J U N E S I M P L I F I E D E D I T I O N STUDY ARTICLES FOR: AUGUST 1-28, 2016

Transcription

1 JUNE SIMPL I FIED EDI T I ON STUDY ARTICLES FOR: AUGUST 1-28, 2016

2 COVER IMAGE: TRINIDAD There are many fishing villages along the coasts of Trinidad and Tobago. Jehovah s Witnesses often take the opportunity to speak with fishermen they meet PUBLISHERS 9,679 BIBLE STUDIES 11,331 MEMORIAL ATTENDANCE (2015) 24,103 TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 9 WEEK OF AUGUST 1-7 Appreciating Jehovah as Our Potter WEEK OF AUGUST 8-14 Do You Let the Great Potter Mold You? A potter is a craftsman who molds clay by hand to create beautiful vessels. In these two articles, we will see why we can say that Jehovah is our Potter and what we need to do in order to be like soft clay in his hands. 15 WEEK OF AUGUST Jehovah Our God Is One Jehovah What does it mean that Jehovah our God is one Jehovah? How does that affect our relationship with him and with our brothers and sisters? Since we come from different backgrounds, we need to understand what Jehovah requires of us so that he can be our God. 21 WEEK OF AUGUST Do Not Let the Faults of Others Stumble You All humans have faults that can hurt others. So how should we react when someone says or does something that hurts our feelings? In this article, we will discuss Bible examples that can help us. 27 A GODLY QUALITY MORE PRECIOUS THAN DIAMONDS 31 QUESTIONS FROM READERS This publication is not for sale. It is provided as part of a worldwide Bible educational work supported by voluntary donations. To make a donation, please visit Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the modern-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. June 2016 Vol. 137, No. 9 ENGLISH The Watchtower (ISSN ) Issue 9 June 2016 is published monthly with an additional issue published in January, March, May, July, September, and November by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.; L. Weaver, Jr., President; G. F. Simonis, Secretary- Treasurer; 1000 Red Mills Road, Wallkill, NY , and by Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Canada, PO Box 4100, Georgetown, ON L7G 4Y4. Periodicals Postage Paid at Brooklyn, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Watchtower, 1000 Red Mills Road, Wallkill, NY Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Printed in Canada.

3 Appreciating Jehovah as Our Potter O Jehovah,... you are our Potter; we are all the work of your hand. ISAIAH 64:8. IN November 2010, a bid of nearly 70 million dollars was made on a Chinese clay vase in England. It is amazing that a potter can mold something as common and cheap as clay into a beautiful and expensive vase. Jehovah, our Potter, is far greater than any human potter. The Bible says that Jehovah made a perfect man out of dust from the ground, that is, out of clay. (Genesis 2:7) That man, Adam, was a son of God and was created with the ability to imitate God s qualities. Luke 3:38. 2 When Adam rebelled against his Creator, he was no longer a son of God. But many of Adam s descendants have chosen Jehovah as their Ruler. (Hebrews 12:1) By humbly obeying their Creator, they have shown that they want him, not Satan, to be their Father and Potter. (John 8:44) Their loyalty to God reminds us of what the repentant Israelites said: O Jehovah, you are our Father. We SONGS: 89, 26 HOW DO WE BENEFIT WHEN WE UNDERSTAND... how Jehovah chooses those whom he will mold? why Jehovah molds his people? how God molds those who submit to him? 1. Why is Jehovah the greatest Potter? 2, 3. How can we imitate the attitude of repentant Israelites? 3

4 are the clay, and you are our Potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8. 3 Jehovah s true worshippers today likewise try hard to be humble and obedient. They consider it an honor to call Jehovah their Father, and they It is not up to us to judge people in our territory or in our congregation want him to be their Potter. Are we willing to be like soft clay that God can mold into a precious vessel? Do we see each of our brothers and sisters as a work in progress, still being molded by God? To help us have the right attitude, we will discuss how Jehovah chooses those whom he molds, why he molds them, and how he does that. JEHOVAH CHOOSES THOSE WHOM HE MOLDS 4 Jehovah does not look at people the way we do. Instead, he examines the heart and sees who each of us really is. (Read 1 Samuel 16:7b.) Jehovah demonstrated this when he formed the Christian congregation. He drew to himself and to his Son many people whom some might consider to be worthless. (John 6:44) For exam- 4. How does Jehovah choose those whom he draws to himself? Give examples. ple, one such person was the Pharisee named Saul, a blasphemer and a persecutor and an insolent man. (1 Timothy 1:13) But Jehovah examined Saul s heart and did not feel that he was useless clay. (Proverbs 17:3) Instead, Jehovah saw that Saul could be molded into a chosen vessel who would preach to the nations as well as to kings and the sons of Israel. (Acts 9:15) Jehovah also chose others who could be molded for an honorable use, including former drunkards, immoral people, and thieves. (Romans 9:21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11) As they studied the Scriptures, they strengthened their faith in Jehovah and allowed him to mold them. 5 We trust that Jehovah is able to choose and draw the right people. That is why we should not judge others in our territory or in our congregation. See, for example, how a man called Michael reacted when Jehovah s Witnesses visited him. He says: I would just turn away and ignore them as if they did not exist. I was really rude! Later, in a different setting, I met a family whom I admired because of their good conduct. Then one day I receiveda shock they were Jehovah s Witnesses! Their behavior moved me to examine the basis for my prejudice. I soon came to the realization that my attitude was based on ignorance and hearsay, not on facts. Michael wanted 5, 6. How should our trust in Jehovah as our Potter affect our attitude toward (a) the people in our territory? (b) our brothers and sisters? 4 SIMPLIFIED EDITION

5 to learn more and accepted a Bible study. Later he got baptized and then became a full-time servant. 6 Whenwe recognize Jehovah as our Potter, our attitude toward our brothers and sisters will also change. We will see each of them as a work in progress. This is how Jehovah sees them. He sees who they truly are inside and knows that their imperfection is only temporary. He also knows what kind of person each of them can become. (Psalm 130:3) We can imitate Jehovah if we have the same positive attitude toward our brothers. We can even work with our Potter to help our brothers and sisters make progress. (1 Thessalonians 5:14, 15) The elders in the congregation should set a good example in doing that. Ephesians 4:8, WHY DOES JEHOVAH MOLD US? 7 Some people may say: I never fully valued the discipline I received from my parents until I had children of my own. As we grow older, we may come to value discipline because we see it as an expression of love. (Read Hebrews 12:5, 6, 11.) Yes, Jehovah loves us as his children, which is why he patiently disciplines us, or molds us. He wants us to be wise and happy and to love him as our Father. (Proverbs 23:15) He does not like to see us suffer, and he does not want us to die as unrepentant sinners. Ephesians 2:2, Why do you appreciate Jehovah s discipline? 8 Before we came to know Jehovah, we may have had many bad qualities. But Jehovah molded us and helped us to change, and as a result, we now have some beautiful qualities. (Isaiah 11:6-8; Colossians 3:9, 10) We live in a spiritual paradise. This is the special environment that Jehovah is creating Jehovah loves us as his children, which is why he patiently disciplines us, or molds us in our day that helps to mold us. In it, we feel safe and secure even though the world around us is wicked. Those who grew up without feeling love in their family now feel real love from their brothers and sisters in the spiritual paradise. (John 13:35) And we have learned to show love to others. But most important, we have come to know Jehovah and now feel his fatherly love. James 4:8. 9 In the new world, we will fully benefit from the spiritual paradise. We will also enjoy life in a physical paradise ruled by God s Kingdom. During that time, Jehovah will continue to mold us and educate us in a way that is hard to imagine right now. (Isaiah 11:9) 8, 9. How is Jehovah teaching us today, and how will this education continue in the future? JUNE

6 Jehovah will also make our minds and bodies perfect. This will make it easier for us to understand and completely obey his instructions. So let us continue to allow Jehovah to mold us, and let us show him that we value this proof of his love for us. Proverbs 3:11, 12. HOW JEHOVAH MOLDS US 10 Just as a skilled potter knows the type of clay he is molding, our Potter, Jehovah, knows us very well. He knows our weaknesses, our limitations, and the progress we have made, and he molds each one of us with these circumstances in mind. (Read Psalm 103:10-14.) We can learn how Jehovah views us by looking at how Jesus reacted to the imperfections of his apostles. At times, the apostles argued about who was the greatest. If you had been there, how would you have viewed the apostles conduct? You might have felt that they were not like soft clay. Jesus, however, knew that they could be molded if they listened to his kind and patient counsel and if they imitated his humility. (Mark 9:33-37; 10:37, 41-45; Luke 22:24-27) After Jesus resurrection, the apostles received God s spirit and were no longer focused on who was the greatest. Instead, they were focused on the work Jesus gave them. Acts 5: Today, Jehovah uses the Bible, his 10. How did Jesus reflect the Great Potter s patience and skill? 11. In what ways did David prove to be like soft clay, and how can we imitate him? holy spirit, and the congregation to mold us. How can the Bible mold us? We need to read it, meditate on what we read, and ask Jehovah to help us apply what we have learned. King David wrote: I remember you while upon my bed; I meditate on you during the watches of the night. (Psalm 63:6) He also wrote: I will praise Jehovah, who has given me advice. Even during the night, my innermost thoughts correct me. (Psalm 16:7) Yes, David meditated on Jehovah s counsel and let it mold his deepest thoughts and feelings, even when the counsel was difficult to accept. (2 Samuel 12:1-13) David set a beautiful example of humility and obedience for us. So ask yourself: When I read the Bible, do I meditate on it and let God s counsel touch my deepest thoughts and feelings? Can I do so even more? Psalm 1:2, Holy spirit can mold us in several ways. For example, it can help us learn to imitate Jesus personality and to display the different aspects of the fruitage of the spirit. (Galatians 5:22, 23) One aspect of that fruitage is love. We love God and want to obey him and be molded by him because we know that his commandments are for our benefit. In addition, holy spirit can give us the strength to avoid being molded by this wicked world. (Ephesians 2:2) When the apostle Paul was young, he was influenced by the 12, 13. How does Jehovah mold us by means of holy spirit and the Christian congregation? 6 SIMPLIFIED EDITION

7 Jehovah uses Christian elders to mold us, but we must apply their counsel (See paragraphs 12, 13) proud Jewish religious leaders. But holy spirit helped him to change. He later wrote: For all things I have the strength through the one who gives me power. (Philippians 4:13) We too need to ask for holy spirit, knowing that Jehovah will answer our sincere prayers. Psalm 10: Jehovah also uses the congregation and the elders to mold each one of us. For example, if the elders notice that we have a weakness, they try to help us. However, they do not give counsel based on their own ideas. (Galatians 6:1) Instead, they humbly pray to Jehovah for understanding and wisdom. Then, they do research using the Bible and our Christian publications in order to find information that will help us. If the elders come to you and give you kind and loving counsel, perhaps about how you are dressed, remember that this is proof of God s love for you. When you apply the counsel, you will be like soft clay that Jehovah is able to mold, and you will benefit. 14 If we understand how Jehovah molds us, it can help us to have good relationships with our brothers and sisters. Also, we will have a positive attitude about people in our territory, including our Bible students. In Bible times, before molding clay, a potter needed to clean it and remove stones and other material. The Great Potter, Jehovah, helps people who want to be molded. He does not force them to change, but instead, he shows them his clean standards. Then they must 14. Though having authority over the clay, how does Jehovah show respect for our free will? JUNE

8 decide if they will make the needed changes. 15 Consider what happened to Tessie, a sister in Australia. It was very easy for her to learn what the Bible says. However, she did not make much progress, and she did not go to the meetings. The sister who studied with her had prayed to Jehovah and had decided to stop the study. Then an amazing thing happened. At their study, Tessie told her teacher why she had not made any progress. She said that she felt like a hypocrite because she loved to gamble. But now she had decided to stop gambling. 16 Soon, Tessie started going to the meetings and showing Christian qualities even though some of her former friends made fun of her. In time, Tessie got baptized and became a regular pioneer, even while she had young 15, 16. How do Bible students show that they want Jehovah to mold them? Illustrate. children. It is clear that when Bible students begin to make changes to please God, he will draw close to them and will mold them into valuable vessels. 17 Today, some potters still carefully mold clay into beautiful vessels by hand. In a similar way, Jehovah patiently molds us using his counsel, and he closely watches to see how we will react. (Read Psalm 32:8.) Can you see that Jehovah is interested in you? Do you see how Jehovah is carefully molding you? If so, what qualities will help you to stay like soft clay that Jehovah can mold? What traits should you avoid so that you do not become like hard clay that cannot be molded? And how can parents work with Jehovah to mold their children? The next article will answer these questions. 17. (a) What appeals to you about having Jehovah as your Potter? (b) What aspects of molding will we next consider? SOME EXPRESSIONS EXPLAINED Jehovah molds us using the Bible, his holy spirit, and the congregation. He helps us to change so that we can become better people

9 Do You Let the Great Potter Mold You? Look! As the clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand. JEREMIAH 18:6. WHEN the Jews were taken to Babylon, they entered a city filled with idols and with people who worshipped wicked spirits. Still, faithful Jews, such as Daniel and his three friends, refused to be molded by the people of Babylon. (Daniel 1:6, 8, 12; 3:16-18) Daniel and his friends accepted Jehovah as their Potter and continued to worship only him. Even though Daniel lived in a bad environment most of his life, God s angel said that he was a very precious man. Daniel 10:11, In Bible times, a potter might press clay into a mold to form a certain shape. Today, true worshippers know that Jehovah is the Ruler of the universe and has the authority to mold nations. (Read Jeremiah 18:6.) God also has the authority to mold each one of us. However, Jehovah does not force anyone to change. Instead, he wants us to be willing to let him mold us. In this article, we will learn SONGS: 60, 22 CAN YOU EXPLAIN? What traits could harden us against Jehovah s counsel? What qualities can help us to remain moldable in God s hands? How can Christian parents show that Jehovah is their Potter? 1, 2. Why did God consider Daniel to be a very precious man, and how can we be obedient like Daniel? 9

10 how we can remain like soft clay in God s hands. We will discuss the following three questions: (1) How can we avoid displaying traits that might cause us to reject God s counsel and become like hard clay? (2) How can we develop qualities that help us to remain obedient and like soft clay? (3) How can Christian parents work with God when molding their children? AVOID TRAITS THAT MAY HARDEN THE HEART 3 Above all the things that you guard, safeguard yourheart, for out of it are the sources of life, says Proverbs 4:23. To keep our hearts from becoming hard, we must avoid negative traits such as pride, the practice of sin, and a lack of faith. If we are not careful, these could cause us to become disobedient and rebellious. (Daniel 5: 1, 20; Hebrews 3:13, 18, 19) That is what happened to King Uzziah of Judah. (Read 2 Chronicles 26:3-5, ) At first, Uzziah was obedient and had a good relationship with God, so God gave him strength. But as soon as he was strong, his heart became haughty. He became so proud that he tried to burn incense at the temple even though only priests were supposed to do that. When the priests told him he was wrong, Uzziah became very angry! Jehovah humbled the proud king, and he was a leper until he died. Proverbs 16: What traits could harden our heart? Illustrate. 4 If we do not avoid pride, we can start thinking that we are better than others and may begin to reject counsel given to us from the Bible. (Proverbs 29:1; Romans 12:3) That is what happened to an elder named Jim. He disagreed with the other elders in the congregation about a situation. Jim says, I told the brothers that they were not loving, and I left the meeting. About six months later, he moved to another congregation but was not appointed an elder there. Jim was very disappointed. He was so convinced he was right that he stopped serving Jehovah and was inactive for ten years. He says that he was proud and that he began to blame Jehovah for what was happening. For years, brothers visited him and tried to help him, but Jim refused their help. 5 Jim says, I just could not stop focusing on how the others seemed to be wrong. His example shows us that pride can cause us to defend our wrong conduct. When that happens, we are no longer like soft clay. (Jeremiah 17:9) Have you ever been offended by a brother or sister? Were you ever sad because you lost a privilege? How did you react? Did you become proud, or did you realize that making peace with yourbrother and maintainingloyalty to Jehovah are most important? Read Psalm 119:165; Colossians 3:13. 4, 5. What could happen if we failed to guard against pride? Give an example. 10 SIMPLIFIED EDITION

11 6 When a person continues to sin and even hides what he is doing, it may be hard for him to accept divine counsel. It can then become easier to sin. One brother said that in time his improper conduct did not bother him much at all. (Ecclesiastes 8:11) Another brother, who for a time had the habit of watching pornography, later said, I found myself developing a critical attitude toward the elders. His habit damaged his relationship with Jehovah. When others discovered what he was doing, he got help from the elders. It is true that all of us are imperfect. But if we become critical of those who counsel us or if we make excuses when we do something wrong instead of asking God to forgive us and help us, our heart may become hard. 7 When Jehovah freed the Israelites from Egypt, they saw him perform many amazing miracles. Despite that, as they got close to the Promised Land, their hearts became hard. Why? They did not have faith in God. Instead of trusting in Jehovah, they became afraid and complained against Moses.They even wanted to go back to Egypt, where they had been slaves! Jehovah was deeply hurt and said: How much longer will this people treat me without respect? (Numbers 14:1-4, 11; Psalm 78:40, 41) Those Israelites died in the wilderness because 6. What can happen if we practice sin? 7, 8. (a) How did the ancient Israelites demonstrate the hardening effect of a lack of faith? (b) What is the lesson for us? of their hardened hearts and lack of faith. 8 Today, we are very close to the new world, and our faith is being tested. So we need to examine the quality of our faith. How can we make sure that it is strong? We could examine Jesus words found at Matthew 6:33. Ask yourself: Do my goals and decisions The disobedient Israelites died in the wilderness because of their hardened hearts and lack of faith prove that I truly believe Jesus words? Would I miss meetings or field service to make more money? What will I do if my job demands more of my time and energy? Will I allow this world to mold me and perhaps even stop me from serving Jehovah? 9 If we do not follow what the Bible says about bad associations, disfellowshipping, or entertainment, our heart can become hard. What should you do if this starts happening to you? You urgently need to examine your faith! The Bible says: Keep testing whether you are in the faith; keep proving what you yourselves are. (2 Corinthians 13:5) Be honest with yourself, and regularly use God s Word to correct your thinking. 9. Why should we keep testing whether we are in the faith, and how can we do so? JUNE

12 REMAIN LIKE SOFT CLAY 10 To help us remain like soft clay, God has given us his Word, the Christian congregation, and the ministry. When we read the Bible and meditate on it daily, it helps us to become soft in Jehovah s hands and allows him to mold us. Jehovah commanded the kings of Israel to write a copy of God s Law and read it daily. (Deuteronomy 17:18, 19) The apostles knew that reading the Scriptures and meditating on them was very important for their ministry. They used portions of the Hebrew Scriptures hundreds of times in their writings, and when they preached 10. What can help us to be like soft clay in Jehovah s hands? to people, they encouraged them to use the Scriptures as well. (Acts 17:11) In a similar way, we too see that it is important to read God s Word daily and meditate on it. (1 Timothy 4:15) This helps us to remain humble, and Jehovah will thus be able to mold us. 11 Jehovah knows what each one of us needs, and he uses the Christian congregation to mold us. Jim, mentioned earlier, began to change his attitude when an elder showed interest in him. Jim says: Not once did he blame me for my situation or criticize me. Instead, he remained positive and 11, 12. How can Jehovah usethe Christian congregation to mold us according to our individual needs? Illustrate. Use God s provisions to help you remain like soft clay (See paragraphs 10-13) 12 SIMPLIFIED EDITION

13 expressed a sincere desire to help. After about three months, the elder invited Jim to a meeting. Jim says that the congregation kindly welcomed him and that their love helped him to change his thinking. He began to see that his feelings were not the most important thing. The elders in Jim s congregation and his wife encouraged him, and he gradually returned to serving Jehovah. Jim also benefited from reading the articles Jehovah Is Not to Blame and Serve Jehovah Loyally, found in The Watchtower of November 15, In time, Jim became an elder again. Since then, he has helped other brothers to solve similar problems and strengthen their faith. He says that he thought he had a close relationship with Jehovah but that he actually did not! He regrets that he allowed pride to cause him to focus on other people s faults rather than on the more important things. 1 Corinthians 10: The field ministry can also mold us and help us to become better people. How so? When we preach the good news, we must show qualities such as humility and the different aspects of the fruitage of God s spirit. (Galatians 5:22, 23) Think of good qualities that the field ministry has helped you to develop. When we imitate Christ, people are attracted to our message and may change their attitude toward us. For example, two Witnesses in Australia 13. The field ministry can help us to cultivate what qualities, and with what benefits? tried to preach to a woman at her home, but she got very angry and was rude to them. However, the Witnesses listened to her respectfully. Later, the woman regretted her behavior and wrote a letter to the branch office. She apologized for her behavior. She said, I am a fool to stand before two people spreading God s Word and attempt to steer them away like that. From this When we imitate Christ, people are attracted to our message and may change their attitude toward us experience, we can see the value of being mild when we preach. Yes, our ministry helps others, but it also helps us to improve our personality. WORK WITH GOD WHEN MOLDING YOUR CHILDREN 14 Most little children are humble and eager to learn. (Matthew 18:1-4) So it is wise for parents to help their children to learn the truth and to love it while the children are still young. (2 Timothy 3:14, 15) To be successful, parents must love the truth themselves and apply what the Bible says in their own lives. When parents do this, it becomes easier for their children 14. What must parents do if they want to be truly effective in molding their children? JUNE

14 to love the truth. Also, children will understand that discipline from their parents shows that they are loved by them and by Jehovah. 15 Even when parents teach their children the truth, some children leave Jehovah or are disfellowshipped. If When we are humble and always obey Jehovah, we become very precious to him that happens, the family suffers very much. One sister in South Africa said: When my brother was disfellowshipped, it was as if he had died. It was heartbreaking! But what did she and her parents do? They followed the instructions found in the Bible. (Read 1 Corinthians 5:11, 13.) The parents knew that obeying God s counsel would benefit everyone. And they recognized that disfellowshipping is loving discipline from Jehovah. So they 15, 16. How should parents demonstrate their trust in God if their child is disfellowshipped? contacted their son only when it was absolutely necessary for family business. 16 How did the son feel? Later he said, I knew that my family did not hate me, but they were obeying Jehovah and his organization. He also said, When you are forced to beg Jehovah for help and forgiveness, you realize how much you need him. Imagine the family s joy when this young man came back to Jehovah! Yes, we will be happy and successful when we always obey God. Proverbs 3:5, 6; 28: The prophet Isaiah foretold that the Jews in Babylon would repent and say: O Jehovah, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are our Potter; we are all the work of your hand. They would also beg Jehovah: Do not remember our error forever. Look at us, please, for we are all your people. (Isaiah 64:8, 9) When we are humble and always obey Jehovah, we become very precious to him, as Daniel was. Jehovah will continue to mold us using his Word, spirit, and organization so that in the future we will become perfect children of God. Romans 8: Why should we make submission to Jehovah our way of life, and how will this course benefit us? SOME EXPRESSIONS EXPLAINED Our heart can become hard when we allow negative traits, such as pride, to make us reject counsel and direction from Jehovah and his organization

15 Jehovah Our God Is One Jehovah Listen, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah. DEUTERONOMY 6:4. FOR hundreds of years, Jewish people have used the words of Deuteronomy 6:4 as part of a special prayer. This prayer is called the Shema, which is the first word of that verse in Hebrew. Many Jews say this prayer every day in the morning and in the evening to show their exclusive devotion to God. 2 Those words are part of the final talk that Moses gave to the nation of Israel. In the year 1473 before Christ, the nation was in the land of Moab, ready to cross the Jordan River and conquer the Promised Land. (Deuteronomy 6:1) Moses had led the people for 40 years, and he wanted them to be courageous in order to face the difficulties that would come. They needed to trust in their God, Jehovah, and to be faithful to him. So Moses final words encouraged them to do just that. After SONGS: 138, 112 CAN YOU EXPLAIN? In what sense is Jehovah our God one Jehovah? How can we show that we worship Jehovah as one Jehovah? What can we do to maintain our peace and unity? 1, 2. (a) Why are the words of Deuteronomy 6:4 so well-known? (b) Why did Moses speak those words? 15

16 he mentioned the Ten Commandments and other laws from Jehovah, Moses gave the people the powerful reminder we read at Deuteronomy 6:4, 5. (Read.) 3 The Israelites knew that Jehovah their God is one Jehovah. Faithful Israelites worshipped one God, the God of their forefathers. So why did Jehovah God is not divided or unpredictable. He is always faithful, consistent, loyal, and true Moses remind them that Jehovah their God is one Jehovah? What is the connection between that truth and loving our God with our whole heart, whole soul, and whole strength? And how do the words of Deuteronomy 6: 4, 5 apply to us today? OUR GOD IS ONE JEHOVAH 4 Unique. The expression one Jehovah means that Jehovah is unique, that no one is equal to or like him. Why did Moses use that expression? It does not seem that he was trying to prove that belief in a trinity was wrong. Jehovah is the Creator of heaven and earth and the Ruler of the universe. He 3. What questions will we consider in this article? 4, 5. (a) What is one meaning of the phrase one Jehovah? (b) How is Jehovah different from the gods of the nations? is the only true God, and no other god is like him. (2 Samuel 7:22) So Moses words would remind the Israelites that they should worship only Jehovah. They should not imitate the people living around them, who worshipped many false gods and goddesses. Those people believed that their gods could control parts of nature. 5 For example, the Egyptians worshipped the sun-god Ra, the skygoddess Nut, the earth-god Geb, the Nile-god Hapi, as well as many animals. Jehovah showed that he was superior to these false gods when he brought the Ten Plagues. The main Canaanite god was Baal, a false god who the Canaanites believed brought life into existence. He was also believed to be the god of the sky, rain, and storm. In many places, people relied on Baal for protection. (Numbers 25:3)The Israelites were to remember that their God, the true God, is unique. He is one Jehovah. Deuteronomy 4:35, Consistent and Loyal. The word one in the expression one Jehovah also means that his purpose and actions are always reliable. Jehovah God is not divided or unpredictable. He is always faithful, consistent, loyal, and true. For example, he promised Abrahamthat his descendantswould live in the Promised Land. And Jehovah performed many powerful miracles in order to keep that promise. Four hundred and thirty years after giving that 6, 7. What is another meaning of one, and how did Jehovah prove to be one? 16 SIMPLIFIED EDITION

17 promise, Jehovah s purpose had not changed. Genesis 12:1, 2, 7; Exodus 12:40, Hundreds of years later, Jehovah called the Israelites his witnesses and told them: I am the same One. Before me no God was formed, and after me there has been none. Jehovah also made it clear that his purpose never changes when he added: I am always the same One. (Isaiah 43:10,13; 44:6; 48:12) What a great privilege the Israelites had to serve a God who is consistent and always loyal! We have the same privilege today. Malachi 3:6; James 1:17. 8 Yes, Moses reminded the Israelites that Jehovah s love and care for them would never change. In return, Jehovah expected them to give him their exclusive devotion and to love him with their whole heart, soul, and strength. Parents were to teach their children about Jehovah at every opportunity so that young ones too would worship only Jehovah. Deuteronomy 6: Jehovah never changes his purpose, so he will never change his basic requirements for his true worshippers. If we want Jehovah to be pleased with our worship, we must give him exclusive devotion and love him with our whole heart, mind, and strength. Jesus said that this is the most important commandment. (Read Mark 12:28-31.) Let us learn how we can show by 8, 9. (a) What does Jehovah require of his worshippers? (b) How did Jesus emphasize the import of Moses words? ouractions that we believe that Jehovah our God is one Jehovah. GIVE JEHOVAH EXCLUSIVE DEVOTION 10 Jehovah is our one and only God. We give him our exclusive devotion when we worship only him. We cannot worship any other gods or include any false ideas or practices in our worship to Jehovah. He is not simply a god who is above other gods or who is more powerful than them. He is the true God. We should worship only Jehovah. Read Revelation 4: In the book of Daniel, we read about the young Hebrew men Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They Jehovah must have first place in our life showed their exclusive devotion to Jehovah by refusing to eat foods that were unclean for worshippers of Jehovah. And Daniel s three friends refused to bow down to an idol, Nebuchadnezzar s golden image. For them, Jehovah came first. They were completely loyal to him. Daniel 1:1 3: Jehovah must have first place in our life. If we want to give him our exclusive devotion, we must be careful 10, 11. (a) In what sense is our worship of Jehovah exclusive? (b) How did Hebrew youths in Babylon demonstrate their exclusive devotion to Jehovah? 12. In giving Jehovah exclusive devotion, against what must we be on guard? JUNE

18 that other things do not take his place. What could those things be? In the Ten Commandments, Jehovah said that his people should not worship other gods. They should not practice any kind of idolatry. (Deuteronomy 5:6-10) Today, there are many kinds of idolatry, and some of these may be hard to recognize. But Jehovah has not changed his requirements. He is still one Jehovah. Let us see how we can avoid idolatry today. Jehovah wants his servants to be united and to have the same purpose in life 13 At Colossians3:5 (read), we read about things that could ruin our exclusive friendship with Jehovah. We see that greediness is related to idolatry. How so? When we have a strong desire for something, such as for a lot of money or luxuries, it can control our life, like a powerful god. All the sins mentioned at Colossians 3:5 are related to greediness, which is a type of idolatry. So if we have a strong desire for these things, we could begin to love them more than we love God. Then Jehovah would not be one Jehovah to us. We would never want that to happen. 13. What could we begin to love more than Jehovah? 14 The apostle John emphasized something similar. He warned that if anyone loves the things in the world, that is, the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one s means of life, then the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15, 16) So we need to examine ourselves regularly to see whether we love the world. We may discover that we have started to be attracted to the entertainment, people, and styles of dress and grooming of this world. Or we may want to achieve great things by seeking higher education. (Jeremiah 45:4, 5) The new world is very near. So we need to remember Moses powerful words! If we understand and really believe that Jehovah our God is one Jehovah, we will give him ourexclusive devotion and serve him the way that he wants. Hebrews 12:28, 29. MAINTAIN CHRISTIAN UNITY 15 The expression one Jehovah helps us to understand that Jehovah wants his servants to be united and to have the same purpose in life. In the early Christian congregation, there were Jews, Greeks, Romans, and people of other nationalities. They had different backgrounds, customs, and preferences. Because of that, it was difficult for some of them to accept a new way of worship or to abandon 14. What warning did the apostle John give regarding our love for God? 15. Why did Paul remind Christians that God is one Jehovah? 18 SIMPLIFIED EDITION

19 their former practices. So Paul needed to remind them that Christians have one God, Jehovah. Read 1 Corinthians 8:5, What about the Christian congregation today? The prophet Isaiah said that in the final part of the days, people from all nations would come together to worship Jehovah. They would say: He will instruct us about 16, 17. (a) What prophecy is being fulfilled in our day, and with what result? (b) What could undermine our unity? his ways, and we will walk in his paths. (Isaiah 2:2, 3) We are happy to see this prophecy being fulfilled today! Our brothers and sisters come from different places, speak different languages, and have different cultures. But we are united in our worship to Jehovah. However, because we are so different, sometimes there may be difficulties. 17 For example, how do you feel about brothers and sisters who are from different cultures? Their language, clothing, manners, and food Are you working hard to keep the Christian congregation united? (See paragraphs 16-19) JUNE

20 may be very different from yours. Do you avoid them and mainly spend time with those you have things in common with? How do you feel about the elders in your area who are younger than you or who are from a different race or culture? If we are not careful, we may allow those differences to affect us and damage our unity. 18 How can we avoid such difficulties? Paul gave practical advice to Christians living in Ephesus, a rich city with people from many different backgrounds. (Read Ephesians 4:1-3.) Paul mentioned qualities such as humility, mildness, patience, and love. These qualities are like strong pillars that keep a house standing. But to keep a house in good condition, hard work is also needed. Paul wanted the Christians in Ephesus to work hard to maintain the oneness of the spirit. 19 All of us must do our best to keep the congregation united. How can we do that? First, we need to cultivate and show the qualities that Paul mentioned: humility, mildness, patience, 18, 19. (a) What counsel is mentioned at Ephesians 4:1-3? (b) What can we do to help the congregation stay united? and love. Second, we need to work hard to promote the uniting bond of peace. Misunderstandings are like small cracks in our unity; thus, we need to work hard to resolve these misunderstandings so that we keep peace and unity among us. 20 Jehovah our God is one Jehovah. That is a powerful statement! That reminder strengthened the Israelites to endure difficulties when they entered and conquered the Promised Land. Those words can strengthen us too so that we can make it through the great tribulation and contribute to the Paradise to come. Let us continue to give Jehovah our exclusive devotion. We need to love and serve him with our whole heart, mind, and strength, and we need to work hard to keep peace and unity with ourbrothers. If we continue to do those things, Jesus will judge us as sheep and we will see his words come true: Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. Matthew 25: How can we demonstrate that we understand that Jehovah our God is one Jehovah? SOME EXPRESSIONS EXPLAINED We give Jehovah our exclusive devotion when we worship only him and give him the first place in our life. We love him with all our heart, mind, and strength

21 Do Not Let the Faults of Others Stumble You Continue... forgiving one another freely. COLOSSIANS 3:13. AROUND the earth, there is an organization made up of people who love Jehovah and want to serve him. Those people are Jehovah s Witnesses. Although they have faults and make mistakes, Jehovah guides his people with his holy spirit. Let us see some ways he has blessed them. 2 In 1914, very few people worshipped Jehovah. But Jehovah has blessed the preaching work. As a result, millions have learned Bible truths and have become his Witnesses. Jehovah described this amazing increase when he said: The little one will become a thousand and the small one a mighty nation. I myself, Jehovah, will speed it up in its own time. (Isaiah 60:22) Today we can see clearly that this prophecy has been fulfilled. Jehovah s people are like a large nation. In fact, there are many nations around the world with a smaller population than the total number of Jehovah s people. SONGS: 121, 75 HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER? Why is God s organization special? How does the Bible show that we are all imperfect? What can we do about our own faults and those of others? 1, 2. How did the Bible foretell the increase of Jehovah s people? 21

22 3 Duringthese last days, Jehovah has helped his people to strengthen their love for one another. God is love, and they imitate him. (1 John 4:8) Jesus commanded his followers to love one another. He also told them: By this all will know that you are my disciples if you have love among yourselves. (John 13:34, 35) In recent times, Jehovah s servants have shown this love for one another even when nationshave gone to war. For example, in the second world war, about 55 million people were killed. But Jehovah s people did not kill anyone in that war. (Read Micah 4:1, 3.) This has helped them to remain clean from the blood of all men. Acts 20:26. 4 God s people continue to increase in number even though they have a powerful enemy, Satan. He is the god of this system of things. (2 Corinthians 4:4) Satan controls the political organizations of this world, as well as the news media, and he uses these to try to stop the preaching of the good news. But he cannot stop this work. However, Satan knows that he has only a short time left, so he keeps on trying to stop us from worshipping Jehovah. Revelation 12:12. WILL YOU BE LOYAL WHEN OTHERS MAKE MISTAKES? 5 God s servants learn that it is very 3. How have God s servants shown love? 4. Why is the increase of Jehovah s people noteworthy? 5. Why may others at times hurt our feelings? (See opening picture.) important to love God and other people. Jesus said: You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second, like it, is this: You must love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:35-39) However, the Bible shows that all humans are born imperfect as a result of Adam s sin. (Read Romans 5:12, 19.) So at times some in the congregation may say or do something that hurts our feelings. When this happens, what will we do? Will our love for Jehovah stay strong? Will we be loyal to him and to his people? The Bible tells us about some of God s servants who said or did things that hurt others. Let us see what we can learn from what happened to them. 6 For example, Eli was the high priest of Israel, but his two sons disobeyed Jehovah s laws. The Bible says: The sons of Eli were wicked men; they had no regard for Jehovah. (1 Samuel 2: 12) Eli knew that his sons were doing very bad things. Even so, he did not discipline them enough. In time, Jehovah punished Eli and his two sons. And later on, he no longer allowed Eli s descendants to serve as high priests. (1 Samuel 3:10-14) If you had lived in Eli s time and had known that he let his sons do terrible things, would you have been stumbled? Would this situation have weakened your faith in Jeho- 6. In what sense did Eli fail to discipline his sons? 22 SIMPLIFIED EDITION

23 If you had lived in Israel at the time of Eli and his sons, how would you have reacted? (See paragraph 6) vah, and as a result, would you have stopped serving him? 7 David had wonderful qualities, and that is why Jehovah loved him very much. (1 Samuel 13:13, 14; Acts 13:22) But even David did something very bad. When Uriah was away fighting in a war, David had sexual relations with Uriah s wife, Bath-sheba, and she became pregnant. David did not want anyone to know what he had done. So he ordered Uriah to come see him and then tried to convince him to go to his home. David hoped that Uriah would have sexual relations with Bath-sheba so that people would think that Uriah was the father of the baby. But Uriah 7. How did David sin seriously, and what did God do about it? would not go home. So David made sure that Uriah would be killed in the battle. Because of his serious sins, David and his family suffered very much. (2 Samuel 12:9-12) Yet Jehovah was merciful and forgave him. He knew that David wanted to do what was right. (1 Kings 9:4) If you had lived back then, how would you have felt about what David did? Would you have stopped serving Jehovah? 8 Another Bible example is the apostle Peter. Jesus chose him to be an apostle. Even so, Peter at times said or did things that were not right. For example, Peter said that he would 8. (a) How did the apostle Peter fail to keep his word? (b) After Peter s mistake, why did Jehovah continue to use Peter? JUNE

24 never abandon Jesus even if everyone else did. (Mark 14:27-31, 50) But after Jesus was arrested, all the apostles, including Peter, abandoned him. Then, three different times, Peter said that he did not know Jesus. (Mark 14:53, 54, 66-72) However, Peter felt deeply sad about what he had done. So Jehovah forgave him and continued to use him. If you had been a disciple at that time We can be absolutely sure that Jehovah will always do what is right and just and had known what Peter did, would you have continued to trust in Jehovah? 9 From these examples, we see that some servants of Jehovah have done bad things and have hurt others deeply. When this happens today, what will you do? Will you stop going to the meetings or even abandon Jehovah and his people completely? Or will you realize that Jehovah is merciful and that he may be waiting for a person to repent? But there may be times when someone who is guilty of serious sins does not feel sorry about what he has done. Will you trust that Jehovah knows this and that he will do something about it at the proper time? He may even remove that person from the 9. Why do you trust that God is always just? congregation if necessary. Do you believe that Jehovah will always do what is right and just? REMAIN LOYAL 10 In the Bible, we read about many who remained loyal to Jehovah and his people even though others around them made serious mistakes. Jesus is the best example. After spending a night praying for his Father s help, he chose the 12 apostles. But one of them, Judas Iscariot, later betrayed him. Also, the apostle Peter said that he did not know Jesus. (Luke 6:12-16; 22:2-6, 31, 32) Jesus did not blame Jehovah or the rest of the disciples when some disappointed him. Jesus stayed close to his Father and continued to serve him loyally. As a result, Jehovah rewarded him by resurrecting him and later making him King of the Kingdom in heaven. Matthew 28: 7, Jesus example teaches us to be loyal to Jehovah and his people. And we have good reasons to do so. We can see that Jehovah is guiding his servants in this time of the end. He is helping them to preach the truth worldwide, and they are the only ones doing this work. They are also truly united and happy because of all that Jehovah is teaching them. Jehovah described this when he said: Look! My servants will shout joyfully because of 10. What did Jesus understand about the faults of Judas Iscariot and Peter? 11. The Bible foretold what about Jehovah s servants in this time? 24 SIMPLIFIED EDITION

25 the good condition of the heart. Isaiah 65: We are truly happy because Jehovah guides us and helps us to do many good things. In contrast, people in Satan s world are not happy and have no real hope for the future. How unwise and unfair it would be to leave Jehovah and his people just because someone in the congregation does or says something that is not right! Instead, we must remain loyal to Jehovah and follow his direction. We also need to learn how to view and react to the faults of others. HOW SHOULD YOU REACT? 13 What should you do if one of your brothers says or does something that hurts your feelings? The Bible gives this advice: Do not be quick to take offense, for the taking of offense lodges in the bosom of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:9) All of us are imperfect and make mistakes. So we cannot expect that our brothers will always say and do the right thing. And it would not be good for us to keep thinking about their mistakes. If we did, we might no longer feel happy while serving Jehovah. Even worse, our faith in him might weaken, and we might leave Jehovah s organization. Then, we could not serve Jehovah or hope to live in his new world. 12. How should we view the faults of others? 13, 14. (a) Why should we be patient with one another? (b) What promise do we want to remember? 14 So, what can help you remain happy serving Jehovah when others do something that troubles you? Always remember his comforting promise: Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be called to mind, nor will they come up into the heart. (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13) Jehovah will give you It would be unwise and unfair to leave Jehovah and his people just because someone makes a mistake these blessings if you remain loyal to him. 15 Of course, we are not yet in the new world. So if someone hurts our feelings, we need to meditate on what Jehovah wants us to do. For example, Jesus said: If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; whereas if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. And when Peter asked Jesus whether we should forgive up to seven times, Jesus replied: I say to you, not up to seven times, but up to 77 times. Jesus taught us that we should 15. What did Jesus say we should do when others make mistakes? JUNE

26 always be willing to forgive others. Matthew 6:14, 15; 18:21, Joseph s example teaches us how to react when others disappoint us. Joseph and his younger brother were the only sons of Jacob and Rachel. Jacob had ten other sons, but he loved Joseph more than all of them. This made them very jealous of Joseph. In fact, they hated him so much that they sold him as a slave, and he was taken to Egypt. After many years, the king of Egypt made Joseph the second most powerful person in that country because he was very impressed with Joseph s good work. Later, Joseph s brothers came to Egypt to buy food as a result of a famine. When they saw Joseph, they did not recognize him, but he knew who they were. Although they had treated him badly, he did not punish them. Instead he tested them to find out if they had truly changed. When Joseph realized that they had changed, he told them that he was their brother. Later, he comforted them and said: Do not 16. What good example did Joseph set? be afraid. I will keep supplying you and your little children with food. Genesis 50: Remember that since everyone has faults, you too may offend others. So if you realize that you have upset someone, follow the Bible s advice. Ask him to forgive you, and try to make peace with him. (Read Matthew 5:23, 24.) We like it when others forgive us. So we should do the same for them. Colossians 3:13 tells us: Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely even if anyone has a cause for complaint against another. Just as Jehovah freely forgave you, you must also do the same. If we really love our brothers, we will not keep feeling upset about something they have done in the past. (1 Corinthians 13:5) And if we forgive others, Jehovah will forgive us too. So when others make mistakes, may we be merciful with them just as our Father, Jehovah, is merciful with us. Read Psalm 103: What do you want to do when others make mistakes? SOME EXPRESSIONS EXPLAINED We remain loyal to Jehovah and to his people: When others make mistakes, we do not stop attending meetings or leave the congregation. Instead, we trust that Jehovah guides the congregation and will always do what is right. Also, we are willing to forgive others, just as Jehovah is willing to forgive us

27 A Godly Quality More Precious Than Diamonds People view diamonds as very precious gems. Some are worth millions of dollars. But is there something that God views as more precious than diamonds or other gems? 27

28 Haykanush, an unbaptized publisher in Armenia, found a passport near her home. Inside the passport were some debit cards and a large amount of money. She told her husband, also an unbaptized publisher, about what she had found. The couple had serious financial problems and were in debt. But they decided to take the money to the address that was on the passport. The man who had lost it was amazed, and so washis family. Haykanush and her husband explained that they were honest because of what they were learning from the Bible. Then, they used the opportunity to talk about Jehovah s Witnesses and to give some literature to the family. The family wanted to give Haykanush some money as a reward, but she would not accept it. The next day, the wife visited Haykanush and her husband at home, and to show how thankful she was, she insisted that Haykanush accept a diamond ring. Like that family, many people would be surprised at the honesty Haykanush and her husband showed. But was Jehovah surprised? How did he view their honesty? Was their honesty worth the effort? QUALITIES MORE PRECIOUS THAN MATERIAL THINGS The answers to those questions are not difficult. Why? Because God s servants know that imitating Jehovah s qualities is more precious to him than diamonds, gold, or other material things. Yes, what Jehovah views as precious is different from what most people value. (Isaiah 55: 8, 9) And his servants feel that their efforts to imitate Jehovah s qualities are very precious. We can see this from what the Bible says about discernment and wisdom. Proverbs 3:13-15 says: Happy is the man who finds wisdom and the man who acquires discernment; to gain it is better than gaining silver, and having it as profit is better than having gold. It is more precious than corals; nothing you desire can compare to it. Clearly, Jehovah values such qualities more than any material treasures. What, then, about honesty? Jehovah himself is honest. He cannot lie. (Titus 1:2) And he inspired the apostle Paul to write to the Hebrew Christians in the first century: Keep praying for us, for we trust we have an honest conscience, as we wish to conduct ourselves honestly in all things. Hebrews 13:18. Jesus Christ set a good example of honesty. For instance, when High Priest Caiaphas said, I put you under oath by the living God to tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God!, Jesus was honest and identified himself as the Messiah. He told the truth even though he knew that the Sanhedrin could accuse him of being a blasphemer and that this could lead to his execution. Matthew 26: What about us? If we are in a situation where we might benefit materially by not telling someone all the facts or by slightly changing some facts, will we still be honest? THE CHALLENGE OF BEING HONEST It can be difficult to be honest in these last days when many are lovers of them- 28 SIMPLIFIED EDITION

29 selves, lovers of money. (2 Timothy 3:2) When there is a financial crisis or when jobs are hard to find, many do not have a problem with stealing, cheating, or doing other dishonest things. This kind of thinking is so common that many feel that the only way to benefit materially is to be dishonest. Even some Christians have made bad decisions and for dishonest gain have lost their good reputation in the congregation. 1 Timothy 3:8; Titus 1:7. Most Christians, however, imitate Jesus. They realizethat having qualitieslike those of God is more important than any riches or benefits. That is why young Christians do not cheat to get good grades at school. (Proverbs 20:23) Honesty may not always result in receiving a reward, as Haykanush did. Still, being honest is what God says is right, and it allows us to have a clean conscience, something truly valuable. When we are honest, we can speak with a clean conscience to people in the ministry JUNE

30 Gagik s example shows that. He says: Before becoming a Christian, I was working for a large company where the owner avoided paying taxes by reporting only a small portion of the company s profit. As managing director, I was expected to come to an agreement with the tax agent by bribing him to overlook the company s fraudulent practices. As a result, I had the reputation of being dishonest. When I learned the truth, I refused to continue doing that, even though the job paid very well. Instead, I opened my own business. And from day one, I legally registered my company and paid all my taxes. 2 Corinthians 8:21. Gagik says: My income dropped by about half, so it was a challenge to provide for my family. However, I feel happier now. I have a clean conscience before Jehovah. I am a good example for my two sons, and I have qualified for privileges in the congregation. Among tax auditors and others with whom I do business, I now have the reputation of being an honest man. JEHOVAH HELPS US Jehovah loves those who bring praise to him by imitating his wonderful qualities, including honesty. (Titus 2:10) And when we do this, he promises to help us. He inspired King Davidto say: I was once young and now I am old, but I have not seen anyone righteous abandoned, nor his children looking for bread. Psalm 37:25. The experience of faithful Ruth proves that. She loyally stayed with her motherin-law, Naomi, rather than leave her because she was old. Ruth moved to Israel, where she could worship the true God. (Ruth 1:16, 17) She was honest and worked hard to glean, following the Law s arrangement for the poor. And similar to what David later experienced, Jehovah never abandoned Ruth and Naomi. (Ruth 2:2-18) He also did much more than just provide for Ruth materially. He choseher to be part of the family line of King David and even of the promised Messiah! Ruth 4:13-17; Matthew 1:5, 16. It may be very difficult for some of Jehovah s servants to earn enough money for their basic needs. Yet instead of trying to find an easy but dishonest solution, they work hard and are diligent. By doing this, they show that God s wonderful qualities, including honesty, are more valuable to them than any material things. Proverbs 12:24; Ephesians 4:28. Like Ruth, Christians around the world have shown faith in Jehovah s power to help them. They fully trust in the One who promised: I will never leave you, and I will never abandon you. (Hebrews 13:5) Again and again, Jehovah has shown that he can and will help those who are honest at all times. He has always kept his promise to provide for the basic needs of his servants. Matthew 6:33. Yes, humans may value diamonds and other material things. But we can be sure that our heavenly Father values our honestyand other good qualities more, much more, than any precious gems! 30 SIMPLIFIED EDITION

31 QUESTIONS FROM READERS In Ezekiel s vision, whom do the man with the secretary s inkhorn and the six men with weapons for smashing represent? ˇ They represent forces in heaven that were involved in the destruction of Jerusalem and that will also be involved in the destruction of Satan s wicked world at Armageddon. This is an adjusted understanding. Why was it needed? Before 607 B.C.E., Jehovah gave Ezekiel a vision of what would happen in Jerusalem before it was destroyed. In the vision, Ezekiel saw many wicked things happening there. Then he saw six men who each had a weapon for smashing in his hand. There was also a man with them who was clothed in linen and had a secretary s inkhorn. (Ezekiel 8:6-12; 9:2, 3) This man was told to go through the city and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who are sighing and groaning over all the detestable things that are being done in the city. Then the six men with the weapons were told to kill all those in the city who did not have the mark. (Ezekiel 9:4-7) What can we learn from this vision, and who is the man with the secretary s inkhorn? Ezekiel had this vision in 612 B.C.E. It was a prophecy that was first fulfilled five years later when Jehovah allowed the Babylonian army to destroy Jerusalem. In this way, Jehovah used the Babylonians to punish his disobedient people. (Jeremiah 25:9, 15-18) But what about the righteous Jews who did not agree with all the bad things that were happening in the city? Jehovah made sure that they were saved. The man with the secretary s inkhorn represents Jesus Christ. He is the one who marks those who will survive 31