ISAIAH'S PROPHECY

Light for All Mankind VOLUME T

Photo Cxedlks: . Coxrer: Dcad Sea Scroll of Isaiah: Courtesy of the Shrlne n f the Scroll, Israel Muscum rn Page 63: Landbcape: Pictorial ;lrchlve (Near liast- ern History) Est. m Page 122: Photo: Garo Nalbandian rn Page 156: Left: I'hotograph takcn by courtesy of the British Museum; rlght: Musee du Louvre, I'arls Pagc 170: OJohn C. T m r . Page 191: Ericlr I.es~lng/Art Resource, NY

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Pagc 289: Tup center: U.5, Natlonal Archives photo; top right and middle left: UN photo r Page 311: Garo Nalbandian I'agc ,412: Pictorial Archive (Near Lastcrn History) Est. r Page 322: .9 Len Hue, Jr./llfsuals Unlimited Page 324: Top: Rcutcrs/Nikola Saliclhrchir,e Pllotos; bottom left: A. BoulatlSipa; bottom right: U?I PHOTO 1867971J. lsaac . Pagc 331: Left, Dead Sea Scroll of IsaIah: B John C. Trever; middle rlght, Iars: Courtcsyof the Visitors of thehhmolean Mu- seum, O h r d ; botwm right, jar: Photograph taken by courtesy of the Rtltisll Mu- seum = Page 333: Top left and top right: Pictoria1 Archive (Near Fastern History) ht. r Page 359: 'lop left, WWII bomber: USAI: photo; top right, WW1 soldrers: U.S, Natio~~al Archlves photo; middle left, atomic blast: US:W photo; rnlddle right, Viemam: U.S. Army photo rn Page 362: Mountain High Maps$, Copyright .C 1997 Digital Wisdom, Inc. rn Pagc 411: Courtesy of Anglo-Australian Ohrervatory, phc- tograph by 17avld Malin Page 412: NASA photo

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Unless otherwise indicatetl, Scripture quotailonr are horn the modern-language

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Isaillh's Prophecy--Light f ir A11 Mankirid I English ( ip-1-E)

Made In the United StaMs of Amerlca

CONTENTS

PAGE

1 An Ancient Prophet With a Modern Message 5

2 A Father and His Rebellious Sons 11

3 "Let Us Set Matters Straight" 22

4 Jehovah's House Lifted Up 37

5 Jehovah Humiliates Self-Fmlted Ones 49

6 Jehwah God Has Mercy on a Remnant 61

7 Woe to the Unfaithful Vineyard! 73

8 Jehovah God Is in His Holy Temple 87

9 Trust in Jehovah in the Face of Adversity 101

10 The Promise of a Prince of Peace 117

11 Woe to the Rebels! 133

12 Do Not Be Afraid of the Assyrian 144

13 Salvation and Rejoicing Under the Messiah's Reign 157

1 4 Jehovah Humbles an Arrogant City 172

15 Jehovah's Counsel Against the Nations 189

16 Trust in Jehovah for Guidance and Protection

17 *Babylon Has Fallen!"

18 Lessons About Unfaithfulness

19 Jehovah Profanes the Pride of Tyre

20 Jehovah Is King

21 Jehovah's Hand Becomes High

22 Isaiah Foretells Jehovah's 'Strange Deed'

23 Keep in Expectation of Jehovah

24 No Help From This World

25 The King and His Princes

26 "No Resident Will Say: 'I Am Sick'"

27 Jehovah Pours Out Indignation Upon the Nations

28 Paradise Restored!

29 A h g ' s Faith Is Rewarded

30 "Comfort My People"

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CHAPTER ONE

A n Ancient Prophet With a Modern Message

Isaiah 1 :I

WHO today does not yearn for relief from tlze problems that face mankind? Yet, how often our longings go unfut filled! We dream of peace, but we are plagued by war. We cherish law and order, but we cannot stern the rising tide of robbery, rape, and murder. We want to trust our neigh- bor, but we have to lock our doors for protection. We love our children and try to instill wholesome values in them, but all too often we watch helplessly as they succumb to thc unwholesome influence of their peers.

2 We might well agree with Job, who stated that man's short life is "glutted with agitation." Uob 14:l) 'rhs seems especially so today, for society is deteriorating on a scale never before seen. One U.S. senator observed: "The Cold War is now over, but in a tragic sense, the world has now been made safer for ethnic, tribal, and religious ven- geance and savagery, . . . We have watered down our mor- al standards to the point where many of our youth are confused, discouraged and in deep trouble. We are reaping the harvest of parental neglect, divorce, child abuse, teen pregnancy, school dropouts, illegal drugs, and streets full of violence. It's as if our house, having survived the great earthquake we call the Cold War, is now being eaten away by termites."

1, 2. (a) What sad state of affairs do we see rn the world today? (b) How did one U.S. senator express his concern about the deterro- ration of society?

IF' a 3 "-1 W b Was Isalah? MEANING OF NAME: *Soloplhn 04 jehwoh.

FAMILE Mnkd wfth at lw3t m ms

PUCE OF RESIDWOt: I#lnuIrn

Y U R S BF SERWCI: #oJesshm4byprrm, 7B B,CE, to somaN~a at& 133 #,CEO tONYEMP0RARY KINGS OF JUDAH:

&ioh, juthwn, Aha& Ha~eRlah ~ P Q ~ W ~ P H r n

Mkuh, hsw, O W

3 However, we are not left without hope. Some 2,701) years ago, God InspM a man of the Middle East to ut- ta a series of pphedes that have specla1 meaalng for our day. These m v are recorded in the Bible book M- ing that prophet's name-fsalah. Who was W, andwhy mn we say that hh prophecy, recorded Jrnmt three mil- hfifums ago, provides Ught fm all mankind M y ?

A Righteous Man in Thrbdent Times 4 In the first vem of his book, Isaiah Introduces himself as "the son of h r y " and he teh us tbat he served as C . ' c --hat "In the Aria nl 1 lntknm A h 7 and y-- :,yvyy%h IS, r m r rufr r. r r u r v y , r r . r . m . , .-I..- - m u -. . . Y. . . . .-...I. . . -PI, w r y or paan.- (~samn I: r i n ~ s m a mean that Wah mntlnued as God's prophet to the nation of fu- d& for no less than 46 v, Ukely begliming at the end of ITm's ldgYl-8ba~t the 778 B.C.E

* Isaiah's father, Amos, is not to br confused wlth Mas who p p h - eslrrl at the beginning of Uzdah's reign and who wruw the Bible h o k baaring his name,

3, What Bible book especially offem hop foi the future? 4. who was h i a h , and when did he wrve ar Jehwah's prophet?

Isaiah md his wife made worshlp of Cod a family mutter

8 Isaia11's Prophecy-LiLyht for All Mankind I

5 Compared with what we know about some other prophets, we know little about the personal life of Isaiah. We do know that he was a married man and that he re- ferred to his wife as "the prophetess." (Isaiah 8:3) Ac- cording to McClintock and Strong's Cydopedia of Biblical, Theological, and EcciesidsticaI Literature, this designation indicates that Isaiah's married life "was not only consis- tent with his vocation, but that it was intimately interwo- ven with it." It may well be that, similar to some other godly women of ancient Israel, IsaiaIlls wife had her o m prophetic assignment.-Judges 44; 2 Kings 22:14.

6 Isaiah and his wife had at least two sons, each given a name with proph&c significance. The firstborn, Shertr- jashub, accompanied Isaiah when he delivered Gnd's mes- sages to wicked King Aha. (Isaiah 7:3) I t is evident that Isa- iah and his wife made worship of God a family matter-a fine example for married couples today!

7 Isaiah and his family lived during a turbulent period in Judah's history. political unrest was common, bribery tainted the courts, and hypocrisy tore the religious fabric of society. The hilltops were covered with aliars to false gods. Even some of the kings promoted pagan worship. Ahaz, for instance, not only tolerated idolatry among his subjects but personally engaged in it, making his awn off- spring "pass through the fire" in a ritual sacrifice to the Canaanite god Molech." (2 Kings 163, 4; 2 Chronicles 28: 3, 4) And all of this took place among a people who were in a covenant relationshp withJehovah!-Exodus 195-8. -

Some say that to ''pass through the k e " may simply indicate a pu- rification ceremony. It seems, though, that in this context the phrase refers to a literal sacrifice. There is no question that child sacrifice was practiced by Canaanites and apostate Israelites.-Deutemnomy 12:31; Psalm 10h:37, 38.

5, 6. What must have been true regarding Isaiah's famUy life, and why? 7. Descsibe conditions in Jndah in Isaiah's day.

8 Commendably, some of Isaiah's contemporaries-in- cluding a few rulers-tried to promote true worship. Among them was King Uzziah, who did "what was up- right in Jehovah's eyes." Still, during his reign the peo- ple were "sacrificing and making sacrificial smoke on the high places:' (2 kngs 153, 4) King Jotham too "kept do- ing what was right in Jehovah's eye?." However, "the peo- ple were yet acting ruinously." (2 Chronicles 27:2) Yes, throughout much of Isaiah's prophetic ministry, the lung- dom of Judah was in a deplorable spiritual and moral state. By and large, the people ignored any positive influ- ence that came from their kings. Understandably, deliv- ering God's messages to t h s stubborn people would not be an easy assignment. Nevertheless, when Jehovah posed the question, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Isaiah did not hesitate. He exclaimed: "Here I am! Send me."-Isaiah 6%.

A Message of Salvation 9 Isaiah's name means "Salvation of Jehovah," and this

could well be called thc theme of h s message, True, some of Isaiah's prophecies are of judgment. Still, the theme of salvation comes through loud and clear. Rgeatedly, Isaiah related how in due time Jehovah would release the Israel- ites from captivity in Babylon, allowing a remnant to re turn to Zion and bring the land back to its farmer splendor. No doubt the privilege of speaking and writing prophecies concerning the restoration of his beloved Jeru- salem gave Isaiah the greatest joy!

8. (a] What example did Kings Uzziah and Jotham set, and did the people follow the~r lead? (b) How did Isaiah sl-low boldness in the midst of a rebellious people? 9. What is the meaning of I ~ a i a h ' ~ name, and how does this relate to the theme uf his book?

10 Isnlnlr's Pmphrcj~-l.l.qht filr A l l Mtr t r k l ~ t l I

In But what do these messages of ludgment and salvation have to do with us? Happily, [saiah docs not prophesy sim- ply for the benefit of the hratrihe kingdom of Ju&h. On the contrary, his messages have special significance for our day. Isaiah paints a glorious picture of how God's Kingdom will soon bring grand blessings to our earth, In this r e ~ a d , a large pertion of Isaiah's writings focl~scs on thc fororold Messiah, who would rule as King of Gocl's Klngdom, (1)an- !el 925; John 12:41) Surely i t is no coincidence that the names Jesus and Isaiah express virtl~al ly the s;lmc t hnught, the name Jesus meaning "Jehovah Ir Salvation."

II. Of course, Jesus was not born untl! some seven ccntu- ties after Isaiah's day. Yet, the Messianic prophcctcs con- tained in the book of Isaiah are so dctallcrl and so accurate that t h v head Iike an eyewitness account of JcsusVife nn earth. One source noted that in view of thk, the lmok of Isaiah is sometimes called the "Fifth Gaspcl." Hencc, it is hardly surprising that Isaiah was the Riblc lmok most fre- quently quoted by Jesus and his almstles in ordcr ta make a clear identification of the Messieh.

T2 Isalah painB a glorious word picture of "new heavens and a new earth" wherein "a king wlll retgn for rt~hteous- ncss Itself" and princes will rule fur justlcc. (Isaiah .72:1, 2; hS17,18; 2 Peter 3:13) Thus t h ~ book of Isaiah pnintr to the heartwarming hope of God's Kingdom, unclrr tllc Messlah J e w Christ as e n t h e d King. What an encouragement for us to live each day in joyful expaation of "salv;ltion by ~ehovah]"! (Isaiah 25:9; 40:28-31) kt us, then, eager- ly examine the precious message In the book of Isaiah. As we do so, our confidence in God's promiscs will bc greatly strengthened. Also, we will be tlelpcd to grow in our con- viction that Jehovah is indeed tlie God of our salvation. - 10, 11. (a) Why is thebookof Isakth of interest to ur today? (b) How does the book of Isaiah dl- attentian to t hr Messiah? 12. Why do we eagcdy embark on a study a1 the Imok of Isaiah?

- - -

CHAPTER TWO - - -

A Father and His Rebellious Sons

Isalah 1 :2-9 . ..

SIE PROVIDED well for his children, as would any loving parent, For many years he madc sure that they were fed, clothed, and sheltered. When it was necessary, he di5c-i- phed them. Rut their punk hrnent was nwer excessive; it was always administwed "to the proper degree." (Jeremiah 30:11) We can only imagine, tlien, the pain that this Fov- ing father feels at havbng to makc the statement: "5ms I have brought up und mised, but they themselves hove re- volted against me."-Isaiah I ;2b,

2 The rebelllous sons referred to here arc the people oflu- dah, and the aggrieved l'aihcr Is Jehovah God, I-low tragic! Jehovah has nourished the Judeans and ralsed them to an elevated position among thc nations. "I went on to dothe you with an ernbroldercrl Karrncnt and to shoe you with seaiskin and m wrap you in fine lincn and to cover you with cmtly material," he later reminds them through the prophet Ezekiel. (hekicl 16: 10) Yet, for the most part, the people of Judah do nnl appscdatc what Jchovah has done for them, Instead, they rehel, or revolt.

2 With good reason, Jehovah prefaces these words regarding lzls rebelllous sons with t h v statement: "Heor, 0 heavens and give ear, 0 earth, for jehowh himself

1, 2. hpldn how Jchovnh has come tn haw rehellloua sons. 3. Why does Jehovah call upon tlw heavens ant1 the earth lo bear witness to Judah'c remft?

12 Isaiah's Prophecy-Llgh t far AII Mankind I

has spoken. " (Isaiah 7 :2a) Centuries earli- er the heavens and the earth heard, as it were, the braelites receive ex- . . plicit warnings regardhg the con- sequences of disobedience. Muses said: "I do take as witnesses against you today the heavens and the earth, that you will positively pa- ish in a hurry from off the land to which you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of It." (Deuteron- omy 4:26) Now in Isaiah's day, Jeho- vah ralIs trpon the invisible heavens and the visible earth to bear witnss to Judah's revolt.

4 The smriv u# the situation calls far a straightforward approach. Even in these dire circumstances, however, it is noteworthy--and heartwarming-that Jehovah p~esents himself to Judah as a loving parent rather than merely the owner who has purchased them. In effect, Jehovah Is entreating his people to consider the matter from the standpoint of a father who is in anguish over his wayward sons. Perhaps same pmnts in Judah can even personally relate to such a predicament and are moved by the malo- gy. In any event, Jehovah is about to state his case against Judah.

Brute Beasts Know Better 5 Through Isaiah, Jehovah says: '54 bull well kfnows Xts

buyer, and the ass the rnmger of h ownet; Ism4 ifself hm not kno wn, my awn pmpk have not behmd understand- -

4. How does Jehovah home to present himself to Judah? 5. In contPast with Israel, in what way do the bulI m d the ass dis- play a sense of faithfulness?

A Father and His Rebellious Sons 13

ingly." (Isaiah I:3P The bull and the ass are draft animals famiIiar to those living in the Middle Ehst. Indeed, the Ju- deans would not deny that even these lowly beasts display a sense of faithfulness, a keen awareness that they belong to a master. h this regard, consider what one Bible re- searcher witnessed at the close of the day in a Middle East- em city: "No sooner had the drove gat within tlw walk than it began to disperse. Every ox knew perfectly well his owner, and the way tu hh house, nor did it get bewildered for a moment in the mazes of the narrow md crooked al- leys, As for the ass, he walked smight to the daor, and up to 'his master" crib.' "

6 Since such scenes are no doubt common in Isaiah's day, the pdnt o f J e h h ' s message is cleat: If even a brute beast rec~gnizes its master and its own manger, what ex- cuse can the people of Judah offer fox having left Jehovah? Truly, they have 'not behaved understandingly." It is a> if they have no mnsriousness of the fact that their prosper- ity and their very existence dqend upon Jehovah. It is in- deed an evidence of mercy that Jehovah still refers to the Judeans as "my own people" !

7 Nwer would we want to behave without understand- ing by failing to show appreciation for all that Jehovah has done fur us! Instead, we should h i t a b the psalm- ist David, who said: "L will Iaud you, 0 Jehovah, with all my heart; I will dedare all your wonderful works." (Psalm 91) Continually taking irl knowledge of Jehwah .Mia1 encourage us in this regard, for the Bible states that "the

* In this cafltext, "hrael" referrs to the --tribe kingdom of Judah.

6. How have the people of Judah failed to act unde~standingiy? 7. What are same ways in whlch we can show aurselaes appreciatim of Jehovah's pr&siom?

knowledge of the Most Holy One Is what understanding is." (Proverbs 9:lO) Meditating daily on Jehovah's Mess- ings will help us to be thankful anti not take our heaven- ly Father for panted. (Colossians 3 1 5 ) T l ~ e one offering thanksgiving as his sacrifice is the one that glorifier me," says Jehovah, "and as for the one keeping a set way, I will cause him to see salvation by God."-l'salm 50:23.

A Shocking Affront to "the Holy One of Israel" 8 Isaiah continues his message with strong words for

the nation of Judah: "Woe to the sinful nation, the peo- ple heavy with error, an evildalng seed, rtrlnous sons! They h a w left Jehovah, they hove treated the Holy One of is- rue1 with disrespa they have turned buckwctrds." (Isaiah 7:4) Wicked deeds can accumulate to the extcnt that they become like a crushing weight, In Abraham's day Jcha- vah described the sins of Sodam and Gornorrah as "very heavy." (Genesis 18:20) Something similar Is now evident in thc people ofjudah, for lsaiah says that they are "heavy wlth error." In addition, he calls them 'an evildoing seed, ruinous sons." Yes, the Judeans are like delinquent €MI- dren, They have "turned backwarrls," or as thc New Re- vised Standard Version puts it, they are "uttcrly estranged" from their Father.

9 Ry their wayward course, the peoplc of Judah are show- ing gross disres- for "the Holy Onc of Fsracl," What is the signifimnce of this phrase, which is found 25 tlrner In the book of Isaiah? To be holy means to be clcan and pure, Jehovah Is holy to the superlative degree, (Iicvclatian 4:8) The Israelites are reminded of this fact every tlmc thcy ab- serve the words engraved on the shining gold plate on the - 8. Why can the people of Judah be cntled 'the slnful nntton"? 9, What Is the significance of the phrare "thc Holy Onc of Israel"?

A Father n ~ d Hls Rcbclllntrs Sons 15

high pricstb sturban: "Holiness belongr to Jehovah." (Ex- odus 3930) Hence, by referring ko Jehovah as "the Hoty One of lsrael," Isaiah unclcrsct>re~ the gravity of Judah's sin. Why, these rekh are dircdly.violating the command given to their forvfilthers: "Yon must wnctiiy yourselves and you must p m e ynurselvcs holy, because 1 am holy"! -Leviticus 11 :44.

lo Christians today must at: all costs avoid following Ju- dah's example of dhrespectlng "the Holy One of Israel." They must imitate Jehovah's hallncss. (1 Peter 1:15, 16) And they need to "hate what Is bad." (Psalm 9710) Such unclean practices as sexual I rnrnara I lty, idolatry, thievery, and drunkenness can corrupt the Christian congregatfon. That is why those who reft~r;e to atop practicing these things are disfellowshippcd fmrn thc congregation. Ulti- mately, those who unrepentantly follow a cousstl of un- cleanness will he excIudcd from cnjoyinp; the blessings of God's Kingdom government. Ileally, all such wicked works constitute a shocking affrnnt ir, "the I-loly One of Israel." -Romans 1:26, 27; 1 CX,r.lntlllans 5:6-11; 69 , 10.

Sick From Head to Foot

11 Isaiah next strives to reuson wlth the people of Judah by pointing out to them their sickly state. H e says: "Where else will you be slruck still more, in thcrt you add more re wIt?" In effect, Isaiah is askinx them: 'Haw you not suf- fered enough? Why bring furlher harm to yourselves by continuing to rebel?' Baiah conlinues: 'The whole heod is in a sick condition, and the whole heart is feeble. From the sole of the foot even to the head there Is no sound spot in

10. How can we avold showln~ disrespect for "the Maly One of Isra- el"? 11, 12. [a) Descrlbe Judah'r bad condttlan. (b) Why should we nut feel sorry for Judah?

16 Isaiah's Prophecy-Lrghf for All Mankind 1

it." (Isaiah 1 5 , 6a) Judah is in a loathsome, diseased state-spiritually sick from head to foot. A grim diagnosis indeed!

12 Should we feel sorry for Judah? Hardly! Centuries ear- lier the entire nation of Israel was duly warned about the penalty for disobehence. In part, they were told: "Jehovah will strike you with a maIignant boil upon both knees and both legs, from which you will not be able to be healed, from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head." (Deuteronomy 28:35) In a figurative sense, Judah is now suffering these very consequences of her stubborn course. And all of this could have been avoided if the people ofJu- dah had simply obeyed Jehovah.

13 Isaiah continues to describe Judah's pitiable state: "Wounds and bruises and fresh stripes-they have not been squeezed out or bound up, nor has there been a softening with oil." (Isaiah 756) Here the pmphet refers to three typcs of injuries: wounds (cuts, such as those in- flicted by a sword or a knife), bruises (welts resulting from beating), and fresh stripes (recent, open sores that seem beyond healing). The idea presented is that of a man who has been severely punished in every manner imaginable, with no part of his body escaping harm. Judah is mIy in a broken-down state.

14 Does Judah's miserable conhtion move her to return to Jehovah? No! Judah is like the rebel described at Prov- erbs 29:l: "A man repeatedly reproved but making his neck hard will suddenly be broken, and that without heal- ing." The nation seems beyond curing. Ps Isaiah puts it, her wounds "have not been squeezed out or bound up, -

13, 14. (a) What injuries hare been inflicted upon Judah? (b) Do Ju- dah's sufferings cause her to reconsider her rebellious course?

A Fnther and His Rebellious Sons 17

nor has there been a softening with oil."' In a sense, Judah resembles an open, unbandaged, all-pervasive sore. 15 Taking a lesson from Judah, we must be on guard

against spiritual sickness, Like physical illness, it can af- fect any one of us. After all, who of us is not susceptible to fleshly desires? Greed and a desire for excessive plea- sure can take root in our hearts. Hence, we need to train ourselves to "abhor what is wicked" and "cling to what is good." (Romans 129) We also need to cultivate the fruits of God's spirit in our everyday lives. (Galatians 5:22, 23) By doing so, we d l avoid the condition that plagued Ju- dah-that of being spiritually sick from head to foot.

A Desolated Land 16 Isaiah now leaves his medical analogy and turns to the

condition of Judah's terrain. As if he is gazing down on a battle-scarred plain, he says: "Your /and is a desolation, your cities are burned with fire; your ground-righ t in front of you strangers are eating it up, and the desolation is like an overthrow by strangers." (lsaiah 1 :7) Some scholars say that although these words are found early in Isaiah's book, they were probably uttered later in the prophet's career, perhaps during the relgn of wicked King Ahaz. They as- sert that Uzziah's regn was too prosperous to justify such a bleak description. Granted, it cannot be stated with

' Isaiah's words reflect the medical practice of his day. Bible research- er E. H. Tlumptre notes: "To 'closeJ or 'press' the festering wound was the process tried at first to get rid of the purulent discharge; then, as in Hezekiah's case (chap. xxxv~ri. 21), i t was 'bound up,' with a poul- tice, then some stimulating oil or unguent, probably, as in Luke x. 34, oil and wlne were used, to cleanse the ulcer!'

15, In what ways can we protect ourselves from spiritual sickness? 16. (a) How does Isaiah describe the condition of Judah's terrain? (b) Why do some say that these words were llkely uttered during the reign of Ahaz, but how might we understand them?

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light f o r Ail Mankind I t certainty whether Isaiah's book i s compiIed in chronolog- ical order. However, Isaiah's words about desolation are probably prophetic In uttering the above statement, most likely Isaiah is employing a technique found elsewhere in the Bible-that of describing a future event as if it has al- ready taken place, thus emphasizing the certainty of a prophecy's fulfillme~lt.-Compare Revelation 11: 15,

17 In any went, the prophetic description of the desola- tion of Judah should not come as a surprise to this stub- born and disobedient people. Centuries earlier Jehovah warned them of what would happen if they rebelled. He said: "I, for my part, will lay the land desolate, and your enemies who are dwelling in it will simply stare in amaze- ment over it. And you I shall scatter among the nations, and I will unsheathe a sword after you; and your land must become a desoIation, and your cities will become a desolate ruin."-Leviticus 26:32, 33; 1 Kings 9:6-8.

18 The words at Isaiah 1:7, 8 are apparently fulfilled dur- ing the invasions by Assyria that result in the destruc- tion of Israel and widespread destruction and suffering in Judah. (2 fings 17:S, 18; 18:11, 13; 2 Chronicles 29:8, 9) However, Judah is not totally wiped out. Isaiah says: 'The daughter of Zion has been left remaining like a booth in a vineyard, like a lookout hut in a field of cucumbers, like a blockaded city1'-Isaiah 7:8.

19 Amid all the devastation, "the daughter of Zion," Jem- salem, will be left standing. But she will look very vulner- able-1Fke a shanty in a vineyard or a watchman's booth in a cu~umber field. In a journey down the Nile, one 19th- century scholar was reminded of Isaiah's words when he

17. Why should the prophetic description of desolation not come as a surprise to the people of Judah? 18-20. When are the words of Isaiah 1:7, 8 fulfilIed, and in what way does Jehovah 'leave a ferv remaining' at this time?

saw similar booths, which he describes as "little more than a fence against a north wind." In Judah when the harvest was over, these booths were allowed to fall apart and col- lapse. Still, as flimsy as Jerusalem might appear before the all-conquering Assyrian army, she will survive.

I XJ Isaiah concludes this prophetic statement: "Unless le-

homh of armies himself had left remaining to us just o few survivors, we should have become just like Sodom, we should have resembled Comorruh itself." (Isaiah 1:9)* Against the might of Assyria, Jehovah will finally come to Judah's aid. Unlike Sodom and Gomorrah, Judah will not be obliterated. It will live on.

' The Commerttary on the Old Testnment, by C. F. Keil and F. De- litzsch, says: "The prophet's address has here reached a resting-place. The fact that it is divided a t this point into two separate sections, is

I indicated in the text by the space left between vers. 9 and 10. This mode of marking larger or smaller sections, either by leaving spaces or by breaking off the hne, is older than the vowel points and accents, and rests upon a tradition of the highest antiquity."

Z l M m t b a n 1 0 0 ~ l a k r , Judah wasagainunder threa~ The m l e bad not learned from the disclphc in- fIiM through - 'They mre continually making ~eaatthemessengersofthetrueC;odmddespislngbis words and m w at his prophets." As a result, 'the rage of JehoMh -cup @mt his m e , until there was no healing." (2 Chronicles 36:16) The Babylanh monarch NebuChadnemr m n q u d judah, and this h e , there ws nothing d m "like a booth in a w a r d , " Even Jerusalem m ded~oyed, (2 Chronicles 361 17-21) Still, Je hmah left a few mmhhg! Even though Judah endured 7 O y e a f f i n a l ~ J ~ e n s ~ t h e c o n t l n u r v r c e o f W nation and espediiltp of the Mdic line, which w d d pdwethepmmhdMessiah.

21. Aft& B O ~ I X destrogred J M e m , why did jehamb a few q . 7

A and Hda fiebeNfuus Sons 21

22 In the ki t century, fsmd went through Its flnal crI& as W s mvenant people. When Jesrrs pamted htmself as the promised M d , the nation re)- him, and as a result, Jehovah dected them, (Matthew 21:43; 23.37-33; John 1:11) Was this the end of Jehovah's hiwing a special Won on earth? No. The apostle Paul showed that h i a h 1 9 had yet a m h r fulfillment. Quoting from the Septu- %hit wrsbn, he wtow "Just as Isaiah had said aforethe 'Was Jehwah of armies had left a seed to us, we should have b a m e fwt Ue Sodam, and we should have ban made just like Gomomb,"'-Romm 9:29.

This me the s u w h m wem the anointed Chrfstbm, who pt faith in Jesus CMst, These m, first of aII, be li- Jews. hta they joined by belldng Genttla. Together they made up a new Ism, "the lsrael of Gad.'' (GaMam 6:16; R o m 229) Thls *seed" survived the de- stmdan of the Jewhh system of th- In 70 CE. Indeed, utheb~ofGodNiss t l l lWth w today. ft hasnowbeen p e d by millions of kIiMng indidduds of the nuons, who make up "a great md, which no man [is] able t~ number, out of atl nations and hfba and poples and tonguts."-Revelatton 7:9.

Sum this world wlll face the battle of Armageddon (RmWhn 16:14, 16) While this wiU be a crlsis greater than either the &@an or the Babylonian invasion of Ju- dah, greater evm~ than the Roman dwastatlon of Judea in 70 CX, there wiIl be survfvors, (kwladon Z14) Hsw vi- tai, tha, t b t all cotlisider wfulv halah's wards fn Ju- W! They meant suwWd br faithful ones back then. And they mn mem survival for befiwlng ones tday -

W. Inthe &st ewhrry, why did Jehovah '1- a few maMng'? 24. What shautd all talce notice of If they wbh to WW mauWdls pateStCrh?ls?

CHAPTER THREE - - --

"Let Us Set Matters Straight"

Isaiah 1:10-31

THE inhabitants of Jerusalem may feel inclined to jmti- fy themselves after hearing thc denunciation recorded at TwEah 1:L-9. n e v no douht would like to point proudly to all the sacrifices they offer to Jehovah, However, vers- es 10 through 15 give Jehovah's wlthrrlng reply to such at- tltudes. It begins: "Hear the word a f lehowh, you dictators of Sodom. Give ear to the law of our Cod, you people of Go- momh."-Isaiah 1: 10.

2 Sodom and Gomomah were destroyed not. only for their perverted sex pmctices but also for their hardheart- cd, haughty attitudes. (Genesis 18:20, 21; 19:4, 5, 23-25; Ezeklel 16:49, SO) Isaiah's audience must be shocked to hear themselves being compared to the people of those accursed cities." But Jehovah secs his people just as they are, and Isaiah does not soften God's message in order to 'tickle their ears.'-2 Timothy 4 3 .

3 Notice how Jehovah feels about the formalistic worship - * Accurdlng to ancient Jewish eradltlon, wicked Klng Manasseh had Isnlah executed, sawn asunder. IC:ompare Hullrrws 11:37,) A source says tha l in order to bring on thls dcat l l senlence, a false prophet usrd t h e following charge agalnqt Isnloh: "IIc ha< called Jerusalem 5ndom, and the princes of Judah and lerusalcm hc has declared (to hr) the people of Gomorrah." - 1, 2. To whom dws Jehovah cornpTm the ruters and the people of JerusrIcrn and Judah, and why Is thl9 vallrll 3 . What does Jehovah mean when hc say5 thnt hc hils "had enough" of t l i c /~euple's sacrifices, and why Is thls the cnsc7

"L,tnZ U.t Srt Mnttcrs Straight" 23

of h i 5 people. " 'Of what benefit to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?'says lehovah. 7 h m had enough of whole burnt offerings of mms m d the fclt of well-fed animuis; and in the blood of young bulls and male lambs and he-goatr 1 have taken no delight'" (lsaloh 1: 7 1 ) 'l'he people have for- go21cn t hat Jehovah does not clcpct~rl upoil their sacrifices. (I'salm SR8-13) He does not r~ccd anythlng that humans may atier him. So i f the people think that thcy are do- ing JchwaI~ a favor by presenting their halfhearted offer- ings, they are misnken. Jehovah i~scs a p~wcrful 6 f l w of spccch, The expression "I 11aw had enough" may also k rcndcrcd "I am satiated" or "I am gluttecl." I40 you know the feeling of being so full of food that t l ~ e very sight of more Is ~pulsive? Jehovah felt similarly ahout those offer- ings-utterly repulsed! 4 Jehwa h continues: "When you people keep coming in to

see my face, wfre is it that bus requid this from your hand, to trample my courtyards?" (Isoiah 1 : 12) IS i t not Je hova WS own law that requires the people lo 'come In to see his face,' that is, to he in attendance a t I I ~ S temple In Jer~~salem? (Exo- d ~ t s 34:23,24) Yes, but they come there out nf mere formal- ism, simply g o i ~ through the motions of PIE worship, without pure motives. abJehova h, their nlirncrrous visits to his cuurlyarcls amount to mere ?tmrnplinc accomplishing nnt hlng more than wearing away thc floor;

5 Na wonder that Jehovah now adapts even stronger lan- wigc:cl "Stop bringing in any more valueless groin offer- ings. Incense-it is something detestuble to me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of a convention-l cannot put up with the use of uncanny power along with the solem

4. Hnw dm5 Isaiah 1:12 expose the ernpllncrs of the people's atten- dnncc at the temple in Jerusalem? 5 . What are sumc of the acts ot warshlp perfuxrned t)y theJews, and why have these hecoine "a burden" to Jcllovnl~'l

24 R o i n l ~ ' , ~ Pmphfc-y-Li.ylrt for Al l Afdnkind /

assembly. Your new moons and your hta l seusons my soul hos hated. 70 me they haw become a burden; I hove be- come tired of bearing them." (Isaiah 1 : 73, 74) Grain offer- ~ E I ~ S , incense, Sabbaths, and solcnr rr assernl~lics are a11 part nF God's taw to Israel. As to "new rt~orrns," Ihe Law simply dlrects I hat these be observed, hi1 t tvholesa~ne traditions have gradually grown up around the obscnvnce. (Num- lwrs IO:10; 28:11) The new moon IF t r ~ ' a f ~ d as a monlh- ly sabbath, when the people would desist from work and even gather for instruction from the prophet5 and priests. (2 Kings 4:23; Ezekiel 463; Amos 8:s) Such ot~setvances arc not wrong. The problem lies ln r l o l n ~ them for mere show. Moreovcr, the Jews am resorting tn "uncanny pow- er," spiritistic practices, right along with their formal ob- wwance of God's Law." Thus, their acts of worship to Je- hovah are "a burden" to him.

fi How, though, could Jehovah kc1 "tired"? Afer all, he has an "abundance of dynamic energy. . . He docs not tire out or grow weary." (Isaiah 40:26, 28) Jehovah is using a vivid figure of speech to enable us to unddcrstand his fecl- In#. Have yoti ever borne a heavy burden for so long that yclu were weary to the very bone and just longed to t h w it OK' That is howJehovah fwls ahout his per)ple's h y p critical acts of worship.

7 Jchovah now addresses the most intlrnate and per- sonal of all aas of worship. #When pu spread out your palms, 1 hide my eyes from you. Even though you make many pmyers, 1 am not listening; with bloadshed your very

' 'l'lie Ilchren. word for *uncanny pnwcr" I s alw rcndcrd "what is hurt l l~l ." "what is uncamy," and "etronca~~a."Accorrl~np, to the fie* .Ir),~Scrtl Dirtirmnty of the OId T ~ ~ t r r r t ~ r , I tel~tcw proplrets uwd the wrlrtl to denounce "evil caused by the rnlq~~sr of powcr." - - 6 , In what sense has Jehovah become "tlrcddl? 7. Why hi~s Jehoval~ stopped listening ta r h e praycrs uf 1 1 1 ~ people?

--;I i 1 hands have become filled." (Isaiah 1:15) Sprcacling out The palms, holding the hands outstrctdled wl I h galins up- ward, 1s a gesture of suppli~qtion, 'lo Jchwah, this stance has brcornc: rneanirgless, for this pcoplc have hands full of hlnodshed. Violence is rampant in the land. Uppres- slon of the weak is commotlplacc, For such al~usivc, self- ish people to pray to Jehwah and ask for blessln~s is nb sccnc. No wonder Jehovah says, "I am not liqtenlng"!

H In our day, Christendom has Ilkewlw fallcd to win God's fawr with her ceaseless repetltian of vain prayers and her other religious "woks." {Matthew 7:21-23) 'It is of vital importance that we do not fa11 into the same tsap. Occasionally, a Chiistian lapses inlo a pmctlce of seri- ous sin, thcn reasons that if he just hldcs what he is - H.. Whr~t crcnr does Christendom commit today, and bmu do some (:h~I~tlans fall Into n similar trap?

26 Isnlr~lr's Prophecy-Light for All Mnnkind 1

doing and jncreases his activity In the Chrlstlan congrega- tion, his deeds will somehow crrunterbalnnce his sln. Such forrnallstlc works do not please Jehovah. 'l'hcre is only onc cure for spiritual sickness, as the next verscs of Isaiah show.

The Cure far Spiritual Sickness 9 Jehovah, the compassinnate God, now shifts to a warm-

er, mnre appealing tone. "Wash yourselves; make your- selves clean; remove the badness of your dealings from in front of my eyes; cease fo do bad. Learn ilo do good; search for justice; set right the oppressor; render judgrnen t for the fatherless boy; pleod the cause of the widow." (Isaiah I : 16, 1 7 ) t-lerc we find a s t r I t ~ ~ uf nine imperatives, or com- mands. The first four are negative in the sense that they in- vollrc the remwal of sin; the last five am poqitiw actions t l int lead to receiving Jehovah's blessing.

lo Washing and cleanness have always been an impor- tant part of pure worship. {Exodus 19:10, 11 ; 30:20; 2 Co- rinthians 7:l) But Jehrwa h wants the cleansing to go deep- er, into the very heart of his worshipers. Most important is moral and spiritual cleanliness, and this is what jeh* vah wfers to, The first two commands in verse 16 are not mere repetition. A Hebrew grammarian suggests that the first, "wxh yourselve$,' rcfers to an initial act of cleansing, whercas the second, "make yourselves clean," refers to on- going cfforts to maintain that cleanness.

t We can hide nothfng from Jehovah. (job 34:22; Prov- erbs 153; Hebrews 4:13) So his command, 'Remove the badncss of your dealings from in front of my eyes," can only mean one thing-tu cease doing bad. 'That means not attempting to concea1 scrlous sins, for doing so is a sin in - 9, 10. Hnw Important i s cleanness In our ~vorshlp nf Jrhwah? 11. 'To ccombnt sin, what ahoul~l we do, and what shoultl we never do?

itself. Proverbs 28:13 warns: "He that is covering mr his transgressionf will not succeed, but he that is confessing and leaving them will he shown mercy."

12 Thcrc is much to learn from the positive actions that Jehovah commands in versc 17 of Isaiah chapter 1, No- tice that he drxs nat: merely say "do good" hut "I~am to do good." It takes personal study of God's Won1 to un- derstand what is good in Gael's eye? and to want to do it. Further, Jehovah does not merely say "render /ustlce" but "senrch for justice." Even experienced elders ncecl to make a thorough spaarch of God's Word in order to hnd rhc just coursc In some complcx matters, Theirs too is the respon- sibility to "set right the oppressor," as Jehovclh next corn- mands. These directives a r ~ . important to Christian shep herds today, for they want tn protea the flock from "oppressive waives."-Acts 20:28-30.

13 The hnal two commands Involve some of the more vulnerable of God's people-orphans and widows, The world is all too ready to take advantage of such inclivldu- als; this must not be so among I;odls people. Iflvln~ cltlers "render judpent" for the fatherless boys and girls In the congtegalion, hclpjng thcrn 10 receive justice and protec- tion in a world that wants to take advantage of them and corrupt them. Elders "plead t h e cause" of thc widow or, as the Hchrcw word can abo mean, " M e " in her khalf. Really, all Christians want to bc a source of refuge, com- fort, and justlce to the needy among us because they are prectoz~s to Jehovah,Micah 6:ft; James 1~27.

14 What a firm, positive message Jehovah conveys - 12. (a) Why Is It Important to *!@or17 tn do good"? (h) I lnw may cl- ders In parrlculnr apply the dlrectlwv to "search for Ii~stlcc" anti "set right thc opprersor"? 13. Hmv miaht we todw apply the commands reganling the lather- less boy anrl r hc wldnw? 14. What pnsltlve ~ n e s s a g Is conwycd at Isaiah 1:16, I77

28 Isoinli's Pml~ltt'ry-tl,~ht fhr All Mankind I

through these nine commands! Sometimes those in- volved In sin mnvince thernrelvcs, that it is simply beyond their power to do right. Such notions are discouraging. Moreover, they are wrong. Jehovah knows--and wants us tr) know-that with His help, any sl~lner can stop his sinful course, turn around, and do r f ~ h t Instead,

A Compassionate, Just Plea 15 Jehovah's tone now takes on wen greater warmth and

compassion, ""Come, now, you peopEe, ond let us set mat- ters straight between us, ' suys Jehovah, Though the sins af you people should prove to be as scarlet, they will be made white just like snow; though they should be red like crimson cloth, they will become even like wool.'" (lsrriah 1: 78) The Invitation thatopens this beautiful vcrse Ir oftcn misunder- stood. For example, 771~ Now lit$qlifsl~ HiEk says, "Lnt us ar- gue it out"--as if h t h sides must makc concessions to reach itn accord. Not so! Jehovah bcarr IFO fault, least of aII in his dealings with this rebellious, hypocritical people. (Deu- tcronomy 324, 5 ) The verse speaks, nnt at' a give-and-take cli~cusslon between equals, but of a forum to establish jus- tice. It is as if Jehovah lierc challeng~s Israel to a court trial.

16'That may be a daunting notlan, but Jehwah is the most merciful and mmpaqsionat~ Judg~, HIS capacity for fwrgiwness is unparalleled. (Ra trn 86:s) I-le alone can take Israel's sins that are "as scarlet" anrl cleanse them away, making them "white just Hke snow,'' No human effort, no formula of works, sacrlficcs, or prayers can remuve the stain of sin. Only Jehovah's forgiveness can wash sin away. God grants such forgiveness on terms that he sets, which include genuine, heartfelt repentance.

15. How 15 the phrase "let us s e t mmtea straight between 11s" some- tlrner misunderstood, and what docs It actually mean? 16, 17. How clo we know that Jehclvnh la wllll tig 2 0 forglw even se- rlous rlns?

"Lrr Us Trt Matters Straight" 29

17 SO important is this truth that lehovah repeats it in a poetic variation-"crimson" sins wlll hecome like new, un- dycti, white wool. Jehovah wants u~ to know that he truly Is the Farglver of sins, ewn.vcry serlous ones, as long as he finds us genuinely repentant, 'I'hosc who find It hard to believe that this is true in thcir awn casc do well m con- rldcr such examples as Manasbeh. HP sinned horribly-f~r yean. Yet, he repented and was forglvcn. (2 Chsonidcs 33: 3-16) Jchmah wants all of us, including thosc who have cumnrittecl serious sins, to know that It is not too !ate t~ "srt rnattcrs straight" with him.

18 Jchovah reminds his people that they have a choice to makc. "If you people show willingness and do listen, the good of the land you will eat But if you people refuse and are ac~uully rebellious, with a sword p u will be eaten up: for the very mouth of Jehovah has spoken it. " (Isaiah I : 7 9, 20) Plere Jehovah empharizcs attittldes, a d he uses an- other vivid figure of speech to drlvc his point home. Ju- dah's clloice is this: Eat or be eaten. I f thcy have an at- titude of willingness to listen to and obey Jehovah, they wlll cat the good produce of the land. Ilowewr, if they perslst In their rebellious attitude, they will be eaten-by the sword of their enemies! It =ems almoqt unimaginable that a people wouId chmse the sword of their enemies over the mercy and abundance of a forgiving God. Never- thcless, such is the case with Jerusalem, as the next verses oh Isaiah show.

A Dirge Over the Beloved City

19 At Isaiah 1:Zl-23, we see the lull extent of the wick- ednms of Jerusalem at this time. Isaiah now begins an

1 8 , What choice does Jehovah put before h b rehelliotts peop!e? 10, 20. (a) linw does Jehovah convey the sense of hetrayal that he reels? (h) In what way has 'righteousnes? lodged In Jerusalem'?

lnsplred pan in the style of a -, or lament: "0 how the hMh1 W n has become a prrrsartute! B e was fbli of Irudce; rlghmusna IWlf used bp we In ker, but now rnu&r~~."+ffIcrA 1:21, 20 Haw the dty, Jerusalem, has fallen! Once a faith-

ful wife, she has now become a prostitute. What could more p0mddLy convey the sense of betrayal and dlsap potntment that Jehovah feels? "Righteoum~~ i?a& used to lodge ia" this dt)? When? WeB, even Mm Israel exist- ed, back fnAbmhmts day, thh dty was d e d Salem. Over it ruled a man who was both h g and priest. His name, M e l M e k means 'Xing of Mghteousness," and it ePI- dently suited hkn well, (Hebrews 72; Genesis 14:1820] About 1,W pm after Melchlzedek, Jerusalem reached a

Us Set Matters Stmbhtx

peak, under the kingships of David and Solomon. "Rlgh- teousnes ibelf used to b e irk her," espedally when her

set the example for the p p B wdklng In Jeh* .8ah's ways. By Is&ah1s day, tb~ugh, such dmes are a db tantmemory. 21 It that the leaders among the people are a large

part of the problem. Isaiah goes on with hls lament: Tour d h Itref has bmme scumrily d w . bur wheat beer h $iIuM with wter. YourplSnm om mdpaitmts with e f i h . EwyonedthemisuEwarofa Mbeanda chaser h r g l h . Fw o hthetfas boy they do not ender fidgment. and e m the care ofa W w does not get a d m l w b them." (ism 1:22,23) ltva vMd mrd pic- tures in qulck succession set the tane for what must hl- low. The smith at his hw skhm the scummy d m from tfie molten silver and thrrvws it awq. Ismel's prhes and judges a~ Uke the dross, nd the silvler. They need to be tilarded They haw no mare use than k r that has been dilued with water and lost its flm. Such a beverage is M

to be pour& down the drain! 22%m 23 shows why the lead- deem such a de-

scriptton. The Ma& Law ennobled God's people, setting them apart from ather riatiam It did so, hr ample, by mandating the protection of arp- and widows @m- d m 2222-24) But in Isaiah's day, the fatherless boy kas Ift- tle h q e of any favorable judgment. As for the wldow, she m n n o t $ e t a n y o n e ~ t D ~ h e r ~ ~ ~ e , l e t & n e ~ ~ ha W, No, these judges and leaders am busy h k - ing after thdr own Interests-seeking b d b , chasing gi&, arrd swing as partnm to thiwes, evidently pmte- the mhmls w h i l e a l l ~ n g ~ e i r v i c t l m s t o s ~ . worse 21, 22. What Is ~tgnlfied by daKs and diluted bear, and why do Ju- @'s leadea merlt such a desdption?

32 I s n l a h * ~ J'rt~phrcy-l,l,plrt for AII Mnnkind I

yet, they are "stubbarn," or harclencd, in their course of wrongdoing. What a sorry state ol affairs!

Jehovah Will Refine His People 23 Jehwah will not tderstc such abuse of power forever.

lsaia h continues: 'Therefore the utteronce of the true Lord, jehowh af armies, the PowerFul One of Ismel, is: "Aha! I shall ~ l ;m myself of my adw~aries, and I will wenge my- self an my emies.'" (Isaiah f :24) Jehovah ir given three clesignations here, emphar izing his rightful lordship and his vast power. The exclamation "Aha!" I ikely signifies that Jehovah's pity is now mixcd with dctcrmination to a a upon his wrath. There i s certainly reason fur this.

24 Jehovah's OFW people have made themselves his ene- mies, They fully merit divine vengeance. Jehovah will "re- licvc," or rid, himself of them. Does this mean a complete, permanent obliteration of his name people? No, for Jeho- vah goes on to say "And i wi// turn back my hand upon you, and I shall smelt oway your scummy drass 0s with lye, and I will remove all your woste products." (Isaiah 1:25} Jehovah now uses the refining process ar an illustration. A refiner in ancient timm often added lyc to help separate the dross from the precious metal. In a similar way, Jeho- vah, who does not. we his p p l e as completely wicked, will: "chastise them to the proper degree.' He will remove f t r m them only the "waste proQ~cts"-the stubborn, un- desirable ones, who refuse tn learn nnd obey." (Jeremiah 46328) With these words, Isalah has the privilege of writ- ing down history in advance, -

The expression -1 will turn back my hand upDn you" rncanr that Je- hovah will shift from supporting htr pflple lo chastising them. - 23. What feelings toward hl! advcrsarler docs Jchnvah express? 24, What refining process ducs Jehovi~ll purpose klr his people?

ZSJehmrah did indeed refine his pcoplc, removing the scummy dross of corrupt leaders and ather rrbels. In 607 B.C.E., Iong after Isaiah's time, Jerusalem was de- stroyed and Its Inhabitants Ied off For the 70-year exile in nahylon, 'Phis in some ways parallels an actlnn God took much later. The prophecy at Malachi 3:l-5, wiWn long after the Babylonian exile, showed that Cdd would again do a refining work. It pointed to the time when Jehovah C ; d would come to his spiritual temple accompanied by his "rnes~engr of the covenant," ]e~us Christ. 'This evi- clently happened at the end of World War I. Jehwah in- spected all of those claiming to be Christians, sifting the true from the false. With what result7

26 Jehwah anwen: "1 will bring back again Judges for you as at the first, and counsdors for you az at the start. After this you will be called City d Righteousness, Faithful Town. With justice Zion herself wilt be redeemed, and those returning of her, with righteousness." (Isaiah 7:26,27) An- cicnt Jerusalem experienced an i nitlal lul f~llmcnt of this prophecy. After the exlles returned to Ihcir bcloved city In 537 B.C.E., there were once again faithful judges and counselors Hke those of the past. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah, the priest Joshua, the rcrihe Ezra, and the governor Zerubbabel all served to guide and direct the falthful returning remnant to walk in God's paths. How- ever, an even more important fulfillmcn t occurred in the 20 t h century,

27 Tn 1919, Jehovah's modern-day people emerged from the period of testing. They were delivered from spiritual

25. (a) How dld Jehovah refine hls pcoplc In 607 R.C.E.? Ib) When cttd Jehovah refine his people In modern tima? 26-28. (a) What initial fulfillment did Isaiah E:2b have? (h) Haw has thlq prophecy been fulfilled in our t i ~ t ~ e ? (t) I-low mlxht thls proph- ety I,cncfit elders today?

34 Isaiah's Pmplrecy-ilkh t pr AH Mankind I

ban* ta w o n the Great, the mdd empire of false rdlgion. The dktbction between that faithful anoinkd m m m t and the apmte clergy of CMstwdom bealme cleat. G d a@ blessed hla people, 'brhglq back for them judges and counselors*-faithful men who counsel God's peap1e according to his Word and not according to the traditions of men, lbdsy among the dfrnldshlng "lit- tle M' & their InawIrlg miIUons of "other shaep" companions* there are thousands af such mm,-Luke 12: 32; J o b la 16; JAah 32:1,2; 6Q 17; hl:3, 4.

Elders keep in mfnd that they do, on occasion, act as "w in the congregation in order to keep it mor- aIly and spbbdly clan and to coned mngdoers. They are d q l y conwmed with doing thlqp God's way, imitating bls merdful, - balanced sense of justice. In most mam, tho@, r t r q sem as ' ' W r s . " This) of m e , Is a farcrpfrombehgprfnms or Wt9, a ~ d they make m y effuxt nwer to give even the of It over those who are God's ~ t a n C e . " - l Peter 5:3.

29 Wbat abDutfhe udmtis" menlioned in thepmphecy of Isaiah? W M happas to those who refuse to Mefit from God's r&ament: pre - 29, 30. (a) What dm%Jehtntah pm nouncrr for thaw who refuse tn ben-

"asham& of thelt tee and gardens?

efrt from tbe r e f h i q p m 7 (b} In : what sense do t8c p p l e become

m? Isaiah mnthues: "And the crash of mdtm and Phrrt a f s i n f u l o ~ wlllbsutthewm~me, andtho=l&ng e h will came to their flnlsh. Fw they will be ushomed of thmightytnm Wyolrpeoplededn?4 d y o u will be abashed kcam of the gatdms that prr haw cho~en*" (lwiah 198,229) Those who m l t and sln against: Jeh* vah, ignoring the w m l n g r n q of his prophets until it is too late, do Indeed "crashu md "come tr, their fInlskH TbSs happens in 607 B,C,E, What, however, do thae refer- ences tu trees and gardens -? Jo The &dams have a persistent ptoblem with idolatry,

Trea, gardens, and gmm often f i p in their debased practim. For example, worshipws of Baal and hls mmrh Ash- believe that In the dry season, the two deitis are d& and W e d . To prompt them to a w a h and mate, briqtq W t y to the tand, the 1dolatlers gather to carry out p w k d sexual acts under "sacred" trees in grwes or in gardens. Wherl rolins and fertility come to the land, the false go& receive the credit the idolaters feel codrmed in their superstltlons, But when Jehevah brings the rebel- U r n idolaters to their crasMng finkh, no idol-gods pmsA them The rebels are "ashamed" of these Impotent t r ~ and gardens.

Tdolam Judeans face samethlq worse than sham, tho* Shifting the fllustratlon, Jehovah now likens the i d o i a t e r h h n s e l f t o a ~ . % u w l l l ~ l t k u M g h tfre Wage of whlch Is WEtherlng, and like u gatdm that hos no waWN (I~aIah 1:30) In the hot, dry c h a t e of the Middle East, ti& illustration is apt. No Wx or w e n an last hr long without a steady supply of waW. Dried up, such qetatton is espedally wlnerable to rire. Heace, the illustration In verse 31 follows natmily. - 31. What do the Idolaters face that is w o w than shams

36 Irrrinlt's Pwphrc!'- L f,ql~t /irr All ,Mnrtkintl I

'The vigorous mun will certainly become hw, rind the product of his activlly a spark; and both of them will cer- t ~ i n l y go up in f/ames ot the same time, with no one Eo do the extinguishing." (Isaiah F:37) W Ro I F this "vigor- ~ 1 1 s manJ'? The I4ehrew expression conveys the sense of strength and wealth. It likcly re& to thc psosperaus, self- assured follower of falw godq. In Isaiah's day, as in our own, t l i ~ r ~ is no sharta~e of men who rcjea Jehovah and 1115 pure worship, Somc even seem successful, Yet, Jeho- vah warns that such men will he like "low," coarse fiberr of flax so frail and dry Ihat they tear apart, a% it were, at the very smell of h e . Uud~cs 1 h:8, 9) The product oE the idol- ater's activity-whether hls IdoI-gods, his wealth, or what- ewr he worships in place of Jehovah-will bc like the ignit- ing "spark." Both spark and tow will he consumed, wiped out, In a fire that no nne can extlng'tllsh, No power in the unlverse can overturn Jehovah's perfect fuclgrnents.

33 IS this final message compatible with the message of mcrcy and forgivenes? In vcrse IS? By al l mcans! Jehovah has such warnings wrltken down and deliwed by his ser- vants k a m e he is merciful. After all, "he dws not desire any 10 he destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance." (2 IWcr 3 9 ) I t is the prlvllegc oaf every true Christian today to proclnlrn God"s warning messages to mankind so that repentant ones may hnefi t from his generous forgiveness and livc forever. How klnd it is on Jehovah's part to give mankind a chance to "set matters straight" with him be- fore it is toolate! - 32. [ i t ) Wlio is "the vlgomus inan" refermi to In verse 317 (b) In wliut scrac will he bemrnc "tow," what "spark" wlll Ignite him, and with what rcsult? 33. {;I) 1Iow do God's warnings of coming Iudpwnt also indicate hir mcrcyl Ib) What opportunliy i g Jehovah nnw extending to man- klntl, : ~ L I how dne\ ihls atieci each one ot us7

- -- - --

-- CHAPTLR - FOUR

Jehovah's House Lifted Up -

lsalah 2:1-5 -- - --

"THI;.Y shall beat their S W O T ~ ~ into plowshares. And their spears into prunlng hooks: nation shall not lift t ~ p sword against nation. Neither sllilll thcy learn war any mom." 'rhese worrls arc insmibed on a wall a t the United Nations plaza in Ncw York City. For dccades the soum of that qu& tation was not Identified. Slnce the aim of the UN Is ta work toward global peace, I t was easy to condude l hat the quote nrlglnatcd with the founcters of the UN, in 1945.

2 In 1975, however, the name Isaiah was chlselcd into the wall h i o w the quotation. It was then wtdcnt that the words wrrc not of modern origin, They were, In fact, re- corded as a prophecy over 2,700 years ago in what Is now the 2nd chapter of the hook of Isaiah. For mlllenntums lovers of pcacc have pondcrcd aver howt and when the things Isaiah foretold would occur, There is no longer any need ta wonder. Today we see hefore us the remarkable fulfillment ol this ancient prophecy.

3 Who are the nations that beat their swords Into plow- share$? Surely, they are not the modern-day politi- cal nations and governments. Until now thcsc nations haw dcvcloped sworcls, or weapons, both to wage war and to preserve "peaceJ9hrough strength, li any- thing, the tendency has always been for nations to beat --

1, 2. What words are inscsibctl on a wall a t the United Nntinns pla- za, and what l u their source'! 3. Who arc thc nations that heat thelr swnrds into plowshares?

38 Isuiah's Prophecy-Ll,fht for Al l M~rrrk l t id /

their plowshares into swords1 Isaiah's prophecy finds ful- fillment in representatives from all nations, people who worship Jehovah, "the God of peace."-Philipplans 4:9.

The Nations That Stream to Pure Worship 4 Isaiah chapter 2 begins with these words: me thing

that lsaiah the son of Amoz visioned concerning judah wnd lenrsolem: And it must occur h the h a i part of the days that the mountain of the house of lehovah will become firm& established above the top of the mountains, and it will certainly be lifted up above the hills; and to i t oil the nations must streom."-Isaiah 2:7,2.

5 Notice that what Isaiah foretells is not mere specula- Uon. Isaiah is directed to record wents that "mr~sl occur" -without fail. Whatever Jehovah purposes has "certain success." (Isaiah 55:ll) Evidently to give emphasis to the reliability of his promise, God insp i~d the prophet Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah, to record in his book the same prophecy that is set out at Isaiah 2:2-4.-Micah 4 1-3,

6 When is Isaiah's prophecy to be fulfilled? "In the final part of the days." The New Inkrnational Version reads: "In the last days." The Christian Greek Scriptures foretold features that wouId identify this period. Included among them are wars, earthquakes, pestilences, food shortages, and "critical fimes hard to deal with."' (2 'I'irnothy 3: 1 -5; Luke 21:SO, II) The fulfillment of such prophecies gives abundant Wzdence that ~ v e ace living "in the final part of the days," the last days of this present world system. h i -

* See the b k Knowledge Thnt Ccads to Everlasling Lift?, chaptcr 1 I, "These Are the Last Days!," published by the Watchtower Bil,lc nnd Tract Society of Nav York, Inc.

4, 5 . What do the opening verses of lsaiah chapter 2 foretell, and what underscum the reliability of those words? 6. When dws Isaiah's prophecg find h~lf~llrnent?

cally, then, we would expect to sec fulfilled In nur time the thlngs that Isalah foretold.

A Mountain in Which to Worship 7 In a few words, Isatah paints a YMd prophetic picture.

We see a lofty mountain, cmwned by a glorious house, the temple of Jehovah. This mountain towers above sur- rounding mountains and hills. Yet, it is not foreboding or Intimidating; it Is appealing. Peoples of all nations yearn to ascend to the mountain of the house of Jehovah; they .qfrentn to it. 'This is easy to visualize, but what does it mean?

.tr In Isaiah" day h113s and mountains are often assaciat- ed wit11 wnrshlp. For example, they serve as sites for idola- trous worship and for sanauaries of false god!,. (Deuteron- omy 122; Jr?rem !ah 3:6} Id owever, the house, or temple, of Jehovah adorns the summit of Mount Moriah in Jerusa- lem. Rlthfi~l Israelites journey to Jerusalem three times a year and ascend Mount Moriah to worship the true God. (L)eutcronomy 1ci:lh) So thc streaming of the nations tn "the rnountaln of the house of Jehovah" pictures the jiatherlng of many peoples to true worship. 9 Today, of course, W ' s people do not gather at a liter-

al mountain with a temple of stone. Jehovah's tempIe in Jerusalem was destroyed by Roman armies in 70 C.E. Be sides, the apostle Pau I made it clear that the temple in Je- rusatem ant1 the tabernacle that preceded it werv pictorial They represcntcd a greater, spiritual reality, "the m e tent, which JehovaI~ put up, and not man." (Hebrews 8:2) That - .- 7. What pmphetlc plctuw does Isaiah paint? 8. (a) With what are hills and mountains associated in Isaiah'sm? (h) What dms t hc stmmlng of the nations to "the mountain OF the housc of J c h m h " picture? 4. What tines "the mountaln of the house of Jehovah" represent?

42 Isaiah's Prophecy-Llght for AII Mankind I

has exdted his worship heaven b h , above all forms of unclean worship, yes, far above all "the kills" and "the top of the mountains." How so? Largely through the gather- ing together af those who want to worship him "with spir- it and truth."-John 4:23.

12 Christ Jesus referred to "a conclusion of a system of things" as a time of harvest when the angels would gath- er in "the sons of the kingdomw-those with the hope of ruling with Jesus in heavenly glory. (Matthew 13:36- 43) Since 1919, Jehovah has empowered "the remaining ones" of these sons to share with the angels in the harvest work. (Revelation 1217) Thus to start with, "the sons of the kingdom," Jesus' anointed brothers, are the ones gath- ered. Then they share in a further gathering work.

13 During this time of harvest, Jehovah has progressive- ly helped the anointed remnant to understand and apply his Word, the Bible. This too has contributed to the ele- vating of pure worship. Though 'darkness itself covers the earth, and thick gloom the national groups,' the anointed are "shining as illuminators" among humankind, having been cleansed and refined by Jehovah. (Isaiah 60:2; Philip- pians 2:15) "Filled with the accurate knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension,'' these spirit- anointed ones "shine as brightly as the sun in the h g - dom of their Father."-Colossians 1:9; Matthew 13:43.

14 Moreover, others have streamed to "the mountain of the house of Jehovah." Called by Jesus his "other sheep,"

12. Who are ?he sons of the kingdom," andwhat gathering has tak- en place? 13. How hs Jehovah blessed the anointed remnant? 14, 15. In addition to the gathering of *the sons of the kingdom," what ingathering has taken place, and how was this foretold by Hag- gai?

F

Jehovah's Ifouse Liffed Up

these have the hope of living forever on a paradise earth. (John 10:16; Revelation 21:3, 4) Starting in the 19301s,

1 they appeared by the thousands, then by the hundreds of thousands, and ncrw by the millions! In a vision given to the apostle John, they are described as "a great crowd, which no man was able to number, out of all ~lations and tribes and peoples and tongues."-Revelation 7:9.

15 Thr prophet Haggai foretold the appearance of this great crowd. He wrote: "This is what Jehovah of armies has said, Yet once-it is a little while-and I am rocking the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry ground.

I And I will rock all the nations, and the desirable things of all the nations [those who join anointed Christians in

I pure worship] must come in; and I will fill this house with glory,' Jehovah of armies has said." (Haggai 25 , 7)

1 The existence of this still-growing "great crowd and their I anointed companions elevates, yes glorifies, pure worship

in Jehovah's house. Never before have so many been re- corded as united in the worship of the true God, and this brings glory to Jehovah and his enthroned King, Jesus Christ. King Solomon wrote: "In the multitude of people there is an adornment of a king."-Proverbs 1428.

Worship Exalted in the Lives of People 16 Jehovah deserves all credit for the elevating of pure

worshp in our time. Still, those who approach him are privileged to share in this work Just as it requires ef- fort to climb a mountain, so, too, it requires effort to learn of and live according to God's righteous stan- dards. L~ke Christians in the first century, God's servants today have left behind life-styles and pxackices that are

16-18. What changes have some made so as to worship Jehovah ac- ceptably?

44 Isaiah's Pruphecy-Lixht for All ,Udnkind I

not compatible with -true worship. Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, thieves, greedy persons, drunkards, and oth- ers have changed their ways and been "washed dean" in God's sight.-1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

17 Typical is the experience of ane young woman who wrote: "I once was lost with no hope. I lived a life of im- morality and drunkenness. I had sexual diseases. I also sold dmgs and just didn't cam about anything." After studying the Bible, she made major changes in order to conform to God's standards. Now she says: "I enjoy peace of mind, self-respect, a hope for the future, a real famiIy and, best of all, a relationship with our Father, Jehovah."

18 Even after coming to an approved standing before Je- hovah, all must continue to elevate pure worship by gv- ing it a place of prominence in their lives. Thousands of years ago, through Isaiah, Jehovah expressed his confi- dence that there would be multitudes today eager to make his worship the most important thing in their lives. Are you among them?

A People Taught Jehovah's Way 19 Isaiah tells us more about those who embrace pure

worship today. He says: "Many peoples will certainly go andsay: 'Come, you people, and let us go up to the moun- tain of lehovuh, to the house of the Cod of ]acob; and he will instruct us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths.' for out of Zion law will go forth, and the ward of Je- hovah out of]erusalern."-lsaiah 2:3.

20 Jehwah does not let his people wander about Me Iost sheep. Through the Bible and Bible-based publications, he imparts to them his "law" and his "word so that they

19, 20. What are God's people taught, and where?

Jchovnh's House Lifted Up 45

Iearn his ways. This knowledge equips them to "walk in his paths." Out of hearts filled with appreciation and in harmony with divine direction, they speak to one anoth- er about the ways of Jehovah. They gather together at large conventions and in smaller groups-at Kingdom Halls and in private homes-so as to listen to and learn the ways of God, (Deuteronomy 31:12,13) Thus they imitate the pat- tern of the early Christians, who met together to eenour- age and incite one another to abound in "love and h e works."-Hebrews 10:24,25.

21 They invite others to "go up" to the exalted worship of Jehovah God. Haw well this harmonizes with the com- mand Jesus gave to his disdples just before his ascension to heaven! He told them: "Go therefore and make dirci- ples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have com- manded you." (Matthew 28:19, 20) With &vine backing, Jehovah's Witnesses obediently go throughout the earth, teaching and making disciples, baptizing them.

Swords Into Plowshares

22 NOW we come to the next verse, part of whch is in- scribed on the wall at the LN plaza. Isaiah writes: "He will certaip1ly render judgment among the nations and set mat- ters stmight respecring many peoples. And they will have t~ beut their swords into plowshares and their speors into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against na- tion, neither will they learn war anymore."-Isaiah 2:4.

21. In what work do Jehovah's servants share? 22, 23. What does Isaiah 2:4 foretell, and what did oae UN official say about it?

46 Isnla11's Pmph~cy-I.l+yht fhr Ail Mnrr kltlrl 1

23 TO achieve thjs would be no small accomplishment. Fedetico Mayor, director-general of the United Nations Ed- ucational, Scientific, and Cultural Organiir,ition, once said: "All the obscenities of war, brought home to us nowadays by audio-visual equipment, do not seem able to halt the advance of the huge war machine set up and maintained aver many centuries, Resent generations llavc the al- most impossible, Biblical task of 'bcatlng their swords Into ploughshares' and making the transition from an Instinct for war-developed since time immemorial-to a feeling for peace. To acheve this would bc the hert and most noble act that the 'glob- al village' could accom- plish, and the best lega- cy to our descendants."

24The nations as a whale will never achieve this lofty goal. It is sim- ply beyond their reach. Isaiah's words are ful- hlltd by individuals from many nations, who are united in pure wor- ship. Jehovah has "set matters straight" among them. He has taught his people to live at peace with one another. Truly, in a divided and strife-ridden world, l ticy have f gl~ratlvely beaten their "swords into plowshares and ttielr sl?can into pruning shears." HOW?

24, 25. In whom do Isaiah's, words hnd lulftllrncnt, and In what way?

25 For one thing, they do nnt take stdes in the wars of the nations. Shortly before Jesus' dcath, armed men came to arrest him. When I'etcr lashed out with a sword to defend his Master, Jesus said to him: "Return your sward to its place, for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword." (Matthew 26352) Slnm then, Jesus' footstep fol-

I

lowers have beaten thelr swords Into plowshares and have

1 refrained from takin~ up weapons lu kill thelr fellow man and from supporting war eflorts in othcr ways, 'I'hey "pur- sue peace with all penple."-Hcbrcws 12: 14.

I Purst~ing the Ways of Peace 26The peace of God's people p;m Far beyond a refus-

I a1 to engage in inarfilte. 'l'hough they arc found in more than 230 lands and represent muntluss Pan&vages and cul- tures, they enjoy peace with one another. In thcm is found a modern fulfillment of tlie wnrds nf Jesus, who said to his disciples in the first century: "Ry this all will know that you are my disciples, if YOLI 1'1avc IOVC among your-

I selves." Uolm 13:35) Chrlstlans today are "peacemakers." I (Matthew 59, footnote) 'I'hey "seek pcacc and pursue it."

(1 Peter 311) Sustaining them Is Jehovah, "the Gad who gives peace."-Ramans 15:33.

27There are dramatic examples of those who have learned to be peacemakers. A young man writes of his ear- ly life: "Hard experience taught me how to defend myself. It made me t o u ~ h and angry ahotit life. I would always end up in fights. L-ch clay, I would fight, a different kid in the neighborl~ood, sometimes with fists, soinetlrnes with rocks or bottles. I grcw up being very vlnlent." Eventual- ly, however, he responderl to the invitation to go to "the

26, 27. How do God's pnple "seek pew" nntl pursue it"? G i w an example.

48 fsaiah's Prophecy-Light pr All Munkind I

mountain of the house of Jehovah." He learned God's ways and became a peaceable servant of God.

28 Most of Jehovah's w a n t s do not come from such a violent background. Still, wen in relatively small things -am of kindness, forgiveness, and empathy-they strive to promote peace with athers. Nthough imperfect, they endeavor to apply the Bible's counsel to "continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another frwlv t f anyone has a cause €or complaint against another."-Co- lossians 3: 13.

A Future of Peace 29 Jehovah has done a marvelous thing in this 'It he final

part of the days." He has gathered from all natjons people who want to serve hi. He has taught them to walk In hls wayi, ways of peace. These are the ones who will survive the coming "great tribulation" and pass into a peaceful new world in which war will be abolished forever.-Reve- lation 7:14.

30 Swords-weaponry-will be no more. The psalmist wrote of that time: "Come, you people, behold the actlvi- ties of Jehovah, how he has set astonishing events on the earth. He is making wars to cease to the extremity of the earth. The bow he breaks apart and does ctlt the spear In pieces; the wagons he burns in the fite." (Balm 46:8,9) In vkew of such a prospea, Isaiah's f01laving exhortation is as appropriate t day as it was when he mte it: "0 men of the house of Jacob, come orid jet us walk in the tight of jehowrh." (Isaioh 2:s) Yes, let JehwaWs light iflunr~nate our path now, and we will walk in his way for all eternity. -Micah 45. - 28. What can Christians do to pursue peace? 29, 30. What prospect ir there for the earth?

CHAPTER FIVE

Jehovah Humiliates Self-Exalted Ones

DISGUSTED with the condition of Jerusalem and judah, the prophet Isaiah now turns to Jehovah God and declares: "You hove forsaken your people, the house of Jamb." (150-

Tah 2:do) What has provoked Gad to reject thc people whom he himself had chosen as his "spcial property"? -Deutcmnomy 14:2,

2 Isaiah's denunclatlon of the Jews of his time is of great Interest to tu. Why? Because the condition of Christendom tcxlay Is very similar to that of Isaiah's people, and so is thc judgment that Jehoval~ pronounces. Paying attention to Isala11's proclamation will give us a clear understanding of what God condemns and wlll help us to shun practices that he disapproves of. With keen anticipation, then, let u s conslrlcr Jrhwah's prophetic word as recorded at Isaiah 2:6-4:l.

In Pride They Bow Down 3 Confessing the error of his people, Isaiah says: 'They

hwe become f d of what is h m the Emt, and they are practicers of mogk like the PhiEistines, and with the chi!- &en of brelgners they abound.'' (kuioh 2:bb) Some 800 years carlier, Iehc>val~ had con? rnanded his chosen people: "Do not make yourselves unclean hv any of these things

1, 2. Why Lq the pmphetic message of Isaiah to the Jews of his d q of Intcrcqt tn us'! 3. What crror r,F hls people does Isaiah confess?

Idols, rlchw, and military p m m s do not saw lemsaIetn on the day of lehowh's judgment

which] the nations whom 1 am sen& ~ o u t m ~ p ~ R l & d e t h ~ selves tmdwnmR tJ.mltttctx~ 18:243 Concern- - fng those whom he had selected as his spedal

r powI Jehovah far& B a b n ta say: "Fmm the top of the rocks I see them, and from the Mils I behold them mere as a W I e they keep tabemading isolared, and among rhe mti- they do not reckon lNumbers m9, LZ) Yet, by W s d q Jehovah's chosen ones haw adoped the abominable pracdm of the sur- Iounding nationsand are "fullof what Is from the East" Rather than putt@ faith in Jebcwah and his word, they are pm3idng 'magic like the FWstlaes." Far from heep Ing separate fmm the nations, the land 'abounds' with "the rhil- of hr&gntrsJ'-doubtless, foreigners who in. troduse ungodIy ~ ~ B S to Gsd's people,

4 Nattng the m n t m n m i c prusplty and the dl- ltwy stmgth d JW under King Uzzhh, Isaiah states: Vt&lcrndbWwithdkandgdd,rrndthstrrk~U~~- k b W r ~ u ~ e s . A r l d ~ r l a n d l s ~ ~ h o r s e s , m d thew k mr Umtt ib W r Chad&.' (Isubh 2:7) DO the ple thank Jei~wah fur such W t h and millmy strength? (2 Qwmlclm 26Cl, 6-15) Par ~OIII it1 ZnsWd, they p t their trust in the wealth itaelf and turn m v ~ from its Source, Jehovah Gadt The nsult? %eIr Imd fs #lkd wM w i ~ i e s gods. To the wlork: af one's hanB they bow down, to that which me's angers mode, And ear&/hg m c l ~

4. Wher than awing to thank Jehovah, how do riches and muitary S-Igth a f f e the J-7

bamdom,andmrrnbsccutseshw,avtdyou~~~nnotp- sib& pardon m." (lu1Irrh 2:4 9) They turn their faces away fmn the livIng God and bow d m to Ufeless idols.

Bowing dawn can be a sign of humility. &It bowing d m to lifeless thhgs is futlle, making the Idol worship er nkow: degenerate. Haw can Jehovah pardon such a sin? What wllI these idolaters do when Jehovah d s them to account?

'Haughty Eyes Must Become Low' 6Mahoontlnw: u E n t e r i & t h s r o d c d h l d e ~

in the dust because of the dmdhlnas of jehmh, a d trwn Ms s p W # wpkdty.." ( i d a h 2:IO) But no nock willbebigenoughtopmtectthem, nocoverthickenough to mncd them, from Jehwat.1, the Almighty, When he comes to execute his judgment, MHte haughy e p of ewihihg man must k o m low, and the loi3nas of men mustbow tibwtq andjehowh afonemmcst beputon h/gh h &at duy."-Is~tah 2: 71, 7 me day belong/n$ b ]e#tovrrh of umies" is coming. It

wiir be a time br God to express his anger 'upon ali ~e ce- b r r ~ s o f & h m thatarelotlycmdlhdup~mdupor~ a# themask ~ o f ~ ~ a n d u p m lrllthsloftymun- ~ ~ ~ m d u p o n d 1 t k e h t l k ~ m l W u p ; d u p o n e m y h ~ ~ a n d u p n e w y f o d ~ ~ a v r d u p o n a# ths ship of T d h h and U P ~ J I dl & I d bwk" (1- icrh 2~72-76) Yes, msy organization r&ed up by man as a symbol of his pride and wwy ungdy individual will be given attendm in the day of Jehwahls wrath. Thus, "the haughtiness of the wrthIIng mun must bow down, and the - 5. W y Is bowing down c idols not an act of humillQ? 6, 7. (a) What happens tu ~ l ~ t c d o m on the day d Jehovah's iudgment? (b) Upon what and whom da# Jehovah express his m- get, and why?

52 Isniah's Prophecy-Light f o ~ AII Mallkind I

loftiness of men must become low; and]ehovah alone must be put on high in that day."-Isaiah 2: 1Z

8 The foretold day of judgment comes upon the Jews in 607 B.C.B. when Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar de- stroys Jerusalem, The inhabitants see their beloved city aflame, its proud buildings demolished, its mighty wall smashed. The temple of Jehovah is reduced to rubble. Neither their treasures nor their chariots amount to any- thing on "the day belonging to Jehovah of armies." And their idols? I t happens just as Isaiah foretells: '5% value- less gods themselves will pass away completely. " (Isaiah 2: 78) The Jews-princes and mighty men included-are tak- en into exile to Babylon. Jerusalem is to Iie desolate for 70 years.

9 How similar the condition of Christendom is to that of Jerusalem and Judah in Isaiah's day! Christendom has cer- tainly cultivated a close relationship with the nations of this world. She is an enthusiastic supporter of the United Nations and has filIed her house with idols and unscriptur- a1 practices. Her adherents are materialistic and put their confidence in military might. And do they not view their clergy as worthy of great distinction, attributing to them titles and honors? Christendom's self-exaltation will with- out fail be brought to nothing. But when?

The Impending "Day of Jehovah" 10 The Scriptures point to a "day of Jehavah" that will be

of far greater significance than the day of judgment upon ancient Jerusalem and Judah. The apostle Paul, under in- spiration, associated the coming "day of Jehovah with the - 8. How doe5 the foretold day of judgment come upon JerusaIern in 607 B.C.E.? 9. In what way i5 the condition of Chr~stendom similar to that of Je- rusalem and Jltdah in Isaiah's day? 10. To what "day of Jehovah" do the apostles I'aul and Peter point?

{ehovah Humiliates Self-Exalhd Ones 53

presence of the enthroned King Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalo- nians 2:1,2) Peter spoke of that day in connection with the establishment of 'new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness is to dwell.' (2 Peter 31CL13) It is the day on which Jehovah will execute his judgment upon the entire wicked system of things, including Christendom.

fl "Alas for the day," says the prophet JoeI, "because the day of Jehovah is near, and like a despoiling from the Al- mighty One it will come!" In view of the imminence of that "day," should not security during that fear-inspiring time concern everyone? "Who can hold up under it?" asks Joel. He answers: "Jehovah will be a refuge for his people." (Joel 1:lS; 211; 3:16) Will Jehovah God be a refuge for those who have a haughty spirit and who put their confi- dence in riches, military might, and man-made gods? Im- possible! God abandoned even his chosen people when they acted in this way. How vital that all of God's servants "seek righteousness, seek meekness," and examine seri- ously the place of Jehovah's worship in their lives!--Zeph- aniah 22 , 3.

"To the Shrewmice and to the Bats" 12 How will idol worshipers view their idols during Jeho-

vah's great day? Isaiah answers: "People will enter into the caves of the rocks and into the holes of the dust because of the dreadfulness of jehovah and from his splendid superior- ity, when he rises up for the earth to suffer shocks, In that day rhe earthling man wiII throw his worthless gods o f ril- ver and his vuiueless gods of gold. . , to the shrewmice and to the bats, in order to enter into the holes in the rocks and

11. (a) Who will "hold up under" the upcoming "day of Jehovah"? (b) How can we make Jehovah our refuge? 12, 13. Why is it f~tting for the idol worshipers to thow thelr gods *'to the shrewmice and to thc bats" on the day of Jehovah?

into the clefts of the crags, because Of the dreadfuinw of jehmh dnd from his spiendld ruprlariq when he rises up for the earth bo suffer shocks, For your own sakes, hkeM ofi k.om the w&Iity man, whose breath is 1~ his nostriis, for on Wqt basis is be himself fo be token intu account?"-tsa- id 2: 19-22.

13 Shrewmice live in holes in the ground, and bats roost in dark and desolate caves. Moreaver, whae a large num- ber sf bats raost in ane place, these is a repulsive smdI and a buildup of thick layers of w i n g s . Casting- idols into such places is fitting. A place of darhess and uncleamas is all that they dedesem. Ps for the people, they witl seek refuge in am and clefts in the rock on the day of Jehc- vah3 judgment. So t h ~ f i t@ of the idols and their worship- ers will be the same. True ta Isaiah's prophecy, lifeless id& saved neither their wunhiplers nor Jerusalem 'from Metsu- chah-9 hands in 407 3,C.E.

14 During the cuming day af JehmWs judgment upon Chrismdam and other se&mm~ of the worid emplrte of false. religion, *hat w i I I pop3-e do? Faced with detetiumt- ing cbpditions wth wide, mast will likely come to realkz that their Idols are valueless. In pIsrce of these, they may well seek refuge and pmtdon in ~ ~ i x i t l f a l , earthly organhatlam, -haps including the United Nations, the ~ ~ ~ l e t a l o m l wiId beast'' of k l a t i o n chapter 17. It is "W ten horn" ~ 3 f that qmbl i c wild beast +.hat will d s s q Babylon the Greatj the world empin of fabe digion, of which ChrWndorn is a s i p i f ~ c m t part-Revelation 17: 3, 8-12, 16, 17.

14. During the upcoming day ofjehovah's judgment upan the wodd empire of Qlse religion, What wiI1 mddly-minded men do?

On "He dojr of jehovahIR the warId empire of false religion wjll he devastated

56 Isaiah's Prophecy-Light fo~A11 Mankind I

15 AIthough the devastating and burning of BabyIon the Great may be the direct work of those symbolic ten horns, it is, in fact, the execution of Jehovah's judgment, Concern- ing Babylon the Great, Revelation 18:8 states: "That is why in one day her plagues will come, death and mourning and famine, and she will be completely burned with fire, be- cause Jehovah God, who judged her, is strong." So to Jehc- vah God, the mighty , goes the credit for liberating man- kind from domination by false religion. As Isaiah states, "Jehovah done must be put on high in that day. For it is the day belonging to Jehovah of armies."-Isaiah 2: llb, 12a.

'Leadexs Are Causing You to Wander' 16 For a human society to be stable, it must have

its "support and stayn-such necessities as food and wa- ter and, more important, trustworthy leaders who are able to guide the people and maintain social order. Concern- ing ancient Israel, though, Isaiah foretells: "Look! the twe Lord, jehovah of armies, is removing from lerusalem and from judah support and stay, the whole support of bread and the whole suppor-l of wates, mighty man and warrior, judge and prophet, and practicer of divination and elder- ly man, chief of fifty und highly respected man and coun- selor and expert in magical am, and the skilled charmer." (Isaiah 3:73) Mere boys will become princes and rule ca- priciously. Not onIy will the rulers oppress the people but "the people will actually tyrannize one over the other. . . They will storm, the boy against the old man, and the light- /y esteemed one against the one to be honored. " (Isaiah 3: 4,s) Children "storm" against their elders, lacking respect for them. So low will be the condition of life that one will say to another who has no qualification for rulership: "You

15. How will Jehovah alone "be puton high" In his day of judgment? 16. (a) What constitute the "support and stay" of a human society? (b) How will Isaiah's people suffer f r o m the removal of the "support and stay" of their society?

Iehova h Humiliates Sclf-Exalted Ones 57

have a mantle. A dictator you ought to become to us, and this overthrown mass should be under your hond. " (Isaiah 3:6) But the ones thus invited wdl refuse, insisting that they have neither the ability to heal the wounded land nor the wealth to handle the responsibility. They will say: "I shall not become a wound dresser; and in my house there is neither bread nor a mantle. You men must not set me as dictator over the people."-isaiah 3.2

17 Isaiah continues: ")erusalem has stumbled, and judah itself has fallen, because their tongue and their dealings are against lehovah, in behaving rebelliously in the eyes o f his glory. The very expression of their faces actually testifies against them, and of their sin like that of Sodom they do tell. They have not hidden it. Woe to their soul! For they have dealtout to themselves calamity." ((Isaiah 3:8,9) God's pe+ ple have rebelled against the true God in words and deeds. Even the shameless and unrepentant expressions on their faces expose their sins, whch are as disgusting as those of Sodom. They are in a covenant with Jehovah God, yet he will not change his standards for them. "It will be well with the righteous one, for they will eat the very fruitage o f their dealings. Woe to the wicked one!-Calamity; for the treat- ment rendered by his awn hands will k rendered to him! As for my people, its task assigners are dealing severely, and mere women aactudy rule over i t 0 my people, those lead- ing you on are causing you to wander, and the way of your paths they have con fused."-lsaiah 3: 10- 12.

18 To the elders and the princes in Judah, Jehovah 'passes sentence' and 'enters into judgment': "You yourselves have

17, (a) In what sense was the sin of Jerusalem and Judah "like that of Sodom"? (b) Whom does Isaiah blame for the condition of his people? 18. (a) What judgment does Jehovah pronounce upon the elders and the princes of Isaiah's day? (b) What lesson do we learn from Je- hovah's judgrncnt of the elders and the princes?

58 Isaiah's Propk~y-Light faa All Mankirnd I

burned dowrr the vineyard. What wus takn by robbery fPom the affticted cme is in your houses. What do p u men mean in that you crush my people, and that you grind the very fates of the afflicted ones?" {lsaiah 3: 73- 15) Instead sf working Em the welfare of t he people, leaders engage in de- ceitful practices. They misuse their authority by enriching themselves and depriving the poor and needy, But these leaders must answer ta Jehovah of armies for their qpres- sion of the afflicted, What a warning this 9s to those in pc- sitions of responsibility today! May they be ever careful not to misuse their authoriry.

19 Christendom-particularly her clergy and principal ones-has fraudulently acquired much that should belong to t h e common people, &torn she has oppressed and con- tinues to oppress. She has also beaten, persecuted, and md- treated the people of God and has brought great reproach upon Jehovah's name. In his due time, Jehovah will cer- tainIy enter into fudgment against her,

"A Brand Mark Instead of Prettinesst'

After denouncing the wrongs of the leaders, Jehavah turns to the women of Zion, or Jerusalem. Apparently for reasons of fashion, "the daughters of Zim" wear "step chains"-chainlets fastened to their ankles-which make a melodious tin- kling sound. The women ws&ict their stride and walk along "with tripping steps, " rultivat- ing what might be considered a genteel fem- inine gait. What, if anything, is wrong with -

19. Of what oppression and persecution lias Chris- tendom been guilty? 20. Why does Jehovah denounce "the dayghters of Zion"? 4 ' I

Jehovah Humiiiafes SeIf-exaIted Ones 59

this? It is the attitude af these women. Jehovah says: 'The dough ten of Zion have become haughty and they walk with their throatr stretched forth nnd ogling with their eyes. (Clsa- iah 3: 16) Such haughtiness does not escape retribution.

21 Hem, when Jehovah's judgment comes u p n the land, these haughty "daughters of Zlon" will lose every- tMng+ven the beauty of which they are so proud, Jehu- vah prophesies: "Jehovah also wjil actrruIiy make the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion scabby, and jehovah himself wil! lay their wty forehead bare. In that day jehe vah will take away the beauty of the bangles and the head- bands and the moon-sha ed ornammts, the eardrops and the bmcelets and the w f Is, the headdfesses and the step chains and the bmsrbnds and the 'houses of the soul' Iprobably perfume receptacles] and the ornammtal hum- ming shells [or, charms], the finger rings and the nose dngs, the robes ofshte and the mrtutlics and the dmks and the purses, and fhe hand mirrors and the undfergarmenb and the turbans and the large veils." [Isuiah 3:77-23; see hot- notes.) What a tragic reversal!

The plophetic message goes on ta say: "Instead of bal- sam oil there wiii come to be rnerdy a musty smerl; and in- steed of a belt, a rop; and fnstead af an artistic hair ar- rangement, baldness; and instead of a rich garmenl, a girdiy of saclfrlotk; a brand murk instead of prettiness." (Isaiah 3:24) In 607 BC.E., the proud women of Jerusalem fall from wealth to poverty. They lase their freedom and re- ceive "a b m d mark" of slavery

"She Will Certainly Be Cleaned Out" 23 Speahng now to the city of Jerusalem, Jehwah

21. Haw does Jehovah's judgment of Jerusalem afhx? the Jewish women? 22. Besida their o r r ~ ~ ~ e n t s , what else do the women of Jemdalem lase? 23. What does Jehovah prodaim concerning Jerusalem?

proclaims: "By the sword your own men will full, and your mightiness by war. And her entrances wjl have to moum and express sorrow ond she wit/ ccertulnty be cfeaned out. She will sit down on the very wrth." (Isaiah 3:25, 26) The nlcn ol' Jerusalem, even her mighty nnes, will t ~ e slain in hattle. 'The city will be leveled lo l.he ground. Fur "her en- trances," it will be a time b "mourn ancE cxpress sorrow." Jcn~salem W11 be "cleaned out" and laid derolate.

24 The loss of men by the sword will have drastic con- sequences for the women of Jcmsalern. Concluding this part nf his prophetic book, Isaiah tnretells: "Seven wom- en will uctuaEly grab hold of one man In that day, say- ing: We shall eat our own bread and wear our own man- tles; only may we be caljed by your name to mke away our reproach.'" (Isaiah 4: 1 ) The shortage of marriageable men will become so severe that several women will attach themselves to one man in order to be ci~lled by his name -that is, to be publicly known as his wives-and thus be frcc of the reproach of beinl: without a husband. The Mo- saic Law required that a husband provldc sustenance and clnthlng for his wife. (Exodus 21 :I 0) I-lowever, agreeing to 'cat their own bread and wear their own clothing,' these women are willing to release the man hum his legal obli- gations. What a desperate situation for Ihe once tlaughty "daughters of Zion"!

2.T Jehovah hud ia t e s self-exalted ones, In 607 B.C.E., he does Indeed make the haughtiness of his chosen people "how clown" and cause their "loftiness" to become "low." May true Christians never forget thal "Chd opposes the haughty ones, but he g i w undcserv~d kindness to the hurnMe ones."-James 46.

2 4 . Thc loss of men by thesword has what cfrit~tSc consequences for the wtmen of Jerusalem? 25. What Is in the ofing for self-exr~ltccl rmes?

1 CHAPTER SIX

Jehovah God Has Mercy on a Remnant

--- - Isaiah 4:2-6 - -- --

I A VIOl,EW storm descends upon a densely populard re- gion. Strong winds, torrential rains, and heavy finding

1 cut a wldc swath through the land, dcstroylng homes, darna~lng crops, and claiming llves. I311t so011 the storm passes, and In its aftermath a perlod of calm scts in. For those who have survived, it is a time for restoratinn and re- bui lcling.

1 2 The prophet Tsaiah foretells something st rnilar concern-

I Lng Jr~dah and Jerusalem. The storm cloud4 of divkne tuclg- mcnt are moving ominously closer-anrl with goad rea- snn! The guilt of the nation i s heavy. Both the rulers and the people have filled the land Wth Injustice and bEood- shed. 'Through Isaiah, Jehovah lays bare Judah's guilt and warns that He will execute judgment on that delinquent nation. (Isaiah 3:25) The land of J ~ ~ d a h will be left com- pletely desolate in the wake of this storm. That prospect must sadden Isaiah.

1 3 Rut there is good news! The storm of Jehovah's righ- teous judgment will pass, and a remnant wlll survive. Yrs, Jehovah's judgment of Judah will be tempered with

1, 2, The prophet Isaiah faretells what mncrrnlng ludith and Jeru- satcm? 3. Whnt goocl news does the inspirccl mcssanr o t lsalah 4:Z-6 con- raln7

IsdaP's h p h q - L l g h t fbr All Mankind I

maql Isaiah's lnsplred rn- m e d at Isaiah 4:M 1& ahead lo thls blessed time. It is as if the s u n breaks out horn W n d the douds; the mne shifts frwn the sights and m d s of judgment+bdxd at Isaiah 26 41-to a beaddly renewed h d andfwople.

4 Ism's propheq tqpdhg the retomtion of a wn- nant and their subsequent semlty a h An& a merit in our tlme-uthe 6Ml part of the days." (m 224) Let wdfsw thlstlmelyrn-, for notonlydms it have prophetic signif- but it also teaches us abut Jeh* v a h ' s m e r c y a n d h o w w e a ~ ~ ~ u a l s m i g h t ~ ~ i t

The Spmuting of Jehovah'

5 Isaiah's tone becomes warm as he looks W n d the coming tempt ta a pwdd t h e . He writes: #In that day wh@ IpfroVprh twk spmut ["the spmubing -0 of bmte] MI come ~o be br d m - d m and for g I q i and the fryWg& of rhs iand wlll be somdhhg ta be pmud dm8 semerhIng hL(tlfu1 b r

#IS& wfro h ~sGQ@,~-!wM 42, 6 Isatah hae s p d x of rstoliltton. The Hebm noun

rendered "spmt" refers -tie 'that which springs up, a shoot, a branch' It is ztsmcbted with prospefiv, ln- maw, and blesings fmn Jehavah. Isaiah thus paints a piaure of b-the approaching demlat3m will not kt f m v a with~eh~s b l e the o n c e - p m s ~ - 4. Why should we d k w s s I U ' s prophecy of the resbratlon of a Amn9nt?

S, 6. [a) How d w s Isaiah dmxbe the pcmreful tlme that follows the cow tamp&? (b] What is the meaning of the tern Yspm~t,Y and what does tbis hWte abtnrt the land of Jwlah?

A stom ofdivTn~/udgm@nt b coming upon ludah

k&vdh'W Had Y I H ~ on r mvtsrat 85

Amwikan Bible] of all the lands? ,(&kid 2&6 B ~ W P ~ . t h u s a s s u ~ t h e ~ 1 e t h a t t t r e Q t a d o f J ~ ~ ~ mimed tp ib horxner glory and beauv. hdw$ it Pum be J i k r ~ ~ d o n t h e ~ ~ t z . F W n a , ~ ~ w l l l t w M i d a a e n & y * m

- : ~ u V d & land1 d 4& who -:w mpd," wit& Wh, m, m e rn gutvim the; hum- W g dapumn pmlously fdtebld, (Isaiah &tS, %)-A ~ ~ O s ~ ~ ~ ~ l I r e t u m ~ f u ~ ~ ~ ~ f r t n3 ~ r a t l r n Fw these ~~~* ewpid -*- ~ ~ ~ ~ 1 5 o f ~ ~ ~ d ~ ~ & ~ S ~ t o k p I m d d a r t d ~ h l n g ~ ~ f u t " @ a - i a b ~ ~ ) m h ~ o n o f ~ t ~ o ~ ~ ~ Wma-sensepida

~ ' i & t u ~ ~ s ~ r d s , thestomof j u @ m a $ d ww3 kc& w h e n t l s e ~ 8 a s ~ J ~ i i n d m a ~ ~ ~ b perished. 8 o r n e ~ m d ~ ~ e n i m d e l n klqbn, butf€itlud'nptbmktrC&d rhwq themwould have wn,no swims at dl. W@e-

EMM*, ~d M ~ ~ n p l w y d w e [Z; C h @ & 3&27-21) Then, Jn 537 Be=, the GM d m ~ ~ n ~ @ d ~ H t o ~ ~ J u d a h i n o ~ m rEskQR true wmhip.* (Em 1:1* 29) The heuwt * ~ o f t h e s e ~ ~ L ~ t l ~ ~ -

Vw.-prad onesH lnchrdcd m e ,who h1Yd bm OM In $tik. ~ ~ * g b W b e b b h * l l ! ~ " ~ ~ d ~ aFmeBm bin If the& an* hod n & ~ - t l w bestrortion. *a %PX-?$ wmpm R9,lQ.

%+ W I s a ' ~ l ~ ~ n h m d C ~ ~ t b e ~ ~ 0 5 ' t h e i a ~ , mt% d m IWah dwclh U r kdlw? 9. (3 In fmhml t ol ~ b ! k w & WlMt happed In $37 K g L f @)why#IayitbesrtlBth%mma#dmen hcllldeaow* hde wrl b n tn d e T (Src iwnole.)

in Psalm 137, which was Iikety written during the captivity or shortly thereafter. Back in Judah they tlllcd I he wil and soweci seed in the land. Think of how thcy must haw felt when they saw that God was blessing their efforts, causing the land to sprout like the fruitful "gattlcn of Et1enW!-Em- klel36:34-36.

10 A similar restoration has taken placc in our day. Far- ly in the ZMh century, the Bible Students, as Jehovnll's Witnesses were then known, came into spiritual captivl- ty to "Babylon the Great," the world empire uf false re- ligion. (ReveIation 175) Althotlgh havlng rejected many false religious teachings, the BibIe Students were still taint- erl by certain Babylonish ideas and practices. AF a result of clergy-inspired opposition, some of thcm wcrc Hterally irnprismcd. Their spiritual land-their ~ligious, or spiri- tual, estate-was left desolate.

11 Ifut in the spring of 1919, Jehovah had rncrcy on this remnant of spirituaE Tsraelites, (tia1;itians 6: 15) He saw I

their repentance and their desire ta wflrshlp him in l ~ ~ u ~ h , sa he brought about their release from literal imprison- ment and, more important, from splrl tual captivity, 'I'hesc "escaped ones" were & o ~ d to their Gd-given spiri hlal estate, which he caused to sprout abundantly. This spiritll- at estate has presented an inviting, attmctivc appearance, which has drawn millions of other God-fearing ~wnp!e to

i join the remnant in true worship. 1

12 Isaiah's words here magnify thc mcrcy that Gnd has toward his people. Although the Israclllcs os a natlan

10, 21, (a) In what way were thc Bible Students In captlvlty m "nab- ylon thc Great" early in the 20th cer~tury'l (b) !-low dlt l J e ! l < ~ ~ i ~ h hless Ihe remnant of spiritua1 I>raelites! 12. Hmv de Isaiah's words magnfFy the mercy that Jrhuvah has to- watt1 his peopie? I

Jehovah God Has Mcrcy on n f l ~ r r ~ t ~ n r i t 67

turned against Jehovah, he had mercy on a repentant remnant We can draw comfort horn knowing that even those who err seriously can return to Jehovah with hope. Repentant oncs need not fwl. that t h q are beyond Jehe vah's mercy, for he doer; not reject a contrite heart. (Psalm 51:17] The Bible assures u ~ : "]ehovah Is merciful and @a- cious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness. As a father shows mercy ta his sons, Jehovah has shown mer- cy to those fcadng him," (Psalm 103:8, 13) Surely, such a merciful God deserves all our pralre!

A Remnant Becomes Holy to Jehovah 13 We haw already been i nt mduced to the remnant that

would be shown mercy by Jehovah, hut now Isaiah de- scribes them in more detail. He writes: "It mustoccur hat the ones rernafning In Zion and the ones left over in jerusa- lem will be said to be holy to him, everyone written down for life in jerusalern,"-lsaiah 4:3.

14 Who are "the ones remaining" and "the ones left over"? They are the escaped ones mentioned In the pre- ceding verse-the Jewlsh exlles who wlll be permitted to return tuJudah. Now tsatah shows why Jehovah will haw r n q on them-they will "be holy to him." Holiness means "religious deannm or purity; sacredness." To be holy involves being clean, or pure, In word and action, t~ measure up ln Jehovah's standard of what is right and proper. Yes, Jehovah wlll have mercy on those who are "holy to him," and 11e will allow them to return to "the holy city," Jerusalem.-Nehemiah 11 : 1. - 13. As recorded at Isalah 4 3 , how does lsalah descrlhe the remnant that would be shown mercy by Jehnvnh? 14. Who are "the ones remalnlng" ant1 "the ones left m r , " and why will Jehovah haw mercy on them?

hH I.sainh's P r u l r l ~ ~ c y - L l x l r t for All M n t ~ k l r ~ r i I

15 WiIE this faithful remnant rernaln there? They wi I t be "wrlcten down for life in Jerusalem," promises Isaiah. T h i s reminds us of the Jewish custom of keeping careful rep;- isters of Israel's families and tribes. (Nehemiah 7:s) 'To be written In a regjster meant to k alive, for when a per- son died, his name was removed. In other parts of the Bible, we read of a figurative register, or book, containing the names of those whom Jehovah rewards with Ilfe, But this book receives names conditianally, for Jehovah can 'wipe aut'names. (Fmdus 3232, 33; Psalm 6928) lraiah's wards, then, imply a sobering warning-the returnees may continue living in thdr restored [and only if they re- mait1 holy in God's sight

16 In 537 B.C.E., the remnant that returned to Jerusalem did so with a pure motiveto restore true worship. No one cantaminated by pagan religious practices or by the un- clean conduct that Isaiah had so forcefully warned against had a right to return. (Isaiah 1:15-17) Only those whom Jehovah viewed as holy could head hack to Jurlah. (Isa- iah 358) Similarly, since thelr release from spiritual cap- tivity in 1919, the anointed remnant, now loined by mil- lions of "other sheep"-those wlth the hope of everlasting life on earth-haw made w r y effort to be holy in God's si~ht. (John 10%) They have rid themselves of BabyIon- ish teachings and pmctlces. Individually, they swive to hold to God's high standards of morality. (1 Feter 1 :14-16) Jehovah's mercy on them has not been In vain. - 15. (a) The expression "written down for Hfc in Jerusalem" remlnds us of what Jewish custom? (b) What snherlng warnlr l~ do Isdinh's wards imply? 16. (a) What did Jehovah require nF those wham hc permitted to head hack toludah in 537 B.C.E.? (b) Why can It he said thnt Jeho- vah's mercyon theanointed remnant and the "orher sheep" has not k e n In vain?

JehovnT~ God Hns Mercy nrr n Rrrnnntrt 651

17 Recall that Jehwah not4 those In Israel who were holy and that he 'wrote down thelr names for life.' Today, too, Jehovah notices out cndcavors to bc clean in mind and body as we 'present our bodies a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable to God.' (Romans 12:l) And all who follow such a life course are recorded by God In his "book of Life" -the figurative record conti~ininl: the names of those who are in line to receive everlnrtlr~g life, rlther In heaven or on earth. (Philippians 43; Mali~chi 3:M) k t us, then, do our utmost to remain holy In Gfld's eyes, for then we may keep our names In that preciaus "baok."-Rwclatlon 3:s.

A Promise of Loving Care 18 Next Isaiah shows how the Inhabitants of the restored

land will come to be holy and what blessings await them. He says: "When jehowh will hwe washed away the ex- crement of the dough ters of Zion and he will rinse w a y even the bloodshed of jerusalem fmm within her by the spirit. of judgment and by the spirit of burning down, jeho- vah will also certainly create over every established place of Mount Zion and over her convention place a cloud by day and o smoke, and the brightness of a Flaming fire by night because over aN the glory there will be a shelw" -Isaiah 4:4,5.

19 Earlier Isaiah rebuked "the daughten of Zion," whose moral corruption was hidden beneath their showy orna- men@. He also exposed the hloodgullt of the people gen- erally, urging them to wash themselves. (Isaiah 1 :15, 16; 3%-23) Here, though, he looks ahcad to the time when God himself will have "washed away the excrement," or

17. Whose name3 does Jehwah wrlte In his "book of life," and what should we be determined to (lo? I&, 19. Accotdfng to hatah 4 4 , 5, what clcansin~ i s to be e f f d byJehovah, and hnw wltl tt he a~nmpEEshd?

70 Is9iah's @phq-Lfglrt far All Mankind I

moral ath, and ' c l e d the b h ~ . ' (haiah 8:4, Nau I n m n a i Vmim) How will thh deans@ be ef- fected? By "the spirit of judgmenuD and by "the splrit of burning dmm" The coming d m c t l o n of Jerwkn and the W e in BabylonwiU be blasts of Gad's judgment and burning anger on an unclean &on. The mumant: that s w v M these d a d t i l e s and Mums home will h m been humbkd, mined ThaO b why they will be holy a3 Jeho- vah and receive magg4dmpare MslIachi 3:2,3. ZOJehm thm~gh T&&, promises that he wIU take

t h t s c l ~ m m a n t I n t o M s l ~ m e , T k ~ dons 'a cloud,'' 3 and "a b m i q heu aw W- n i s c e n t ~ f h a w j e h o p . a h e a r e d f m t h e ~ ~ ~ t h e ] r - 20. (a) Of ww mt the -T *a GWW "4 smoke," aDd *a

3" ~ w l l l t h e ~ ~ n o t n a e d

jehawk God H a Mcrcy an a Retnsrast 71

left Eg)rpt, A "pillar of fire and cloud'' pmMted them from the pursuing Egyptians; It a h led them In the wildernas. {Fxodus 13:21, 22; 14:19, 20, 24) When Jehovah inani- fested himself at Mount Stnal, the mountain "smoked all m r . " ( M u s 19:18) The cleansed exlln, then, will not need to €ear. Jehovah will be their Protector. He will wtth them whdher they gather in thelr own homa cat meet together in holy conventions, 31 Idah m c h & s his dnrrri tlan of d1We promon 4 by fmuiryy on everyday life. e writes: " f ie re will cot%?

~~uboOfhtbroshudebyday i r0r r l thedryheat md mandbgeandhra hidlngplacakwn hemimbm rrnd from dl@ ~ I ~ ~ . n {Isabf! 4.e A both, or hut, was ofhm bullt in a vineyard or In a field to p m d e much- ueed&l *elW from the burnlnIJ sun of the dry season ;an$ from the cold and storms of the rainy season~4om pare Jonah 4:5.

When f a d with the scorching heat of persecuthn and the storms of opposition, the cleansed remnant FrplIl FrhdJehumh to be their Source of prot&od, semdty, and re'fiq$e- (Psalm 91 :I, 2; 121:5) A behutiful pmspwt tst- set kfm them: If they leaw behlnd the unclean beliefs and practices of Babylon, submit to the cleansing of J e b W ' s judgment, and endeavor to remain holy, they will re main safe, as If in 'a booth" of divine protection.

w Notice that k t comes the cteaming, then the blessF in@. ThlS hm proved true In our day. Back in 1919 the anointed remnant humbty submitted ta being refmd? and Jehovah "washed away'qheir undemness, Since

W, ZZ. [a) A booth, cr hut, wan often built Rw what purpose? Ib) What pmpea ls sat bbefore tb@ c h w d amant? 23- Why has J- blessed the anahbd r e m ~ n t and their corn- W n S ?

72 Isnlnh's Pmplrrcy-L(qht f i ) r All Mtinklttd I

then, '51 a t crowd" of other shccp haw also aIiowcd t h e m l v e to be cleansed by Jehovah. (Ilcvelatlon 7 9 ) Thus cleansed, the remnant and thcir mmpaninm have been blessed-Jehovah has taken them i t ~ b his proter-tiw care. He does not rniraculousIy prevent the hcat of pcrse- culion or the storms of opposition from braring down on them. Rut he does pmtect them, as I f erect lng over thcm 'a booth for shade and for a hiding place krm the raln- storm.' How?

24 Consider this: Some of the most powerftll govern- ments in history have banned the preaching wt~rk of Je- hovah" Witnesses or have tded to eliminntc thcm com- pletely. Yet, the Wihesses have rcrnained f~ rm and haw continued to preach without letup! Why have mighty nn- tions been unable to put a stop to the activity ol' Ihis rel- ativcly small and seemingly defenseless gmup of pw- ple? Recause Jehovah has placed his clean servnnls in "a hooth" of pmtection that nu human can tear down l

2s What about us as individuals? I-lav11~ Jehovah as aur Protector does not mean that we 11avc a pmhlem-fwc lifc in this system of things. Many falthful Christians face se- wrc adversities, such as poverty, nnttlral dirasten, war, sickness, and death. When facing such dlstres~es, Ict us never forget chat our God i s with us. He protech us spiritu- ally, providing what we need-even "powcr l~cyond what Is normal"-to endw trials faithhl1y. (2 Corln thhns 4:7) Safe in his presence, we need not fear. After all, as inn^ as we do our best to k e q ~ ourselves holy In his sight, nnth- ing "wlll be able to separate us From God's love,"-lio- mans 8:38, 39. - 24. How is i t evident that Jehovah has blessed his pcoplr as an or- ~anlzatlon? 25. What does having Jehwah as our Pmtector mean for u s as Indi- vtduals!

-

CHAPTER SEVEN - -

Woe to the Unfaithful Vineyard!

-- - lsalah 5 1 -30

- - . - -

"FOR exquisltc beauty of languaw and consummate ski11 in effeeive communicatlon, this prahle is virtua1- 1y peerless." So said onc Riblc commentator referring to the opening verses of Isaiah chapacr 5. More than s i n ply a work of art, Isaiah's words paint a touching portrait of the loving care that Jehwah lias For his people. At the same time, these words warn us against things that dis- please him,

2 Isaiah's parable beglns: "kt me sing, please, to my be- loved one a song of my loved one concerning his vineyard, There was a vineyard that my beloved one came to have on o fruitful hillside. And he proceeded to dig Ir up and to rid it of stones and to plant i t wlth a choice md vine, and to build a tower in the middle of it And these was olso a winepresz that he hewed out in i t And he kept hoping for it to produce gmpes, but i t gmduo/ly pmduced wild gropes."-Isaiah 5: 1,2; cornpare Mark I 2:1.

The Care of the Vineyard 3 Whether Tsalah literally sings this parable to his lis-

teners or not, it surely captures their attention. Most are

1, 2. What does the "bclovc(l one" plant, but hcm clues It prove dis appointing? 3, 4. What loving cam Is cxpndcd nn the vineyard?

probably familiar with the work uf planting a vine- and W ' s daaiptron is vivid and realtsdc. Wke

vlne growers todayi tltr: pineyard c~wner plants, not grape seeds, but a "choice," or rich, #red vine"--8. cutting or shcrot £mm another vine. Appropriatety' he plants tW aeyand "on a fruitful hillside," a place where a vineyard wlllthm.

4lttakhard1aatrdrkbo ~avlneyardproduce, Isaiah d - i the owner's ';dqghg the land and rid- It of stones'-tdba, e x b m t q work! He likely uses the kg- er stones #to build a mmcV In andent times such towers xNed as WQM for watxtmen who guarded the crops against thieves md animals." AIsoI he buil& a stone w d to lfne the vineyard W m m . Chiah 5:s) Thjs was mm- monly d ~ n e tn p r m t the washing away of vital topsoil. s Having wo&d w hard to pmtect W vineyard, the

owner ha ewrg right ta q e c t &at it wlll bear fruit, Fn antidpatian of thh, he hew mf a winepress. But d ~ e s the hoped-far harvest materialize? No, the vineyard produces MtlMgmp.

The Vineyard rrnd Its Owner 6 Mlka is the ma, and what b the vineyard? The vine-

yard owner paints to the answws to these questions when he himself sp* "Mwr 0 ptr inhabitants of l m I e m and p man of fudah, *judge bemeen me and my - * Some scholars k h that cheaper t empmy structures, such 8s bmths, or huts, wexe far more wmmon than stone t-I. (tsalah 1:8) The p e n c e of a trPwer would Indiak tbt unusual e r t s had been put farth by the owner in h t d f of hts "vineyard" - 5. What dtxs the owner p w y iqmt fmm his meyard, but what does he get? 6, 7. (a) Who ls tbe owner af the vineyard, 8nd what Is the v b p'd7 ibl What ludgment d m the owner Invite?

Woe to the U ~ f i l t h F I Vineyard1 75

vlnsyrrd. What Is them pt to do fw my vineyard kt I h m not almdy done kt ft? Why Is it hat I hoped k>r f i to @uce grope, but it grduolly produced wlkl g m p ? And now, me, nmy I make known to p u men what I am ddng to my vineyard: 7hem &will be n d n g of hs IPedge, and it must be destined br burning down. There must be a 6twWng down of its Itone ww4 and It must be ddnd & a piace of tmmpling~u-Isabh 53-5.

7 Yes, Jehovah Is the owner of the vineyard, and he has put hfmself, as it were, Ln a mwtnmm, asking Sot judg- ment to be rendered him and his hppdnt - wvlnqml. what, then, i!i thevlneyaKl7 The OWller@x- p ~ A 7 h e ~ r d o f ~ ~ o f ~ i s t % r s h a ~ d

76 Irainli's Prophecy-Ll,g/rt for All Mnrlklrrd I

Israel, and the men of luduh am the plantation of which he was fond."-hiah 5:7a.

8 Isaiah caIls Jehovah, the owner of the vineyard, "my Ioved me." (Isaiah 51) Isaiah can speak of God tn such an intimate way only because he has a close relationship with Him. (CompareJob 294; Psalm 25: 14.) However, the prophet's love for God pales in cornpatison with the lwc God has shown for his "vineyard"-the nation that he 31anted.'-Compare Exodus 15: 17; Psalm tK):8,9.

g Jehovah " p h t d " his nation in the land of Canaan and gave them his laws and regulations, which served as a wall to protect them h r n being corrupted by other nations. (Exodus 195, 6; Psalm 147:14, 20; Ephesians 2: 14) Furthermore, Jehovah gave them judges, priests, and prophets to instruct them. (2 Kings 17:13; Malachi 2:7; Acts 13:20) When Israel was threatened by military ag- gression, Jehovah raised up deliverers. (Hebrews 1132, 33) With reason, Jehovah asks: "What is them yet to du for my vineyard that I have not already done in it?"

Identifying God's Vineyard Today 10 Jesus may have had Tsaiah's words in mind when he

gave the parable of the murderous cuitlvators: "There was a man, a householder, who planted a vineyard and put a fence aromd it and dug a winepress in it and erected a tower, and let it out to cultivators, ant! traveled abro9d." Unhappily, the cultivators betrayed the vineyard owner, even killing his son. Jesus went on to show that this pat- able involved more than just literal Israel when he said:

8. What is significant about Isaiah's calllng Jehovah "my l m d one*? 9. How has Jehovah treated his nation like a valued vineyard? 10. What parable involving a vineyard did J m s give?

"The klngdom of God will he taken from you [fleshly Is- rael] and be glven to a nation procludng its hits."-Mat- thew 21:3341,43.

11 That new "nation" ptiovd ta be "the Is& of God" -a spiritual natlon of anointed Christians t~taIing 144,- MK). (Galatians 6:W; 1 Peter 2:9,10; Revelation 7:3,4) Je- sus compared these discipla to "branches" on "the m e vine," nnmcly, himself. Naturally, these branches are ex- pected to bear fruit. Uohn 151-5) They musr manifest Christlike quallticrs and partidpate In the work of preach- ing "this garxl news of the Kingdom." (Matthew 2414; Galatians 5~22, 23) Rut ever since the death of the twelve aposllcr, t l ~ e great majority of those who daim to be brancllrs of "'the true vine" have proved to be counterfeib -producing wild grapes instead of good frui~.-Matthew t3:24-30, 38, 39.

12 Therefore, Isaiah's condemnation of Judah applies to- day to Chrhtcndom. A study of her history-her wars, her crusades, her ~nqulsitions-reveals just how sou her frult has hecn! Nevcrtheless, the true vineyard of anoint- ed Chrlstbns and their "great crowd" companions must h c d Isalah's words. (Revelation 7:9) If they are tn please the vineyard's owner, they must, individually and as a group, produce frultq that please him.

I "Wild Grapes"

! 13 Having gene to extraordinary lengths to nurture and cultivate his vineyard, Jehovah rightfully expects it

11. What spiritual vineyard existed In the first century. butwhat hap- pened alter the death of t l ~ c apostles?

1 12. Hmv rlo I s a j n l ~ ' ~ words mndemn Christendom, and what lesson dn they hold for true Christiaus? 13. What will Jehovah do lo his vineyard because of Its producing Imd fruit?

78 Isaiuh's Ptia~lrecy-l.bht for All Mtinklrrcl I

to become "a vineyard of foaming winel" (Isaiah 27:2) However, instead of producing usable h i t , It produces "wild grapes," literally "stinking things" or "putrid (rot- ten) berries." (Isaiah 5 2 ; foomote; Jeremiah 221, ) Thcru- fore, Jehcrvah decIam that he W remove his protective "hedge" horn around the nation. The nation will he 'set as a thing desboyed' and will experience abandonment and drought (Rwd Isaiah 5:6.) Moses had warncd that they would undergo such things if they disabeyed God's Law.-Deuteronomy 11:17; 28:63,64; 29:22,23.

14 God expects the nation to produce good Fruits. Isa- iah's contemporary Micah dedares: "What is J e h m h ask- ing back horn you but to exercise justice and to Iwe kind- ness and to be modest inwalking with y w r God?" (Micah 6:8; Zechariah 79) However, the nation fails tu heed Jcho- vah's exhortation. "[CodJ kept hoping for judgment, buZ look! the breaking of law; for righteousness, but, look! on outcry." (Isaiah 5:7b) Moses predicted that the unfaith- ful nation would produce poisonous grapes from "the vine of Sodom." (Deuteronomy 3232) Likely, then, sex- ual immorality, including hornosermallty, Is part of their deviation from God's Law. (Lwiticus 1822) The expres- sion "breaking of Iaw" can also be rendered "outpouring of blood" Such brutal treatment has no doubt resulted in "an outcry" b m mistreated ones-an outcry that has reached the ears of the Mmkr oft he vineyard.-Compare Job 3428.

15 Jehovah God is "a lover of righteousness and justice." - 24. What h i t a g e does Jehovah expectof his nation, butwhat clocs it produce instead? 15, 16, How can me Christians m i d producing the had ftulb that Brae1 produd?

(Psalm 33:s) I-Ee mrnmanded the Jcws: "You people must not do In]ustlce In the judxrnent, You must not treat the lowly wlth partlsrllty, and you must not prefer the peson of a greak one. Witlr justice yort should judge yotrr *so- ctatc." (Leviticus 19:lS) We must thew €ore shun partiali- ty In our dealings wilt11 one anothcr, never allowing such thlnfis in ram, age, wealth, nr poverty to color our judg- ment of people. (James 21-4) It is particularly impor- tant that thocc. serving in positions of oversight 'do noth- Ing according to a biam! Icaning,' alwav seeking to hear both $ides ol' a matter bcfc)re making judgment.-1 Tim@ thy 521; Proverbs 18:13.

16 !:t~rther, it would he easy for Christians living in a lawless world to develop a negative or a rehelljous atti- tude toward godly standads. 13ut true Christians must be

I "rcady tn ot~uy" God's laws. Uame? 317) Dcspite the sex- ual Irnmosnllty and violence of "the present wicked sys-

1 tcm of things," they need to 'keep strict watch that how thcy walk is riot as unwlse but as wise persons.' (Galatians 1:4; Hpheslans 5: 15) Thcy want to shun permissive views of sex, and when dba~rccments arise, they should settle these wlthaut "anger and wrath and screaming and abu- slve .upucch." (Ep heslans 431 ) Ry cultivating righteous- ness, trtre Chclstianr hrtng honor to God and gain his favor.

The Price of Greed

17 In verse 8, lsaiah Is no longer quoting Jehovah's words. Condemning samc of the "wild grapes" pmduced in Judah, hc prmnally pronouncm the first of six woes: "Woe to the ones joining house to house, and those who 1 annex field to field until them ir m more mom md p u - 17. What wlckd ronrluct Is condemned In Isaiah's first woe?

RO Iscria11's Prnpliccy-Light fbr All MrrrrkIr~d I

men have been made to dwell alt by purrelm in the midst of the land! En my ears jehowlh of o r m h has sworn that many houses, though g m t and good, wl/i be- come an outright obpct of astonishment without on in- hobitan t For .even ten acres of vineyard will produce but one bath measure, and m n a homer measure of seed will produce but an ephah measure."-Isaiah 5:8- 10.

18 In ancient Israel all land ultirnatcly belonged to Je- hovah, Each family had a God-glven inhcrltnnce, which they could rent or loan out but nevcr sell "in perpc- hllty." (Leviticus 25:23) 'This law prevented abuses, such as lraE estate monopolies. I t aIso pmtected farnilics from sinking too far into poverty. Some in Judah, howcver, were greedily breaking God's laws tegarcling pmpeq. Mi- cah wrote: 'They have desired fields and have reizcd them; also houses, and have taken them; and they have defrauded an able-bodied man and his household, a man and his hereditary possession." (Micah 22) Ibt l'rvwrbs 20:2t warns: "An inheritance is being got by greed a t first, but Its own future will not be hfessecl,'"

19 Jehovah promises to strip these greedy ones of thcir ill-gotten gain. The houses they cxtort will bc "without an inhabitant." The lands they covet will produce a mere Fnction of their capacity, Exactly how and when thls curse will be fulfilled is nat stated. Likely it refers, at least In part, to the conditions brought on I y thc future I3ab ylnnian exile.-Isaiah 27:lO.

20 Christians today must abhor insatiable greed Ilkc that manifcsted by some Israelite5 back ihcn, (Proverbs 27320)

18, 19. How do Isaiah's cnntempclr;irles lgnnre Jchovnh's law5 re- garding property, and what wlIl be the result for them? 2r). Flow can Christian? todav avoftl Irnltatltlg ttic #rcetEv altltudc \Itown by some in Israel?

1 Woe to t h e U~rffllHtfirl Vlr~~ynrrl l

11 When material thin~s take on exag~eratec1 importance, it is easy to stoop to unscrupulous ru,?ys af getting mon- ey. One could easl!y kcomc cnsnaml in shady business dealings or unrealistic get-richquick schcmm. "He that is hasteningto gain riches will not rcrnain Innocent." (Prov- erbs 2820) How important it Is, then, to he content with what we have!-1 Timothy 6:8.

I t

The Snare of Questionable Entertainment

21 Next comes Isaiah's second woe: "Woe lo those who are getting up eor/y in the mornlng that they may seek just intoxicating liquos, who are llngerlng till /ate in the eve- ning darkness so that wine ltsetf inflames them! And there must prove lo be harp ond stringed instroment tambou- rine and flute, and wine at their feasts; but the activity of Jehovah they do not look wt, and the work of his hands they have not seen,"-lsalah 5: 17, 72.

22 Jehwah is "the happy God" and does not begrudge his servants reasonable rccr~atlon. (1. 'Timothy 1 :I1 ) How- wer, these pleasure-seekers go beyund all limits! "Thase who get drunk are usually drunk at night," says the BibIe. (1 Thessalonians 57) nut the revelers of the prophecy be- gin their drunken spms at dayhreak and carry on drink- ing into the ~veninx! 'I'hcy behave ar i f Cod did not exist, as if he would not. holrl them accountable for their ac- tions. Isaiah pwdicb a dilrk future for such ones, "Mypeo- ple will haw to go into exile b r Iack of knowledge; and

I their glory will be famished men, and their crowd will be parched with thirst" (isdoh 5:733 tiecause of refusing to act according to true k ~ ~ o w l e d g , God's covenant people -

21. What sins are cnndernnt?d In Isainh's scmnd woe? 22. What tack of restratnt Ir rnantfvbt In Isracl, and what will be the result for the nation?

Is%iuhls Prophrry--Light for All M u w k f d I

-the high, and the Im-Wl go down into Shed.-Read l~akfh 5: 14- li! 23 "Rw&es,* or %d pmksb" were also a problem

among some Chris&ms in the lint emhuy. [GWans 5: 21; &'r@&z; 2 E'eter 213) So it b not surprising that some d e d i a d today have shown poor judgment when Itcomes t~ s d gatherings. Unrestrained use of al- coholic beverages has a u s d some to k m e loud and boistmw. (Proverbs m1) There have even k n those who behaved ~o~ under the inauenm of acesive atmhol, and gatherings have &n a l l M to go on v k t d l y ail -5 inbaferhgwrth ChrMm activities the next day.

24 Balanced Ch+sdml h m m r , produce godly Eruit and exe- ratmint and moderatjon in ~ e f r choice of -tian. They head Paul's &ice found at Romans 13: 13: ''A9 In the daylime let m walk decently, not in m1rks and drunken bouts?

25 Hear now Idah's third and fourth woes: Woe & those d f w h g arrw with topes of untruth, and as wkh wugon &E sh; ehm who so-: 'kt his wo& has- ten;do&Rmmeqer~,hkrhfhatw~sesit;rtnd kt the c w d of the Holy One of I s d drnw near and wm, aRutwmcgrknw~~'w0eto tiwe whoatesup Ing €hat goad Is h d omi bod Is @, thobe who UR put- ting dothas hr light and light hr dothess, those who am puttfng Bmw far sweet and s w a /Or bM*-4mbh 5: 78-20. - 23, 24. What matnt and znodemtivn are Chkthm atled upon an show? 25, 26. What wideed thfndiiag f ie Lra&tes dws Isaiah expose in his third and fouxth woes?

26 What a vMd picture this paints of prackbrs of sin1 They are attached to sin the way draft admh are tfed to wagons. T h e &men do not f a r any coming day of judgment. Macbgly they say "fRt [Gad's -1 come qulcklyl " Rather than submitting to God's Law, they mbt t h f r y F s , d ~ t h a t l Y g w d f s b a d a n d ' b a d i s g o o d P 4ompm Jeremiah &IS; 2 Peter 3:3-7.

Isatah's mpiteq-Ught fir All Mdnkind d

help those who haw Zzllen and need ~ s ~ ~ , U ~ E S 5: 14, 15) With the aid of pmyers and Biblehed counsel, s p M W muwry is p"sib1e. Othmvk, there is the dan- ger of bwmhg "a&m of sin." (John 8.34) bther than mock4gGadmdlming~of thecomingdaJrof mt, UuMans strive bo mmh uspotless and un- blemished" beha J&mah--Z Peter 314; Gdatians 6:7,8.

ZsApproprWeIy, Mahaddsthesebaiwaes: %bedo thosewkin theirown qesunddrscreetem In frontof Ekeir wwt faces! IYoe fo those wbo am rn#gMy In dtfnkfng h e , a n d d D ~ m e n w Z t h M m ~ f o r m M g I n t k x l - d n g #qw, &me who m prwlounchg the wicked one righmus in considmtion ofu hibe, and who bke away em^ the r $ h k w s ~ ~ ~ of the /@hkws one 1Lorn Mmlu (h iah 527-23) These w w b were evidently addreBsed to those swing as ju- in the land. Cangregatl~n eiders today amid seernhg #wise h their own e y ~ ~ , ~ 7 h e y hum- bly accept mmd b m Mow elders and adhere dose- ly to orgmbational Wc l ions . ( P m b s 15; 1 Corin- thians 14:s) T h q are modate in their use of dcohohc beverages, DeVa hEtugpg behe cmyhg out mgrqp tion mpmities. (Hosea 4:ll) Eldm also m i d gMng even the appearance of s h m i q hri t lsm. (lama 29) Haw Werent from the clergy of Chdstendornl himy of these whitewash the hhentid and d t h y sinners In their midst, in direct con- tu the apostle Paul's warn- hgs at Romans 1:18, %* 27; 1 Codnthhs 6:9, 10; and FpheSimS 53-5.

29 h i a h concludes this propheticma&q@ by destrlblng

28. Wwtsmat~amdemmLIn ~ ' s i i n a l ~ , and how ran c k r M W ~ m i d such su? 29. What cabmitow 4 amits Jehovah's k a e W vlneyard?

86 Tsainh's Prophecy-Llxlrl f i r All Uanklrrd r a calamitous end for those who "haw mjected the low of jehowh" and have failed to bear righteous fruit, (Isaiah 5: 24, 25; Hosea 9:16; Malachi 4 2 ) He declares: "2lehovahI has mised up a signal fa a grwt nodon fur mfi and he has whistled to it at the extremity of the earth; ond, look1 in haste it will swiftly come in.'Llsalah 926; Deutcrt~no- my 28:49; Jeremiah 515. 30 In ancient times a pale on an elmated site could serve

as "a signal," or rallylng polnt, for people ns arrnlcs. (Com- pare Isaiah 18:3; Jeremiah 51:27.) Now Jehovah himself will raliy this unnamed "great natlon" to execute hb [udg- rnent.* He will 'whistle to it,' that 15 draw its attention ta his wayward people as an object worthy of conquest. The prophet next describes the swift and terrifying onslaught of these IionLilce conquerers who will "gmb hold of the p v 8 " that is, God's nation, #and bring it safely away" Into captivity, (Read Isaiah 5:27-300.) And what a sad result for the land of Jehovah's people! "One will actualw gaze at the land, and, look! there is distressing darkness; and even the light has grown dark because of the drops fulling on it, "-Isaiah 5305.

31 Yes, the vineyard that God x, lwIngEy planted prwes Itself to be barren-worthy only of destruction. What a powerful lesson Isaiah's words hold for all who would serve Jehcwah today! May they skiw to bear nothing but righteous h i t , to Jehovah's praise and to their o m salvation ! - In nther prophecies, Isaiah idensffies Babylon as the natlon that cx-

ecutes Jehovah's devastating judgment on Judah.

30. Who wf1l rally "a great nation" against Jehovah's people, and wlth what outcome? 31. How can true Christians avoid swf ir tn~ thc puntshrnent Inflict- erl on Jehwah's Israebte vineyard?

CHAPTER EIGHT - -.

lehovah God Is in His Holy Temple

%ITHE year thut King Uzlah died I , however, got to see jehovah, sitting on o throne lofty and lifted up, and his skim were fillEng rhe temple." (lsaiah 6: 7 ) With these words sf the prnptrct, thc 6th chapter of the hook of Isa- iah begins, It is t l ~ e year 778 11.C.1:.

2 Uzziah's reign of 52 ycats as king of Judah r m , for the most part, a brilliant aucrrss. 1)oing what "was right in Jehovah's eyes," he enjoyed Gorl's hacking in his mil- itary, building, and agrlc~iltural ventures, But his success also came to be his undoing, I:.ventunlly, his heart bc came haughty, "so that hc aclcd un F;~ithfully agalnst Jeha vah his Cud and crltrle In to the tcrnplc of Jchovah to burn incense." Becitttse of thlr presump~iiou!, act ;~nrl his rage against the priests who censured him, Uzziah dicd a leper. (2 Chronicles 26:s-22) It was about this time that Isaiah started his prophetic strrvicc.

3 We are not told whcrc Isaiah is stationed when he sees the vision. nut: what hc sccs with his physical eyes is clearly a vision, not an actual sighting of the Al- mighty, as "no man has seen Cnd at any iimc." (John 1: 18; Exodus 33:20) Still, ti1 sce the Creator, Jehovah, even

1, 2. (a) When does the prnphet Iselah rcctivc his temple vlslon? {b) Why did King V~llah lusc Jcllovi111'5 favor? 3. (a) Doe5 lsaiah acluatly src Jchwah? Explaln, (h) What rcene does Isaiah beholrl, ant1 fur what reamn?

88 Isainh'r P f ~ p ~ l c c y - L l , ~ h t f i r All M~rr kinrl 1

in vision, is an awesome sight. Sitting on a lofty throne, which symbolizes his role as everlasting King and Judge, is the Universal Ruler and Source of all rightful govern- ment! The skirts of his long, flowing robe f i l I the tern- p1e. Isajah is Wing called to a prophetic service that will magnifyJehovah1s sovereign power md justice. In prepa- ration, he will be given a vision of God's holiness.

4 Isaiah provides no description ofJehovah's appeamncc in his vision-unlike the visions reporred by kckiel, Ihn- iel, and John. And those accounts all vary as to what is seen in heaven. (Ezeluel 1:25-28; Daniel 79 , 1O; Ikvcla- t - jm 42, 33 However, the nature and purpose of thesc vi- sions must be borne in mind. They are nut literal descrip- tions of Jehovah's presence. The physical eye cannot ssue what is spiritual, nor can the finite human mind colnprc- hend the spirit realm. Hence, the visions present in 1111- man terms the information that is to he c o i ~ v q ~ d . (Com- pare Revelation 1:l.) In Isaiah's vidon a description nf God's appearance is not necessary. The vlslon informs h a - lah that Jehovah is in his holy temple and that he is holy and his judgmrllntr are pure.

The Seraphs 5 Listen! Isaiah continues: "Semphs w m standlng above

him. Each one hod six wings. Wifh two he kept 11;s face covered, and with twcJ he kept his feet covered, and with two he would fly about" (fsuiah 6:2) Isaiah chaptcr h is the only place in the BibIe where we find mention of wr- aphs. Obviously, they arc angelic creatures in Jehovah's - 4. (a) Why must descriptions oflehwah seen In vislon and rccortl- ed in the Bible be syrnhnlic? @) What is learned about Jehmlali Imrn Isaiah's vision? 5. (a) Who are the seraphs, and what does the term mean? (1,) Why do the seraphs hide their fams and fect?

I servlce who rank vcry highly in privileges and in hon- or, bdng stationed about Jehovah's heavenly throne. Un- like pmud King Umiah, they occupy their position in dl l~t~mlllty and modesty. Recause of being In the presence of thc heavenly Sovcrcign, they cover their faces with one sct of wings; and with reverence for the holy location, thcy over thcir lcct with another set. Qose to the h i - vcrwl Sovereign, thc seraphs an. all the more selfeffacing, so as not to distract from CmI's penonal glory. The term "seraphs," meaning "fiery ones" or "burning ones," sug- gests that they radiate brlghtncss, yet they hide their faces lrorn lhc greater hrlllianw and glory of Jehovah.

6 The seraphs use thcir third set of wings for flying and, no doubt, lo hovcr, or 'stand,' in their places. (Compare Ileutcmnomy 31 :IS.) As to their position, I'rtlfessor Franz l>clitXsch cnmmcnts: "'l'he seraphim would not indeed tower above the hcnd of Him that sat upon the throne, but thcy hovered abovc the rnhc bdonging to Him with whlch the hall was filled," (I:ot?~t?rc~lfi~ry on the Old Testu- ~vrrrrt) Thi5 sccms rcasonabic. They are "standing above," not as supcrlor t.o Jehovah, hut as waiting on him, obedi- en t and rcady to serve.

7 I,lrten, ntw, to thnsc privileged seraphs! "This one called to that one and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is lehowrh of armies. The fullness of all the earth is his glory.'" Elsa- iah 6:3) 'I'hcir asflgnmcnt i? to SIT that Jehovah's holiness ir dcclared and that his glory IF acknowledged through- out the universe, of which the earth is a part. His glory

I is wen in all that hc created and will soon be discmned by all earth's inhabitants, (Numkrs 1421; Psalm 191-3;

I -. 6. What is thc po%llion nf thc ncnphs In relatlon to Jehmah? 7, '.ak EWl~at as3l~nment tlo lthc scrap117 fulf~ll? [b) Why dn the ser- a p h rlc~law (intl'q h~illne%s Il~ree Zlnles?

90 Isalrrh's Pmpkw-Llghtfir All M~nklad r Habakkuk 214) Tlw threefold dedaradon, 'holy' hob, holy," is no evidene of a IMnlty, Rather, it fs a threefold emphashing of a ' s holiness. (Campare Rwelation 4:8-3 Jehovah is holy to t!m superlative d e w .

a Although the number of seraphs is not mentioned, there may be groups of seraphs stationed near the W e . In melodious song they repeat one after anuther the &- b t l o n of God's h o W and glory. What result do we note? Listen again as Isaiah continua: '7he phts of the thrwhoIds BegPn tu q ~ k at thtr wko of the one cadC IN, and the house &dfgrrrduu#y Med wftk smoke," ({so- Idh 6:41 h the Bible, moh or a cbud often provides &- Ible evidence of God's p m c e . {Exodus 19: 18; 40:34,35; 1 Kings 8:10,ll; kwlation B S 8 ) It denotes a gImy m which we human aeahw camat approach.

Unworthy, Yet CIeansed 9 This Asion ofJeh~ah7s throne has a profound &&

on Isaiah. He recards: "I m e d e d to wy: W e to mel h r 1 am rn god QS h q h t to sllmce, hause a mrm tin- r lwninl lp Ium,6ndhamonga~unclerrnhI ipr I am dwelling; for my grips haw seen the King, J&mh of annles, himself!'" (Isaiah 6:s) What a stark comast there is between Isaiah and King Uwahi U a a h usurped the position of the andnbd priesthod and impioudy hd- ed the Holy compmeslt: of the temple, Although U a - ah saw the goIm hpstands, the gotden al&r of in- cense, and the table of "the bread of Presence," he did not see Jehowh's h e of approval or mlve any sp&d commission from him. (1 Kings 7:48-50; foolnote) On the - 8. W h mdts from the seraphs* declmtfons? 0, (a) What affect dm5 tRr vision have on I mi&? (b] What con-t fs evldent between Isaiah and IUng Uzzhh?

other hand, the propnet ~ium not bnrsh aside the priesthood or on the m q l e , Yet, he sees a vision of Jehovah in his holy mple md is honofed Wth a a- red commission from God. Whlle t h e seraphs do n& pre- sume to Look upon the enthroned Loxd of the temple, ha- lah h allawred, in vision, to look upon "the King, Jehovah of armies, hhmdf!" 10 The con- that hiah sees between God's holiness

and his own sinfulness mab hlm fd most unclean. Filled with fesr, he reasons that he will die. (Exodus 33: 20) He hears the seqphs praise God with clean Ups, but hb m Ups are d e a n and are further sullied by the undeanuw of the M p s of ?he people among whom he dwells and whose speech he beats. Jehovah t9 holy, and his senrants must reflect that quality. (1 R k I:lS, 16) Al- though Isaiah has a h d y been chosen as a sp4bmm for God, he 1s struck with the realization of hrs sinful - 10. Why does Isaiah k l dxead at seeing the vlsion?

condilh~ and ladcj the dean Ups befitMng a s p o h m m of the gloriaus and holy King, What will the hea- re- sponse be?

U Instead of b a n i s 9 lrrwfy IsaIah from be€w Jeho- vah's pmwncer the setaphs act to help him. The recod s m t w H A t W o p l e o f f h e ~ ~ f k w d o , &inhis handthemmaghwlngcoalthathehadtakend& - 11. (a1 Whatdwsaneoftheseraphsb, endwimtdowtMs ~YnbOliZe? fb) How can &ecUng on what the seraph tens Isaiah help ui when we feel unworthy as W's servants?

Ichuvah God Is trt His Holy ?IrmpL

T off the &I: And he p m a k d to touch my morrtk cm t o ~ * & o k l ~ h a r ~ y o u r i l p s , a n d y a u r w - w h e r -andyoursin Itreffk aWW"(IsProP1 bd, 7) Xn a sylnbaIic sew, fm has puripurlf power. Wheo applying the @owing coal from the holy fire of the dtar to Isaiah's lip, the seraph assum bafrah that Ma a h haw been atoned for to the extent newismy ta enable him to recek Gud's EaPor and a wmmlssion, How msurlng this Is to us! WebooareW and uaw~rthyboappnwrhGod But m k b n rekmed by the merit of Jesus1 rzmsom sadhi and can receive Gad's favor and approach him In prayer,-2 & ~ ~ W E M S 5:18,21; 1 John 410,

12 Remind@ w again that thb is a &Ion is the men- tion of *the altartarn (Compare Mation 8:3; 913.) Thm m tpWJ altas at the temple in J e d e r n . Just before the curtain of the Most Holy was the small altar of incense and in h n t of the entrance to the smctmy was the large altar of sadfm, whm the fire was kept constantly bum- ing, (Levfticus 612, B; 16:12,13] But these earthly 4Ptaxs were t)rpical, repentaw of grrater things. (Hebrews 85; 923; 10:s-10) It was fite from heam that consumed the burnt offer@ u p the aitar when the temple was InaugmaW by King Solomon. (2 Chrdcles 7:13) And now it Is h from the true, hemnly altar that moves the uncleanness of Isaiah's Ups.

13 Let: us Wen with hhh. '1 began b hear the vake of jhovoh saflttg: M o r n rhall I send, and who wkcl go for us? And / proceadsd to ~ay: ' H e m I am! Send me,'"(lr- h h 6:8) The question pmpwnded by Jehovah is deadp Wlgned to elicit a mpnse from IsaiahI as no other hu- man prophet appears in the vision. It is mmhkably an

12. What altar dws Isaiah me, and wbat I s the effKtof fire? t 3. What questkon d m J e h a h propound, and whom doa he in- clude when he says "usPl'

*Hen I am! Send me,#

invitation for Isaiah to be Jehovah's rnesmyp. But why does Jehwah ask, "Who will go for ~ 7 " By swttchhg from the stngular paonal pronoun "I" to the plural pro- noun 'us," Jehovah now Indudes at least one & per- son with himself. Who? Was this not Ms orilprbegotten Son, who tam b m m e the man Jews Christ? Indeed, it was this same Son to whom God saf4 "LRt us make man in our image? (Genesis 1:26; Proverbs 8:30,31) Yes, alongside Jehovah in the heavlenly courts is his only- begotten Son.-John 1:14. 14 Idahdoes not hesitate torespond1 Regmiles of what

the message might be, he Imedhl~ly replie: "Here I - 14. HOW b hiah y n d to Jehovah's imltatiion, 4 what ex. ample ~ O E S he set fur w.

J t h m k God is In His Haly XWple

am! Send me." Neither does he ask what he e h t galn by ampthg the agslgnment. HIS uvl1lhg splrlt Is a fine exam- ple for all ~f God's servanb Myf who have the c o r n - sicm to peach the 'good n w of the kfngdom fn aU €h Wtd earth,' (Matthew &kN) L& Wab, they falth- f dy stick to their assignment and amrnpllsh the "wit- nm to ail the nations," despite widepmd unrespaasim nm. A d they go farward with mnFidene, as did Isaiah, bowing that thelr c o m m o n has the highest authsrf- zatbn.

15 Jehwah now outlLn& what Isatah is t~ say and what the response will be: "Go, and you must suy to this people, 'Hmr -In and agahr, O men, but do not undemnd; and se agdn and again, but do not get any knowle@e/ Make the heort of thk people unreceptlw, and make their my eurs u n m p n s k , and p i h e theh wyw tag&& that they may not see W#J their e p and wlth their em he), may not k a r , and that thek own heart may not un- dmtPnd and that they m y not cKduaI& turn bClCk cfnd get hwlhg Ibr themselw." (Isabh 6:9, 10) Does this mean that blah Is ta be blmt and tactless and repel the Jm, keeping them at odds with Jehovah? Absolutely not1 These are Isaiah's awn people far whom ha feels an a f i - iv But Jehovahrs words indimtt! how the people will re- spond to his message, no - how faithfully Isaiah N- m his task,

16The fault lies wlth the people, Isaiah s@ to t-hm "again and again/ hit they wlll not accept the mesage or gain u h t a n d l n g . The majority will be

15, 16. (a) What Is Jsalah ta say to "this people: and what will be their response7 (b) b the mctlon of the peoplc due ta arry fault an Isaiah's pact? &plain.

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light fir All Mankind I

stubborn and u n m p e , as if W y blind and deat By going to them ~ e p a t d l y , Isalah will let "thiis pea- ple" show that they do not mt ia undenmd. They will p m that they m shutling their minds and hmts to Isa- iah's message-God's mew@-ta them. How true this L ~f people today1 So many of them refuse to Wm to Jeho- vah's Mtn- as they preach the good news of the in- coming Wngdom of W.

17 Isaiah is con-& #At #Is 1 said: 'How Iong 0 j&o- vdtrfimhsmM:%vi:Ithedortuallyareshin~fn.~ to k without an Infrabitm~ and the homs be w&hwt eorthihg m, a d the gmund I W k rulned inbo a k- oluthn; and IsClomh actually mmm e a ~ l h g rnen hr w, and the dwe-d condI#on dm horns m y exfen- h / n thmldstdtheIcmd.IU(krahh 6:fl, 12)Bya&ng, #How hg?' 1- is not askinky how long he wU1 have to anthue. p m c b g to an unrspnsive people. ha- er, he is concerned abwt the people and asks haw long t h l x bad spiritual stake will continue and how long J&CF vah's name will be dishomred on earth. (See Psalm 749- 11.1 So, then, how longwiI1 the senseless slfttation go on? l&Alas, Jehwahls angww shows that the bad spirltu-

a1 sbk of the people d l anthue until the ftlll mn- sequmca of &bedieme to God, as outlined In his cwwmtE are fulfilled. (Levlths m21-33; Deuteronomy 28:49-48} The ration will come to ruin, the people will be deported, and the land will lie desotate, bhh will nM live to see the destmdlon of Jerusalem and M temple by the Babylonian army In 607 &C&, although he wfll prophesy for over 40 yeas, conunuing Inta the Ngn of

17. When W h asks, "Row long?" to what does he refed 18, Until when Wll, the bad apldtud stare of the peo 4 wntfnue, and wtll Isaiah jive to see the pmphecy's complete &mt?

Jekavah God B In HI3 HaEy Temple 97

King U W S gwat-pdson H& Still, bhh wlU keep faithfully at h!s c~m&on until he dies, m m than 100 years before that natlonal diwikrocc~~s.

19 Destructton that will' leave~udah "ruined Into a dm- WonA is brrund to come, but the situation Is not hope less. (2 Wngs 231-26) j e h d assure^ 'ThZ Will M b 8 b i t a m t J I , a r t d I t m u r t @ n ~ ~ e s o ~ n s - ~ ~ f w b u m h g d o w n , m S e a b l g ~ u ~ ~ a r m w - s h tm in &&, when there Is a cumg down d them, ahere Is a stump; a holy seed wiii be the stump of ita (Isu- ioh 6:13) Yes, 'a mth, . . . a holy seed/ will remain, fust like the slump of a rnwW that Is klled, Thfs wur- me, no doubt, comforts Isaiah-a holy mnant will be b u d within bfs people. 'IBough the nation e x w m 19. Althougtt the ntltlon win be Mled Ilk a me, what assurance aoes God g h Isaiah?

96 Isaiah's PMphecp-Light f i r All Mankfnd I

a repea€& burning, like ablg we cut down for fuel, a vi- t a i ~ t l n n p ~ f t h e ~ i i c ~ ~ f h e l w l l main. Itwill be a seed, ot 06- that is holy to Jehovah. In time, it will sprout againJ and the bee will regrow.-Compe Job 147-9; DstnieI 4%.

Did the words of the prophcy m e true? Ye. Wen- ty years after the land of Judah had been desolated, a God- fearlng~emnant~fromexlleinEaby1an.Theyre built the temple and the city, and they remd me worship to the lana This ratmation of theJews to thelr God-given homeland made passible a s a n d fuHillment of this propheq that Jehovah gave to Isaiah. What was that to be?-- 1:14

a b h h l s prophetic task foreshadowed the work that ( the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would do some 800 years later.

2Q. How m1 the kt part of Isaiah's propby ipidally fulfilled? 5L23. {a) Wth warn &I 4 W f s pmplwq 3 4 a brat-century htl. fdhkm, rtriahm? &)WWBB the 'holy seed1! ln the irst mtuq s n d ~ ~ t t p d ?

J'arRaugh God h in Hta Hoip lbmppk 99

(Isatah 8:f & 61:1, 2; Luke 4:16-21; Hebrew5 2113, 14) Al- though g r e w than Isaiah, Jesus was just as wWng to be sent by hls heavenly Father, Wng: " M k t I am m e to do p u t will."-Hebrews 105-9; Psalm 4Q:M.

22 Like ls&ih, Jaw faithfully carded out his w e d work and met with the same readion. The Jews in Jam' day vwre no more wflllng to acoept the m q than were those to whom the prophet Isaiah preached (Isaiah k4) The use of Uusbatlons was a feature of Jesus' ministry. Thlspmmptdhisdisdplesmask: W h y l s i t y a u ~ E o them by the use of illutmtlom?" Jesus replied: "E'a you It is gxanw to understand tbt! s a d semAs of the king- dom of the heavens, but to those people It is not granted- This Is why I speak to than by the me of lUuStmtlom, be- cause, lookin& they look in valn, and fim they hear in vain, xmelther do they get the sense of it; and towad them the prophecy of Isaiah Is having f u W e n t , wuch says, 'By hearing, you will hear but by no means get the sense of it; and, looking, you will look but by m m c m see. Fox the heart of t h i s people hs grown umcepttye, and with thatrearsthey h m heardwithwt wpumer and they have shut their eya; that they might new see with thdreyesand hmrwiththeireaffandgetthesawofit wlth their hmts and turn b&, and I heal them' "-Mat- thew 13:lQ 11,13-15; M d k10.12; hh 8:9,10.

23 In quotlng fmm Isaiah, Jew was showing that the pmphw had a merit in his day. The people as a whole had a heart attitude Wte that of the Jews in Isa=hht5 day. They made themselves blind and deaf to his - sage and H h w h met with destntctlon. (Matthew 2335- 38; 241, 2) Thb occurred when the Rornan fuw ua- d e r G @ n ~ T l t w c a m e ~ ~ J ~ e m i n T O C J L a n d

ion Isaiah's PrupIt~cy-Llgh t for All Mcrrtkind I

demolished the ci ty and its temple. Yet, some had listened to Jesus and had berome his disaples. Jesus pronauncecZ these "happy." (Matthew 13:16-23, 51) He had inlormcd them that when they saw "Jerusalem surrounded by en- camped armies," they should "begin fleeing to the rnnun- tabs." (Luke 21:20-22) Thus the "hoIy s c d " that had ex- ercised faith and that had been formed into a spiritual nation, "the Israel of God," was saved."--Galatians 6: 16. 24 About 60 CE, the apostle Paul found himself under

house arrest in Rome. There he a r r a n ~ d a meeting with "the principal men of the Jews" as &ll as others and gave them a "thorough witness concerning the kingdom of God." When many would not accept his message, Paul explained that this was in fulfillment of Isaiah's prophe- cy. (A& 28:17-27; Isaiah 6:9,20) So Jcsus' disciples carried out a commission comparable to that of Isaiah .

25 SimiIarly! Jehovah's Witnesses today discern that Je- hovah God is in hs holy temple. (Malachi 3: 1) Like Isaiah, they say: "Here I am! Send me." Zealousty, they sound the warning rnessaF about the approaching end of this wick- ed system of things. But, as Jesus indicated, relatively few people open their eyes and ears to see and hear and be saved. (Matthew 713, 14.) Happy, indeed, are those who incline their hearb to listen and "get healing for them- se1ws"I-Isaiah 6:8,10.

In 66 CE, responding to a Jewish m l t , Roman forces under Ces- tivs GaUus surrounded Jerusalem and penetrated the city as far ar the temple walls. Then t h q withdm, all&ngjesus' disclplcs to flee to the mountains of Perea before the Romans returned in 70 C.E,

24. What application did Paul make of Isaiah's prophecy, and what does tNs indicate? 25. What have maernday W~messes af God discerned, and how do they pond?

1 CHAPTER NINE

Trust in Jehovah in the Face of Adversity

- Isaiah 7:l-8.18

ISAIAH chapters 7 and 8 are a study in conbasb. Tsa iah and h a z both belonged to a nation dedimted to Je- hmral~; both had God-given assignments, one as a proph- et) the other as a krng of Judah; and both faced the same thmat-thc invasion of Judah by superior enemy forces. Isalah, however, faced the threat with confidence in Je- hovah, wherear Ahaz gave way to fear. Why the different reactions? Since Christians today are likewise surrounded by hostile forces, they de well to examine these two chap- ters of Isalah to discover what lessons they contain.

I Facing a Decision 2 Much like an artist who defines the outline of a new

palntlng wlt h a few sweeping strokes, Isaiah starts hs ac- count wlth a few broad statements that mark the b w - ning anrl the end of the events he is about to relate: "15 come about in the days of Aha. the son of Jotham the son of Uniah, the king of judoh, that Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, the king of Ismel, come trp to jerusnlern for war ogoinst if and he proved unoble to war against it."-baiah 7: 1.

.1 It Is the dghth century R.C.E. Ahaz has succeeded his

1 GWhy will Chrlstlans today benefit by exarnlnlng Isaiah chapters 7 and 8? 2, 3. What summary does l~aiah give In hb openlng wmrds?

1051 aabha PmpR#cy-Light for AlE Manklttd I

father, Jotham, a king cwex Judah. M n , the king of Syr- lai and BkaIr, the king of the northern kingdom of Israt4 b a d e Judah, and their armies hit hard. Eventually, thw wlU beskge J@rusalem W. H m , the siege will fall. (2 Kings l&S, 6; 2 Chronicles 2.85-8) Why? That we will learn lam.

4 Earlier in the war, "a report w a made & the house of M d , sayfry: '5yrffa hm l e a d upon EphmIm.'And hi3 he& and the heart of his pmpk beyan to g u k , i lk Ehequhdngof t h e ~ o f t h e b m t b e c m s e o f a wind" ( I d R2) Yes, it is ~~ to dhtte and his people to learn that the Syrians and the L i m U b have teamed up atid that their armies are at thls wry moment encamped on Ephmim's Wel's) so& They are merely a twu- or *-day marchfromJ-em!

5 J&ovah telk Isaiah: "Go ou2 please, to metllha4 you and Shear-*hub your son, Eo tha end of the conduit of the upper pod by the highway Of the iuundiynan's Wd," (isaiurh Z3) Just W! At a t h e when the klng should belooking for Jehmdfs p q M and asking forguidaram, the prophet has to go and h d the king1 mfen so, Isa- iahwlllf@yohpJebwah Similarly, W ' s p p l e t o d q re;sdilygomttoliridpoplewhoare fearfdbemwof the pressures of this world (Matthew 24:6,14) Hm sat- isfying &at each year hundreds of thousands respond to the visits of these preachers of the good news and take hold of Jehovah's p- hand1 - 4. Why am the heam of Ahaz and his people Wed wlth feat? S. In what w w da Gad's peaple today resemble [satah?

Isaiah took SheurJoshub along when he mnwyed Iehmh's message to Ahar

104 Isaiah's Prophecy-Ll,rht for Al l Mrrnklrid I

6 Isaiah finds Ahaz outside the walls of Jerusalem, where, in preparation for the expected siege, the klng Is inspect- Ing the city's water supply. Isaiah gives him Jehovah's message: "Watch yourself and keep undisturbed. Do not be afraid, and do not let prrr heart /&elf be timid be- cause of the two tajl ends aF these smoking logs, becuuse of the hot anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Rema- lid?." (Isaiah 7:4 When the attackers ravaged Jludah carli- er, their anger was as hot as flames. Now they are mere- ly 'two tail ends of smoking logs.' Aha need not cl rcad Syrian King Rezin or Israelite h g Pekah, son of Rema- liah. Today it is similar. For centuries, Christendom's lead- ers have subjected true Christians to fiery persecution. Now, though, Christendom resembles a log that is nearly burned up. Her days are numbered.

7 In Ahaz' day, not only Isaiah's messas but also the meaning of Isaiah's name and that of his son glve hopc to those trusting in Jehovah, Rue, Judah is in danger, but the name Isaiah, meaning "Salvation of Jehovah," signals that Jehovah will prwide deliverance. Jehovah tells Isa- iah to take with hm his son Shear-jashub, whose name means "A Mere Remnant WiU Return." Even when the kingdom of Judah finally falls, Cad will mercifully bring a remnant back to the land.

More Than a War Between Natf ons 8 Jehovah, through Isaiah, meals the strategy of Judah's

enemies. Here is what they are planning: "let us go up against judah and twr it aport m d by brwkthmughs toke it for o u m k ; and let us make another king d g n in-

6. (a) What heartening message does the prophet convey to KIng Ahaz? @) What situation exim today? 7. Why do Isaiah's name and that of his son give mason for hope? 8. Why is the attackon Jerusalem more than a war hchwen aatluns?

I side It, the son of Tabeel," (Isaiah 75, 6) The Syrc-Tsraelite league schemes to conquer Judah and replace Ahaz a son of Ilavlcl, with tlldr man, Clearly, the attack on Jerusalem 15 now more than a war bmccn nations. It has become ;I stntggte ktwccn Satan and Jchovah. Why? Because Je- hovah God made a covenant with King David, thus as-

11 surlnfi him that his sans would rule over Jehovah's peo- ple. ( 2 Samuel 7:11, 16) What a triumph for Satan i f he ccluld install some other myal dynasty on the throne in Jerusalem! I le might even frustrateJehovah's purpose for !)avid's linc to prrduce a permanent heir, the "I'rince of Pea~-e."-Isaiah 96, 7.

1 Jehovah's Loving Assurances '1 Wlll the scheme of Syria and Brael succeed? No. Jellc-

vah dcclarrs: Yt wijl not stand, neither wilt it take place." (Isaiah 7:f) Through Isaiah, Jehovah says that not only will 111c siegc oaf Jerusalcm fail but "within just sixty-five years Ephruim wlll be shattered iW pieces so as not to be a people." (/solah 7:8) Yes, within 65 years Israel will no l o n ~ e r exlst as a people," This assurance, with its specif- fc timctnhle, shotlld give Ahaz courage. In the same way, God's pcnplc today are strengthened hy knowing that the tlme left fo r Satan's world is running out.

10 Rrhaps Ahaz' face registers disklkef, since Jehovah, r htough [satah, says: "Unless you people haw foith, p u will in that c w not be of long duration." Jehovah, in his

I - * For further dctalls about this pmphecy's fulhllment, see Ins~ht an IJw Srriptr~rrs, Volume 1, pngm 62 rlrld 758, publishrrl by the Watch- lower nlhle ant1 'lract Society of Nmu York, Inc. -

// 9. What asquranctls should give courage to Ahaz a well as to Chris- 1 tians today?

10. (a) I Iuw can true ChrlstIans today ImltateJehwah? @) What of- fer d o ~ J e h o v a h make to Ahax?

tOh Isninlr'r Pmphcy-ti ,qht for AIl Mrtnkind I

patience, "went on speaking some more to Ahaz. " (lsuiuh 7:9, 10) What a fine example! M a y , although many do not readily respond to the Klngdorn message, we do well to Imitate Jehovah by "spc;~klng some more" as we visit agal n anrl again. Jehovah next tells Ahaz: "Ask for yourself a sign fmm Jehovc~h p u r God, making if as deep as Sheol or making it high as the uppermgions." (Isaiah 7:7T) Ahaz may ask for a sign, and Jehovah will perform it as a gum- an tee that he will protect the hutue of David.

11 Note that Jehovah says: 'Ask a sign from yorrr God.' Jehovah is truly kind Ahaz i s already reportedly worship Lng false gmls and following disgusting pagan pratims. (2 Kinas 16:3,4) Despite that and despite Ahaz' fearful at- tltude, Jehovah still calls himself the God of Ahaz. This as- sures us that Jehovah does not reject humans rashly. He Is wIlllng to reach out t~ those who err or whose faith has grown weak. Will this assurance of God's love move Ahaz to take hold of Jehovah's hantl?

From Doubt to Disobedience 12 Ahaz replies defiantly: "I shall not ask, neither shall

I put jehowh to the tat" (lsaioh R l ) A l m is not hem observing the words of the law: "You must not put Je- hovah your God to the test," (Deuteronomy 6%) Centu- ries later, Jesus quotes that same law when Satan tempts him. (Matthew 4:7) In Aha? case, though, Jehovah is In- viting him to turn back to true worship and is offering to strengthen his faith by performing a sign. However, Aha2 prefers to seek protection elsewhere, It is possibly at this point that the king sends a large sum oi money .to Assyr- ia, seeklng help against his northern enemies. (2Kings 16:

11. What assurance is found In Jehovah's expression mpttrGcd"? 12. (a) What haughty attirude d m Aha2 adopt? (h) Instead of turn- ing tu Jchovah, to whom does Ahax go for hclp?

1 Trrtst In jcltaunh ltt tllr F<tcc of drlverstry

7, 8) Meanwhile, the Syro-Israelik army encircles Jerusa- lem and the sicn is on.

13 With the kln$s sack af faith on his rnlnd, Isaiah says: "tistm, please, 0 house sf david, Is it such a little thing for you to tire out men, that you should oiso SEre out my God?" [lsaiah 7:?3) Yes, Jchavah can gel tin4 of constarlt dcfiancc. Olncrvrr, too, that the pm~rhcl now says "ury God," not "p~iir I'rod." An ominous hangv! When Ahaz rejects Jehovah and lztrns to Assyria, he lol;cs a. fine oppor- m i t y to restnre his relationship with God. May we never sacrifice our relationship with God lly compromising our Scriptural belief% In artlcr to gain temporary i~dvantages.

I The Sign of ImmanucI 14 Jehovah remains falthfuI toward hls covenant with Da-

vid. A sign was crffc~cml, a sign will be given! Isaiah contin- ues: 'yehovah himself will give you men a sign: look! The maiden herself will actualIy become pn?gnarsC and she is giving birth to a son, and she will certainly call his name lmmanuel. Btrlter and honey he will eat by the time that he knows how to reject the bad and choose the good. For be- fore the boy will know how b reject the bad and choose the good, the ground of whose two kings you are feeling o sickening dmad will be left entirely "-lsaioh 7: 14- 16.

15 Here is good news for anyone fearing that the Invadets will put an cncl to the Davichc line of kings. "lmmanuel" means "With Us Is God." God is with judah and will not allow his covenant with David to be nullilicd, 1n acldition, Ahaz and hi5 people are told not only what Jchovah will

1 - 13. What chanp do w notice in verse 13, slgfllfylng what? 14. HowdocsJthclvah show his faithfulness to hi\ cowrtent wlth Da- vid? 15. What two qricqtlonq does the prophecy abnut Iinrnanucl anrwer?

do but aIsa when he wifI do It. Before the b y lrnmanuel is old enough to distinguish between good and hd, the enemy nations will be destroyed, Anci this proves true!

16 The Bible does not m a 1 whose child lrnmanuel Is. But since the young Immanuel i s to serve as n sign and Isaiah later states that he and his children "are as signs," lmmanuel may be a son of the prophet. (Bajah 8:18) Per- haps Jehovah leaves the identity of Imnlanuel In Ahaz' clay uncertain so as not to distract later generations from the Greater Immanuel. Who is that?

T7 Outside of the book of Isaiah, the name trnmanu- d occurs ody once in the Bibte, at Matthew k23. Jehe vah inspired Matthew to apply the prophecy of I mrnanu- el's birth to the birth of Jesus, the rightful Heir to the throne of David. (Matthew 1:18-23) The hirth of the first Immanuel was a sign that God had not forsaken the house of David. Likewise, the birth of Jesus, the G ~ a t e r Tm- manuel, was a sign that God had not hrsaken mankind or his Kingdom covenant with David's house. (Luke 1:31- 33) Wlth Jehovah's chief representative now among man- kind, Matthew could truly say, 'With us b God.' 'Today, Je- sus rules as heavenly King and is with his congregatlnn on earth. Watthew 2820) Smly , God's people haw artded reason to cry out boldly: "With us is God! "

More Consequences of Unfal t hfu l ness 18 Comforting though his latest words are, Isaiah's next

statement brings terror to his hearers: 'yehouuh wlll bring

16, Why may Jehovah have left thc Identity of lrnrn~nuel in Ahas' day uncertain? 17, (a) Who is the Greater Immanuel, and whet did hls hlrth s l ~ n l - fy7 (b) Why can God's people cry out today, "Wlth us Is Gotl"? 18, (a) Why do Isaiah's next words hrlng terror to his Ilrtcners? {b) What turn of evenh is soon to take place?

Trust in JeRoval~ in t)!c I:ricc ofAllvetslty 109

against you and against. your people ~ n d against the house o f your father doyj such as haw not come since the dcry of Ephrcrim's turning away fmm alongside ju- doh, namely, the king of Aaynr'o." (Isaiah 7:77$ Yes, disas- ter is corning, and at thr. hand of the king of Assyria. The prospect of domination by the notoriously cruel Assyri- ans must be the causc nf Inany sleepless nights for Ahaz and his people. Ahaz has seasoned that llefriendlng hsyr- ia would relieve him of Israel and Syria, Intleed, Assyria's king will respond to Ahaz' plea hy rvcnh~ally attacking Is- rael and Syria. (2 Kingsl6:9) Thls Is Ilkciy why Pekah and Rein will be forced to lift thetr siege of Jerusalem. Thus, the Syro-Israellre Ieaqc will have prwed unable to take Jerusalem. (lsaiali 7: 1 ) Now, though, Isaiah t~ l l s his shocked audience that Anyria, their hoped-for protector, will become their oppressor!-Compare Proverbs 29:25.

19 For Christians today, thls true historical account con- tains awarning, When under pressure we may be tempted to compromise ChrjsNan prjnciples, thereby rejecting Je- hovah's protection. Thls 1s shortsighted, even suicidal, as becomes evident horn Baiah's further words. The proph- et goes on to describe what the Assyrian invasion will do to the land and I t s people.

20 Isaiah divides his pronouncements into bur parts, each fo-lling what will happen "in that day"-that is, the day when Assyrla attacks Judah. "It must occur in thut day thatjehawh will whistle for the flies that are at the ex- tremity of the Nile cunals o f Egypt ond for the bees that are in the land of Assyria, and they will certainly come in and setlle down, all of them, upon the precipitous torrent valleys and upon the clefi3 of the crags and upon all the

19. What warnlna does this Wstarlcal drama contaln for Chdsttam - today? 20. Who are "the flEesW and "he bees," and what will they do?

thorn th- and upon a# the watering pklce~ .~ (imbh Z78, 19) The armia of Egypt and P\sSynq like s w a m of fib and trees, wil l h m their amtion directed to the Promised taad. This will nut be a passing W o n , The ma'' and "the beesm will settle down, In-ng every nook and craany of the land. 21 lSalzth wnxlnues: "In that w, by mmm of a h l d m-

zor in the mion of the W, ewn by mwns of the klng of Arryria, jlehowf~ w171 the head avrd the halr of the liee& andItwHlnwq away- t h e b e ~ m i M . ~ ( / s a h h Z2@ Now only Assyna, the chief threat, Is mentioned, Ahaz hires the byrian king to "shad Syria and ha- el. Howev~r, this "hired razor" from the Euphrab regJon will move againstJud;this ''head* and shave It clean, even removing the bmd!

22 What will be the d t ? ''It musl occur In &at day that on indMtllaMf will pmerw a I k a ywng cow of the herd and two sheep, And If mustoccur the due to the abundance of the pmhcing of milk, he will eut butter; be- cause b u m aitd honey ~ f e H o t everyone !eft rema.lnhg In the midst of t h ~ tarid will WE" (Isulah 7:2?, 24 By the ti= the Assyrians h 'shaved' the fmd, so few people will be left that unlp a mall number of animals will be n d d to provide W *WlUer and honey" will be eat- en-mthg else, no wine, no bread, no ather staples, ki iftostcessthed~ofda~on,lsaiahthwetlm~says that where there used to be a l e , productive land, there will novv be thornbushe and weeds. Those mtur- ing into the countryside will need "amm and the bowu for prokctiun against wild animals hddng in the thickets. Cleared fields will h m e kmpling grounds -for oxen

md sheep. (IsaIoh 723-29 Thfs p p h q Wns to be fulfilled In Bhaz' own day,-2 Chtanfcles 28$Ov

Precise Predictions 23 Wah now to the hmedbk situation. W e

Jeru- IS stlll undet siege by the S ~ h # e l i & cam- b e , Isaiah reports: " jehwh p w d k d b r r ~ y b me: Tok ht poundfa Irrrga tabktand Wte upon It with the ~ 4 4 ~ 1 s of mor&d m, "IWah~akrMash-bgz" And let - 23. (a) Whrt Is Iaalah now commanded to do? (b) How Is the sign of thc tablet anfirmedl

21. In what way w&Il the Asspalan h g be liLe a razor? 22. What examples d m Isaiah use to show the conquences of k- syrla's I r n d n m t inmiion7

me how attestation for myself by faIhh/ witnesses, Urhh the pn'est and Zechariah the $on of Jebe~chiah." " (lsaiah 8: 1, 2) '[he name Maher-rhalal-hash-l~itz means "Haslcn, (1 Spnlll I-le I-Ias Come Quickly to thc Plunder." lsaiah asks two respected men In the cornmunjty b attest his wrltlng this name on a large tabl~t, so that they can lat- er confirm the authenticity of thc document This sign, though, i5 tu be confimtecl hy a sucond sign.

2.1 Isaiah says: "Then I went near to the prophetess, m d she mme to be pregnant and in time gave birth to a son. jehowh now suid to me: " C d his name Maher-sholal- hnsh-baz, for before the boy will know how fo call out, "My father!" and "My mother!'' one will carry away the resources of Dtrmascur and the spoil of Sumaria before the king ofhsyriu.'" (Isaiah 8:3, 4) IEoth the large tablet and tlrr newl-rorn boy will serve as signs that Assyria will soon pli~nder Judah's opprecwrs, Syria and Israel. Now soon? Refore the boy is able to Fay the first words that most t9a hles learn-"Father" and 'Mot hcr." Such an exact pn- dict Inn s h w Id build the people's confidence in Jehovah. Or It could cause some to ridiculu Isaiah and his sons. Whatever the ase, Isaiah's prophetic words come true, -2 Kings 17:14.

2s Christians can learn from Isalah's repeated warnings. The apostle Paul revealed to us that In this historic dra- ma, Iwiah portrayed Jesus Chrlst and Iraiah's sons fore- shadowed Jesus' anointed disciples. (Hebrews 210-13) Je- sus, thrnugh his anointtlcl followers on earth, has been remlndlng true Christians of the need to "keep awake" In -- 24. What effect should the sign of Mriher-shalal-hah-baz haw on the pmple of Judah? 25. What sirnllarltim are there between the clays of Tsaiah and thc present tl me?

Trust in Jeliom h In tltr Ihcf of Adversity 113

these critical times. (Luke 21:34-36) At the same time, un- repentant opposers are w m e d of thelr corning destruc- tion, a l rhou~h such warnings are often met wlth riclicule, (2 Peter 3:3,4) ?'he fulfillment. of time-related prophecies in Tsaiah's day is a guarantw that God's timctalrlr for our day will alro "without fail come m e , It will nnt bc late." -Habakkuk 23.

Devastating "Waters"

26 Tsaiah continues h l ~ warnings: "For the reason that this peopk has rejected f-he waters of the Shiloah hut are goimg gently, nod there is exultation o w Rexin and the son of Remallah; even therefore, laok! lehowh is bringing up agoinsr them the mighty and the many waters af the River, the king of Assyria and oil his glory. And he will rer- toinly come up over ail his streambeds and go over all his bonks and mow on through ludah. He will ochrully flood and pass o m Up to the neck he will m c h . And the out- spreading of his wings must occur to fill the breadth of your land, 0 Irnrnanueli"-lsaioh 85-8.

27 ''This people," the northern kingdom of Israel, re- ject Jehovah% covenant with David. (2 Kings 1216-1 8) To them, it Iooks as weak as the trickling watc rs a f S hiloah, Jerusalem's water supply. They exult In tl~clr war a ~ a i n s t Judah. But this contempt: will not go unpunished, J e h ~ vah will allow the A~syrians to "flood," or ovcrln, Syria and Israel, much as Jehovah will soon allow the present political part of the wnrfd to flood the realm of False reli- gion. (Revetation 17: 16; compare Danlel 9:26.) Next, says Isaiah, the swelling "waters" will "move on through Ju- dah," reaching riglit "up to the neck," up to J~crusalem,

26, 27. (a) What events does Isaiah fomtell? (b3 What do Isaiah's words indicate fur Jchnvah'r servants today?

114 Isaiah's Pruphecy-1.Jglrt for All r\.iorrkirrri 1

where Judah's head (king) rules." In our time the pollti- cal executioners of false religion wlll llkewise close in on Jehovah's servants, surrounding them "t~p to the neck." (Ezekiel 382, 10-16) What wilt be the outcome? Well, what happens in Isaiah's time? Do the Assyrians suwc across the city walks and sweep God's people away? No. God is with them.

Fear Not-"God Xs With Us!" 2s Isaiah warns: "Be injurious, O you peoples [opposer! to

God's covenant people], and be shattered to pieces; and g k ear, all you in diston t purls of the earth! Gird your- selves, and be shattered to pieces! Gird yourselves, ond be shattered to pieces! Pion out a scheme, and it will be bra- ken up! Speak any word, and it will not stand, for God is with US!" (Isaiah 89, 10) Some yean later, during t t ~ c reign of Ahaz' faithful son Hezekiah, these words come true. When the Assyrians threaten Jerusalem, Jehovah's angel strikes down 185,000 of them. Clearly, God is with his people and the myal line of David. (Isaiah 3733-37) During the coming battle of Armageddon, Jehovah wlll likewise send the Greater Irnrnanuel not only to clash His enemies to pieces but also to rescue all those who trust In Him.-Psah 2:2,9,12.

29 Unlike Jews in Hezekiah's time, Ahaz' contemporaries Tack faith in Jehovah's protectton. TI-rey favor a confed-

+ Arjsyria is also compared to a bird whose outspread w l n ~ s "hll thc breadth of yourland." Thus, w h e m r the land extends, It lvlll he c w - e r d by the Assyrian army.

28. Despite the sb-enuous efforts of thelr enem ier, of what docs Je- b m d ~ assure Judah? 29. (a) How do Jews In Ahaz' day differ fmm tl~osc In the days of Hezekiah? (b) Why do Jehovah's servants today refraln fmm rnaklng religious and political alliances?

cracy, er "conspiracy," with the Assyrians as a bul- wark against the Sym-Israelite league. However, Jehovah's "hand" prods Isalah to speak against "the way of this peo- plu," or t.he poputar trend. I-le warns: 'me objectof their fear you men must nos fear, nor must you tremble at it. lehowh of armies-he Is the One whom you should ns holy, and he should be the object of p u r fwr, and he should he the One causing you to tremble." (Isaiah 8: 11-73) With this in mind, jchovah'~ senlant+s today guard agaitist amspiring with or putting their trust in religious counclls and political leagues. Scrvants of Jehovah hve full cnnfrdcnm in I;odls protective power. After all, if "e- hwah is an our sidc, what can earthling man do to us?' -Psalm 118:6,

30 Isaiah Roes on tn reiterate that Jehovah will prove to be "a sacsed place," a protection, for t l i~se trusting in hlm, In contrast, those rejecting him "will be certain to stumble and to fail and be broken, and to be snored and caughtn-live vlvld verbs that leave no doubt about the fate of those not trusting inJehnvah. (Isaiah 8:74 15) In the first century, thosc rejecting Jesus likewise stumbled and tell. (Luke 20:17, 18) A similar outcome awaits those today who fall to give allegiance to the enthroned heaven- ly King, Jesus.-Psalm 25-9.

31 In Isatah's day, not all are srurnbld. Isaiah says: "Wrap up the uttestation, put o seul about fhe tuw among my disciples! And I wlH keep in expectation of Jehovah, who Is concealing his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him." (Isaiah 8:16,77) Isaiah and those who heed hi5 teachin# will not abandon God's Law. They keep on

30. What wlll he the fntc of those not ttrustlng in Jehmah? 11 . Hmv can true Chrislians today follow the example of Isaiah and t 3 l thaw who l l~tcn tn !lit; tcaclling7

116 Isaiah's Prophecy-Llbyllt for All Miit! klnrl I

trusting in Jehmah, even though their dclhquent com- patriots refuse tw and thus have Jehovah conceal his face from them. May we follow the example of those trusting in Jehovah and have the same dekrmination to cling to pure worship!-Daniel 12:4, 9; Matthew 24:45; compare Hebrews 6:11,12.

" S i p s " and "Miracles" 32 Isaiah now proclaims; "Look! I and the children whom

]ehovah has given me are as signs and as mlmcIes in Ism- el from Jehovah of armies, who Is miding in Mount Zion. " {Isaioh 8: 78) Yes, hiah , Shear-jashub, and Mahcr-shalal- hash-baz are signs of Jehovah's pu rpo.wF forJ ~tdah. Today, Jesus and his anointed brothers similarly serve as signs, (Hebrews 2:ll-13) And they are joined in their work by "a great crowd" of "other sheep." (Revelation 7:9,14; John 10:16) Of course, a sign is valuable only If It stands out from its surroundings, Likewise, Christians fulfill their rommisdon as slgns only If they stantl out as belng dif- ferent from this world, putting thelr full trust InJehovah and boldly proclaiming his purposes,

33 Let dl, then, observe God's standards, not those of this warId. Continue to stand out fearlessly--as signs-car- rying hsward the mmmissien gwn te the Grcater Fsa- lah, J m s Christs "Proclaim the year of gdwI11 . . . and the day of vengeance on the part of our God," (Isaiah 61: 1,2; Luke 437-21) Indeed, when the Assyrlan flooci surges across the earth-even if it reaches up to our necks-true Christians will not be swept. away, We will stand firm I)(?- cause "God is with us,"

32. (a) Who today serve "as slgns and as mlracles"7 (b) Why should Christians stand out from the world? 33. [a) What are trueChristiam determlrred tn do? (b) Why wtll true Christians be able to stand hrm?

1 CHAPTER TEN

The Promise of a Prince of Peace

SOME six thousand years ago, the first human baby was born. His name was Cain, and hls blrth was very spe- cial. Neither his parents, nor the angels, nor even the Cre ator had seen a human baby before. This newborn infant could have brought hope to a condemned human rate, How disappointing it was when, after he grew up, he be came a murderer! (I John 312) Since then mankind has witnessed countless othcr murders. Humans, inclined as they are to do bad, are not at peace with one another or with God.-Genesis 6:s; Isaial~ 48:22.

2 Some four millenniums aftcr the birth of Cain, another baby was born. His name was Jesus, and his blrth too was very special. He was horn of a virgin, by the power of holy spirit-the only such birth in history, At the time of his birth, a rnultltude of joyful anpis sang praises to God, say- ing: "Glory in the heights above to God, and upon earth peace among men of goodwill." (Luke 213, 14) Far from being a murderer, Jesus opencd the way for humans to be at peace with God and to gain ewrlasting 1lfe.-John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 1555.

3 Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be called "Prince of

I 1. What has mankind experienced slnce the tlme of Cain? 2, 3. What prospects werc opened up by Jesus Chrlst, and what m~tst we do to rrreive such blrsslngx?

b." (Isaiah 96) He wuld o f b hb own life in M l f of m&d, thus makingpible rhe bqlveness of dm. (Isaiah S3:ll) Todayj pace Mth God and the fmghness of sins can be attained on the basis of faith inJesus Chist But such blssings m not -matic. (Colossians 121-23) Those wtro want them must learn to obey Jehcd~ God. (1 kter 3:11; cornpate Hehews 5:8, 9.) In W ' s day, Is- rael and Jdah do - the oppiie.

'Ihmiog to the Demons 4 Because of *eir disobedience, Isaiah's conOemporaries

m in a depI01abk moral sme, a pebble pit of spiritual darkurn. Even the smithern kingdom of Judah, the l a - tron of m ' s tempie, b no p-. As a rermlt of th& m- €aithfuhess, the people of Judah aw threatened with inva- sion by the Assp5mP and hW Cima Ue ahead. To whom do they turn far Mp?' Sad@ many turn to Satan, not to Jehmah. No, they dq not Inwk Satan by name. Rather, 1W King Saul .of old, Ehey engage in spfrtth, looking for atrswm to th& pmbIem9 bSf tryiRg to mmmutmicab? d t h the dead.-1 Sm*l @:l-W.

5 Some are am p m m q this pmt$e. Isaiah pofntg tosuchapcmaywh he say~:~lr?ase theyshoulds0)r t o j w ~ : ' ~ ~ ~ s p ~ ~ m a d f ~ ~ t ~ o r t o d r w e havJng a spfrif of predirfiim wtlo pre rhiplng and d n g ~ h l o w ~ ' i r N n o t f v i b ~ d i h t m y p m - p l e s h ~ m ~ ? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ f i o d w d p - sons In Malf d lkring personst" ( i d a h 8: 19) Spirit me dhsms rran trick ~ l e , "ddrplng and maktng utterances

4, 5. Whatis thestateof a f f a i f s i n ~ ~ s d q , and to whomdo =me turn?

7 k births of Calm and jesus wcare both vsry rpecM, Only that of /&us had a happy outcame

120 Isaiah3 PrapkeEy-LigR t fir All Man khd I

in b~ ma." Starh sound eik&, attdb~ted to the ~plr- ib of &ad ma, dan k worked Plrrough venlrllqnhm by a living medlm. At WP though, the demons may get dimclly ~~ and impersonate the dead, as a p p - ently happned Wtren Sad i n q u d of the witch of Endbr. -1 Samwl28:&19.

6 All of thlS is going on in hdah despite the fact that Je Ouwah has fmblddm the practice of spiritism. tFnder the Mosaic Law, it is a capital offense. ~ t l c u s 19.31; U1:6, 27; Rutemnomy 18:9l2) Why do a people who are Je hwah's special -on commit such a grave kmsgres- slon? B e a u s e they have tuned their backs on Jehovah's Lmandcouaselandhavebecame Wetredbythed+ wptlve pclwer of s h * ~~ 3:13) 'Their heart has be- comeuddhgjustlikefat," a r d theyhavebemme allen- aaed from their G d - P s h 119:711.*

Wythey-I.'OfwhavgoodIsaeLgW~fJ&wah when we are faced with an imminent attack by the Assyri- ans?' They want a quick and easy solution to their predica- ment and are not: a b u t to wait: for Jehwah to work out his wfll. En our day tow, many &nure JehovahJs law and search out spirit mediums1 comdt hor~scofres, and resort to 0th- er f o r m of mxhbm Pio mhe their problems. However, for t h e ~ b 6 s e e l r ~ w e r s f m m thedeadis justas rldic- uloustodayas itwasbackthen. %future of anywhoun- repentantly practice such +hgs wil l be with the " m d - ers and fwnicators and.. . idolaters and aU the ku They ham no f u l m pmspct~ of Pk-Rmhtfon 21:8.

Many Wm tbat Psalm 219 was written bg HesfeW -re he be- cameklng. I fso, i twasl ikeIyevri~ whJleIsalahwas prophesytne. - 6. Why am the hacks who him resaacd to splrlttsm eqedaIly blammvmhy? 7. Hmdo-ytoday-&tbelsraellmofW1rday,d-t w l I l b e t h e f u ~ d ~ 1 1 & b n e s i f t h e y d o r s c # ~ t ?

The Promise afa P~incrv of Ruce

God's 'Law and Attestation'

8 Jehovah's Iaw banning spMism, together with his otb er commands, is not hidden in Judah. It is pmerved in wrlthg. Today hh W d is available in its completed form lnwrlthg, It is the Bible, w h i in- ,- eludes not only a compila#on of divlne lawr and regulations but a h an account 1 of God's Wings with his people. This Bible account of JehaMh's dealqp forms an amtion , or kstlmony, kachlng us abwt Jehovah's nature and quallth. In- 1

1 sbead of consulthag with the d d 1 where should the Ismlim be going for di- rection? Isaiah aMWED: T o the law and to the dter- Cation l " (Isalah 8:20cr) Yes, those seeking true enlightenment should go 1

i to God's written Ward.

9 Some Isradites dabbling fn spMthm may profess n- Thm w#I bed k r m h for * ~r wna &an a hunger ~w of But such ~~ bread and a thirst for warn empty and hypaaim ha- tahsap: "Sum/ythqwlllkeqsoying w h 4 t i s d g d P bhlo sWmmt that will h m no llght of dam." (1-h 8: ZOb) Towhat statement is Isaiahbexe refemng? Perhaps tu the sMement: "To the law and m the atWxUm!" It may be that some apoetate haelites refer to the Word of God, ~ustasaposta&3andothmtoday m a y q y o t e S a l ~ B u t - 8. What is "the iaww d *the attestationu b whkh we todag should

&A Famine, Net &t BradH ~QDWwknce to J e w - - in mental &he%

mheim 617,181 Iu r $pMzu.&l rase, t h people,lEPfJ~t- & h a w k m a n e b l t n d , w W ~ ~ ~ ( l ~ ~ ~ 2 : 1 4 ) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ n : uEdme: d l ~ n ~ p a s r ~ ~ ~ k r m f ~ a n d h m gq." (fsabalt &2l a] Bemuse of the m&mts un&ilthftilneq --plmttruMy d* the reign o f ~ , A h a z 4 h & s m M

a m hdepnht hg#om'B threatened, T h ~ n i s g u r r o u n d e d b p ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~aneJudemdtyafkamthtzTheenemy tkdate? k ~ ~ m ~ m - M a n g ~ " h i i r d ~ a n d h - ' ' E l ~ t ~ k l n d O f h ~ B Q s o & f&@ @e h d . Suwe 4- ~~ Amos pmphW Q W I T h ~ a r e d a f " ~ ' b d t e u ~ d t h ~ ~ J & ~ ~ ' a m i I ~ s m d a f a m h e ~ ~ M a * , n o t f o ~ ~ @ a ~ n o t h m m ~ t f w l ¶ ~ ~ v r a o r d s o f ~ ~ ~ " ~ ~ 8 : l l ) J . ~ ~ ~ t n t b e ~ s s f j u s t ~ ~ ~ f m b e l

12 Will calling down evil upon God bring p a c e to the inhabitant% af Judah? No. Isaiah foretells: "To fhe earth he will look, and, iro! distress and darkness, oBscurl& hard times and gloominess with no brightness." (lsuiuh 8:22) After raising their eyes 2o heaver1 to t~lanie God, they look l~ack to the earth, back to their hopclcss prospeas, Their turning (?way from God has led to calamity. (Proverbs 19:3) What, though, of the prorniscs that God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? (Gencsls 22: 15-18; 28:14, 15) Will Jchovah default? Will the Assyrians or some other military power bring to an end the royal Ilne promised to Judah and David? (Genesis 49:8-1O; 2 Samuel 211-16) Will tlre Israelites be forever condemned to darkness?

A Land "Treated With Contempt" 13 Isaiah now alludes to one of the worst of the cab-

clysmlc events that come upon the descendants of Abra- ham: "The o b s c u m ~ s wfll not be us when the Iond had stress, as at the former time when one treated with con- tempt the /and of Zebulun and the land of Naph tali and when at the later time one coused It lo be honored-the way by the sea, in the region of the lordan, Colilee of the nations." (Isaiah 9:J) Galilee is a territory in thc north- ern kingdom of Israel. In Isaiah's prophecy i t lndudes "the land of Zebulun and the land of Nnphtali" and also "the way by the sea," an ancient road that ran 'by the Sea of Galilee and led to the Mcdlkrranean Sea. In Isaiah's d<ay, the region is called "Galilee of t l ~ c natlonr," likely be- cause many of its cities are inhabited ly non-Israelites."

' Samc havesuggested that the 20 dtles of Calllee that King Sdomm oflcrcd to Ilirarn the king of Tpe were probably tnhahited by non- Irraell2es.-l Kinp 9:1&13. - 12. (a) Ta what h a turn@ away fmm God Icd Judah? (b) What im- portant questtons are raised? 13. What I s "Galilee of the natfans," and how does It come to be "treated wlth contempt"?

TITI: Prornl~e nfa klnce of Pence 125

How is this land "treated with contempt"? Thc pagan As- syrians wnquer it, take the Israelites into exile, and reset- t'le the whole region with pagans, who are not descendants of Abraham. Thus the ten-tribe northern kingdom dlsap pears from hlstory as a distinct nation !-Z Kings 17:5,6,18, 23, 24.

14 Judah too is under pressup from the Aqsyrlans. W111 it sink Into a permanent "obscureness" as cIid the ten-tribe kingdom represent& by Zebulun and Naphtall? Na. At a " l a l ~ r time," Jehovah will bring blessings to the region of the southern kingdom of Judah and ewrl to the land for- merly ruled by the northern klngdum. I-low?

1s The apostle Matthew answers this questlon in his In- sptrecl record of the earthly ministry of Jesus. Describing the early days of that ministry, Matthew says: "After leav- ing Nazareth, [Jesus] came and took up residence In Ca- pernaum 'bcside the sea in the districts of Zebulun and Naphtali, that there might be fulfilled what was spoken t h r o u ~ h Isaiah the prophet, saying: '0 land ai Zebulun and land of Naphtali, along the road of the sea, an the other side of the Jordan, GaliIge of the natlons! the people sitting In darkness saw a great light, and as for those sitting in a region of deathly shadow, light mse upon them."" -Marthew 413-16.

16 Yes, "the later time" foretold by Isaiah B the time of Christ's earthly ministry. Most of Jesus' earthly life was spent In Galilee. It was in the district of Galilee that he be- gan his ministry and started to announce: "The kng- dom of the heavens has drawn near." (Matthew 4:17) In - 14. In what sense willjudah's PobscurenpssH be less than that of the ten-krlhe kingdom? 15, 16. (a) At what "later time" will the sltuatfon c h a n ~ e fur "the dlstrlctfi of Zebulun and Naphtallf'? (b) How does the land that was trratud wlrh contempt come to be honored?

126 lsdoh's Pmphdcy-&&ht fir All Mankind I

W e e , he d e h d his famous Sermon on the Mount, chose hls apostles, w r m e d hh fist W e , and sp- p x e d a0 some 500 fo11mm after his remmdon. (Mat- thew 51-7:27; a16-;?0; Mark 3:13,14; John 28-11; 1 Co- rinthians 1551 In this way Jesus fulfdld hiah's prophey by honoring "the land of a h f u n and the land of Naph- talL'' Of course, Jesus d d not mMct his minkmy to the people of Galilee. 3y m n g the good news throughout the land, Jesus 'awed to be honored' the entire nation of Israel, Including Judah.

The *Great UghV 17What, though, of Matthew's mention of "a great

light" h mike? Be? m is a q r t l u n from Imh's pmpheq, Iserlah - me people that were wikfng In ~ d a ~ ~ h ~ ~ ~ I l g h t . A r ~ ~ ~ ingh ahsiadofdtspshdow, Ilghtheifharshoneupon them," (Isdub 9G!) By lhe Arst century C.E, the light of mth had been hiddm by pagm falsehoods. J W h re- llglous leaders had compnded the pmb1011 by hold- ing to thetr ml@ous tradition wfth whlch they had "made the ward of Gal invalid" (Matthew 15:6) Humble ones wax oppressed and W d e r e d , C o U m h g 'Wind guides,' (Matkhew 2324,16) When Jesus the M&sW a w e d , the eyes of many humble people were opefled in a won- drous way. (John 1:9,12) Jes& work W e on earth and the bIangs Wdng from his sacrib are aptly charac- terized in Isaiah's pophay as "a great IfgkH-jahn 8:'12.

18 Those who xespntkd to the Ught had much reason - 17, HQW do= "a gmt ll&P ahlnc in Galllce? 18, 19. What reason, dfd the who rlspmded to the light haw fbr gat re)oidn$?

laus w s a light in ehe land

for rejoicing. Isaiah continued: 'You haw made the na- tion populous; for it you have made the rejoicing greet They have rejoiced before you as with the rejoicing in the harvesttime, as those who are joyful when they divide up She spoil." (lsoiuh 9:3) As a muI t of she prcacliing ac- tivity of J m s and his followers, honestheartecl oncs came forward, showing themselves desirous of twrshiping Jc- hovah with spirit and truth. (John 424) In less than four years, multitudes embraced Christianity. Three tliousand were baptized on the day of Pentecost 33 C.I. Shortly af- terward, "the number of the men hecame about five 1.hou- sand." (Acts 241; 4:4) As the disciples zealously rcffectcd the light, "the number of the disciples kept multiply in^ in Jerusalem very much; and a great cmwd of priests began ta be obedient to the fajth."-Acts 6:7.

19 Like those who rejoice in a bounteous harvest or who delight over the division of valuable spoil after a great mil- itary victory, Jesus' followers rejoiced over the increase. (Acts 246, 47) In time, Jehovah caused the light to shine among the nations. ( A m 14:27) Sa people or all races re- joiced that the way of approach to Jehovah had been opened to them.--Acts 13:48.

"As in the Day of Midian" 20 The effech of the activity of the Messiah are perma-

nent, as we see from Isaiah's next' words: '7he yoke of their toad onti the rod upon their shoulders, the staff of the one driving &em to work, you have shcrttemd to pjeces as in she day of Midian." (Isaiah 9:#) Cen hrries ixfore Isa- iah's day, the Midianites conspired wit11 the Mmhltes to

20. (a) In what ways did the MIdianitPs prove to be enemies of Is- rael. and how did Jehovah bring an end to the threat they pncctl? (b) How on a future "day of Midian" wilt Jesus bring an cnd to the threat posed by enemies of God's people?

liire Israel into sin. (Numbers 251-9, 14-t8; 31~15, 16) Lat- er, Mldlanltcs tcrrorlzed the Israelites by raiding and plun- dering their villages and farms for seven years. (Judges 6: 1-61 nut then Jcho~vah, through his servant Gideon, rout- ecl MldI~n's armles. After that "day of Midian," there i s no cviclcnce that Jehovah" people ever again suffered at the hands of the Midianltes. (Judgts 6:7-16; 828) In the near future, Jesus Christ, the greater Gidmn, will ddiver a dcalhblow to rntxlern-day enemies oflehovah's people.

1 (llevelation 1214; 19:11-21) Then, "as in the day of Midi- an," a complete and lasting victory will be gained, not by human prowess, but by Jehovah9 power. (Judges 7:2- 22) tiocl's people will never again suffer under the yoke of I uppscsslan!

21 Displays of divine powcr am- not a glorification of war- fare. 'l'he resurrected Jesus i s the Prlnce of Peace, and by

I annlhtlatlng 111s enemies, he will usher in eternal peace. Isaiah now speaks of rnllitary paraphernalia as being total- ly dcstroycd by tire: "Every boot of the one tramping with tremors and the mantle rolled in blood have even come to be for burning as bod for fire," (Izoioh 95) The tremors caused by t hc trampin# of t hc boots of marching soldiers wlll never agaln he felt. The bloody ~mlforrns of combat- hardcnctl warriors will no longer be seen. War will be no more!-I1sal m 4h:9.

I "Wonderful Counselor" 22 At the time of his miraculous birth, the one born

to bc thc Messiah rcccived the name Jesus, meaning "Je- hovah Is hlvntion." But he has other names, prophetic names that outline his key mle and his elevated position.

I 21. What dms Isatah's prophecy indicate as to the future of warfare? 22. Whdt r~ir~lt iplc prol,herlc name Ir Jmuq given in the book of 1% Inh?

130 Isainh's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I

One such name is I ~ a n u e l , meaning "With Us Is God." (Isaiah 214, footnote) Isaiah now describes another pm- phetic name: "There has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder. And his name will he called Wonder- ful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) Consider the rich meaning of t h s multiple prophetic name.

23 A counselor is one who gves counsel, or advice. When on earth Jesus Christ provided wonderfuI counsel. In the Bible we read that "crowds were astounded at hs way of teaching." (Matthew 228) He is a wise and empathet- ic Counselor, with an extraordinary understanding of hu- man nature. His counsel is not restrided to reprimands or chastisement. More often, it is in the form of instruction and loving advice. JesusJ counsel is wonderful because it is always wise, perfect, and infallible. When followed, it leads to everlasting life.-John 658.

24 Jesus' counseI is not simply the product of his bril- liant mind. Rather, he says: "What I teach is not mine, but belongs to him that sent me." (John 7: 16) As was the case with Solomon, Jehovah God is the Source of Jesus' wisdom. (1 Kings 37-14; Matthew 12342) Jesus' exampIe should motivate teachers and counseIors in the Christian congregation always to base their instruction on God's Word.-Proverbs 21:30.

"Mighty God" and "Eternal Father" 25 Jesus is also "Mighty God" and "Eternal Father." This

does not mean that he usurps the authority and position

23, 24. (a) In what way is Jesus a "Wonderful Counselor"? (b) How can Christian counselors today irnltate Jesus' example? 25. What does the name "Mighty God" tell us about thc heavenly Jesus?

The Promise of a Prince of Peace 131.

of Jehovah, who is 'God our Father." (2 Corinthians 1:2) "He lJesusj . . . gave no consideration to a seizure, name- Iy, that he should be equal to God." (Philippians 2:h) He is caIled Mighty God; not Almighty God. Jesus never thought of himself as God ALmighty, for he spoke of his Father as "the only true God," that is, the only God who should be worshiped. (John 173; Revelation 4:l l) In the Scriptures, the word "god" can mean "mighty one" or "strang one." (Exodus 12:12; Psalm 8:s; 2 Corinthians 4:4) Before Jesus came to earth, he was "a god," "existing in God's form." After hs resurrection, he returned to an even higher position in the heavens. (John 1:l; Phjlippians 2: 6-11) Further, the designation "god" carries an addition- al implication. Judges in Israel were called "godsn-once by Jesus himself. (Psalm 826; John 10:35) Jesus is Jeho- vah's appointed Judge, "destined to judge the living and the dead." (2 Timothy 4:1; John 530) Clearly, he is well named Mighty God.

26 The title "Eternal Father" refers to the Messianic King's power and authority to give humans the prospect of eter- nal life on earth. (John 11:25, 26) The legacy of our firrt parent, Adam, was death. Jesus, the last Adam, "became a life-gwing spirit." (1 Corinthians 15:22, 45; Romans 5: 12, 18) Just as Jesus, the Eternal Father, will live forever, so obedient mankind will enjoy the benefits of his father- hood eternally.-Romans 6:9.

"Prince of Peace"

27 Besides everlasting life, man also needs peace, both with God and with his fellowman. Even today, those

26. Why can Jesus be called "Eternal Father"? 27, 28. What wonderful benefits come both now and in the future to subjects of the "Pr~nce of Peace"?

132 Isninh!~ Prp/~~r+y-L/,~!rt Ihr A l l Mrrnklr~rl I

subjecting themelm to the ruIe uf the "Prlncc af Peace" have 'beaten their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears.' (Isaiah 2:24) They do not nune ha- trcds because of political, territorial, racial, or econom- Ic differences. They are united in the worship of the one true God, Jehovah? and they work to maintain peacetill re- lations, with their neighbors, both inside and outside the conpegation.-Galatians 6:lU; Ephesians 412, 3; 2 Tim* thy 224.

28 In God's due time, Christ will establish on carth a peace that will be global, firmly estahlishetl, permanent, (Acts 1:7) "To rjte abundance of She princely rule and to peace them wilt be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom in order to esroblish it firmly and to sus- tain it by means of justice and by means of righteousness, from now on and to time indefinite." (Isaiah 9:70) In exer- cising his authority as the Prillcc of Pcacc, Jcsus will not rcr- sort to tyrannical means, His subjccts will nut br stripped of rhefr free will and subjugated by force. Ilathcr, all that he will accomplish will bc "by means of justlcc and by means of righteousness." What a rcfrcshln~ change!

29 ln view of the wonderful ImpticatIons of Jcsus' pro- phetic name, tsaiah's conclusion to this part of his proph- ecy is truly thrilling. H e writ-: 'The veryxmlof~ehovuh of armies will do this." (Isaiah P:7b) Ycr, J c h m h acts wlth zeal. Ile does nothing in a halfhcarteri way. Wc can be sure that whatever he promises, he will fi~lly accomplish, Il' anyone, then, longs to enloy werlastlng peace, let him serve Jehovah wholehearteclIy. Like Jehnvah God and Jc- sus, the Prince of Peace, may all servants uf God be "zcal- nus for fine works."-Titus 2:14. - 29. What should wc do i f WT wish tu entoy the blesslng nl werlast- I rtk pace7

CHAPTER ELEVEN -

Woe to, the Rebels!

W E N Jehovah's c m n n n t people were divided Into two 1 kingdoms, the nart helm ten-tribe kingdom came under the rulership of Jeroboam. The new klng was an able, en- ergetic ruler. Rut he lacked real falth In Jehovah, Because of this he made a krtlMe error that bli~hrcd the whole history of the northern kingdom. Undcr the Mosaic Law, the Israelites; were cornnanrlrrl to t m l three times a year up to the temple in Jerusalem, which was now in the southern kingdom of Jt~clah. (1)euteronorny 16:16) Afraid

I that such regular journeys would make his subjects think about reunification wlth their southern brnthers, Jerobo- am "made two golden calves and said to the pcaple: 'It is too much for you to go up .lo Jerusalem. Here is your God, 0 Israel, that brought you up out of the land of Egypt.' Then he placed the one in Brthcl, and the other he put in Dm"-l Kings 12:28,29.

2 In the short term, Jcroboam's plan seemed to work. The people gradually Icft off goin# to Jerusalem and tmk

I up worshjping beforc thc ti40 calws. (1 Wngs I2:SCF) How- ever, this apostate rellglous practice corrupted the ten- tribe kingdom. In later years, even jehu, who had shown such commendable r.eal ln clearing Dan1 worshlp out of Is- rael, continued to bow down to thc golden calves, (2 Kings

I 10:28, 29) What else rcsulted from Jerobuam'h tragically

I. #at terrlblc error dirt Icmt~mm make? 2, 3. W a t e f f e d ~ did Jernlmm'% trrcjr have on IiracE?

134 Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I

wrong decision? Political instability and suffering for the people.

3 Because Jeroboam had become apostate, Jehovah said that his seed would not reign over the land, and in the end the northern kingdom would suffer a terrible disas- ter, (1 Nngs 14:14,15) Jehovah's word proved true. Seven of Israel's kings ruled for two years or Iess-some for only a few days. One king committed suicide, and six were as- sassinated by ambitious men who usurped the throne. Es- pecially after t h e reign of Jeroboam 11, which ended about 804 B.C.E. whiIe Uzziah was reigning in Judah, Isra- el was plagued with unrest, violence, and assassinations, I t is against this backdrop that Jehovah through Isaiah sends a direct warning, or "word," to the northern king- dom. 'There was a word that Iehovah sent against Jacob, and it fell upon Israel."-lsaioh 9:8. *

Haughtiness and Insolence Earn God" Wrath 4 Jehovah's "word" will not be ignored. 'me people will

certainly know it, even all of them, Ephraim and the in- habitant of Samaria, because of their haughtiness and be- cause of their insolence of heart" (Isaiah 9:9) "Jacob," "Is- rael," "Ephraim," and "Samaria" all refer to the northern Iungdom of Israel, of which Ephraim is the predominant tribe and Samaria the capital. Jehovah's word against that kingdom is a shong judicial statement, for Ephraim has

* Isaiah 98-10:4 is made up of four strophes (sections of a rhythmic passage), each ending with the ominous refrain: "In view of all this his anger has not turned back, but his hand is sketched out still." (Isa- iah 9:12,17, 21; 10:4) This literary device h a the effect of binding Isa- iah 9%-10:4 into one composite "word." (Isaiah 9%) Note, too, that Jehovah's "hand is stretched out still," not to offer recondliation, but to judge.-Isaiah 9:13. - 4. What "word" does Jehovah send against Israel, and why?

Woe to thp Rebels! 135

become hardened in apostasy and is brazenly insolent to- ward Jehovah. God will not protect the people from the consequences of their wicked ways. They will be forced to hear, or pay attention to, God's word.-Galatians 6:7.

5 As conditions deteriorate, the people experience severe losses, including their homes-commonly made of mud bricks and inexpensive wood. Are their hearts softened as a result? Wdl they heed Jehovah's prophets and return to the bxe God?" Isaiah records the people's insolent re- sponse: "Bricks are what have fallen, but with hewn stone we shall build. Sycamore trees are what have been cut down, but with cedan we shall make replacement " (ha- iah 9: 10) The Israelites defy Jehovah and spurn his proph- ets, who tell them why they are suffering such hardships. In effect, the people say: 'We may lose houses made of per- ishable mud bricks and inexpensive wood, hut we will do more than make good for these losses by rebuilding with superior materials-hewn stone and cedar!' (Compare Job 4:19.) They leaveJehovah no choice but to discipline them furthet-Compare Isaiah 48:22.

6 Isaiah continues: "Jehovah will set €he adversaries of Re- zin on high against him." (Isaiah 9: 7 Ja) King Pekah of Is- raeI and King Rezin of Syria are allies. They are scheming to conquer the two-tribe kingdom of Judah and to place on Jehovah's throne in Jerusalem a puppet king-a certain "son of Tabeel." (Isaiah 7:6) But the conspiracy is doomed. -

"Jehovah's prophets to the northern kingdom of Israel include Jehu (not the king), Eliiah, blicaiah, Elisha, Jonah, Oded, Hosea, Amos, and Micah -

5. How do the Israelites show themselves unaffemd by Jehovah's ads of lodgment? 6 . How does Jehovah undermine the Syro-Israelite scheme against Judah?

136 Isainit's I'roplvrc}~-Li,fI~t /iur All Mrrnkind I

Reztn has powerful enemies, and Jehovah wlll '.xt un h l ~ l ~ ' these enemies against "him," Israel. The term 'seton hlxh' means to allow them to wage effcaive warfare that will bring about the destruction clE thc alliance and its ob- jectlws,

7 The dlssolvjng of thls alllance beglnr when Aqsyria at- tacks Syria. 'The king of Arsyria went up to L~nrnascws ithe capital of Syria] and captured it and Icd its puple into ex- ilc at Kir, and Re& he put to dmth." (2 Kin~s 16:9) Hav- ing Iwt his puwerfuI ally, Pekah finds that I ~ l r designs on Judah are thwarted rn fact, rliortly after Rexln" death, Pe- k a l ~ himself Is assassinated by Hnshen, wlzo thereafter uFurps the throne of Samaria,-2 Kings 1523-25,30.

8 Syria, Israel's former ally, is now a v3ssal of Assyrja, the dominant power in the region. Isaiah prophesies a b u t how Jehovah will use this new political alignment: '7k enemies of that one [Isme!] he [ jehovah] will goad on, Syria from the east and the Philistines [ram behind, and they will eat up Israel with open mouth. in view of oil this his anger has not turned bock, but his hand is stretched out still,," (Isaiah 9:19b, 12) Yes, Syrb ir now Ismel's enemy, and Israel must prepare for attack from Aqyria nrrd Syria. 'I'he invasion succeeds. Assyria makes the usurper Hoshea his servant, exacting a hefty tributc. (A fcw decades earlier, Assyria received a large sum from Klng Menahem of Isra- el,) How true the prophet Hosea's PY~KIS: "Strangers have eaten up his [Ephraim's] power"!-I-lasea 79; 2 Kings 15: 19, 20; 171-3.

9 Dws not Isaiah also say that the Philistlns will invade "from behind"? Yes. Prior to the days of magnetic com-

7, R. Pnr Israel, what is the result of hsyria's conrlucst uf Syria? 9, Why can we say that the Phlllatlnes attack "l'rom t~elilnd"?

passes, the Hebrews indicated direction from the view- pnint of a person facing the sunridng. 'Thus, " the cast" W ~ F thc bnt, white the west, the coastal home of the Phi- Ilstincs, was "hehlnd." The "Israel" mcntlonerl a l Isaiah 9: 12 may Include Judah in this instance hccause the Philis- tines Invaded Judah during the reign of Pcknh's conjrcrn- p m r y , Aha%, capturing and om~pying a rnrrnber of Jude- an cities n11d slrongholds. Likc liphraim ro t11c north, Judah cleserv~ this discipline fmm Jel~nvah, for she ton is slddlert wl th apostasyr2 Chronicles 28:1-4, 18, 19,

From 'Head to Tail1-A Nation of Rebels

In 111 spltc of all I t s suffering-and desplt~ the strong pro- nounccments of Jehovah's prophets-the northern king- dam persists in rebellion against Jehovah. 'The people themselves h m mt returned to the One striking them, and jehovah of armies they hove not sought" (Isaiah 9:13) Consequently, the prophet says: 'Yehovuh will cut off from Ismel head and tail, shoot and rush, In one doy. The aged and high/y rerespected one b the head, and the prophet giv- ing Idse Instru&'on is the tailI And those who ore lmding this people on prove to be the ones causing them to wan- der; and those of them who am being led on, the ones who are being confused."-Isaiah 9: 14- 16,

11 'I'he "head" and the "shoat" represent "the aged and highly respected oneu-the leaders nf the nation. The "tall" and the "tush" refer to false prophets who utter wods pleasing to their leaders. A Bitlle scholar writer: "The false Prophets are called the tail, because they wrc morally the basest of the people, and because they

10, 11. Whnt punishment wflI Jehovah brlng against Israel because of their persistent rebellion?

were the g$rvlte adherents and mprters of wicW rub IXL" b b o r W.J. Yxmg says of these fahe pmph ets: UNa l d e ~ ~ m r e they brat, folkwing where the ladm led, they simply ~ a t k n d and famed, a wagging tail on a dog."-G3mp~ 2 TlmOthy 43.

Even Widows and Fatherless Boys' Are Rebels

12 Jehovah is the Champion of widows and fatMess bogs. W w 2E22,W) Yet, hear what Is& now says: " ~ w i B m t ~ k e e m o w r W r p u n g m I cmd u p o n ~ ~ ~ a n d r r p o n t h & w l d o m h e w l l l ~ n o m e ~ ~ u s e a l l o f t k e m mapshim and&& d m and e w y m& Js s p h g mwkmas. In vJew of all this hk m p h nM turned back, but hk hand ir s&reW orrE sM," @oak kl7) has mrr~pt- ed all 1ewL of sod*> indud@ the widows and fatherless bop! j&mh patmtly sends kb pmpheq hoping that the people: W change their ways. For example, "Da come back, Q brad, ta Jehovah your God, 6M. you have stum- bled in your e~m~," pleads H w a . (Hosea 14:l) How it must pain the Chmrpion o fw fdm and fatheries bop to have to j-ent agdm even them!

13 Lfke Isaiah, we a& l m g Ixl dtics] times prior tr, Jeh* vah's day of judgment a m &e wicked. (2 nmothy 3: 1-51 How impoztant, then, that true CMstians, regardless of their situation in life, remain spiritually, morally, and maWydan in ordw to rettljn W's &or. kt each one jealwsly guard hk reMmbip with Jehuuah. kt none W h Q k e s m p e d h r n "Eiabylmthe GRaYmeragdn ''share With h a in her s i t ~ . * - ~ W 18:2,4. - 12. How d8ep info b r ~ s m i e y buts cmqtlon penetrarctl7 13. What cnn m km ham the s i M l o n in W ' r day?

Woe ta thr Rebels!

Faf se Waxship Breeds Violence 14 Forlse worship Is, in effect, the worship of &mom.

(1 Codnthhm 1020) As demonstrated before the F l d J demon Influence leads m violence. ( G a d 6:1l, 12) It is no surprise, then, that when hael tuns apostate and be- ans worshiping the demons, violence and - iiIl the land.-DMwonorny 32:17; Psalm 106:3538.

15 In vMd word p l m , d a d b the spread of wkkdnea and violence In Israel: W n e s s hm be- mrneatlomejurtll&ea mthombt~hesand~&~ Itwili eat up. A d It wlll mtch flm In the M&is of the h?sC and thq will bs borne aM as the billbwing of snwke. in

14, 15, (a) What mults from demon worship? (b) W h pqhesre~ that Imel will experlenw what ongoing sufferlag?

Wlckedniss and violence sweep thmugh Imel Ilks a Ibwt #re

rhe fury of j-h of mmia w Imd has k n s@t afim, and f h k p y k w i l f k o m e a r W b r thefke. No one dl1 l w compmsbn even on his brother. And one WIN cut down on the right and will camink be hungry; and one Msrrton &el&, undtheyM~~in&notbewtlsf led. T h q r w f l l & m m f t h e f l e s l r o f h k o r m m , M ~ Ephmim, and @raim km&. Together thq d l1 be againstludoh. In view of ail this h& orup h a not tomed

but ~s hand is art rtia.u--i~ai~h 9: 1&27. 16 Uke a flame that spreads from thornbush to thorn- bush, vtolace m m out of mntrol and quickly mch- es "the Wckets of the fur&,* aeattng a full-blown forest frre of violence, Wle commenmtrln Kell and Deli*h d* scribe the level d vblence as be@ "the most Inhuman seifdestntction during an amch id dvfl war. Mtltute of any tender ernotEom, they & o u d one another without being satisfied" Likely, the t t l k of Ephraim arid Mmas- seh are singled out here hause they are the main repre- sm- of the northern Wgdom and, as descendants of Josepkls WO t k y are the M O ~ d ~ ~ e l y related of the +Ell t r fhs . Despite w, m a r they Intwrupt their f#Mddal Wlma only when they war e n s t Judah to the south.-2 Qm,nides ml-&,

Caxrupt Judges Meet Their Judge 17 Jehmah next focuses hb judicial eye on tsrael's m-

rupt judges and other offichh. abuse their paww by plundering the lowly and a c t e d ones who come to - 16. How m the words of Idah 9:18-21 hr1611ed7 17, 18. What mrmption exists In hael's legal and s-7

Ishovah dl1 hold m account those who prey on others

142 Isaiah's Prophecy-Ligh t for All Mankind I

them seeking justice. Isaiah says: "Woe to those who are enacting harmful regulations and those who, cons tan try writing, have written out sheer trouble, in order to push away the lowly ones from a legal case and to wrest away justice from the afflic&d ones of my people, for the widows to become their spoil, and thot they may plunder even the fatherless boys !"-Isaiah 70: 1,2.

1s Jehovah's Law forbids all forms of injustice: "You peo- ple must not do injustice in the judgment. You must not treat the lowly with partiality, and you must not prefer the person of a great one." (Leviticus 1915) Disregarding that Iaw, these officials draw up their own "harmful regu- lations" so as to legitimize what amounts to outright theft of the cruelest kind-taking the scanty possessions of wid- ows and fatherless boys. Israel's false gods are, of course, blind to this injustice, but Jehovah is not. Through Isaiah, Jehovah now focuses hs attention on these wicked judges.

19 "What will you men do at the day of being given at- tention and at the ruin, when i t comes from far away? To- ward whom will you flee for assistance, and where will you leave your glory, except it be thot one must bow down un- der the prisoners ond that people keep falling under those who have been killed?" (Isaiah 70:3,4a) The widows and fatherless boys have no honest judges to whom to appeal. How appropriate, then, that Jehovah now asks those cor- rupt Israelite judges whom they will turn to now that Je- hovah is holding them to account. Yes, they are about to learn that "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."-Hebrews 10:31.

20 The "glory" of these wicked judges-the worldly pres- tige, honor, and power that come with their wealth and - 19, 20. How will the situation of the corrupt Israelite judges be changed, and what will happen to their "glory"?

1 Woc to t71c Rebels!

position-will be short-lived. Some will become prisoners of war, 'bowing down,' or crouching, among other prison- ers, while the rest will be slain, their corpses covered with the war dead. Their "glory" also includes ill-gotten riches, which will be plundered by the enemy.

21 Isaiah concludes this final strophe with a grim warn- ing: "In view of all this [all the woe that the nation has so I far suffered] his anger has not turned bock, but his hand is

I stretched out still.'' (Isaiah 10:46) Yes, Jehovah has more to say to Israel. Jehovah's outrtretched hand will not be drawn back untd he delivers a final, devastating blow to

1 the rebellious northern kingdom.

Never Fall Prey to Falsehood and Self-Interest 22 Jehovah's word through Isaiah fell heavily upon Is-

rael and a d not return to him without results.' (Isaiah 55:10, 11) History records the tragic end of the northern kingdom of Israel, and we can only imagine the suffer- ing that its inhabitants had to endure. Just as surely, God's word will be fulfilled on the present system of things, es- pecially on apostate Christendom. How important, then, that Christians give no ear to lying, anti-God propagan- dal Thanks to God's Word, Satan's clwer strategies have I iong been exposed, so that we nerd not be overreached by them as were the people of ancient Israel. (2 Corin- thians 2:11) May all of us never cease to worship Jehovah "with spirit and truth." (John 424) In that case, his out- stretched hand will not strike his worshipers as it did rebel- lious Ephraim; his arms will warmly embrace them, and he will help them along the road to everlasting life on a paradise earth.-James 4:8.

21. In view of the punishments that Israel has received, ha% Jeho- I - vah's anger against them ceased? 22. What lesson can we learn from what happened to Israel?

CHAPTER TWELVE

Do Not B e Afraid of the Assyrian

IN THE middle of the ninth century B.C.E., the Flebm prophet Jonah, son of Arnittaj, ventured into Ninw~h, the capital of the Assyrian Empire. He had a weighty mes- sage to deliver. Jehavah had told him: "Get up, go to Nine- veh the great cityI and proclaim against her that their barf- ness has come up before me."-Jonah 1:2,3,

2 When he first received his commission, Jonah ran off in the opposite direction, toward Tanhish. From a human standpoint, Jonah had reason to be reluctant. ' f ie Assyrl- ans were a nue l people. Notice how one Assyrian mon- arch dealt with his enemies: "I cut off the limbs of the of- ficers , . . Many captives from among them I burner1 with fire, and many I took as living captives. From some I cut off their hands and theit fingers, and from others I cut off their noses." Still, when Jonah finally delivered Jehc- wh's message, the Nirrwites repented of their sins and Jehovah spared the city at that time.-Jonah 33-10; Mat- thew 1.241.

Jehovah Takes Up "the Rod" 3 Do the Israelites, to whom Jonah also preach~l, re-

1, 2. (a) Fmm a human standpoint, xvhy did Jonah sccm to haw good mson to be reluctant to accept his comrnlwinn lo prenrli to the Assyrians? @) How did the NinevlZes read to Junahl rnctrnge? 3. How dws the reaction of the Israelites to the warninp clrlivr~rrrl @Jehovah's prophets differ from that of the Ninevitcr?

spend'? (2 Klngs 14:25) No, They turn their backs on pure worship. Indecd, they go so far as "to how down to all the army of the heavens and to serve Baal." What is more, "they contlni~erl to maketheir sons and their daughters pass through the firc and to practice divination ancl to I w k for omens, and they kept selling themselves to do what was hnrl In the cycs of Jehovah, to offend him." (2 Wngs 1 7 16, 1 7) Unlike the Ninevites, Israel does not re spond when Jchovah sends prophets to warn them. So Je- hovah determines to take stron~er measures.

4 Tar some time after Janah's visit to Ninewh, there is a decline In Assyrian aggression.' However, at the bean- nlng of the eighth century B.C,E., A q ~ i a reasserts itself as a military power, and Jchovah uses it in an astonish- Ing way, The prophet Isaiah conveys a warning from Jeho- vah to the northern kingdom of Israel: "Aha, thehyrian, the rod for my anger, and the stick &at Is in their hand for my denunciation! Against an apostate nation E l~hall send him, and against the people of my fury I shall issue a com- mand to him, to toke much spoil and to take much plun-

I der and to make it cr trampling place like the clay of the strwtr,"-lsaiah 705, 6.

I 5 What a humiliation for the Israelites1 God uses a pa- gan natlon-"the Assyrian"-as a "rod" to punish them. In 742 R.C.E,, Assyrian King Shalmaneser V Iays siege to Sarnarla, capital of the apostate nation of Israet. From its strategic localion on a hilt some 300 feet high, Smaria warrls off thc enemy for almost zhm years. But no hu- man strategy can black Gocl's purpose. In 740 B.CE, Sa- maria falls, trampled under Assyrian feet.-2 Kings 1S:lQ.

~ c c / i ~ ~ i . @ ~ t ON the Scrlpn~m, Volume 1, page 203.

4, 5. (a1 What Is rncnnt by "the Arqrlan," and how will Jehovah w e h l i i ~ aq a "rod"? (h) Whcn does Samarla fall5

Ikuiah-3 mphrcy-L&ht pr All Mankind I

6 Although w d by Jehovah t~ teach his people a lesson, the Assyrians themdm do not reco@ix Jehwah. That is why he g c e on to say: %ugh [WAsphn] may not be that ~lyty, he Mi W inclined; though hls heart m y not h that wa;y, he willsdwme, k a u s e to a n n i W Is In h& hmtt and to cut offnations not a lkw." (lsalah 109) Jehov& meaaz; the Asspian to be an InsWment in the dlvlne hand. But t h ~ +tan feels indhed to be some Wng eise. His heat urges h h to scheme for somethhy gmder-mnquest of the thm-known world1

7 Many of the nofiIsmUe dtim conquered by the Are syrian were pmiaudyruledbykhgs. Thm formerklngs now have to submit to the W n g of Assyrla a 4 prima, so he m truly baast "h mrt my prlnccr at the some h e Mng$Y {Jsaiah fO:8) The false gods of prom- lnent dues of the nations could not w e thdr w&ip- ers from datrWm. Tke gods worshiped by the inhabit- ants of $maria, am% as h a l , Molech, and the golden calves, wlli npt p~0tec-k Lh$t dty. Having Eorsakn Jchaa vah, Samarla has no right to expect him to Intervene, Let m y today who f o e Jehovah take notice of Samarh's fab! The k q r h mn w d bast regding Samarla and the other cities he has 6 0 n q u d #is mt Wno just Me C m h m b h ? b not Hamcrth just like Arpad? is not amar- hjust llke DamamF (Ssaioh 70.9) They are all the same totheAssyrian-qdforhfmtotak.

a H-, the Assyrrzuz g m too far In hls boasting.

6. In what way does the Assyrian p be)rond what Jchowh Bs In mind for him?

kin the ap~&&n *Are oat my prttrcei rrt the same time king?" I ) Of what sbould those today who forsake Jehovah take 7 b Elg note? 8, 9. Whyki tPhat the~an~s too far lvhenheKtsh l s s lgb t f on Jerusalem?

rT-' '- r-

muchertb reasms that pths#ng the nuttons is ar easy us gathering eggs h m a nest

He says: ' M m r my hand has #ached the klngdams of fhe v u ~ r r e b god whose gmwn Images are m m than those at hr$lst?km and ot krmurlo, will A not be tkat just mIshaIIhowdone toScr& and to herwIu&pds, e m so I Mi do to jenrsulem and b her kfokl" ( b b h ItklO, 1 I ) The Mngdoms already defeated by the Assyrl- an posxsed far more idols than do Jerusalem or wen Sa- mada. What, he masons, 9s to prevent me from doing to Jerusalm what T did ta Sam&?'

9 The braggart! Jehovah wU1 not allow him to takeJeru- sdem. Bue, Judah does not have a spotless record of sup- parfmg me! w~tship, (2 Kings 16:7-9; 2 Cbronides 28:24) Jehwah has wmed that 'because of her unfaithfulne~~ Judah suffer much during the Assyrian hvasfon. But Jerusalem will sutvkPe. (Isaiah 1:7, 8) When the Assydan invasion o m , H a a h Is k h g in Jemsde~. Hezeldah

148 Irraifilr's Prophecy-Light for A11 Mankind I

is not like his father, Ahaz. Why, in the very first month of h reign, Hezekiah reopens the temple doors and restores pure worship!-2 Chronicles 29:3-5.

10 So Assyria's proposed attack on Jerusalem does not have Jehovah's approval. Jehovah pmmises an account- ing with that insolent world power: " I t must occur that when lehovoh terminates all his work in Mount Zion and in jerusulem, I shall make an accounting for the fruitage o f the insolence of the hearr o f the king of Assyria and for the self-importance of his loftiness of eyes."-Isaiah 70: 12.

On to Judah and Jerusalem! 11 Eight years after the northern hngdom fell in

740 B.C.E., a new Assyrian monarch, Sennacherib, march- es against Jerusalem. Isaiah poetically describes Sennach- erib's prideful plan: "I shall remove the boundaries of peo- ples, and their things stored up I shall certainly pillage, und I shall bring down the inhabitants just like a powerful one. And just as if a nest, my hand will reach the resources of the peoples; and just as when one gathers eggs that have been left+ I myself will gather up even ail the earth, and there will certainly be no one fluttering his wings or opening his mouth or chirping." (Isaiah 70: 13, 74) Sen- nacherib reasons that other cities have fallen and Samaria is no more, so Jerusalem will be easy prey! The city might put up a halfhearted light, hut with hardly a chirp, its in- habitants will be quickly subdued, their resources plucked up like eggs from an abandoned nest.

12 However, Sennacherib is forgetting something. Apos-

10. What does Jehovah promise regarding the Assyrian? 11. Why does the Assyrian think that Jerusalem will be easy prey? 12. What does Jehovah show to be the right way to view things with regard to the Assyr~an's boasts?

Do Not Be Afraid of the Assyrian 149 I

tate Samaria deserved the punishment that it received. 1 Under King Hereluah, however, Jerusalem has once again

I become a bastion of pure worshp, Anyone wanting to touch Jerusalem will ha+ Jehovah to reckon with! In- hgnantly, Isaiah rtrks: "Will the ax enhance itrelf owr the one chopping with it, or the saw magnify itself over the

1 one moving it bock and forth, or though the stoff moved back and forth the ones raising it on high, as though the rod raised on high the one who is not woad?" (Isaiah 10: 15) The Assyrian Empire is a mere tool inJehovahPs hand, much as an ax, a saw, a staff' or a md might he used by a woodsman, a sawyer, or a shepherd. HOW dare the rod now magnify itself over the one who uses it !

13 What will happen to the Assyrian? "The true hrd , le- hovah o f armies, will keep sending upon his fat ones a wasting disease, and under his glory a burning will keep burning away like the burning of a fire. And Israel's tight must become a fire, and his Holy One a flume; and it must blaze up and eat up his weeds and his thornbushes En one

I day. And the glory o f his forest and of his orchard He will bring to an end, wen from the soul clear to the flesh, and

I it. must become like the melting away o f one thaf is ail- ing. And the rest o f the Veer of his forest-they will become such a number that a mere boy will be uble to write them down." (Isaiah 10: 16- 19) Yes, Jehovah will whittle that

1 Assyrian "rod" down to size! The "fat ones" of the Assyri- an's army, his stout soldiers, will be struck with "a wart- ing disease." They will not look so strong! Like so many weeds and thornbushes, his ground troops will be burned by the Light of Israel, Jehovah God. And "the glory of hs I --

13. Identify and tell what happens to (a) the "fat ones." (b) 'the weeds and thornbushes.' (c) "the glory of h ~ s forest."

IS0 Isaiah's Prophecy-Llght for All Mnnklnd I

forest," his military officers, will come to thelr end, After Jehovah finishes with the Assyrian, so few officers will re- main that a mere boy wilI be abIe to number them on hls h e ! - S e e also lsoiah 70:33,34.

14 StiU, the Jews living in Jerusalem In 732 D.C.E. must 6nd I t hard to believe that the Assyrian will be defeated. The vast kyrian a r m y is advancing relentlessly. Listen to the list of cities in Judah that have fallen: "He has come upon Aiath . . . Migron . . . Mickmash. . . Geba . . . Ramah . . . Gibeoh of Soul. . . Gallim . . . hishah. . . Anafhoth . . . Madmenoh . . . Cebim . . . Nob." (lsoiuh 10:28-32~)' Finally the invaders reach Lachish, just 30 miles from Jerw- salem. Soon a large &@an army is threatening the clty. "He waves his hand ~thmmingly at the mountoin of the daughter of Zion, the hill of )erusulem." (Isaiah 10:32b) What can stop the Assyrian?

15 In his palace in the dty, King Hezekiah grows anxlous. Ile rips his garments apart and covers himself wlth sack- cloth. (Isaiah 37: 1) He sends men to the pmphet Isaiah to inquire of Jehovah on Judah's behalf. They soon return with Jehovah's answer: *Do not be afraid , . . I shall cer- tainly defend this city." (Isaiah 3?6,35) StiII, the Assyrians are menacing and supremely confident.

16 Faith-that is what wiiE carry King HezeMah through this crisis, Faith is "the evident demonstration of reali- ties though not beheld." (Hebrws 11: 1) It involves look- - " For clarity, isaiah 1028-32 i s discuss4 bchm Isaiah 10:20-27.

14. Desaibe the progms of the hyrian on the soil of Judah by 732 3.C.E. 15, 16. (a) Why does King Hezeklah wcd strong falt h? (b) What ha- sis is there for Hezekiah's faith that Jehovah will come to his aid?

Ing beyond the obvlour. Rut faith is based on knowledge. Hereklah Hkely remembers that ahead of time Jehovah spvkc these comfottlng wads: "Do not be afraid, 0 my people who arp dwelling in Zion, bemuse of the Assyri- an . . . For yet a very littk while--and the denuncidion wit/ hove come to an end, and my anger, in their wear- ing away. And jehovah of armies wilf cerfuinly brandish against him a whip as at the defeot of Midian by the sock Oreb; and his staff will be upon the sea, and he will cer- tainly I l f it up In the way that he did with Egypt" (lso- ioh 10:24-26)" Ycs, God's people have heen in difficult situations before. Nezekiah's ancestors seemed hopelessly owtc1asr;ed by thc Emtian army at the Red Sea. His fore- father Gideon faced staggering odds when Midian and Amalck Invaded Isl-ael. Yet, Jeehwah delivemd his people on thosc WO ~cca~l~n~. - -EXodus 14:7-9, 13,28; Judges 6: 3.1; 7:21, 22.

17 Wlll Jehovah do agaln what he did on those previous occasions? Ycs. Jehovah promises: "It must occur in that day that his load will depart from upon your shoulder, and his yoke from upon your neck, and the yoke will cer- tainly be wrecked because of the oil." (Isaiah 10:27) The As~yrliin yoke will be llfted from the shoulder and the neck of God's covenant people. Indeed, the yoke wdl be "wrcckett"-and wrecked it is! In one night, the angel of Jehovah kills 185,000 of the As.ryrians. The threat is re- rnuvt~1, and the Aayrtans leavc the soil of Judah forwer. (2 Kings 1935, 36) Why? "Recause of the oil." This may rcfer to the oil used to anoint Hezekiah as king in the line

' Fnr a discu%qltsn uf Isaiah 1k20-23, sec: "Isaiah Lmks Further Ahcar!," on page 155. - 17. Him* I s the A\syrlan ynke "rvrixkd," and why?

152 Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I

of David. Thus, Jehovah fulfills his promise: "I shall cer- tainly defend this city to save it for my own sake and for the sake of David my servant."-2 Kings 19:34.

1% The account of Isaiah discussed in this chapter has to do with events in Judah more than 2,700 years ago. But those events have the umost relevance today. (Romans 154) Does this mean that the major players in this thrill- ing narrative-the inhabitants of Samaria and JerusaIem as well as the Assyrians-have modernday counterparts? Yes, it does. Like idolatrous Samaria, Christendom claims to worshp Jehwah, but she is apostate to the core. In An Essay on the Development of CJzristiarz Dochine, Roman Catholic John Henry Cardinal Newman admits that items Christendom has used for centuries, such as incense, can- dles, holy water, priestly garb, and images, "are all of pa- gan origin." Jehovah is no more pleased with Christen- dom's paganized worship than he was with Samaria's idolatry.

19 For years, Jehovah's Wilmesses have warned Christen- dom of Jehovah's displeasure. In 1955, for example, the public discourse entitled "Christendom or Christianity -Which One Is 'the Light of the World'?" was delivered worldwide. The talk graphically explained the way that Christendom had strayed from genuine Christian doc- trine and practice. Thereafter, copies o€ this powerful lec- ture were mailed to clergymen in many countries. As an organization, Christendom has faiIed to heed the warn- ing. She leaves Jehovah with no choice but to discipline her with a "rod." -

18. {a) Does Isalah's prophecy have more than one fulfillment? Ex- plain. (b) What organization today is like ancient Samaria? 19. Of what has Christendm been warned, and by whom?

- 1 Da Not Be Afrnid of the Assyrian

20 Whom will Jehovah use to discipline rebellious Chris- tendom? We find the answer in the 17th chapter of Reve- lation. There we are introduced to a harlot, "Babylon the Great," representing all the world's false religions, includ- ing Christendom. The harlot is riding a scarlet-colored wild beast that has seven heads and ten horns. (Reve- lation 17:3, 5, 7-12) The wild beast represents the Unit- ed Nations erganization.*Just as the ancient Assyrian de- stroyed Samaria, the scarlet-colored wild beast "will hate the harlot and will make her devastated and naked, and will eat up her fleshy parts and will completely burn her with fire." (Revelation 1716) Thus the modernday Assyri- an (nations associated with the UN) will deal Christen- dom a mighty blow and will crush her out of existence.

21 Wirl Jehovah's faithful Witnesses perish along with Babylon the Great? No. God is not displeased with them. Pure worship will survive. However, the wild beast that destroys Babylon the Great also casts a greedy eye in the direction of Jehovah's people. In doing so, the beast car- ries out, not God's thought, but the thought of someone

I else. Who? Satan the Devil.

22 Jehovah exposes Satan's prideful scheme: "It must oc- cur in that day that things will come up into your [Sa- tan's] heart, and you will certainly think up an injurious scheme; and you must say: 'I shall . . . come in upon those having no disturbance, dwelling in security, all of them - " Additional information regarding the identity of the harlot and the scarlet-colored wild beast is f u n d in chapters 34 and 35 of the book Revelation-Its Grnnd Clirnnx At Hand!, published by the Watchtower

I Bible and Tract Socicv of New York, Inc

I - 20, (a) What will serve as the modem-day Assyrian, and how will it be used as a rod? {b) To what extent will Christendom be disciplined? 21, 22. Who will motivate the wild beast to attack God's people?

tS4 Jsainh:~ Proplirc}~-Ll,rlrl for All Man ki11d I

tlweIllng p:without [a proWve] wall . . .' It wlll be to get a big spoil and to do much plundering." (Fzcklcl 38:10. 72) Satan will reason, Yes, why not Incite thc nations to attack Jehovah's Witnesses? They are wlnera l~ le , unpro- tected, wlthour political influence, 'l'hcy wl11 offer no re- slstance. I-Iow easy it will be to phck them like eggs from an unprot- nmt!' 23 But watch out, nations! Be advisd that if you much

Jehovah's people, you will have to reckon with God him- self I Jehovah loves h people, and he wilt fight for them lust as surely as he fought fur Jerusalem in the days of 3 Iczeklah. When the modern-day Assyrian tries to anni- hilate Jehovah's servants, he will really he battling Jehc- I vah God and the Lamb, Jesus Christ. That Is a battle that the Assyrian cannat win. "The h m h will rwnquer them," 1 thc Rihle says, "because he is Lord of lords and King of kings." (Revetation 1Z14; compare Matthew 25:40.) Like the Assyrian of old, the scarlet-colorcd wild beast wlll 'go off Into destruction.' It will be fcared no more.-Revela- tlon 1Z11.

24Tr'rule Christians mn face the future without fear if they keep their reIationship with Jchovah strong and if they make the doing of his will their primary concern in l i f t (Matthew 6:33) Then they need 'Year nothing bad." (Psalm 23:4) With their eyes of faith, they will scc God's mighty arm raised high, not to punish them, but to shield thrm fmm his enemies. And thrrIr eats wlll hear these re- anuring words: "Do not be afraid."-Isaiah 10:24. - 23. Why rvfII the modem-day Ayt ian be unabie tn i l w to God's peo- plc whnl hc clues to Christendom? 24. (:I) What are true Christians determlnetl to do to prepnrr for tlic futl1rc7 [h) How does Iralah look furlher sh~t~d' l (See I ~ x on 1)lIKP 15s.)

155

ISAIAH LOOKS FURTHER AHEAD +

Isaiah 1O:ZU-23

The 10th chapter of lraish'focures primarily on the way that Jehovah will use the Assyrian invasior~ to execute judgment upon Israel and on his promise to defend Je- rusalem. Since: verses 20 to 23 are located in the middle of this prophecy, they can be viewed as having a gener- al fulfillment during the same period. (Compare Isaiah 1: 7-9.) However, the wording indicates that these verses ap- ply more specifically to later periods when Jerusalem too would have to answer for the sins of her Inhabitants.

King Ahar tries to gain securit]r by turning to Assyria for help. The prophet lsaiah foretells that at a future time, the survivors of the house of Israel will nwer again pwr- sue such a senseless course. lsaia h 10:20 says that they will "support themselves upon Jehovah, the Holy One of lsra- el, in trueness." Verse 21 shows, however, that only a small number wlll do so: "A mere remnant wlll return." This re- minds us of Isaiah's son Shear-jashub, who is a sign in Is- rael and whose name means "A Mere Remnant Will Re turn." (Isaiah 7:3) Verse 22 of chapter 10 warns of a corning "extermination" that has been decided on. Such an extet- minatlon will be righteous because it is a just punishment on a rebellious people. As a result, from a thickly populat- ed nation that is "like the grains of sand of the sera," only a remnant will return. Verse 23 warns that this coming exter- mination will affect the whole land. jerusalem will not be spared this time.

These verses well describe what happened in 607 B.C.E. when Jehovah used the Babylonian Empire as his "rod." The whale land, including Jerusalem, fell to the invader.

-

The were t a b captive to Bnbylon for 70 yean, M- &r thaq h u g h , smn-n If only #a mere reremnanv-re; turned to m ~ b l i s h tm w h i p In Jerusalem.

The p p h q +t,Irnl~h f @ a 2 3 had a further fulfllhmt In the first em% as sirown at bmans 9:27,2&. Cam- ( ~ a p Isaiah 1 :9; Ramairs Pa.) Pa J explains th~t In a a p ~ tual sense# a "mmnanY of Jw 'Wrned* to jehovah in the flrst cenkrry CE, iinasmudh as a small number d faitMu1 jw b e m e f o l b of bus Chrlst and began worship Ing IdwA *With qMtand' truth*' (john 424) These m, totter j o l d by k1leuing emtile, rnaktng up s spiriual natkm* "the Is& d Ed.' (Galatians &16) On th0 w- aston the words OT Isaiah 1020 were fuMlled: 'Nmr again* did a nation dediwted l e h d turn away kom hlrn to human souws for suppoR ,

Salvation and Rejoicing Under the Messiah's Reign

Isaiah 11 :I-12:6

IN THE days of Isaiah, the spiritual condition of God's covenant pople was bad. Even under the rule of fafth- ful kings, such as Uzdah and Jotham, many of the peo- ple worshiped at. the high places. (2 Kings IS: 1-4, 34, 35; 2 Chronicles 26:1, 4) When HezeWah became king, he had to remove the appendages of Baal worship from the land. (2 Chronicles 31:l) No wonder that Jehovah urged hls people to return to him and warned of disclphe to come!

2 Still, not all were out-and-out rebels. Jehovah had faithful prophets, and Likely there were some Jews who listened to them. Jehovah had comforting words for thest! ones. After desuiblng the terrible depredations that Ju- dah would experience during the Assyrian Invasion, the prophet Isaiah was inspired to pen one of the most beau- tiful passages h the whole Bible, a descrlptlan of the bless- Ings ta come under the reign of the Messiah,* Some as- pects of these blessings turned out to have a small-scale 7

' 'Messiah" ts derived €torn the H e b m word tnu.dd'ach, mmeanlng "Anointed One." The Greek equivalent is KhK-star, ar "ChrlstU-Mat- thew 2:4, footnote. - 1. hscribe the spirltud d i t i u n of GodP covenant people In the day# of Isai~h, 2, 3. What encouragement does Jehovah supply for those who de- sire to servc him despite widerpwad unfdthfulnc~s?

futhllment when the Jm teturned from q t i v i ~ In Eab- ylon. But the prop- as a whole has a major fdhllmerrt today.Tnre, IsabhandutherMthfulJewsofhisthnecHd not Ik to see thew blesiqp. But they looked forward to them fn hi& and wil l see a fulfillment of isafh's words a h the wsurrWim.-Iiebm 11:36

Salwklon and &1olcf11g Under the Meisi~h's Relgn

3 Jehovah's modanday people a h need enrjamge- mmt. Rapidly moral Wues in the wodd, vldous a-n to the -rn =sage, and personal weak- nesses &all- all of thmn Idah's wonderful P\lylTdS abouttheMessl&andhisrdgn mstrengthenand he@ M J s pmpIr* ta meet these chal£mga,

' The Hebrew wrd for 'sprout" is ne'Wr, and for " N a ~ ~ e n e ' ts W tl: - 4, 5. What dld Isaiah pmphesy w r d l n g the mmlng of the M ~ s i - ab, md what appUWn of Isaiah's wxds dM Mstthm a p p m t l y make? 6. What ldnd of ruler i s the h s k h prophesied to \rel

Messiah-A Capable Leader 4 Centuries k f o ~ Esaiah's b e , other Hebrew Bible mlt-

ers pointed Do athe amhg of the Mwiah, the true M e r , whom Jehovah would spnd to Israel, (Genesis 49:1@ Dm- ternnomy 1&18; P s ~ h 11&22, 26) Now through Isafah, Jshsvah adds further W s . h h h wrlbes: mem must $0 b t h a twfg outoftheSacmp of lm;ond outofhhmofs a sprout wHI k WflhI." (Isaiah 11: 1; corn- Psatrn 132: 11.) "Twjg" and "qmmt* bath Indkate that the Messiah wIl! be the desceprdmtof Jesse through his son David, who was andntd with oils king of Israel. (1 Samuel 16:13; Jeremi& 23:s; Redation 22%) When the me M e s M arrim, this "spraut; horn the house of David, k to pro- duce good Crult.

S The promised Messiah is Jesus. The gospel wrlW Mat- thew alluded ua the words of Isaiah 11:l when he said that Jesus' being called "a Nazmme' fulfilled the words of the prophets. kause he was brought up In the twn of Nam Wh, Jesus was called a Namne, a name apparently ~ b t - ed to the Hebrew ward used In Isaiah 11:1 for 'fspmut''* -Matthew 223, M o t e ; W e 2:39,40. 6 What klnd of ruler d the Messiah be? Wlll he be like

the cruel, self-willed A s y r b who destroys the ten-- northern kingdom of Ismel? Of cotme not. Of the Messi- ah, Isaiah says: "Upon him the spirit of jhwh must set- tle dbwn, fite idt d Wdom and of undsrsIrrndIng, the spldt of cauns # Imd sf mighthers, the splrk of knowlaS@e and of the h r oJJ&tawh; and them wlll Be emjuymen€ by

l(i0 Isaloll's Pmphtrcy-Ll,qlrt pr All Mnnklrrrl I

him In the fear of Jehovah.'' (Isaiah 71:2, 3a) The Mcs- siah is anointed, not with oil, bttt with C;o<I's holy spir- it. This happens atlesus' baptism, whcn John t he Raytizcr sees God" holy spirit descending on Jesus in the form of a dave. (Luke 322) Jehwah? spirit 'sctllcs down upon' Je- sus, and he gives evidence of thls whcn he acts with wisdom, understanding, counrel, mlgh tjness, and knowl- edge. What excellent qualities for n rttlcrl

7Jesus' followers too can receive holy spirit. In one af his discourses, Jesus declared: "If you, although bcina wicked, h o w how to give goocl gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven ~ i v e holy spirit to those asking him!" (Cuke I t : 13) Hence, we should nev- er hesitate to ask God for holy spirit, nor shou ltl wc cease to cultivate its wholesome fru i t apN lovc8 jny, peacc, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mlldncss, self- control." (Galatians 5:22,23) Jehovah promi~eq to answer the request of Jesus' followers for "wlrdom from ahove" to help them deal successfiilly with thc challenges of life. -James 15; 3:17.

What h the fear of Jehovah that the Messlah displays? Jesus certainly is not terrified by Gnrl, fcarfi~l of his con- demnation. Rather, the Messiah has a reslleah~l awe of God, a loving rwerence for him. A Coct-fcnring person de- sires always to *do the things pleasing to him," as Je- sus d m . (John 8:29) By word and example, Jesus tcaches that there is no greater joy than walking wcry day in thc wl~olesome fear of Jehovah.

A Righteous and Merciful Judge lsaiah foretells more of the Messiah" schrackrlstlcs: "He - 7. What pmmlse did Jesus make tn his bl th tu l followcr~? 8. How doer Jesus find enjoyment in the ienr af Jchovith? tl, What example does Jesm give to those calleci i i l i c ~ r t to lucl~e mitt- ters In the Chr~stian congregation?

Salvation andR~]d~lc in# Utrtlrr fhr- Mer.slnl~'.r Rrkrr I61

wi!! not judge by any mere appeamnce to hls eyesI nor re- p m simply according to the thing head by his ~QTZ." {lsa- iah 77:3b) If you h;wl to stirnd t)c.lom a court of law, would you not be gratefill Far a judge ]like that? In his paci city as Judge of all mankind, the Mcsqlah Is not swayed by false arguments, clever courtroom tactics, rumors, or superhcial factors, such as wealth. 1-I@ sees through deccptlon and looks beyond unflattering outward appcannces, rliscernlng "the secret person of the heart," "thc hltlclen man." (1 Peter 3:4, footnote) Jesus' superlatlvc cxample serves as the model for all who are called upon to jutlgc matters In the Christian congregation.- 1 Corinthians 6: 1-4.

10 How will the Messiah's superlative qualities influence his judicial decisions? Isaiah explains: "With righteousness he must judge the lowjy ones, and with uprightness he must giw reproof in behalf of the meek ones of the earth. And he must strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the spirit of his lips he will put the wicked one to death. And righteousness must prove to be the belt of his hips, and faithfulness the belr of his loins."-Isaiah 11 :4, 5.

11 When hb followers need correction, Jesus delivers it the way that benefits them mmt-an excellent exam-

ple for Christian elders. On the other hand, those who practice wickedness can expect iud~rnena of a swere sort. When God calls this system of things to amount, the Mes- siah wil "strike the earth" with hls authoritative voice, is- suing a judgment of desl-ructian for all the wicked. (Psalm 29; compare llmlation 19: 15.) Eventually, there will be no wicked people left to dlstuth thc peace of mankind. (Psalm 37:10,11) Jesus, with his hips m r l loins girded with righteousness and faithfulness, has the power to acmm- plish this,-Psalm 453-7.

ID, 11. (a) In what way does jcsus correct his followers? (b) What judgment does Jesus rentlcr to the wicked?

u b & h ~ p & l t S 1 p m ~ f & l ? - ~ m n a h t G o d # r l l l ~ ~ f n ~ ~ H e ~ : % % d f H d # & C W # & Y f d & & @ ~ h & ~ ~ ~ d 8 h h , andwlEht!ieIcld,the~lWInxlHhk&m, md &irc d f a& the . rn~Sd,p iq fkon md tM WfM mP m ~ d # ~ m d ~ n r ~ l l l ~ & t k & y W b i e a d @ ? r ~ w ~ c r m . A n d ~ r o ; w m t a l * ~ ~ m m ~ * @her WF pvwg on= WIN& dovvfi* Avid m-h rn W a g t ~ ~ I l % e ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ p l r r y r r p o n t h e m o f t h e & m ; a n d ~ * # # h t ~ d ~ p b w s w u k w l % l a ~ C h i f d ~ ~ m a m r h a n d . m ~ d / ~ m a f c t o ~ h q n F 1 o P C m e ~ ~ I n d m y ~ ~ ~ t h @ ~ w i # ~ h d y b s f a C B d w f t f i * h ~ o f ~ w h a t M ~ m ~ ~ ~ s e a " ( W b h - P l r b - 9 ) D o t h e ~ @ ~ r s c ~ . ~ t h e ~ ? M ~ t h d t t h e - 12. W h a ? ~ m i g h t a J w h r n r e w h m h e ~ ~ ~ lng fmm ssbpbn m the h m t d tandl

peace described here results from the knowledge of Jcho- vah. Hence, more is i n w I d than mere safety from wild animals. The howledge of Jehovah will not chanae ani- mals, but it will adfect people. Neither on the way home nor in their restored land will thc Ismcrlit~s necd to fear wild beastq or beastlike men.-km 8:2I, 22; I~a iah 35:8- 10; h5:25.

14 This prophecy, however, has a larger i'ulfillrncnt. ln 1914, Jesus, the Messiah, was enth~~oned on heavenly Mount Zion. In 1919 the remaining oncs of "the Israel of God" experienced release from Ba bylonbh captlvlty and shared in the restomtion of true wnrsh lp. (Galatians 6:16) h a rerult, the way was opened for a modern-day fi~lh!l- ment of Isaiah's Paradise prophecy. "Ac~urn tc kno~vledgc," the knowl~dge of Jehovah, has changd persnnaliti~. ((b- lossians 3 9 , 10) FormerIy violent people have lecome peaceabIe. (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:17-24) Thcse dc- velopments have now affected mi I lions bccausc Jsa lah's prophecy has come to include a rapidly Incrcaslng num- her of Christians with an earthly hnpc. (I3snln~ 37:29; Isa- iah 6022) These have learned to look to the tlme when the whole earth wilI be restored as a stlcure, peaceful para- dise, according to W s original purpose.-Matt t~cw fi:9, En; 2 Peter 3:1J.

I5 In that restored Paradise, will Isaiah's prophecy have a further, perhaps more literal, ful fi1 P ment? It seems rcason- able to think so. The prophecy gives to all wl~o will live under the Messiah's rule the same assurance that It gave to the returning Israelites; they and thcir childrcn will not feel threatened by harm from any suurcc-human or mi- mal. Under the Messiah's Kingdom rule, all earth's inhab-

itants dl enjoy peaceful condItIons like thasc that Adam and Eve enjoyed in Men. C3f course, thc Scriptures do not reveal every detail of what life was l i kc in Ggcn-cw of what it will be like in Paradiw, We can k confident, though, that under the wise and Iwing rule of the King Jesus Christ, everything will he just as it should be.

Pure Worship Restorer1 Thrt~ugh the Messiah 16 Pure worship first came under attack in Eden when Sa-

tan successfully influenced Adam and Evc to disobey Jeho- vah. To this day, Satan has not given up his goal a€ turn- ing as many as possible away from Gorl. Rut Jehovah will never p m i t pure wonhlp to vanish from the earth. His name is involved, and he cams about thnse who serve him. Hence, through Isaiah he makes a striking promise: 9t must occur in that d q that there will be the mot o f Iesse that will be standing up m o signal for the peoples. Ta him even the nations will furn inquiringly, and his resting-place must become glorious." (lsuialr 77: 76) liack in 537 R.C. E., Jerusalem, the city [hat David l lat l made the national cap- ital, served as a signal, c a l l i ~ ~ g a Faithful rcmnanl of the dis- persed Jewish people to return and rebulld the temple. 17 However, the prophecy po-lnts to more than that. As al-

ready seen, it points to the rule of the Messiah, the one true Leader for people of all nations. The apstte Paul quot- ed Isaiah 11:10 to shaw that in his day people of the na- tions would have a place In the Christian congregation. Quoting the Sepfrmngint rendering uf this verse, he wrote: "Isaiah says: 'There will be the root of Jesse, and there will be one arising to rule natlonr; on him nations will rest their hope.' " (Romans 15: 12) Moreover, the prophe- cy reaches even further-down to our day when people of

14. What is the larger fuIfiIIment of Isatah l1:h-97 15. Can we reasenably expect Tsaiah's word* tr, hi!^^ n ItteraE ltetfill- ment in the new world? Lxplain.

16. FtXat stood a5 ;I sl~nal Inr Gnrl's proplc In 537 R.C.E.? 17. How did Jesus 'artsc tt) rule nirttnns' In the Rrst century and In our day?

166 Isnfah's Propl~ruy-Ll,yhf fur All M ~ ~ r ~ k l r t r l i

the nations show their Iove for Jehovah by supporting thc anointed brothers of the Messicah.-Isaiah 61:s-9; Ma tlhcw 25:31-40.

18 In the mdem-day fuIfiltrnent, "that day" refcrrcci to hy Isaiah began when the Mes.;iab w& enthroned as K l n ~ ol God's heavenly Kingdom in 1914. (Luke 21:10; 2 'Em- othv 31-5; Revelalion 12:103 Since then, Jesus Christ has been a clear signal, a rallying pint , for spiritual Israel and for people of a11 nations who long for righteous gov- ernment. Under the Messiah" direction, thc good news of the Kingdom has been carried to all the nations, a? J e w foretold. (Matthew 24:14, Mark 13: 10) This good news has a powerful effect. "A great crowd, which no man \Is] ahlc to number, out of alI nations" is nibmitring to the Messi- ah by joining the anointed remnant in pure worship. (Rev- elation 7 9 ) tls many new ones continue to comc into as- sociation with the remnant in Jehovah's spiritual "house of prayer," they add to the glory of thc Messiah's "testing-place," God's great spiritual temple.-lsalah Sh:7; Haggai 27.

A United People Serve Jehovall 19 Isaiah next reminds the lsraelitm that Jehovah once

before provided salvation for them when the nation faced oppression by a powerful enemy. That part of brael's his- tory-Jehovah's liberation af the nation fmm captivity in Egpt-is dear to the hearts of all faithful Jews. Isaiah writes: "It must occur in that doy thotjehovah will again of- fer his hand, a second time, to acquire the remnant of his people who wit# remain over from Assyria and from Egypt and from M r o s and from Cush and from Elom and horn

18. In our day, how has Jesus hen a rdlylng p i n t ? 19. On what huo occasions doer Jehovah msttaW a remnant o l hlc pcople scattered throughout the earth?

Sirfv(fHur~ r ~ n d npiolclt~,f U a d ~ r thr Mcssjah 's Relp 167

Shlrrar and from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. And he will certainly raise up a signal for the nations and

I gather the dispersed ones o f Isroel; and the scattered ones of ludah he will collect together from the four extremities of the earth." (IsaiaIl f I: 7 1, 12) As i f taking them by the t-tnncl, Jchovah will lead a faithful. remnant of both lsra- cl i~nd Judah out from the nations to which they have lleen scattcrd and will bring tl~ern safejy home. In a mi- nor way, this happens In 537 H.C:.E. How much more glo- rious, though, is the major fulfillment! In 1914, Jehwah raised thc mthroned Jesus Christ as "a signal for the na- tions." Starting in 1919 the rcmaininganes of "the IsraeI of ( h d " b e ~ a n tu flock to this d~nal, e a g r to share in pure worship under God's Wngdom. 'This unique spiritual na- tion come? "out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation."-Revelatinn 5:9.

2D lsalah now describes the unity of the restored nation. Referring to the northern kingdom as Ephraim and to the soul hcrn kingdom as Judah, he says: "The jealousy of Epkralm must depart, and even those showing hostility to judah wlll be cut off. Ephrulm Itself will not be jealous of )udoh, nor will judah show hostility toward Epkraim. And they must fly at the shoulder of the Philistines to the west; together they will plunder the sons of the East Edom and Moob wlSl be those upon whom they will thrust out their hand, and the sons of Ammon will be their subjects." (Isa- iah 17:73, 74) When thc Jews return from Babylon, they wi ll no longer be divided into two nations. Members from all tribes of Israel will return unitedly to their land, (Ezra 6: 17) N o longer will they show rewntment and hostility te ward one another, As a united ptlople, they will take a tri- umphant stand agalnst their enemies in the surrounding nations. -- 20. What unlly will God's people cnioy upon their &urn from R a b y Ion 7

21 Still more impressive is the unity of "the Israel of God." The 12 symbolic tribes of spiritual Isracl have for almost 2,000 years enjoyed a unity hised on love lor G d and for theit spiritual brothers and sisters. (Colmsians 3: 14; Revelation 74-8) Today, Jehwah's pcaplc-both splri- tual Israelites and those with an earthly holrr-enjoy pcacc and worldhide unity under the Mcllesslah's rule, conditions unknown in the churches of Chrlstendam. Jehovah's Wit- nesses present a united spiritual fmnt against Satan's cf- forts Zo interfere with their worship, AT one peqjle, they carry out Jesus' commission to preach and teach the good news of the Messiah's Kingdom in itll the nations.-Mat- thew 28:19,20.

Barriers Will Be Overcome 22 There are many barriers, both literal and figurative, to

hlnder the Israelites' return from exile. How will they be overcome? Isaiah says: "jehowh will certainly cut off the tongue of the Egyptian sea, und wnve his hand nr the Rlv- er in the glow of his spirit And he must strike it In its sewn torrenlr, and he will actually cause people to walk in their sarfd~ls." (lsaiah 77: 15) rt is Jehovah who wilt temovc all impediments to his people" return. Even a barrlcr as for- midable as a tongue of the Red Sea (sttch as the Gulf of Sues) or as impassable as the mighty Euphrates River will be dried up, as it were, so that a penon can cross without having to take 08 his sandals! 23 In Moses' day, Jehovah prepared a way for Israel to er-

cape from Egypt and march to the Promised Land. He wlll do something similar now: 'There must come to be a high- way out of dssyria for the mmnanr of his people who will - 21. How Is the unity of God's people today tnily outstandfn~? 22. How will Jehovah "cut off the tonuue of the L~yptl;ln sea" and "wave hI% hand at the River"? 23. In what way wiIl there "come to be n highway out of Assyrla"?

remain owq just as them came to be one b r Israel in the day of his coming up out of the land of Egypt" (isaioh 77:16) Jehovah will lencl returning exiles as it they were walking along a highway honl their place of exile to their l~omeland. Oppmem will attempt to stop them, but their God, Jehovah, will he with lhcm, Anointed Christians and their companions today Ilkcwisc come under vicjuus at-

1 tack, but they go fonuiml co~~rapeouslyl They have come out of modern Assyria, Satan's world, and thcy help others to do the same. 'l'hey know that pure worship will succeed and flourish. I t is not man's work, hut God's.

Endless Reiaicing for the SuE~jccts of the Mcssiah!

24 In joyful language Isaiah nmv descrlbw the exultalion of Jehovah's peoplc uvcr the Fulfillment of Iiis word: "In that day you will be sum to say: 7 shall thank you, 0 Je- howh, for although you got incensed at me, p u r an- ger gradually turned back, grid you proceeded to comfort me.'" (Isaiah 12: 1 ) Jclrova 11's disdpllne of his wayward people is severe. Hut It nccompltshcs i ts purpose of healing

I the nation's relationship wlth him and of testoring pure worship. Jehovah reassums his faithful worshipers that ul- h t e l y he wiIl saw them. No wonder they expms appre- ciation?

25 The rrstord Israelites have their confidenee in Jeho- I vah completely con firm~rl, and they cry out: "'Look! God

is my salwtian. I shall trust and be in no dread; for Jah je- howh is my sfnength and my rnighc and he came to be the salvation of me.With exultation you people will be certain to dm w water out of the springs of salvalion. " (Isaiah 72: 2, 3) The Hebrew word translated "might" in verse 2

24, 25. With what exprcsslnns nt prdse ant1 ~ratltude wlll Jehovah's people cly out?

hulah's PmpHecy-Light fir All Aarrnkhd I C

26 Gmuioe worshipers of Jehovah annot kep their jay - 26. Who to8;tg make h i ' s dealltqp known among the nations?

appears m 'praiW h the kphaght mion. Worshipers b m k out h sangs d pratse over salvation fmm "Jah Jehu- wh.' AS an abbmated form of the name Jehmh, *j& is used in the Bible to convey hdghtened feelf rigs of paise and gratitude. the expreasim "jah JehovahJt-dm- bltng the divine name-raises the intensity of pr* ta

C ~ h h 72:4,S, as lilapptra~s in the Vead h a krolls (Occurrences of W ' s nome are hlghllghtud)

7

Salvatlun and Rejoicing Under the Mmluh's Reign

Gad & an even higher level, I I

tn themselves. Isaiah f a r e k k "In drat day you wHI cer- tdnh say: 'Clve fhmh to lehomh, you p p k i Call upon his n a m Make known among the people~ hls deaIIngs. wake m e n w ehat his name is put on high. Make melo- dy & lahowh, hr he has done surpwlng!y n& is mwke known In all the ear&." " (bdah 12:4, 5 ) Since 1919, anointed Christians-later with the help of their "other shw" companions-have ' d e d a d abroad the excellen- da of the one that mlled them out of darkness into his wonderful light.' They are "a chosen race, , . . a holy na- tion" set apart for this purr>ase. (John 10:16; 1 Peter 2 9 ) Anointed ones dedare that Jehovah's holy name is put 0x1 high and share in making jt known In all the earth, They lead dI of Jehovah's worshipen in rejoichq In his pravl- slon Eor their sa!vatio& It is f ust as Isaiah exclaims: "Gy out shdlly and shout Wjoy, Q you Inhablbwss of Zion, br gmt In the midst ofyw is the Hw One of I s W l (lsahh 12:6) The Holy One of Israel ts Jehwah Gad himself.

Look to the Future With Confidence t 27 Today miIliom haw flacfsed to the "signal far the pm-

pl&"'Jesus Christ enthmned in God's Kingdom. They re loice to be sub/- to that Kingdom and are thrilled to know Jehovah Gad a d his Son. (John 123) They find great happinas in their unikd Christian fellowship and strive had to p m the pace that is the mark of Jehe vah's tnte sewmts, (W& 54:13) Convinced that Jah Je- hovah is a God w h fulfills his pmmises, they are confi- dent In thelr hope and 6md great delight in sharlng it with others. May each worshiper dJehavh continue to use all hlsstrengtfrtosaveGodandt0 helpothersdoUhvk. Let all t a k Isaiah's words ta hart and mice in salvation through Jehwa's Messiah1

27, WMLe aweitiq t k mdbtian af theb hope, tn what are Chris tlam confident?

CHAPTER FOURTEEN - - -

Jehovah Humbles an Arrogant Cj ty

lsalah 13:l-1493

THE prophrtic book of Isaiah was written in the eighth century B.C.E. against the background nf the Aqsyrlan in- vasion of the Fmmlsed Land. As has been seen In previous chapters of hi book, Isaiah forrtcl Is with remarltable accu- racy the course that events will take. However, the bmk looks beyond the lime of Asyrian ascendancy. It fore- tells the return of Jehovah's covenant people from exile in many lands, including Shinar, the location of Habylon. (Isaiah 11:ll) In Isaiah chapter 13, we find a remarkable prophecy that upon fulfillment will open tllc way for such a return. This prophecy is introduced wlth these words: 'The pronouncement aguinst Babylon that Isaiah the son of Amoz sow in virion."-Isaiah 13: 1.

'Haughtiness I Shall Abase'

2 Judah becorn- involved with Babylon durin): Isaiah's lifetime. King Hetekiah falls seriously I I I and then mov- ers. Ambassadors from Babylon come to cowratulate him on his recovery, likely with the secret purpose of enlisting Hezekiah as an ally in their war against Assyrja. Unwisely, King Hezekiah shows them all his treasures, As a result, Tsn- lah telIs Hezekiah that after the klng's death, all that - 3 . How far ahead does the book of lsalah now Took? 2. (a) How does Hezekiah get involved with Rshylon7 (b) What Is the "slgnal" that will be raised up?

weaIth will be carrlcd off to Rahylnn. (Baiah 391-7) This I is Mfilled in 607 B.C.E when Jerusalem is destroyed and

the nation is taken into exilc. tiuwcvcr, God's chosen peo- ple will not stay in Ral,ylon+fnrmct. Jchovah foretells how he wilt open the way for their return home. He begins: "Upon a mounrain of bare rocks mlse up a signal, you men. Lift up the voice to them, wave the hand, that they muy came into the entrances of the nobles." (Isaiah 13:2)

! The "signal" i s a r i s l n ~ worlil powcr that will disloilge B a b ylon from its place of en~inetlcc. It will he raised "upon a mwntaln of bare suckr"-ln plaln view from a great distance. Summoned to assault: Ilahylon, that new world p e r will force its way throu~h '7 he entrances of the no- bles," the gates of that great cityf and will conquer i t

1 3 Jehovah now says: "I myself have Issued the command 50 my sanctified ones. I have also called my migh fy ones for expressing my cfnger, my eminently exultant ones, Us- ten! A crowd in the mountulns, sornefhlng like i~ numer- ous people! Listen! The uproar of kingdoms, of nations

I gathered together! Jehovah of ormies is mustering fhe

I army of war." (Isaiah 13:3, 4 ) Who are these "sanctified ones" appointed to bring down haughty Rabylon? They are combined national nrmles, "nations gathered togeth- er." They descend againsk Babylon from a di~tant moun- tainous region. 'They are corning from the / ~ n d for c~roy, h r n the extremity of the heavens. " (Isaiah 1 3 5 ) In what sense are they sanctified? Ccrtainly not in thc sense of be- ing holy. They are pagan armies with no interest in serving Jehovah, Howewr, in the I-le'lrrew Scriptures, "sanctified" means "set apart f o r use by Gotl," Jehovah can sanctify the armies of the nntlons and use thelr selfish ambitions in order to express his anger, He used Assyria in this way. - 3. (a) Who am the "sancttfiett uncs" thtJelroveh wlll alsc up? tb) In what sense arc paEan arnlfeq "ranrtlhrd"?

Eic will use Babylon similarly. [Isaiah 10:s; Jeremiah 259) And he will use other nations lo punid1 Habylon.

3 Ral~ylon is not yct the dornlnali t worlrl power. Yet, issrr- lng a procIarnation through Batnh, Jehrwnh looks to the Ilmu whcn she will oca~py that posi tlon, and he fore- tells hcr frill. He says: "Howl, you people, for the day of lehovrrh is near! As a despoiling from the Almighty it will come." (Isaiah 73:6) Yes, Hnhylor~'~ lhji~stin~ iciil be re- pltlccd by grief-filled howl in^. Why'? [{ecause of "the clay of Jehovah," the day whcn Jchovalr cseccrtes judg- ment against her.

Hnw, though, will it be poslble far Haby1on to be de- spoiled? lNhenJehovahls time for th is comes, the city will appear to be secure. Invading armies wlll first have to deal with the natural defenses prr~vided by the Euphrates River, which runs through the center of the city and is tapped to fill a protective moat and to supply the city with drinking water. Then there will be Babylon's massive double walls, which are seemingly irnpregnablc. Moreover, the city will he well stocked with food. 'Tl~e book Dnily Rible JilusPrra- liotts says that Nabonirlus-the last king of Babylon-"had takcn immense pains to store the town with provisions, arrd it was mkoned to contain enough [fond] 20 sustain the inhabitants for twenty years."

6 However, appearances can be dcccptlw. Isaiah says: 'That is why ail hands themselves will drop down, and the whole heart itself of morn/ man will melt And people have become disturbed. convulsion^ and birth pains them- selves grub hold, like a woman that is giving birth they - 4, 5. (it) What doesJehovah forrtell lor Ilahylnnt (b) What will those attacking UihyIon have to deal wlth? 6. W l ~ i ~ t wlll i~nexpectedly happen whcn the fnretold assault on Bab- ylon nccurr?

h m bbw pains. They look ot each other h amazement Their foca are inflorned focps." f kojuh U:l; 8 ) When the conquering armies invade the city, the ease of its inhabit- ants will be replaced by pain as suddcn anrl Intense as that of a woman glving birth. Their hearts wlll melt with fear. Paralyzed, their hands will drop down, ~~nahle to make a delensc. 'Thelr faces will be "inflamed" with fear and an- &wish. In amazement they will look at nne another, won- dering how theirgreat city could Fall.

7 Neverthetess, fall itwill. Babylon is to face a day ofreck- fining, a "day of Jehovah," that will be painful Indeed, The supreme Judge will express 111s anger and brlng well- descrv~d judgment upon Rabylon's sinful inhabitants. The prophecy says: " h k ! 7he day ofIehovah ltrelf is corn- ing, cruel both wrth hry and with burning anger, in order to make the land an object of ustonishment, and that it may unnihilate the land's sinners out of it " (lsaiah 73:9) Rnt)ylonls prospects are gIoomy, It i s RF t h o ~ i ~ h the sun, moon, ancl stars all cease giving light. "For the very stars of the herrvens end their constellat/ons of Kesii will not flash forth theEr light the sun will actually grow dark at itr going forth, and the moon itrelf will not cause its light Co shine. " -Isaiah 73: 10.

a Why such a fate for this proud city? Jehovah says: "I shall certainly bring home its own badness upon the pro- d u c t / ~ land, and their own error upon the wicked them- selves. And I shall actually cause the prlde of the presump- tuous ones to cease, and the haughtiness of the tpnts I shall srb~se." (4saiah 13:lf) The outpouring of Jehovah's wrath will be punishment for &ai>y1ylan1s cruelty to God's

7. What "day of Jehovah" is coming, and what wlll be the results for Babylon7 H. Why does Jehovah decree the fall of Rabylnn?

176 Xsw &A's Propkey-Light far All Mgnklrrd I

people, The whole land wlil Mer because of the badness of tb Babyhdam. No Ionger will thm proud tyrentg m y defy J m h ! 9Jehovahsags:7siwUmkmwtralmprtmuwahonm- ,

8 n d p I d , # n d ~ g ~ r r r r e v ~ ~ ~ g o W o f OpAk" (isakrh 13:72) Yes, the dty will come to be depopu- lated, waste. Jehovah mntinues: %t is why 1 SfroH muse ~ M l o k o m @ ~ t m d h ? @ & r l h W I # r O t k a u t o f & p k r c e r r t l f P e i i r r y d ~ m h o f d d c r t h day of hk bumkg angw.." (lsahh 73:13) hbyion's "heav- en,* her dtltude of gods and guddasa, wil l be agltat- ed, UaabletobeEpthecityinitstirneofnd, Theearth," the 3abyloaian Empire, will be m d d out of pke , pass- hg Into history as Just mother dead empire. "it must occur thut,#ikeogaze&&asadaavrr)radlkaaock~lhout u y m e tu &if tisem ftgeth3 t h y wlll turn, each one t o h i s o m p ~ o p k ~ a n d t h y w l l l ~ , &onetohisown fand,' (brrluh T3?T$) All of 3abylon's foreign mppsters will famike her and flee, hopttrg. to set up new relation- mps with the csquerhg d d pmm. Babylon will hallyeqxrlence the ago* of% conquered dty, an agony that she hftftted onaa many others fn the days of her gio- ry: ~ a n e i f ~ & & f o i m d W h ~ t h r o u g h , a t d e v e r y m e t f w t h c a q h E b t h e ~ w f l l M I b y t h e ~ ; ~ W r v e r p . c h ~ w i R b e ~ t o p ~ ~ t h e & epm, ~IsouwwiUbepi#ag& O n d W r u w n w h will be mpd"--Isaiah 13: I S , 76.

God's Instrument of Destruction 10 Which p o w w w l I t J ~ u s e t u bdngaboutthe fail

of Babylon? Some 200 p ahead of tlme, Jehwah re v w h t h e m w m u k i m d n g ~ I n s t t h e m b h o

]ehavak H t i m b k aff Amgant dty

Medes, w h o ~ l t c o u n t ~ i W f a s n o t h l n g a n d w l r o ~ u s ~ s m golcC take no de/&ht In It. And their h w s wifl dash ewn young man to pisces. And ths hibage of the ~ t h e y w l l l n o t ~ ; l i o r m s + W r ~ W i m r t M s c w ~ r y A n d & o ~ n , t h e ~ l l o n o f k l n g d o m s , t f r e b e a u - q . o f t h e p w o f m U l a ~ & b e w m t e a ~ God OMM#UWW Eakm rrnd -." (lsrrlcrh 73:174J

9. What aw&~ Babylon on Jebwh's day of judgmwt? 10. Whom will Jehmsh use b defeat &byion?

1721 & d d i k Pwfi&y-Llgfrt fir All hdrrrtkd~d I

momtabus country of Media.* Eventually, Babyfoa will be as d- as the grossly immoral dtk of Sodom and Gomorrah.4amh W:13; 19:13,24.

11 In rsaiah's day, both Media and Babyion are under the As!yrhn pk &out a century laterf In 632 B.C.E,, Media - " baittll mtIom only tbe &edes by name, but a number of nations wlll be d k s aphst Babyim-kAlIa, Persia, Elm, and Other amall- er mattons. Jeremiah SO:$; 51:2B, 27, 28) NelghhrItq narfoas r tkr , to both Me& 6 and PWam ~s '"he Meda" Further, In l~aIah9 dada)r, Media Is the dominant pwr, Only under Gyms d m P t m h k a m e daalhmt.

11, 12. (a) H w does Me& become a world powcr7 (b} What unusu- al. h i t does the p q h q mention about Mdh's armies?

Fallen Babyton wiI/ &emme the haunt of desert cmturer

and IkbyIon join brces and overt& Mnweh, the =pi- tal of AsW This o m the way for hbylon to become the pmbmhnt world powr. Wttle does she walk that a m 100 pan after that, Media will destroy hetl Who but Jehavah God could mak such a bold prediction?

12 When identifying hh chosen Instrument of destruc- on, Jehovah says that Media's armies n~ccount silver it- self as nothing and . . , ns b~pecks gold, take no delight in it'' What an unusud trait fo~ battlehardened sd&mt Bi- ble -ah Aikrt B a r n says: "Few, i n d ~ d , haw been the invz&g-armies whI& were not: influenced by the hope ofspaiLIr Do the Medim armles prove Jcrhwah true in rhis regard? Yes. Consider thh comment found In The Bible- W+ prepared by J. GknWorth Butlet: " U W most na- tfm that have ewr m g d war, the Medes, and w- ly the Pdam, thought less of gold than of conquest and $ory."* In vim of this, it is not surprjslng that when he H+ leases the Lmellta fmm Wybnian exile, the Persian nrt. er C p s remm to them thousands of gold and silww- 4@ that Nebuchadnem looted from JerusaIemts temple. -ma I:?-11. 1s WhIle the Me- and the Persian warriors have We

P ~ S ~ ~ M ~ O S S @ , they IEWm1es~ ambkbW WdO not intend a6 main second bo any natlon on the wodd w. M m , JehoMh puts 'despollhg" into their h m . (isaiah 13:6) Hence, with th& metal km-which mnbewednotonlytoshmt~butahotostrikeand mb, memy soldlasJ the affsprlng of Babylorn math- -they ax determined ?o tonqcler Babylon.

* f wws, hamwr, that Iarer on the M d r a and the Perslam dW1- o w amat 1- b~ Iuxury,-Esthcr l:l.i",

l3,L4. (a) Although not intensted In s i t br what are the and m. Persian w m c n am~t lour~ ( 1 R ~ 4 1 o w does OF. owcome the w t e d defenses oP Rabybn?

180 Isainh's Pruphcc)~-L1,ql1 t fijr A / / Mnn k l r~r l I

t4 Cyms, leader of the Medo-Persian armies, is undeterred by nabylon's fortifications, On the night OF Or-okr S/h, 539 R.C.L, he orders the diverting of the waters ot the Eu- phrates River. As the water level kills, the invades stealthi- ly make their way into the city, walking along the riv- crberl t l~rough thighdeep water. Ifabylon'~ inhnl>ibnts are caught unawares, and Babylon falls, (13anicl 5:30) Jchwall God inspires Isaiah to prophesy thew cvcnts, I cav in~ no doubt that He is directing matters,

1s How complete will the destruction of Rahylon bc? Lls- ten to Jehovah's pronouncement: "She wlll never be inhab- Ited, nor will she reside for generution uftrr~ter genera tlon, And there the Arab will not pitch his tent, and no shepherds will lle t their flocks lie down there. And there the haunters of wo- terlen ~gions will certainly lie down, and their houses must be filled with eagle owls. And there the ostriches must re- side, and goat-shaped demons themselves will go skipping obout fhere. And jackals musf howl in her dwelling hwers, and the big snake will be in the palaces of exquisite d ~ l i g h t And the season for her is near to come, and her days tl~em- selves wilE not be postponed," (Isaiah 13:20-22) Iltter clcl;o- lation will be the city's fate.

Ih Inis did nat happen immediately in 539 B.CE. Still, to- day it is very clear that everything lsaiah foretold regard- ing Babylon has come true. Babylon "is now, and has bcen for centuries, a scene of wide clesolation, and is a Ilcap of ruins," says one Bible commentator. Then he adds: "It is irnpossjble to behold this scene and not be rcrnlndcd how exactly the predictions of Isaiah and Jeremlnl~ have hccn fulfilled." Clearly, no man in Isalah's day could have fore- told Babylon's fall and her eventual dcsalatlon, Alter all, nabylon's fall to the Medes and the Perslans occurred some

t 5. What tuture awafs Babylon? 16. 'fhe present condition of Babylon glwr us what cnnhdence?

200 years after Isaiah wmte his book! And her final deso- lation came centuria Datcr. Does this not strengthen our faith in the Bible as the impired Worcl of TI^? (2 Timothy 3:lS) Moremr, since Jehavah Fulfilled prophecies in times past, we can haw absolute confidcncc that Rible prophe- c i a yet unfulfilled will bc rcalizctl in God's due time.

I "Rest Prom Yot~r Pafn" 17 Babylon's fall wjll he a tellef for Isracl. It will mean

release from captivity and the opportunity to return to the Promised land. Hence, lsalah now mys: "lehowrh wiII show m e q tujacob, and he is yet certain to choose Esml; and he will oddly give them rest upon lhefr soil, and the alien resident must be joined to them, and hey must d- tach themselves to the house of lacob. And peoples will ac- tually take them and bring them to thelr own place, und the house of Ismel must take them to themselves as a pos- session upon the SON of jcl~ovah as menservants and as maidservants; and they must become the captors o f those holding them cciptlve, and they must have in subjection

I those who were driving them to work, (lsalah 14: 1,2) "a- cob" here refers to Israel as n whole-all 12 tribes. Jeho- vah will show mercy to "Jacob" by allowing the nation to return home. They will be accompanied hy thousands of foreigners, many of whom will scrve the lsraelitcs as tem- ple servants. Somc Israelites will even come to have au- thority over thelr former captors."

J8 Gone wU1 be the anbwish of living In exile. Instead,

For example, Danlel was appalnterl ns n hlgh officlal In R~bylon un- der the Medes and thc I'crslnns. Aricl ohnut hQ year5 later, Enther he- came queen of the Perqian Klng Ahar;ueru?i, and Mnrclecai became prime rninlster of the wht~lc Ilcrsli~n Cn~plrc.

17,1&. The defeat n l Babylon will mean what blcsirsings b r Istael7

182 Isaiah's Prophecy-light fur All Mnrrkirrd I

Jehovah will give his people "rest fmm [their] pain and from [their] agitation and from the hard slavery in which [they] were made a slave." (Isaiah 14:3) Having been freed born the physical burdens of slavery, Israel will no longer suffer the pain and agitation of living among wor- shipers of false gods. (Ezra 3:l; Esaiah 32: 18) Commenting on this, the book h n d s and Peoples of the Bible says: "To the Babylonian his gods were altogether such as himself, in all the worst aspects of his character. They were cow- ards, drunkards and imbeciles." What a relief to escape such a degraded religious environment!

19 Nevertheless, Jehovah's mercy is not unconditional. His people must express mmorse for their wickedness, wrhich moved God to punish them so severely. (Jeremi- ah 3:25) Open, heartfelt confession will bring Jehovah's forgiveness. (See Nehemiah 9:6-37; Daniel 95. ) This same principle holds true today. Since "there is no man that does not sin," all of us need Jehovah's mercy. (2 Chroni- cles 6:36) Jehovah, the merciful God, lovingly invjtes us to confess our sins to him, to repent, and to cease any wrong course, in order that we may get healed. (Deuteron- omy 4~31; Isaiah 1:18; James 5:lb) This not only helps to restore us to his favor but also brings us comfort.-Psalm 51:l; Proverbs 28:13; 2 Corinthians 2:7.

A "Proverbial Saying" Against Babylon 20 More than 100 years before Babylon's rise as the

preeminent world power, Isaiah foretells the world's reac- tion to her fall. Prophetically, he commands Israelites who have been freed from captivity to her: 'You must raise up this proverbial saying against the king of Babylon and say:

19. What is needed if IsraeI is to enjoy Jehovah's fnrgiveness, and what do we learn irom this? 20, 21. How do Babylon's neighbors reloice a t her fall?

Jehovah Humbles an Arrogc1 nt City 183

'How has the one driving others to work come ta a stop, the oppression come to a srop! jehovah has broken the rod of the wicked ones, the staff o f the ruling ones, the one striking peoples in fury with .a stroke incessantly, the one subduing nations in sheer anger with a persecution with- out restraint "' (Isaiah 7434-6) Babylon has built up quite a reputation as a conqueror, an oppressor who turns free people into slaves. How fitting that her fall be celebrated with a "proverbial saying" directed primarily at the Bab- ylonian dynasty-starting with Nebuchadnezzar and end- ing with Nabonidus and Belshana-that presided over the glory days of the great city!

21 What a difference her fall will make! 'The whole earth has come to rest, has become free of disturbance. People have become cheerful with joyful cries. Even the juniper trees have also rejoiced at you, the cedars of Lebanon, say- ing, 'Ever since you haw lain down, no woodcutter comes up against us." (Isaiah 14:T 8 ) The kings of the nations round about were, to Bahylon's rulers, like mes to be cut down and used for their own purposes. Well, all of that is finished. The Babylonian woodcutter has cut hs last tree!

22 So astonishing is the fall of Babylon that the grave it- self reacts: "Even Sheol underneath has become agitated at you in order to meet you on coming in. At you it has awak- ened those impotent in death, all the goatlike leaders of the earth. If has made all the kings of the nations get up from their thrones. A/\ of them speak up and say to you, 'Have you yourself also been made weak like us? Is it to us that you have been made comparable? Dawn to Sheol your pride has been brought, the din of your stringed in- struments. Beneath you, maggots are spread out as a couch; und worms are your covering.' " (Isaiah 14:9-11)

22. In a poetic sense, how is Sheol affected by the fall of the Babylo- nian dynasty?

184 Isaiah's Prophecy-Light far A l l Mankind I

What a powerful poetic image! It is as if the common grave of mankind were to wake up all those kings who preceded the Babylonian dynasty into death so that they can greet the newcomer. They mock the Babylonian rul- ing power, which is now helpless, lying on a bed of mag- gots instead of on a costIy divan, covered with worms in- stead of expensive linens.

"Like a Carcass Trodden Down" 23 Isaiah continues the proverbial sayjng: "0 how you

have fallen from heaven, you shining one, son o f the dawn! How you have been cut down to the earth, you who were disabling the nations!" (Isaiah 14: 72) Selfish pride prompts Babylon's kings to elevate themselves above those around them. Like a star s h i n g brightly in the ear- ly morning sky, they arrogantly wield power and authori- ty. A particular source of pride is Nebuchadnezzar's con- quest ofJerusalern, a feat that Assyria failed to accomplish. The proverbial utterance portrays the proud dynasty of Babylon as saying '70 the heavens I shall go up. Above the stars of Cod 1 shall lift up my throne, and I shall sit down upon the mountain of meeting, in rhe remotest parts of the north. I shoJl go up above the high places of the clouds; I shall make myself resemble the Most High." (lsaiah 14: 73, 74) Could there be anything more oubageous?

24 In the Bible the f i g s of the royal line of David are likened to stars. (Numbers 24:17) From David on, those "stars" ruled from Mount Zion. After Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, the name Zion came to apply to the whole city. Under the Law covenant, all male krael- ites were obliged to bavel to Zion three times a year. Thus, it became "the mountain of meeting." By determining to subjugate the Judean kings and then remove them from

fehovah Hrrlwbles an Arrogant C i p 185

that mountain, Nebuchadne~zar is declaring his intention ( to put himself above those "stars." He doer not giveleha-

vah credit for his victory aVer them. Rather, in effect, he I arrogantly puts himself in Jehovah's place.

25 What a reversal is in store for the proud Babylonian dynasty! Babylon is far from being elevated above the stars of God. Rather, Jehovah says: "Down to Sheol yo11 will 1 be brought to the remotest ports of the pit Thore seeing you will gaze even at you; they will give close examination even to you, saying, '1s this the man that was agitating the earth, that was making kingdoms rock, that made the pro- ductive fund Iike the wilderness und that overthrew its very cities, that did not open the way homeward even for his prisoners?' " (Isaiah 74: 15- 77) The ambitious dynasty will come down to Hades (Sheol), just like any human.

I 26 Where, then, will be the power that conquered king- doms, destroyed productive land, and overthrew cities without number? Where will be the world power that took captives and never alIowed them to go back home? Why, the Babylonian dynasty will not even have a decent

1 burial! Jehovah says: '$41 other khgr of the notions, yes, ail o f them, have iain down in glory, each one in his own house. But as for you, you have been thrown away with- out a burial place for you, Iike a detested sprout, clothed with killed men stabbed with the sword that are going down to the stones of a pit, like a carcass trodden down.

I You will not become united with them in a grave, because you brought your own land to ruin, you killed your own people. To time indefinite the offspring of evildoers will not be named." (Isaiah 74:78-20) In the ancient world, it was considered a disgrace for a king to be deprived of an honorable burial. So, what about Babylon's royal dynas- ty? I t is true that individual kings are pmbably interred

23, 24. What extreme arrogance is shown by Babylon's hngs? 25, 26. How does the Babylonian dynasty meet a disgraceful end?

l s h ~ w t h Humbles an Amgant City

wlth honor, but the impxlal dynasty of ldngs that de- scended from N e b u w - is discarded "lk a -- d sprout.' It is as if the dynasty were thrown into an unmarked grave-& a mere fmt soldier slaln in battle. What a hu-tionl 27 The pruwbial saying ends wlth m orders to the

conquering Meds and PersW: "#ah Iready, p you a slaughtsrkrg block br his own sons because of the error of t f ro l rhfa tks , thtdsqrmaynotrlreupandQCCUoI~ ~ ~ l o n o f t k e m ~ a n d ~ ~ ~ ~ i r # l e o f b h e p r o & - the hrtd wfth Ma." Clmiah 14:2f) The fall of Babylon will be permanent. The Babylonian dynasty wflI be rooted out. There will be no mabance. Future p e r a m of Babylo- n i a ~ will suffer becaw of "the error af their Inrefathers.'

28 The Wdpent pronounced against the Babylonian dy- nastp provides a valuable lwon h us. The root of the Babylonian kings' sin w a endless ambition, (Dan- iel 523) Thetr hearts were filled with a dafre far paw- er. They wanted to doarlnnte others, (Isaiah $75, 6 ) And they IwM a& glary from men, which rightly belongs tu God. (Revelatton 411) This Is a warnlng to any in authont- ty-even In the Chdstkm c o ~ t l l o n . Ambltfon and self- ish pride we - that Jehwah will not tolerate, ~ 4 t h ~ in i n d i v i W or in nations.

29 The pride of the Babylonian rulers was a reflection of the spirit d "the god of thb qskm of things,N Satan the - 27. Ln what way do futue ~~ of BPbyIonlsar M e t for the ermr of their bmLtha? 28. What was the coot of the s i n of the Bnbylonlan kings, and what dowelesrnfmmthis? 29. The ride aad &ition of the Babylonian d e n was a refledon of what{

Like anclen t Babylon, &&Ion the Great wild becams a hwp of rurm

ME. (2 Corinthians 44) He tm lusts for power and longs to place himself above Jehovah Coct. As was the cnsc with the king of Baby!on and the people he subjugated, Satan's unholy ambition has resulted in misery and suffering for all mankind.

30 Moreover, in the book of Revelatlon, we read of anoth- er Rabylon-"Babylon the Great.'~l~cwlatlon 18:2) This organization, the world empire of False religion, has also shown a prideful, oppressive, and cruel spirit, IZs a result, she toe has to face a "day of Jehovah" and tre destroyed in God's due time. (Isaiah 136) Since 1919 the mrssag has sounded around the earth: "Babylon the Great has fall- en!" (Rewlation 148) When she was unabIe to t~otd God's people in captivity, she experienced a bll. Soon she will be completely d m y d . Of ancient l<abylon, Jehovah corn- manded: "Pay back to her according to her activity. Ac- cording to all that she has done, do to her, 1:or it is ngalnst Jehovah that she has acted presumptuously, against the Holy One of Israel." (Jeremiah 50:2(7; James 2 13 ) Ralrylon the Great will receive a similar juclgm~nt,

31 Hence, Jehovah's final statement of thls prophecy In the hook of Isaiah applies rtot only to ancient Babylon hut also to Babylon the Great: "I will rise up oquinst them . . . And I will cut off h m Babylon name and rernnan t and progeny and posterity. . . And I wiil rnclke her a por- session of porcupines and m d y pools of water, and I will sweep her with the h m of onnihiiation. " (Isaiah 14:22, 23) The desolated ruins of ancient Iiabylon show what JF- hovah will soon do to Babylon thc Great. What a com- fort for lovers of true worship! What an cncouragment to strive never to allow the satanic chnracterl~tics of pride, ar- rogance, or cruelty to develop in us1

30, What other BabyIon is mentioned in the tllhle, and what splrit has she sham? 31. What will soon happen to Babylon thc Great7

CHAPTER FIFTEEN - - -

Jehovah's Counsel Against the Nations

I Isalah 1424-19:25

JEHOVAH can use thc natlons to dlsclpline hls people for their wickedness. liven sat hc cloer not excuse those na- tions for their unncccssnry cruelty# tthctr pride, and their animosity toward true worship. Thus, long in advance he inspires Isaiah to record "'thc pmnounccment against B a b ylon." (Isaiah 131) However, Rnbylon i~ a future threat. In

I Isaiah's day, Assria is oppressing God's covenant people. hsyria destroys thc nartllcrn kirrgdom of Israel and dev- astates much of Judah. I'lut Assylhia's triumph is limited. Isaiah writes: ")eehavah af armlcs has sworn, saying: 'Sure- Jy just as / have figured, so it must occur, , . In order to

I breuk the Assyrian in my /and and that 1 may tread him down on my own mauntulns; and that his yoke may ac- tually depart from upon them and thar his very Ioad may deport from upon their shovlder.' " (Isahh 14:24,25) Not Iong after Isaiah uHcrs t h i ~ prnphecy, the Assyrian threat is removed from Judalt.

2 What, though, of other nations that are enemies of God"s covenant pcoplc? They too must he judged. Isaiah declares: mi^ is the counsel that Is counseled against all the earth, lrnd this is the hand that is stretched out against

1. W h a t judgment pmclamt~tlon ngalnst Awyrln does Isnlah record? 2, 3. [a) In nnclent tlmcs, against whum rlnes Jehovah str~tch out his hand? (h) What dclchr 11 mean th;htJuhnv&h strutches out his hand against "a!! the nation$"?

Bibla's Pmpkccy-Ught f i r All Manklnd I

dl the nrrtfomr. hr lebowh d mb h h e # has coun- seted,acrndwhonmhmkitup?AndhlshondIstheone strstched out and who can h m It hckP ( W a h 14:26, 27) Jehovah's "counsel" Is more than mere advice. It b hb firm demmbtion, his decm. U U h 4920, 30) Gad's "hand" is W appM power, In the final wises of Isalah chapter 14 and h chapters 15 ta 19, Jehovah's coun- sel is against PhiliiGa, Moab, Damascus, Ethiopia, and m-

3 H o w e m f Isaiah says that Jehovah's hand Is stretched out against "all the nations? Hence, while these prophe da of Isaiah ate l k t W l e d in andent tlmes, they also apply in prindple during Hthe W e of the endu when Je hovah s-es out his hand against all the kingdoms of the earth. (Daniel 244; 129; Romans 25:4; Revelation 19: 11,19-21) Inng in advance, the P w t y God, Jehmah, cunfidatly meals his a m e l . No one a n hrm back his stretched-out hand-Wm 33:ll; Isaiah 48.10.

MA Flying Herp Snake" Against Phiftstia 4 The P~~ receive a tmt im first, "In the p a r that

Khg&ardkdtMrpnolnountsmentd:'Donotrs- m, 0 *il&th, m y w e of pu, just baaus2 the W o f ~ e o n e d r l h g y w P l a r h ~ . ~ o u t o f h m t o f the serpmvrt tfrerre will cam b& a pdmnow s e and h hit will be a tlyhg h y snuk/"4uIah 14:28,29.

5 King U* was stcong enough to contain the threat posed by PhilMh. @ Chtonides 26:&8) To th- he was like n s e p m , ad his stag kept s~king that un.

4. What are h ~ n e d-s d Jebwrah's pmmncwamt a m Phi- 1Wifi1 5 6. (4 In what way was U- Ilke a serpent to the PhUstina? ib) What Hwekbh p m to be agalnst PhWsth?

Phi/&rine wudm charging their enernler (Egyptian carving t b m the 12th century 8,C,E.)

friendly neighbor. After Uz4& dled-'his staff WBS bsokcexlr-the falthful To- t- ruled, but 4he peo-

I - -. -,.-.---.

ple were yet actfng rutnowiy." Next, Ahaz became king. Things changed, and the PhIhtlnes conducted rnca-3- ful military mi& on Judah. (2 QlFonides 272; 28:17,18) Now, hmww, things are changing agah In 746 B . U , King Aha dies and the young HezRkiah tala the throne. Lf the PhiMiues feel that thlngs MU contlnue in their fa- vor. they are sadiy mlstalpen. Hezeklah prwles m be a deadly he. A descendant of Uz&h (the "huff from his Umt'l), H W a h is H k e "a flying fiery &"-rapidly dartlng tu the attack, skrlking In a fashion, and produdfig a burning dect , as if injecttng his vIctfms with venom.

6 This is an apt descrlptlon of the nmv king, "It was Ba- Wah] h t rn& down the PhIlisdm dear to Gaza and a h its tenitoris." (2 KLngs 1&8) According to the amah of Assyrian King Sennacherlb, the Phllbtlna -me sub- jeas of Htzkhh. W e lOWIy onesu-the weakened king- d m of J a - g e t to enjoy securlv and material plentp, while PhiMia s u f k a hdne. -Rmt Iroicrh 14:30,3?.

7 It seems that ambassadon are p m t In Judah-per- haps sh!ek;lng an alllance against Assyria, What should they be told? 'What w/l/ anyone say In cmsw to €he ma- s~ngarr of the nation?" Should Kez~Mab seek security

7. What ~ w n of faIth must b k l a h make to the am- dors pmmt In Jerusalem?

isaiuh's Pmphtxy-Light fir AH Mankind I

Stone &of a M w b h warrior ar god (betwen 17 th

and 8bh century 8 L E )

in foreign alliances? Noi He should tell the messengers: " I e h W h h e # hrrs hid the fctmdaa'on of &, and In her ~ - o n ~ o f h & p o l o p l e w l l &b -." (IsuM 14:33 The king must h m full tnrst In Jehovd~ The foundawn of Zion is 7 firm. The dty will surdye as a fatk ha- - wa from the Assyrfan menace.-Psabm 46: 1-7.

8 Uke mth, some mtions today vldously oppose God's -. CMstlan Wi-w of JefioPsh haw been mdmd in prisons and conwntmdon camps. They h m been banned, A number haw been W e d . Up ponenfs continue ta 'make sharp a h d s on the suuI of the righteous o m Y (Psalm 94:21) To thelr mantes, th is Qlrlsttan p p m y seem "lowljP and *poor," H m I with Jehovah's support, they enlay spiritual plenty, W e their d e s suik famtne. (Isaiah 65: l3,14; h a s &11) When Jehowh out his hand against the modem day lWlMms, thm "lowly ones" Wl be wcum Where? In a~wletlon wifh ?he household of God: of which je sus is the sure boundation cornemom. mheians 219, ZQ) And they rvill be under the pm&lon of "h- Jerusalem," Jehovah's ceIatIal Khgdoa wtkich has Jesus slat as -.-He- 1222; Rewbaon 14: 1, - a (a) m h S O M ~ - ~ k e P ~ I I W ? he W h ancient times, w b t hm J e h m d m ? to support his peopk MY?

iehovah's Counsal Against the Marian#

Moab Xs Silenced 9 &t of the Dead !?m Is another neighbor of Israel -Moab, Unlike the PhiMhs, the Moabites are mted to Ismel, being descendanis of Abraham's nephew Lot. (Gen- esis 19:37) Despite that r&ttonship4 Mod ius a his- of e r i m i ~ wlth IsraeL !?or example, batk irt the days of M+ ses, the khg of Moab hired the propw Balaam, hoping that he would curse tbe I s d k s . Wha that failad, Mmb ur&d Immotality and Eaal wrship to ensnare bra- el. (Numbers 224-6; 251-5) Uttle wnder, then, that Je- h d now inspfres lsaiah to xmrd "tke pmun-t agffOnsf Mub#f-isc1iErA 75: 70. to Isaiah's prophecy 3s M against m e m u s dtla

and loc~tians In Moab, hduding Ar, Kir (or Hr-hareseth), and Mbon. (bdoh 15:Jb, 220) Moabites wlll mourn Par KPc-WWh's ralsfn c&sl pahaps a pmdud of the dty. (Wah 1&6, 7) Slbmah and Jam, famous for vine dtivaUon, will be smitkn ( b h h 16:8-10) EgIa* sWbtph, whose name m9y mean H&r of Three P a Old,# will k Iik a stutdy young cow uwrlng pitiful cries of anguish. (Imfah 1S:J) The gma of the land wlll dry up while the "wttters of L#m" become full of bid because of the shughtet of the MoaMta. The Hwcrtsrs of NJmrrhnY wiU W e " s k r & d ~ " i n either a ffgu- Pative sense or a W seaseHCcely because enemy fom darn up their streams.-lsaioh fS:6-9.

11 Moabites will gird & m d ~ with sdcloth, the gar- ment of mourning. They dl - their heads bald to spmbo13ze shame and lamentation. Thdr beards will be "cIipp&" shewng atfeaw grief and hwdiztion, (Isufoh lS2b-4) Isaiah himself, d n of the f d i h e n t of these

9. AgalnSt whom is the n e ~ t pwxl~uncement made, and how lw this p p f e p w d w bk an enemy of W a p W e ? 10, 11. What wlfl happnta Mmb?

194 Isaioh's Prophecy-Light far AII ,Wfli?kirrrl I

judgments, feels deep emotions. Like thc vibrating strings of a harp, h s inward parts are moved with pity because of the message of woe against Moab.-Isaiah 76: 11,72.

12 When will this prophecy be fulfilled? Soon. "This is the word that lehovah spoke concerning Moab formerly. And now jehovah has spoken, saying: 'Wirhin three years, ac- cording to the years o f a hired laborer, the glory o f Moab must also be disgraced with much commotion of every sortt and those who remain aver will be a trifling few, not mighty "'((lsaiah 16: 73, 74) In harmony with t l~is, there is archaeological evidence that during the eighth centu- ry B.C.E., Moab suffered grievously and many of its sites were depopulated. Tiglath-pileser 111 mentioned Salamanu of Moab among the rulers who paid tribute to hum, Sen- nacherib received tribute from Kammusunadbi, king of Moab. Assyrian monarchs Esar-haddon and Ashurbanipal referred to Moabite Kings Musuri and Kamashaltu as be- ing their subjects. Centuries ago, the Moabites ceased to exist as a people. Ruins of cities thought to be Moabite have been found, but little physicd evidence of this once- powerful enemy of Israel has thus far been unearthed.

Modexn-Day "Moab" Perishes 13 Today there is a worldwide organization simiIar to an-

cient Moab. It is Christendom, the principal part of "Bab- ylon the Great." (Revelation 175) Both Moab and Israel descended from Abraham's father, Terah. Similarly, Chris- tendom, like the congregation of anointed Christians to- day, claims lo have roots in the first-century Christian con- gregation. (Galatians 6316) However, Cl~ristendom-like Moab-is corrupt, promoting spiritual immorality and the worship of gods other than the one true God, Jehovah.

12. How were Isaiah'? words against Moab fulfilled? 13. What organization today can be compared with Moab7

Jehovuh's Counsel Againsf t h e Nations 195

I (James 4:4; 1 John 5:21) As a class, Christendom's leaders oppose those who preach the good news of the h g d o m . -Matthew 24:9,14.

14 Moab was eventually silenced. The same will happen to Christendom. Jehwah, using a modern-day equivalent

I of Assyria, will cause her to be desolated. (Rwelation 17: 16,17) However, there is hope for people in this modern-

! day Woab." In the midst of prophesying against Moab, Isaiah says: "In loving-kindness a throne will certainly be firmly established; and one must sit down upon it in true- ness in the tent of David, judging and seeking justice and being prompt in righteousness." (Isaiah 16:s) In 1914, Je-

I hovah firmly established the throne of Jesus, a Ruler in the line of King David. Jesus' kingship is an expression of Jehovah's loving-kindness and, in fulfillment of God's covenant with King David, will last forever. (Psalm 72:2; 85:10, 11; 893, 4; Luke 1:32) Many meek ones have left modern-day "Moab" and haw submitted themselves to Je- sus in order to gain life. (Revelation 18:4) How comforting for these to know that Jesus will 'make clear to the nations

I what justice is'! -Matthew 12: 18; Jeremiah 33: 15.

I Damascus Becomes a Decaying Ruin 15 Next, Isaiah records "the pronouncement against Da-

mascus." (Read Isaiah 77:1-6.) Damascus, to the north

I of Israel, is "the head of Syria." (Isaiah 78) During the reign of King Ahaz of Judah, Rezin of Damascus in league with Pekah of Israel invades Judah. At Ahaz' re- quest, howmr, Assyrian Tiglath-pileser 111 wars against

14. Despite Jehovah's counsel against the modern-day "Moab," what hope is there for individual members of that organization? 15, 16. (a) What hostile steps do Damascus and Israel take against Judah, and with what result for Damascus? (b) Who is included in the pronouncement against Damascus? {c) What can Christians to- day learn from Israel's example?

'-"<7 h's I h p h c ~ y - L i g k t for All Maaklnd I

Syrian warrior riding . u camel (ninth ' cmtury B.C. E.)

Damascus, conquering it and exi l ing many of its in- habitants. Thed&r, Da- mascus r e a w to be a timat tO J~dah.-Z KQs 36:s-9; 2 Chronides 28:5,16.

16 likely because of Isra- el's alliance with Damas- tus, JekwaWs pronouns;- meat against Damascus also bdudeS eqxes$ion.s of judgment against the unfaithful northern king-

dom. (Baiah 17:Mj Israel will b c a e U e a add at har- vesttrma with very little grain. or like an alive We from which most of t he dives ham b m shaken from the branches. Qsaiah 174-6) What a sobering example for those who are dedicated to Jehovah! He expets exclusive dmoimn and accepts ad7 heartfelt sacred service. And he hates those who tu~n against their b~others.-Fxdus 20:s; Isalah 17:1CI, 11; Matthew 2448-50,

Full Confidence in Jehovah 17 Isaiah now sap: ""In that day earthling man will look

up to his MakerI md his own eyes wiil gaze ut the Holy One of Isrue1 himsdf And he will not {oak to the slaps, the work dhis hqnds; and at what his fingers have made he wi#not

17, 18. W How do s m e in Israel reat4 t~ Jehovah's pronounce- ments but what is tb~gen&al respons2 @) How do events today re- sembk thaw of HegekiaKs d+?

gaze, either ur the sacred pdes or at the incense stahds." (Isaiah 1Zx 88) Yes, some in Israel heed Jehovah" s i n g pronouncement. For example, when Iiezekiah sends an invitation to the Inhabitants of Israel to jainJudah in a cd- ebration of the Passover+ some Israelites respond and trav- el south to lain their brothers in pure worship. (2 Chron- icles 361-12j Still, most of Israel's inhabitants mock the messengers bearing the invitatim. The country is incur- ably apostate. Hence, Jehovah's counse1 against her is ful- filled. Assyria destroys Israel's cities, the land becomes waste, the pastures urrpmductive.-Read Isaiah lZ9- I I .

18 What of today? Israel was an apostate nation. Hence, the way Hezekiah lned to help individuals in that nation to return to true worship reminds m of how hue Chrir- tiam today try to help individuals in the apostate ow- nizatlon of Christendom. Since 1919, couriers horn "the Is~ael of God" have gone through Christendom, inviting people to share in pure worship. (Galatians 6:16) Most have refused. Many have mocked the messengers. Some, though, have responded. They now number into the mil- lions, and they delight in 'gazing a t the Holy One of Isra- el,' being educated by him, (Isaiah 5 4 13) They abandon worship at the unholy altars-devotion to and trust in man-made gods-and eagerly turn toJehovah. (Psalm 146: 3, 4) Like Isaiah's contemporary Micah, each one of them says: "As for me, It is for Jehovah that I shall keep on the lookout. I will show a waiting attitude for the Gad of my salvation. My God will hear me."-Micah 7:7.

19 What a contrast to those who put their trust in mortal man! Turbulent waves of violence and upheaval bdet hu- manlty in these last days. "The sea" of restless, rebellious humanity churns up discontent and rwolutton. (Isaiah 57:20; Revelation 8:8, 9; 13:l) Jehovah will "rabuk" this -

19. Whom will Jehovah rebuke, and what will this mean for them?

188 I$&tu&s mphecy-L&bt far All Manklnrl I

noisy crowd. US hawnip Kingdom wfll destmy w q troub1p.mkiq organimtion and individual, and these wiU%tbrawq.../ikeathlrtlewhirlbeforeaPdomr wind."-Isakrh IZ?2,73; ReveWan 16:14,16.

WThe mull? Wah sys: "At m I n g lime, why, look! thew & sudcXen temK. k h m mornitydt b no m a 7his & b r e ~ o f t f r o s e p i u @ g u s , a n d t h e h t ~ Ing b pIunderfng a' (Isaiah 1Z14) Many am plun- de&gJehavah's p q k , mthg them harshly and &re- ~pBeca~tfieparenot-anddon0twishtube-a part of the d d l s maimhwn ~ o m I tnre ChrisbIans

20. mspw king 'patmtkml' by the natlons, what M e n m do tnrecwthlsbave?

"?be sea" J&Illous h u m & chums up 61scantknt M d miudon

v l d as easy p q by biased critics md M c op ponents. But Gd's people are mnhdent t b t the "mom- Ing" when their trlbulatlons will end Is fast a p p m d h g . -2 ThessEllonhns 16-9; 1~~ 56-11.

Ethiopia Brings a Gift to Jehovah 21 On at least two occasions, EthiopiaI to the smth of

Egypt, hasbeen involved In mWaryaction @nstJudab- (2 Chronlclen 12:2,3; 1k1, P I S ; 16:8) Now Isaiah pralicb fudgment on that natton: ##a hr the M of tfre whk- dnglmerts withwlngs, w h i d r & i n ~ ~ i o n o f t f r e r f w e v s of EdraOpra!" ( R e d lrwlah 18: 1 6 ) " Jehovah decrees that Ethioph will be 'cut off, remavsd, and lopped off.' =Secular hlsrory tells us that In the latter part of

the eighth century BC.E, Wopia m n q m Egypt and ruled it h r some 6Q yam. Assyrian Eupmrs Esir-haddan and Ashurbanipal invaded in turn. With the d~~~ of Thebes by Ashurbanipal, Aqfa sub]ugated Egypt, thm ending Ethiopian dominance over the Nile Valley. [See also Isaiah 20r3-6.) What about in modem tima?

23 In Dmfel's prophq of "the t h e af the end," the ag- g~ssive "ktng of the north" is -bed as haKtag E W pia and LIbya "at his step," that is, mponsive to his di- &on. (Daniel 11:#43) F$hiogia b &o mentioned as being in the battle forces of "Gog of the land of Magog." - ' Some scholars suglpst that the expmlon "land of the whirring lnsW with *In@ refers ta the locusts that owuionally swam In Ethla la. Othen point out that the Hebrew word fw "whlrrlngiY bda-&m[ resembles in m d the name glmn m the lrrtrc fly, &a& &alp, by the Cdh, a Hamltlc people ltvlng Jn m d r n EthIoph. - 21, 22. Whlch mthn neH Wcs a judgment pranomcement, and how we- Isaiah's hplrsd wards iidlUIed7 23. What pnrt dms the d e m & y "Whiopla" play, and r#fry W It meet Ita end?

(bckld 3R2-5,8) Gog's forces, including the king of the north, meet their end when they attack Jehovah's holy nation, Hence, Jehwah's lrand will also be stretched out agi~inst the modern-day "Ethiopia" hecause of its op- position to Jehovah's sovereignty-Ezekiel 38:21-23; Dm- Icl 11:45.

24 Yet, the prophecy also says: "In that time Q gift will be bmught to Jehovah of armies, h m a p p f e drawn out and scoured, even from a people feur-inspiring every- where . . . to the place of the name of lehovatr of armies, Mount Zion." (Isaiah 18:7) Although the nations do not sec[~#nire Jehovah's sovereignty, thc3y hhac at times acted in ways that benefit Jehovah's people, In some landr the authorities have enacted leglrlalinn and rendered court deckions gbing legal sights to faithful worshipers of Jeho- vah. (Acts 529; Revelation 1 2 15, 16) And there a p oth- er gifts, "Kings will bring gifts to you yourself. . . . B m m ware things wilI come out of Egypt; Cus h I Ethiopia] itself will qillckly stretch out its hands with sifts to God." (Psalm fi8:29-31) Today, millions of modcrn-day ''Ethiopi- ans" who fear Jehovah are bringlnfi "a g1Ft" In the form of worship, (Malachi 1:ll) They arc sharl~ig In the immense task of preaching the good news of [he Kingdom in all the carth. (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 14:6,7) What a fine gi f t to offer to Jehovahf-Hebrews 13:lS.

The Heart of Egypt Melts 25 Judah's immediate neighbor to the south is Egypt,

l o n ~ an enemy of God's covenant people. Isalah chap tcr 19 mounts the unsettled state of affairs in P i ~ y p t dur- ing Isaiah's lifetime. There is civil war in IIgypt, with "city against city, kingdom against kingdom." (lsiiah 19:2, 23,

24. In what ways has Jehuvah received "~ iR5" from the naHonr? 25, In fulfillmcnt of Isaiah 19:1+11, what lial>pens to at~clent Egypt?

)rlrovnlrls Co~rrrscl A p i t r ~ t thc Natio!rs 201

14) Historians present evidence af rival dynasties ruling diCTcrcnt parts d the country at the same timc. Thc vaunt- ctI wisclorn of Egypt, with her 'valuetes% gods and charm- ers,' t l r l ~ ~ not save her from "the hand O C a hard master." (Isalah 193, 4) E ~ y p t i s successively mnquercd hy Anyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome, All thesc evcnts h~lfill !hc prophecies of lraiah 19:l-I 1.

I

26 Ilmvever, in the Bible, Egypt often symboli;r~s Satan's world. (lkekiel 293; Joel 3: 19; Revelation I l :R) 'Therefore, cloes lsn ia h 's "pmnouncernent agoinst Egypt" have a larger fulfillmcnt? Ycs, indeed! The opcning wtlrtls of the proph- ccy should give everyone cause to take nnticc: "look! Ieho- vah Is riding on a swift cloud and comlng Into Egypt And the mIueless gads of Egypt will certainly quiver because of him, and the very heart of Egypt will melt in the midst of it." (fsaiah 79:1) Jehovah will soon nlove against Sillan's or- gitnizirtiorl. At that time, the gods OF th is aystcm ot things wlll bc sccn to be valueIess. (Psalm 96:s; 977) "The very htlart of Iigypt will melt" in fear, Jesus foretolrl that time: "There will be , , , anguish of nations, not knowing the

I way out because of the roaring of the sea and I t5 agitation, while men become faint out of fear and rxpuaatlcln of the thin^ coming upon the inhabited earth."--Luke 21:25,2G. 27 Of the time leading up to his execution of judg

rncnt, Jrhovah says prophetically: 7 wilf good Egyp tluns against Egyptians, and they will certalnIy war each one agoinst hls brother, and each one agalnst Ids cornpan- ion, city against city, kingdom against kingdom." (Isaiah 19:Z) Since thc establishment of God's Kinffdorn In 1914, "lhc s i ~ n of 1 Jesus'] presence" has hem msrk~d by na- tion ri~ing against nation and kinadom again~t kingdom. - 26, In the larger fulfillment, how wilt Inhabttants of modern-day "IIgypt" react t.o Je hovah's acts of iudgrnenr? 27, What lntcrnr~l divisions were Eoretuld for "II~ypt," and how is this I>clng fi~lfillctl today?

tsff hh's Prepkacy-L/ght for All Msrnkirrd I

MM massaaest blolady gtmoddes, md s d l e d etMc cleanshgs haw daimed millions of Ilm during these last days. Such "p~mgs d distress" wiU only get worse as the end draws nearer.-Matthew W3,7,8. m%splrit d E g y p f ~ ~ e b e w l ~ In the

mi& of I f and I shad conhe Itr own mimid. And thy wid be c e ~ n to nasmf lo the ~Iueless go& md b the chcrmters and to ib spIrlt mediums md to the profa- s l m I hwtetkrs of wenb" (tsdah 19:3) When Moses ap pemd before Fbmab, the priests of Egypt were put to shame, W l e ta match J e b W in pawer. { M u s 8:18, 1% Acts 13%; 2 ?kmhy 38) Slmilady, In the day of )udg- mat, false religion wiU be unable to save this corrupt S ~ S - taa (Compm lsaiah 47:1,11-13.) Evenkrally, Egypt m e under "a hQlltl mustqMAssyda. (isabh 79:4) Thh forahad- ows the bleak fume facing thls system of things, 29 though, af the p ~ U t l d leaded Can thy help?

T h e p r i ~ ~ ~ of Zoun ow Indeed hoIish. As mgarrfs the wise ones of Phmmh's cmnsebrs, adr counsel ls something u n m m H e a a ( R e d Idah 1*5-11,) How unreasomb1e t a h o p e t h a t I r u ~ ~ m W 9 1 i U b e o f a n y w e I n t h e day of judgment! Rfen with all the world's knowled@ at their dbpwal, they lack godly wisdom, (1 m t h l - ans 3:19) They have Jehomh and haw turned to sdence walled, pMwp@, money, pleasure, and 0th- er substitute gods. As a-t, they have no knowledge of God's purposes. They are decelmd and disconcerted, Their m&s are In wain, (ad lsolph 19: 12- 15.) The wise ones have become ashamed+ They haw become terrified and wlH be caught. M k T They haw rejetted the wry woKi of Jehovah, and what w i s h do they haw?"-Jeremiah 8:9.

ign and a Witness to J

L

28. In the dey of judgmat, what will false rellglm be able to da to saw this system d We? 29. When JekoPah's day emnm, of what use will p~lltldnm bs?

204 fsttl;il?'s l ~ w ~ ~ l ~ r ~ ; ~ ~ - l , / , ~ l # t fhr Al l Motrkjnd 1

amies that he is counseling against Mm." (Isaiah 19: 17) The faitliful messengers nf Jehovah go forth telling p p I e the trut h-including the announcrrnent of the plagues fr,rctolcl by Jehwah. [Revdatinn R:7- 12; 1632- 12) T h s is dlsturhlng to the religious leaders of thc world,

31 What is the surprising result of thls proclamation work? 7 n that day there will prow to be five cities in the land of Egypt speaking the Ianguoge of Conuan and swearing to Jehovah of armies. The City of Twrfng Down will one city be cafled." (Isaiah 19: 18) I: n ancient times this prophecy was apparently fulfilled when the I-lebrew lan- guage was spoken in Egyptian cltles hy Jcm who had fled thcrc. (Jeremiah 24:1, 8-10; 41 :I-3; 429-437; 44:l) 'raday, thcw are people in the territory of rnndern-day "Egypt" who have learned to speak the "pure languageJ' of Bible truth. (Zephaniah 3:9) One of the five figurative cities is called "The City of Tearing Dawn," si~t~ifying that part nf the "pure language" is rclated to exposing and "tearing downJ' Satan's organization.

142 Thanks to the proclamation work of Jeliovah's people, his great name will certainly become known in this sys- tem of things. "In that day there will prove to be an al- tar to Jehowh in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pi!- tar to jehavoh beside its boundary. " (Isaiah 19: t93 These words point to the position of anointerl Christians, who are in a covenant relationship with God, (Psalm 5 0 5 ) As "an altar" they are offering their sacrifices; as "a plllar and support of the truth," they are bearing wltness to Jehovah. (1 'I'imothy 3:15; Romans 12: 1; Hebrews 13: 15, 16) They are "in the midst of the land," being found-along with - 31. How does it come to pass that "the languilge of Canaan" Is ~ p * krn In cEtlcr of Egypt fa) in anclenl tlmch? (b) In modern times? 32, (a) What "altar" is in the midst nf the land of Bgypt? (b) Hav nrv thc anointed like " a pillar" hesicle I':gyptls hbr~undaryl

Ii~kovrih's Cnrrrtsel &tiinst the Nr~llons 205

their "other sheep" companions-in more than 230 coun- tries and islands of the sea. But they are "no part of the world." (John 10:16; IE7:5,16) They arc, as It wete, stand- ing nn thc boundary m e n this world and thc Kingdom uf Gad, prepared to cross that boundary and rcceive their heavenly reward,

I 3:s Isaiah continues: "It must pro* to be for o sign and h r D witness ta jehomh of armies in the land of Egypt. for they will cry out to lehwoh because of the opprasors, and he wllf send them a savior, even a gmnd one, who will octuafly deliver them." (Isoioh 19:20] As "a sign" and "a witncss,'' rhe anointed take the lead in thc preaching work ancl cxalt JchwnhJs name in tlils systc~n ol' things. (Isa- 1 iah R: I R; Hehnwr 219) Thmugl~out thr world thr cries of oppressed people can be heard, but by and lar~e, human governments are unable to help thcm. I-lowwer, Jehovah wilt scnrl a Grand Savior, the King Jcsus Chtist, to liber- ate al l the meek ones. When these last days reach their cli- mew at the war of Armageddon, hc will llrlng rellef and ~wrlastlng blessings to God-fearing humans,-Psalm 72:2, 4, 7, 12-14.

34 In the meantime, it is God's will that all sorts of PO- ple gain accurate knowledge ancl k saved. (1 Timothy 2:4$ I.lence, Isaiah writes: ")efiovah wilt certofnly become known to the Egyptians; und the Egyptians must know je- howrh In that doy, and they must render sacrtflce and gift and must make a vow to jehowll and pay i t And Jehovah will certainly deal Egypt a blow. There will be a dealing of a blow and a heo/ing; and they must return tu Iehovah,

33, In what ways are the anointed "a slgn" and "n wfmcss" In "Egypt"? 34. (<I) How wllI Jehovah come to be known to "the E~ypttans," and whet sacrlrice and gift will they give to hlm? {b) WEicn wlll Jehovah deal a blow to "F,gypt," and what l l c~ l lng will tnllow?

206 Jsninh's Prupllecy-Li,fht for A l l Mrtnklnd I

and he must let himself be entreated by them and must heal them." (lsaiah 1921, 22) People from all nations of Satan's worId, individuaI "Egyptians," come to know Je ho- vah and render him sacrifie, *the frultof lips which makc public declaration to his name." (Hebrews t3:lS) They make a vow to Jehovah by dedicating themselves to him, and they pay their wrw by living a life of loyal service. Fol- lowing the "blow" that Jehovah will deal this system of thing5 at Armageddon, he will use his Kingdom to heal humankind. DuringJmus8 MilIennial Reign, mankind will be elwated to spiritual, mental, rnoml, and physical pr- fection-healing indeed!-Revelation 22: 1, 2,

"Blessed Be My People" 35 The prophet then foresees a remarkable development:

"in that day there wit1 come fo be a highway out of Egypt to Assyrio, and Assyria will actually come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria; and they will cerbinly render ser- vice, Egypt with Assyria. In that day israel wiJl come to he the third with Egypt and with Assyrid, namely, a blessing in the midst of the earth, because lehowh of armies will have blessed it, saying: 'Blessed be my people, Egypt crnd the work of my hands, Assyria, and my inheslfoncc, /sra- el,'" (Isaiah 19:23-25) Yes, one day friendly relations will exist between J?gypt and Assyria. Mow?

36 When Jehovah rescued his people from the nations in the past, he made for them highways to freedom, so to speak. (Isaiah 11:16; 358-10; 4911-13; J m i a h 3E:ZP) A limited fulfillment of this prophecy t m k place after the defeat of Babylon when exiles from Assyria and Egypt, as well as h r n Babylon, were brought back to the Promised Land. (Isaiah 31:11) But what of modern times?

35, 36. Ln Iullillment of Isaiah 1923-25, what connections came to exist in ancient times between Egypt, hsyrla, and Israel?

I 37 l'oday, the remnant of anointed spiritual Israelites i s '9 Illlesslnfi In thc midst of the earth." They promote true wnrrhll~ and arc dcclarlng the Kingdom message to peo- plc In all the nations, Some .of t hcse nations are like As- syria, hriavily militaristic. Other nations are more Liberal, pcrhaps t ikc Ihypt-at on" timc "the king of the south" in

I Ihnirt's proplrcry. ( I Sanlcl 11 5, 8) Millions of individuals from thc militaristic nations and the mare liberal nations l ~ i ~ v c taken up Ihc way al' true worship. Thus, people from all nations am unitcd in 'rendering service.' There are no nation8llstlc divisions among thew ones. They love one annthcr, and i t can truly he said that Bsyria comes into IIgypl and T:,hwt into Aqqyria.' I t is as if there were a high- way from o11c to the other.-1 Rter 217.

I

1 38 HOW, though, doe? Israel "come to be the third with E ~ y p t and with Assyrla"? Early in "the time of the end," nwai of those servlny: Jehovah on. earth were members of "I lie Israel of God." (Ilanid 12:9; Galatians 6: 16) Since the Ic):$O's, a gr@at crmvcl of "other sheep," with an earthly hope, havc ap~~carcd. (John 10: 1 ha; Revelation 29) Com- Ing out nl' ~ h c nations-foreshadowed by Egypt and Assyr-

1 la-they strcam to Jrhovilh's house of worship and invite nthcrs to loin rhcm. (lralah 22-4) They perform the same preachln): work as thclr anointcd brothers, endure simi- Inr ttasts, milnifest the same faithfulness and integrit$ and f p i ~ l i ~ t thc same splritital tablc. 'l'ruly, the a~ointed and the "r~ther shecp" arc "(me flock, one shepherd." (John to:l(,h) T A ~ anpnc douht that Jehovah, viewing their zeal and endurance, ir pleased with their activity? Little wnndcs that hc prunounces a benediction on them, say ing: "Rlessed be my ~ ~ e q ~ l e " ! - - 37. How (In rnl!Hnnr tc~liiy live 3% thougli thew were a hjghrvay be- t w c m *:lr\yha" ant1 "l ippt"? 78. (a) Ilow wlll Israfl "wmc to he the third with Egypt and with A\rvrlaH? (h) Why dnos Ichrwah ray "Rlemerl be my people"?

- .- .-

CHAPTER SIXTEEN - --

Trust in Jehovah for Guidance and Protection

AS SERN in earlier chapters of this hook, God's p o p ! ~ f a t ~ a frlghknlng threat in the eighth century R.C.T:,. 'rhc hload- 1hll.sty Assyrians are ravaging one lanil after anather, and it Is only a milficrof time before they attack the southern king- dom of Juclah. To whom will thc land's 1nhaI~ltant.r turn for pmtectlon? l'hey are in a covenant relatinnlihip with Jeha vah and should rely on him for help. (l.kutlus 195, 6) That is what Kiw David did. He acknowlettjicrl: "Jehovah is my crag and my stronghold and the Provlclrr of escape for me." (2 Samuel 22:2) Evidently, though, many in tlic cighth cen- tury B.C:.R do not put trust In Jehovah as thcir stronghold. 'I'hey are more inclined to look to Egypt and F-tthlopla, h o p in# that these two nations will provide a hulwnrk against thc Zhrefitcned Assyrian invasion. They are wrong.

2 'firough hls prophet Isaiah, Jehovah warns that seeking refirgc in l3hwt or in Ethiopia will be dlsast rota. 'l'he proph- et? insplrerl worcls providc a salutary Icsson for his csontcrn- porarles nlid contain a valuable lesson for us about the im- pltxtancc of trusting in Jehovah.

A Land of Bloodshed :% Thc Arsyrinns WIT known for their military might. The -- I , 2. What d a n g t do God's people face In thc cl~hth ucntilry B.C.E., and to whom are many of them inclined to turn lor prntc~t lonl 3. Ilcscrll~c the emphasis that Assyrla put an mllli:lry power.

The Assyrians used tn blind some of their cuptlves

bonk A r ~ ~ * i c ~ t t Cities notes: They worshiped strength, and woc~ld say tlielr prayers only to colossal idols of stone, 1 ions anrl hulls whose ponderous limbs, caglc winas, and hu- man hcads were symbols of strength, courage, and vlcta- ry, Fightln~ was the business of the nation, and the priests werc inccrqrant fomenters of war." It is with goml wason that the Aihle prophet Nahum described Nineveh, Assyr- la's capital, its '"he city of b1ood~hed."-Nahum 3 1 .

4 The war tactics of the Assyrians were unusually cru- el, Carvcd rciiefs from those days show Assyrian warriors leading riff captives by means of hooks stuck through the noses or the lips. Wjth spears they blinded some captives. One inscrjption tells of a conquest in which thc Assyri- an army cllsmernbered its captives and made two mounds outsldc thc city--one of hearts and the other of Hrnbs. '!+he children of the conquered were burned En fire. 'the fcar

4. Howdld the Assyrians strike terror in the hrarts of otlier natlonr?

210 Isuiuh's I'mpl~ecy-L~,~I~t f i r Al l Mrt~rk/t/rt I

inspired by such cruelty must have s e m d thc tlssyrlans well m a military sense, discmtragi~ resistance hy thostl who stood in the way of thclr armies.

The War Against Ashdod In Isaiah's day the Assyrian Empim reached an unprccc-

dented level of p w e r under King Sargon." For many yean, critics doubted the exiFtence of this ruler, as they knew of no mention of him in secular sources. In time, horvrwcr, archaeoIogisb uncovered the ruins of Sargc>nms palacc, and the Bible" account was vindicated.

6 Isaiah briefly describes one of Sargan's military cam- paigns: Tartun came to Asfrdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, ond he proceeded to wur against Ashdod and to capture it." (Isaiah 20:l)" Why docs Sargnn oi.cirr an attack on the Philistine city of Ashdod? For one thlng, Phillstia is an ally of Egypt, and Ashdod, hotne to n tcrnplc of Dagon, is located on the road that rum along the coast from Egypt through Palestine. The city is thur in a slratcglc location. its captu~e can be viewed as ii prcllminnry step tu the conquest of Egypt. In addition, bsyrian records report that Azuri, Ashdod's king, was conspiring rigninst Assyrla. Hcnce, Sargon has the rebellious king rcmovtd and ~mts the king's younger brother, Ahimiti, on the throne. Still, that dws not settle matters. Another rtlrolt breaks out, and

Historians refer to thir king as Sargon 11. An earllet kin^, nut oI I\<- svria. but of Rabylon, is des~gnaled as "5nrgon 1." " "Tartan" is not a name but a title designating the rr>mrnantler 111 clriefof theAssyrianarmy, likely thc s'cwnd most powerl~~l Iwrwn in thr. empire.

S. Who was a pcnverhl Assyrian ruler in Isaiat~'!, day, and liow wa5 the Bible's account or him vindicated? h, 7. (a) Likely, f o r what reawns dnes Sar~cln order an aitnckor~ Ash- dod? Ib) How doe5 the fall of hhdad atTeck Philirtio's ncixhhnn!

' IS~rs t Itr jrlinvtll; for I;rridnnre trnd Prv tec t io~ 21 1

this time Sargon takes more forceful action. He orders an attack on Ashdod, which Is besieged and conquered. Lik- ly, Isaiah 2R1 is allucllng to this event.

7 The fall sf Ashdod casts a griin shadowmr her neigh- bors, especially Judah. Jehovah knows that his people are fnclinerl to look to "an arm a# flesh," such as Egyptor Ethi- opia to the south. Ihercfore, he commissions lsaiah to act out a dire wtlrnlng.-2 Chronicles 32:7,8.

"Naked and Barefoot" A Jehovah tells I.wia h: "'Go, rrnd p u must loosen the sock-

cloth from off your hips; and p u r sandals p u should d m from off your feet." Iralah complies with Jehovah's com- mand. "He proceeded & do so, wolking abour naked and borefoot." (Isaiah 20:2) Sackcloth is a cwarse garment of- ten worn by the prophets, sometimes In conjunction with a warning message. It is also warn in Slmes of crisis or upon hearing ctllitinitous news, (2 Kings 19~2; Psalm 35:13; Daniel Y:3) Does Isslah really walk around naked in the seme of belng without any protective covering at all? Not neccssarlly, The I-lebrew word translated "naked" can also rcfcr to one's belng partially or scantily clothed. (1 Sam- uel 1924, footnote) So Isaiah may have merely taken off hls outer garment, while retaining the shorttunic that was carnrnonly worn close to the body, Male captlves are often represented in this manner in Assyrian sculptures.

9 Thc meaning of Isaiah's unusual action is not left io doubt: "jehwlah went on to say: yust as my swvrrnt Iso- ;ah has walked about naked and borefoot three ywrs os o sign and a portent ogainst Egypt and agairtst Ethio- plo, so the king of Assyriol will Ieod the body of captives of

8. What Inspired prophetic act dries Isaiah carry out? 9. What h the pruphctic meanlng of Isaiah? action?

Isaiah's P i q h q - L i g h t for All Wdnkiprd I

Egypt and the exiles of Ethiopia, boys and old men, naked and barehot, and with buttocks stripped, the nakedness crf Egypt' (lscoioh 20:3, 4) Yes4 the Emtiam and Ethiopj- ans WlI soon be carried 08 captive. No one will be spared. Even 'boys and old men"-the chiId~rl and the elder- ly-will be stripped of aU their possessions and taken into exile. By means of this bleak imagery, Jehwah warns the inhabitan& ofludah that it wiIl be futile for them to put their trust in Egypt and Ethiopia. The -dl of these na- tions wilI lead to &ir "nak&ms"-their ultimate h d - iatim 1

Hope Crumbles, Beauty Fades 18 Next, Jehovah prophetically destliha .the response of

his people as they realize that Egypt and Ethiopia, their hoped-for refuge, has proved powerless before the ksyd- ans. They will certain& be terrified and be ashamed of Ethiopia their looked-fur h o p and of Egpt their beauty And the inhabitant of thjs c o d a n d will be rertain to say in that day, ITRere is haw our looked-hr hope is, to which we fled for ossjstance, Jn wder to be delivered becouse of the king of ksyrlol A d how shall we wrseCv& escape? "-Iw- igh 20;5, 6,

11 Judah s e m s I.& a mere strip of coatland when cam- pared with the powm of Egypt and Ethiopia Perhaps some of the Inhabitants of "this roasdmdl' are mamared with Egypt's beauty-its impressive pyrnmids, its towering temples, and its spacious villas wi th their surrounding gar- dens, orchards# and ponds. The magnificent architecture of Egypt seems to be evidence of stability and permanence. Surely this land c m t be devastated! Likely, the Jews are

10, 11, [a) What will the respaasp of Judah be when 6 he f-lizes that Egypt and Ethiopia are powerless before Asqria? (b) Why may the inhabitas& of Judah be incIlned to twt in Egyp and ExMopia?

Some may be imptessed by men's achievements, but ft Is better to trustin jehovah

also Imppressed by the a ~ h e ~ s , chariot& and horsemen of Ethiopia,

12 In view of the acted-uut warning of Isaiah and t h e prophetic words of. Jehovah, any of Gbd's professed p a - ple who are inclined to trat in Egypt and Ethiopia haw same serious thinking t-o do. H w much &tier 'to put their trust in Jehovah rather than in earthling man! (Psalm 25:z; m4) As thing's work out, Judah suffers terribly at the hand of the king of Assyria, and later, she sees her tern- pJe and apital ciQ destroyed by Babylon. Yet, "a tenth," "a h ~ l g wed," is 1ef& like the stump of a maaiw W. (Isaiah 6:B) When tlhe time comes, Isaiah's message will greatly

12, In whom should Judnh put her trust7

214 Isahh's P r o p k ~ c y - C I . ~ ~ t t fur All Mankind 1

strengthen the faith of that srnaEl gmup who continue to trust in Jehovah!

Put Your Trust In Jchavah 13 Thc warning in Isaiah concerning the futility of trust- ing in Egypt and Ethiopia Is not just dead history. I t has practical value for our day. Wc arc llving in "critical times bard to deal with" (2 Timothy 3:1) Financial disas- ters, widespread poverty, political z~nmrtalnty, civil unrest; and small- or largemle wan have devastating effects-not only on those who spurn God's rulcrsllip Ilut also on those who worship Jehovah. The question lacing each one Is, 'To whom will I turn for help?'

14 Some might be impressed by today's financial wizards, politicians, and scientistr, who talk of solving man" prob- lems using man's ingenuity and technology. Homer, the nlble plainly states: "It i s beeter to take refuge in Jehovah than to trust in nobles,'~Psalm 11 8:9) All man's schemes i?)r pcace and security will come to naught Ibr the reason aptly stated by the prophet Jeremiah: "I well know, 0 Jeho- vah, that to earthIing man his way does not: belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step." -Jeremiah 1023.

1s lt b imperative, therefore, that servants of God not be unduly impressed by any seeming strengtll or wisdom of thls world, (Psalm 33:lO; 1 Corinthians 3: 19, 20) The only hope for distressed humankind rests wlth the Creator, Je- hovah, Those who put their trust In hlm wlll be saved. As the inspired apostIe John wrote, "the world Is passing away and so i s I ts desire, but he that does the wilt of God re- mains fomer."-1 John 2: 17.

13. What pressurns affect all-both h ~ i l w e r s and unbclimrs-today? 14. Wlly qhould we put trust only In J C ~ O V A ~ I ? 15. Where Ires the only hope for dlstrcissed rnanklnd?

--

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - -- - -

'Babylon Has Fallen! " - -

- -

- - Isaiah 21:l-'17

'I'H E I!ihlc may be likened to a great piece nf music with a rlominant theme and with minor thcmcs intrduced to add to the distinctiveness of Ihc whole, In a similar way, thc Bi blc has a major theme-the vindication of Jehovah's sovcrrigniy by mcans of the Messlanlc Klngdnm govern- ment, It also has other important, rccurrin~ themes. One

1 of these Is the fall of Babylon. 2 That theme Is inbmduwcl in Isaiah chapters 13 and 14.

I t recurs In chapter 21 and again in chnptcrr 44 and 45. A century later, Jeremiah enlarges on the samc thcme, and the lmok or Rwclation brings it to ;I thundering conclu- sll>rr. (Jcrcmiah 53:60-64; Revelation 18:l-194) [,very seri- ous s t ~ t d c n t of the Bible needs to bc concerned about this Irn['ortnnt sut~sidiary theme of God's Word. Isilia h chap tcr 21 helps In this regard, far it suppf ics fascinating details nhout thc prophesied fall of that great world power. later, wc will see that Isaiah chapter 21 slnbssw nnothcr Impor- tnnt Rlblc theme-one that helps us assess our vlgilnnfe as Chrlstiiins today.

"A Hard Vision"

3 Isaiah chapter 21 opens on an ominous nrbte: "The -- 1, 2. [a) What is the owmll theme of tlic Rll?le, hut rvh;~t impor- tant sul~$idiary theme appears in Iraiah? (b) Ilirw dnrs tlic Hihlr de- vclop illu thcmc of the Call of fiabylon'! 3. Why Ic Ital,ylon t e ~ m c d "the wlldernes~ r l t tlic sra," and w h t dues 1 ha1 tlklc portcnd regardillg her fi~tt~rc:'

pmnouncement against the wilderness of the sm: Like storm winds in the south in moving onward, from the wiE- derness it is coming, from a fear-inspiring land." (t5aiah 27: 7) Straddling the Euphratcr Rlver 15 Hilhylon, with its ca5tern half in the region between the two great rlvers Eu- l~hrates and Tigris. I t is some distancv from Ihc actual sea, Why, then, is it called "thc wildcmesr of the sea"? Bc cause the region of baby lor^ used to flootl annually, treat- ing a vast, marshy "sea." Hawmr, the tlelylonians have cnntroEEd this watery wilderness by creating a complex system of dikes, sluices, and canals. They ingeniously use tbcse waters as part of the city's defense system, Still, no human works will saw Bahylnn fmm rlivinc judg- ment. A wilderness she had been-a wildrrness she will again become. Calamity i s heading hcr way brewing Iike onc of the fierce storms that somctimtls blow in upon Is- rael f rorn the fearsome wi Gderness to the mu t h.-Compare Zechariah 9:14.

4 A? WWF lrarned in Chapter 14 of thlr hook, ancient Bab- ylon has a modern counterpart-"nal~ylon the Great," the world empire of false religion. In Rcwlatlan, Rabylon the Great is likewise portrayed in connection with "a wilder- ncss" and "waters." The apostle John is carried away to a wilderness to be shown Babylon the Great, Ile is told that she "sits on many waters" representing "peoples and crowcls and nations and tongues." {lEcwlatlon 17: 1-3, 5, 15) I1opular support has always bccn a key in the surviv- al of false religion, but such "waters" wl1I not protect her in the end. Like her ancient counterpart, shc will end up empty, neglected, and desolate. - 4 Flow cfoes the Rerelation vision of "Ilahylon the Great" indude thc cfumcnts of "waters" and "a wlldrrncss," anti what do the "wa- tcr~" mean l

5 In Isaiah's day BabyIon is not yet the dominant world

( powrr, hul Jehovah already forewes that w l ~ e n her lime corncs, shc will abu.se her power. tsalah prtrcdr: "There is a hard vision that has been hki to me: The Ineacher- ous dealer is dealing treacherously, and the despoiler is de- spoiling, " (Isaiah 21:Za) Babylon wlll Indcet l despoil and

1 dcsl lr~ochrmusly with the nations shu ronrluerr, includ- I in^ Juclah. 'l'he Babylonians will sack Jerusalem, pillage I it5 tcrnplr, and take-its people caplivc to Ibl?ylon. lhere,

tllmc hclpless captives will be tmtcci treacherously, ridi- ctrlccl for their faith, and offered no hope of return lo theit homclanrl.-2 Chronicles 36: 17-21; I'solm 137: 1-4.

I

fi Yes, Rabylon richly deserves this "hard vlslon," whidz wJl1 mean hard rimes for her, lsaiah cclntinucs: "Go up, 0 Eltarn! lay siege, 0 Media! All sighing due Eo her J have caused to cease.'' (Isaiah 21:2b) 'l'ho~c opprr%ed by this treacl~erous empire will have relief. At last i n cnd to their sigtilng! (Psalm 79:11, 12) By what means will this reIief cornc'? Isaiah names two nations that will attiick Rrtbylon:

I Illarrl and Meclia. 'ltvo centuries later, Irr 539 I!.(:.C., Cy- rus Ihc Persian wiIl lead a combined force of I'etsians and Medes aaainst Babylon. As for Elam, hrslan monarchs will possess at least part of that land prior to 539 H.C.I.:.* The Persian k>ws will thus inclucic Hamits.

7 Notc how Isaiah describes the effect of this vision I

I ' 'l'ht. I'crsli111 King Cyrus was at tlrnes drllgnntc~l "Klng nf hnshan" -Anshan [~c ln f i a reg~on or city in Elam. 'I'hc Imull tcs ot' Isalah's day -I hc c l ~ h t t i ccntury R.C.E.-may have hccn ~inlimll lar wlt 11 I)ursia, whrrew thcy wnuld have known of Etam. I'hh ~n, iy rxplain why Isa+ la11 hcrc I I ~ ~ T I I C S Elarn instead of Persia. -- S. I ~ R W dues Babylon come to earn a reputation as llelnp, "treacher- ous" and 31 "derpi le l '? 6 (a) What sifihlng &ill Jehovah cauw to cease? (h) What nations ;ire k>retnld to attack Rabylon, and how Ir t h l h lulfillcrl? 7. Hnw drwa Isaiah's vision affect hi~ri, sigllllylng whut7

upon him: %at is why my hip h#e become full of se- w~ pins. C o n w h h s t h m s e k ha^? g t w W hdd of me, Iik the c m w b of u w m u n that k g#ng bid. I haw beoome it4h-m so tbat I do trot harr; I haw fnmme d&u&ed so that I do not see. My heut has m- d e d abut; a shuddering itdf has M e d me. 7h twl- Ilght tbr which I had an uftachrnent has been made tbr me u tremMIng." Clmiah IT:$ 4) The prophet, It seems, sn- joys the twilight hours, a lovely h e for quiet contempla- tlon. But nightfall ha now lost its charm, bringing inst& only fear, pain, and wmbhg. He sufiers mnvuldons llke those of a woman in labor, and hh heart Ehas wandered about." One scholar renders this p h m "my heart beats wildly; noting that the expression refers to 9 fwerlsh and irregular beating of the pulse." Why such distress? Ev- Idently, hiah's feehgs are prophetic. On the nlght of Qc- Qober 516,539 B.CE, the BabyIonbns will experiena slm- i h wmr.

8 As darkness fails on that fateful night, terror b the last thlng on the BabylO&nsl minds. Soare two centurks f n advance, Isaiah foek "Let them be o setting of the W e in order, an a m g b of ttrs Iwdn of swb, an wthg, a drSnkhgln (Isuicrh 2J:Sa) Yes, the m g a n t Klng k b zar is hosting a feast Seats are arrilnged 6w a thwsand of his grandees, as well as many w b a and concublmi. (Dan- iel 5:1,2) The d e r s hm hat there Is an army outside the d s , but they klim that the1 r clv Is Impregnable. Her massive walls and deep moat appear to makc her cap ture impassibIe; her many gods make It unthinkable, So let thm be "an cat@ a drinking! " Belshaaar gets drunk, and he probably is not done. The hatted state of the

8, As pmphetied, h w do the Babylonians a d , wen though their en- rmlep are m ~ d e the mu?

high offichh is qgeskd by the ned to rouse them, as Isaiah's n d words prophetically show. 9 *teY q, p u prlntet, a d n t #w shlakl," (Isulah 27:Sb)

S u d d d y ~ t h e p a r t y b c r p e r . T h e p ~ h a v e ~ m u s e them&=! The aged prophet Daniel has beea died to t h e s a m I a n d h e ~ h o w J e h o v a h h m ~ ~ King Mhamr into a state of terror similar bo that de s a k d by Isaiah The king's grmdes are plunged into confusion m the comblned foms of Meks, Pmtans, and Hamites breach the dty's defenses. Babylon fsrlls quick- ly! What, thou& does it mean to "mht the shidd*? - 9. Why does Y become n ~ s a r y to "anoint the shleld"?

The Bfble sometimes refers to a nation's Wrrg as Its shield because he is the deknder and prowtor of the land.* (hh 89:l8) So t h i s wm In Isaiah Is W I y breklbg tfre need for a new hng. Why? k a u e Belshmr is ldlled that "very +t,* Thus, therrr Is a need eo "anoint the sbleid,* or appoint a new king.-Daniel 5: 1-9,30.

IQ All lovers of true worshfp driiw comfort fmm this ac- count. Modem-day Babylon, Babylon the Great, b as mu& a treacherous dealer md despoiler as was hm an- dent caunteprt. lb this day religious leaders conspire to have Jehovah's Witness% banned, pemmted, or puni- W y taxed. But as this prophecy m d s us, Jehovah sees dl su& tm&ms dealing, and he wlll nut let it go un- punished, He wSlI brhg an end to all religions that mis- r e p m t him and -t hls people. (RevelatIan 1&8) ls sucXl a thing possible? To build our &thI we have only to see how his warnings regaxd1ng the fall of both m&nt Babyion md her modernday counterput have already k e n Eutahd.

"She Has Psllenl" UJehmah now speak to the prophd 1- w:

I * Many Bible commentators think tbat the words "anolnttbe shieldn re& to the andent millmry pctlee of o1lInj~ leather shields befoff battle so that mast blows will glance 08, Whlle this i a p i b l e in- ~~, It should be noted that ar~ the t the dty feU, the

! &aby10nbu barely had Um@ to put up rm hght, et alone prepare Por I htde by w i n g rbk sMeldjl

T -

I I 10. What comfort an wonhipet8 of J e h R d m from the W-

mrtt of Is&hls prophecy regarding the &reachemus dealer? I 11. (a) W M la the nsponUbllIty of 1 watchman, and who hw barn a c i h ;ls a ~~ today? (b) What Is tepxemtd by the war char- W of asses and that d c~lrnekl

L

i f i e watchman "pme*ded to c d out like a lionn

ZZ2 Isaiah9 Progh~cy-Light far Ali Mankind f

"Thb Is whotfebmh has ~ t ' d to me: 'Go, post u lookout that he moy Wjust what he sea'' (ImCah n:6) These words Introduce another important theme of this chap &-that of the lookout, or watchman. This is of In-t to al l true CMstiam today, for Jesus urged his followe~s to Ymp an the watch." The faithful and &meet s h e " has never stopped Wing what it sees regarding the nearness of Gad's day of judgment and the dangers of thh corrupt world. (Matthew 2*42,4547) What does Isaiah's vislon- arywmhmnsee? "Hexawu wurchotiot WM a span of

a wurdrarb td~ ,a~rcharJo to fca&,And he paid s t k t attention, wibh mucb -." [Isahh 27:- Thae slngiewar chariots M y represent cdumns d

7 am stondng constondy by dufi and. . . all the nfghtr"

"i?nbylorr Har FallrnlY a 3

chariots advancing in battle farmation with the speed d trained steeds. The war chariot of ma and that of c a d s Rttlngly represent: the two powers, Media and Pe~sia, that will unite to launth this attackk.Furthamofe, history con- firms that the Persian army used bath asses and cam& in warfare.

12 The watchman, then, is ~r)mpelled ta make a rqmrt. #He p m c d d to d l out like a lion: 'Upon the wotGh- tower, 0 j-h, 1 am W r p g constan* by drry, and at my guardposl I am stutionpd dl the nights. And h, now, them Is m l n g a wur charlot of men, with a y#ut of stesdrl'" (lsuhh 21:8,9a) The vbknary watchman d s out courageously, "like a lloa" It takes cowage to call out a judgment message against so formidable a nation a W yion. Something eIse fs requited as well--endurance The watchman nmains at hls p s t day and night:, never 1- his vigilance flag. SlrnilarIy, the watchman class in tbex last days has n d e d courage and endurance. (Rwektron 14:12) hll true Chrlsdans need these qualities.

1.3 k1ah's visionary watchman sees a war charfat actvanc- lng. What I s the newd "He begon to speak up md soy: The has faiIenl w n has b h , and a# the im- ages of her p& he hns broken b tke d f ' " (lsuhh 21: Pb) What a thr lhg report! At last, this mcherws de- s p h r of God's people has fallen! In what sense, though, - ' Isrrlah's prqphccy wwrdlng bbylanJs MI i s so atmuate th& same Dlbh critlcs hnw theorlzttd that Lt must haw k n writtcn after the mnt. But as H c b m scholar F. Nitzsch notes, such speculatlon is unnmsary If we ampt that a prophet might be impbxl t~ foretell m n t s hundnds of years In advancc. - 12. Isalah's vl~lonary watchman dbplays what qualttiea and who need thcse ualldes today7 a 13, 14, (A) ow d m anrlcnt Babylon fare, and in what mse hw idols broken? (b) How and when dld Babylon the Great saffer a simllar $111

are Babylon's graven images and idols broken? Will the Medo-Persian invaders march into Babylon's temples and smash the innumerable idols? No, nothing of the sort ir needed. Babylon's idol gods will be broken In that they are exposed as potverless to protect the city And Rabylon will e~perience a fall when she hecomes unahlc to m~~tlnuc oppressing God's people.

14 What of Babylon the Great? Ry engineering the op- pression of God's people during World War I, she eff~c- tively held them in exile for a time. Their preaching work was virtually brought to a halt. The president and other prominent officers of the Watch T m r Socicty were im- prisoned on false charge?. But I919 saw an astounding re- versal. 'The officers were released Ervm prison, the head- quarters office was reopened, and the preaching work was recommenced. Thus, Babylon the Great fell in that 11cr hold over God's people was broken." In Revelation, this fall is twice heralded by an angel uslng the words of thc announcement at Isaiah 21 :9.-Revelation 143; 18:2.

1s Isaiah concludes this prophetic message on a noic of compassion toward his own people. 1-le says: ''0 my threshed onex and the son of my threshing floor, what I have heard from lehovah of armies, the God af Israel, / how reported to you people." (Isaiah 21:10) In thc nit-rle, threshng often symbolizes the disciplining and refin inx of God's people. God's covenant peop te will bemrnc "sons of the threshing floor,' where wheat is forcibly separated from the chaff, leaving only the refined, desirable grains, Isaiah is not gloating over this discipline, Rather, he has compassion for these future 'sons of the threshing floor,' -

* See Revelation-Tts Grand Clin1n.x A t Hand!, paps 164-9.

15, 16. In what sense are Isaiah's p p l e "threshcrl ones," and what can r w learn from Iraiah's attitude ton,arrl them?

"i'lflhylon Hns FfillenS" 225

some of whom will spend their entire l k s as captives in a 1 forcign land. 16 This may sene as a usefuI reminder to dI of us. In the

Christian congre~ation today, 'some may be inched to lose thcir compassion for wrongdoers. And those who re- ceive discipllnc may of ten be prone to resent it- However,

I If we keep in mind that Jehwah disciplines his people in order to refine them, we will neither belittle the discipline ant1 those who humbly undergo it nor resist it when if comes our way. Lct us accept godly discipline as an expres- sion of C d ' s love.-Hebrew 12:6,

Inquiring of the Watchman 17The seconcl prophetic message of Isaiah chapter 21

brlngs the figure of the watchman to the fore. I t be- gins: 'me pmnormcement ogrrinst Dumah: To me there is one calllng out from Seic 'Watchman, what about the night? Watchman, whut crbouf the night?" (Isaiah 21:11) Whrse Is t hl5 Dumah? Tl-rcre were eviclently several towns wllh that llnme in nlble times, but none of them are in- te~~derl here, Durnah is not found in Seir, which is another name f-or I:,dorn. However, "Dumah" means "Silence."So It seems that, a$ was the case In the previous pronounce- mcnt, the region is given a name suggestive of its future. Morn, long a vindictive enemy of Cod's people, will end rip in sllcnm-the silence of death. Hefore that happens, 1 though, some will anxiously inquire about the future.

1fl At the time of the writing of Isaiah, Edom lies in the path of the powerful hsyrian army. Some in Edom yearn to know when the night of oppresion will end for thcrn. "I'he answer? m e watchman said: 'The morning has

I?. Why ir F h m approprlntcly termed "Dumah"? 18. I hlw Is t hc pront ~unct~nirnt, "TEic ~nnrning liar tfl mme, and also tlrr night," iulhllril upon ;I rlcicnt I'do~n?

night."'(l~iohZl:7Zo) 'a+---.---7irT Things do not bode well far Edom, A glimmer of morning will show on the hori- mn, but it will be brief, Illusary. Night-anather dark time of oppression-will follow quickly on the heels of morn- ing. What an apt picture of Edorn's futufe! The Assyrian oppresion wjll end, but Babplon will succeed Assyria as a world power and will decimate Edom. (Jeremiah 25:17,21; 272-8) This cycle will be repeated. Babylonian oppression will be hllowed by Persian and then Greek oppression, There will then be a brief "morning" during Roman times, when the Herods-Edomite in origin-gain power in Jens- salem. But that "morning" will not last, Finally, Edam will descend permanently into silence, vanishing from history. The name Dumah will fittingly describe her at Iast, 19 The watchman concludes hls brief message with the

19. When the watchman says, "lf you people would inquire, m i r e . Come again!" what may he mean?

"Babylon Has r*llenl"

wads: "If you people would inquire, inquire. Come again I" (Isaiah 21: Y2b) The expression "Came again!" may refer to the endless successtan of "he' ahead of Edam. Or be- muse the expression may also be txamlated "return," the prophet may be suggesting that any Edomites who want to escape the nation's doom should repent and "return" to Jehovah. In either case, the watchman invites further in- quiries.

This short pronouncement has meant a great deal to Jehovah's peopIe in modern times." We understand that m&nd is deep into the dark night of spiritual blindness and alienation Etom God that wiIl lead to the desmction of this system of things, (Romans 13:12; 2 Corinthians 4 4 ) Dwring this nahttirnq any glimmerings of hope that rnanhnd can somehow bring about peace and security are like those iIlusory gleadngs of dawn that are followed only by still, darker limes. A genuine dawn is approaching -the dawn of Christ's Millennld R e i p over this earth, But as long as the night lasts, we must fallow the lead of the watchman class by staying spiritually alert and mura- geously announcing the nearness of the end of this car- rupt system of things.--1 Thessalonians 56.

Might Fails on the Desert Plain 21The final pronourrCernen-t of Isaiah chapter 2l is di-

rected against "the desert plain." It hegins: 'me pro- nouncement against the desert plain: In the forest in the

* During the first 59 p a r s of its publicafion, the Watchtower ma a zinc featu&d Isaiah 21:11 on its C m r . The same scripture povi&i the theme d t h e last written sermon of Charles T. Russell, the Watch Tower Satiety's first pmidem. [See illustrati~n an preceding page.)

28. Why i s the mnouncernent recorded at baiah 21:11, 12 dgnif- P imnt to Jehovah s people taday? 21. (a) What play on words may be intended hi the phrase "the pm- nouncement . dnut the desert plaln"? (b) What are the caravans of Y' mnl of Dedan.

228 Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Munkind I

desert plain you will spend the night, 0 caravans of men of Dedun." (Isaiah 21:73) The desert plain referred to is evidently Arabia, for the pronouncement is directed at a number of Arab tribes. The word for "desert plain" is sometimes rendered "evening," a very similar word in He- brew. Some suggest that this is a play on words, as i f a dark evening-a time of trouble-is about to fall upon this re- gion. The pronouncement opens with a nocturna1 scene featuring caravans of men of Dedan, a prominent Arab tribe. Such caravans follow trade routes from one desert oasis to the next, bearing spices, pearls, and othcr trea- sures. But here we see them forced to leave their welI- baveled tracks to spend the nights in hiding. Why?

22 Isaiah explains: 'To meet the thirsty one bring wa- ter. 0 you inhahftantr of the land of Tema, confront the one fleeing away with bread for him. For because of the swards they have fled away, because of the drawn sword, and because of the bent bow and because of the heavi- ness of the war." (Isaiah 21:14, 15) Yes, the crushing bur- den of war will fall upon these Arab tribes. Tema, locat- ed on one of the most mll-watered oaes in the region, is forced to bring water and bread to the hapless refugees of war. When will t h s trouble come?

23 Isaiah continues: 'This is whot]ehovah has said to me: 'Within yet a year, according to the years of o hired iabor- er, all the glory o f Kedar must wen come to its end. And the ones remaining over of the number of bowmen, the rnightymen of the sons of Kedar, will become few, forjeho- vah himself, the God of Israel, has spoken it"' (Isaiah 21: 16, 17) Kedar is so prominent a tribe that it is sometimes used to represent all of Arabia. Jehovah has determined that the bowmen and rnlghty men of this tribe will dwin-

"Babylon Hns Fallen! " 224

dle in number to a mere remnant. When? "Within yet a

1 year," no more, just as a hired laborer works no more than the amount of time for which he is paid. Precisely how all of this was fulfilled is uncertain. Two Assyrian rulers -Sargon II and Sennacherib-claimed credit for subjugat- ing Arabia. Either may well have decimated these proud

I Arab tribes, as foretold.

I 24 We can be sure, homer , that this prophecy was fu1- filled to the letter. Nothing can make that point more forcefully than the closing words of the pronouncemmt: vehhrsvah himself, the God of Israel, has spoken it." To people in Isaiah's day, it may seem unlrkely that Babylon will ascend above Assyria and then be toppled from power during the debauched merrymaking of a single evening. It may seem equally unlikely that powerful Edom will end up in deathly silence or that a night of hardship and priva- tion will fall on the wealthy Arab tribes. But Jehovah says it will, and so it happens. Today, Jehovah tells us that the world empire of false religion will come to nothing. This is not just a possibility; it is a certainty. Jehovah himself has

I spoken it!

I 2.5 Let us, then, be like the watchman. Let us remain vig- ilant, as if posted on a lofty watchtower, scanning the hori- zon for any sign of impending danger. Let us ally ourseIves closely with the faithful watchman dass, the remaining

I anointed Christians on earth today. Let us join them in courageously calling out just what rve see-the over- ' whelming evidence that Christ is ruling in heaven; that he will soon bring an end to mankind's long, dark night of alienation from God; and that thereafter he wdl usher in the @ue dawn, the Millennia1 Reign over a paradise earth!

22, 23. (a) What crushing b u d e n is about to befa11 the Arab tribes, and with what effect upon them? (b) How soon will this disaster mrne, and at whose hands?

24. How can we be sure that Isaiah's prophe y against Arabia was ful- filled? 25. How may we imitate the example of the watchman?

Lessons About Unfaithfulness

Isaiah 22:l-15

IMAGJNE what it was lile to be in arm ancient dty under siege. Outside the walls is the emrn-stmng and ruth- less. Y w know that other cities haw ahady fallen to him. Now he is determined to conquer and plunder your city and r a p and ~ L U its inhabitants. The enemy armies are far tau powerful to confront directly in combat; you ou only hope that the walls of the city will keep them out. As you look out over the walls, you can see siege tawers brought by the enemy, They alsa haw siege engines apable of hurling boddm to smash your defenses, YOU see their bat- tering ram and scalhg ladders, their archers and &aiots, their hordes of soldiers. What a terrifying sight!

2 In Isaiah chapter 22, we read about such a siege+ siege ag@mt Jerusalem. When does I t happen? It is di@mIt to pinpoint m y one siege in which irll the features described are fdHled. Evidently, the prophecy is best undestood as a generic descpipticm of the various sieges that will befall Jerusalem, a general warning of what lies ahead,

3 In the face of the siege that Isaiah describes, what are the inhabitants af Jemalm doing? As Cad's menant peaple, are they eryirpg out to Jehovah fa save them? No, thry are showing a wry W e attitude, one like that -

1. What might it have been like t~ be insi@ an ancient city under siege? 2. When dws th siege d ~ c r i h d in Isaiah chapter 22 happm? 3. Haw are Jerusalem's inhab~tants remng to the Uege that Csaiah describes?

When Zedekiah flees, he is captured and blinded I found today among many who claim ta worship Gad.

A City Under Siege

4 In chapter 21 of ha- lah, each af the three judgment messages was Introduced with the expresst an "The pro- nouncement." (Isaiah I 21:1, 11, 13) Chapr 22 opens the same way: %re p r o n w m e n t of the valley of the vision: Whet IS b e maiter with you, thenp that you haw gone up in p u r entim lo the roofs?" (Isaiah 2 2 1 ) 'The ~ k y of the vision' refers to JerusaIem. The city is call& the vallq because even though elevated, it is surrounded by higher muntaim. It is asuciaredwfth '#the vision' bemuse m y &vine visions and fY!velati~ns are @wn there. For thh rea- son, the city's inhabitanb should pay h d to Jehovah's words. Instead, theyhave ignored him andhave strayed into false worship. The enemq besiglng the atPj b m in9tm- mmt qf God's judgrnmt against his mywad people,-Deu- t e r m w y 28:45,49,50,52 -

4. [a,) W M is "the valley of the vision," md why does it have thia name? ($1 Wkmt is the spiritual mndltlm of the i n h a b i m of JP rusalem?

b

5 Notice kbat thehhaWmb of Jmsdm have 'gone up h t h & m ~ b t f i e d ' o f r h & h ~ * I n m d e ~ t times, the m& of Emelite homes wme Bat and fmiW often c m p j p d - t h e r e . hhhdmnottefl why they& so on tW,6wskn, but his words indicate dbqpmal . LU&yIthen,they4avegnetotherm5toappdto~ ~ g ~ T h l s i s ~ ~ m f n t h e y e a r ~ l e a d I n g u p t o the m c t i o n of J d e m in 607 B . U - j e 19: 13; Zephaniah 1:s.

h o n s About lfPt~lth#L~ln#ss 233

Multitudes havedocked tothedty, and it is tntumotl. Fkb pie in the meets are noiq and fearfuL Some, though, are e x u l t h g , p a t h a p s b e c ~ u s e ~ W ~ m t h q ~ m that the dsurget ispssing.*Zb exuitatthisdme, lmwewr, O fooirsh.Mqiathedtymgodfigtodkadeathfarmore cxuel than by& edge of the sword. A dty under siege is art o f f r n o u t S i d e s a u r c e s b f ~ S ~ * * ~ dwindle. S u w h g people and cnrppded mdiths lead to epldemlcs.MangInJ~aiemwillthusdeby~eand ptilence. This h a p bath In 6W B.CE and in 70 CE -2 Kh@ 25:3; Wbth t i 4:9,10.*

' In 66 C,L, marry Jm w l t e d when the Itoman amlW Wqhg f w W wtthdrpw,

Wrdlng to ftmt-ou~tuty hi!mri~ Jowphua, in 70 CB., tamhe fn Phs* W u so scwra Wt M e ate Te&thert grass, aad -.,la, one ~ l n r t u s e e , a ~ ~ a n d a t e b e r o w n ~

234 Isnitth's Prophecy-Light far AII ,Wnnkind 1

7 In this crisis, what Iead do Jerusalem's rulers give? Isa- iah answers: "Allyour didotors themselves have fled at one time. Without n e d of o bow they h m b m taken prison- er. All those of p u who have been found haw been to&- en prisoner together. Far off they had run away," (Isaiah 22:3) The rttlecs and the rni~hty men run away and are then caught! Without ewn a bow bending against thm, they are captured and ledl off as prtsoners, This l~appens in 607 D.C.B. After Jerusalem's wall Is breached, King Zedeki- ah flees by night with his rnlghty men. The encIny learns of this, pursues them, and catches up with them on the plains of Jericho, The mighly men scarier. Zedeklah is seixed, blinded, bound in copper fetters, and dragged off to Babylon. ( 2 Kings 2527) What a hagic conseqtlence of his unfaithfulness?

Dismay at the Calamity 8 This prophecy mows Isaiah deeply. He says: "Turn p u r

guze away from me. I will show bitterness In weeping. Do not you people insist an comforting me over the despoil- ing af the daughter of my people." (/mioh 224) Baiah grieved over the pmphesiecl fate of Moab and Babylon. (Isaiah 16:11; 21:3) Now his dismay and lamentation are even more intense as he contemplates the dlraster com- ing upon his own people. We Is inconsolable. Why? "For it is the day of confusion and of downtreading and of con- founding that the Sovereign Lord, jehowh of armies, has in the valley of the vision. There is the demoiisher of the wIi, and the cry to the mauntoin." (Isaiah 22:5) Jerusalem will be filled with i d d confurion, I'eople will wander about panic-stricken, without purpose, As the etlerny hegins to - 7. What do Jerusalem's rulers do during thesiege, and what happens to them? 8. (a) How does Isaiah react to the prophecy foretelling calamity upon Jerusalem? (b) What wlll be the scene In Jeruralcm'l

break through the city walls, there will be a "cry lul the mountain," lion this mean that the city's inhabltanls wlll cry out to God in his holy temple on Mount Moriatl? kr- haps. In view of thcir unfaithfulness, however, it probably means no mom than that their cries of terror will ccho in the sumtrnrllng mountains.

9 What sort of enemy is threatening Jemsalcm? Isaiah tells us: "Elam itself has token up the quiver, in the warchari- ot of earthling man, with steeds; and Klr itself has uncovered the shield." (lsdah 22:d) Thc Arcs itre fully armvd. 'l+httv have arcllem whnqe qujwrs arc filled with arrtms. Wnr- riors are retldylrlg their shields fur I3aLtle. There arc chariots and hatlle-traincd horses. 'l'he army includes solctiers from Elam, locatcd north of what i s now the Persian C;ulf, and from f i r , probably located close to Elam. Mention of those 1 lands indiciltcs the great dista!~n. fl-orn whlch the lnvsdcrs come. It also indicates that Elarnltc archers may haw bccn in the army threatening Jerusalcm In Hezekiah's day.

Attempts a t Defense 10 Isaiah clescrrbes the developing situation: "It will oc-

cur that the choicest of your law plains must become full of war chariots, and the very steeds must without fail set themselves in position at the gate, and one wlll remove the screen of fuduh." (Isaiah 2 2 2 80) Chariots and Iqors- es crowd tllc plains outside thc city of Jerusalem and po- sition il~cmsclws ta attack the ga:es of the city. What ls "the screen of Judah" that i s removed? Likely, it is a gate of the city, the capture of which bocles ill for the defenders."

' Alternattwly, "the screen of Judah" mlght refer to something e l ~ e that protwks the city, such as fortresses wliere arm5 arestorctt iinrt sol- diers quartcml. - 9. Dacrfbe the army threatening Jerusalem. 10. What davcluprnent bodes 111 for the city?

236 Isaiah's Prophecy-lfglit f i ) r A l l Mnnklntl I

When this defensive screen is removed, the city is open to I ts attackers.

11 Isaiah now focuses on the attempts by the people ta defend themsdves. Their first thought-weapons! "Yov will look in that day towgrd the armory of the hwse of the f a r e and you people will certainly see the very brwclies of the City of David, for they will ochfally be many. And you wiII collect the wakn of the lower pool." (Isaiah 22:8br 9) Weapons are stored in the armory of the hourc of thc for- est. This armory was built by SoIomon, Sinrr- it was con- structed of cedars from Lebanon, it b m m e known as "the House of t h e For& of Lebanon." (1 Kings Z25) Breaches in the wall are examined. Water Is collected-an important measure of defense. The people need water to Itw. With- out it, a cjty cannot stand. Notice, though, that nothing Is said of their looking to Jehwah for deliverance, Rather, they rely on their own resources. May we newr make that mistake1 -Psalm 127: 1,

12 What can be done about those breaches in the city wall? 'The houses of jenrsalem you wlll actually count. You will also pull down the houses to make the wall unattuin- able." (Isaiah 22: 10) Houses are evaluated to see whlch ones might be demolished to provide materials for repalr- ing the breaches. l h s is an effort to prevent the enemy from gaining complete control of the wall.

A EaitMess People 13 There wit! be o coIIecSing basin hat p u must mcrke

between the h wdls for she W e 0 of the old pod And you will certainly not look at the gmnd maker of it,

11, 12. What defemiw measures do the Inhabitants of J e r l ~ ~ l e m take? 13. How do the people try to ensure a supply of water, hut whom do they forget?

and the one forming lt long ago you will certainly not see. " I (Isaiah 22: 1 7 ) 'I'he efforts to collect water, described both 1 here and in verse 9, remind us of the action King Heze-

kiah took to protect the city against the Invading Assyri- ans. (2 Chronicles 32:2-5) FIowever, the people of the aty in this prophecy of Lsatah are absolutely faithless. As they work on the defense of the city, they give no thought to the Creator, unlike H e ~ k i a h .

14 Isaiah continues: 'The Sowmin Lord, Iehmb of ar- mies, will call in that day tofor weeping and for mourn- Ing and lor boldness and for girding on sackcloth. B a look! exultation and rejoicing, tlte killing of cottfe and the slough rering of sheep, the eating of flesh and the drinking of wine, ' l e t there he eating and drinking, for tomorrow we shall die.' " (Isaiah 22: 12, 73) The inhabitants of Jerusa- Irm show no remorse for their rebellion against Jehovah. 'I'hey do not wecp, mt their hair, or wear sackcloth as a sign of repentance. Tf thcy were doing so, likely Jehovah would spare them the coming horr~rs. Instead, they aban- don themselves to sensual enjoyment. The same attitude exists today among many who do not put faith in God. Rccausc they have no hope-either of a resurrection from the dead or of life in the fiiture Paradise earth-they pur- sue lives of self-indulgence, saying: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we are to dle." (1 Corinthians 1532) How shortsighted! If only they would put their trust in Jehm vah, thry would have a lasting hope!-Psalm 46-8; Rw- erhs 1 :33.

15 The 'beslegcd Inhabitants of Jerusalem will not h o w - 14. Dcsplte Jehmtah's wr~rnlng rncssage, what unwise attitude do the 1wople have? 1.5. ( a ) What Is Jehovah's judgment rnessapy against Jerusalem, and wlro crarrlus out his (udplrncnz? (b) Why wit1 CIhristendom suffer a farc rlmilnr to that of Icrzisnlcm?

mrlty. Isaiah ays: "In my eon /ehorr$l of mler has a wuld hlm& '7hls m r will not be atoned Ibr In p r Ma# until you papk die,# the M g n hd, jehovak of m l e ~ , h a said," { b d ~ h 22: 14) of the had- heartedness of the pople, there will be no pardan. With- out fail, death will mme. This is a certainty, The Swer- eign Lord, Jehovah of a d = , has said it, In fulfdhent of Isaiah's prophetic words, damity comes twlce upon un- faithful J e d e m . it is by the arrnics of w o n and law by those of Rome. So, too, calamity wil l come upan unWthfu1 CWstenl io~ whose mernhrs claim to worshtp God but actually disown him by their works. (Ti- tus 1:16) The sins dChrt&&m, along Wth those Of the world's other rd@iorn that flout Gd's righteous mys, have "massed together dear up to heaven? Like the error of ap ta te Jerusalem, their error is too great to k atoned br.-Rw&doa 18:s 8,21.

A Selfish Stewerxld 14 The prophet now turns his amtion from an unfaia-

ful people to an unfaithful indMdual, Isaiah writes: %Is Ar what the kwdgn Lorb, ] a h of omk, has suki: 'Go, en& In b thls €u Shsbna, who is owr the h a m , &What k tbm of interest to yrw he* and who is them of i n & m s t b p h , t h a t p h m h e w d o u t h r p u ~ d f here a burJaI pime?" or a height he Is h w h g out his burial piace; In a uag he is wl#q aut a residence hr H m K ' " -4- 22: ISt M.

17 Shebna is ' s tmad mw the house,' pmbably the house of KIng H W a h . As nrch, he has an M1uenU podtlon, second only to the king. Much is errpaed of him, t l Cb

16, 17, la) Who now wceiws a warning message Erom Jehovah, ~ n d wh 7 (b) Because of frls Idiy aspirations, whni wlll happen m Skebna r

Le59dns A b u t Unfaith filnw

dnthhm 42) Yet, when he should be gMng fitrst attention b the a&in of the nation, Shebat is pttrsuing glory for him- self, He Is having a rum- rIous tom&compmble to that of a €or himself Mgh on a crag. Jehovah, obwrv- in& thlts, inspires Isalab 10 warn the unfaf- steward: "Look! ~& k hurfing you down with Writ hurling, 0 ubk- bodled man, and g m p - Incr mu Wbk W I W

die, and there tk chariots sfywrglory will be the d/shon- o r o f t h e h o u s e o f p u r ~ . A n d ! wlllpushpcnwy b m your podtion; a d Iiom pw OW standing one dl1 l r down." {lsakrh 22: 17-79) B e a ~ of his Af- CenWness, Shebna wil l not have even an ordinary tomb in Jerusalem, Instead, hex411 be hurled like a ball, to die in a distant land In this the is alirfardng to all of those en- tnxsted with authofiq among God's people. Abuse of powa will lead to the loss of that authority and possibly to lmnhlment.

18Hav, though, wilI Shebna k r e d horn his

18, Who wlll re Iaw Shebna, andwhat dws it mem that this me wlil receive ~hefna's offrcid garments and the key of the hwss of David?

240 isfijah's Preph~r~pLight for All M~nk lnd I

positton? Though bhh,lehavah c t x p k *ltmJtoccur in WdcryhtI Wlcaflnrysmwnt, -, EliaWm the son of HIIkioh. And I wlfl clothe him d t h p u r robe, d p u r s a s h l s h r r C I ~ B i n d ~ t h l m , rrndyourdomlnion l s h c r l l ~ b l ~ ~ ~ a r n d h e r n ~ ~ m e u ~ e r b fhe Inkbhnt o P I m m b und tO the house of]udph. And Iwi r rput the~of theh~ofPQYIdup~nhlsshwldw, a n d k m r r s t q m w i r t r w t ~ e ' s s h u t d n g , ~ d k r n u s t shut mwt~rlp's o p i ~ . " ( m a h 22:a24 ~eplac- ing Sbebaa, Ebkhwi l l be given the mard*s omal gar- ments dong with the keyof the house of David. The Bible usa the tarn to symbolize authority, govmment, or (Campre Matthew X19.) In andent times, a lang's aatviser, emmmd with the keys, might haw general supemhion af the myal dmnks, m n deddhg on an- didata for the lang's sewice, (Compare Rewlath 3:7,8.) Thus, the ofice of steward is Important, and much is a- paed of whoever s a w s in it. (Luke 12:48) Shebna may be capable, but because he is unfaithful, Jehavah will re- place him.

'Xlvo Symbolic Pegs 19 Pfnall~ Jdmah uses symbolic hgmge to d e s d x

the tramfa of powex from Shebna to IWdm. He states: "1 wM d& Aim [EfiaWm] in as a p g in a /&g place, a n d h e m u s t h m e a s a throne ofgbtyb the house of his Itrther. And thq must h g u p hlm all the gio- ry d the house of his Wq ahe m n t s and the off- shoo& all the *& of the small W the =& of the b o w l x o r t c n w e l l m a l l t h e ~ o f helugejam. IntM day,' is the uttemnce af wowh of uwnies, 'the p g [Sheb- - 19, 20. (a) Haw will Elialdm prove to be a blesslug tp his people? (b) What will happen to thaw who mllnue to look to Shebnal

Lessons Abau t (Infiithfiltrcss 241

no] that & d r h n In a Irrsdng place be mmd, and it must behewn down undibil, and the had thotisupon it must bs cut off, I b r j h w h himself hos spoken &'"-4m- ioh 22:23-25,

20 In thse vmm the first peg is Eliakim He will bemme 'a throne of dory" to the house of his father, Hilliah UnWle Shebna, he will not &grace his father's house or repulatlon, Elialdm WU be a l a m support ta household wsels, that Is, to others in the ldng9 service (2 Tho- thy 220,211 In contrast, the second peg refers to Sheb m.Thoughhemayseemwcm, h e w i l l b e m d . A n y who continue to look ln him will fall.

* 21 Shebna's experience reminds us that among those who daim to worship

God, those who accept privilege of semlce should use them

to serve others and to - 21, In mbdern times, wha, Ilke %b&na, Was repiad, why, and try whom?

I Uke Shebna, m n y of C h r ~ d o m ' s leaders how brought dishonor on #e W m r by u d n g rkhes

In modem times a Rulthful steward dass has been appoimted 1 over ]esus* househofd 1

bring praise $0 J&m& They W d nat abuse their psitlon in order to @nrlch themselva or @in personal pminenm. For example, Chrlsmdom has 1 q promuted herself ,

as an appointal steward, the earthly rep- resentadw of Jw Clhrlst. Howw~er, just as Shebna brought dlshofim on his fa- ther by seeking Mo o m gtoq Christen. domls kadm have bmught dlshmor on the -tor by amassing tlcha and pow- I- er for th-. HenceJ when the tlme of fudgment "to start with the b e of God" m e in 1918, Jehovah re- moved Christendom. Anothe~ steward was i d e n a d -"the faithful stm-4, the dkaet o n e M 4 apphted mer Jesus' housebold (1 Rkr 417; Luke 1242 44) Thls mrl lpateh has shown wwo*hyofshoul- dertng the royal ''key" of the hwse of David, Like a trust- worthy "peg," it has proved to be a reliable support br all the different "vessels; minted Chrlstlm with m n t fpspomiblISdes who 'took to it for spiriw sustenance. The " d m sheep" too, like 'the allen mident within the gates' of andent Jerudm, depend on this ''ma the modem- dg EUaldm.-John 1&16; DeuQronomy 514,

BEhakim replacedshebmwhen Sennachertband bis horde wwe threaanhg Janrsdem. SMMy, #the f%ith- N s t e w a r d , ~ ~ o n e , " h a s b e e n q p o l n t p d t n ~ during the thne of the end, whi& will come to a con- dM~nwhenSawnandhisSO~~e~mmbOrafIIlalaW on W e Israel of W1 and their other 8- cornpan i~ l l~~ [Grslatlans 6:16) lls in HsmIclah1s d&y, that am& will end In dWmUon for the enemies of r i g h w n e s ~ ~ Those wkr9 support themselves on the "peg in a hstlng placqQ the Wtm s w a r d , rn survive, lust as fatthful ma bit^ mfs ofJerusalem m d the hs@m Irwasia ofludab H m ~ , t h e n , n o t ~ c l h g t o t h e ~ t e d " p e g * ~ f ChriSmldomI a Whathappenst~Shebna? Wehmeno recordofhaw

the prophecg abwt him, m r d d at Isaiah 22: 18, w ful- filIed. When he exalts h h l f and Is then disgmd, he re- xmbh Christendom, but he may have Iemed b m the discipline. In this, he Is very different from Christendom. Wen the Myrian Rabshuh demands Jmusalem's sur. ren&r, HaekIahk s steward, BlW, leads k h d e l e - tianthatgces cut tomeet him, However, Shebnais at his sldeassemmytotheMng, Evidently, ShebnaIsstlllin the king's sewice. (bhh 36:2, 22) What a 6m bsm for time who lose pwltlons of h c e in G a l ' s orgadmuon! Rather than b e . bitter and repwt€ul, they are w k to continue sewing Jehovah in whatever c 8 p a d ~ he allows. [Hehews 186) By sa do@ they will m i d the diwm that wilt ,Mall Christendom, They wlll enjoy God's fa- and blessing k u g h o u t eternity,

a. W Why ms the of Shebna tta stmhrd timely? fb) In modem times, v&y wnS the appoint@ of "the faithful stemrd, the &smw one; tlmeiy? 23. ~evmtuUybappemtbSheh&and~caawlem~m tMs?

CHAPTER NINETEEN l~lravrl lr Prnfirn~s ~ I I P Pride of prf 245

Jehovah Profanes the Pride of Tyre

Isalah 23:l-18

SHE was "perfect in beauty" and abundant In "wealth of cvcry kind." (Ezekiel 27:4, 12, An Amrricnn 7h~tslation) I-ler large fleet of ships sailed across the sea to faraway places. She became "very glorious In the heart of the open S C ~ , " and with her "valuable thlngs," she "made e a M s kings rich." (Ezekiel 2225, 33) In the seventh centu- ry 12.C,E., such was the stahre of Tyre-a Phoenician city on the eastern end of the Meditetmnean.

2 Yet, destruction was in the ofling for '@. Some 1W years before Ezekiel described her, the prophet Isalah fore- LolcI the downfall of this I'hoenician stronghold and the grlef of those depending upon hcr. Isalah also prophe- sicd that after some time God would turn hls attention to tlic city, granting her rencwcd prosperity. How were the prnplret's words fulfilled? And what can we learn from all that happened to V e ? Havinx a clear understand- ing of what befell her and why such things happened w d strengthen our faith in Jehwah and his promises.

"Howl, You Ships of Tarshishiv 3 Under the tide, " f i e pronouncement of Tyre," Isaiah

1, 2. (a) What kind of dky was ancient 9re7 (11) What did Isaiah prophr~y for 'I'yre? . I , 4, (a) Whew was TarshIsh, and what WiH the relationship be- twern 'lyre and Tanhish? (b) Why wlll thc sailor% trading with 'l'ar- a l l l s h have reason to "howl"?

declares: "Howl, you ships of Tarshlsh! for it has been de- spoiled from being (I por& from being a place to en- ter in. " (lmiah 23: 7 a) Tarshish is Ewl i evd to haw been a part of Spain, far frornTyre in the eastern Mediterranean." 51 111, the Phoenicians were expert seamen, and their rhips were larh~ and seaworthy. Some hlstoriatls bc l iw that the I'l~ornlcians were the first to notice the link between the tnonn and the tides and to use astronomy as a navigation- al aid. So the long distance from Tyre to Tarshish was no obstacle for them.

4 In Isaiah's day, distant Tarshish fs a market for T~E, per- haps the main source of her wealth during part of her his- tory, Spain has mines rich with deposits 01' silver, Iron, tin, and other metals. (Compare Jeremiah 109; Ezekiel 27:12.) "Ships of "lrshish," likely ships from 'l'yre trading wJth Tnrshish, will have good reason b "howE," lamenting the destruction of their home port.

5 How will mariners at sea learn of the downfall of me? Xsalah answers: "From the land of Kittim St has been re- vealed to them." (Isaiah 23: 7b) "The land of Kittim" like- ly refen to the island of Cyprus, about 60 miles west of the ITihenidan coat. This is the last stop for thc eastbound ships from Tarshish before they arrive at Tyre. Hence, the sailors will receive news of the overthrow of their be- loved home port when they make I? stopover in Cyprus,

I What a shock for them! Grief-stricken, they will "howl" in 1 dismay,

6 Dismay will aIso be felt by the people of the fioenjrian

* Some scholars have identified Tarshish with Sadlnla, an island in thc wmtcrn Mediterranean Sardinia too was far Irnm 'lw. P

5. Wherc will mariners corning born Tarshlsh learn nf the fall of Tyrc'/ 6. Vfscrlhc the relationship between lyre and Sldon.

246 Isainlt's S r u p l ~ c r y - t l ~ h t fur All Mcr t~ k l ~ r ~ l I

seacoast. The prophet says: "Be silent, you inhabitants of the coospfand. ? 3 ~ merchanfs h m Sidon, the ones cmss- ing over the sea-they haw filled you. And an many waters has been the seed of Shihos, the harvest of the Nile, her rev- enue; and it came to be the profit of the nations." (Isaiah 232, 33 'The "inhabitants of the coastland"-Tyrc's neigh- bors-will be silent jn utter amaze~nent at the calarnltous fall of Tyre. Who are "the merchnntr fmm Sicton" who "haw filled" thcse inhabitants, making them rlch? 'lyre was nriginaIly a colony of the seaport city o l Sldon, just 22 rnlIes to the north. On her coins, SirIon clcscrlbes her- self as the mother of T)w. Althou#h 'I'yre has ectlpsed SI- don in wealth, she is still a "dauglrter ol Sldnn," and her inhahitam still call themselves Sidonians. (lsaiah 23:12) Hence, the expmsion "the merrrllants from Sidon" pmh- ably refers to the commercial inhahitants of I@.

7 Engaging in commercial entcrprlse, the wealthy Sldo- nlan merchants traverse the Mediterranean Sea. 'l'hey car- ry to many places the seed, or grain, of Shlhor, the eastern- most branch of the Nile Rives In the rlelta r~gian of Emt, (Compare Jeremiah 2:18.) "Ti-te harvest of thc Nlle" also Inclucles other produce from Egypt. Trading and bartering In such gmds is highly ptofrtablc for thew seafaring mer- chants as well as for the nations with which they dd busi- ness. The Sidonian traders 611 me wlth revenuc. Indeed, they will grieve at her desolation!

H lsaiah next addresses Sidon wlth the words: "Be ashamed, 0 Sidan; because the sea, O you stronghold of the sea, has said: '1 have not had birth pains, m d 1 have not given birth, nor have I brought up young men, mised up virgins,"' {lsaioh 23:4) After the deftructlon of Tyr~ , -- 7. Mow have Stdonian merchants spread wealth? 8. What effect will -@re's destrurtlon have on Sidan?

P

Jehovah Profanes the Prldc of Qre

the coastline where the dty formerly stood wlll look bar- ren and desotate. The sea will appear to cry out In an- guish, like a mother who has lost her children and is so distraught that she now disclalrns w e r having had them. Sidon will be ashamed at what happens to her daughter.

9 Yes, the news of the destruction of will cause wide- spread grief. Isaiah says: "just as at the report pertaining r~

I Egypt, people will likewise be In severe pains at the report on Tyre.'' (Isaiah 235) 'The paln of the mourning ones will be comparable to that ltsululnng horn the report about Egypt. Which report does the prophet mean? Possibly the fulfdhent o E his eadler "pronouncement against Egypt."' (Isaiah 191-25) Or perhaps the prophet means the re- port of the destruction of Pharaoh's army in Moses' day, which caused widespread consternation. (bodus 154, 5, 1416; Joshua 29-11) In any case, those hearing the report of 'T)m's destruction will be in severe pains. They are in- vited to flee to distant 'I'arshlsh for refuge and are com- manded to make a noisy expression of their gdeE "Cross over t~ Tarshish; howl, you inhobitan& of the coastland." -Isaiah 23:6,

ExuItant "From Her Early Times" 10- is an ancient city, as Isaiah reminds us when he

asks: "is this y w r city hat WQS exultant from duys of Eong ago, from her w r l y times?" (Isaiah 23:7a} Vre's prosper- ous history extends at least as Jar hack as Joshua's time. (Joshua 19:29) Over the years, T p has become famous as a manufacturer of metal objects, glassware, and purple

* See Chapter 15, pages 200-207, of thls book.

9. The grfef of the people follawlng the fall of % will be compa- &1e to the consternation following what othct cwnts? 10-12. Describe the wealth, antiquity, and influence of Tpe.

248 JsalaR's Proplr~cy-Ltqr'rt fur A / / Motrkit~rl I

dye. Robes of m a n purple command the highest prices, and Tyre's costly fabrics aR sought after by tho nobility, (Cornpare Ezekiel 27: 7'24.1 'Ifw is also a hading ccntcr for wedand caravans as well as a great Import-export depot. 11 Mureover, the city is militarily strong. L. Sprape

de Camp writes: "Although not espedally warlikc-they were businessmen, not soldiers-the I'hoenlcians dcfcnd- ed their cities with fanatical courage and stubbornness, These qualities, as well as their naval might, enabled the Tyrlans to hold out against the Assyrian army, the stron- gest of its time."

12 Indeed, Tp~e makes her mark on the Mediterranean world. "Her feet used to Mng her fur away to reside as an alien.." (lsaiuh 23:7b) Phoenicians travel to distant places, setting up trading posb and ports of call, which In some Instances grow into colonies. For example, Cnrthage, on the north coast of Africa, Is a colony of vre, In time, it will surpass Tyre and rival Rome for influtrnm In the Mediter- ranean world.

Her Pride Will Be Profaned 13 In view of W s antiquity and wealth, the next qua-

tion is fitting: W h o is it that has gEwn this c o w sel q ~ J n s l Tp, bhe besbwer of cmwns, whose merchants were princes, whose tmdesrnen w w the honorabk ones of the earth?" (Isaiah 23:8) Who dares to sprak againrt the city that has appointed powerfi~l indtviduals to posi- tions of high authorjty in her colonii~s and elsewhere -thus becoming "the bestower of crowns"? Who dares to speak against the metropolis whose merchants are princes and wtlose tradesmen are honorable ones? Sald Maurice

23. Why is the question raised as to who d a m to pronounce turdg. ment agarnst Tpe?

7 Jehovah PrnfFlnes thc Prldr of ' V W

Chehab, former director of antlqultIes at the National Mu- I seum of Refrut, Lebanon: "From the ninth to the slxth

century R.C., T)w retained the position d imprtance known to London at the lqinninl: of the twentieth cen- tury.'' SO who dares to speak awinst this city?

J4 The inspired reply wlll cause consternation in 'lfw. lsa- iah says: 'Tehowh of armies himself has g;ven this counseh

( to prokne the pride of 01, beoub to treat wjtth contempt I all the honorable ones of the earth.' (Isaiah 239 ) Why

dms Jehovah pronounce jurlgment agalnst this wealthy, ancient city? B It because its inhabitants are worshipers of the false god Baal? Is If k a u s e of '1)w's relationship with Jezebel-the daughter of King Ethl~aal of Sidon, includ- ing w - w h o married King Ahab of Israel and massacred the prophets of Jehovah? ( 1 Kin@ 16:29, 31; 18:4,13,19) The mwer to both questions Is no. lw is condemned be- cause of her arrogant pride-she has grown fat at the ex- pense of other peoples, including the Israelites. h the ninth century B,C,F,,, through the prophet Joel, Jehovah said to IIf.re and other cities: "The sons of Judah and the sons of Jerusalem you haw sold to the sons of the Greeks, for the purpose of removing them far from their own ter- ritory." (Joel 3:6) Can God owrtook WS heating his m- enant people as mere trading commodities?

I fi The passing of a hundred years will not change Tpe.

When the army of Ktng Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon de- 1 stroys Jerusalem In 407 B.C,E,, we will exult: "Aha! She

[Jerusalem] has been broken, the clours of the peoples! The trend will certainly be to me, 1 shall be filled-she has been devastated." (Ezekiel 26:2) 'I)w will rejoice, ex- pecting to benefit from the destruction of Jerusalem. With

14. Wha pronounces judgment qalnst m, and why? 15. Hmr will T p react when Jcrusatem falls to Ncbuchadn-r?

I je)twuA Profanes, the FMt of 5re 251

I the Judean capital no longer a mmpedtor, she wil l a@ more trade for hemelf. Jehovah will treat with contempt self-proclaimed Y h o n ~ b l e ones," who pridefully stand with the enemies of his pople.

16 Isaiah continues Jehovah's condemnatTon of m: T m s OW y ~ u r Eand /Hoe the Nile Rlw4 0 duughter of Tar- shM. l%erre is rna ship@ any *. Hh hand he h a ~ o u t o w r t h e s e c r ; h e h ~ W n g d o m B n k agltohd, j&mh hl& has g h u command against Phmklb, f# r m n I h l h her$t?wngM. And h e w : 'Xw m u s t ~ u p l n exad& Ooppresfed om, the vlrgn daugh- aproflydon.Wyl, crwrow&Mrni tseI I I Em Ehera!k will not be mi#W fw yw.' *A& 23: TO- 12.

17 Why IS r)H? called the '/daughter of TmhhhT Perkaps because after the defeat aim, TarsMsh will k the more powerful of the two." The inhabitants of W d Tpe WU ( be scattered like a rhnr h flood, its banks bmken d m and its waters mrf low iq into all the nelgbbtlm plains. IsnlahJs message to the "daughkr of m s h " undmmws the severity of what will happen to me. Jehovah h i d stretches out hls hand end gives the wmmd. No me can alter the outcome.

18 Isaiah a h speaks of as ""the vhgh daughter of - AitHnati~ly, the 'nda~ghtw of TafsMsh" may refer to the -it-

antJ of lbrshtsh. One &erence wrk -: The nattveg o f l h h h a r e n o w ~ w w m l m d ~ & ~ ~ ~ t ~ N I k w h e n i t ~ i n all dlrectlons." Wl, the emphasb b on the dmHc rep%trussions of the fall of Tyro. - 16, 17. What d U happen to the Inhabitants of ?pre when the dty falls? (See foomote.) 18. Why L caU4 "the vlan daughter of Sidon," and how dl her state change?

T)m would submit h Bubyion, not Assyrtu

252 Isainh's I'ropl~rry-1.1,qllt fur A l l Mnnkind I

Sidon," indicating that she has not previously been seized and ravished foreign conquerors and still enjoys an un- subdud state. (Compare 2 Kings 1921; Eralah 472; Jere mlnh 46:ll.) Now, though, she is to be annihilated, and llkc refuges, some of her resicicnts wlll cross over to the Phoenician colony of Kildrn. Nevertheless, l~aving lost their cconornic power, they will find no rest there.

The Chaldeans Will Despoil Her Ig Which political power will execute Jehovah's judg-

ment upon Tyre? Isaiah procIaims: "Lookl The land of the Chaldeans. This is the people-dssyria did not pmve to be the one-they founded her for the desert haunters. They hove erected their siege towers; they haw stripped bare her dwelling towen; one has set her us a crumbling ruin. Howl, you ships of Tbrshish, br your stmnghold has ken despoiled." (Isaiah 23: 73, T4.4) The Chaldcnns-trot she As- syrlans-will conquer vre, They MI1 erect thelr siege t c w ers, lcwl the dwelling places of 'lyre, and make that stronghold of the ships of Tarshlsh s crumbling heap of rulns,

20 Truc to the pmphecy, not long after the fall af Jem- salem, 'l)m rebels against Babylon, and Nehuchadnw lays siege to the dty. Bellevlng herself impregnable, Tyre wsists. In the course of the siege, thc heads of Babylon's soldiers are "made bald" from the chafing of their helmets ancl thelr shoulders are "rubbed bars" from carrying ma- terials used in the consmalon of sjegwnsks. (Ezekiel 29: 38) The siege is costly to Nebuchadnezlar. 'The mainland city of 'l)w is deswoyed, yet its spoil eltides him. The bulk of the treastm of Tyre have been transferrer1 to a small is- - 19, 20. Who Is prophesied to be the conquerur of Qre, and how is that plnphecy fulfilled?

land about half a mile from the shore. Lading a fleet of ships, the Chaldean king is unable to take the i5lantl. A h 1.7 years, Vre capitulates, but she wilt survive and see the hdfr I lmcnt of further prophecies.

"She Must Return to T-Ter HireN 21 lsa l ah goes on to prophesy: "It must occur in that day

thot Tyre must be Forgotten seventy years, the same as she days of one king." (Isaiah 23:tSa) Following the destruc- tint1 nf the mainland city by thc Babylonians, the island- clty of 7yre will "be forgotten," True to the prophecy, for thc duratlon of "one kingu-the BalyZonlsn [:mplsc-the island-dty of Tyre will not be an Important financial paw- cr. Jchovah, through Jeremiah, includes Vre among the nations that will be singled out to drink the wine nf His rafie, I ie says: "These nations will have to scrvc the king nT Rahylan swenty years." (Jeremiah 25:R-17,22, 27) True, t hc Is In nrl-clty of Tyre is not subject to Babyion for a full 70 years, since the Babylonian Empire falls In 539 O.C.E, Ev- Irlently, the 70 years repreqenh the pcrlocl nl' Babylonia's grcntrst domination-when the Dal7ylonian royal dynas- ty hoasts wl having lifted it., throne even above "tl'lr stars of God." (Isaiah 14:13) Different nations comc under that darnlnaklon at different times, But at the end of 70 years, that clomination will crumble. What wil! then happen to ? y e ? 22 lsalah cnntinues: "At the end of seventy years it will

happen to Tyre as in the song of a prostitute: 'Take a harp, go oround the city, O forgotten prostitute. Do your best at playing on the swings; make yaur songs many, in order that you may be remembered.' And i r must occur at she

21. In what way Is 'Qw "forgotten," and for how lflrlg? 22, 23. What wlll happen to'ryrc when a l ~ r comes ou t frnrn under Ilnl,y ll~nlan domination?

end of seventy yeam that jehovah wiil turn his attention to Tyre, and she must return b her hire and commit prostitu- tion with alF the kingdoms of the earth upon the surfoce of the ground."-Isaiah 23: t5b- 1 Z

2 3 FoElowing the fall of Babylon in 539 B.C.E., Phoenlcia becomes a sattapy of the Medo-Persian Empire. 'l'he Per- sian monarch, Cyms the Great, is a tolerant ruler. Under this new rulership, Tyre will resume her former activity and try hard to regain recognition as a world corn- mercial center-just as a prostitute who has been forgot- ten and h a lost her clientele seeks to attract new clicnts 'by going around the dty, playmg her harp and singing her songs. Will Tyre succeed? Yes, Jehovah will grant her success. In time, the islandsity will become so prosperous that toward the end of the sixth century R,C,E., the proph- et Zechariah will say: "Tyre proceeded to bulld a rampart for herself, and to pile up silver like dust and gold like tlie mire of the streets."-Zechariah 9:3.

'Her Profit Must Become Something Holy' 24 How remarkable are the following prophetic words1

"Her profit and her hire must become something holy to lehowh, It will not be stored up, nor be laid up, because her hire will come to be for those dwelling behm jehovah, for eating to satisfaction and for elegont covering." (/miah 23:18) H m F does Tyre's material profit hecome somet tiing hoIy?Jehomh maneuvers matters so that it is used accorcl- ing to Ms will-for the eating to satisfadon of his people and for their covering. This comes about following thr Es- raelites' mturn from Babylonian exile. The people oi 'Vre assist them by supplying cedar timbers for rehuildlng the

temple. They also resume trade with the city of Jerusalem. -b ra 3:7; Nehcrniah 13:lh.

25 Despite this, Jehovah Inspires a further pmnounce- ment against l)m. Zechariah prophesies concerning the now wcalthy island-city: "laok! Jehovah himself will disr possess her, and Ento the sea he will certainly .strike down her military force; and in the fiw she herself will be de- wurecl." (Dcharlah 94) This Is fulfilled inJuIy 332 B.CE. when Alexander the Great demolishes that proud mistress of Zhc sca.

Avold Materialism and Pride

26 J e h m h cnndcrnned 5 r e for her pride, a characteris 1 t ic that he despiser. "l.ofty eyer" are listed first among the srven things that Jehovah hatcs. (l'roverbs 6:16-19) Paul assodatcd pride with Satan the Devil, and Ezekiel's de- scription of proud Tyrc has elements that describe Sa- tan himself. (Ezekjcl 28~13-15; 1 Timothy 3:h) Why was lyre proud? kcklcl, addresshng we, says: "Your heart be- gan to be haughty 11eca~:ause of your wealth." (Ezehe128:5)

1 The city was dedicated to trade and the amassing of man- ey. rffre's success In this made her unbearably haugh- ty. Through bekiel, Jehovah said to "the leader of T ' " : "Your heart has hecome haughtyl and you keep saying, 'I am a god. In the seat of god I have seated myself.'" -F~~kict 28:2.

27 Natlens can succumb to pride and a wrong view of wealth-and so can individuals. Jesus gave a pafable that s h o d how subtle this snare can be, H e spoke of a rich man whose fields produced very well. Delighted, the man

24, 25. [a) How does VR's profit becornc somethln~ holy to lchw \,ah? (b) Despite Tyw's helping W ' s people, what prophecy doer Je- hovah inspire regarding her7

26. Why did Gad mndcrnn TLfF? 27. 28. Whni rnp can humans fall Into, and how dld Jesus illusbate I his?

2,56 Esrrfah's Pmph#pL&ht fir All. Matrkfwcl'i

p l a n n e d t o b u i l d ~ s ~ m ~ h i 3 ~ o l n d hstppiIylaokd69mtardsoalonglifeofcomfiort, Butthis did not happen Gad said to hlm: "Umewnable one, this nighttheyarrdemar?rdfngpursoul h m p u Who, then, is to k the things you stored up?" Ya, the man did, and his d t h d e d him nothing,-tulPe a 16-20. 28 Jesus condudd the me, saw. 'So It goa wlth tStemm~tI~up~uteh~1lhtisnotrIchb mrd God." (Luke 12213 3% wealthy was not wrong in &elf, and h m a g d harvest was no sin. The man's er- roriqfnhUs~tbethemalnthhgsInhis l i lrsHls whole confidence was in his r i a , When looking b the future, he didnut take Jehovah Cud into mount

coin ctspkthg Melka* chief deiv of WM d-

Modal of a

JePPgwh Prsfanss the Mdt of 5#

mJames wry strongly made the swne pht He said: Tome, mw, you who T&ay or tomorraw we win iDumey eo this dty and wlll spend a ym theml and we will engage in busin- and m& profitsI' whereas you do not lmow what your Ufe will be tornorm. For you are a mist a p p d q Eos a little while and then dhppearhg. Instead, you mght bO say 'If Jehovah ~ U S , we shaII live and alW do f i i s or that,' Uamw 4: 13- 15) Then, James showed tbe relationship between math md pride when he cantlsl- ued, "You take pride fn your sa -assmbg brags. Al3 such taking of pride is Wckd."-James 4:16.

Again, do@ bushes Is not a sln, The sin is tbe pride, the arroganceI the coddmce in self that gaining wealth can -dm. W y , the mdent proverb s a M "Give me neither pverty nor rlches." can & lifie ~ r y bit- ter. But riches can lead a person ao "deny [Call and say: 'Wha IS J&ovah?' "-Proverbs 30:8,9, 31 We llue in n world where many have fallen aim to

greed and sdbhness. Bemuse of the prwaiMg comer- craI ciimnate, much emphasis is pl~ced on d t b . HemeI a Chrlstlan does well to examine himself to be sure W he is not falling Into the same trap that ensnared the mm- rn& dty of Tyre. Does he spend so much of his tbne a n d e n e r g y i n m a ~ ~ t s t h a t h e i s , i u f a a , a ~ of rich=? (Matthew 6:24) Is he envlow of some who mag haw m o ~ or better possessions than he ha57 ( G a l a m 5: 26) If he happens to be Wthy, does he p d y feel that he desmes more atteation or prlvlIega than others do? (Campam James %I-9,) If he Is not rich is he " d e ~ ~ ta k IS&," whatever the cost? (I Thothy 6 9 ) 1s he so occupied with business mattas that he leaves only a v q

29, 30. Hew did James warn @mt reba on 31. Wrhat qudons does a ChMhn do well to ask kimself?

258 Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I

small corner in his life for serving God? (2 Timothy 2:4) Does he become so consumed with the pursuit of wealth that he ignores Christian principles in his business prac- tices?-1 Timothy 6:lO.

32 Whatever our economic situation, the Kingdom should always have first place in ow lives. It is vital that we never lose sight of the words of the apostle John: "Do not be loving either the world or the things in the wodd. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (I John 2:15) True, we have to use the world's economic arrangements in order to survive, (2 ThessaIo- nians 310) Hence, we 'use the world1-but we do not use it "to the full." (1 Corinthians 7:31) If we have an exces- sive love of material things-the things in the world-we no longer love Jehovah. Chasing after "the desire of the flesh and the derire of the eyes and the showy display of one's means of life" is incompatible with doing the will of God." And it ir doing the will of God that leads to eternal life.- 1 John 2: 16, 17.

33 The trap of putting the pursuit of material things ahead of all else ensnared m. She was successful in a material sense, became very proud, and was punished for her pride. Her example stands as a warning to nations and individuals today. How much better to folluw the ad- monition of the apostle Paul! He urges Christians "not to be high-minded, and to rest their hope, not on uncertain riches, but on God, who furnishes us all things richly for our enjoyment."-l Timothy 6:17,

"Showy display" is a translation of the Greek word a.ln.zo.ni'a, which is descr~bed as "an impious and empty presumption which trusts in the stability of earthly things."-?l?e New Tliqcr's Greek- English Lexicon.

32. What warning did John give, and how can we apply it? 33. How can Christians avoid the trap that ensnared Tyre?

CHAPTER TWENTY

Jehovah Is King

BABYLON, Philistia, Moab, Syria, Ethiopia, Figypt! Edom, 1 Tyre, Asryria-all will experience Jehovah's wrath. Isaiah has foretold the calamities that wdl befall these hostile na- tions and cities. What, though, of judah? Will the inhabit- ants of Judah be exempt from punishment for their sinful

1 ways? The historical record answers with a resounding no!

2 Consider what happened to Samaria, the capital of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel. That nation did not keep its covenant with God. It did not keep separate from the lewd practices of the nations round about. Instead, the inhabit- ants of Samaria "kept doing bad things to offend Jehovah . . . Therefore Jehovah got very incensed against Israel, so that he remwed them from his sight." Forcibly removed from its land, "Israel went off its own soil into exile in Assyria." (2 Kings 129-12, 16-18, 23; Hosea 4:IZ-14) What 1 happened to Israel bodes ill for her sister lungdorn,]udah.

Isaiah Foretells the Desolation of Judah 3 Some kings of Judah were faithful, but most were not.

I Even under a faithful king, such as Jotham, the people did not turn completely away from false worship. ('2 Kings 15:3335) A climax in the wickedness of Judah is reached during the reign of bloodthirsty King Manasseh, who ac- cording to Jewish tradition, murders the faithful prophet

1, 2. (a) Who will experience Jehovah's wrath? (b) Will Judah be exempt fram punishment, ancl how do we know? 3. (a) Why does Jehovah forsake the two-tribe kingdom of Judah? (b) What i? Jehovah determined to da?

260 Isnfalr's Pmplrtbry-Li.ylrl f i ~ r All Mitriklt~d f

Isaiah by commanding that he be sawed apart, (Com- pare Hebrews 11:37.) This wickcd king "kept ?;ecEuclng Ju- dah and the inhabitants of Jes~lsalen~ to (lo worse than the nations that Jehnvah had annihilated from lwffirc the sons of Israel." (2 Chronicles 33:9) Under Manasseh's rule the land becomes even more polluted than when the CA- nannites controlIed it. Hence, Jehovah declares: "l-lere I am Ixinglng a calamity upon Jerusalem and Judah, of which if anyone hears both his ears will tingle, , . , 1 shall simply wipe JcrusaIem clean just as one wipcs the hanclleless bowl clean, wiping it clean and turning it upside clown. And t shall indeed forsake rhe remnant of my Inheritance and give them into the hand of thekr enemies, ancl they will simply become plunder and pillage to al E their cnernies, for the reason that they did what was bad in my eyes ancl were continually olTend'ig me."-2 Kings 221:ll-15.

4 Like a bowl that is turned upside down, allowlng all its contents to spill out, the land will Ile cmptled of Its I~uman inhabitants. This coming desolation of Judnh and Jcrusa- !em is again the subject of prophecy hy Isalah. He hcgins: "Lookl jehovah ir emptying the /and and laying If waste, and he has twisted the face of it and scattered Its Inhabit- ants." (Isaiah 24: 7) Thi5 prophecy i s lullillcri when Jeru- salem and i & temple are destroyed by the lr~vnding tL~h ylonian armies under King Nehuchadne~jsar and whcn the inhabitants of Judah are decimated by sword, famine, and pestilence. Most of the Jewish survivors are taken captive to Rnbylon, and the few left behind flee to Ekwt. Thus the land of Judah is wrecked and completely depopulat- ed. Not even domestic animals remain. ' lhe descrtcd land becomes a wilderness with dreary ruins inhabited only by wlld beast5 and birds.

5 Will anyone in Judah recelve preferential treatment - 4. What wUJehovahdnto Judah, and how ts thts pro hcty fulhltedl Y 5. Will anyone be exempt from Jehovah'r jtrtlgrnent tlxplnln.

Jehovah Is King 261

, during the coming judgment? Isaiah answers: 4f must c a m to be the same for the people as for the priest; the

I same for the serwrnt 05 for his master; the same for the maidserwrnt as for her mistress; the stme for the buyer as for the seller; the some for the lender as for the borrow- er; the same for the interest toker as For the one puyhg She interest. Without fail the land wlll be emptied, and with- out fail it will be plundered, for jehovrrh himself has spo- ken this word." (Isaiah 242, 3 ) Wealth ancl privileges of temple service will rnnke t ~ o dllTcrence, No exceptions will be made. The land is so corrupted that evcryonc survlvlng -priests, servants and mastcrs, buyers and sellers-must go into exile.

6 In order that there be no misunderstanding, Isaiah de- I scribes the completeness of this corning disarter and ex-

plains the reason for it: "The land has gone to mourning, has faded awuy. The productive land has withered, has fad- ed oway. The hlgh ones of the people of tile land haw withered. And the very land has been polluted under its inhabirants, for they have bypassed the laws, changed the regulation, broken the indefinitely lasting covenan k. That is why the curse ItreH hcfs eaten up the land, and those in- habiting it are held guilty, That Is why the in habitants of the land hove decreased in number, and very few mortal men have remained over." (Isaiah 24:4-6) When the Israelites weregiven the land oi Canaan, they found It to be "a land flofiing with milk and honey." (Dcutcronomy 27:3) Still, they continued to bo dependent on jchovah's blessing. If they faithfully kept Ills sia2utcs and commandments, the land would "give its yielrl," but If thcy hypasscd his laws and commandments, thrir cl'forts to cultivate the land would bc "expended for ndhlng" and thc earth would "nut give its yield." (Levitlms 265-5, 14, 15, 20) Jehovah's curse would 'eat up the land.' (Deuteronomy 28:15-20,

6. W l y does jehwah wtthdnw t ~ l ~ blessing Fmm the land?

Music and rejoicing will no lot~ger h. heard iff the land

33-42,62,63) Judah mmt naw qxct oc, experience that Curse.

7 Some 800 years before Isaiah's day, the Israelites will. lagly entered into a covenant r~latlonshfp wlth J e b mh and qpxd to abide by it. (Wus 249-8) The terms of t h t Zrmw covenant stlpulated that if they obeyed J+ hwahYs c o ~ n ~ n b , they w d d experience his rich blessing but If W y the covenant, they wwld lose htrs biasing and be taken a* by their enemies. (b dus 19:5,6; Dwtemmmy 2fk1-68) This bw covenant, giv- en though Moses, was to remain in iozce for an Indehik, unspedfied time. If would safeguad the IsmeUtes until the apparanm of the MessIah.-GaIatians 3:19,24.

8 But the people bave "broken the L n W t e l y lasting covenant." They haw b p m d the dlvlnely given laws, ig- noring them have "changed the regulaUonlH follow- ing legal p m W s &rent horn those that Jehmh gm. (Exodw 32:2Si &&id a121 Hence, the people will be re- - 3. now wwld the hw -t be a Uesshg for the Israellm? 8. (a) How have the p p l e m s e d the lawsu and ' c h r q d the regulation'? (b) Jn what ways are 4he high onu" the bnt a, 'with- er'?

MQW~ IS m~ 263

~ f T O m f R e l a n d , N o m e r c y w l l l b e s h I n thearm Jng. judgmemt. Amow the fmt to 'wlthd haw of Je-

withdnwing ids protdlon and favor wlll lx "the high om," the 110bUty. In MHIment of this, as the ds s t r w t i m of Jausdem approachesI Hrst the tbm the Bslbyloh make Judean M n g i %esd SubsequentI5 KtngJehoWn and other members of the r@ family are amang the &st ones taken Into Babylo- xrEaPl &plVrty1-2 Qmnlctes 36!4,9,10,

Rejoicing Leaves the band 9 Themtion of Israel la an agriculhtrd sod* Frpm the

t h e that the Israelites entered the Pmmhd W, tbq havesettleridowntoallEeohdttMthg~ywandherdXsg livW&~ Thus, agrlcultum m p k an important ptaSe in tlw hgkhtlon gim rn Isml. A compuIsMy sabbath msl Es ~ d e d E a E ~ ~ d ~ ~ t h ~ ~ t o ~ 0 ~ ~ - ltp'm k m w d to the mil. ( W u s 23;10,11; Lmittcus 255-a The t h e e annud tkfitiwls that the mtlan L mnl- rn- to celebsate are timed- to d n & e wlth agfiCulklr- al ~ ~ m . - & ~ d u s 23:14-16.

IQVhqards are common throughout the W The S c r p w list Nne, a p&a of the vine, as a gift horn God that the heart of mortal man rejoice." ( W m 1W15) F&I one 'sitking under hls awn vine and fig We,* denotes pros^, peace, and securlq under God's righ mus rule (1 Khgs 42.5; Micah 4A) A sucwsful vintage sexan is mnslded a Mmlng and is a cause for singtng md repidq, audges 927; Jeremiah 2330) The 3s d30 me, When the v h a ~ 4 t h ~ or produce no p a p s and tly$59aep& bccome dadate wastes ,of tho- it B es?m tbi lEh0vah h~ wlthdr8m his bhSW+ of p a t wlmw-

9 1k (a) What role doa sulhur! lay in Ism17 (b) W W Ls the h n c e of each om 'ri* underh own vtnr md 8g mem?

264 Isaitrh's IJmplt~cy-Lklrt for A l l M l r t ~ k l r ~ d I

11 Appmpriatelv, then, Isaiah uses vineyards and thelr produck to illustrate the conditions resulting from Jehcr vah's withdrawing his bkrsing from thr. land: "The new wine has gone to mourning, the vine hus withered, all those glad at heart hwe gone to sighing. The exultation of the tambourines has ceased, the noise of the highly clot- ed ones has discontinued, the exultation of the t w r p hm ceased. It is with no song fhot they drink wine; the intoxi- cating liquor becomes bitter to those drinking it. 'She desert- ed town has been broken down; every house has been shut up from entering. There is an outcry in the streeB for wont of wine. AN rejoicing has passed awoy; the exultation of the lond has departed. !n the city on astonishing condition has been left behind; the gate has been crushed to a mere rub- ble heap. "-lsuiah 24:7- 72.

12 The tambourine and the harp are pleasant jnstsuments used to praise Jehovah and express joy. (2 CElronicles 29: 25; Psalm 81:Z) Their music will not be heard at this ti~nc of divine punishment. There will be no joyfill grape hnr- vests. There will be no happy sounds in the dvsolatcd rulnr; ofJerusalem, with its gate "crushed to a mcrc rubble heap" and its l~ouses "shut up," so that no onc can enter. What grim prospeck for inhabitants ol a land that by nature hiis been so fertile!

A Remnant "Cry Out Joyfully" 13 In order to harvest dives, the Ismelites bcak the t rm

with rods so that the fruit will fall. Accorcling to I~orl's law,

1 I. 12. la) Hmv does lwiah illustrate the conditions that will rC~tilt from Jehovah's ludgmc-t? (b) What grim pro~pcc-ts rloc~ Iralah dc- sr~ibe? 13, 14. (a) What are Jehmqh's laws on hnrvcstin~? (I,) l Inw clot% I<aiah use the Inws on haw~sting to jllurlr.?tc that rtlrnc rvHI F U X V ~ ~

jehmah's judgment? (c) Although there ate dark 5r:lwlns of trlal coming, of what can faithful Judeans be crrtiliri?

Some will survlve jehovoh's judgment, justas fruit remains on a tree after the harvest

they are forbidden to go over t hc ho~lghs of the trees to collect the remainiw d- ives. Nor should they gather thc Icftover grapes after har- vesting their vineyards. The remnants of thc harvest are to be left for the poor-"for the alien resident, for the fa- therless boy and for the wid- ow"-to glean. (Deuterono- my 24:19-21) Drawing on these well-known laws, Isa- lah Illustmtes the comfort-

iilg ti~ct I h;~ I l1c.r~ will hc survivors of Jehovah's corning jutl~mcnl: "Th~a It will become In the midst of the /and, In among the peoples, like the beating off af the olive tree, llke rhe gleaning when the grape gathering has come to an end. They themselves will mise lhek voice, they will cry olr t joyfully, tn rhe superiority of jehowh they will certain- ly cry out shrilly from the sea. That is why in the region of light they must glorify jehovwh, in the islands of the sea the name of jehovah, the Cod of Isroel. from the extremity of the land there are rnelodier that we haw heard: 'Decora- tion to the Righteous One!' "-Esoiah 24: 13- 160.

14 Just as some fruit rcmains on the tree or vine a f ter harvesting, so thcrc will k some who are left aver af- ter Jehovah's cxccution or judgmcn t-"the gleaning when I hc grape #atherin~ has comc to an end." As secorded in versr 6 , the prophet has already rpokcn of these, saying

1~8rrh's J'mplteq-Llg4t f i r All Mrurk4md f

that * w y €ew mortal men have remained OWL" Still, &w asthey are, t h e r e m t o b e ~ r s o f thedatrucUmof JmuaIern andJudah, and later a remnant will return from ct@Ivfty to ~ p p ~ & f tk laid, (hatah 42, 33; 14:l-S) T h g h righthe~ted srw will e p d w dark sehsons trial, the c a n b e ~ t h & ~ w U l b e d e l t ~ c c a n d f ~

Ti ahead e S N ~ W O C S wiU see Jehovah's prophetic word uu- Mdandwlll tealhe WIsafahhas beenatruepphetof G a t They wiil be filled with joy as they witness the ful- ~ e n t o f t h e ~ ~ n ~ . m O m w h e r e v e r t h e y have ken xatkmd4eit the blands of the Me&aerr~neaul h the WestI Babylon h ''the regfun of lfght" (the sun*$ or the hf), or any ~aer distant place-they vvfll pr- God bemuse they have been preserved, and they will siryF Qecm&tion to the Bightems OneEY

No &+ape Fmm Jehovah's Judgment 1s For now, tho-, repicing is p t u r e , hgJah brings

his contempor&& back to the present gating: "But I sq~ 'For ma them is lrnnmf fir me them Is Ie~nnwd Woe &I met The M e r o u s t h k h m dgalt W&mw& Em w l t l l ~ t k ~ d e a l e r s h m ~ t ~ ~ ~ . ' ~ ~ d t h e h o # o w d t h s i m p m u p o n y m r , puinha#tmtdf~~.Andi t rnustmurthatanptw ~ 1 S w t r i h e ~ ~ ~ h d o f t h e d ~ t M n g w I b J 1 h ~ €ha and a n p ~ mming up irom !nMe the hoUow will be cau h t h thew, For the wry WdgoCs b t ~ higk wlll uctuo$ be o m , a d he Wc1Llwu of W km8 dt rock. Ihe dpnd has a8s&te& &mt cryla@ the land has &duaely h up, the I d h a absd- sent m n g . The hnd &dutel)l mom unstmd& I l k ackunhmcm, a t t d i t h a s ~ & a n d h w I / k a l a d r - o u t h r r t A d r t s m l q n ? s . s l o n h m ~ m h ~ u p o n i t - 15, 14. In1 How d w Idatah E$$l qbWt what will httppen to h14 ao- @el t b ) What wfll b W t k uunRiW inhahicant3 d the land!

and it must HI, so that it wlll nab a up @n. "-ha- iah 24: 1620, 16 Isaiah fs ftIled wlth grief

m r what wlll befall his people. The state of &airs around hlm atuses feelings of d ~ k n a and woe. 7 h d 1 - emus ones abound and cause dread to the inhabit- ants of the Imd. When je- hmah withhaws hb proteF tion, unfaithful hihabitan& of Judah wlll experience ter- ror both day and night. They will be uncertain of their Ihres. There will be no escapfng the d h t w that will befall them for hrsak- ing Jehovah's carmmd- mats and Ignoring gadly wisdom. (mrbs 1:2427) Calamity will come wen though hchm Ona In 'hiah lr illled the la@ ww to what vNl &&/I his peopl~ the people that everything will k all right, use fahehad and deceit: to l e d them on I a course to destruction. (JereW 279-15) Enemles from outside watt come In md plunder them and wry them 1 away aptlw. AU of this is m y & w i n g to Isaiah. I

17 Yet, the prophet Is bmd to declare that there will be

17. (a) Why wM no escape k posibk? (b) When Jehrwah%judg- mtnt p m r ir released from the hams, what wlll happen to th land?

mi&$ Pruphap-Llght fir All Marakknd J

no e s a ~ Wherever p q i e try t~ Bee, they will be caught. Some m2ip &ape atme calamityI but they will be caught In another-there will be no security. It wiIl be just as with a h u n t e d ~ t h a t ~ f a l l i n g i n t o a p i t o d y t o b~ aught In a snare. (Compare Amos 5:18,19.) Jehmah's judgmeutpwrwiIIbedeasdbmtheheavwlsandwlll s b a l c e t h e ~ e r y ~ d a t l m s o f t h e t a n d . L t l r e a ~ man, the land reel5 and falls, heavy with guilt and unable Qo rfse again (kmos 52) JehcPPah's judgment is h a l Utter datmctloa and ruin wilI bddl the land

Jehovah Will Reign in Glory Isaiab's p m p h e ~ now takes on a greater scope, polnt-

h g to the final outmMng of Jehovah's purpose: "It must mcurin thtltdaytbt@& wHI tum hisatention upon the umy of the wht in five hefghl; aml u p r ~ the kings of the ground upon the ground. And tfrey wlN certainly be g a M d wlrh a gdndng as of p r k w Into the plb and be shut up In the dungme md &r an abundance of days they wlil be g/wn Wentftm. &d the full moan h become ahhad, and tke glowing sun has fiecome ashmed, fw jehowh of amfa has become Mng In Moun! Zion and In lerusuh and h front of hk el&@ men with glory.''-I~~~ !ah M21-23.

19 "The army of the h- may refer to the demonic "world rulers &f this ~~ . . . the wi&d spirit forces In the heavenly p W - " (Fphesians 5:12) These 4ave had a powwfd iduence on thew odd^. (Daniel 10:13,20; 1 John 519) Their goal is to tutn people away frwr Jehe vah and his pure worship. Haw well they succeed in seduc- ing Istad to f a h the corrupt practices of the nations that - 18, 19. (4 TO what may She army of the heighr refer, md how are thea gathtmd "in the dunpn'? (b) Llkty, how will "the army of the hemf be @ven atmtlon 'after an abundance of days"? (c) HOW dws Jehovah give attention tr, "the kings of the ground*?

Nsither tfra sun nor the moon wlll match jehovoh in gJory

surround them and thw merit God's divine judgment! But Satan and his demons must answa to Gad when he finally tums hh attention to them and to the rulexs on earth, "the Idngs of the grwnd upon the ground," whom they haw Muend to turn agahst God and t~ trslnsgress his laws. (Rwehtlon 16:U1 14) Sywaklng symboHdy, I&- hh says that they will be gathered and "shut up in the dungeon.* "After an abundance of Clap,' perhaps when

Satan and his demons (but not "the kings of the ground upon the ground") are temporarily released at the end of the Thousand Year Reign of Jesus Chrlst, God will b r l q upon them the ha1 punishment they deserve.-Revela- tian 203, 7-10.

20 T h i s part of Isaiah's prophecy thus left the Jews with a wonderful assurance. In Jehovah9 due timc, he would bring about the fall of ancient Babylon ancl restore the jcws b their homeland. In 537 B.C.E., when he demon- sbates his power and sovereignty in this way in khalf of his people, it could truly be said to them: "Your God has become king?" (Isaiah 527) In modern times, Jehovah 'he- came king in 1914 when he installedJesus Christ as Klng in His heawnly Kingdom. (Balm 96:10) I-le also "became king' in 1919 when he demonstrated the power of his kl ng- ship by liberating spiritual Israel fmm bondage to Rabylon the Great. 21 Jehovah will again "become king" when he brings an

end to Rabylon the Great and the rest of this wicked sys- tem of things, (Zechariah 14:9; Kwelation 19:1, 2, 19-21) Afterward, Jehovah's Kingdom rule will be so magnificent that neither the gleaming full moon at night nor the glowing sun at hlgh noon will match i t in glary, (Com- pare Revelation 22:5.) They wlEI be ashamed, so to speak, to compare themselves to the glorious Jehovah of armies. Je- hovah wifl reign supreme. Hls almighty pmwr and glory will be manifest to all. (Revelation 4:Rll; 513, 14) What a marvelous prospect! At that time, the call of balm 97:E. wlll resound throughout the earth in its grandest fulfi ti- rnent: "Jehovah himself has become king! Let the cart h tw joyful. kt the many islands rejoice!'

20. In both ancient and modern times, how and when does Jehw vah "become king"? 21. (a) How will 'the full moon become abashed and the glowrng sun become ashamed'? (b) What mounding ~311 wlil have Itc grand- est fulfillment?

pp

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE --

Jehovah's Hand Becomes High

ISAIAH h x dmp love for Jehovah and delights in prais in^ him. I-le crEcs out: '"'0 jehowfi, you one my Cod. I exalt you, I laud your name." What hclps the prophet to haw such fine npprcciatiun for hi5 Creator? A major factor is his knowledge of Jel~ovnh and of his activities. Isaiah's next words rrvcal this knowledge: "For you have done won-

1 derful things, counsels from early times, in faithfulness, in trustworthln~ss." (Isaiah 25: 7) Like Joshua hefore him,

I lsala h knows that Jehovah ir taithful and trustworthy and that all his "coun~e1s"-the things he purposes-come trt~c.-Joshua 23:14.

2 The counsels of Jehovah Include his Iudgment declara- tions against Ismel's enernles, Isaiah now pronounces one

1 of t hex: "You haw made a dty o pile of stoner, a fortified town o crumbling nrin, a dwelling tower of stranger5 to be no city, which will nor be rebuilt even to t h e indefinite." (lsdah 2532) What is this unnamed city? Isaiah may be re- ferring to Ar of Moab-Moab has long been at enmity with

1 C~CKI'C PCOPIC.* Or he may be referring to another, stronger city-Rnby Ion,-Isaiah 15~1; Zephaniah 2:8,9

3 How will Jehovah's enemies react when his counsel

' Tlie nallie Ar pmhahlv means "City."

3 . Why does lsalali haw appreciation b r J e h m h ? 2. What ~rn~nxci of Jeliwnh does lralah now pronounce, and what may ~ I P the ~>l>jrct nf t hls C O ~ I ~ ~ C I ? 1. In whnl way do ,Ichtwiih's crlemles glorify him?

against their strong city comcs true? "Those who are a strong people will glorfw you; the town of the tymnnical nations, they will fearpu." (lsabk 293) It is undc~tnnd- alsle that the enemies of the almighty Cbd will fcnr him. How, though, do they glorify him? Will thcy ahantton t hcir false gads and adopt pun worship? i laaclly! Ratl~cr, like Pharaoh and Nebuchadne7mr, they glorify jchovah whcn they are compelled to recngnlxe t i is clvtlrwhclming superiority.-hodus 10: 16, 17; 1 2:30-,33; l l~nlel 4::37.

4 Today "the town uE T11c tyrannical natlnns" Is "(he great city that has a kingdom over the k i n g of the earth," namely, "Babylon the Great," the world cmpir~ of lnlsc re- ligion. (Revelation 17:5,18) The principiil part oi this cm- pire Is Christendom. How do tlle religious Imtlcn of Christendom glorify Jehovah? By bitterly conceding the wonderful Ehings he has accomplishcri in bchall a l his Witnesses. Particularly in t919 when Jehovah rcstorcd his servants to dynamic activity after their release from spiri- tual captivity to Babylon the Great, the~e lealrlars "l~evnrne frightcncd and gave glmy to the God of heaven."-I<e17rln- tion I 1 33."

5 Although fearsome when viewed by hls cncmles, J e h ~ vah is a refuge to the meek and humble who want to scm him. Religious and political tyrants may try cv~rylhlng to break the faith of m e hut tl-rqt hi1 bccausc these have ahsolute confidence inJehovah. i:vcntually, he casi 1y siIcnccs his opposers, doing sn as i t he were covering thc burning desert sun with a cloud or blocking thc forw of a rainstorm with a walI.-Read Isaiah 254, 5. .- * See l<rwlntiotr-ftF Granil C ~ ~ H I C I X AtHt/tsd!, p a ~ ~ ! 170. - 4. What "town of the tyrannical natluns" cxl\t\ todny, ant! 11nw rlr>e< even she have tn glorify Jehovah? 5. 1Imv doer Jehovah pmtect t l l o s ~ who hnw ahsnlutr rulnfirlcncc In him?

'A Ranquct for A l l the I'eoples' 6 Like a loving father, Jehovah not only protgcts but also

feeds his children, especially in+a spiritual way. After liber- ating his people in 1!)19, hc set Ixfnrc? them a victory ban- quet, an abundant supply of spiritual fond: "khomh of armies will certainly make far all the peoples, in this moun- tain, a banquet o f well-oiled dishes, a banquet of wine 1 kept on the dregs, of well-oiled dishes fl,,eNed with marrow, of wine kept on the dregs, filtered. "-lsalah 256.

7 The banquet is spread in Jchovah's "mountain." What is this mountain? I1 Is "thc matintain of the house of Je- hm&" to which all nations stream "In the final part of the days." It is Jchovnli's "holy mountain," where his

I faithful worshipers do no harm and cause no ruin. (Isaiah 22; II:Y) In this elevated placr ol worship, Jehovah spreads his lush hanquet for faithful ones. And the spiri- tual good things now supptled so ~encmusly foreshad- ow the physical good thitlgs that will l ~ c p w i d r d when God's Kingdom becom~s Ihe solc ~ovcrnmcnt of man-

I hnd. 'I'hen hungr will be no rnclrc. "There will come to be plenty of grain on the earth; on the top of tile moun- tains there will be an ovetflow."-Psalm 72:8, 16.

8 Those who now partake of th@ divlnely prodded spit- iba l feast have gloriuus prospects. Listen to Isaiah's next words. Comparing sin ancl death to a nlffocating "woven

1 I work," or "enwtopment," he says: "In this mountain Lje-

hovak] wif\ certainly swnjlo w up the face of the envelop- ment that is enveloping over all the peoples, and the wo- ven wark that is interwoven upon all the nations, He will actually s wa/lolow irp death forever, and the Sovereign lord - 6, 7. (a) What kind of iensl doe5 Jellovah spwad, ancl for whom? (b) What does the banquet 11mplrerl~~2 by l ~ a i a l i tc)rcshaduw? 8, 9. [a) What t~ro ~r t '~ ! I r n e ~ ~ i l e ~ nl rn:!nklnd wlll I>c rc~novd? Ex- plain. (b) What will Litxi do to rwllnve Ihc rel~roach of his people?

274 &~lak"s Pmphap-Ltght for All MaPjgitd I

-wh wiCl certaJfi& wipe the mr3 hrn dl hmx"-ho- lah 2% 8a.

9 Yes, n~ m m sin md'death! (Rmlatron 21:3,4) MOP am, the lying @p& t h a t ~ ~ ~ s smm* Ira- en- dudfar ~ ~ o f y e a r s W m ~ b e d o n e a w q w l t h . me mpmach of his p p l e be will bk oway h n all the earthD hr Jskowak h i d fm qmken it* (ImW 25:8b) HmPvJnfbis happa?Jehcwabwillrmnm the mrce of that mpach, Man a& hts seed. (Redation UI:1-3) lit- tle wonder th& Galr% people wlll be moved to exclaim: %&I 7hkIxoui.W. We haw hopdin him, a d h e will save LIS. nik is J&whh W lime hoped In him, let us k @@I and && *hWW by hM."-l~dEoh 25:9.

The Hiaugbq M e A b e d 10 ~f hi$ Who -st hu-

IT&@. H-, Brael'spqg@Im Mwb b mud, an8 je- h W detests pride @WWIB 16;1@) Mg&, therefore, fs slated for humfii&m. '?he hand of je- wlA settle down on o f r i s m a r m ~ ~ andMoab must be tmdhn down in Ib plow w when a ~~p h t d d e n down ln a mu- ~ f u m ~ e , & d h e r n i & ~ p o t r s h i s ~ & b fie m&& af It us wheh a swimerslaps &em out to swimt and he mat 0- Its bughihas the Mcky mwmenEs of hls hmds.And the fbrHYer4 c& W pur high Wh of se- w*, he must lay low; k rnustahe tt, it I n f ~ con- tact with the d# tD the dld W-ha 25: to.12.

11 Jehmhls bad will 'settle dawnn on the mountain ~fMoab.Therqult?HaugWyMoabistobe slappedand tdden d m as "in a manm place: In I+hWs timeD s m ~ ~ s t r a m p Z d i n t o ~ o f d u n g t o m a k ~ ~ ~ w - 10, U. Wbat hash wtment dioE?s Jehovah m m for Moab?

"A bmguet of weII~iled #&esa

276 Imhh's Prophecy-~ighr far Al l Mankind 1

Isal& fowkelb hufntliation for Moab, despite her high* snemjngiy secure walls.

12 Why does Jehovah single out Mmb for such harsh counsel? 'Ilw Moabltes are desmximts Of Lut, the neph- ew of &Pibraham and a worshiper of S&QV&. Thus, they axe not mly neighbors of God's w * m t nation but also rel- atives. D espik this, thq have adopted false gods and man- ifested hard-set enmi9 toward Brad They deserve their fate. In this, Modb is E ~ P the enemies of Jehovah's ser- vants today. She is especialIy like Christendom, which claims ta have mots in the first-century Christian coqre- gation but which, as seen edier, is the printipaI part of Babylon the Gteat

A Song of Salvakion a What of God's peqle? Thrilled to have Jdwah's fa-

vor and protection, t&y raise their v~ices In sang. "in that this song will be sung in the blrd of fudah: 'We haw

a strong ci& He sets salvatfofl itreif fbr walls and rum- part Open the gates, p u men, that tk righteous nation thaf ;s keeping faithfrrI conduct may enter."' (Isainh 26: 3,Z) While these words no doubt had a fulfillment In an- cient times, they also ha& a dear fulfillment today. Jehc- m h ' s "righteous nation;' spiritual Esmlj is endowird with a Str~ng, citylike urganimtim. Wiat a cause for rejoicing, far song! 14 What kind of people come into this "city"? The song

gives the answer: 'me hciination throt is well ruppo&ed you [q will satkguurd in continuous peacq because if k in you that ons i5 made to trust. Trust in jehowh, pu pea- pled for ail times, for in]oh jehowh is the Rock of times in-

12. Why is Moab .singfed out fer Jehovah's judgment decIaration? 13! 14. What "8imng cityR does God's people today, and who am allowed to enter it?

definite." (Isaiah 26:3, 4) "The inclination" Jehovah sup- pats is the desire to obey his righteous principles and to trust in hlm, not in the floundering commercial, politi- cal, and religious systems of the world. "Jah Jehovah" is the only reliable Rack of security. Those having full confi- dence in jehwah receive his protection and enjoy "con- tinuous peace."-Proverbs 35, 6; Philippians 46, 7.

15 What a contrast to what happens ta the enemies a£ God's people! "He has laid low those inhabiting the height, the elevated mwn. He abases it, he abases it to the earth; he Brings it in touch with the dust The hot will tmmpfe it down, the feet of the afflicted one, the steps of the lowly ones." (Isaiah 26:$ 6) Again, Isaiah may be here referring to an "elevated town" in Moab, or he may mean some other sty? such as Babylon, which is cer- tainly elevated in haughtiness. Whatever the case, Jehe- vah has turned the tables an "the elevated tom," and his 'lowly and afflicted ones' trample it. Today this prophe- cy aptly fits Babylon the Great, particuIarly Christen- dom. Tn 1919 this "elevated town" was forced to release Jehovah's people-a hu- miliating fall--and they, in 7 pling upon their old cap 1 tor. (Revelation 148) How? By publicly announcing -

15. How has "the elevated town" been abased todq* and in what way do "the feet of the af- Ri~ted one" tfampk it? I Babylon is trampled under the feet of those who were 4

t prisoners

J e d ' s am vqeance upon h e r . - ~ ~ 8 : ~ U; 9: 14-19.

~Aftm~Mumphtintsoag, IsaiahrwealstbedPgffi of his m dWQblon Plnd the reward$ of sewing khe God of righhou~ness~ (Read lsalah 26:7-9,) The prophet p~>. pf&s a We example of 'haping in JtW&h' and aP hay- iq e d q d& for Jehwah's and "memorm#IIU What is JehavahS memorhl? W w 3:IS ays: ?elm& ... &mynarne&~eIrldeMte,andtbijfsthememw dal of me a0 meration a€ta g~neradon,~ blab &&h- a Jefrovaht5 name and alt that it stands h, hdudhq Ms ~~ smW and ways. Those who d t fva te a &mi- hr b e . Ebr Jehovah rn a~rmFed of his bking.-R&n 5 4 25:4,5; 135: 13; H m 125

17Nrjt: dl), h o r n , 1- J&W& low -7

&I&. (&@d kduh 2b:ll),) The w l c W men when bvit- d, s t t r b w *fuse to l w n r@teowness in ordm to en- t e r % e f a d a f ~ ~ h ~ ~ Y t t r e l a n d q P e d b y Jehmh's motally and sfltually str4ghtfmvard sewants. muent ly , the w k k d not sse the eminence of]& l a o h ' They MI not live b enjay the blwhgs that will f h w to mankind after Jehovah's name has been sand- 6ed E m in the new wndd, when the whole enrth will h a 9 d o f , f ~ e s s ~ s o m e m a ) r k i l t a ~ taJ&mh's lovhpktndness, The names of su& ones will not be in the book of life,-Isaiah 652% RweIrt- tbu 2O:IZ, 15,

16. What hne example of rimtha b n Ixalab set? ZX W t p~~ will be withheld from the wiW?

#En ifit into your intwlw moms"

280 Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I

18 "0 lehovah, your hand has become high, but they do not behold it. They will behold and be ashamed at the zeal for yourpeople. Yes, the very fire for your own adversaries will eat them up. " (Isaiah 26: 11 ) In Isaiah's day, the hand of Jehovah has shown itself to be exalted when Jehwah protects his people by acting against their enemies. But most have not recognized this. Such ones, spiritually blind by choice, will eventually be forced to "behold," or ac- knowledge, Jehovah when they are eaten up by the fire of his zeal. (Zephaniah 1:18) God later says. to Ezekiel: "They will have to know that I am Jehovah."-Ezekiel 38:23.

"Whom Jehovah Loves He Disciplines" 19 Isaiah knows that any peace and prosperity that his fel-

low countrymen enjoy is due to Jehovah's blessing. "0 je- hovah, you wiiI adjudge peace to us, because even all our works you have performed for us." (Isaiah 26:72) In spite of this and in spite of Jehovah's having set before his peo- ple the opportunity to become "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation," Judah has had a checkered history. (Exodus 196) Repeatedly, her people have turned to the worship of false gods. As a resuIt, time after time they haw been disciplined. Such discipline, however, is evidence of Jehc- vah's love because "whom Jehovah loves he disciplines." -Hebrews 1 2 4 ,

20 Often, Jehovah hsciplines his people by allowing oth- er nations, "other masters," to dominate them. (Read Isa- iah 26:13.) In 607 B.C.E, he allows the Babylonians to take them into exile. Does this benefit them? Suffering in itself does not benefit a person. However, if the suffer- er learns from what happens, repents, and gives Jehovah

18. In what way are some in Isaiah's day blind by choice, and when will they be forced to "behold" Jehovah? 19, 20. Why and how has Jehovah d~sciplined his people, and who have benefited from such discipline?

Jehovah's Hand Recowres I-lixIi 281

exclusive devotion, then he benefits. (Deuteronomy 4:25- 31) Do any Jews show godly repentance? Yes! Isaiah says prophet-ically: "By you only shall we make mention of your name."After their return from exile in 537 B.C.E., the Jews often need discipline for other sins, brut they never again fall prey to worshiping gods of stone.

21 What of Judah's captors? Ympotent in death, they will not rise up. Therefore yo~t have turned your attention that you migb t annihilate them and destroy all mention of them." (Isaiah 26: 14) Babylon will suffer for the cruelties visited upon Jehovah's chosen nation. By means of the Medes and the Persians, Jehovah Wll overturn proud Bab- ylon and free his exiled people. That great city, Babylon, will be rendered impotent, as good as dead. Eventually, she will cease to exist.

22 In the modern fulfillment, a remnant of chastened spiritual Israel was set free from Babylon the Great and restored to Jehovah's service in 1919. Revitalized, anoint- ed Christians threw themselves into their preaching work. {Matthew 24:14) In turn, Jehwah has blessed them with increase, even bringing in a great crowd of "other sheep" to serve with them. (John 10: 16) "You haw added to the nation; 0 Jehovaht you have added to the nation; you have glorified yourself. You have extended afar all the borders of the land. 0 lehovuh, during distress they have turned their attention to you; they have poured out a whisper of prayer when they had your disciplining."-Isaiah 26:15, 16.

"They Will Rise Up" 23 Isaiah returns to the situation facing Judah while she

21. What will happen to thow who have oppressed God's people? 22. In modem times, how have God's people been blessed? 23, (a) What outstanding demonstration of Jehovah's power oc- curs in 537 R.C.E.? (b) What similar demonqtration occurred in 1919 C.E.?

282 Isalah4 Propllccy-L1.yIiL f i l x A l l Mon kltrd I

is still captiw to Babylon. He compares the nation to a woman who is in Iabos but who withnut help is unable to give birth. (Rend Isaiah 26:Iz 18.) Thal help coma in 537 R.C.E, and Jehovah's ~'eople return to h c i t home- land, eager to rebuild the temple and restore true worship. In effect, the nation is raised from thc dcad. "Your dead ones will live. A corpse of mine-they will rise up, Awake and cry out joyfully, you residents in the dust! For your dew is as the dew of mallows, and the earth Itself will let even those impotent in death drop in birth," (tsalah 26: 19) What n demonstration of Jehova h's powccl I:urther, what a great dernomtration there was when thcsc words were hifrlIed in a spiritual sense in 191 3! (Revelation t l:7-11) And how we look fomrd to the timc whcn these words are fizlfilled in a literal way In the new worlcl and thaw lrn- potent in death 'hear Jesus' voice and come nut' from the memorial tombs!-John 5:28,29.

24 However, if faithful ones are to enjoy the splrllual blessings promised through Isaiah, lhey mtnt o h ~ y Jeho- vah's commands: "Go, my people, enter Into your interl- or roams, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for but a moment until the denunciation passes over. For, look! jehovoh is coming forth from his place to call to ac- count the error of the inhabibnt of the land ogainsl him, and the land will certainly expose her bloodshed and will no longer c o w over her killed ones." (Isoiah 26:20, 21; compare Zephaniah 1 :14,) -llzis passam may have ;In h i - tlal fulfillment when the Medes anci I hc I1crslanr, led hy King Cyrus, conquer Babylon in 539 R.C.II. Acm~uling to the Greek historian Xenophon, wlien Cyrt~s enters Iinb-

24, 25, la) How may theJews In 539 tl.l:.I:. haw nheytct sc21ovah's commi~nrl to hide themselves? (hl What ma): t h e "lnrcr lor roorn~'' polnt tn in ntodem times, and what altltuile, nw,t wc citltlvate I& ward these?

Jehovah's I innd BPCOVIPS l f l rh 283

ylon, he commands everyone to stay In their homes be- cause his cavalry has "orders to cut down all whom they found out of doors." Tarlay, the "interior rooms" of this prophecy could be closely linked with the tens of thou- sands of congregations of Jehovah's people around the world. Such rongregatlnns will continue to phy a key role in our lives, even through "the great tribulation." (Revela-

1 tion 214) How vltal thi~t we maintain a wholesome atti- tude toward the congregation anci regularly associate with it!-Hebrews 10:24,25,

25 Soon the end will come for Satan's world. How Jehc- vah WlI protect his people during that fear-inspiring time, we do not yet know. (Zephaniah 2 3 ) However, we do know that our suwival will depend on our faith in Jeho- vah and OUT loyalty and obedience to him.

I 26 LOOkjng w a r d that time, Isaiah prophesies: "In that

day [ehovah, with his hard and great and strong sword, will turn his attention to Leviathan, the gliding serpent, even to Leviathhan, the crooked serpent, and he will cer- tuinly kill the seo monster that is in the sea," (Isabh 2Z 1 )

I In the initial fulfillment, "Leviathan" refers to the coun- tries to which IsraeE hnr becn scattered, such as Babylon, Egypt, and Pssyria. Thme countries wiEl k unable to PIT- vent the seturn of Jehovah's people to their homeland at the proper time. Who, though, i s the mdernday Lmiz

I than? It appears lo be Satan-"the original swpemw-and I his wicked system of thinas here on earth, his tool for WT-

ring against spiritual Israel. [Rcvelatlon 12:9,10; 13:14,16, 17; 18:24) "1~vlathan" lost his hold on God's people in 1919, and soon he will disappear altogether when Jehovah

I will "certainly kill the sea monster." Meantime, nothing

26. What Is "Leviathan" In IsaIahla day and In our day, and what happens to this "sea monster"?

"LeviathanN may by to do qplrtst Jehovah's popk will h m r@d S U C I : ~ S S . - ~ & ~ 5 B 17,

27 With another smq Idah now beautifully illustmtes the hidulness of Jehovah's freed people: "In W day - 27, 28. (a) With what ha5 Jehwahrs vheylvd fiHed the whale esrth? (b) How d m Jehovah p-ct hb vineyard7

Cchm A's Hand B a r a m High

"A Great Horn" Heralds Llberty In 607 B,C.E, ludah's+pains Increase when jehovah

dlsclpllnes hP waywad natlan wkh the stroke of axlle. (Read Isaiah 2E7-11.) The nation's error b too gmt: to be atoned for by animal d H c e s . So, as one rnlght scat- ter sheep or p t r with scam uy' or might Y M s f ' leaves away with a mang wind, Jehovah expels Isra- el from thelr homeland. Thereafter, wen weak popler, symbolized by the feminine sex, ern able to exploit what rsmnlns In the land,

However, the tlme c o r n s for Jehovah to delivet hls people from captivity. He h s them as a farmer might free ol lw held prisoner, w to speak, on trees. "It must occur In that day that Iehwrrh wlll baat off the htk, fmm h e M n g sham of he R i m [EupbW] to the Wmnt wfley of Eg~lpf lrnd so p u purseks will be plcksd up one after the othq 0 sons of kruel, And It must occur In that dcy that hem wlll be a bkwhg on a great hom, and thaw who am perishing In the hnd of Aosyrlrr and those who are dhperred In the /and of Egypt wlll et tdnly mme and bow down to lehowh In the hdy mountcrin in ) m l e m . " (Isabh 2E 12,13) Follow- ing his victory in 539 6-CE, Cyrus Issues er decree freeing all the jews in his empjre, h i c h includes those In Assyr- la and Egypt. (Ezra 1 :I-4) It Is as If "a great horn" saund- ed, echoing the anthem of M o m for Cod's people.

shg to her, yw popk: 'A vl+ of lbcrmlng wImI I, Mowh, am safeguarding her. E w y m o m t I shall W hsr. in & titat no one m y turn hls attention agatrts t hw, I shall s g f i r b her m night and dtry.'" (Isaiah 27:& 3) The mn.nant of spiritual Israel and their

2AS IsuinI~'s Froph~cy- l , l ,~h t for Al l Mankind

hardworking associates have indecd filled the entire earth with spiritual produce. What a cause for celebration-for song! All m d i t goes toJehovah, the one tovtngIy attend- ing to hls vineyard.-Compare John 15: 1-8. 28 Truly, Jehovah's earlier anger has been replaced by joy!

"mere is no rage that I have. Who will give me thorn- bushes and weeds in the battle? I will step on such. 1 will set such on fFre uf the same t h e . Otherwise let him take hold of my stronghold, let him make pwce with me; peace let him make with me." (lsuiuh 2Z4, 5 ) To en- sure that his vines continue to pmduce an abundance of "foaming wlne," Jehovah crushes and consumes as with fire any weedlie influence that could corrupt his vine- yard. Hence, let no one endanger the we1 fare of the Chris- tian congregation! Rather, let all 'take hold of Jehovah's stronghold,' seeking his favor and pmtectlon. In so do- ing, t h y make peace with God-something so Important that lsaiah mentions it Lwlce. The result? ''in the coming days lacob will take mot, Israel wlll put forth bEossoms and actually sprout; and they will simply fill the surface of the productive land with produce." (Isaiah 27:6$ * What won- derful evidence of Jehovaha< power the fuifillment of this vcnc is! Since 1919, anointed Christianr have filled the earth with "produce," nourishing spirlh~aI food. As a E- sult, they have come to be joined by millions of loyal oth- er sheep, who together with them "arc rendering [God] sa- creci service day and night" (Ilevelation 7: IS) In the midst of a corrupt world, these joyfully maintain his elevated standards. And Jehovah continues to blcss them with in- crease. May we never lose sight of the grancl privilege of partaking of "produce" and s t~arlng it wlt h others through our own shout of praise! - * Isaiah 27:7-13 1s discussed in thc box on pngc 285.

--- - - CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Isaiah Foretells Jehovah's 'Strange Deed'

FOR a brief moment, Tsrael and Judah feel secure. Theit leaders havc forged political alllances wlth larger, more powcrl'ul nations, in an effort to find safety In a dangerous world. Samarla, the capjtal of Israel, has turned to neigh- hnrlng Syria, while Jerusalem, the capital of Judah, has rested her hope on ruthless Assyria.

2 In addition to putting their trust in new political allies, some in the northern kingdom may expect Jeh* vah to protect them-despite their continuing to use gold- en calvcs in worship, Judah is llkewlsc convi nccd that she can cou nl on Jehovah's protection. Aftcr all, Is not Jeha- v a h ' ~ temple located in Jerusalem, their capltal city? Hut there are unexpected events alread for tmth natlons. jeho- 1 vah inspircs Isaiah to foretell devcloprnenh that will seem trirly stranh~tu his wayward peoplc. Ancl his words contain vital lersnnt for everyone today.

"The Drunkards of Ephralrn" I :3 Isaiah begins his prophecy with startling words: "Woe

to the emlnent crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, ond the fading blossom d itr decomtion of beouly Chat is upon the head of the M l e vulley of those overpowered

I by wine! Look! jehowh hos someone strong crnd vigorous. I Like a thundernus storm of hail, . . . he will certainly do

. -

1, 2 , Why do Israel and Jltdah fccl sccuwl 3, 4. Clf what Is the northern ki~lgdo~n of lsrncl prfl l~dl

hilrrk's Piopkcy-tight for All Mankjlnd I

a casting down to the earth with M e , Nth the k t the eminent crowns ofthe pksrnko& of Ephralrn wlll be h m - Ned h.ly-4sc1iah 28: 1-3.

4 Ephralm, the mast prominent of the ten northern tribes, has come to stand for ttte entirr lungdom of Isra- el, Its capital, enjoys a beautiful and command- ing lacation at "the bead of the M e valley." Qhraim's leaders are prwd of their "eminent mu of indepen- dence £tam the Dmidic w h i p in Jerusalem. But they are 'drunkard," spiritually iaebdated because of their al- liance with Syria agaht Judak EErergthing they cherish is about toh trampIedunderthefmtof invaders.-pare lsaiah 299.

3 Qhrah d m not its pmamus pitlon. Isaiah continua: %e Wing ffoww of its dmmtfon of bwu- tyfhatisqwn the W o f the W!e vufkymupt k c o m ilk the wrty fig before summer, that when the seer sees 14 while It b yet ifi 4b palm, he swallows it down," (ha- Idh 28AJ Ephrairn wil l &I1 into the hand of dssprla, a sweet morgei to h consumed in a single Wte. 1s t h w no hope? then7 We& a& sa often khe me, Wah's judgment prophecies are tempered with hope. Even though the na- ffon falls, faithful individuals will mrcrive, wlth Jehovah's help. *jehwoh of m i e s will Become ar a m w n ddemtw- tion d m a w a n d of b q t o ones mining o m ofhkpmplq undm asjdrftofjusih to lkonesittlng In the judgment, and w mightinas b those tumlng away fhe bat& Itwn bhe @&."--Is~frh 28:5,6.

"IThey Have Gone Astraf 6 The day of e n i n g for Samaria comes In 740 B.CE,

5. What is Ismi's prmmicus pos&n, but what hope d m lsdnh hold out? 6. When does lmel meet her demise, but why should Judah nut g b t ?

Christendom has relied on aillances wtth human rulers ( mmcr *an on God

I when the Assyrians devastate the land and the northern kingdom ceases tio exist as an independent natloh What about Judahl Her land will be in- by Assyria, and lat- er Babylon will &shy her capital dty. But d- h MI'S Ilktime, Judah's temple and prksthml will rernain In opera~on and her prophets wlll continue m prophesy. ShouldJudah gloat wer the comlng d e m k of her & ern neighhr? CeMblp not! Jehovah will atSO settle a- m wlth Judah and her leadm for their dlso?mlbmce and lack of faith,

7 D h c @ hjs -age to Judah, Isaiah cmtbues: "And

7. In~twrryateJudsh'sleadmdrunlr,andwirhwhtresdts? E -

~ e ~ o f w i n e t h e y h u w g d n e r r s t r a y a n d beurweofhtordcatkrg i lquorthqhaw~Irbout . Ptiest and pphet--they h m gone artray becaw of in- iwhiky Iiqw, they haw bsnmls cmhed as a muk of thewhe, t k y h ~ ~ a b w t c r s r r ~ u A ~ f t k h - tmkdng liqmc t h ~ h gpns mfrayln Wseeitg, thy have reeled as to khlon. For the W s themsek haw a/! k a m e full of fl/thy vomit--thm Is no pkrce without k" (lsalah 28:Z 8) Haw disgusting1 Literal ~~~ in W s h o w wlould h bad enough, liut these priests and prophets am spiritually intoxicated-thelr minds becloudoud ed by overconfidence in human alllanaes. They have de ceiwl themselves Into t h h h g that thdr cwrse is the only p d d one, pimps believing that they now haw a b d q plan in case Jehovah'5 protecdofi prows inade qua&. In th& splrltually inebriated state, these re.I@ous leadm spew wt molting, undean expressions that betray their g i m w kck of genuine faith In W ' s pmmks.

8 How do Judah's leaders react to Jehovah's warning? They mock Isaiah, accuslng him of speaking to them as if they wax Wants: "Whom will one insmct En krPowG etige, and whom wlll orme mke u-nd what h a ~ k a d ? f h o r e w h o ~ b e e n ~ l i w n t f w m & ~ m & d c ~ w a y f r o m t h a b r e v r s t z ? h r l t & ' m - m a d upon cmnmnd command upon comnmnd mea- wdng line upon -ring /Ins, mmuring Une upon n?etmdng h m a little, them a fit&,'" (Isaiah 28:9, 10) Hnv npetrtious and strange Isaiah sounds to them! He keeps w: hImsdf, sayfw This is what Jehmh has commanded1 This is what Jehovah has comrnandedl Thts

8. Wbat b the mpnse to Wh's r n ~ ~ ~ a g e ?

j&dcrh carries out his 'strange deed' when he aIlom EabyIon in destroy jeru~olem

292 Isaiah's Pmphecy-Light for All Mankind I

is Jehovah's standard! This is Jehovah's standard!'" But Je- hovah will soon "speak" to the inhabitants of Judah by means of action. He wiIl send against them the armies of Babylon-foreigners who really do speak a different lan- guage. Those armies will certainly c q out Jehovah's "command upon command," and Judah wiIl fall.-Read Isaiah 28: 71-73.

Spiritual Drunkards Today 9 Were Isaiah's prophecies fulfilled only on ancient Israel

and Judah? By no means! Both Jesus and Paul quoted his words and applied them to the nation of their day. (Isaiah 29:10, 13; Matthew 15:8, 9; Romans 11:s) Today, too, a sit- uation has arisen like that of Isaiah's day

10 This time, it is the religious leaders of Christen- dom who put their faith in politics. They stagger about unsteadily, like the drunkards of Israel and Judah, interfer- ing in political matters, rejoicing at being consulted by the so-called great ones of this world. Instead of speaking pure Bible truth, they speak uncleanness. Their spiritual vision is blurred, and they are not safe guides for mankind.-Mat- thew 15:14.

11 How do the leaders of Christendom react when Jeho- vah's Witnesses draw their attention to the only true hope, God's Kingdom? They do not understand. To them, the Witnesses seem to be babbling repetitiously, like babes. The reliflous leaders look down on these messengers and

' In the original Hebrew, Isaiah 28:lO is a repetitious rhyme, rather like a child's nursery rhyme. Thus, rsaiah's message sounded repeti- tious and childish to the religious leaders.

9, 10. When and how have Isaiah's words had meaning for later gen- erations? 11. How do the leaders of Christendom react to the good news of God's Kingdom?

w Isaiah Forete 11s Itlhovah 3 'Strange Deed'

mock them. Like the Jews of Jesus' day, they do not want God's Kingdom nor do they want their flocks to hear about it. (Matthew 23:13) Hence, they are put on notice that Je- hovah will not always speak by means of his harmless messengers. The time will come when those who do not subject themselves to God's Kingdom will he "broken and ensnared and caught," yes, utterly destroyed.

"A Covenant With Death" 12 Isaiah continues h s pronouncement: "You men have

said: 'We have concluded a covenant with Death; and with Sheol we have effecikd a vision; the overflowing flash flood, in case it should pass through, will not come to us, for we have made a lie our refuge and in falsehood we have con-

1 cealed ourselves.' " (Isaiah 28: 14, 75) Judah's leaders brag I that their political alliances insulate them from defeat.

They feel that they have made "a covenant with Death" to leave them alone. But their hollow refuge will not shield them. Their alliances are a lie, a falsehood. Similarly today, Christendom's close relationship with the leaders of the world will not protect her when Jehovah's time for her ac- counting comes. Indeed, it will prove to be her undoing. 1 Revelation 17.16,17

13 Where, then, should these religious leaders be look- ing? Isaiah now records Jehovah's promise: "Here / am laying as a foundation in Zion a sfone, a tried stone, the precious comer of a sure foundation. No one exercis- ing faith will get panicky. And I will make justice the mea- l suring line ond righteousness the leveling inrtmmeni and the hail must sweep away the refuge of a lie, and the wu- ten themselves will flood out the very place of conceal- ment" (Isuiah 28: 16, 1 7 ) Not long after Isaiah speaks these

12. What is Judah's supposed "covenant with Death"? 13. Who is the "tried stone," and how has Christendnrn reje~teed him?

294 Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I

words, faithful King Hezelciah is enthroned in Zion, and his kingdom is saved, not by neighboring allies, but by Je- hovah's intervention. Huwever, these inspired words are not fulfilled in Hezekiah. The apostle Peter, quoting Isa- iah's words, showed that Jesus Christ, a distant descendant of Hezekiah, is the "tried stone" and that no one exercis- ing faith in Him need have any fear. (1 Peter 2:6) How sad that the leaders of Christendom, while calling themselves Christian, have done what Jesus refused to do! They have sought prominence and power in t h s world rather than wait on Jehovah to bring about his Kjngdom under Jesus Christ the King.-Matthew 4:s-10.

14 When ?he overflowing flash flood of Babylon's ar- mies passes through the land, Jehovah will expose Ju- dah's political refuge as the lie that it is. "Your covenant with Death will certainly be dissolved," says Jehovah. '7he overflowing flash flood, when it passes through-you must also become for it a trampling place. As often as it passes through, . . . it must become nothing but sr reason for quok- ing to make others understand what has been heard." (Isa- iah 28:18, 19) Yes, there is a powerful lesson to be learned from what happens to those who claim to serve Jehovah but who instead put their confidence in alIiances with the nations.

15 Consider the position in which these leaders of Judah now find themselves. "The couch has proved too short for stretching oneself on, and the woven sheet itself is too nar- row when wrapping oneself up." (Isaiah 28:20) It is as if they were to lie down to take their ease, but in vain. Either their feet stick out in the cold or they pull up their legs and the cwer is too narrow to wrap up in to keep warm. This was the uncomfortable situation in Isaiah's day. And it is

14. When will Judah's "covenant with DeathN be dissolved? 15. How does Isaiah illustrate the inadequacy of Judah's protection?

Isnia h Foretells Jehova h's 'Stmtge Deed' 295

I the situation today for any who put their trust in Christen- dom's refuge of a lie, How disgusting that as a result of in- ' volving thernseIves in politics, some of Christendom's re- ligious leaders have found themselves implicated in such terrible atrocities as ethnic cleansing and genocide!

Jehovah's 'Strange Deed' 16 The final outcome of affairs will be completely con-

I hary to what Judah's religious leaders are hoping for. Jeho- vah will do something strange to the spiritual drunkards of Judah. ")ehovoh will rise up just as uf Mount Pemzim, he will be agitated just as in the low plain near Gibeon, that he may do his deed-his deed is strange-and thar he may work his work--his work is unusual.'' (Isaiah 28:21) In the days of King David, Jehovah gave his people notable victo- ries over the Philistines at Mount Perazirn and on the low

I plain of Gibeon. (1 Chronicles 14:lO-16) In the days of Josh- ua, he wen caused the sun to stand still over Gibeon so that the victory of Israel over the Arnorites could be cam- pIete. (Joshua 10:8-14) That was most unusual! Now Jeho- vah will fight again but this time against those who profess

I to be his people. Could anything be more strange or unusu- al? Not in view of the fact Mat Jerusalem is the center of 1 Jehovah's worship and the city oilehovah's anointed king. Up to now, the royal house of David in Jerusalem has nev- er been overthrown. Nevertheless, Jehovah will surely carry out his 'strange deed.'-Compare Habakkuk 15-7.

17 Therefore, Isaiah cautions: "Da not show yourseiws 1 scoffers, in order that yaur bonds may not grow strong, for there is an extermination, even something decided upon, that I haw heard o f from the Sovereign Lord, jehovah of armies, for 011 the land." (Isaiah 28:22) Although the

16. What Is Jehovah's 'strange deed,' and why i s this work unusual? 17. What effect will scoffing have on the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy?

296 Isaiah's Pmphe~y-Liglit ror Anll Mf8r!klr1tl I

leaders scoff, Isaiah's message is M e . He has heard it from Jehovah, with whom those leaders are in a covenant rela- tionship. Similarly today, the religious leaders of' Chrbten- dom scoff when they hear of JehovaPtJs "trangcr deed.' They even r a t and rave. But the rnmsag Jehovah's Wihresrcs proclaim is true. Et is found in the Rible, a book that thore leaders claim to represent.

18 As for sincere individuals who do ncrt follow those !cad- as, Jehovah will readjust them and restore them tu his fa- vor. (Read Isaiah 2893-29.) Just as a farmer uses gentles methods to thresh a more delicate grain, such as cumin, so Jehovah adjusts his discipline according to the individ- ual and the circumstances. He b never arbitrary or heavy- handed but actI with a view to the potential rehabilitation of erring ones. Yes, if indiduals respond to jehwah's ap- peal, there is hope. Similarly today, while the fate of Chris- tendom as a whole is sealed, any Individual who subjects himself to Jehovah's Kingdom can avoid the comim ad- verse judgment.

Woe to Jerusalem! 19 What, though, is Jehovah now speaking about7 "Woe

to Ariel, to Ariel, the town where D ~ v i d encamped! Add yeor upon year, you people; let the festivals run the round. And 1 hwe to make things tight for Arie!. and there must come to be mourning and lamentation, and she must be- come to me as the altar hewrth of Cod." (lsaiuh 29: 1, 2 ) "ArieF" possibly means "The Altar Hearth of Gocf," and here it widentlyrefers toJerusalem. That is where the tem- ple with i t s altar of mxifim is located. The Jews Follow the routine of holding festivals and offering sacrifices there,

18. How does Isaiah illushate Jehovah's balance when adrninlskr- ing discipline? 19. In what way is Jerusalem to hecome an "altar hearth: and when and how does this take place?

but Jehovah takes no pleasure in their worship. [Hosea 6:6) Rather, hc decrees that the city itself is to become an "altar hearth" in a different sense. Likc an altar, it will run with bloorl and be suh]ected to hre. Jchovah even describes how t t ~ f s wi l I happen: "I must encamp on 011 ssides against yorr, and I must lay s i q ~ to you with a polisode and mise up agafnst p u slegeworks. And you musr become low so thcrt you will s p w k from the very earth, crnd us h r n the dust your suying will sound low." (Ssaiah 29:3, 4) This is ful- frllcd forJudnh and Jerusalem in 607 R.C.1:. when Lhe Bab- ylonlan army besieges and destroys the city and burns the tcmplc. Jerusalem i~ brought down as low as the ground on which she war built. 20 Rcfore that fateful time, Judah does from time to time

have a king who obeys Jehovah's Law. What then? J e h ~ vah fights for his people. Even though the enemy may COV-

er rhc land, they become llke "fhe powder" and "chaff." In his w n due time, Jehovah disperses them "with thun- der m d with quaklng and with a great sound, storm wind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire."-lsaiah 295, 6,

I 21 Hostlle armies may eagerly anticipate sacking Jerusa- lcm and gorging themselves an the spoils of war. But they are in for a rude awakening! Like a starvlng man who dreams that he is feasting and then wakes up as hungry as ever, the enemies of Judah wlll not enjoy the feast that

I they so eagerly ant lcipate. (Red Isaiah 29:z 8.3 Consid- er what happens to the Assyrian atmy under Sennacher- Ib when It threatens Jerusalem En faithful King Hez&ah's day. (lsalah, chapters 36 and 37) In one night, without a human hand being raised, the fear-inspiring Assyrian war machine is turned back-l8S,Q00 of its valiant warriors - 20. Whnt will be the ultkmate fate of God's enemies? 21. Fsplaln the illu~tratlon at Isalah 29:?, 8.

2M Isa &h's h p k ~ y - L f g h t f i r All hfu~&lttd I

dead1 Drkams of maquest wili again be frwated when the war mathhe 09 Gag of M a p g gears up @nst jeha vah's p p l e in the near future.-We1 38:101& 39:6,7. 22 At the W e that lhbh utters this pottion of Ms praph-

ecy, the leaders of Judah do not have faith like that of Hez. &ah They haw dnmak themelm into a spiritual stupor by meaas of their alIianca with ungodly nations. "Unpr, yar men, ahd be unwed; Mind p u s e i w q and bs M i d d. ~ h ~ ~ ~ i n ~ b u t n o t w t t l r w k r e ; thqr haw mawti umtadiifi B u t not because of InBwlcahg /I- quor." (Tswah 29:9) Spiritdy drunk, these leaders are un- able b discem the h p r t of the given bJehovahJs true pmphet. Is& states: "Ujm pw men j e h o h I#rs ~ r r s p i r i t o f & p ~ ; u n d h e d o s m y w r ~ , the pmphb, mu! he has covered evm pur he&, the VfsIon- A. h d Ibr yw the Won of wetything bmmer - 2% HOW does Judah'rs spiritual drunkenness a&& her?

These who u d to be s p i r ~ r ~ e / / ~ deaf c9n *%ear" the Ward of God

Isalfllr ForntcHl$ jehovah's 'Strange Deed' 299

like the wards of the bDok that has h e n sea/& up, whkh hey give to $omeone knowin the writfq, ,saying: VetId Z chis out loud p h e , ' and he as to say: 7 om unable, lbr it Ir seaid up'; and the must be gircen to someone that dOBS not h w wrldna somebody s w g : 'Rwd thrs outloud, pktase,'rmdhe hlrv bsay:'/& &know w d h g at all.' n-4saI& 29: tG72. 23 Judah's religious leaders profess to k spiritually dis-

creet, but they haw left Jehovah. They teach instead their om twhkd Ideas of rlght and m n g , jwtifpng their falthles and immoral acdvltles and their leading the PO- ple into God's dlshwr. By means of usorn&hg wonder- hlN-hls 'strange deed1-Jehovah will dl them ta account for their hyprIsy, He says: "%r the msm &at this p e ~ ple haw come near with Wlr mouth, und they haw gloti- fled me mete& wlth tMr I@, rrnd they h m remwd their heart IEreIf Ibr awrry from me, and W r ikur toward me b m m a men's cmmundment that & being taught them- hre hen 1 am, the One that will& m d e r h l l y again 4th this people, In a wonderful marmet and with something wonderful; and the wlsdom of their wise men must perish, and the very understundng of rhelr dlsmet men will QO~P

cwl /twilF." (Isahh 29:13, t4) Judah's self-wed wisdom and understanding will perish whm Jehovah manmmrs things for her en- apostate religious sptem to be wiped out by the 3abylonttln World Rwer. T h same thmg hap pened In the 6rst century after the self-styld wise leaden of the Jews led the natlon asbay. Sm- similar wilI happen in our orm day to Qlristendom.-Matthew W:8,9; Romans 11:8, U For now, hmwwI the bragging leaders of Judah be-

U r n that they are clever enough to get away with their perwrsion of true mrship. Are they? Isaiah tan 0% their - 23. Whywlll ehovahcaUJwlahtoamunt,dhowmlUhe&so3 24. How do t L e Judam &tray thelr lack of godly fear?

300 Isntair's Prophecy-l,l,yl~t for All Monklnd I

mask, e x p i n g them as having no genuine fear of Cad and, thus no true wisdom: "Woe to those who an? going very deep iit concealing munrel from jebovab hlmsdf, nnd whose deeds have occurred in a dark place, while they ray: 'Who is seeing us, and who is knowing of us?' The ptver- sity of you men! Should [he pofrer himself be accounted Just like the clay? For should the thing made say respecting its maker: 'He did not make me'? And does the very thing formed uctually soy respecting its former: 'He showed no understanding'?" (Isaiah 29: 73, 16; compare I%lm I I I : 10.) No matter how well mncealerl, they think they are, they stand "naked and openly expoqed" to the eyes of God. -Hebrews 4:13.

"Deaf Ones Will Certainly Hear" 25 Havever, there is salvation for Individuals who rrxcr-

cise faith. (Read tsaiah 29: 77-24; compare Luk 722.) "Deuf ones" will "hear the words of the book," thc mes- sage horn God"s Word. Yes, this is not a Ilealing of ~llysical dcnfness. I t is a spiritual healln~, lsalah oncc a ~ a i n points forward to the establishment of thc Messlanlc Klngdom and the restoration of true worship on earth by the Mes- siah's rule. This has taken place in our time, and millions of sincere ones are allowing themselves to bc corrected by Jehovah and are learning to praise him. What a thrilling fulfillment! Wltimately, the day will come when everyone, every breathing thing, will praise Jehwah ant1 sanctify his holy name.-kalm 150:6.

26 What do such "deaf ones" who hear Cad's Word today learn? That all Christians, especially those tn whom the congregation looks as examples, must scrupulously avoid 'going astray because of intoxicating Ilquor,' (Isaiah 28:7) Further, we must nwer tire oE hearing God's reminders,

25. In what sense wilE "deaf ones" hear? 26. What spiritual reminders do 'drat oncs" hear today?

T

Isaiah Foretells Jehovah's 'Strotig Deed'

which help us to have a spirthiat vlewpofnt of all things. White Christians are properly subject to governmental au- thorities and look to them to provide certain services, sal- vation comes, not from the secular world, but from Jeh* vaZl W. Also, we must never forget that like the judgment on apostate Jerusalem, God's judgment on this genera- tion is inescapable. With Jchwah':, help we can continue to proclaim his warning desplte opposition, as did Isaiah.

27 Elders and parents wn learn from the way Jehwah ad- ministers discipline, always sccklng to restore wrongdoers to God's favor, not merely to punish them. (Isaiah 28:26- 29; compare Jeremiah 3&1l.) And all of us, including young people, are remlnrld of how vital It is to be serving

/ Jehovah from the heart, not Just going thmugh the mo- sions of being a Christian in order to please men. (Isaiah 29:13) We must show that unlike the faithless Inhabitants of Judah, we have a wholesome {car of Jellovah and a prc- found respect for him, (Isaiah 29:lh) Moreover, we need to show that we are wllllng tu bc corrected by and to learn from Jehovah,-Isaiah 29:24,

28 How Important It Is to have faith and confidence In Jehovah and in his way of doing things! (Campare Psalm 146:3.) To most, the warning rnerwge we preach will sound childish. The pxorpectivc cleszrt~czlon of an organi- zation, Christendom, that claims to serw G d is a strang, an unusual, concept. Rut Jehovah will accomplish his

I 'strange deed.' Of that, there can be no doubt. Hence, through the last days of this system of things, God's ser- vants put full trust In his Kingdom and in his appoint- ed King, Jesus Christ, They know that Jehovah's saving ads-performed along with his 'unusual work'-will bring eternal blessings to a l l obedient mankind. - 27. What lessons can Chrlsttaas learn ltom Isaiah's pmphecy? 28. How do Jehovah's scrvants view his saving acts?

- CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE -

Keep in Expectation of Jehovah

-- lsaiah 30:l-33

TN ISAIAH chapter 30, we read further divine pro- nouncements against the wicked. Yeverrheless, this part of Isaiah's prophecy highlights some of Jehovah's heart- warming qualities. In fact, Jehovah's characteristics are de- scribed in such vivid terms that we can, as It were, see his comforting presence, hear hs gulding voice, and fcel his healing touch.-Isaiah 3020, 21, 26.

2 Even so, Isaiah's counbymen, the apostate inha111 tan ts of Judah, refuse to return to Jehovah. Instead, they put their trust in man. How does Jehov~ah feel about this? h d how does thEs part of Isaiah's prophecy help Christians to- day t~ keep in expectation of Jehovah? {Isaiah 30: 18) Let us find out.

Folly and Fatality 3 For some time the leaders of Judah have been ~ h e r n -

ing in s e a & to h c l a wsjto avoid corning under the yoke of Assyria. how eve^‘ Jehovah has been watchlq. Now he exposes their scheme: "Woe to the stubborn sons,' is the utterance of jehowh, 'those disposed to carry out counsel, but not that from me; and to pour out a libation, but nor

1, 2. (a) What does Fsaiah chapter 30 rontajn? (bf What qucstlons will we now consider? 3. What scheme is exposed by Jehovah?

I with my spirit, in order to add sin to sin; those who are set- ting out ta go down to Egyptn'"-/miah 30:1,2a,

4 What a shock for those scheming leaders to hear their plan revealed ! Trawling to F@pt in order to make an aIli- ance wlth her I s more than hostile action against Asyna; it Is rebellion againstJehovah God. In the time of King D+ vid, the nation looked to Jehovah a a stronghold and took refuge "n the shadow of his wings.'((Psalm 221; 3 6 3

I

Now r hey "take shelter in the smnghold of Pharaoh" and "toke refuge in the shadow of Egypt." (Isaiah 30:2b) They have put II~,ypt ,tn the place of God! What treason!-Read I~tl!~h 30:3-5.

5 As If to answer any suggestion that the mission to Egypt Is merely a msual visit, Isaiah glws mare details. '7he pro- nouncement against the bwstt of the south: Through the land of dlstmss and hard condltlons, of the lion and the leopard growling, o f the viper and the flying fiery snoke, on the shoulders o f full-grown asses they carry their re- sources, and on the humps of camels their supplies," (lsa- /ah 30:drr) Clearly, the jnurney is well planned. Envoys organize a caravan of camels and asses, which they load

1 with costly goads and lead down to Egypt through a bar- ren wllclerness infested with growling lions and venom- ous snakcs. Finally, the envoys reach their destination and hand thelr treasures to the Egyptians. They have bought protection-or so they think. However, Jehovah says: "In behalf of the people they wjtl prove of no benefit. And the Egyptians are mere wnity, and they wiFE help simply for nothing. nerefore I how catled this one: %hob-ifiey a# for sitthg stilt."' ((Isaiah 30:&b, 7) "Rahab," a "sea

4. How have Cod's rcbelllour vmple put Egypt in the place of God? 5, 6. (a) Why Is the alliance with Egypt a fatal mistake? (b) What carller journey madc by God's people highlights the foolishness of tlils trlp to Egypt?

m o ~ l " came to $pbo lw Egypk (Isaiah S1:9,10) She p m W e w y h h g btrt d m nothing. Judah's allfahce withherha fatal misbk.

6 A g ~ ~ ~ * j s u m f f 3 F O f t h e ~ , ~ 1 i 5 tenexs may mmemk a shdar journey made in the daysofMblos.Tbeir-M-thatvery same "fear-Insplring wflderness." (Deutmnomy 8: 1416) In Mosesr day, however, dw h & a d h were traveling away fnmn Egypt and out of bondqp This time the envoys trav- el ta F,gyp and, diahdy, fnto subl&on. What My1 May we never mak suEh a bad dedsion and exdung~ our spiritual k d o m far s~~~ Watians 5:l.

Oppasitlon to the Prophet's Message 7 j- tells Isaiah to write dawn the mesage that he

has pst ddtvered sa that "it m y s e ~ iw a f u b ~ dayI 1&lr a wIbms to t h e hid&trddedeu (hulah 30:8) Jehmah4s disapproval af p ~ n g aWnm Wth mm a b m reliance on Htm must be mded fnr the Wn&t of httm genem- tlons-fnciuchg QUF gmerathyl today (2 Pew 3:1-4) But thereisamoreimmediate~lf!edfaawrit&n record. "fils a

e , m ~ b t r l s m q ~ o m w h o h m ~ u n ~ """N'""r@ M n g b ear the &w objdmmh," (IsaM 30:9) The p m ph have God3 dmd. Hence, It must be written down 50 that hat they cannot deny that they meived a p w *.-- 28:9; IsW &1,2

8 Isaiah now offen an example af the peopIe's rebelbus att#ude.They%awdgnt&onerse&n&'YbumuFtlwt

7. whydoe~JebEmahhaveIsaiahwrite&mHtJ~mJudsh? 8, 9. (a) In what way do the h r k ~ of J u W hy to rvwru Jehe a ' s pmp-7 (b) H a r doa Bahh dunonsnare tbrt he d n o t b. intlmldated?

In Moses' day, the Isdim 01caped from Egypt h Isaiah's dapt Iudah goes fu Egypt for help

see,' and to the ones having visions, 'You must not envi- sion for w any straightforward things. Speak to us smooth things; envision deceptive things.' " (Isaiah 30: 10) By or- dering faithful prophets to stop speaking what is "straight- forward," or true, and to speak instead what Is "smoot h" and "deceptive," or false, the leaders of Judah show that they want W h e their ears tickled. They want to be praised, not condemned. In their opinion, any proph- et not willing to prophesy according to their taste should "turn aside from the wafi deviate from the path." (lsuiah 30: Jlo) He should either speak ear-pleasing thing or stvp preaching altogether!

9 Isaiah's opponents insist: "Cause the Holy One of Ism- el to cease just on account of us." (Isaiah 30:716) Let Isaiah stop speaking in the name of Jehovah, "the Holy One of Israel"! This very title irritates them becausc Jcha- vah's exalted standards show up their contemptible condi- tion, Haw does Isaiah react? Hc declares: "This is what the Holy One of Israel has said. " (Isaiah 30: 12a) Without hes- itation, Isaiah speaks the very words his opposers haw tn hear, H e will not be intimidated. What a fine example for us! When it comes m procIaimfng God's message, Chrls- tians must never compmrnise. (Acts 5:27-29) Llke Isaial~, they keep on proclaiming: 'This is what Jehovah has said'!

The Consequences of Rebellion lo Judah has rejected God's word, trusted f n a lie, and re-

lied upon "what is dwiour." (lsaiah 30: 1%) What will be the consequences? Jehovah, instead of leaving the scene as the nation wishes, will cause the nation to cease to ex- ist! This will happen suddedy and mmpfetely, as Isaiah stresses with an ilI-on. The rebelliousness of the na- tion is like "a broken sdon about to fdl down, a swelling

10, 11. What wllt be the comquencxs of Judah's mwlt?

out in a hltghly ralsed woil, the breakdown of which may come nrddeniy, in an instant." (Isaioh 30:13) Just as a grow in^ ht12ge in a high wall will eventuaLly cause the wall to callap~c, ro the Increasing rebelliousness of Isaiah's cnnternpcirarlc.r wl1l causc the collapse of the nation.

11 With another Illustration Isaiah s h m the complete- ness of the corn in# des huct ion: "One will certaidy bmk It a$ in the brwking of a Iuqe jor of the potters, crushed to pieces wjthou t one's sporing it, so that there connot be found among its crushed pieces a fragment of earthen- ware with which to mke the fire from fhe fireplace or to skim woter from o marshy pbce." (Isaiah 30:14) Judah's clcstructinn will be so cmnlplcte that nothing of value will remain-not even a potsher~l hlg enough to scoop hot ash- es from a firuplace or to skim water from a marsh. What a sharncful cndl 'I'he corning destruction of those who re- bcl against true worship today will be equally sudden and camplctc,-I-lebrews 6:4-8; 2 Peter 21.

Jehovah's Offer Rejected

12 Fur Isalah's llstencrs, though, destruction is not inw- Itable. There is a way out. 7Xe prophet explains: "Thir is what the Sowwiqn Lord jettomb, the Holy One of Jsmel, has said: 'By corning back and resting you people will be s a ~ d . Your rnlgl~tiness will prow to be simply in keeping

I trndlsturbed and in trustfulness.'" (Isaiah 30: 750) JehovaIz is re&dy to saw Ills peoplc-if they show faith by "resting," or refraining from trying to secure dvation through hu- man alliances, and by "keeping undisturbed," or demon- strating trust in God's protective power by not giving way to fear. "But" haiah tells the people, "pu were not will- ing"--/mkh 30:fSb.

12. How can the people of Judah avoid destruction?

308 Isaiah's kaphecy-Lixht for All Mlit~klnd I

13 Isaiah then eIaboratm: "And p u proceeded to say: 'No, but on horses we shali flee!' That is why you will flee. 'And on swift horses we shall ride!' That is why those pur- suing you will show themselves swift. " (Isaiah 30: 16) The Judeans think that swift hmes, rather than Jehovah, will mean their salvation. (Deuteronomy 17: 16; Proverbs 21: 31) However, counters the prophet, their trust will be an illusion beause their enemies wiIl overtake them. Even large numbers will not help them. "A thousand will trem- ble on account of the rebuke of one; on account of the re- buke of five you will flee. " (Isaiah 30: 17a) The armies of Judah wi1I panic and flee at the shout of just a handful of the enemy." In h e end, only a remnant will remain, left alone, "'like a mast on the top of a mounruln and like a sig- no1 on a hill." (Isaiah 30:77b) True to the prophecy, whcn Jerusalem is desboyed in 607 B.C.E., only a remnant sur- vive.-Jeremiah 25:s-11.

Comfort Amid Condemnation 14 While these sobering words are still echoing In the

ears of Isaiah's listeners, the tone of his message chang- es. Threat of disaster gives way to a promise of blessings. merefore Jehovah will keep in expectation of showing you favor, and therefore he will rise up to show p u mercy. For jehomh is a Cod of judgment Happy are a// those keeping in expectdon of him." (fsaicrh 30:18) What heartening words! Jehovah is a compassionate Father who yearns to -

Note that if Judah had been faithful, the very opposite could hme happened.-Leviticus 26:7,8.

13. In what do the leaders otJudah put 'thdrmnfidence, and is such confidence justified? 34, 15. What comfort do the words of Isaiah 3W18 offer to the In- habitants of Judah in ancient times and to true Christians today?

help his chlldren. He delights In showlng mercy.-PsaIm 103:13; baiah 557.

1 15 Thcse reassuring words apply to the Jewish rem- nant who are mercifully allowed to survive the destruc- tion of jerusalern In 607 B.C.E. and to the few who return to the I'rornbcd Land in 537 B.C.E. However, the proph- et's wads also comfort Christians today. We are remind- rrl that Jehovah will "rise up" in our khalf, bringing an end to this wickecl world. Faithful worshipers can be con- fident t ' t ~ i ~ t Jehovah-"a Gad of /udgmentM-will not allow Satan's world to exist far one day longer than justice re- quires. Tl~crcfore, "those keeping in expectation of him" h a v ~ much reason to he happy.

I Jehovah Comforts His People

l ~ y Answering Prayers 16 Same, though, may kc1 discouraged because deliver-

ance ha? nnt conle as soon as they had hoped, (Prwerbs 23:12; 2 Pctcr 3:9) May they draw comfort from Isaiah's next worils, which highlight a spedal aspect of Jehovah's personality. "Wiwn the very people In Zion will dweN in le- rusaiem, you wii/ by no means weep. He will without fail 1 show you favor at the sound of your outcry: as raon os he Irears ir he will actually answer you." (Isaiah 30: 19) Isaiah conveys tcnrlernesr in these wordr by switching frum the

I plural "ynu" in verse t 8 to the singular "you" in verse 19. When Jehovah comforts distressed ones, he Was each I

person IndtvIduaEEy. As a Father, he does not ask a dis- co~rraged son, 'Why can't you be strong like your brother?' (Galatians 6:4) Instead, he listens attentively to each one. In [;la, "as soon as he hears It he will actually answer." What reassuring words! Discouraged ones can be greatly strengthened if they pray to Jehovah.--Psalm 652. - 16. Haw doe? Jehwah comfort discouraged ones?

Isainh's ProghecpLight for All Mankind I

Hear God's Guiding Voice by bading His Word 17 AS Isaiah continues hs address, he reminds his listen-

ers that distress Wl come. The people will receive " b e d in the bm of distress and water in the form of appssion," (lsaiah 30:2Qa) The distres and oppression that they will experience when under siege will become as familiar as bread and water, Even so, Jehavah is ready to come to the rescue of righthearted ones. "Ymr Grand Instructor will no longer hide kimselt a d your eyes must become eyes see- ing your Grand instructor. And p r own ears will hear u word behind you saying: n t i s is the way. Walk in i t you peaple,'in case you people shouldgo ta the right ar in case you should go to the /eft."-iraiah 30:20b) 27.'

18 Jehovah is the "Grand I rn t r~ctor .~ He has no equal as a teacher. How, though, can people 'SEE' and "hear" him? Jehovah reveals himself through his prophets, whose words are recoded in the Bible. (Amos 36, 7) Today, when faithful worshipers read the Bible, it is as if God's fatherly voice is telling them the way to go and urging them to reildjust thetr course of conduct so as to walk in it. Each Chrktian should Listen carefully as Jehovah speaks through the pages of the Bible and though BibEe-based publications provided by "the faithful and discreet slave." (Matthew 2445-47) Let each one apply himself to Bible reading, for "it means hs Me.'-Deuteronomy 32:46, 47; Isaiah 48:17.

Contemplate Future Blessings 19Those responding to the voice of the Grand In- - "This is the only place in the Bible where Jehovah is called "Grand Instruaor!'

17, 18. Even in diF~cuIt times, haw does Jehwah provide guidatice? 19, 20. What blessings are h store for those who respdnd 'to the voice of the Grand hstrurtor?

"Upon every ekvated kill there must come to be streams"

sbuctor will scatter their graven images, viewing them as something disgusting. (Read Isaiuh 30:22.) Than, those respowive ones will enjoy wonderful blessings, These are described by Is&, as recorded in Isaiah 3023-26 a de- Ugbtful restoration prophecy that has its initld ful- Mlment when a Jewish e m k t rerjrhs b m captivity in 537 B.C.E. Todax this prophecy help wta see the marvel- cnrs ble- that the Messiah brings abmt fn the qiritu- d paradise now and the libral Paradise to come. 20 "He wjjl certoinlygive the rain for p u r seed with which

you sow the ground, and us the produce of the ground bread, which must become fof artd oily. Yow livestock will graze in that day Jn a spadws pasture. And the cattle and the fuII-growtt asses cultiwfing the gmund wi# eat Fodder 4easmed w i h sorrel, which was winnowed with the shav- el and with the fork." (lsaiah 30523, 24) *Fat and ci11.Y bread-had rich in nourishment-will be man" s l y sta- ple. The Land will prOdu# so abundwy that wen the an- imals will benefit. Westock will he fed "fodder seasoned with sorrel"-tasty fddet mewed far rare oclcasiam. This f ~ o d has wen been "winnowedn-a Watment aarnrally

resend h~ grain intended for human consumption. What delightful diet& hiah pemts here to illustrate the f l c b w ofJehMs b h h g s an faithful mankind!

u ~ e w y h ~ m w r r t a h u n d u p o n e m y e l e v a t e d MI1 mmf cwm to be stmrw* (I& 30:2Su)' ha- iah pram& an apt word picbe emphasMng the m- pletam ofJehmahls blasiqp. No shoaage of water-a pcedous rommodity that will flow not only in the law- lands but an wery mwntaln, men *upon every high mountah d u p n every elwabed hilLR Yes, hunger wlll be a- of the pa$t (Psalm 72: 16) Further, the prophet's - ' I- XkZSlr w d % *in theday of the bkg slaughter when the taw- em 611." In t l ~ e fnltiaJ fdllheut thb may refer ta the fall of Bab- don, which operued the way Ear I s m l to enjay the bl- brePotd at blah 30:1%26. @ee pagraph 1%) It may also refer to the delltrue. tim at r4rm@ldon, whim will make ps~tble the gm&t hIMI. merit of thw biessi rigs In the new wM,

21. DesafbP the cam~&m&ss of the bledngs to come.

jehovoh wlll come "with his anger and w M heavy cloudsW

sttentlon shifts to things even higher than the m ~ ~ s . %elightdWfulYmoonmwtMeartJleIj#tb%fPe gIbwIng sun; md the uwy light of the glowing sun will be- come sewn times m much, lik the fight of - * in the day thatjehmwh binds up the brwkdown ofhis people d h e a l s ~ t h s ~ r w r u n d ~ l t i n g f t w n t k ~ k by him." (lsaloll 3096) What a thdhg climax to tbh btllllant prophecy1 The glory of God will sbine brth in all its splendor, The blessings In st= for God's faithful m r - shtpeft wlll exceed vastly-seven59ld-anyth1ng that thq have experienfed beSam.

Judgment and Joy 22 The tone of Isaiah's rnasag~ changes again. "LookI" be

says, as if to get hls listmew' attention. V r e n~meofW* wh b m l n g h m far a w w ~ burnhg with hls u n v rrnd with heavy clouds. k iiw hh I& they hdw kcom fadl of denunciation, and hJs tongue Is ilk a demurlng k." {Isaiah 30:27) Thus far, Jehavah has stayed m y Y U Q W - ing the enemies of his people to follow their m mure Now he draws closer-like a steadfly apptoacMng t h d m - storm-to execute judgment. %h spirit is ii&e a 8 d i n g t w P r m t f h o t 1 ~ 1 c h e s c l e a r t o t h s ~ b s w ~ n g & e ~ t o a n d h dth adeveof Whmess;andabrMladHrt crrusesoneap wnderrrbout d b e h trPejamdtMpeo- pk." ClmM 30:28) &nernies of God's people will be en- drdad by "a flooding torrent,u violently * % and fm with m sieve," and reined in with bridkR They will be - 23P;gainIsaiah'stmechangesashed~thebapW

condition of faithful worshipers who will o m day rebun - 22, la contrast wlth the bLesslags tacohe dot the faithfcrL what does Jehovah h m in smn far the wlckd? 23, What Fauser "mloiclng of heart" for Christians Way'!

314 Isnitllfs Pt'opltrcy-l.i,ylr t thr A l l httu~llt~ k / ~ ; d I K C T ~ 111 l < , v p c 8 r t r ~ ~ l o ~ ~ o / ' ] i ) l ! t ~ u t ~ l ~ 315

to their land. "You people will come fo hove cr song like Ish str~sres the suddcn and co~n~~le tc destruction that is to that in the nisht that one sanctifies oneself for Q fesliwrl, cumc uvon that nntlon.-Campare 2 K l n ~ s 23: 10, and rejoicing Gf heart like that of one walking with a flu ti to enter into the mountain of jehowrh, to the Rock of Ism- el." (Isaiah 30:29) True CIzris%ans today ex jreriencc a si tn- ilar "rejoicing of l-~eatt" as they conternplate the judgment of Satan's world; the pmtechon extended to them hyjehcr vah, the "Rock of salvation;" and the Kingdom hlcssir~gs to crime,--Psalm 95: 1.

2.1 After this expression of gladness, Isaiah returns 10 t l~r theme of judgment and idcntilies the objea oC G d ' s wrath. 'Yehovah will certainly make the dignity of his voice to be heard and will make the descending of his arm to be seen, in the raging of anger and the flame of a devouring I fire and clorrdburxt and rainsrom and hailstones. For be- cause of the voice af)ehovak Assyria will be struck with ter- ror; he will strike it even with a staff." ((Isaiah 30:30, 3 7 ) With this gaphic description, Isaiah ernphaitrs [he renli- ty of God's judgment of hssyria, In eflccl, Arsyrin stands before God ancl trembles at the s i ~ h t ol his 'descendinji arm' of judgment.

as Thc prophet continues: "Ewry swing of his rod of char- tiFernent that lehovah will cause to settle down upon As- syrio will certainly prove to be with tambourines and with harps; ond with baffles of brundishing he wiN acl.ually fight against them. For his Topheth is set in order from re- cent times; it is also prepad for the king himself. tie has mode its gife deep. Fire ond wood are in abunrlance. 771e breeth of jehomh, like .a torsent of sulphur, is burn- ing agoinst iL" (lsaioh 3032, 33) Tophet !I, in thc Val- Icy of Hinnom, is used here as a figurative place L~urnin~ with fire. By showing that Assyria wiI1 end up there, Iw-

- 26 Althartgh this judpyment mcssagc :cis directed against Aqsyrla, the slgnlficar~uc o f IsaIah'r prophe~y goes fur- thcr. (llomiin~ 15:4) lchorah wil I again, as t L wrtre, come lrom afar tu floorl, h a k e , ancl bridle all thore who o p press hir people. (rzckicl 38:18-23; 2 Rter 37; Reve- lalion 1O:ll-21) M y that day come quickly! Meanwhile, Christians ca~crlv await the dav of deliverance. Thw de-

3 . , rivc stretlgth trom rcllc.ctin# ulkn thc vivid W O T ~ S record- crl In Isniilli chapter 30. Thcse word$ encourage Gad's ser- vant~ lo trcasurc the privilege of prayer, apply themselves tu Ritlle study, and mcdit;ite upot~ the Kingclom Messings to comc. (I'r;alm 42:1, 2; I'roverhs 21-6; Romans 1212) 'Ihuq I~alah's w o ~ l s hell? all of us to keep In expectation of Jehovah,

26. (a) Jchovalt'a ~~rc~clnmatl (~ i~s against Arsyrla have what modern- day upill [cat l o l l ? ( 1 1 ) I low ilo (:llrlal Lana torlay kc[) In exl~ebalion of

24, 2s. 1-101' does Isaiah's prophecy empha~izr the rcallly nl' Awyr- La's comlng judgment?

llil *

- .-

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

No Help From This World

Isaiah 31 :7 -9

JERUSALEM'S inhabitants are terrified-and with p o d reason! Assyria, the mightiest emplrc of the day, has at- tacked "all the fortified clties of Judnh and proceeded to seize them." Now, Assyria's milltary machine i q thrcaten- ing the capital city of Judah. (2 Kl nas 18: 1 3,17) What rvll1 King Hezekiah and the rest oIJerusalern1s fnhahitants do?

2 Since the other cities of his land haw already fallen, I-lezekiah knows that Jerusalem is no match for Assyrja's powerful military force. Moreover, tllc Assyrian5 have an unparalleled reputation for auelry and violence. That nn- tlon's army is so fear-inspiring that opponents somdlmcs flee without even a fight! In view ol' Jcrusalcm's dlre cir- cumstances, where can her inhabitants turn for hclp? 1s there any escape from the Aqsyrlan army? And how did God's people get Into such a sitriation? To answer these questions, we haveta look back and see how Jehovah dealt with his covenant nation in earlier years.

Apostasy In Israel

3 From the time that Israel left Epypt until the death of Davld's son Solomon-a period of just over 500 pars-the

1, 2. (a) Why are Jerusalem's inhabitants terrified? (b) In vbw of Jeru3alemds predicament, what questions are fitting? 3, 4, (a) When and how was the nation of I~ract dlvlded Into two kingdoms? (b3 What bad start did Jeroboarn ~ l v c the northern tcn- tribc kingdom?

No Kelp From Thls World 317

12 tribes of Israel were u n i t 4 as one natlon. Ntw the death of Solomon, Jeroboam led the ten northern tribes in rebellion against the house of David, and from then on the nation w 3 5 divided into two kingdoms. 'Tltis was in the year 997 B.C.E.

4 Jemboam was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, and he 11x1 his suhlects on the path of apostasy I by replacing the Aamnic priesthood and the lawful wor-

I ship of Jehovah with an illegitimate priesthood and a sys- tem of calf worship, (1 Kings 1225-33) This was abhor- rent to Jehovah. (Jeremiah 32:3R, 35) Par this and other reasons, he allowed A5syrla tcr subjugate Israel. (2 Kings 15: 29) King Hoshea tried tu break the hrsyrlan yoke by con- spiring with Egypt, but the rchemc failed.-2 Kings 124.

I Israel Turns to a False Refuge

5 Jehwah wants to bring the Israeljtes back to their sens- es." So he sends the prophet lsalah with the follawing

I warning; "Woe to those going down to Egypt for assis- tance, those who rely on mere horses, and who put their trust in war chariots, because they are numerous, and in steeds, because they are very mighty, but who have not I

lmkd to the Holy One of lsmel and have not scorched for Jehovah himseff," (Isaiah 3 I : t 3 I low tragic! Ismel places greater t rus t in horrcs and in war cliariats than In the liv- ing God, Jehwah. To Isracl's fleshly way of thinking, Egypt" horses are numerous and mighty. Surely Egypt will be a valuablc ally against thc Assyrian army! I-Iowwer, the Israelites will soon find that thelr fleshly alliance with Egypt is futile.

1 GY, the hrst three verses of lrninll chapter 31 are dl&ed main- Iy to 1srael.The final slx verses seem to apply to Judah. - 5. To whom does Israel turn for help?

318 h i a h ' s Propimy-tight fur Al! MdnMnd I

6 Thmgh the Law cwmmit, the bhab1tmts of both 1% rad arid J u d ate h~ a dedicated relatiomhip wiih Jehc vzlh. @ x d m 24:= 1 M d a I6:15-17) By tuning to Egypt for help, Israel m d s a lack of faith In Jehovah and n disregard fw the laws that are part of that holy cove nant. Why? &cause induded in the k m s of the covenant is Jehovah's pramhe to protect his people if they render d u s i ~ e to bim ~ ~ I Q I S 26.3-8) TrUg fO that pro*, J e h a v a h h a s ~ t e d l y ~ t a b e a H f o ~ i n the time of dlstms.' [Psalm 3739; 2 Chmnides 1&2,9-12; 17;3-5,lO) Moreovq through Moses, the m d t o r of the Law cwlenaat, Jehwah told future kings of Israel not to in- sxease horses for thernse1~. (Deuteronomy 17:16) Obedi- a c e to this qplation would show that these kIngsl look to "the Holy Qne .ofTsraeI" ibr-on. Sadly, the rulers of Ism1 do ndt have that kind of Mtk.

7There is a k m i in Ws fm ChWam ?mday. bra- el baked to &IMe supm from t rather than to the hr more povmh1 mppxrt that T? Jc m h provides, tlke- wise tO&x ChrMa135: may be tempted to place! theit con& den@ in fleshly s o m s nfsecurfty-bk accwnts, social posittan, c ~ ~ o m in the WOIM-rather than in Jeho- vah. Grant& CM* family heads take s&mSmy their resp0rl~bWy to provide materially for their w e , (1 Timothy S:@ they do not put their faith In mami- al tbfngs. And they gu& against "aery sort of cwetous- m." (Lulpg 12: 13-21) The orply "WCUE height h ~ C S of d i s ~ ' ' is JehQvah Gad-Psalm 99; 54:7.

8 wah, in e m , m& the leaders who uaft- - 6. why d m Israel's wrn@ to Fgypt ktmy a blatant lack of falth In Jehwah? 7. Wbat rn Cbbtbns Way 1- h m Israel's lack of faith? 8, 9. (a) AIttmugh IsmeYs pkns may seem shateglcally souad, what wil l be the outcame, and w4yl M What Is the diEmnce htrman pmmtres mi JehM's pmmlm1

ed the treaty with Egypt, saying "He Is also wise ctnd will brlng k what is mIamItous, and he hnr not caIM Back his own wv&i and he d l certain4 rise up against the house of &Idom and aguIg the dstwnce d tho^ m n g what b hurtfu1." (isahh 372) k d ' s leadm may think that they are wise. But is not the (;reator of the unlwm supremely wise7 By all appearances Ismel's scheme ta seek help from Egypt Is StrateIglcally sound. Nw~rtheles5, forming such a polit- ical alllance consUtuta spiritual

Tkose who put thelr Crust in mottdal thhgs wlll be dlsappoln ted

7'

320 tsainh'.~ Prophecy-Light f ir All Mrrnklnll I

adultery in Jehovah's sight. (Ezekiel 239 -10) As a result, Isaiah says that Jehwah will "brlng in what is calarnltnus!'

9 Arrrnan promises are notoriously unreliable, and hu- man protection is uncertain. Jehovah, on the other hand, does not need to 'call back his own words! He will without fail do what he promises. His word does not return to him without d b . - I s a i a h 55:10,11; 14:24.

10 WilI the Egyptians prove t~ be a reliable protection for Israei? No. Isaiah tells issaeI: T h e Egypfiuns, though, ure earthling men, and not Cod; and their hones are flesh, and not spirit, And Jehowh himself wi!l stretch out his hand, and he ilSot is offering help will have to stumble, and he that is being helped will hove to Foil, and at the some time they will all of them come lo on end," (Isaiah 33:3) Both the helper (Egypt) and the helped (Israel) will stum- ble, fall, and come to their end when Jehovah stretches out his hand to execute his judgment by mtlans of Anyrla.

Sarnaria's Pall 11 In his mercy Jehovah repeatedly sends prophas to cn-

courage lsrael to repent and return to purc worship. (2 Kings 1Z13) Despite this, Israel adds to its sin sf calf worship by engaging in divination, IrnrnoraI Raal wor- ship, and the use of sacred poles and high places. The Israelites even malw "their sons and thelr daughters pass through the h," sacrificing the h i t of their own flesh to demon gods. (2 Kings 17: 14-17; Psalm 106:36-39; Amos 2:s) To bring an end to Israel? wickedness, Jehwnh de- crees: "Sarnaria and her h g will certainly be silenced, ll ke a snapped43 twig on the surface of waters." (Hosea IO:

10. What will happen to both Egypt and Israel? 11. What record of sin has Jsrael amassed, and what I5 t hc end mu It?

1, 7) [n 742 R,C.E., Assyrian forces attack Samaria, the cap- ltal clty of Israel. After a threeyear siege, Samaria falls, and In 740 B.C.E., the tcn-trlhe kingdom ceases to exist.

12 Fn our clay Jehovah has commfsstoned a worImYide preaching work I.o warn "mankind that they should all cv~rywhcrc rcpcnt." (Acts 17:30; Matthew 2414) Those who rcjcr? Gotl's means of salvation will become lie "a snapped-off twig," destroyed Iike the apostate nation of ls- racl. On thc other hand, those hoping in Jehwah "will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it." (Psalm 37:25)) How wlse, then, to avoid the mistakes of the ancient: kingdom of Isracl! kt us put our whole mnfi-

/ drncr in Jehovah for ralvabun.

1 Jehovah" Saving Power 13 Siiuated a few milcs frum Israel's southern border is Je-

rusalem, the capital city of judah. The inhabitants of Je- rusalem are only too aware! of what has happened to Sa- marla. Now they find themselves threatened by the same ' terrifying enemy that brought about the end of their

I narthcrn neighbor. Will they learn horn what befell Sarnarla?

14 Isaiah's next words are comforting to Jerusaiem's res- idents. He assures them that Jehovah sW lwes his cove- nant people, saying: '7hb is whot Jehomh has said fo me: ')mt as the IIon gm wts, m n the maned young lion, o w its prey, when there Is caited out against it fuEE number of shepherds, and in spite of their voice he wit! not be terri- fied and in spite of their commotion he wilj not stoop; in - 12. What work has Jehovah cornmlssioned today, and what happens to thme whn tllsrqatd the warnlngl 13, 14. What comfnrtlng words does Jehovah have for Zion?

Isaiah's Propphecy-Light for All hfrnkir~d 7

No Help From Thilis World

she same way jehovah of armies will come down to wage war over Mount Zion and over her hill.'" (Isaiah 37:4) Like I a young lioll standing over its prey, Jehovah will jealous- I Iy protect his holy city, Zion. No boa~ting, no threatening words, nor any other commotion by Assyrian troops wiIl turn Jehovah from his purpose.

I Like a lion guardfng

its prey, lekovah will protect his haly city

15 Notice, now, the tender and cornpassior~ate way that Jehovah will deal with the inhabitants of Jerusdem: 'Like birds flying, jehovah of armies will in the same way de- fend jerusalem. Defending. her, he will also certuinly deliver her. Sparing her, he must also cause her to escape." (Isaiah 375) A mother bird i s ever vigilant to delend her young. With outstretched wings she hovers above her brood, and with watchful eyes she searches for any sign of danger. If a predator comes near, she quickly swoops down tn defend her chicks. In a similar way, Jehovah will tenderly rare for the inhabitants of Jerusalem because of the invading Assyrians.

"Return, You People" 16 Jehovah now reminds his people that they have

sinned and encourages them to abandon their erring ways: "Return, you people, to the One against whom the sons of Israel have gone deep in their revolt." (Isaiah 375) The ten-tribe kingdom of Israel has not bcen alone in her rebellion. The people of Judah, also "sons of Israel," have gone "deep in their revolt." This will be especialiy evident when, shortly after Isaiah concludes his prophetic mes- sage, Hezekiah's son Manasseh becomes king. According to the Bible record, "Manasseh kept seducing Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do worse than the nations that Jehovah had annihilated." (2 Chronicles 3319) lmag- ine that! Jehovah annihilates pagan nations because they are disgusting in their filth, yet the inhabitants of Judah, in a covenant relationship with Jehovah, are even worse than the people of those nations.

15. How does Jehovah deal tenderly and compassionately with the Inhabitants of Jerusalem? 16. {a) What lavlng appeal does Jehovah make to his people? (b) When does the revolt of the people of Judah become especially evident? Explain.

17 At the dawn of the 21g t cent-, conditions are simi- lar in many reSpert~ to tho* In Jmhh in the dap of Ma- mob The world is' lnCreasihgly pd-ed by reI@bns, ra- dal, m d ethrtic hatreds. Horrific acts of Murder, torture,

1% In, Whnt way ace mhdlblobs Way corflganble to t h w in JUeh under Mamseh?

The world h poldrleed by dIgi0613, racial,, and ethnic hatreds

No Help From 7'hls MFarld 325

rape, and so-called e t h c cleansing have victimized mil- lions. Without a doubt, p~ople and nations-especially the natbns of Christendom-have gone "deep In their re- v&" We can he cerbin, ~owe~er , that Jehovah will not al- low wickedness to continue indefinitely. Why? Because of what took place in Isaiah's day.

Jerusalem Delivered 18 Assyrian kings gave uedit ta their gads for victory an

the battlefield. The book Andent Near Emtern Textr con- tains writings of Ashurbanipal, m Assyrian monarch who claimed that he was guided "by Ashur, Bel, Nebo, thegreat gods ws] lords, who (always) march at [his] side, [when he] defeated the battle (qxperienced) soldiers . . . in a @eat open battle." In Isaiah's day, Rabshakh, who repxesenb King Sennacherib of Assyria, shows a sisnliar belief in t h e invaIvement of gods in human warfare when he address- es King Hezehdah. He warns t h e Jewish king against ~ l y - ing on Jehovah far salvation and points out that the gods of other nations have been ineffdve in piatecling their people agmst the mighty Assyrian war machhe.-2 Kings 18:33-35.

19 How does King Hezeldah react? The Bible account says: "As soan as King Hezekiah heard, he immediately ripped his garments apart and covered himself with sack- cloth and came into the house of Jehovah." (2 Fmgs 19: 1) He&ah recognizes that there is only One wRo can help him in this frightening situation. He humble$ himself and looks to Jehovah for direction.

Jehovah gives the sought-for direction. Through the prophet Isaiah, he says: "In that day they will reject each

18. What warning does Rabshakeh give to Hezekiah? 19. How does HmeEriah react to Rabshakeh's bunts?: 20. How will Jehovah act in behalf of the inhabitants of Judah, and what should they learn from this?

4- aid.., -- Ma Hdp From T?t!s World

onebis ~ k g d o f d l w r a n d h l s Wuekssgudsd goid, h t your hart& haw mOde Ibr you- as a sin." (wah 3f:n When Jehavah fights for his people, Sen- nacherfb's gods wlll be e for what they are-~wrth- less. This Is a 1.- that the inhabitants of JudaR shwld take to hem. Desplk the fai#hfulness of King Hez- &ah, the h d of Judah, like [srwl, has bwn hlled with id&. (hiah 2:s-8) For the Inhabitants dJudah, ~ h l l d - ing their rdattonshlp with Jehovah will require repenting; of th& skis and rejecting "each one his worthless gods." -See Exodus 34:14. 21 Isaiah now prophetically d d k s Jehovah's execu- donal acts agdnst Judah's f emme enemy: T w Assyrian ~ ~ b y t h e ~ n o t d t c r t o f a m c m ; a n d a s ~ ~ ~ ~ r d , n o t thut of earthling man, will devrrur him. And he must & b;emuseofthesmrd,mdhlsownpungmm willmmeb be fw b e d labor W,# (Isaiah 31:8) When the show- down comes, Jerusdem's inlwbitanb do not even k tc~ draw their swords from their sheaths, The cream of Assyr- iaJs Mops are dmured, not by the swords of men, but hy tlw sword of Jehavah. As for ~ i a n Wng Smnacher- ib, "he must flee becaw of the mrd!'After the death of 285,000 of hh warriors at the hand of Jehwah's angel, he return home. Later, while bowing to his god NIsmch, he is assassinated by his own sons.-2 KSngs 19:35-37. ZZNP one, including Hezeldah, could foresee how Je-

hcPPah wwld deliver Jenwalem from the h s ~ l a n m y . MmrEheless, Hetekiah's way of d d n g wlth the crisis

21, How dae~ raalah prophetically describe Jehovah's exeatkana1 aas against the BissyrfanT 22. What m W t i a n a today leam from the mts invoMng He- ekiirh and the hssyrlan army?

Hezekiah went to the house of lehovoh br help

328 Isalnh'J I'roplrecy-lf,ylrt f i r All Mlrrrklrtrl I

provides an excellent exampIe for those who face trlals today. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) In view of the terrifying reputation of the Assyrians threatening Jerusalem, I-[ezeki - ah understandably was afraid. (2 Kings 193) Still, hc had faith in Jehovah, and he sought His guidance, not man's. What a blessing for Jerusalem that he did! God-fearing Christians today may also experience intense ernotior~ when under s t m s . In many situations, fear is undcrstand- able. Yet, if we 'throw all our anxiety upon Jehovah,' he will care for us. [I Peter 5:7) He wjH help us overcome our fear and will strengthen us to cope with the situation that is causing stress.

2-3 In the end, it is Sennacherib, not Hezekiah, who Is left with fearful emotjons. To whom can he turn? Isaiah f o w tells: "'His own crag will pass uwuy out of sheer fight, and because of the signal his princes must be terrified,' is the utterance of fehovah, whose light is in Zion and whose furnace i4 in Jerusalem." (Isaiah 319) Sennachcril~~s gods -his "crag," the refuge in which he lras trusted-fail him, They "pass away out nf sheer fright," as it wre . Moreavcr, even Sennacherib's princes are of Httle help. 'They too arc struck with terror.

24 This part of Isaiah's prophecy pmvides a clear message for any would-be opposer of God. There is no weapon, no porn, no device that can Frustrate Jehovah's purpos- es. (Tsaiah 41:11,12) At the same time, those who clat rn ta serve Gad yet turn away from hlm to seek security in flesh- ly things will meet with disappointment. Any who "have not looked to the Holy One of Tsmel" will see Jehuvat1 "bring in what is calamitous." flsaiah 31:1, 2) Truly, the only real and lasting refuge is Jehovah Cod,-Psal m 37:s.

-1 -

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

The King and His Princes

-- lsaiah 32:l-20

TOWARD the end of the lWQ's, a remarkable collection of scrolls was found In caves located near the Dead Sea, In Palcstinc. Thcy became known as the Dead Sea Scrolls and art! heliwcd to have been written sometime between 2(X) Ii.C.L and 70 CE, Best known among them is a smIl nf Isaiah written In Hebrew on durable leather. This scroll I s almost complete, and its text differs very little from that of manuscripts of the Masoretic text dated about 1,000 years later. 'Thus, t he scroll demonstrates the accu- rate transmlsslon of thc Bible text,

2 A noteworthy detall about the Dead Sea Scroll of Isaiah I$ that the portion making up what is today known as Isa- lah chaptcr 32 Is marked with an "X" scrawled in the mar- gin by a scrlhe, We do not know why the scribe made such a mark, hut we do know that there is something special nbottt thls portion of the Holy Bible.

Rtlllng for Righteousness and Justice 3 Isaiah chaptcr 32 opens with a thrllIing prophe-

cy that is finding rcrnarkabte fulfillment in our day: "Look! A king MtE' reign for righteousness Itrdt and as wspecB princes, they will rule os princes for justice itself." (fsoiah 32:l) Yes, "Look! " "This exclamatloo calls to mind a similar

23. In what way is Sennacherib, not He~xkiah, left with fearful ern* tions? 24. What clear message can he learned from what happened tn the Assyrian?

1, 2. What can he salt1 about the text of the Dead Sea Scroll of Isa- iah? It, What adminlstntlon Ir prophafed in the books of Isaiah and Rev- clatlon?

Isatah's Pmkhccy-Light far All Mankind I

exhatian fwnd in the lerst prophetic book of the Bibie: "The One seated an the throne said: W k ! I rn making all things new!" (FhvdAion 215) The Bible books of Isaiah and Malion, written snm@ 9W years apwtl both present a glowing -#on of a n@w adminishatimQnYa new he-* composed of the Christ Jaus, enthroned ln the hemem in 1914, and 144,000 wrulers "bought from among mankhdua@er with "a new earth; a glob- al, wild human society." (Rmhdm 141-4; 21:l-4; ha- lah 65:17-25) This entire ammgemmt is made e b l e by ~ s r a n s o m s a c r l f r c e ~ A d t e r s e e l n g ~ ~ n t h e f m a l ~ o f t h e s e l M l O O O

calm, the apakJoha r p r k "I saw, and, lwkl a great ctwvwd, W n o m u w a s able to number, out ofall na- tions anxt t r l h and peoples and toques, stan- kfure the throne and k fme the Lamb." Here Is the nudws of thenewe*th-agreat~nownumberlngtntothe~- born, who h m bem @herd ta the dde of the few, most- 1y elderly m i n i n g ones of the M4,If0;0. This great crnvd wil l survive the fastMapba&ng p a t tfibulatlan and in the m s e earth will be joked by resurrected faithful ones and bflllom of athers who vsfli be @tpen the appor- ~ t y t o ~ ~ A U w h o d o s o w i l l k b l e s s d ~ t h ewxasting life.-rnbtiorn z4, $17'.

5 H m e v a , as Img as the present hate-med world ex- # , m ~ a f t h r ! g m t n a w d n e e d p r ~ m . I n l a r g @

* T h e " k l n g L I n ~ 3 2 : 1 ~ ~ h a d a p ~ W r y ~ n c e m King Hemkiah. Nmwmr, the mh malrler~t of Isaiah chapter 32 b fnretatbIllDtheKing, QuMJesus. - 6 Whatnueleusof thene~eaahisnawpresent? 5-7. What role do the -Id 'princes' play In God% s?

In the Deud Seu Scrdls, /miah chapter 32 is m k e d with an "X"

~ t h i s i s p ~ d d b y t h e " p r l n c e s * w h o " m l e ~ ,,for justfce itself:' W t a grand amqementl These "princes* are desaied further in the glowing words of Idah's pmphq:"EuchmemustpmwtobekoMdngpkrr;e h r n thewindadaphce efcomwiMentliom thedn- storm, Ik shams of vvrtlter in o wtaks country, like the shardow of u heavy crag in an ahmhd kmd."--Is~Icrh 322.

6 Right now in this time of worldwide distreis, there is a need for "pdmq" yes, elders who will "pay attentton to . . . all the flaw caring for Jehmah's sheep and adrnhls- tdng justice in harmowwith Jehwah's righteous prlnd- ples. (Am 2U28) Such "princes" must met the qual lb- tiom set out in 1 Tmothy 327 and TlW 1:6-9.

9 In his great prophecy desrr&fog the dlstresshl "condu- siaa of tbe $yskm of things: Jesus said: 'See that you are not terriftatN (Ma&ew a:=) Why are Jesust blIowers not WW hy today's d q p o u s W d condtlms? One reason 4 that the "prima"-whether they be anointed or "other sheep"-are loyally prokkiq the flock. (John 10: 16) They W4ssXp cape fw their brothers and shters, even in the face 6f such humors as e t h i c wan and genadde, h a spiritually exhausted w d d , they see to # that depressed souls are rekbed by the upbuilding truths of W ' s Word, the Bible

8 Duhgthe past sDyem, the "princeu hawmmckr- lylntnvim. Vdnmn who are oftheather sheep are be- ing Wried as a d e d q b g "chieftainH d~ so that after the great tribulation, qualified ones- among them wlll

8. How Is lehavah Wing and using the "prhmu who are of the athw sllwp?

Each 'pdn~e' is like a hidng piwe fmm the wind, shdbr kom the rain, water in the daert, and shade from the sun

334 Isaiah's Prophecy-Lilphf for/lll Mankind I

be ready for appointment to serve in an administrative ca- pacity in the "new earth." (Ezekiel 44:2,3; 2 Peter 3:13) By providing spiritual guidance and refreshment as they take the lead in Kingdom service, they are proving themselves to be "like the shadow of a heavy crag," bringing relief to the flock in its realm of worship."

9 In these perilous last days of Satan's wicked world, ded- icated Christians sorely need such protection. (2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13) Smng winds of false doctrine and twisted pro- paganda are blowing. Storms are raging in the farm of wars between and within nations as well as direct assaults against faithful worshipers of Jehovah God. In a world parched by spiritual drought, Christians badly need the streams of water of pure, unadulterated buth in order to quench their spiritual thirst. Happily, Jehovah has prom- ised that his reigning King, through his anointed brothers and supportive "princes" of the other sheep, will provide encouragement and guidance to despondent and discour- aged ones in this time of need. Jehovah will thus see to it that what is righteous and just wiII prevaiI.

Paying Attention With Eyes, Ears, and Hearts 10 How have the great crowd responded to Jehovah's

theocratic arrangement? The prophecy continues: "The eyes o f those seeing will not be pasted together, and the very ears of those hearing will pcry attention." (Isa- iah 3233) Over the years, Jehovah has provided for the in- struction and bringing to maturity of his precious servants. The Theocratic Ministry School and other meetings oper-

* See The Watchtowq March 1, 1999, pages 13-18, published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Sew York, Inc, - 9. What conditionr show the need for "princes" today? 10. What provisions has Jehovah made so that his people can 'see' and 'hear' spiritual things?

Ute King and His Princes 335

atjlng in the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses world- wide; the district, national, and international conventions; as well as the specialized training of the "princes" to treat the flock with loving care have al I contributed to the build- ing up of a united, global brotherhood of millions. Wher- ever these shepherds are on earth, their ears are wide open to acljustments in understanding of the advancing word of truth. With Bible-trained consciences, they are ever ready to hear and to obv,-Psalm 25:10.

1 1 The prophecy then cautions: 'The heart itself of those who are overhasty will consider knowledge, and even the tongue o f the stammerers will be quick in speaking clear things." (Isaiah 32:4) Let no one be overhasty in drawing conclusions about what is right and what is wrong. The Ri- ble says: "Haw you beheld a man hasty with his words? There is more hope for someone stupid than for him." (Proverbs 29:20; Ecclesiastes 5:2) Before 191 9, even Jehor vah's people were tainted with Babylonish ideas. But start- ing in that year, Jehavah has given them a clearer un- derstanding of his purposes. They haw found the truths he has revealed to be, not overhasty, but well thought out, and they are now speaking with the certainty of belief, not stammering with uncertainty.

"The Senseless One" 12 Isaiahts prophecy next draws a contrast: 'The senseless

one will no longer be called generous; and as for the un- principled man, he will not be said to be noble; because the senseless one himself will speak mere senselessness. " (Isa- iah 3.25, 6a) Who is "the senseless one"? Ar if for empha- sis, King David mice supplies the answer: "The senseless

11. Why are God's people now speaking with confidence, not stam- mering with uncerta~nty? 12. Who are 'the senseless ones' today, and in what way do they lack generosity?

336 Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for A11 Manklrrd I

one has said in his heart: 'There is no Jehovah.' They have acted ruinously, they have acted detestably in their deal- ing. There is no one doing good." (Psalm 14:1; 53:l) Of course, confirmed atheists say that there is no Jehovah. In effect, so do "intellectuals" and others who act as if there were no God, believing that they are accountable to no one. The truth is not in such ones. There is no generos- ity in their hearts. They have no gospel of love. In con- trast with genuine Christians, they are slow to provide for needy ones in distress or fail to do so entirely.

13 Many such senseless ones come to hate thosc who champion God's truth. "His very heart will work at what is hurtful, to work at apostasy and to speak against Je- hovah what is wayward." (Isaiah 32:6b) How true this is of modern-day apostates! In a number of countries in Eu- rope and Asia, apostates have joined forces with other op- ponents of truth, speaking outright lies to the authorities, with a view to having Jehovah's Witnesses banned or re- stricted. They manifest the spirit of the "evil slave," of whom Jesus prophesied: "If ever that evll slave should say in his heart, 'My master is delaying,' and should start to beat his fellow slaves and should eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards, the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, and will punish h m with the greatest severity and will assign him h s part with the hypocrites. There i s where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be."-Matthew 24:48-51.

14 In the meantime, the apostate causes "the soul of the hungry one to go empty, and he causes even the thirsty one to go without drink itself. f l (Isaiah 32:6c) Enemies of truth - 13, 14. (a) Bow do modern-day apostates work what is hurtful? (b) Of what do apostates try to depnve the hungry and the thirsty, but what will be the final outcome?

The King and His Princes 337

try to deprive truth-hungry people of spiritual food, and I they try to keep thirsty ones from dridung the refreshing

waters of the Kingdom message. But the final outcome d l I be what Jehovah declares to.his people through another

of his prophets: "They will be certain to fight against you, but they will not prevail against you, for 'I am with you,' is the utterance of Jehovah, 'to deliver you.' "-Jeremiah 1:19;

I Isaiah 54:17.

I 1s From the middle years of the 20th century, imrnorali- ty has openly run riot in the lands of Christendom. Why? The prophecy foretold one reason: "ds for the unprincipled

1 man, his instruments are bad; he himself has given coun- I I set for arts of loose conduct to wreck the afflicted ones

with false sayings, even when someone poor speaks what is right." (Isaiah 32:7} In fulfillment of these words, many of the clergy in particular have adopted a permissive attitude toward prernasi.tal sex, cohabitation of the unmarried, hornos-&uality-indeed, "fornication and uncleanness of every sort." (Ephesians 5 3 ) Thus, they "wreck" their flocks with their false saylngs.

16 h cantrast, how refreshing is the fulfillment of the prophet's next words! ''A regards the generous one, it is for generous things that he has given counsel; and in fa- vor of generous things he himself will rise up*" (Isaiah 32:8) Jesus himself encouraged generosity when he said: "Prac-

I tice giving' and people will give to you. They will pour into your laps a fine measure, pressed d m , shaken together

I and overflowing. For with the measure that you are mea- suring out, they will measure out to you in return." (Luke 6:38) The apostle Paul too pointed to the blessings that

I come to generous ones when he said: "Bear in mind the

I 15. Today, who particularly are "unprincipled," what "false sayings" have they promoted, and with what result? 16. What makes genuine Christians happy?

A Christian finds great happiness in sharing the good newr with atlrers

words of the Lord Jesus, when hc hirnscll sald, "l'here i s more happiness ingiving than thew is in rccclvlng! " (Actr 2035) Gcnuine Christians are made happy, not by ga:nlnlng material weaIth or social promincnc~, but hy being gener- uus-in the same way that their I;(uI, JehovaIr, is grncrous. (Matthew 544,451 Their greatest happiness is fot~nd in do- ing God's will, in genemusly giving of thcmselvcs in order to make known to others "the gloriuus good IIPWS of the happy God."- 1 Timothy 1 : 11.

17 Isaiah's prophecy continues: "YOU women who are at ease, rise up, listen to my voke! You careless daughters, give ear to my saying! Within a year and some days you careless ones will be agitated, because the grope picking will have come to an end but no fruit gathering will come -- -

17. Who Nday are like the "carelew dau~htcrr" rcf~rred tn by I5~11111'

The King ond 11% Prlt~crs 339

in. Tremble, you women who aw at ease! Be agitated, you careless ones!" (haioh 329- l F a) 'I'hc attitude of these women rnay rcrninrl us of those totlny who claim to s e m God but who an. not 7~alnw in his scrvicc. Such ones are found in the rell~ions of "Hsl)ylan the G m t , the mother of the harlo~.' ' (Itcvclal ion 1 7:s) 1:o~ cxample, members of Christendom's rpligions a r c w r y much as lsaiah describes thece "women." 'rhcy arc "at c.;iscIw complacent as to the judgment ancl agitiit-ion tllal wl ll soon c n ~ l l l r them.

18 The call aoes fortlil then, ta hlac religion: "Undress and make yourselves nuked, and gird sackcloth upon the loins. Beo t yourselves upon the breasts in lumen takion over the desirable fields, over the fruit-hearing vine. Upon the ground of nty people merely thorns, spiny bushes come up, for they are upon all the houses of exulhtion, yes, the highly doted town." [isuioh 32: 17 b-73) 'Shc expression "Undress and makc y n u r s e l ~ ~ s nakccl" cloes not appear to mean total disrohin~. 'l'hc nncicnl citslom was to wear an outer garment over nn ~ t l t l ~ r ~ n r m e n t . 'I'hc nuier garment wa? often a means or idrnlll~catlon. (2 Kings 10:22, 23; Revelation 7: 1.7, 14) ?'hc prnphccy b thus commanding members of hlsc religions to renwve their outer garments -their pretended ldcrrtity as scrvants of Gad-and to put on instead garments of cnckcloth, symbols o l n~ourning over their imminent jurlgment. (ltewlation 1 Zlh) No god- ly fruitfulness is to l#r found amon# the religious organi- zations of Christendclrn, whlcl~ claim? to be God" ''high- ly elated m n , " or among tllc rest of the mernhert of the world empire of false religion. ' l 'hdr domain 01 operiiti~n brings forth "mcrcly thor~ls , spiny busher" of neglect and abandonment. 19 This picture of gloom extends to all parts of apostate

"JeerusaIem": "The dwelling tower itrelf has been forsaken,

18. Wha i x instruct4 ti) "glrd s;tcktloth upon thc loins." and why? 19. What ctlntlition nf apcrqlntu "Frrural~~n" 1% cxpnqed by Isaiah?

the very hubbub of the city has been abandoned; Ophel and the watchlower themselves have become bare fields, far time indefinite the exultation of zebras, the pasture of droves." (Isaiah 32:74} Yes, even Bphel is included. Ovhel is an devated part of Jerusalem that provides a strong tic- fensive position. To say that Ophel become? a l~are held bespeaks complete desolation for the city. Isaiah's words show that apostate "Jerusalem"-Christendom-1s not watchful of doing God's will. It is brren spiritually, far re- moved from truth and justice-+eastlike in the extreme.

A Glorious Contrast! 20 Isaiah next presents a heartwarming hope for those

who do Jehuvah's will- Any desolation of God's own peo- ple will last only "'until upon us the spirit Is poured out fmm on high, and the wilderness will have become an orchard, and the orchard i h l f is occounkd as a real forest,'' (Isa- ioh 32:75) Happily, since 1919, Jehovah's spirit has becn poured out in abundance upon his people, restoring, :,as it: were, a fruit-bearing orchard of anointed Witnesses, to be followed by an expanding forest of other sheep, l'rosperity and growth are the keynotes of his organization on earth today. In the restored spiritual paradise, "the glory of Jeho- vah, the splendor of our God," is reflected by hls people as they proclaim his incoming Kingdom wor1dwlde.-lra- iah 35:1,2. 21 W sen, now, to J e h d s glorious promise: "in the wit-

demess justice will certainly wide, and in the omhard rjgh- teousness itrelf wit! dwell. And the work of the true righ- teousness must become peace; and the sewice of the true righteousness, quietness on$ security to time Indef- inite." (EsaTah 32: T6, 77) How we1 l this describes I he q~ i ri-

20. What is the effect of God's spirit bring poured out upon his pm- wle? 21. Where is righteousness, quietness, and security found today?

tual condltjon of Jehovah's people today! In contrast with the rnajorlty of manklnd, who are divided by hatred, via- lencc, aurl abject spiritual poverty, true Christians are gIob- ally united, even though thcy are "out of all natiom and t r l tws anti pcoptcs and tongues." '['hey live, work, and serve t n harmony with God's righteousness, ddng so in confi- dence of enioying, at last, true p i c e and security to lime indcfinitc.-Rcvclation 79, 17.

22 In the spiritual paradise, lsalah 32:7& is already being fulfilled. I t says: "My people must dwell in o peaceful abid- ing place and In residences of full confidence and in undis- turbed resting-places. " lirui far the imitation Christians, "it will certainly hail when the forest goes dawn and the dty becomes low in an abased state." (Isaiah 32:79) Yes, like

1 a W r n ~ ~ ~ s t ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ h a i l s l o r r n , Jehovah's judgment is p~ised lo drikc tile counterfeit city o t false religion, debasing its "forest" of wpporters, obliterating these for all time! 23 This portion of the prophecy concludes: "Happy are

you people who ore so wing seed alongside all waters, send- inq forth the feet of the bull and o f the ass." (Isaiah 32:20) '1'l;e hull and the ass were beasts of burden used by God's andent people in plowing fields and sowing seed. Today, Jehovah's pcoplc use prlntiq equipment, elertronic tools, modern hullclings aancl transport and, above all, a united, theoctatlc organization to print and distribute biIlions of Blblc pub1tc;ltions. Willing workers use these inshuments to sow S C ~ S of Kingdom truth throughout the earth, Iit- erally "alangside all waters," Millions of God-fearing men and worncn have already k e n harvested, and other multi- tudes are joining them. (Revelation 14:15, 16) All of them arc indeed to bc counted "happy"! - 22. What 1% the dl Reference between the condition of God's people and that od those in falrc religion? 2.X. Wliat gloll:!l work IF nenring complctlon, and hmv are those shar- Ing In ~t to Ilc counted?

CHATTER TWENTY-SIX "NU Ncsirirnl Wlll Soy: 'l l a Sick'*

"No Resident Will Say: 'I Am Sick' "

- -. -

Isaiah 3 3 1 -24

"ALL creation keeps on groaning t o ~ t h e r and helng in pain together until now." So said the apostle Paul. (Ro- mans 8:22) Despite advances in medical science, slckness and death con-tinue to plague the human race. How won- derful, then, the promise that climaxes this part of Isaiah's prophecy is! Imagine the time when "no resident will say: 'I am sick' " gsaiah 3324) When and how will this prom- ise be fulfilled?

2 Isaiah is writing at a time when God's cownatlt peo- ple are sick spiritually. (Isaiah 15, 6) They have plunged so deeply into apostasy and immorality that they need sc- vere discipline from Jehovah Gad. Assyria serves as Jcho- vah's "rod" to administer that discipline. (Isaiah 7:17; 10:5, 15) Erst, the northern ten-tribe kingdom of Israel falls to the A~syrians in the year 740 &.CEO 12 Kings 17:l-18: 18:9- I 7 1 A few years later, King Sennacherib o fl Assyria lat~nch- es an d a t attack on the southern kingdom of Judah. (2 Kings 18:13; Isaiah 36:l) Bs the hsyrian juggernaut sweeps though the land, Judah's complde annihilation seems inevitable.

3 But Assyria, going beyond its mandate to discipline

1. Why are the words of lsaiah 33:24 comforting7 2, 3. (a) In what rray is the nation of lsnel sick? (b) How docs As- syria serve as God's "rod" of djscipljne?

God's people, is now pursulng Its own greedy ambition for world conquest. (Isaiah 1k7-11) Will Jehovah allow Its brutal mbtr~atrnent of hls people to go unpunished? Wilt there he a Ilealing of. the nation's spiritual illness? Cn Isaiah chapter 33, we read Jehovah's answers to these queskions.

Despoiltng the Despoiler

4 Thc prophecy begins: "Woe to you who are despoiling, without you pusself being despoil&, and tu you who are dealing trwcherously, without others hovifig d d t trwck- emusly with you l & soon as you hove finished as a despoil-

I ec you will be despotled. As soon as you hove done with dealing trwchemusly, they will deal treucherorrsly with you," (Isaiah 33: 1 ) Isaiah directly addresses the despoil-

I er, Assyrin. At the peak of its power, that aggressive na- tion sccms unbeatable. It lzas 'despoiled without being de- spoiled,' ravaging the cities of jurlah, even stripping the

I housc of Jchovah of its wealth-and dnlng so with seem-

I IIIR impunity1 (2 K111gs 18: 14-16; 2 Chmnicles 28:21) Now, though, the tables will be turned. "You wllI he despoiled,''

1 Isaiah boldly rlcclarer. How comforting this prophecyir to I faithful ones!

5 During that frightening period of time, Ioyal worship ers af Jet~ovah will need to turn to him fat heip. Isa- iah thus prays: "0 jehowh, show us favor. tn you we h w e hoped. Become our nrm [of strength and supporfl every morning, yes, our soSvrrclon h the time of distress. At the sound of tumoilr peoples how fled. At your arising nations have been dispessed." (Isaiah 332, 33) Appropriately, I=-

I iah prays that Jchovah dclivcr His people as I-le has done - 4, 5. (a) Wlint rewrral tvlll Alsyrla experience? (b) What prayer does Isaiah o R ~ t on I~chalf o l Jehovah's p p l e ?

"No Rcsir-lcrll lYill Sny: ' I t l ~ r l .?Irk*" 345

many times in thc past. (l'~;ilm 443; hX: 1 ) And no sooner does Isaiah oncr this pravrr t tmn Corrcltr; Jehovah's an- srwr to i t !

6 "The spoil of you peopl@ [the Assyrfnns] will actuol!y bbe gafhered like the cockmnrches when gathering in, Iike the o n m h of locust swarms that is nahitlg ogainst one." (lsn- iah 33:4) Judah is Iii~nilii~r wll t i tlr>v;trti!llnx insect inva- sions. This time, tticlt~gh, i l ir J~~tl;lh's rnrrnic.~ that will be tlwastatecl. Assyria wl l l run'c~r' e htlrnilinti ng rlefcnt, and its soldiers will he forceti tn flcc, lcnvinl: I~chlrid a great spoil for the inhabitantt; of Judnh to cc>llcci! It is only fitting that A~svria, known for i l c crt~elty, will c x p r l c n m being despoi led,-lsa ia h 37:36.

The Modern-Day Assyrian

7 How does rsaiah's prophcr-y iipply In clttr day? She spir- itually sick nalion of 1sr;ic.l can hc cr~mparcd to unfaith- ful Christendom. Jurt ;IS .lchrwah used Assyrln as a "rod" to punish Isriicl, so hr will usr ;I "rnrl" ((1 punish Chris- tendom-as well as tlio ri*sl oC Ihc world crnllire of false religion, "Bnbylon lllc (;r~;ll." ( I ~ o i a h 10:s; licvelntion 18: 2-8) That "rorl" will hc mcrnhcr n;itic~nj ol ' thc Ui~itcd Na- tions-an organin~tinn p i c t ~ ~ r ~ d in Ilcvclntion ns a sevcn- headed, ten-horned, scnrlrl-i.r~lc~rt~d wilt! 11cnrl.-Rcvcla- tion 123, 15-17.

8 When the modern-day Assysl;in rarnpnxcs ti~roughout

h. What will happcr~ tn A ~ ~ ~ r l i l , ,inrl rvlly Is this f t t lr~$ 7. (a) Who mtl;~y Ilc cclrnlii~~r~tl lo I llc qllrlturilly vlck natlon o[ Isracl? (b) Who wlll wruc af [cllnvill I,*: ''rtltl" Ir) rlclt rny ( :hrI~tcnclum? 8. (a) !A710 today can hc rotnl~ilrrtl It) Sctin;~clicrll~? (11) U'ho will the moderndny Sennarticrlh 111, r~iil~r~ltlr~~r~cl t<, nll:~t.Fi, ,Inti with what outcome?

Isoioh pray3 confidently to Iehovoh

346 Isnlnh's Prtlplterqy-I,l,plr t / i t r All Mrrrrklrtd I

the realm of false religion, It will appear to be unstop- pable. With an attitude like that of Sennacherll~, Satan the Llevil will 'be embsIdencrI to strike out-nol only against apostate organizations deserving of punishment but also against true Christians. AIongide the remaining ones of Jehovah's anointed spiritual sons, millions who haw come out of Satan's warld, which Includes Rallylon the Great, take their stand for Jehovah's Kin~dom, An~crcd a t the refusal of true Christians to pay him homage, 'the god of this system of things," Satan, will launch :in all-out at- tack against them. (2 Corinthians 4:4; Fzektel38:lO- 16) As terrifying as this attack will no doubt hr, Jchwah's peo- ple will not need to cower in fear. (Isaiah t0:24,25) They have assurance from God that he will Ix their ".mlvaSion in the time of distress." He will intervene, I~ringing devas- tation upon Satan and his crowd. IEzfkicl38:18-23) Just as in ancient times, those trying to despoil God's people will themselves be despoiled! (Comparc Proverbs 13:22b.) Je- hovah's name will be sanctified, ancl survivors will be re- warded for having sought "wisdom ond knowledge [and] the fear of ]ehovah."-Read Isaiah 335, 6.

A Warning to Faithless Ones 9 What, though, will be the fate of faithless ones in Ju-

dah? Isaiah paints a grim picture of their impending doom at the hands of bssyria. (Read Isaiah 3393 Judah's military "heroes" cry out-in fear at thc hs.;yrlan advance. "~ess&~ers of peace,'' diplomats sent to negotiate peace wit11 the warlike dssyrians, facc mockery and humlllatlon. They will weep bitterly over their fai lure (Comparc Jere- miah 8:lS.) The brutal Assyrian wH1 not pity them. (Read Isaiah 33:8, 9.) He will ruthlessly iporc covenants he har - 9. (a] What wiII Jndah's "heroesi' and "messengem of peace" do? (h) How will the Assyrian re~pond to peace lnltlat~vcs from Jurlab~?

#No Resident lYili Say: ' i Aal S l r k S u

made with the tnhabitant~ af Judah. (2 Kings 18:14-16). The Assyrian will 'contemn the dtEa' of Judah, viewing them with contempt and scorn, having no regard for hu-

I man life. The situation wlll be so devastating that the land itself will, as it were, mourn. Lebanon, Sharon, Bashan, and Carrnel will likewise mourn over I he dcsulation. 10 Similar rircumgtances will 110 doubt develop in the

1 near fuh~re as thc nalions hegin thelr assault on religion. As in Hezekiah's day, pl~yslcal resl~tance tn these destruc- ' tive forces will be futile. Chrlstendorn's "heroes"-is poli- ticians, financiers, and other pople of In fluence-will be unable to come tu her aid, I'otitlcal: and ftnancial 'cave- nants,' w ageementq desijincd rn protect Christendom's

I interests will be violated. (Isaiah 2R:lS-18) Frantic attempts to stave off destruction by rliplomacy wlll fail. Commer- cial activities will come to a halt, as Christendom's prop- erties and investments are cnnfiscated or dcst-royed, Any who still have friendly fcclings toward Christendom will do little more than stand at a safc dbtnncc and mourn

1 her parsing. (Revelation IR:9-19) Will true Christianity be swept away with the false? No, fnr Jehovah himself gives

1 this assurance: *'Now I will rise up,'rays jehowh, 'now I wifl exuk myselt now I will lift mysdf up.'" (lscrioh 33: 10) Finally, Jehovah wit l intervene in hehiit h of bit11 ful ones, like Hezekiah, and halt the Assyrinn'r advance.-Psalm 125.

I 11 The unfaithful cannot count on such protection. Jeho-

I vah says: "You people conceive dried gross; you will give birth to stubble. Your own spirit, as a fire, will eat you

10. (a) How wlll Chrlslentlom's "hcrocs" prove to be Ineffective? 1 (I?) Who will prntert genulnc Chrt6tlarrs dur lng Chrlstentlnm's day of distress? IT. 12. (a) When and how dn the word? of t~nlah 33:ll-14 And hE- filirnentf ib) Jehovah's words ~ l v c what warnlng for toclay?

up. And peopler must k o m e as the burnirngs of lime. As thorns cut they wit/ be set obime even with fire. Hear, you men who ore h r my, what I must do! And know, you who are nearby, my migl~tiness. tn Zion the sinners have come to be in dread; sI~iwring has grubbed hold of the opostoPs: 'Who of us can reside for any time with a devouring fire? Who of us can reside fur any time with long-lasting con flugrotionsf' " (lsclioh 33: 1 1 - 14) 'I'hese words evidently apply to the tlme whcn Judah facer a ncw enemy, Babylon. After thc death of Hezckiah, Ju- dah reverts to her wicked ways, 9wr the next few decades, conditions in Judah deteriorate to the pnlnt where the cn- tire nation has to suffer the fire of Cod's anger.-Ileuteron- omy 32:22.

12 Wicked plans and schemes hntchccl by disobedient ones to avert God's judgment provc to bc of no more sub stance than stubble. In fact, thc proud, rehelllflus ~pirit of the nation will actually trigger the events leading to its de- struction. (Jeremiah 525-1 1) Wicked oncs wlll "bcmme as t he burnings of lime"-utterly dcsl~oycd 1 As they con- template this impending duom, the rcbelllc~us Inhabitants of Judah experience a sickening dread. Jehovah's worrls to unfaithful Judah illustrate the sihtatlon OF C:hristcnrlurn's members today. If they do not heed < ; d f s warning, a grim future awaits them.

"Walking in Continual Rightcousness" 13 By way of contrast, Jehovah next says: "mew is one

who is walking in conbrnual righteousness and speak- ing whot is upright, who is rejecting the unjust gain h m fmuds, who is shaking his hands clear from taking hold on a bribe, who is stopping up his ear from listening lo biood- - 13. What prnrnire is made to one nwnlktng Ln continual righteous- ness," and how was it fulhlled in Jercmlah'r msc?

7 'No Resident Will Srry: ' I A t n (Slrk'"

shed, and who ir closing his eyes so as not to see what is bad. He is the one that wiN reside on the heightr them- sdves; his smuw height will be cmggy ploces dificult to appmoch. His own bread will certninly be given him; his water supply will be unfailing." (Isaiah 33: 15, 16) As the apostle Peter latcr cxprcshes it, "Jehov;)h knows how to de- liver people of godly devotion nut of trial, hut to reserve ' unrighteuus people for the day of judgment to be cut

1 off." (2 Peter 2:9) Jcremiah expcrlcnccd such deliverance. During the Rahylonlan sl~fic, pcople had to "eat bread by weight and in anxious care." (C7xkicl 416) Some women even ate the flesh of thcit own children. (Iarnentations 2: 20) Yet,Jeehovah saw to It that Jcrcmlah was kept safe.

I 14 Christians today must likewise 'walk In continual righ- teousness,' daily observing Jehovah's standards. (Psalm 15: 1-5) They must 'speak what Is upright' and reject lying and unmth. (Prowrbs 332) I:rat~d and hrlbcry may be com- mon in many lands, but they are repugnant to one "walk- ing in continual righteousness." Chrlslians must also keep "an honest conscience" In hudness dealings, studiously avoihng shady or fraudulent schemes. (Hebrews 1318; 1 Timothy 69, 10) Ant1 one who has 'stoppcd up his ear I from listening to bloodshed and closed his eyer so as not to see what is bad' wlll he selcctlvc in his choice of mu- sic and entertainment. (I'salm 11937) During his day of judgment, Jehovah will protect and sustain his worship

I en, who live by such standards.-Zephaniah 2:3.

Beholding Thelr King 15 Isaiah next glves this #lowing glimpse of the future:

'54 king in his handsomeness Is what your eyes will behold; I - 14. How can Christians today keep J'walklng In continual rfghteouq- ness"? 15. What promise will sr~slaln btthful Jmlsh cxrles?

they will see rr /and fur away. Your own heart wlll com- ment in tow tones on o fn'ghtfd thing: 'Where is the secm- tary? Where is the one that doer t h ~ payEng out? Where is the one counting the towers?' No insolcnt people wil! you see, a people too deep in Iunguage to /Wen to, of a stommering tongue without your tmderstanding." (lsoiah 33337-79) The promise ol' the i'ilturc Mesclit~lic KIlifi and his Kingdom wdl sustain faithful Jcws duriug tlie l o i ~ j i clc- cades of exile in Babylon, even though thcy can scc that Kingdom only from afar. (Hehrews 13 :I 3) When Mesq1- ah's rule finally becorner a rcality, the nalylonl;~n tynn- ny wlI1 he a distant memory. Stirvitnrs of t hc attack of the Assyrian will happily ask: "Where arc the tyrant's officcrf, who taxed us, charged us, took our tribute?"-Isaiah 3.7: 1 8, Mofi tit

16 Although Isaiah's words guarantw a restoration from Plabylonian captivity, individual Jewish exller will have to await the resur~ection to enjay the mrnplctc fultill mcn t nC this part of the prophecy. What al~out God's servants to- day? Slnce 1914, Jehovah's people have hcen nblc to ?,c- hold," es discern, the Messianic Klng, Jcsi~s Chrlst, I n all hi5 spiritual beauty. (Psalm 452; 1 lX:22-26) A? ;I wsult, they have experienced deliverance from Ihc opprcsslon and control of Satan's wicked system. Under Zion, the scat of God's Kingdom, they enjoy true spirihlal security.

17 Isaiah continues: "Behold Zion. the town of our fes- to1 occmions! Your own eyes will s k ]erusalem an undiz- turbed abiding place, o k r ~ t that no one will pack up. Nev- er wi/i its tent pins be pulled out, and none of its mpes will - 16. Stncc when have God's peoplc been ablc tcr "hehald' the Mcssl- nnlc King, and with what result? 17, (a) What promises are made regrcllnpl Zlon? (I,) Haw are Jeho- vah's promises regarding Zton futfillcd nn t hc Merslnnlc Klngdorn and on Its supporters on earth?

"hru Resident Wll/ Sny: ' I A r f r S k k ' " 351

be torn in two. But there the Mu/estlc One, jehowh, will be for us ~cr place of rivenI of wide canals. On it no gal- ley fleet will go, and no rnajmric ship wilt pass over it." (isaiah 33:20, 27) I~aiaR assurvs u?; that Goti's Messian- ic Kingdom cannot bc upmoted or dertroyed. M o r m r , such protection clcarly ext~ntls tn faithful Kingdom s u p porters on earth today, l:vei~ i f marly Indivldusls are put to severe tests, sub1ca.s of C;odls Kl ngdorn are assured that no effort to destroy them as a conjircgatlon can possibly succeed (Isaiah 54: 17) Jehrrvah wlll protect his people in the way that a moat or canal pmtccrs a city, Any enemy coming up against them-cven one as powerful as a "gal- ley fleet" or a "majestic ship"-will face destruction!

18 Why, though, can Twcrs of God's Kingdom feel so confident of divine protection? Explains Isaiah: "jehwoh is our judge, lehovcrh is our Stotvtegives, jehowh is our King; he himself will saw us." (baitrh 33:22) Jehovah ac- cepts the responsil~ility of prcltrctlrrg and directing his people, who recognize 111s posll ion as Suprc~nc Sovereign. These willingly stil~rnlt to his rule through his Messianic King, recognlzlng that Jehovah has thc authority not only to make lam but also to enforce thcrn. Flowever, because Jehovah Is a I m r of righteousness and justice, his mle, through his Son, is not a, burden to his wonhiprs. Rath- er, they 'benefit themselves' Iv submitting to his author- ity. (Isaiah 48;17) I le wiIl newr ahnndon his loyal ones. --Psalm 3728.

Isaiah tells enemies of lchovah'q Faithful people: "Your ropes must hang loose; their mast they will not hold firmly erecl; they have not spread a sail. At that time even spoil

18. Whar responstblllty docs Jrhovah accept7 19. flow does I3al;th dchcrlbc tlic It~effrrlivencrs of enerntcs nf Jeh- vah's faithful people?

in nbundame will have & k divided up; the lame ones tfiemseltes wrfl &aI& mke a blg @underIM (Isaiah 33:23) Any appmadhq enemy will prow to be as ineffectve and Mpless @mt Jehovah as a warship wlth loose rlgghg, a wobbhg mast, and no d l . The destrudon of God's en& mles will result in so much spoil that even disabled ones will share in taking plunder. We can therefore be con& dent that through the King Jents Qlrist, Jehrwah WIN tr1- umph over hfs enemies in the coming "great tribulation." -Rewhtion 724.

20 Thls section of Edah's prophecy candudes with a hmbvardng prom%- "No mident will '1 am M,' Thepeopkthaf rwe~ngh helrrndwillbethosepar- do#d h r th& m~" (Isdiafi 33:24) The sickness that ha- MI sp& of ls primarily s@rItud, for It 1s m n n d with sin, or "error," In the fmtappllcation of these words, jeho- vah promises that after t W ~Iem from Babylonian cap- tivfty, th@ nation wlll be hded sp~tual1y. (Isaiah 35:5,6; Jeremiah 5316; compare Psalm 1031-5,) Having been for- gWn far t b i r fomsim, the mrnirag Jepvs will =stab- k h pwe worship inJexwdem. 21 Howevm, I s i aWs prophecy has a modem fulfillment.

Jebwahs people today have also enjoyed a spiritual heal- ing. Tbey have been M e d frorrm such false teachings m the immmtaliitp of the soul, the Trinity, and hellfire. They receive moral gukkm, freeing them from immoral - 20. W's psopie wU1 qmimce what klnd of Ileal& and when? 21. h what do Jehovah's wonhfIwrs taday experience rplrltu- al Wlng?

Thanks to the mnsom sacdffce, Jehovah's peopie A m o ckun stunding bdbm him

22 Morewa, there wlll be a grander ~ ~ 1 r n m ~ of the wads of Wah 3324 after Armageddon, In W's new wodd. Under the m1mWp of the M e d d c Kingdom, humans will expdenm a peat phplcal healing along with &efr Wttd h*. ( R ~ & t t ~ n 214 4) Short- ly * the &stman of Satan's system of - mha- des &those that Jesus Wrmed whUe on earth will no dauW take place on a global scale. The blind will see, the deaf will hearJ the lame wlll w&! (Ism 35:5,6) This will qllm ;ill survtvors of the gmt trlbulaUon to share In the grand work of bringhg the earth to a pmadsalc condtan. a Later, when the resumdon begins, tho% coming

bscktoUfemlllnodoubt be&withgoodhealthBut as the value of the m m s a d c e is applied ta an in- creasing extent, more p w Wts wlll m e , until ~ i s ~ t u ~ o n . T b e n , r l g h b e o u s o n e s w i U "come m Itfew In the fullest sense, (Revelation %5,6) At fiat Ume, in lwth a spMrual and a physical way, "No mi- dent will say 'I am sick! ,, What an aCltIng promise! May all lme wrshipers Way resalve to be mong thme who w i l l ertperknm fulfilment! -

22, 23. W What g r ~ d MIiIlment w l l huab 3324 hrwe in the fu- ture? (b) What Is the molw of true worshipers tdv?

1 praetas and helping them to mak god dedrlons. And thankstutheransomsacrlficeofJesusCMst,theyhma clean standing -re God and enlay a clan conscience {Crr1@~iam 1:13,14; 1 PeSer 824; 1 John 4:lO) 'I?& spiritu- al heabg has physical knefits. For example, miding im- moral = and the use of bbacco p r o m p- Chis- ttm @nst sexually transmitted d k w s and cextaln

I Iorms of cancer-1 Corinthians 6:18; 2 Corinthians 7:1.

- - - CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

- -. - --

Jehovah Pours Out Indignation Upon the Nations

JEHOVAH GOD is patlent not only with his faithful scr- vailtr but alsq when his purpwc warrants It, wlth hls ene- mies. (1 Peter 319, 20; 2 Peter 3: 15) Jc2hovnh's i~dvc*rsarirs may not appreciate his patience and may vlmv Il as an in- ahllity ar an unwillingness to act, Stlll, ns thc 34th chap kr of Isaiah shows, in the end Jehovah always demands ;in accounting from his enemies. (Zephaniah 3 8 ) For a while, God permitted Edom and other nations tu opposc his pet> ple without hindrmm. But Jchwvah had his own due ti me for retribution. (Deuteronomy 3235) Slmllarly, in hls ap- pointed time, Jehovah will express hls vclngeailcc iiptsn all clements nf the present wicked world thar dcly his sovcr- cign ty.

2 'me primary purpose of Cod's cxecu(lng vengeance Is to demonstrate his sovereignty and glclri* his nilme. (I'salrn 83: 13-18] His retribution also vindicates his servnn k a5 he- ing truly h i s representatives and dulivcrs them from undc- sirahle circumstances. Morctwcr, Jchovah'c; rrengeance is al- ways In f ~ l l harmony with his justice.-I1ssatm 58: 10, 1 l.

Pay Attention, You Natiuns .3 Before focusing attention on retribution agalnrt Edom, - 1, 2. (a ) Rrgarding Jehovah's v~ngeance, of what can wc4 ht* crrt:~lri? (hl What doer God acco~nplisli ly rxccr~tlng Z~CII~~L',ITIC'L'~ 3. What invitatiun does Jchwah through I<aloll cutctlt! to thr txr- 1 ion<?

I Jehovah through Isaiah extends n solemn invltatlon to f 1 nations: "Come up close, you nations, fo heor; and p u na- tional groups, p y attention. Let the eurth and that which fills it listen, the pmdactive land and all itr produce. " (Isa- iah 34: 1 ) Thc prophet hnr w~~catectlp spokcn against un- godly nattons. Now l ~ e is ahnut ta sttrnmi~rizc the divine denunciations against them. Ilo these warnings have any 1 meaning for our clay?

I 4 Yes. The Sovcre1gn of thc unlwrse has a controversy with all segments of th ir urlgodly systcm of things, 'l'hat i s why the "national groups" i~nd " t h ~ carth" are callled upon to hear the 1Ublc-1~1sed menage that Jehwah has caused to he proclaimed wr~rlrlwitle. In language reminis- cent of Psalm 241, Isaiah 5ayr thnl all thc carth will be covered with this message-a pmphu~y that has come true in our time, when Jehovah's Wltnes~cs preach "to the most distant part at t hc c?art.h." (Ads 1 :8) 'l'he nations, however, h a w not listened, They havc not tnkcn sexious- ly the warnlng aboul Ihclr forrhcoming clemlre. This, of course, will not prcvcnt Jehovah from f~ilfilllnl: his ward.

I 5 The praphe~y now descrtl~cs thc dark outlook for un- goclly nations-a cnmplctc mnrraqt to the hrlght hope of God's people that IF descrlhrrl later, (Isaiah 35:l-10) The prophet states: "jehovuh has indignotion against o/l the nations, and rage against all their army. He must devote them to destruction; he must give them to the stuughter. And their slain ones will be thrown out; and as for their carcasses, their stink will ascend; and the mountafns must melt because of their blood."-lsaiah 342, 3,

4. (a) What are thc natiims callctl upon In do, as wcosclcd at Isaiah 34:1? (b) Does jclinvnll'r rx[?re\(lnn of ]ucl#~nrnt on tllc nation5 prove that he 15 a crud (roti? (See I ~ t a on ~ l i l ~ c 363.) 5, 6. (a) For what arr lhp r~atirtn\ r,~llrtl tdi .~~ tnur i t hv God? (h) t lorv i5 it m e that "thc mouritaliis milst tnrll lr~cnaw of thcir tllmd"?

Iseiahk hphtty-Light. pr AA Mankind I

6 Attation is d r m to the bioudguilt of the nauons. Today the nations of Chriskndorn have the most blood- guilt of dl, In twr, world wan and in m y smaller con- f l i c t~~ they have soaked the earth with human blood. Who should rightly dmmd justice hr all this bJoodguilt? None other tkm the Creator, the gat W i v e r . (Psalm 969) Jehovah's law has set the standard: 'You must give soul far soul." ( k ~ d u s W:23-25; Gr;eni~ 94-6) TIUE to this lm, he will cause the bIood af the nations flow -to their death. The stench of their unburied, dead bad- ips will fill the &-a buly h r n & u l death1 ( J e w 25: 33) The blood asked 4&& in &payment wil l lx enough to melt, or dissolve, as it were4 the mountains. (Zephaniah 1: 17) With tlw complete damctlan of their military- forces, the w r I 0 nations d l see the fall of their governments, wMch in 3lle prophq are sometima pictured as moun- tains.-DanfeI 2:35,44,45; i ; n 129.

7 Again employing vlvLd imagery, Isaiah goes on to s y: #All those of the army of the heawns must rot awv. And the heavens rnwt be rolled upp @t lik a b m k $wIb and their aany will all sh&el away, jusf a5 the 1-e shdds off the vine and like a shrided fg aff the fig W." (1st~- iah 34:rl) The expression 'blI those of the army of the heawnfl does not mean the lfte~d stars and planets. Vers- es 5 arid 6 speak of a s w d of emtion king dmched with Mwd in those "heayefls.'' Hence, thh must be a qm- lsal of something In the human realm. [l Co&Wans 15: 50) &cause of their loftfnes I superior authorities, the gmernmnts of mankind are likened to h e a m d i n g wa earthly human sodety, (Romans 13: 1-41 So the army of the heaven? represents the combined armies of t h e gawmmerrts of rnankhd,

7. What are 4he h w m , " aad what 4 "the army of the heavensf'T

Christendam has SWM the eorth with blood "I' ' - .

m e hemns must be mHed up, just llke a book scroll" a Thjs win *rot away," molder, lik mmething

prishable. @ah IW5; is&h 51:6) 'R, the naked eye, the Wal hawem us appear cum Iik an andent t m k m l l , t h e w r i ~ o f ~ w ~ n ~ y on thein- ner side, Weri the mterlnrl written on the infiner side of a scrollhas pwd b b the ey& of the nak, the finished -11 is mltd up md put awayI, S-rly, &the ~~ must be rolled up, just Uke a book scroll," in that human

I I F d k W P a m Out hrd&hation Upon tha Nnti~ns

gymmmmts must come thdr end. ReacNng the final page of their m, they must be brought bo their W h at Arm;rgeddanTh& hpmsbImklng 'dd n3Il htJl ~ m a s w i t h ~ l ~ ~ o f f a g r a ~ m " a ~ e d f & ' d r o p s o f f a f i g t r e e . T h & t h l e w J L t . b e ~ ~ iW&ifion 6:1214.

A Day of Retrlbutton Naw the prophecy singles out a nation that exis% W

Isaiah's day-Mom. The E'domlW are descendants of E m (Ekbm), who sold his bWMght to hifi W n b-, Jacob, b r W and lentil stew. (Genesis 25:24-34) Beanw Jamb supplanted hlm h the birthrlght, Emu beam@ Wed with hatcdforhisbmther. Lslter thenatlonof Edornandthe nation of hael mmlh, ~WI thwgh they de- scended win m. mr this -9 agaimt God's people, Edam has trxc11tEd the wrath of who naw s a p : Vn the h m n s my stlrord wlll c~&In& Iw d~enchd. h k l Upon Edom It will datent$ a d upon ttte p p I e devoted by ms ib deswdbn k jwtke. jehawh h a r u ~ l t m ~ ~ t b 8 n n Q d w i ~ M ; ' I C m ~ b e m a d e pmywinhtheApt wfththtrblaodufyoungmmsudh gsats, wi& t f rehtof&eMneysofrwrw.F$r~hhar asadkein Bamrh, and ugmtsh@Wngin flrehd of EdmnA4ahh 34:S,b.

I. Huw do the w b U c hewm prow to be "jut Uh a lmk aaoll," md what happens m thdr 'armies'?

9- $,a) What is the gr4gln of B d m , find whnt relationship dewdoped betwmb#el a d M ' l {b) Whatdoclibhawah b W ~ 3 n - b W*n? 10. (a) Whom dDeS Jehwah bd tiown when he *Ids hfp sword % @in tnre havwrsn? (b) What does Edom display when J u M ts M by *Ion?

Iehowh hun Our tndtgmtlan Upom the NalJons

An Angry God?

Expressions such as those found at Isaiah 342-7 have moved many to thhk that jahomh, as descrl bed In the Hebrew Sdptures, is a crud, wrathful Gad, Is that so?

No. While God does at ~ r n e s expms his anger, such anger is always justitid. It is always based on prlnd- ple, not on uncontrolled emotion. Momwer, it is aC ways dictated by the Creator's right to receive exclusive devotion and his comtancy in upholding truth, Dlvlns anger Is gwerned bath by God's tow of rlghteousn&a and ty fils love %r those pmctldng dghteausners. leho- vah sees all the issues invoid In a matter and has com- plete, unlimited knowledge of a situation. (Hebrews 4: 13) He reads the hearc he notes the degree of Igno- rance, negligence, or wilhl sin; and he acts with im- partlaliv.-Deutemnomymy 1017,18; 1 Samu J 16:7; Acts 10:34,35.

However, Jehovah Gad ts "slow ta anger and ahn- dant in Iwlng-klmlnes." (Exodus 34:6) Those who b r him and striw to work righteousness receive mercy, for the Almlghty recognizes man's Inherited lmperfectlon and shows mercy to him on th9 account, Today C d does thh on the basis of Jesus' sacrifice, (Psalm 103: 13,141 At the proper t h e , Jehovah's anger is r e m d from those who a&nowledga their sln, repent, and tru- ly serve him. (Isaiah 12:l) Fundamentally, jehwah Is not an angry Cod but a happy God, not umpproad- able but welcoming, peaeable, and calm bowad those who properly approach him. (1 Tlrndhy 1:11) Thls Is R sharp conhst to the merciless, cruel c h a r a ~ ~ t l r s as c r l M to the false p i s of the pagans and portrayed in images of those g&sS

364 Isnlalt's P'ropllecy-l,iylrt 011 A l l Mutrk l f f t I i

running for their lives and hands them over to the Rabylo- nians. (Obadiah 11-14) The Edornites plan to take ovcr thc abandoned country of the Israelites, and they speak hnast- fi11Iy against fehavah.-Ei!e!ae135:10-I5.

11 Dws Jehovah overlook th is unbrorhcdy conduct on the part of the Edornites? No. Rather, he foretells of Edorn: T h e wild bufls must come down with them, and young bufis with the powrfuI ones; and their land must be drenched with blood, and their very dust wlll be made greasy with the fot" (Isaiah 34:J) Jehovah spcaks OF the greater ones and the lesser ones in (he nation as symboIic wild bulls and young bulls, as young rams and he-goate. The land of this bloodguilty nation must he drenchcd with the people's OMTI blood by means of thc cxccullonal "sword" of Jehovah.

12 God purposes to punish Edom for what has malicious- ly been done to His earthly organization, called Zion. Says the prophecy: "jehovah has a day of vengeance, a year of retributions for the legal case over Zion." (Isaiah 34:8) Not long after the destruction of Jerusalem in 607 R.C.B,, Jc- hovah begins to express his righteous vengeieance upon the Erlornites by means of the king of Babylon, Nebt~chadncz- mr. (Jeremiah 2S:lS-17,21) When Dahylon's armics move against F&rn, nohng can save the Edornites! It is "a year of retributions" upon that mountainous land. Jehwah

11. Plow will Jehovah repay the Edornites for thclr tsfachernu~ cnn- duct? 12. ( a ) Whom clmlehmah use to bring p~nishment upon F~lnrn? Cb) What dm$ the pophet Obadiah forelell rcganling II ̂

-

Iorc tclls through the prophct Obadiah: "Because of the vi- olence tu your hrnthcr Jacob, shame will cover you, and ymr wlll have to bc cl~t off to tlme indefinite. . . . In the way that you have danc, i l wi I l he done tn you. Your sort of treatment wltl rcturn upor1 your own tread,"-Obadiah 10, 15; E:+~cklclZS:F2-14.

Chtistendnrn's Bleak Future 11 In modcrn lirncs, there exists an oqyaniration with a

rccorcl lik that sf Irdom. What organiziition? Well, who in moclerrl times has taken the lead in miling and pene cut in^ Jchnvnh's servants? I.lar i t no1 bcen Christendom, throuqh its clergy class? Ycs! Christendom has elevated hrrsclf to mountalnll kc l~cjghts in the aRairs of this world. S hc claim3 a lofiy positioll in mankind's sysWrn of things, and l ~ c r r~ligio~ls form the dominant part of Babylon the Grcat. Hut Jehovah has clccrccd "a year of rctribution~'' against tlils rnoclcrn-day I!dom for outrageous misconduct towaiod His people, I-lls Wllncsscs.

14 'hcrcfore, as we considcr the rest of this part of Isa- I lah's prophecy, we think not only of anclent Edom but

- -- I

13, Who totlay Is Hke Pdnrn, and why? 1-1, 15. (a) Wlrat wlll happen both tu the land of Edam and to Chrts- tcnrlorn:t (17) What d c ~ thr rcfc~nccs tn hurnlng pitch and Indefinite- ty Iwllng ~ m n k mean, aitct what tln they not nlcan?

366 Isaiah's IWphfcy-Ll,rh t fir All Munkind I

also of Christendom: "Her torrents must be changed into pitch, and her dust into sulphur; rrnd her land must be- come as burning pifcff. By night or by day it will no t be ex- tlnguished; lo time indefinite Its smoke will keep ascend- Ing," (Isaiah 349, 100) The land of Edom becomes so parched that it is as if the dust were sulfur and the torrent valleys were filled, not with water, but wlth pitch. Then tl~cse highly combustible substances are set afire!-Corn- pare Rwelation 17:16.

1.5 Some haw viewed the mention of fire, pitch, and sul- fur as evidence of the existence of a burnlng hell. But Mom is not hurled into some mythical hellfire to burn forever. Rather, it is destroyed, disappearing from the world scene a if totally consumed wlth fire and sulfur. As the prophecy goes on to show, the final result is, not ever- lasting torment, but "emptiness . . . wasteness . . . noth- 1ng.l (Isaiah 3411, 12) The smoke 'nscertdlng ta time in- definite' vividIy flustrates this. When a house burns dowt~, smoke keeps coming from the ashes for some time after the flames have died down, pmviding onlookers with evidence that there has been a conflagration. Since Christians today are learning lessons fmm thc destruction of Mom, the smoke of Edorn's burning is still, in a sense, ascend t ng.

16 Isaiah's prophecy continues, fowklllng that Elom's human population wlll be replaced by wlld animals, im- plying a corning desolation: "Fmm generution fo gener- ation she will be parched; f o m and ever no one will be passing across her. And the pelican and the porcupine must take p o ~ s i o n of her, and long-eared owls and ra- vens themselves will reside In her; and he must stretch out - 16, 17, What will Morn become, and how long will It continue in such a state?

over her the measuring line of emptiness and the rtanes of wsleness. Her nobles-there are none them whom key dl/ call to the kingship itself, and her very princes wil! ail became nothing. On her dwelling towers thorns must come up, nettles and thorny weeds in her fortified places; and she must become on abiding place of jackals, the courtyard for the ostriches. And haunterr of warerless re- gions must meet up with howling animals, and e m the gont-shaped demon will colt Ca it4 compmion. Yes, there the nightjor will cerCainIy take ib ease ond find far IBelf cr resting-place, There the arrow snake has made Its nest and lays eggs, "-lsoioh 34: lob-75.'

17 Ycs, Edom will become an empty land. It wlll become a waslcland with only wild beasts, birds, and snakes in it. 'This parched state of the land will continue, as verse 10 says, "forrzwr and wer." There will be no restoratron. -0badfah 18.

Sure Fulfillment of Jehovah's Word 1fi What a hopeless future this foreshadows far that

madern-day equivalent of Mom, Chr!stcntloml She has provcrl herself to be a bitter enemy of Jehovah God, whose Witner;ses she viciously pesecutcs. Anri there is no doubt that Jehovah will Fulfill his word. Whenevcr anyone corn- pares the prophecy with the fuifillment, the two will be found to colncide-just as surely as Fhc creatures that In- habit the desolated Edom each 'have t l~cir own mate.'

" By Molachi7s time, this prophecy had been fulfilled. (Malachi 1:3) M411i~chl r c p r t s that Edornjtes hoped to rcposcen thclr desolated larlrl. (Malachl 1:4) However, this was not Jel~ovilli's wlll, and later an- athcr pcoplc, the Nahataeans, took passcrsinn nl what l~ar l heen the lattct ol Erlnrn. - 18, 19. What Is 'Ithe book of Jehovah," and wliat Is rrscrved for I:hrirtcntlom Irr this "book"?

368 I,rfliuh's Prophecy-Lixlrt for All Mcifiklrrrl I

Isaiah addresses future students of Bible prophecy, saying: "Search for youpselves in the book of lehowh and read out loud: nut one has been missing of them; rhey octua//y do not fail to have wch orre her mate, for it is the mouth of je- hovoh that has given the commond, ond it is his spirit that has coliected them together. And it is He that itrrs cost far them the lot ond his own hand hos apportioned the place to them by the measuring tine. To time indefinite they will take possession of it; for genemtion after generution they will resjde in it"--Isaiah 34: 76, TZ

19 The impending destruction of Christendom has; Imn foretold in "the book of Jehovah.'' This "hook ufgehwah" details the accounts that Jehovah will settle with those who are his implacable enemies and who ate unrepentant oppressors of his people. What was written concerning ancient Edom came true, and this strengthens our confi- dence that the prophecy as applying to Christenrlom, the modern-day parallel of Mom, will likewise come t-suo. "The measuring line," Jehrrvah'r; rule of action, guarantees that tlus spiritually rnoribunrl organization wlll beconw a desolate wasteland.

20 Christendom does dI she can to pacify her polltl- caI friends, but to no avail! According to Revelation chap- ters 17 and 18, Almighty God, Jehovah, will pitt It Into their hearts to act against all of Babylon the Great, Includ- ing Christmdom. This wilI rid the whole earth of Fake Christianity. Christendom's situation will become I i k t the bleak condition dercribd in M a h chapter 34. Shc will not even be on hand during the all-decisiw "war of the p a t day of God the Almighty" ! (Revelation 16:14) Like ancient Edom, Christendom will be totally cleared from the surface of the earth, "forever and wcrr."

20. Like andent Edorn, Christendom will experience whal?

w - .-

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

I Paradise Restored!

"THE nostalgia for paradisc is among the powerful nostal- gins that seem to haunt human beings. It may be the most ~mweslul and pcrslstcnt of all. A certain longing for par i~ctise is wiclenced at every 1~wl of relipjou~ life." So says Tlrr EncyslopcIio of Rclgion, Such nostalgia is only natu- ral, since the Iiihle tells us that l~urnan life began in Para- dlw-a beat~tlful garden free of dis~ase and death. (Genesis 28-15) It is not surprising that many of the world's reE- gions lrold out the l l o ~ ~ e of future life in a paradise of one klnd or another.

2 In many parts of the Bible, we can read of the true hope of thc futtire 17aradisc. (Isaiah 51:3) Por example, the part of lsalah's prophccy recorded In chapter 35 describes t l ~ c Wanslbrmatlon of wilderness regions Inh gardenlike

I parks and Iruitriil fields, '['he bllnd gain sight, the mute can speak, and the deal can hear. [n this promised Para- dise, there is no grief or sighing, which implies that wen death is no more. What a wonderful promise! How should thcsc worcts be understood? Do they hold out hope for us tc~day? A consEderalion of this chapter of Isaiah will prr, vicle the answers to these qumtions.

A Desolate Land Rejoices 3 Isaiah's Inspired prophecy of Paradise restored h e n s

1, Why do manyrrllglons hold out thc hopeof life In a paradise? 2. Whcn. can wc find the trite hope of future Paradise? 3. Accnrdlnp, to Iralah's prophecy, what h~nrformatbn will the land ~~ndcr~o:p

Parudlse l?esfurcd/ 371

with these wards: '7he w l i h e s r and the w a t e k regh wlll emrlt) and the desertplaln will be)oyfuI and blossom atr fhssdhn. Withouth i l I tw l l lWm,mdHwi l ld~be mI wrth /oyorrwress and .with g M aylw wt 7k gCory ofLebranoniMmusCbegkntoIZ ?heJprendwdtcmrmel ~ d S h m . T h t r e w l l l k t h o s s w h o ~ H s ~ b h e ~ o r y o f j&&, the splendor of olrr Cod."-&ahh 35: I, 2.

4 Isaiah wrlb these words about the year 732 B.CH Some 125 pars later, the Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and the people of Judah are sent Into exile. Their home- land ls left uninhabited, desolated. (2 KIngs 25:811,21-26) In this way Jehovah's warnlng that the pople of hael would go Inb exile if they pmml unfaithful Is ful6Iled. (Deutemnomy 28.15,36,37; 1 Klngs 9:6-8) When the He- brew natlon becomes captive In a foreign h d , their well- Irrigated fields and orchards are left unattended fur 70 p a r s and become I l k a wUdemess.-Batah 6410;Jee miah 423-27; 9:10-12.

s However, Isalah's prophecy foreteUs that the land WI not lie desolate forms. It will be restored to a writable p r - adhe. #The glory of LebanonN and #the ~ p h d ~ r of Car- met and of Shuon" w U be given to it? How? U p fheir return from a e , the Jews are agah able to cultiate and Irrigate their fields, and their land returns to the rich fruit- fulneis that It had before. For thls, mdit can go only to - ' The Wpturer de;ralbe andent Lebanon as a fruiW land with luxuriant foreatr and malestlc cedars, comparable to the Ga&n of Edeh (Psalm 29:s; 72: 16; Ezekiel 28:ll-13) Sharon was known for its streams and oak fore&; h e 1 was famous for I t s vineyards, or- chards, and flower- slopes. - 4. When and h m dow the Jew' homeland take on the appearme of a wlldernal? 5. (a) How are paradlsellke condltfons restored to the land? (b) In what sense do people "see the glory of Jehovah"?

372 Isaiah's I'ropla~cy-Light for All Mankind I

Jehovah. It is by his will and with his support and bless- ing that the Jews get to enjoy such paradiselike conditions. People are able to see "the gIory of Jehovah, the splendor of [their] God" when they acknowledge Jehovah's hand in the amazing bansformation of their land.

6 Nwertheless, in the restorcd land of Israel, there is a more important fulfillment of Isaiah's words. In a spirih- a1 sense, Israel has been in a dry, desertlike state for many years, Whle the exiles were in Rabylon, pure worship was severely restricted. There was no temple, no altar, and no organized priesthood. Daily sacrifices were suspended. Now, Isaiah prophesies a reversal. Under the leadership of such men as Zerubbabel, Era, and Nehemiah, represen- tatives from all 12 tribes of Israel return to Jerusalem, re- build the temple, and worship Jehovah freely. ( E m 21, 2) This is indeed a spiritual paradise!

Aglow With the Spirit

7 The words of Isaiah chapter 35 have a ring of joy. The prophet is proclaiming a bright iuture €or the repen- tant nation. Indeed, he speaks with conviction and op- timism. Two centuries later, at the threshold sf their restoration, exiled Jews need the same conviction and optimism. Through Isaiah, Jehavah prophetically exhorts them: "Strengthen the weak hands, you people, and make the knees that are wobbling firm. Say to those who are anxious at heart. 'Be strong. Do not be afraid. Look! Your own Cod will come with vengeance ifself, Cod even with a repayment. He himself will come and save you people.'" -Isaiah 353, 4.

8 The end of the long exile is a time for action. King Q-

I

Piiradise Restored!

rus of Persia, the instrument of Jehovah's vengeance against Babylon, has proclaimed that Jehovah's worship is to be restored in Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 36:22,23) Thou- sands of Hebrew families need to get organized in or- der to make the huardous trip from Babylon to Jerusalem. When they arrive there, they will have to erect adequate living facilities and prepare ht the rnonurner~tal task of re-

1 building the temple and the city For some Jew in Bab- ylon, all of this may yeem daunting. However, it is no time to be weak or apprehensive. The Jews aTe to shengthen one another and have confidence in Jehovah. He assures them that they will be saved.

9 Those released from captivity in Babylon will have good reason to rejoice, for a grand future awaits them

9 . What grand promise is held out to rmlrning Jews?

6 What important Iurfillment of Isaiah's words is seen? 7, 8. Why dn the Jewish exiles need a positive attitude, and how do Isaiah's words provide encouragement?

374 Baiak's Prophecy-Light @ I AII Mankind J

upon their return to Jerusalem. Isaiah forelells: "At that time the eyes af &e bflnd ones will be opened, and the very e m af the deaf mes will he unstopped. At that t h e the / d m one w'il dimb up just as e stug does, and the torlgue of the speeehka an& will cry out In ghdnes~.~-Isaiah 35:5,6a.

I.0 Jehovah wldtntly has in mind the spiritual condition of his ptmpke. They have been punished with 70 years df W l k for their wliee apostasy. Wll, in administering his discipline, Jehovah did not strike his people with blind- ness, deafness, lamenas, md muteness. Hence, restoring the nation of Israel does not require the healing of physical dhabilitia. Jehovah restores that which was lost, namely, spitihral health.

11 Repentant Jew$ are healed in that tMy regain their spiritual senses-their Spiritual *an and their nbiify to hear, obey, and speak Jehovah's word. They kcme aware of tlleir need to stay close to Jehwah. By their %e can- duct, they "cry out* in joyful paise of their God. The far- mer@ "lame one* kames eager and enermc in his wol- ship of Jehovah. Figuraave'I~ he wII "clrmb up just as a stag dm."

J&oVah Refreshes His People 12 It is difficult to imagine a pmdisc without water. The

orignal Paradii in E$en had an abundance of water. [Gemis 2: 10-14) The land gwen to Israel was alsb "a land of torrent valleys of water, springs and watery deeps is- suing fasth." (Deuteronmy 89) App~opriat)t, then, Isa- iah makes this refreshing promise: "In the wilderness MIQ,

10, 11. Eturnhg Jews7 why must Isaiah's words have a spirlual meaning, and what do they imply? 12. TQ what extent wiI I Jehovah bles? the land with water?

&r$ have burst out, and torrents in the desert plain. And the heat-parched ground will have become as a reedy pod, and the thirrty ground as qwkigs of water. irt the abiding place ofjackals, a resting-@ace for them, there will be green gross with reeds abd papyrus plants, (Ispiah 35: bb, 7) When the Israelites again care far the land, the des- olate a m where )adds once roamed will be covered with verdant, luxuriant vegetadon. D y and dusty ground will be Imnsforrn~d into "a !mampy place" where papyrus and ather aquatic mds can @m.-Job 8:11.

13 More iqoftaot, though, is the spiritual water ~f truth, which the repatriated Jews will enjoy in Am- dance. Jehovah will provide knowledge, enmuragement, and comfort through his Word. Moreover, faithful older

1 men and princes will be 'like stream of water in a wa- terless country." p$aiah 321,Z) Those who prom* pue

13. What &undqnt spiritual water will be milable to the ~ s w d nation?

376 isainh's Prophecy-Light for AII Mankind I

worship, such as Ezra, Haggai, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Zechari- ah, Zerubbabel, will indeed be living testimony to the ful- fillment of Isaiah's prophecy.--Ezra 5:1,2; 7:6,10; Nehemi- ah 1247.

"The Way of Holiness" 14 Before the exiled Jews can enjoy such physical and

spiritual paradsaic conditions, however, they will have to make the long and hazardous journey from Babylon to Je- rusalem. Taking a direct route would mean crossing some 500 miles of arid, inhospitable terrain. A less-challengmg route would involve travding 1,000 miles. Either journey would mean spending months exposed to the elements and in danger of meeting both wild beasts and beastlik~ men. Still, those who believe Isaiah's prophecy are not overly concerned. Why?

15 Through Isaiah, Jehovah promises: "mere will certain- ly come to be a highway there, wen a way; and the Way of Holiness it will be called. The unclean one will not pass over it. And it will be for the one walkjng on the way, and na foolish ones will wander about on it. No lion will prove to be there, and the rapacious sort of wild beasts will not come up on it None will be found there; and the repurchased ones must walk there." (Isaiah 35:8,9) Jeho- vah has reclaimed his people! They are his "repurchased onesI1hand he guarantees them safe conduct on their way home. Is there a Literal paved, elevated, and fenced-in road from Babylon to Jerusalem? No, but Jehovah's protection of his people on their journey is so sure that it is as if they were on such a highway.-Compare Psalm 91: 1-16. - 14. Describe travel between Babylon and Jerusalem. 15, 16. (a) What protection does Jehovah provide fox faithful Jews on their journey home? (b) In what o the~ sense does Jehovah pm- vide a safe hlghway for the Jews?

F

Paradise Restored!

16 The Jews are also protected from spiritual dangers. The figurative highway is "the Way of Holiness." Those who disrespect sacred things or are spiritually unclean are not qualified to travel on it. They are not wanted in the re- stored land. Approved ones are rightly motivated. They are not returning to Judah and Jerusalem in a spirit of na- tional pride or in pursuit of personal interests. Spiritually- minded Jews realize that the principal reason for their re- turn is to reestablish the pure worship of Jehovah in that land.-Ezra 1 :13.

Jehovah's People Rejoice 17 Chapter 35 of Isaiah's prophecy ends on a joyful note:

"me very ones redeemed by Jehovah will return and cer- tainly come to Zion with a joyful c y and rejoicing to time indefinite will be upon their head. To exultation and rejoic- ing they will atbin? and grief and sighing must flee away." (Isaiah 35: 10) The captive Jews who have looked to this prophecy for comfort and hope during their exile may have wondered how its various details would be fulfilled. Likely they have not understood many aspects of the prophecy. Stdl, it has been crystal clear that they would "return and certainly come to Zion."

18 Hence, in the year 537 B.C.E., some 50,000 men {in- cluding more than 7,000 slaves and temple singers) along

i with women and children make the four-month journey back to Jerusalem, with full confidence in Jehovah. (Ezra 254, 65) Just a few months later, Jehovah's altar is re- built, setting the stage for a full reconstruction of the tem- ple. The 200-year-old prophecy of Isaiah is fulfiltcd. The

17. How has the prophecy of Isaiah comforted faithful Jews during their long exile? 18. In what way is grief and sighing in Babylon replaced by cxulta- tion and rejoicing in the restored land?

3 je-s heard the rick, ' i both spiritually and I physically I I

' naticm's grief and stgtiulg while in &b- ylon t% replaced by exultatIan and re-

3 jofdng In the ~ s t ~ r e d lmd, Jehovah has fhi- Ned his promise. Par- zidi&-hth literal md 5 ~ ~ 1 - ~ wm re 5Md!

1s Of course, 1t'l the s ix th mmy &C.E,, t& £ u & ~ H x ~ of Bit- *&ap€er 35 iskip

ited The pd i sa ic qmdlthnn enjoyed by the repatriated Jews do flat Iwt. h time1 ~ s ~ ~ r r t f s teachings and at^ tionaIsm cmtminak pure W Q I S ~ I ~ ~ . SpirltwIt~ the Jews again expaimce grid a d ; s i g h . ~ ~ ~ ~ d y w- iwts them as his people, @&itthew k1:43j &came of re- m d dk~bedfmce, their ~ejafcing & not permanent All of th4a p~inB to a hrthef, greater h d f ~ & ~ & of ~SMI c h a p f a 35.

20 In Jehovah's-due time, aa3utha Imd, a spiritual 9% came into exist-, (Fdatiaus 8:W) J e w set the qgf?

19. Why must it b~ said that h&Ws pwpheq lw only a limited blfilLmt ia the a r b century B-GET? 20. What- Isxaei~came into e-lllswnte In the hnt mitq C.L?

for the birth of this new Israel during his earthly mini$- try, He restored pure worship, and with his teachings, wa- ters of teuth began to flow ante again. He heated the sick, bath physically and spiritually. A joyful q went forth as the good news of God's Kingdom was prodaimed. Sw- en weeks after his death and resurrection, the glorified Je- sus established the Christian congregation, a spiritual Ts- rad made up of Jews and okh'er-5 redeemed by Jesus' shed blood, begmen as Gad's spiritual sons and brothers of Je- sus, and min ted by holy spirit.-Acts 2: 1-4; Romans 8: 16, 17; 1 Peter 1:18,19.

21 When writing to the members of spiritual Israel, the apostle Paul referred to the wards of Isaiah 3 5 3 by saying "Straighten up the ha& that hang down and the enfee- bIed knees." (Hebrews 1262) Evidently, then, in the first century C,E., there was a fuIfillment of the words of Isaiah chapter 35. In a literal sense, Jesus and his disciple$ rnifac- ulody gave sight to blind on= and hearing to deaf on&. They enabled 'lame ones' to walk and speechIess ones to regain their swch. (Matthew 9:32; 11:s; Luke 109) Mare important, righthearted ones escaped from false religion and came tia enj~y a spiritual paradise within tire Christian congregation. (Isaiah 521 1; 2 Corhthahs 6:17) As in the case af the Jews returning from Babylon, these escapees found that a positive, courageous splrit was e~5entml.-Ro- mans 12:ll.

22 What af our day? Does the pr~pheey of Isaiah have another fulfillment, a more compIete one involving the Christian congregation today? Yes. After the death of the -

22. Regarding the first-century Christian congregation, what event5 fnay be viewed as a fulfillment: of certain features pf Isaiah's prop h- eq? 22. How did sincere, truth-seeking Christiam in modern times come inta Babylonjsh raptiviv?

380 Isfiiah's P r n p / ~ c c y - l . i , ~ ~ ~ t Pjr All M c ~ ~ / k l t ~ d 1

apostles, the number of true anointcd Chrlsttans greatly diminished, and false Christians, 'wwds," flourished on the world scene. (Matthew 1336-43; Acts 20:31F: 2 Pctcr 2: 1-3) Even when during the 19th century, sincere Individ- uals began to separate thernselvm lmln Christendom and seek pure worship, their understanding rcrnnlned taint- ed with unscriptural teachings. In 1914, Jesus was cn- throned as Messianic King, lsut rnon thcrenft~r, thc situa- tlan looked bleak for thesc slncere truth seekers. In fulfillment of prophecy, the nations 'made war with them and conquered them,' and the attempts of these sincere Christians to preach the good news were stifled. [n effect, they went into Babylonjsh captivity.-Ilwtllatlon 1 l:7,8.

23 In 1919, however, things cllanged. Jehwah brought his people out of captivity. They b e ~ a n tn reject the klsc teachings that had earlier corsuptcd I helr worship. As a rc- sult, they enjoyed a healing, They came to he in I? spiritual paradise, which even today continues to sprcad tlirnt~gh- out the earth. In a spiritual sense, the hlind a r t learning to see and the deaf, to hear-becornlng fiilly alert to the op- eration of God's hoIy spirit, constantly aware of the need to stay close to Jehovah. (I Thwsalanlans 5:6; 2 Timothy 4:s) No tonger mute, true Christians arc eager to "cry out," declaring Bible truths lo othen. (Flornans 1 : 15) Those who were spirituallymak, or "lame," now display zeal and ioy. Figuratively, they are able to "climb up lust as a stat: docs."

24 These restored Christians walk on "the Way of Hull- ness." This "Way," which leads nut of Ralylon the Grcat into a spiritual paradise, i s open to all spirl Lually clean wor- shipers, (1 Peter 1:13-16) They can cu~int u n Jchmah for protection and be confidertt that Satan will not stlcceed In

23, 24. FR whatway? haw Isatall's word? hrcn hITrllcrI among Ctui's pcoplc since 1919T

his mimaIIstic attacks to elf mlnatc true worshlp. (L Peter 5:8) Disobcclient ones and any who hehave like rapacious wild heasts are not allowed to corrupt those on Gacl's highway of holines~ (I Corlnthlans 5:Pl) Within this prm tected envlron ment, Jehovah's mlwmed ones-anointed and "other sheep"-find joy in scrvlrr~ the anly true God. -John 10:16.

25 What of the filmre? Will lsalah's prophecy w e r be ' fulfilled in a physical way'? Yes. T11r miraculous healings by Jesus and his apostles In t l ~ c Arst century demonstrat- ed Jehovah's desire and ahlil ty to lxrform such healhgs on a large scale in the future, The InspirccE Psalms speak of everlasting life in peaceful conditions on earth. (Psalm 329, 11, 29) Jesus promisccl tile in I'ilrilrlice. (Luke 2343) Down to its very last book, the Bible provides hope for a literal paradise. At that time, the hllnd, the deaf, the lame, and the speechless will hc healed pl~yslmlly and perma- nently. Grief and sighing wll l f l ~ c away. Rejoicing will in- deed be to time Indcfinitc, cvcn forever.-Rcvclation 79, 16,17; 21:3, 4. 26 While true ChrbtLns awalt the rcstaration of the

physical earthly Paradlrc, m n now they enjoy the bless- ings of the splrittral paractbe. 'l'hey face trials and trib ulations with optimism. With unwavering confidence in JehovahI they encourage one another, heeding the ad- monition: "Strengthen the weak hands, you people, and make the kneer that are wobbling firm. Say to those who are anxious at heart: 'Rc strong. i)o not he afraid.'" They have complete trust I11 thc prophetic ~ S S U T ~ I ~ C C : ' "Look! Your own God will comc with vnigeance Itsclf, God even with a repayment. He hlmsclf will come and save you peo- ple."-Isaiah 35:.3, 4. - 25. Will there he a phystcill Ikrlfitlrnrnt of Isaiah chapter 35? Fxplain. 26. Hornb do Isaiah% worrl% ~lrcngtllrtl Cl~rlqttans today?

A King's Faith Is Rewarded

Isaiah 36:l-398

HEZlXWI was 25 years old when he beam@ king of Ju- dah. What kind of nrlet would he be? Would he fol- low in tk f m b k p s of his father, King Ahaz, and Induce hfs subjects tr~ follow after false gods? Or would he lead the pwple in the worship of Jehovah, as did hls hrefather King David?-2 Kings 16:2.

2 Soon a k H M came to the throne, It became clear that he fatended "to do what was dght In Jehe vah's eyes." (2 Kmp 1&2, 3) In his &st year, he ordered Jehovah's temple repaired and temple servlces resumed. (2 Chranicles 293, 7,111 Then he arganlaed a grand Pass- over debxatton ta which t he entire nation was invited -hdudtng the ten norttLern tribes of Israel. What an uhrg@ttabk feast that was1 There had been none llke it since the days of King Solomon.-2 Chronicles 38: 1, 25, 26. 3 At the conclusion of the Passover celebralion, those

in attendance ~ I E m d to cut down the s a d pales, break up the samd pillars, pull down the high plam and the altars of their false gods, after which they rp turned to their citia, deterdud to serve the true God.

1, 2. H m did Hezeklah ptove to be a better klng than Aha27 3. (a) What action was by the lnhabimts of Israel and judah who attended the Pas- arranged by by~~zeHai17 {b) What do CM* tlm today leam from the decblve action taken by those who attend- ed that Passover?

K i n g litweklrrh trusb In Ithowh when ha face$ the might of Assyrtu I (2 Cbronides 31:l) What a contrast that was to theh former nUglous at- tltudel True chrlstbm to- day rn learn from this the Importance of 'not forsaking the gatherhg of themselves together.' Such gatherings, whether In local congregations ar on a larger scale at assemblies and conventions, play a vital role in their wmMng enc~uragaent - and bdng mwed by the brother- - hood as -11 as by God's spirit to

L- "hate to low and fine works."-Heb~ews 10:23-25.

Faith Put to the 'rest 4 Serious trlafs lie ahead for Je&em. HezeMah lzas bm

ken an alllance that hki faithless father, h, conchrdd with the Assyrians. He has even subdued the Philistha, Wtao are allies of h y r h . (2 Kings 1&7, 8) This has an- ger& the Mng of AssyFia. Hence, we read: ultcame about In the -th p r of King Hm#ah t)pat %mwdm'b the king ofhydu tame up agulnst dl the dti%r of - 1, 5. (a) How has Hcmklah demonstrated bts Lam- brom Aayda? (b) What milltary adon has Sennacherib taken against Ju- dah, and what step doa Hcmklah t& ta m i d an Immdak ar- uult on Jerusalem? {c} How does HmUah pxepare to defend Jem- mlem from the h!@alls?

A Kina's Faith fk m warded

Iu&h and pceeded b selre them." ( idah 36:1) Per- haps haptflg to protect Jerusalem from m W&k * satrlt by the dentless Assyrian armyI Hezeldah agrees tn pay Smrmherlb an enornous tribute of 300 dm talents and 30 gold talents.*-2 Hngs 18: 14.

5 Since there is not enwgh gold and silver in the rqr- al treasury t~ pay the tribute, W emah retrieves what pre- dou5 metals he can from the kmpte. He also cuts d m the tanpie doors, which have been overlaid .dth goid, and sends them to Sennscherib. This wtlsfia the Assyr3- an, but sdy for a while. (2 Klngs 1&15,16) Evidently, Hez- eMah malks that the AssJrrlans wlll not leave Jerusdem f om for Iong. T h d ~ , preparations have to be made. The people block up water soma that could supply water to h m h g Assyrians. Hezeldah also sfrengthens the brbt- fications of JwusaIem and builds an arsenal of weapons, Muding "mtssiles in abundance and shields.*-2 Chran- ides 32:4,5.

6 However, He~lafah puts his trust, not in dmr war mategla ox In br8fim~om, but ln Jehovah of armi~ . He ~ ~ e s hls military chleb: 'Be mumpus and strong. Do not be a b i d nor be krrified because of the ldngofAssyriaandonamuntofalithemmdtharis withhim; brwithusthmare m o ~ than themare wlth him. With b h therehian arm of flesh, but withusthm is Jehovah our God to help w and to 6ght our battles." B~~,mlveiy, the people hgin brace themselves upon the mDds of Hezelcfah the ktng of Judith," (2 ChronEdes 327$f3] Visu&c the: exciting mnts that ~~ ntr chap krs 36 to 39 of Isalatx's pmphcq are reviewed.

' Worth more than $9.5 mllllon IU.S.1 at current values.

[ 6. In whom docs HurWl put hll rmso

386 Isaiah's Prophecy-Liglrt for All Mankind I

Rabshakeh Presents His Case

7 Sennacherib dispatches Rabshakeh (a military title, not a personal name) along with two other dignitaries to Je- rusalem to demand the city's surrender. (2 Kings 18:17) These are met outside the city wall by three of Hezekiah's representatives, ELiakim the overseer of Hezekiah's house- hold, Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.-lsaiah 36:2,3.

8 Rabshakeh's aim is simple-convince Jerusalem to sur- render without a fight. Speaking in Hebrew, he first cries out: "What is this confidence in which you haw trusted? . . . In whom have you put trust, that you have rebelled against me?" (Isaiah 36:4, 53 Then Rabshakeh taunt5 the frightened Jews, reminding them that they are complete- ly isolated. To whom can they turn for support? To that "crushed reed," Egypt? (Isaiah 36x5) At this time, Egypt does resemble a crushed reed; in fact, that former world power has been temporarily conquered by Ethiopia, and Egyptts present Pharaoh, King Tirhakah, is not an Egyp- tian but an Ethiopian. And he is about to be defeated by Assyria. (2 h g s 19:8, 9) Since Egypt cannot save itself, it will be of little help to Judak

9 Rabshakeh now argues that Jehovah will not fight for His people because I-Je i s displeared with them. Rabshakeh says: "In case you should say to me, 'It is jehovah our God in whom we have trusted,' is he not the one whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has removed" (Isa- iah 36.7) Of course, far from rejectingjehovah by tearing down the high places and the altars in the land, the Jews have actually returned to Jehovah.

7. Who i s Rabshakeh, and why is he sent to Jerusalem? 8. How does Rabshakeh try to breakJerusalemls resistance? 9. What evidently leads Rabshakeh to conclude that Jehovah would forsake His people, but what are the facts?

1 A King's Faith Is Rewarded

10 Next Rabshakeh reminds the Jews that miIitarily they are hopelessly outclassed. He issues this arrogant chal-

i lenge: "kt me give you two thousand horses to see wheth- er you are able, on your part, to put riders upon them." (Isaiah 36:s) In reality, though, does it matter whether Ju- dah's Wained cavalry are many or few? No, for Judah's sal- vation does not depend upon superior military strength. Proverbs 21:31 explains matters this way: "The horse is something prepared for the day of battle, but salvation be- longs to Jehovah." Then Rabshakeh claims that Jehovah's blessing is with the Assyrians, not the Jews. Otherwise, he argues, the Assyrians could never haw penetrated so far into Judah's territory.-Isaiah 36:9, 70. 1 11 Hezkiah'r representatives are concerned about the ef- fect that Rabshakeh's arguments will have on the men who can hear him from the top of the city wall. These Jew- ish officialr request: "Speak, please, to your servants in the Syrian language, for we are listening; and do not speak to us in the Jews' language in the earz of the people thar are on the wall," (lstliuh 36:17) But Rabshakeh has no inten- tion of speaking in the Syrian language. He wants to sow 1 seeds of doubt and fear in the ]em so that they will sur- render and Jerusalem can be conquered without a fight! (Isaiah 36:72) Hence the Assyrian speaks again in "the Jews1 language." He warns the inhabitants of JenrsaIem: "Do not let Hezekiah deceive you people, for he is riot able to deliver you." Following this, he tries to tempt those lis- tening by painting a picture of life as it could be for the

I Jews under Assyrian rule: "Make a capitulation to me and

10. Why does it not matter whether Judah's defenders are many or few? 11, 12. (a) Why does Rabshakeh Insist on speaking in "the Jews' language," and how does he try to tempt the IisteningJews? (b) What effect might Rabshakeh's worils have on the jews?

lunirrh'a Prophecy-Light fur All Maaklnd 1

come out ta me and eat each one frrun his own vine and ecKh one fmrn his own fig bee and ddnk ead~ one the wu- ter of his own cistern, until I came and cKtuaI& tuke you to a Iand llke p u r own land, a h d o f w n und new wine, rr land of bread and vineyar&. "4saluh 36: 13- 17:

I 12 There wil l be no harvest fur the Jews this year-the As-

syrian invasion has prevented them from plan- craps. The prospect of eating succulent grapes and of drlnklng -1 water must be very appUng to the men listening on the wall. But Rabshakeh has not yet finbhed trying to wedm the Jm.

13 Prom his arsenal of arguments, Rabshakeh draws an- &a verbal -a He warns the Jews against believing HezeMah should he say: "]&wuh h i d will ddIw us," h W h ~ & d s theJewsthat the g d s of Samaria were unabk to prevent the ten Mm from being overcome by the Assyrians. And what of the gods of the other natlans Assyrla has conquad? "Where are the gods of Humatbs end ArpadT" he demands, ' M e r e ate the gods of Sephar- d m ? And have they &Ifwed Sumurla out of my hand?" -Isaiah 38: f &2U.

14 Of course, Rahhakeh, a worshiper of false gods, does not understand that there k? a b 4 dlfimce between apostate Samaria and Jerusalem under Hezeldah. Samar- ia's Calse gods had no p w r to save the ten-& kingdom. (2 Kings 1E7, 17, 18) On the other hand, Jerusalem un- der Hezekiah has turned its back bn fahe gods and has * turned to SerVlngJdmah. Howwpr, the three Judean rep resentad= do not try to explain this to Rabshakeh. W~qr mttnued to keep siht a d did me answer him o word, hr the commandment of the king wws, saylng: %u must - 13, 14. Despite Rabshakeb's arguments, why Is what happened to Samaria IrreImt to ludah's situation?

- The king sends emissar/es

to Isalah to hiear~ehovuh's counsel

not answer him,'" (Isalrth 36:27) Ellakirn, Shebna, and JoEih return to Hezeklah and make an aR&l report of the words of Rabsshakhh.-Isd& 36:22.

Hezeklah Makes a Dedslon 15 King Hezebh now has a decision to make. WIIIJeru-

satem surrender ta the Assyrlm? join forces with F,gypt? or stand her ground and fight? Heklah is under great pmsure, He goes to Jehovah's temple, while dispatding Eliakim and Shebna, along with the older men of the prlcsts, to Inquire of Jehovah t h u g h the prophet Isai& (ISOM 327,2) Dressed in sackcloth, the king's a b a r i e s - IS. (a) What declslan now fafes Heeeklah? (b) How does jehmh reassure his people?

approach Isaierh, saytug: %is day iy u day d d i W s and of rebuke and of xornibj Insofence . . . Perhaps Ietrovah Fur Cod will hear the words of R ~ b s f i & & ~ whom the king afkyria his lord sent to taunt the living Wt and he wii! ~~ttuully call h h to account for the words h t jehu- vlrh your Cod ha5 heardrd" [Miah 37:3-5) Yes, the Assyri- ans are challqhg the limg God! WillJehovah give at- tention to their taunts? Though Isaiah, Jehovah reassures the Jam "Do not be ahid bemuse offhe words thdt you have heard with whish the rrttendants of the king of ksyr- io $poke ubu&e& of me. Here I m putttng a spi& in him, ar?d he must heat n report mid return to his own /and; and I shall ceEarhly cause him fo fall by the sword in his own land.Y-lwiah B:d, i!

IbMeanwhile, Rabshakh is called away to bk at Sm- nacherib's side while the king wages war at Libnah. Sm- nacherib willdeal. with Jemalem la&r. (&aiah 31&) SaI, RabsW*Is departure brings no letup of pmure on Hez- ~ M a h . Sermachdb sends theaiming letters describing what the inhabitants of j e d e m sari e q a t if they B- fuse to -surrender: 'Tau p & F haw heurd whot fhe king$ o#&yrh did & all the lands by devoting them to destmc- tian, and wiii yau p d f be deli&? Hwe the gods of the ndons fiat my foefathem brought to ruin defIvePed them?. . , Where is the king crf Hamath m d the king of dr- pad aod the king of the ti@ o f ~ h ~ i m - o f Hena and of Iwah 7" (I~gIak 379-73) Basically, the Asspian is a$ng that it is meless to resist-resistance will onIy bring m o ~ trouble!

17 Deeply concerned a b u t the mmequenm sf the de- dsian he musf make, Hezefiah spreads Smmcheribis let- ters out before Jehovah in the temple, (isalah 37:I4) In heartfelt prayer he implores Jehovah to give ex to the 14ssyrhVs threcits, mdudirr his payer with the WQTS: Jr%zd now, 0 je#r~rnJ~ our Ca f , save us out of his hand, that Q,'I the kingdom of the eartk M a y know that y t u ~ , 0 jeho- vah, are Cod &ne." (l$uiah 3E 15-20) From M s it h dear that Hezekiah Fs primarily c~mmed, not with his o m ddivemnce, but witb the reproach that will be heaped upon Jehovah's m e tf m i a dekab Jerusalem. IB JdwvaJY3 answer to Hez&iahts pager c a m tlxough

Isaiah. Jerusalem must xlat swerider to &y&; sh must stand her ground. Speaking as ta Sennacherib, Isa- iah boldly states Jehwah's rnessa&e to the Asyrian: 'Ww virgin daughter OF Ziw has d~xpiced you, she has held

16. Wh+t letters are sent by SpnnacheriM 1 18, (a] What i5 Rezekiah's motive in asking Jehovah for proteed ttun? @j How W J&ovah through Islah,mmr the ksyriu?

you in derision. Behind you the daughter of Jerusalem has wagged her head [mockingly]." (Isaiah 37:21, 22) Jeho- vah then aclds, in effect.: 'Who are you to taunt the Holy One of Israel? I know your deeds. You have great ambi- tions; you make great boasts. You have trusted in your mil- itary power and have conquered much land. But you are not invincible. I will frustrate your plans. I will conquer you. Then I will do to you as you have done to others. I will put a hook in your nose and lead you back to Assyria!' -Isaiah 37:23-29.

"This Will Be the Sign for You" 19 What guarantee does Hezekiah have that Isaiah's

prophecy will be fulfilled? Jehovah answers: 'This will be the sign for you: There will be an eating this year of the growth from spilled kernels, and in the second year grain that shoots up o f itselc but in the third year saw seed, you people, and reap, and plant vineyards and eat their fruit- age." (Isaiah 37:30) Jehovah will provicle food for the trapped Jews. Although unable to plant seed because of the Assyrian occupation, they will he able to eat from the gleanings of the preceding year's harvest. The following year, a sabbath year, they must let their fields lie fallow, despite their desperate situation. (Exodus 23: 11 ) Jehovah promises that if the people obey his voiw, enough grain will sprout in the fields lo sustain them. Then, in the fol- lowing year, men will sow seed in the usual way and enjoy the fruitage of their labor.

20 Jehovah now compares his people to a plant that can- not easily be uprooted: "Those who escape of the house of judah . . . wiEi certainiy take root downward and produce

19. What sign doesJehovah grve Hezekiah, and what does ~t mean? 20. In what way will those who escape the Assyrian attack "take mot downward and produce fruitage upward"?

A King? Fnith Is Rewarded 393 1 I

fruitage upward." (kaiah 3Z3 T, 32) Yes, those who trurt in Jchwah have nothing to fear. They and their offspring will remain firmly established in the land.

I

21 What of the Assyrian's threats against Jerusalem? Je- hovah answers: ' H e will not come into this city, nor will he shoot an arrow there, nor confront it wit11 a shield, nor cast up a siege rampart against i t By the way by which he same he will return, and in to this city he will not

21, 22. (a) What is rophes~ed concerning Sennacherib? (b) I-low and when arc ~ehovaE's words about Sennachcrib fulfilled?

lehovah's angel strikes down 185,000 Assyrians

391 IsuiaI~'s Propliecy-Ligrit Tor A!! Mankind I

come." (Isaiah 37:33, 34) There will be no battle between drsyria and Jerusalem after all. Surprisingly, it wdl be the Assyrians, not the Jews, who are defeated without a fight.

22 True to his word, Jehovah sends an angel who strkes down the cream of Sennacherib's troops-185,000 men. This apparently happens a t Libnah, and Sennacherib him- self wakes up to find the leaders, chiefs, and mighty nlen of his army dead. Shamefaced, he returns to Nineveh, but despite his resounding defeat, he stubbornly remains de- voted to his false god Nisroch. Some ycars latcr, while wor- shiping in the temple of Nisroch, Sennacherib is assassi- nated by two of his sons. Once again, lifeless Nisroch proves powerless to save.-Isaiah 37:35-38.

Hezekiah's Faith Is Further Strengthened 23 About the time that Sennacherib first comes up

against Judah, Hezekiah falls gravely ill. Isaiah tells him that he is going to die. (Isaiah 38:T) The 39-year-old king is devastated. His concern i s not only for his own well- being but also for the future of the people. Jerusalem and Judah are in danger of being invaded by the Assyrians. If Hczekiah dies, wlto will lead the fight? At that time, Heze- kiah has no son to assume the rulership. In fervent prayer Hezekiah begs Jehovah to show him mercy.-Isaiah 38: 2, 3.

24 Isaiah has not yet left the palace courtyards when Je- hovah send5 him back to the stricken king's bedside with another message: "I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Here ! am adding onto your days fifteen years;

23. What crisis does Hezekiah face when Sennacherib first comes up against Jndah, and what are the i~nplications of t h ~ cri~is? 24, 25. (a) HOW doeb Jehovah graciously answer Hezekiah's prayer? (h) What miracle does Jehovah perform, as described at Isaiah 38: 7, 87

A King's Faith Is Rewardt*d 385

and out of the palm of the king of Assyria I shall deliver you and this city, and I will defend this city." (lsaiuh 38:4-6; 2 Kings 20:4,S) Jehovah will confirm his promise with an unusual sign: "Here I am making the shadow o f the steps that had gone down on the steps of the stairs of Ahm by the sun retrace backward ten steps."-Isaiah 38:z 8a.

25 According to the Jewish historian Josephus, there was a staircase inside the royal palace, probably with a column near it. When the sun's rays hit the column, they cast a shadow on the stairs. One could measure the time of day by observing ihe progress of the shadow on the steps. Now Jehovah will perform a miracle. After the shadow drifts down the steps in the usual way, it will retrace its path backward ten steps. Who ever heard of such a thing? The Bible states: "And the sun gradually went back ten steps on the steps o f the stairs that it had gone down." (Isaiah 38: 86) Shortly thereafter, Hezekiah recovers from his illness. News of this spreads as far as Babylon. When the king of Hahylon hears it, he sends messengers to Jerusalem to ob- tain the faas.

26 About three years after Hezeluah's miraculous recov- ery, his first son, Manasseh, i s horn. When Manasseh grows up, he does not show appreciation for God"s com- passion, without which he would llot have been born! Instead, during most of his lifetime, Manasseh does on a large scale what is bad injehovah's eyes.-2 Chronicles 32: 24; 33:l-6.

A Lapse in Judgment 27 Like his forefather David, Hezelaah is a man of faith.

He treasures God's Word. According to Proverbs 25:1, he arranged for the compiling of the material now found in Proverbs chapters 25 to 29. Some believe that he also

26. What is om result of the lengthening of Hezekiah's life? 27. In what ways does Herekiah show apprec~at~un forjchovah?

3516 ~ S L I ~ U I I ',s P r i ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ - f , ~ ~ ~ / ~ t f i ) r A l l M I I ~ I ~ / I ; C I f

composed the 119th Psalm. The rnovlvtng song of gratitude that f-iezekiah composts after recovcrtrrg from his illness shows him to be a man of deep feeling. 1 le concluder; that the most important thing in life is to IF ahlc to praise Jc- hovah at His temple "oli the days of our life." (Isaiah 38:9- 20) May all of us feel the samc way ahnu2 purc worship!

28 Altl~ough faithful, Hezeklal~ is Imperfect, I-lc makes a serious error in judgment sometltne ;iftcr Jchwah heals h lm. Isaiah explains: "At thn t time Merodaci~baladan the son of Baladan the king of Babylon sent letters artd a gift to Hezekiah, after he heard that he had been sick but was strong again. So Hezekia h began to rejoice over them and proceeded td show them his tremum-house, the silver ond the gold and the Bolsom oil ond the good oil and orlf his ar- mory and all that was 50 be found in his treasures. Them proved tu be nothing that Hezekioh did not stlow them in his own house and in all his dominion,"-Isaiah 39: 1,Z. *

29 Even after the stinging defeat by Jehovah's angel, As- syrla continues to pose a thrcat to many nations, includ- Ing Babylon. Hezehah may have wankd to Impress the king of Babylon as a possible future ally. I-Imewr, Jehovah docs not want the inhabitants of Judah to consort with their enemies; he wants them to trurt In him! 'I'hrough

* After Sennacherib's defeat, surrounding notions brought gifts of gold, sllver, and other precious thing- tn Iil*7cklah. A1 2 ( :h ro~ j ic I~ 3222 , 23, 27. we read that "Hezeklah a m c tu llrw r i c l i c ~ and ~Iur)r to a very gfiat amount" and that "hc camp to be cxnlrcrl In tllc eye% nf all the natlons.'' These gifts may have nllowrrl hlrn Io rcl)lr~rlh his treasure-house, which he had emptied when p e y l i l ~ trll~utc Ir) the A$- syrlans.

28. What errnr in judgment doe5 Hezeklali make somct l mc artcr he- Ing miraculously healed? 2'1. (it) What may be the rnotlve of tlczeklah when he \t~nws hts wealth to the Babylonian delegatton? Ib) Wlrat wtlt hc tltr consc- qucncrs of Hezekiah's error in judgrncnt?

the prophet Isaiah, Jchovrth dlsclo~es the future to Heze- kiah: "Days ore coming, and aft that is in your own house and thmt your foreforhers have stored up down to this doy will octrrc~lly be curried to Batylon. Nothing will be lef t . . . And some of your own sons that will come forth from you, to whom you will become fnther, will themselves be tak- en and actually become court officials in the poloce of the

( king of Babylon." (I5diah 393-7) Ycs the very nation that Hezekiah sought to iinprcss will even tilally l~lunder Jeru- salem's treasures and rcbducc her cl tixens to slavery. Heze- luah's showing hls treasure to thc Ralsylonians only serves to whet their greedy appcrltc.

30 Apparently referring to the incident In which Hezeki- 1 ah showed his treasure to the Rahylonlans, 2 Chronicles

3226 states: "'HWekiah humbled llimself for the baughti- ness of his heart, he and the In hahitants of Jerusalem, and Jehovah's indignation did not comc upon them in the days of Hezekiah."

31 Despite his imperfcctlon, Hczcklnh was n man of faith. He knew that his God, Jrhovat~, is a rcal person who has feelings, When under pressure, Hczcklah pmyed fervent- Iy to Jehovah, and Jehovah answered hlm. Jehovah God granted him peace for the re3t of his days, and for that, Hezekiah was grateful. (Isaiah 398) Jehovah should k just as real to us toclay. When prohlems arise, may we, like Hezekiah, look to Jehovah for wisclom and the way out, "for he gives genemusly to all and without reproaching," uames 1:s) If we continue to cndurc and to exercise faith in Jehovah, we can be sure that l ~ e will hecome "the rc warder of those earnestly seeklng him," both now and in the future.-Hebrews 11 :6.

30. How did Hezekiah shown g u ~ l attlt~tdel 31. How did things turn out for Hc7ekiah, and what d m this teach us?

CHAPTER THIRTY "Comfort My People" 394

"Comfort My People"

lsaiah 40:l-31

JEHOVAH is 'the God who supplies comfort.' One way that he comforts us is through the promises he has had recorded in his Word. (Romans 15:4, 5) For example, when faced with the death of someone dear to you, what could be more comforting than the prospect of that loved one's being resurrected in God's new world? (John 5:28, 29) And what about Jehovah's promise that he will soon end wickedness and transform this earth into a paradise? Is it not comforting to have the prospect of surviving into that coming Paradise and never dying?-Psalm 37:9-11,29; Revelation 21:3-5.

2 Can we really trust the pxomises of God? Indeed, we can! The Maker of those promises is completely reliable. He has both the capability and the will to carry out his word. (Isaiah 55: 10, 11) This was powerfulIy demonstrat- ed in connection with Jehovah's statement through the prophet lsaiah that he would restore true worship in Jeru- salem. Let us consider that prophecy, as it appears in Isa- iah chapter 40, for doing so can strengthen our faith in Je- hovah, the Fulfiller of promises.

A Comforting Promise 3 In the eighth century B.C.E., the prophet Isaiah records

1. What is one way that Jehovah comforts us? 2. Why can we t rwt the promises of God? 3, 4. (a) Isaiah records what worh of comfort that God's people will need at a later time? (b) Why will the inhabitants of Judah and JeruqaIem he taken into ex~le to Babylnn, and how long will their ser- vitude last?

words of comfort that Jehovah's people will need at a lat- er time. Immediately after telling King Hezekiah of the ap- proaching destruction of Jerusalem and the deportation of the Jewish people to,Rabylon, Isaiah sets forth Jehc- vah's words that promise restoration: "'Comfofi comfort mypeople,'says the God of you men, 'Speak to the heart of lerusalem and call out to her that her military service has

1 been fulfilled, hot her error hm been poid off For from the hand of Jehovah she has received a full amount for all her sins. ' "-Isaiah 40: 1, 2.

4 "Comfort," the opening word of Isaiah chapter 40, well describes the message of light and hope contained in .the

I rest of the book of Isaiah. For turning apostate the inhabit- ants of Judah and Jerusalem will be taken into exile to Bab- ylon in 607 B.C.E. But those Jewish captives will not serve the Babylonians forever. No, their servitude will last only until their error is "paid off." How long will that be? Ac- cording to Jeremiah the prophet, 70 years. (Jeremiah 25: 11, 12) After that, Jehovah will lead a repentant remnant from Babylon back to Jerusalem. In the 70th year of Ju- dah's desolation, what a comfort it will be for the captives to realize that the time for their promised deliverance js at hand!-Daniel 9:1,2.

5 The journey from Babylon to Jerusalem is 500 to 1,000 rmles, depending upon the route taken, Will the long trip impede the fulfillment of God's promise? By no means! Isaiah wdtes: '%sten! Someone is calling out ia the wilderness: 'Clear up the way of jehovah, you people! Make the highway for our Cod through the deserf plain straight, le t every volley be raised up, and every mountain

5 , 6 , (a) Why will the Iong journey from Babylon to Jerusalem not impede the fulfillment of God's promise? (h) The restoration of the Jews to their homeland will haw w h a t effect on other nations?

400 Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for AII Mankind I

and hill be made low. And rhe knobby ground must be- come /eve/ /on$, and the rugged ground a valley ploin, And the glory of jehovah will certainly be revealed, and ali flesh must see it together, for the very mouth o f Jehovah has spoken it. ' "-hiah 40:3-5.

6 Before embarlung on a journey, Eastern rulers would often send out men to prepare the way by removing big stones and even building causeways and leveljng hills. In the case of the returning Jews, it will be as if God himself is in the forefront, clearing away any obstacIes. After all, these are Jehovah's name people, and fulfiIling his prom- ise to restore them to their homeland will cause hrs glory to be manifest before all the nations. Like it or not, those nations urll be forced to see that Jehovah is the Fulfiller of his promises.

7 The restoration in the sixth century B.C.E. was not the only fulfillment of this prophecy. There was also a fulfill- ment in the first century C.E. John the Baptizer war the voice of someone "crying out in the wilderness," in fulfill- ment of Isaiah 40:3. (Luke 3:1-6) Under inspiration, John applied Isaiah's words to himself. (John 1:19-23) Starting in 29 C.E., John began preparing the way for Jesus Christ* John's advance procIamation aroused people to look for the promised Messiah so that they, in turn, might listen to him and follow him. (Luke 1:13-17, 76) Through Jesus,

Isaiah foretells the preparing of the way before Jehovah. (Isaiah 40:3) However, the Gospels apply that prophecy to what John the Baptizer did in preparing the way for lesw Christ The inspired writ- ers of the Christian Greek Scripture5 made such application because Jesus represented his rather and came in his Father's name.-John 5: 43; 829.

7, 8. (a) The words of Isaiah 40:3 had what fuIfillment in the first century C.E.? (b) Isaiah's prophecy had what larger fulfillment in 1919?

1 'Comfort My People"

Jehovah would lead repentant ones into the heedom that only God's Kmgdom can provide-liberation from bond- age to sin and death. (John 1:29; 8:32) Isaiah's words had a larger fulfiIlment in the deliverance of the remnant of spiritual Israel from Babylon the Great in 1919 and in their restoration to true worship.

8 What, though, about those who are in line to bene- fit from the initial fulfillment of the promise-the Jewish captives in Babylon? Can they really trust Jehovah's prom- ise to return them to their beloved homeland? Indeed, they can! With vivid words and illustrations taken from everyday life, Isaiah now gives compelling reasons why they can have complete confidence that Jehovah will prove true to his word.

A God Whose Word Lasts Forever

9 First, the word of the One who promises restoration lasts forever, Isaiah writes: "Listen! Someone is saying: 'Call out!' And one said: 'Whar shall I call out?' 'dl/ flesh is green gmss, and all their loving-kindness is like the bios- som of the field. The gneen grass hos dried up, the blos- som hos withered, because the very spirit of lehovah has blown upon it. Surely the peopk are green gmss. The green grass has dried up, the blossom has withered; but as for the word of our God, it will Iast to time indefinite.' "-Isaiah 40:6-8.

10 The Israelites well know that grass does not Iast brw- er. During the dry season, the sun's intense heat changes it from green to a parched brown. In some respects, man's life is like grass-so temporary in nature. (Psalm 103:15,L6; James 1:10,11) Isaiah contrasts the transitoriness of man's -

9, 10. How doer lqaiah contrast the transitoriness of man's life with the permanence of Gotl's "word"?

faxiah% l4Pyliacp-A#tt for All kbankiad I

life Nth the permanem of GQ@S yrdI~ or 'stated p- pose, "he word 6 our Ga$? endues hwr. When God spe& nat- can muI Msw~rdsgl'pmt them f i n being fuKUed.-Joshua &:I4 11 Today we have Jehovah's skaknent of purjgse ln writ-

ten form in the Bible. The Bible has h x d bittercppsitim over the centuriest and hrlw &amtator$ and others have risked their hws W preserve it. YH, their e&rb alone do not -I& why It has mwiyed. Ail credit for Its suvivd musk @ < ~ Jehovah, ''the Iiving and endusfng Gad" and the P m m iJf his Wd. (1 1:2%25) Think &Gut tm: 5WJehoah has pres&rwd t& miiten Word, dan- nat trust him to fuIfiII the gmmi5Qs it cantaim?

A sttong G M wlm Tenderly Cares for Hh Sheep

a Mab gives a second xwon why the pmds,e af rest& WRP rn be m d . The One who makes the prod= is a&mq Goel w h ~ tmderlspmm for his p q k . Isaiah mn- tinuex s:Muk pur way up ewn wntu a high mountain, you woman bringing pod new hf am. R a f ~ yuur mire e m wh% paw, p u woman bringing $4 news bjru- swtpm. Raise it Do tmt,be &aid. Sw to the c i i oPlud&: 'Here is plrr God,' LcrokI f i e d o d i p LordMowk him- s& wjit mme wen as B sttong one r&n mm& WenM," fsmWJI and his arm w#Y!& rufhtg fw h*. iadd His re- ward b dfb him, and the w q e he p * ~ & kfomhirn. Like a skephprd he wi/l $ e m h$s dm@. WE& his r r r ~

11. Why tm W mst Jehomh,tg fulfill the promise3 m a l n M in ki written Word? 12, 13. (a) Why a n the p m m k of restorafinn be trusted8 (b) What p d news is there for the lmkh exflw, Md whycanthqhaw mn- f d m P

fohn ~ ~ l b Buptizer was a vdce 'crying out h the wifderned'

h e w l i n c ~ ~ ~ e k r m ~ o n d i n h h b o s o m i p e w l l l uarry them. b g M g sudc he will d u c t with em.' -450ioh 4O:Pf I*

13 In Bible times it was the custom for women to cele- brate victories, aying out or singing the goad news of bat- tla won or of coming relief. (1 Samuel IS:&, 7; Ralm 68: 11) Isaiah pphet idy Indicates that there is good news far the Jewlsh mils, news that can be k.wlevly - . +out&,

Jehovah, a Lovlng Shepherd Isaiah compares j e h a h to a Iwlng shepherd who at-

ries his lambs In hls bosom. (IsaBh 40:1Q, 11) Isaiah wl- d d y bases thlS warm Ifluswatlon on the real-lk practicer ad sh~phervfs, A madem-dw obsemr who waUd shep he- on tM slopes of M m t Hemon in the Middle East repom shephrd watched Ms flock closely to see hbw &+!y fared. When he found a nw~born lamb he put It in the fatds&Ofhjs.. . gmat CDBC slnceItwld betoo b- hie to bIIw the mother, When hi!i bosom was full, hk put la& on his shoulders, hoMlng them by the feet or in a bag or & a s k on the back of a donkey, unbll the fl W e ones were able to rollow the motherr," Is It not comfwtlng to krww that we s m a God who has such tender concern far hls pehpW

406 Isnia h's Prophecy-Light fur All Man kind I

even from the mountaintops-Jehovah will lead his peo- ple back to their beloved Jerusalem! They can have tonfi- dence, for Jehovah will come "even with strength." Noth- ing, therefore, can prevent him from fulfilling his promise. 14 There is, however, a gentle side to this s b n g God. Isa- iah warmly describes how Jehovah wdl lead his people back to their homeland. Jehovah is like a loving shepherd who collects his lambs togethm and carries them in his "bosom." The word "bosom" here evidently refers to the upper folds of the garment. This is where shepherds some- rimes carry newborn lambs that cannot keep pace with the flock. (2 Samuel 12:3) Such a touching scene from pas- toral life no doubt reassures Jehovah's exiled peopIe of his loving concern for them. Surely such a smng yet tender God can be trusted to fulfill what he has promised them!

15 Isaiah's words are filled with prophetic meaning for our day. In 1914, Jehovah came "'even with strength" and established his Kingdom in the heavens. The 'arm that is ruling for him' is hls Son, Jesus Christ, whom Jehovah h a installed upon his heavenly throne. In 1919, Jehovah delivered his anointed servants on earth from bondage to Babylon the Great and set about completely restoring the pure worship of the living and bue God. T h s is good news that must be fearlessly proclaimed, as if by shouting b m the mountaintops so that the proclamation carries far and wide. Let us, then, lift up our voices and boldly l& others know that Jehovah God has restored his pure worship on this earth!

14. (a) How does Isaiah illustrate the tender way in which Jehovah will lead his people? (b) What example illustrates how shepherds ten- derly care for theit. sheep? (See box on page 405.) 15. (a) When did Jehwah come "even with strength," and who is the 'arm that is ruling for him? (b) What good news must be fear- lessly prodaimed7

"Comfort M y People" 407

16 The words of Isaiah 40:10, 11 have further pram- cal value for us today. It is comforting to note the tender ' manner in which Jehovah leads his people. Just as a shep- herd understands the needs of individual sheep-includ- ing the Little lambs that cannot: keep up with the rest-Je hovah understands the limitations of each one of his faithful servants. In addition, Jehovah, as a tender Shep-

1 herd, sets a pattern for Christian shepherds. Elders must treat the flock with tenderness, imitating the loving con- cern shown by Jehovah himself. T h q must be ever rnincl- ful of the way that Jehovah feels about each member of the flock, "which he purchased with t h e blood of his own Son."-Acts 20:28.

All-Powerful, All-Wise

17 The Jewish exiles can have confidence in the pmm- ise of restoration because God is all-powerful and all-wise. Says Isaiah. "Who has measured the wafers in the mere hollow of his hand, and taken the pmportions of the heav- ens themselves with a mere span and included in a mea- sure the dust of the earth, or weighed with an indicutor the mountains, and the hills in the scales? Who has taken the proportions of the spirit of Jehovah, and who 05 his man of counsel can make him know anything? With whom did he consult together that one might make him understand, or who teaches him in the path of justice, or teaches him knowledge, or makes him know the very way of real under- standing?c--lsah 40: 12- 14.

18 These are awe-inspiring questions for the Jewish exiles to ponder. Can mere humans turn back the tide of the

16. In what manner does Jehovah lead his people today, and what pattern does this set? 17, 18. (a) Why can the Jewirh exiles have confidence in the prom- ise of restoration? (b) What awe-inspiring questions does Isaiah raise?

408 Isaiah3 Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I

mighty seas? Of course not! Yet, to Jehovah, the seas that cover the earth are like a drop of water in the palm of his hand." Can puny men measure the vast, starry heavens or weigh earth's mountains and hills? No. Yet, Jehovah mea- sures the heavens as easily as a man might measure an object with a span-the distance between the end of the thumb and the end of the liffle finger when the hand is spread out. God can, in effect, weigh mountains and hills in a pair of scales. Can even the wisest humans advise God what to do under present circumstances or tell him what to do in t h e future? Certainly not!

19 What about the mighty nations of the earth-can they resist God as he fulfills his word of promise? Isaiah an- swers by describing the nations as follows: "look! The na- tions are as a drop from a buckec and as the film of dust on the scales they have been accounted. Look! He lifts the islands themselves as mere fine dust Even Lebanon is not sufficient for keeping a fire burning, and its wild an- irnorls are not sufficient for a burn t offering. All the nations are as something nonexistent in front of him; as nothing m d on unreality they have been accounted to him."-isa- iak 40: 75-IZ

20 To Jehovah, entire nations are as a dmp of water fall- ing from a bucket. They are no more than the fine dust that accumulates on a scale, without effed.*Suppose that

It has been calculated that "the mass of the oceans is approximate- ly 1.35 quintillion ( 1 -35 x 1018) metric tons, or about 1/4400 of the total mass nf the Earth."-Eptcartd 97 Encyrlopediu. * TheExposEtor's Bible Cammentarynotes: "Near Eastern marketplace commerce would take no account of the minute water drop in the measuring bucket or a little dust on the scales when meat or fruit was weighed." - 19, 20. To emphasize the greatness of Jehovah, Isaiah uses what graphic word pictures?

I

"Comfort My People"

someone were to construct a huge altar and use as fire- wood for the altar all the trees that covered the mountains of Lebanon. Then suppose that he were to offer as sac- rifices al l the animals that roamed on those mountains. Even such an offering would not be worthy of Jehovah. As if the imagery used thus far were not suflicient, Isaiah re-

I sorts to an even stronger statement-all the nations are as "less than nothing" in Jehovah's eyes.-Isaiah 40:17, New Revised Standard Version.

21 To emphasize further that Jehovah is beyond com- pare, Isaiah proceeds to show the folly of those who make idols out of gold, silver, or wood. How foolish to think that any such idol could be a fitting representation of the "One who is dwelling above the circle of the earth" and who holds sway over its inhabitants!-Read Isaiah 40: 78-24.

22 AIl these vivid descriptions lead us to one conclusion -nothing can prevent the all-powerful, all-wise, and in- comparable Jehovah from fillfilling his promise. How Isa- iah's words must have comforted and skengthened the Jewish exiles in Babylon who longed to return to their homeland! Today we too can have confidence that Jcho- vah's promises for our future will become a reality.

"Who Has Created These Things?" 3 There is yet another reason why the Jewish exiles can

take heart The One who promises deliverance js the Cre- ator of all things and the Source of all dynamic energy. To stress his astounding capacity, Jehmh calls attention to

21, 22. (a) How does Isaiah emphasize that Jehovah is incornpara- ble? (b) Isaiah's vivid descriptions lead us to what conclusion? (c) The prophet Isaiah records what scientifically sound statement? (See box on page 412.) 23. For what reason can the Jewish exiles take heart, and what does Jehovah now stress about himself?

his ability manifest in creation: "To whom can yau people liken me so that I should be mode his equal?'says the Holy One. 'Raise your eyes high up and see. Who has creukd ti~ese things? I t is the One who is bringing forth the army of them even by numbec all of whom he calls men by name. Due to the abundance of dynamic energy, he also being vigornus in powec not one of them is missing.'"-lsninh 40:25,26.

2-1 The Iloly One of Israel is; speaking for hlmsclf, 7b show that he is without equal, Jehovah directs atteu- tion 20 thc stars of the heavens. Like a military mm- mander able to marshal his troops, Jehovalz is in ut,m- rnancl of t l~r stars. If he were tn muster them, 'not one o f them would be missing.' Though the nurnher of the $tan is grcat, he calls each one by name, either an indivir211- a1 name or a namelike designation. Like obedient soldiers, they keep their place and observe proper urdcl; for thclr Leader ha$ an abundance of "dynamic encrw" and is "vig- orous in power." Therefore, the Jewish exilcs havc reason for confidence. The Creator, who comrnanrls tllc slirrs, hiis the power to support his servants.

25 Who uf us can resist the dlvlne invitatinn mcorcl- ed at Isaiah 40:26: "Raise your eyes high up and see"? 'Shc discoveries of modern-clay astronomers have shown that the starry heavens are even more awe-inspiring than they appeased to be in Isaiah" day. .4stronomerr wire pccr into the heavens with their powerful telesmpcs cstimnlc that the observable universe contains as many as 125 bil- lion galaxies. Why, just one of these--the Milky Way aal-

24. Speaking for himself, holv docs Jchovah show that he J5 wtthnt~l ctluaI? 25. t lrnv may we rpspond to the divine invitation recorded at IwIa h W Z h , and with what effect?

axy-cnntalns, occordlny: lo sotnc estimates, over 100 hil- llon stars! Such knwlctlgc should awaken In our hearts ruvclmcc for uur Crcntc)r i ~nd complete trust In his word of promise.

26 Knowing that the years in captivity will dampen the splriw of the Jwlh exlles, Jehovah Inspire3 Isaiah to re- cord in advance these wards of reassurance: "For whatrw- son do you soy, O jacob, and do y ~ u specrk out; 0 Isme!, 'My way has been concw/ed from lekovah, and justice to me eludes my Cod himself'? Hove you not come to know or have you not heard? Jehovrrh, the Creotor of the extremities of the mrtl~, is o God to time indefjnite. He does - 26, 27. Hnw anb thc fccllnjir nl the exller in Babylon describe& ,md what thlng~ shoulrf they knwu!

What I s the Shape of the Earth? In ancient times humans In general believed that the

earth was flat As early as the sixth century B.CE, how- erer, Creek philosopher Pylhagons h r l z e d that the earth must be a sphere. Even so, two cenkrrles before Pythagoms formulated hls theory, the prophet Isaiah stated with extraordinary darity and certainty: "There b One who lr dwelling above the slxje of the earth," (Isa- lah 40:22) The Hebrew word &ugh hare translated "dr- cle" may be rendered "sphere." Inhrestlngly, only a spherlal object appears as a dde from @vary angle." 3 Far ahead of his the, then, the prophet tsaiah recorded a statement that is sdentiflcally sound and fFee from an- dent myths. "Technically ~ p e a h $ the earth Is an oblate sphemld. It is slightly f l a t l ed at the poles.

not tim out orgmw weu~, Ihm k no seurching out of his ~n&nimding.~-baIuh 4O:U, 28.*

hiah mods Jehovah's words descrIblng the Wings of the miles in Babylon, hadreds of mlles from their homeland. Some think that their "way"-the M come

1 of their life-is unseen or unknown by their God. They think tkat Jehovah b indifferent ro the t nfWces they suf- fer. They are remhded of thlxlp that they should know,

I if not from personal experience, then at least b m W r - W o n W has been handed down. Jehovah B able and willing to Wver hls people. He is the eternal God and the Chator of the m t i ~ carth. Hence, he still possesses the ) he &played in mation, and not men mighty B& gZon b beyond hts ma&, Such a God mnot grow ttred and fail his pwple. They ought not to expect bo be able ful- ly to %rasp Jehovah's doings, for hb understandmg-oz in- sight, discernment, and pemptIon-ls beyond their corn- prehemion. a Through Isaiah, Jehovah continues with encowage-

ment fbr the despondent: exiles: "He is glvlng b the ~ e d one amd b the one wlthout dynamic energj, he nwkes M1 rnlght abound, Boys will both the wt and gmw w r y , and pung men themsdwts wlll Wctbout Mi stum- ble, buf who hoping In jehovoh will -In pow- er. They wlll mount up w M dngs like mgb. Thqr will mn and notgrow wry ; thg will wlk and not rite outm-/$a- b h 402S37.

When speaking of the need to give to the Wed one

* fit kajah 40:28, the exprLtssisn "time Indcfinlk* means "forevex," for f e h w h Is "the Klng of etesntg"-l Timothy 1:17,

2a, 29. (a1 How does Jchwah wmind hLn people that he will come m the aid of wary ones? (b) What lllustnrtlon Is used to show havv Jehovah empowers trfs m t s ?

p m r , Jehwah have in mind the arduous journey that the exiles WII Rave w make Worder b &n bme. Jehovah rm-drds his people that it is isrBLaractex#ic of him to tome to the a16 of weary ones who b s k to him fm support. Even the most vibrant of humans-"bqs" aad "young menn-may be warn d m by fatigue and s tun - ble from eihwstioa. Yet, J e b d promises +a @ye power -unwearied power to run and to walk-to thme who are trus&ing in him. The seemingly cikrtless flight of the ea- gle, a powerful biid that rn soaT far hmrs at a time, is

Tmnfart My People"

used to illustrate haw Jehovah empowers ht$ $manta* With prci$petts of such didfie supgort, the Jewish & l ~ s have no muse for despdr. WThsre dasinp, verses of Isaiah chapter 40 contain

words of romfort for true Chri$lims living in the last days of khls wicked y9m. With so many pressurn and problems that tend to dishearten, it is reassuing to know that the hardships we endure and the injustices we suf- fer do not go unnoticed by our Gad. We can be sure that the Crater of ail things, the One whose "understmd- ing is wand ~munting," will mrect all injustlkes in h& o v h time and way. (Psalm E4'J:5,6) Meanwhile) we need ggt endure in our msWngth, Jehovah, wbase remmzs are irmhausijble, can impart power-even "pmer b q n d what 4 nn~ml"--to his servants in t h e $ a£ ~ a l , - 2 Ca- rinthiam 8 3 .

31 Think of those Jewish captives in Babylon in the sixth mtuq B,C.E. H u n d r e of miles away, their beloved Jeru- salem lay desoIate, its temple in ruins. For them, Isaiah's pxophecy mtained a comforting promise 01 light and hope-Jehwah would retor& them to their homeIand ! In 537 B.E.E., Jehavab led his people home, proving that h@ is the Fulfiller of promises. We tw can have a b e k con- ticlence in Jehovah. His ~rzgdomn promises, whirh xe $0

beautifully expressed in Isaiah's prophecy, MI become a reali* That is indeed good news-a message of light for all mankind1 - * The eagle stays aloft with a minimum expenditure of en- It dues ss by rnaWng skUfuI use af thermaIs, Or mIumns df ridng warm air.

SO. h w can true Ckis t iaa M a y draw camfort fmm the closing verses of Isaiah chapter 401 31, What pmmhe of light did baiah's praphecy'cbntatn fat the Jew- ish captive in Babylon, and In what can we have absa1dte cottfi- dm&?

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