgments will visit and punish them, and Jehovah will destroy them, without a trace left, thus making every memorial of them to perish. The New World shall be free for “men of good-will”.
37 How. and why, therefore, does the making mention of Jehovah’s name in even totalitarian lands go on?
38 (a) How are those "lords" and "Rephaim" already "dead", "deceased" and beyond rising, and what is shown in Nehemiah about their continuing to trouble Jehovah's people? (b) How does Jehovah visit them and make all their memory to perish?
39 Before that execution, and while those doomed “lords” and "Rephaim” are permitted to remain but a short time longer to defiantly oppose the Theocratic Government by Christ, the Lord God of the remnant continues to increase his free Nation. Therefore the prophecy addresses itself to God, saving: “Thou hast increased the nation, O Jehovah, thou hast increased the nation; thou art glorified; thou hast enlarged all the borders of the land.” (Isa. 26:15, Am. Rev. Ver.) Concerning the Government which resis upon the shoulder of the Prince of Peace it is written: “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom,, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.” (Isa. 9: 6, 7) That Government knows no national borders on earth, but will exercise world domination over the globe; for God has removed all restricting borders “far unto all the ends of the earth”. (Auth. Ver.) All the inhabited earth becomes the territory in which “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached . . . for a witness unto all nations” before the final end of them and their lords comes.
40 As Jehovah’s witnesses, in obedience to his command to preach, have gone to as many of the nations as they could penetrate by personal house-to-house witnessing, and by printed page, radio, telephone and underground, our only Lord God has added to the nation. He not only has gathered the Ruth and Esther class, or newer and younger part of the remnant class, unto Zion within the gates of our “strong city", but has also added the “strangers” that are welcome “within thy gates”. These “other sheep” the Good Shepherd has apparently only begun to bring into his fold into company with his free Nation represented by the remnant. The prophecy says: “Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein.” (Zech. 2:4) The increasing of the Lord’s Nation has therefore not yet reached to the populousness he has decreed for it before Armageddon finishes off the envious opposers of such increase.
39 How does Jehovah continue to increase his free Nation?
40 (a) As a result what part has been added to the remnant class? (b) Who else have been brought into company with the remnant and why evidently has the populousness of God’s people on earth not yet been fully reached?
41 The increase thus far is to Jehovah’s glory. By a still greater increase and addition of “other sheep” He shall be further glorified among multitudes of “men of good-will” from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof. How, then, can we but continue to sing this song of His praise in the land of Judah in this day of Jehovah?
41. Who has thereby been glorified, and how may he be still further glorified?
THE CREATOR OF PEACE AND EVIL
"I FORM the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil; I am Jehovah, that doeth all these things". No self-contradiction is in that statement of the Most High God, as recorded at Isaiah 45:7 (Am. Rev. Ver.). It has been misunderstood by religionists, and by reason thereof Jehovah God has been misrepresented. Jehovah is good, and all his ways are right. (Ps. 25: 8) Every good and perfect thing proceeds from him. (Jas. 1:17) Hence many have taught that it would be impossible for him to create anything that would be evil. The difficulty arises from wrongly understanding the term evil. Worldly dictionaries define evil as “anything having bad moral qualities, corrupt, wicked or wrong”. To be sure, Jehovah God could not create anything or practice anything that possesses bad moral qualities or that is corrupt or wicked or that is wrong, because 'all his works are perfect’. (Deut. 32:4) God is his own interpreter of his Word on this question.
Another translator, Rotherham, renders Isaiah 45:7 in this manner: “I am Jehovah, and there is none else: forming light and creating darkness, making prosperity and creating misfortune.” That God creates evil there cannot be the slightest doubt, because his Word so says. There is a wide difference, however, between evil and that which is morally wicked or wrong. According to the Scriptures evil in this and like texts means that which brings adversity or hurt, affliction or sorrow. It is not necessarily morally wrong.
Death is a great evil. It is the very opposite of life, and no greater misfortune could befall any creature than to lose his life. Death brings adversity, hurt, affliction or sorrow to those who were the friends of the deceased. It was Jehovah God who provided death as the penalty for the violation of his law, as stated at Genesis 2 17. It was not wrong for him to do so, but it was right for him to fix the severest punishment for the deliberate violation of his law. He created man, and his creative work “was very good”. (Gen. 1:31) It was God’s will that adversity should not befall his creature man; therefore he commanded him not to eat of the fruit of a certain tree, and informed man that if he willfully violated God’s law evil would befall him, which evil or adversity would be death. The evil which God had created, and which fell so heavily upon Adam, was not wrong, but right. It was a just punishment for the willful violation of God’s word. The rightful and just enforcement of that law brought the greatest adversity, sorrow and affliction upon Adam and upon his offspring and has affected the entire human race.—Rom. 5:12.
Jehovah God, as the scripture states, created light. “Light is sown for the righteous,” or those who do right. (Ps. 97:11) He created darkness, which is the portion of those who willfully continue in wrongdoing. (Ps. 82:5-7, Jude 13; Ps. 107:10; 2 Pet. 2:4) To those who are obedient to him he opens bis hand and fills them with that which is good. (Ps. 104: 28) “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” “The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked ho shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.”—Pss. 84:11; 11:5-7.
This divine rule Jehovah plainly announced to the nation of Israel when He directed Moses to state to that people the terms of His covenant with them. If that people would keep His commandment and obey his voice they should prosper and have his blessing: and if they would turn away from Jehovah and disobey him evil would befall them. “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; in that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land.”—Deut 30:15-19; also Deut. 31: 27-29.
By his prophets God repeatedly warned the Israelites that he would bring evil upon them for their wrongdoing. (Jer. 6:19) The Israelites were God's covenant people and were bound by the terms of the covenant to obey and serve God. Because of their wrongdoing God did bring evil upon them as a punishment therefor. Note Judges 2:13-15 on this: “And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longerstand before their enemies. Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.”
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