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3456734567JULY 1, 2010

DO YOU KNOW

GOD BY NAME?

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Printing Each Issue:39,601,000 IN 181 LANGUAGES

THE PURPOSE OF THIS MAGAZINE, The Watchtower, is to honor Jehovah God, the Supreme Ruler of theuniverse. Just as watchtowers in ancient times enabled a person to observe developments from afar,so this magazine shows us the significance of world events in the light of Bible prophecies. It comfortspeople with the good news that God’s Kingdom, which is a real government in heaven, will soon bring anend to all wickedness and transform the earth into a paradise. It promotes faith in Jesus Christ, who diedso that we might gain everlasting life and who is now ruling as King of God’s Kingdom. This magazinehas been published by Jehovah’s Witnesses continuously since 1879 and is nonpolitical. It adheres to theBible as its authority.This publication is not for sale. It is provided as part of a worldwide Bible educational work supported by voluntary donations. Unless otherwise indicated,Scripture quotations are from the modern-language New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References.

JULY 1, 2010Vol. 131, No. 13

FROM OUR COVER3 Can You Know God by Name?4 What Knowing God’s Name Involves5 The Challenge of Knowing God by Name

REGULAR FEATURES9 Did You Know?

& 14 Imitate Their Faith—She Opened Her Heart to God in Prayer

28 Our Readers Ask . . .

29 Draw Close to God—He Looks for the Good

30 For Young People—How to Find Loyal Friends

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE& 10 How to Help a Friend Who Is Ill

19 Seven Steps to Beneficial Bible Reading

22 Why Did Jesus Not Get Involved in Politics?

26 An Early Publisher Promotes the Bible

THE WATCHTOWER ˙ JULY 1, 2010 3

THE true God tells us in his written Word,the Bible: “I am Jehovah. That is my

name.” (Isaiah 42:8) Although he also hasmany titles, such as “Creator,” “Almighty,”and “Sovereign Lord,” hehas always honoredhis loyal servants by letting them addresshim by his personal name.

For example, the prophet Moses once be-gan to implore God by saying: “Excuse me,Jehovah.” (Exodus 4:10) At the dedicationof the temple in Jerusalem, King Solomonopened his prayer with the words: “O Jeho-vah.” (1 Kings 8:22, 23) Andwhen the proph-et Isaiah addressed God on behalf of the peo-

ple of Israel, he said: “You,O Jehovah, are ourFather.” (Isaiah 63:16) Clearly, our heavenlyFather invites us to address him by name.

While addressing Jehovah by name is im-portant, truly knowing him by name involvesmore. Regarding an individual who loveshim and trusts in him, Jehovah promises:“I shall protect him because he has cometo know my name.” (Psalm 91:14) Clearly,knowing God’s name must embrace a wealthof meaning, since it is a key factor in receiv-ing God’s protection. What, then, wouldbe required for you to know Jehovah byname?

Can You Know God by Name?Being invited to greet and address an important person by name is anhonor. Dignitaries are often addressed by titles, such as “Mr. President,”“Your Majesty,” or “Your Honor.” So if someone in high station told you,“Please, just call me by my name,” you would no doubt feel privileged.

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America, United States of: 25 Columbia Heights,Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483. Australia: PO Box 280,

Ingleburn, NSW 1890. Bahamas: PO Box N-1247,Nassau, NP. Britain: The Ridgeway, LondonNW7 1RN. Canada: PO Box 4100, Georgetown,ON L7G 4Y4. Germany: Am Steinfels, 65618 Sel-ters. Guam: 143 Jehovah St, Barrigada, GU 96913.Guyana: 352-360 Tyrell St, Republic Park Phase2 EBD. Hawaii: 2055 Kamehameha IV Road, Ho-nolulu, HI 96819-2619. Jamaica: PO Box 103,Old Harbour, St. Catherine. Japan: 4-7-1 Na-kashinden, Ebina City, Kanagawa-Pref, 243-0496.Puerto Rico: PO Box 3980, Guaynabo, PR00970. South Africa: Private Bag X2067, Krugers-dorp, 1740. Trinidad and Tobago: Lower Rap-sey Street & Laxmi Lane, Curepe.

The Watchtower (ISSN 0043-1087) is publishedsemimonthly by Watchtower Bible and Tract So-ciety of New York, Inc.; M. H. Larson, President;G. F. Simonis, Secretary-Treasurer; 25 Colum-bia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483. PeriodicalsPostage Paid at Brooklyn, NY, and at additionalmailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send addresschanges to Watchtower, 1000 Red Mills Road,Wallkill, NY 12589-3299.

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DOES your name have a particular mean-ing? In some parts of the world, it is the

custom to give a child a name that is full ofmeaning. The name chosen may reflect theparents’ beliefs and values or their hopes anddreams for the child’s future.

The practice of giving names that are richin meaning is not new. In Bible times, per-sonal names were usually given because ofthemeaning theyconveyed.Names could in-dicate a person’s expected role in life. For ex-ample, when Jehovah told David about thefuture role of his son Solomon, He said: “Sol-omon [from a root meaning “Peace”] is whathis name will become, and peace and quiet-ness I shall bestow upon Israel in his days.”—1 Chronicles 22:9.

Sometimes Jehovah gave a new name to aperson who was to have a new role. The bar-ren wife of Abraham received the name Sa-rah, meaning “Princess.” Why? Jehovah ex-plained: “I will bless her and also give you ason from her; and I will bless her and sheshall become nations; kings of peoples willcome from her.” (Genesis 17:16) Clearly, un-derstanding why Sarah received a new namewould involve understanding her new role.

What about the most important of all

names—Jehovah? What does it mean? WhenMoses asked God about His name, Jehovahreplied: “I shall prove to be what I shall proveto be.” (Exodus 3:14) Rotherham’s transla-tion renders it: “I Will Become whatsoever Iplease.” Jehovah’s name reveals that he is aGod of innumerable roles. To use a simple il-lustration: A mother may need to fill manyroles each day in caring for her children—as anurse, a cook, a teacher—according to theneed that arises. It is similar with Jehovah,though on a more elevated level. In order toaccomplish his loving purpose for mankind,he can become whatever he pleases, fillingwhatever role is needed. Knowing Jehovahby name thus involves understanding andappreciating his many roles.

Sadly, the beauty of God’s personality ishidden from those who do not know himby name. By studying the Bible, however,you can appreciate Jehovah’s roles as a wiseCounselor, a powerful Savior, and a gener-ous Provider, to name just a few. The richmeaning of Jehovah’s name is, indeed, awe-inspiring.

Nevertheless, getting to know God byname is not always easy. The next article willshow why.

What KnowingGod’s Name Involves

Shrine of the Book, Photo � The Israel Museum, Jerusalem

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THERE is someone who wants to preventyou from knowing Jehovah’s name and

enjoying a close relationship with Him. Whois this evil foe? The Bible explains: “The godof this system of things has blinded theminds of the unbelievers.” The god of thispresent ungodly world is Satan the Devil. Hewants to keep you in darkness so that yourheart will not be illuminated with “the glori-ous knowledge of God.” Satan does not wantyou to know Jehovahby name.How, though,does Satan blind people’s minds?—2 Corin-thians 4:4-6.

Satan has used false religion to hinder peo-ple from coming to know God by name. Forexample, in ancient times some Jews choseto ignore the inspired Scriptures in favor oftradition that called for avoiding the use ofGod’s name. By the first centuries of ourCommon Era, Jewish public readers had evi-dently been instructed, not to read God’sname as it appeared in their Holy Scriptures,but to substitute the word �Adho·nai�, mean-ing “Lord.” Doubtless, this practice contrib-uted to a tragic decline in spirituality. Manylost out on the benefits of a close personal re-lationship with God. What, though, about

Jesus? What was his attitude toward Jeho-vah’s name?

Jesus and His FollowersMade God’s Name Known

Jesus declared in prayer to his Father: “Ihave made your name known . . . and willmake it known.” (John 17:26) Jesus wouldundoubtedly have pronounced God’s nameon numerous occasions when he read, quot-ed, or explained portions of the HebrewScriptures containing that important name.Jesus would thus have used God’s name justas freely as all the prophets did before him. Ifany Jews were already avoiding the use ofGod’s name during the time of Jesus’ minis-try, Jesus would certainly not have followedtheir tradition. He strongly criticized the reli-gious leaders when he said to them: “Youhave made the word of God invalid becauseof your tradition.”—Matthew 15:6.

Faithful followers of Jesus continued tomake God’s name known after Jesus’ deathand resurrection. (See the box “Did theFirst Christians Use God’s Name?”) At Pen-tecost 33 C.E., the very day the Christiancongregation was formed, the apostle Peter,quoting from a prophecy of Joel, said to a

The Challenge ofKnowing God by Name

A PORTION OF ISAIAH INTHE DEAD SEA SCROLLS,WITH THE DIVINE NAMEHIGHLIGHTED

multitude of Jews and proselytes: “Everyonewho calls on the name of Jehovah will besaved.” (Acts 2:21; Joel 2:32) Early Christianshelped people from many nations to come toknow Jehovah by name. Thus, in a meetingof the apostles and older men in Jerusalem,the disciple James said: “God . . . turned hisattention to the nations to take out of them apeople forhis name.”—Acts 15:14.

Nevertheless, the enemy of God’s name

did not give up. Once the apostles were dead,Satan wasted no time in sowing apostasy.(Matthew 13:38, 39; 2 Peter 2:1) For example,the nominal Christian writer Justin Martyrwas born about the time John, the last of theapostles, died. Yet, Justin repeatedly insistedin his writings that the Provider of all thingsis “a God who is called by no proper name.”

When apostate Christians made copies ofthe Christian Greek Scriptures, they evident-

During the days of Jesus’apostles in the first centu-ry C.E., Christian congrega-tions were formed in manylands. The members of thosecongregations regularly mettogether to study the Scrip-tures. Did those early Chris-tians find Jehovah’s namein their copies of the Scrip-tures?Since Greek had becomethe international language,many congregations usedthe Greek Septuagint, atranslation of the HebrewScriptures completed in thesecond century B.C.E. Somescholars claim that from thetime it was originally trans-

lated, the Septuagint had al-ways replaced God’s namewith the title Ky�ri·os, theGreek word for “Lord.” Butthe facts show otherwise.The fragments illustratedhere are portions of theGreek Septuagint that datefrom the first century B.C.E.They clearly show Jehovah’sname, represented in theGreek text by the four He-brew letters �� (YHWH), orthe Tetragrammaton. Profes-sor George Howard wrote:“We have three separate pre-Christian copies of the GreekSeptuagint Bible and in not asingle instance is the Tetra-grammaton translated kyriosor for that matter translatedat all. We can now say withnear certainty that it was aJewish practice before, dur-ing, and after the New Testa-ment period to write the di-vine name . . . right into theGreek text of Scripture.”—Biblical Archaeology Re-view.Did Jesus’ apostles and dis-ciples use God’s name intheir inspired writings? Pro-

fessor Howard notes: “Whenthe Septuagint which theNew Testament church usedand quoted contained theHebrew form of the divinename, the New Testamentwriters no doubt includedthe Tetragrammaton in theirquotations.”Therefore, we may safelyconclude that the first Chris-tians could read God’s nameboth in their translations ofthe Hebrew Scriptures and intheir copies of the ChristianGreek Scriptures.

Did the FirstChristians UseGod’s Name?

All photos: Societe Royale de Papyrologie du Caire


ly took Jehovah’s personal name outof the text and substituted Ky�ri·os,the Greek word for “Lord.” The He-brew Scriptures did not fare any bet-ter. No longer reading God’s namealoud, apostate Jewish scribes replacedthe divine name in their Scriptureswith �Adho·nai� more than 130 times.The influential translation of the Bibleinto Latin that was completed by Je-rome in 405 C.E. and that came to becalled the Vulgate similarly omittedthe personal name of God.

Modern Attemptsto Efface God’s Name

Today, scholars are aware that Jeho-vah’s personal name appears some7,000 times in the Bible. Thus, somewidely used translations, such as theCatholic Jerusalem Bible, the CatholicLa Biblia Latinoamerica in Spanish,and the popular Reina-Valera version,also in Spanish, freely use God’s per-sonal name. Some translations renderGod’s name “Yahweh.”

Sadly, many churches that spon-sor Bible translations pressure scholarsinto omitting God’s name from their transla-tions of the Bible. For example, in a letter dat-ed June 29, 2008, to presidents of Catholicbishops’ conferences, the Vatican stated: “Inrecent years the practice has crept in of pro-nouncing the God of Israel’s proper name.”The letter gives this pointed direction: “Thename of God . . . is neither to be used or pro-nounced.” Furthermore, “for the translationof the Biblical text in modern languages, . . .the divine tetragrammaton is to be renderedby the equivalent of Adonai/Kyrios: ‘Lord.’”Clearly, this Vatican directive is aimed ateliminating the use of God’s name.

Protestants have been no less disrespect-ful in their treatment of Jehovah’s name. A

spokesman for the Protestant-sponsored NewInternational Version, published in English in1978, wrote: “Jehovah is a distinctive namefor God and ideally we should have usedit. But we put 21⁄4 million dollars into thistranslation and a sure way of throwing thatdown the drain is to translate, for example,Psalm 23 as, ‘Yahweh is my shepherd.’”

In addition, churches have hindered LatinAmericans from knowing God by name. Ste-ven Voth, a translation consultant for theUnited Bible Societies (UBS), writes: “One ofthe ongoing debates in Latin American Prot-estant circles revolves around the use of thename Jehova . . . Interestingly enough, a verylarge and growing neo-pentecostal church . . .

Churches have suppressed God’s namein the Bible because of Jewish traditionor even for the sake of profit

8 THE WATCHTOWER ˙ JULY 1, 2010

said they wanted a Reina-Valera 1960 edition,but without the name Jehova. Instead, theywanted the word Senor [Lord].” According toVoth, the UBS rejected this request at first butlater gave in and published an edition ofthe Reina-Valera Bible “without the word Je-hova.”

Deleting God’s name from his writtenWord and replacing it with “Lord” hindersreaders from truly knowing whoGod is. Sucha substitution creates confusion. For exam-ple, a reader may not be able to discernwhether the term “Lord” refers to Jehovah orto his Son, Jesus. Thus, in the scripture inwhich the apostle Peter quotes David as say-ing: “Jehovah said to my Lord [the resurrect-ed Jesus]: ‘Sit at my right hand,’” many Bi-ble translations read: “The Lord said to myLord.” (Acts 2:34, NIV) In addition, DavidClines, in his essay “Yahweh and the God of

ChristianTheology,” points out: “Oneresult of the absence of Yahweh fromChristian consciousness has been thetendency to focus on the person ofChrist.” Thus, many churchgoers arehardly aware that the true God towhom Jesus directed his prayers is aPersonwith a name—Jehovah.

Satan has worked hard at blindingpeople’s minds about God. Even so,you can become intimately acquaint-ed with Jehovah.

You Can KnowJehovah by Name

To be sure, Satan has waged war onthe divine name, and he has clever-ly used false religion in the process.However, the reality is that no powerin heaven or on earth can stop theSovereign Lord Jehovah from makinghis name known to those whowant toknow the truth about him and his glo-rious purpose for faithful humans.

Jehovah’s Witnesses will be pleased to helpyou learn how to drawclose toGod through astudy of the Bible. They follow the exampleof Jesus, who said to God: “I have made yourname known to them.” (John 17:26) As youcontemplate the scriptures that reveal thevarious roles that Jehovah has occupied forthe blessing of mankind, you will come toknow the many beautiful facets of his exaltedpersonality.

The faithful patriarch Job enjoyed “intima-cy with God,” and so can you. (Job 29:4)With knowledge of God’s Word, you canknow Jehovah byname. Suchknowledgewillgive you confidence that Jehovah will act inharmony with what he said was the meaningof his name—‘I Will Become whatsoever Iplease.’ (Exodus 3:14, footnote) Thus, he willsurely fulfill all his good promises to man-kind.

Jesus set the examplein making knownGod’s name


ˇ Proverbs 6:6-8 says: “Go to the ant,you lazy one; see its ways and becomewise. Although it has no commander,officer or ruler, it prepares its food evenin the summer; it has gathered its foodsupplies even in the harvest.”

Several species of ant do, in fact, storefood. Likely, the species Solomon re-ferred to—and the most common in Is-rael today—is the harvester ant (Messorsemirufus).

According to one source, “foragingharvester ants leave their nests duringfavorable weather to search for food. . . [and] collect seeds throughout thewarmer months of the year.” They may

pick seeds from plants or collect themfrom the ground. The insects build un-derground nests close to fields, grana-ries, or threshing floors, where graincan be found.

Within the nest itself, the ants storefood supplies in a series of flat cham-bers connected by a network of galler-ies. Their granary chambers may mea-sure up to five inches in diameter andhalf an inch in height. Well-suppliedcolonies of harvester ants are thus saidto be capable of surviving “for over 4months with no outside source of foodor water.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Do ants really prepare their food in summer and gather theirsupplies in the harvest?

ˇ Nehemiah was cupbearer to PersianKing Artaxerxes. (Nehemiah 1:11) Inthe royal courts of the ancient MiddleEast, the king’s cupbearer was no me-nial servant. On the contrary, he was ahigh-ranking official. Classical literatureand a wealth of ancient pictorial repre-sentations of cupbearers allow us todraw a number of conclusions regard-ing Nehemiah’s role at the Persiancourt.

The cupbearer would taste the king’swine to protect him from poisoning.The cupbearer thus had the king’s un-reserved confidence. “The great needfor trustworthy court attendants is un-derscored by the intrigues which wereendemic to the Achaemenid [Persian]court,” says scholar Edwin M. Yamau-

chi. The cupbearer was likely also a fa-vorite official who had considerableinfluence with the king. His close prox-imity to the monarch on a daily basismay have enabled him to decide whohad access to the king.

Such a position may have had a bear-ing on the success of Nehemiah’s re-quest to be allowed to return to Jerusa-lem to rebuild its walls. Nehemiah musthave been highly valued by the king.The Anchor Bible Dictionary observes:“The king’s only reply was ‘How soonwill you come back?’”—Nehemiah 2:1-6.

What was involved in being cupbearer to the king?

RELIEF FROM THEPERSIAN PALACE OF

PERSEPOLIS

CROWN PRINCEXERXES

CUPBEARER

DARIUSTHE GREAT

˘ The Bridgeman ArtLibrary International


HAVE you ever been at a loss for wordswhen talking to a friend who is serious-

ly ill? Rest assured that you can meet thischallenge. How? There are no hard-and-fastrules. Cultural differences may be involved.People’s personalities may also differ greatly.Thus, what may make one sick person feelbetter may not be helpful to another. Andcircumstances and feelings might vary con-siderably from one day to the next.

So the overriding need is for you to try toput yourself in the individual’s place andfind out what he or she really wants and

needs from you. How can you go about do-ing this? Here are a few suggestions that arebased on Bible principles.��

Be a good listenerBIBLE PRINCIPLES:“Every man must be swift about hearing,slow about speaking.”—JAMES 1:19.

“There is . . . a time to keep quiet and a timeto speak.”—ECCLESIASTES 3:1, 7.

˛ When visiting a friend who is ill, listen at-tentively and sympathetically. Do not rushto provide advice or feel that you alwayshave to come up with a solution. In a hurryto express yourself, you might inadvertentlyblurt out something that could hurt. Your illfriend is not necessarily looking for answersbut for someone who will listen with anopen heart and mind.

Let your friend express himself freely. Donot cut him short, trivializing his conditionwith cliches. “I had fungal meningitis andended up losing my eyesight,” says Emılio.�“Sometimes I feel really down, and friends

� Some names have been changed.

How toHelp a FriendWHO IS ILL


try to comfort me by saying: ‘You are not theonly one with problems. There are peoplewho are worse off.’ However, little do theyknow that minimizing my condition is of nohelp to me. On the contrary, it has an ad-verse effect, making me despondent.”

Allow your friend to pour out his heartwithout fear of criticism. If he tells you thathe is afraid, acknowledge his feelings ratherthan simply telling him not to be fearful.“When I am apprehensive about my condi-tion and break down in tears, it does notmean that I don’t trust in God anymore,”says Eliana, who is battling cancer. Make aneffort to see your friend as he is, not as youwant him to be. Take into account that hemay be vulnerable now and is not his usualself. Be patient. Listen—even if it meanshearing the same things over and over again.(1 Kings 19:9, 10, 13, 14) He may feel theneed to share with you what he is experienc-ing.��

Be empathetic and considerateBIBLE PRINCIPLES:“Rejoice with people who rejoice; weep withpeople who weep.”—ROMANS 12:15.

“All things . . . that you want men to do toyou, you also must likewise do to them.”—MATTHEW 7:12.

˛ Put yourself in your friend’s shoes. If heis preparing for surgery, undergoing treat-ment, or waiting for test results, he may betense and tend to be quite sensitive. Try torecognize this and adapt to his mood swings.This may not be the time to ask too manyquestions, especially personal ones.

“Allow patients to talk about their illnesswhen they want to and at their own pace,”says Ana Katalifos, a clinical psychologist.“When they are willing to chat, talk withthem on whatever subject they may choose.

But when they are not in the mood for talk-ing, you may just sit in silence, and a friendlyhand to hold can do wonders. Or you mayfind that all they need is a shoulder to cryon.”

Respect your friend’s privacy. Author Ro-sanne Kalick, twice a cancer survivor, writes:“In taking your cues from the patient, as-sume that what is said to you is confidential.Unless you are asked to be the family spokes-person, don’t give out information. Ask thepatient what he is willing to share.” Edson, acancer survivor, says: “A friend spread theword that I had cancer and that I would notlive very long. Mind you, I had just had sur-gery. I knew that I had cancer, but I was wait-ing for the results of the biopsy. There wasno metastasis. But the harm was done. Mywife was devastated by the thoughtless com-ments and questions from others.”

If your friend is weighing treatment op-tions, do not be quick to say what you woulddo inhis orher situation.Writer LoriHope, acancer survivor, says: “Before sending arti-cles or news of any kind to a cancer patientor survivor, it’s best to ask whether theywould like to receive such news. Other-wise, your well-meaning gesture could hurtyour friend, and you might never know it.”Not everyone wants to be flooded with ahuge amount of information about differentkinds of medical treatments.

Even if you are a close friend, do not over-stay your welcome. Your presence is very im-portant, but your friend may not feel up tosocializing with you. He may be tired andhave little energy to talk or even to listen forvery long. On the other hand, avoid givingthe impression that you are in a hurry toleave. Your friend deserves to see how muchyou care.

Showing consideration involves using bal-ance and good judgment. For example,


before preparing a meal for a sick friend oreven bringing him flowers, you might in-quire about any allergies that he may have. Ifyou are sick, perhaps with a cold, the lovingthing would be to wait until you are well be-fore you visit your friend.��

Be upbuildingBIBLE PRINCIPLES:“The tongue of the wise ones is a healing.”—PROVERBS 12:18.

“Let your utterance be always with gracious-ness, seasoned with salt.”—COLOSSIANS 4:6.

˛ If you keep a positive view of a friend whois ill, your words and actionswill likely revealit. Think of your friend as still being thesame person and having the same qualitiesthat made you feel drawn to him in the firstplace. Relate to him, not to his disease. If youtalk to your friend as you would to a helplessvictim, hemay begin to see himself that way.Roberta,who has a rare genetic bone disease,says: “Treat me like a normal person. I amdisabled, but I have myopinions and desires.Don’t look at me with an air of pity. Don’ttalk to me as if I were stupid.”

Remember that it is not only what you saybut how you say it that matters. Even yourtone of voice canhave an effect. Shortly afterhe was diagnosed with cancer, Ernesto re-ceived an international phone call from afriend, who said: “I can’t believe that youhave cancer!” Ernesto recalls: “The intona-tion my friend gave to the ‘you’ and ‘cancer’sent a chill down my spine.”

Author Lori Hope gives another example:“Asking ‘How are you?’ can mean many dif-ferent things to a patient. Depending on thequestioner’s tone of voice, body language,rapport, level of intimacy and, of course,timing, it can gently soothe a soul, inflictpain, or awaken a sleeping fear.”

A friend who is ill likely wants to feel caredfor, understood, and respected. So assure theindividual that he or she is very important toyou and that you will be there to help. Rose-mary, a brain-tumor patient, says: “Whatreally encouraged me was to hear my friendssay that they loved me and that they wouldbe there for me no matter what.”—Proverbs15:23; 25:11.��

Be helpfulBIBLE PRINCIPLE:“Let us love, neither in word nor with thetongue, but in deed and truth.”—1 JOHN 3:18.

˛ Needs will vary as your friend movesfrom diagnosis to treatment. But all dur-ing this time, he may need help. Ratherthan a general offer—“if you need anything,call me”—try to be specific. Offering tohelp with such daily activities as preparingmeals, cleaning, washing, ironing, runningerrands, shopping, and driving your friendto and from the clinic or to the hospital fortreatment are just a few of the practical waysto show that you care. Be dependable andpunctual. Keep your word, and meet yourcommitments.—Matthew 5:37.

“Whatever we do, great or small, thatbridges the gap between the patient’sworldsof illness and health will be helpful,” saysauthor Rosanne Kalick. Sılvia, a two-timecancer survivor, agrees. “Having differentfriends drive me to another town daily forradiation was so relaxing and comforting!On the way, we talked about various sub-jects, and after the treatment, we alwaysstopped at a coffee shop. This made me feelnormal again.”

But do not assume that you know exactlywhat your friend needs. “Ask, ask, ask,” sug-gests Kalick. She adds: “In your desire to


help, don’t take over. That can be counter-productive. If you let me do nothing, themessage may be that I can do nothing.I need to feel competent. I need to feelthat I am not a victim. Help me to do what Ican.”

Your friend likely needs to feel capable.Adilson, who has AIDS, says: “When you areill, you don’t want to be cast aside, as if youwere good-for-nothing or totally incapable.You want to be of some help, even if itmeans doing minor tasks. It’s so good to feelthat you are still capable of doing some-thing! It gives you the incentive to go on liv-ing. I like for people to let me decide—andthen respect my decisions. Being ill does notmean that we can’t go on fulfilling our func-tion as father, mother, or whatever.”

��

Remain connectedBIBLE PRINCIPLE:“A true companion is loving all the time,and is a brother that is born for whenthere is distress.”—PROVERBS 17:17.

˛ If you are unable to visit your friend be-cause of distance or some other circumstanc-es, you can call him up for a friendly chat,write a note, or send an e-mail. What can

you write about? Alan D. Wolfelt, a griefcounselor, suggests: “Reminisce about someof the fun times you’ve shared. Promiseyou’ll write . . . again soon—and then followthrough on that promise.”

You need not hold back from reaching outto a friend who is ill, fearing that you maysay the wrong thing or make mistakes. Inmany cases, it is your presence that reallycounts. In her book, Lori Hope writes: “All ofus say and do things that can be miscon-struedor can in someway inadvertently hurtsomeone. That’s not the problem. The prob-lem arises when you are so afraid of makinga mistake that you stay away from someonewho needs you.”

A friend who is seriously ill may need younow more than ever. Prove to be “a truecompanion.” Your efforts to help may notmake his pain disappear, but you may wellmake a difficult situation more bearable forsomeone you love.


She was blessed to have a husband wholoved her. However, Elkanah had anoth-er wife. Her name was Peninnah, and sheseemed devoted to making Hannah’s lifemiserable. Peninnah had figured out away tomake even these annual occasions a sourceof acute pain for Hannah. How? More to thepoint, how did Hannah’s faith in Jehovahhelp her to cope with what often seemed likean impossible situation? If you face chal-lenges that sap you of joy in life, you mayfind Hannah’s story particularly moving.

“Why Does Your Heart Feel Bad?”TheBible reveals twobig problems inHan-

nah’s life. She had little control over the firstand none at all over the second. In the firstplace, she was in a polygamous marriage,with a rival wife who hated her. In the sec-ond place, she was barren. That condition isdifficult for any wife who longs to bear chil-dren; but in Hannah’s time and culture, itwas a source of intense grief. Each familycounted on offspring to carry on the familyname. Barrenness seemed a bitter reproachand shame.

Hannah might have borne her burdenwith fortitude had it not been for Peninnah.

Polygamywas never an ideal situation. Rival-ry, strife, and heartache were all too com-mon. The practice was far from the standardof monogamy that God had set in the gar-den of Eden.� (Genesis 2:24) The Bible thuspaints a grim portrait of polygamy, and thepoignant depiction of life within Elkanah’shousehold is one of the telling brushstrokesin that picture.

You see, Elkanah loved Hannah the most.Jewish tradition has it that he married Han-nah first and that Peninnah came alongsome years later. At any rate, Peninnah, whowas deeply jealous of Hannah, found manyways to make her rival suffer. Peninnah’sgreat advantage over Hannah had to do withfertility. Peninnah produced one offspringafter another, and her self-importance grewwith each new child. Instead of feeling sor-ry for Hannah and comforting her in herdisappointment, Peninnah played on thatsensitive point. The Bible says that Penin-nah vexed Hannah sorely “for the sake ofmaking her feel disconcerted.” (1 Samuel

� As to why God tolerated polygamy among his peoplefor a time, see the article “Does God Approve of Polyga-my?” on page 30 of the July 1, 2009, issue of The Watch-tower.

IMITATE THEIR FAITH

She Opened Her Heartto God in PrayerHANNAH busied herself with preparations for the trip, trying to keepher mind occupied. It should have been a happy time; Elkanah, her

husband, has customarily taken the whole family on these annual journeys to worshipat the tabernacle in Shiloh. Jehovah meant for such occasions to be joyful. (Deuterono-my 16:15) And no doubt Hannah from her childhood had delighted in those festivals.But things had changed for her in recent years.


1:6) Peninnah’s actions were deliberate. Shewanted to hurt Hannah, and she succeeded.

Peninnah’s favorite opportunity, it seems,came at the time of the annual pilgrimage toShiloh. To eachof Peninnah’smanychildren—“all her sons and her daughters”—Elkanahgave portions of the sacrifices offered to Je-hovah. Childless Hannah, though, receivedonly her own portion. Peninnah then solorded it over Hannah and reminded her ofher barrenness that the poor woman gave into weeping and even lost her appetite. Elka-nah could not help but notice that his be-loved Hannah was distressed and was noteating, so he attempted to comfort her.“Hannah,” he asked, “why do you weep, andwhy doyou not eat, and why does yourheartfeel bad? Am I not better to you than tensons?”—1 Samuel 1:4-8.

To his credit, Elkanah discerned that Han-nah’s distress had to do with her barrenness.And Hannah surely treasured his kind assur-ances of love.� But Elkanah did not mentionPeninnah’s malice, nor does the record sug-gest that Hannah told him of it. Perhaps shesaw that exposing Peninnah would onlymake her own situation worse. Would Elka-nah really change things? Might not Penin-nah’s spite for Hannah only deepen, andwould not the children and servants of thatspiteful woman follow suit? Hannah wouldonly feel more and more like an outcast inher own household.

Whether Elkanah knew the full scope ofPeninnah’s petty meanness or not, JehovahGod saw it all. His Word reveals the wholepicture, thus providing a solemn warning toany who indulge in seemingly minor jealousand hateful acts. On the other hand, the in-

� Although the record says that Jehovah had ‘closed upHannah’s womb,’ there is no evidence that God was dis-pleased with this humble and faithful woman. (1 Samuel1:5) The Bible at times attributes to God events that hesimply allowed to take place for a time.

nocent and the peaceable, like Hannah, canfind comfort in knowing that the God of jus-tice sets all matters right in his own time andinhis ownway. (Deuteronomy 32:4) PerhapsHannah knew as much, for it was to Jehovahthat she turned for help.

“Self-Concerned No More”In the early hours, the household was bus-

tling. Everyone was getting ready for the trip,even the children. The journey to Shilohwould take the large family across more than20miles of thehilly countryof Ephraim.�Onfoot, the trekwould last a dayor two.Hannahknew how her rival wife would act. However,Hannah did not stay home. She thus set asterling example for worshippers of God tothis day. It is never wise to let the misconductof others interfere with our worship of God.Were we to do so, we would miss out onthe very blessings that strengthen us to en-dure.

After a long day on winding mountainroads, the large family at last neared Shiloh.There it sat, on a hill nearly ringed by high-er hills. As they approached, Hannah likelythought a great deal about what she wouldsay in prayer to Jehovah. Once they arrived,the family shared a meal. Hannah pulledaway from the group as soon as she couldand made her way to the tabernacle of Jeho-vah.High Priest Eli was there, sitting near thedoorpost of the temple. But Hannah’s focuswas on her God. Here at the tabernacle,she felt confident that she would be heard.If no one else could fully understand herplight, her Father in heaven could.Her bitter-ness welled up within her, and she began toweep.

As the sobs racked her body, Hannah spokewithin herself to Jehovah. Her lips quivered

� The distance is based on the likelihood that Elkanah’shometown, Ramah, was the same place that came to beknown as Arimathea in Jesus’ day.


as she mentally formed the words to expressher pain. And she prayed at length, pouringout her heart to her Father. She did more,though, than just ask God to fulfill her des-perate urge to bear offspring. Hannah waskeen not only to receive blessings from Godbut also to give him what she could. So shemade a vow, saying that if she had a son, shewould dedicate the child to a life of service toJehovah.—1 Samuel 1:9-11.

Hannah thus set an example for all ofGod’s servants when it comes to prayer. Jeho-vah kindly invites his people to speak tohim openly, without reservation, pouringout their concerns before him as a trustingchild would to a loving parent. (Psalm 62:8;1 Thessalonians 5:17) The apostle Peter wasinspired to write these comforting wordsabout prayer to Jehovah: “Throw all youranxiety upon him, because he cares for you.”—1 Peter 5:7.

Humans, however, are not as understand-ing and empathetic as Jehovah is. As Hannahwept and prayed, she was startled by a voice.It was Eli, the high priest, who had been ob-serving her. He said: “How long will you be-have drunk? Put away your wine from uponyou.” Eli had noticed Hannah’s quiveringlips, her sobs, and her emotional demean-or. Instead of inquiring what was wrong,he jumped to the conclusion that she wasdrunk.—1 Samuel 1:12-14.

How hurtful for Hannah, in that momentof anguish, to have to face such a baseless ac-cusation—and that from a man who heldsuch an honored position! Nevertheless, sheagain set a sterling example of faith. She didnot let a man’s imperfections get in the wayof her worship of Jehovah. She answered Elirespectfully and explained her situation. Hereplied, perhaps in a chastened and softertone: “Go inpeace, and may the God of Israelgrant your petition that you have asked ofhim.”—1 Samuel 1:15-17.

What was the effect on Hannah of openingher heart to Jehovah and worshipping himthere at his tabernacle? The account reads:“Thewomanproceeded to go on her way andto eat, and her face became self-concernedno more.” (1 Samuel 1:18) The Jerusalem Bi-ble here reads: “Her countenance was nomore sad.” Hannah felt relieved. She had, ina sense, transferred the weight of her emo-tional burden to shoulders infinitely broaderand stronger than her own, those of herheavenly Father. (Psalm 55:22) Is any prob-lem too heavy for him? No—not then, notnow, not ever!

When we feel loaded down, overwhelmed,or overcome with sadness, we do well to fol-low Hannah’s example and speak openly tothe One whom the Bible calls the “Hearer ofprayer.” (Psalm 65:2) If we do so in faith, wetoo may find that our sadness is replaced by“the peace of God that excels all thought.”—Philippians 4:6, 7.

Hannah was deeply troubled by herbarrenness, and Peninnah did everything

she could to make Hannah feel worse

“There Is No Rock Like Our God”The next morning, Hannah returned to

the tabernacle with Elkanah. She had likelytold him of her request and her commit-ment, for the Mosaic Law said that a hus-band had the right to nullify a vow madeby his wife without his consent. (Numbers30:10-15) But that faithful man made no

Though Eli misjudged her,Hannah did not take offense

Can you imitate Hannah’s exampleof praying from the heart?

Hannah’s two prayers, recorded at1 Samuel 1:11 and 2:1-10, contain anumber of outstanding features.Consider just a few:˛ Hannah addressed the first of the twoprayers to “Jehovah of armies.” She isthe first person in the Bible record to bequoted as using that title. It occurs a to-tal of 285 times in the Bible and refers toGod’s command over a vast array of spir-it sons.˛ Note that Hannah uttered the secondprayer, not when her son was born, butwhen she and Elkanah offered him upfor God’s service at Shiloh. So Hannah’sgreat joy lay, not in silencing her rival,Peninnah, but in being blessed by Jeho-vah.˛ When Hannah said, “My horn is in-deed exalted in Jehovah,” she may havehad in mind the ox, a powerful beast ofburden that uses its horns mightily. Han-nah was, in effect, saying: ‘Jehovah, youmake me strong.’—1 Samuel 2:1.˛ Hannah’s words about God’s“anointed one” are considered prophet-ic. The expression is the same onerendered “messiah,” and Hannah is thefirst person in the Bible record to use itto refer to a future anointed king.—1 Samuel 2:10.˛ Jesus’ mother, Mary, about 1,000 yearslater, echoed some of Hannah’s expres-sions in her own words of praise toJehovah.—Luke 1:46-55.

Two RemarkablePrayers

such move. Rather, he and Hannah wor-shipped Jehovah together at the tabernaclebefore heading homeward.

Just when did Peninnah realize that shehad lost her power to upset Hannah? The ac-count does not say, but the expression “self-concerned no more” suggests that Hannah’sspirits rose from that time forward. At anyrate, Peninnah soon found that her spitefulconduct produced no effect. The Bible nevermentions her name again.

As the months passed, Hannah’s peace ofmind flowered into unbridled delight. Shewas pregnant! In her joy, Hannah neverfor a moment forgot where this blessinghad come from. When the boy was born,she chose the name Samuel, which means“Name of God” and evidently refers to call-ing on the divine name, as Hannah haddone. That year, she did not join Elkanahand the family for the trek to Shiloh. Shestayed home with the child for three years,until he was weaned. Then she gathered herstrength for the day on which she wouldhave to part with her beloved son.

The parting could not have been easy. Ofcourse, Hannah knew that Samuel would bewell cared for in Shiloh, perhaps by thehands of some of the women who served atthe tabernacle. Still, he was so young, andwhat mother does not long to be with herchild? Nonetheless, Hannah and Elkanahbrought the boy, not begrudgingly, butgratefully. They offered sacrificesatGod’s house, and they pre-sented Samuel to Eli, re-minding him of the vowHannah had made thereyears earlier.

Hannah then uttered aprayer that God deemed

worthy of inclusion in his inspired Word. Asyou read her words recorded at 1 Samuel 2:1-10, you will find the depth of her faith con-veyed in every line. She praised Jehovah forhis marvelous use of power—for his un-matched ability to humble the haughty,to bless the oppressed, and to end life oreven to save it from death. She praisedher Father for his unique holiness, his jus-tice, and his faithfulness. With good reason,Hannah could say: “There is no rock likeour God.” Jehovah is completely reliable,unchanging, and a refuge for all the op-pressed and downtrodden who turn to himforhelp.

Little Samuel was certainly privileged tohave a mother so filled with faith in Jeho-vah. Though he surely missed her as he grewup, he never felt forgotten. Year by year,Hannah would come back to Shiloh, bring-ing a little sleeveless coat for his service atthe tabernacle. Every stitch bore evidence ofher love and care forher son. (1 Samuel 2:19)We can just picture her putting the new coaton the boy, smoothing it out, and lookingfondly at him while speaking kind, encour-aging words. Samuel was blessed to havesuch a mother, and he grew up to be a bless-ing to his parents and to all Israel.

As for Hannah, she was not for-gotten either. Jehovah blessed herwith fertility, and she bore Elka-nah five more children. (1 Samu-el 2:21) Perhaps Hannah’s great-est blessing, though, was thebond betweenher and her Fa-ther, Jehovah, which grewever stronger through theyears. May the same hap-pen to you, as you imitatethe faith of Hannah.

18


IT IS ironic that many people have a Bibleyet seem to gain little value from reading

it. Others, though, treasure what they readin the Bible. For example, a woman namedNancy relates: “Since I began reading andmeditating on the Bible early each morning,I feel ready to face whatever the day maybring. This routine has done more to relievemy bouts of depression than anything I havetried over the past 35 years.”

Even if you have never read the Bible, doesit intrigue you that some have received helpfrom it? If you are already a Bible reader,would you like to benefit more from yourreading? If so, try the seven steps describedin this article.

��STEP 1 Read for the right reason

˛ You could read the Bible simply as beauti-ful literature or out of a sense of duty or withthe idea that you might find guidance inthis troubled world. You will benefit most,though, if your aim is to learn the truthabout God. In addition, you will reap rich re-wards if your motive is to see how the Bible’smessage can affect your life.

The Scriptures highlight the importanceof reading for the right reason by comparingthe Bible to a mirror: “If anyone is a hearer ofthe word, and not a doer, this one is like aman looking at his natural face in a mirror.For he looks at himself, and off he goes and

Seven Steps to Beneficial Bible Reading“Not only is the Bible the best-selling book of all time,it is the best-selling book of the year every year.”—TIME MAGAZINE.

“I read the Bible sometimes, but I find it deadly boring.”—KEITH, A POPULAR MUSICIAN FROM ENGLAND.


immediately forgets what sort of man he is.But he who peers into the perfect law thatbelongs to freedom and who persists in it,this man, because he has become, not a for-getful hearer, but a doer of the work, will behappy in his doing it.”—James 1:23-25.

Theman in this example looked at his facein the mirror but failed to adjust his appear-ance. Perhaps he only glanced at himself, ormaybe he lacked the desire to make anychanges. Similarly, we will benefit little if weread the Bible haphazardly or fail to applywhat we read. In contrast, we can gain truehappiness if we peer into the Bible with theidea of becoming “a doer,” allowing God’sthinking to mold our thoughts and actions.��

STEP 2 Select a reliabletranslation

˛ You may have many Bible translations tochoose from in your language. While anytranslation of God’s Word can benefit you,some use archaic or scholarly language thatmay be hard to grasp. (Acts 4:13) Certaintranslations even change the Bible’s puremessage by relying on traditions. For exam-ple, as we noted in the opening articles ofthis magazine, some have replaced God’sname, Jehovah, with titles, such as “God” or“Lord.” So when choosing a translation,look forone that accurately renders the Bibleinto easy-to-understand language that en-courages reading.

Millions of readers the world over havefound that the New World Translation doesjust that.� Consider the case of an elderlyman in Bulgaria. He attended a meeting ofJehovah’s Witnesses and was given a copy ofthe New World Translation. Afterward, he

� The New World Translation, published by Jehovah’sWitnesses, has beenprinted in whole or in part in 83 lan-guages and is also available online in 11 languages atwww.watchtower.org.

said, “I have read the Bible for many years,but I have never read a translation that is eas-ier to understand and that goes right to theheart.”��

STEP 3 Pray˛ You can gain more Bible understanding byasking the Author for his help, as did thepsalmist who said: “Uncover my eyes, that Imay look at thewonderful things outof yourlaw.” (Psalm 119:18) Pray to God each timeyou read the Scriptures, asking him to helpyou to understandhis Word. You canalso ex-press thanks for the Bible, for without it wewould not know God.—Psalm 119:62.

Does God hear such prayers for help? Con-sider what happened to two teenage sistersin Uruguay. They were puzzled by what theBible says at Daniel 2:44 and prayed thatGod send someone to help them understandit. While the girls’ Bible was still open,two of Jehovah’s Witnesses came to theirdoor, read the exact verse the girls hadprayed about, and explained that it describesthat man-made governments would be re-placed by God’s Kingdom.� The teenage sis-ters were convinced that God had answeredtheir prayer for help.��

STEP 4 Read daily˛ One book publisher noted that “there wasanexplosionof Bible sales” after the terroristattacks in theUnited States onSeptember 11,2001. Many turn to God’s Word only intimes of distress. The Bible, however, en-courages us to read it each day, for it says:“This book of the law should not departfrom your mouth, and you must in an un-

� For more information about God’s Kingdom andwhat it will do, see chapter 8 of the book What Does theBible Really Teach? published by Jehovah’s Witnesses.


dertone read in it day and night, in orderthat you may take care to do according to allthat is written in it; for then you will makeyour way successful and then you will actwisely.”—Joshua 1:8.

The value of regular Bible reading mightbe illustrated by a man who has had a heartattack and who decides to eat foods that aremore nutritious. Would this regimen helphim if he followed it only when he felt asharp pain in his chest? No. He must consis-tently adhere to a healthy diet to gain themost benefit. Likewise, daily Bible readingwill help you to “make your way successful.”��

STEP 5 Vary your approach˛ Reading the Bible from Genesis to Revela-tion canwork well, but you might find otherapproaches to be refreshing. Here are a fewsuggestions.

Follow a character. Read all the chaptersor books that discuss a particular worshipperof God, such as the following:

˙ Joseph: Genesis 37-50.˙ Ruth: Ruth 1-3.˙ Jesus: Matthew 1-28; Mark 1-16; Luke 1-

24; John 1-21.�Focus on a topic. Read the scriptures relat-

ed to it. For example, research the subject ofprayer, and then read the Bible’s counsel onprayer as well as some of the many prayersrecorded in the Bible.�

Read aloud. You can benefit greatly byreading the Bible aloud. (Revelation 1:3) Youmight even read aloud as a family, takingturns reading paragraphs or assigning char-acters to different familymembers. Some en-

� If you are new to Bible reading, try starting with thefast-paced record of Jesus’ ministry in the book of Mark.� The book What Does the Bible Really Teach? has

helped many in a topical study of the Bible. Chapter 17,for example, discusses what the Scriptures say on the top-ic of prayer.

joy listening to a recording of the Bible. “Ihad a hard time getting started,” said onewoman, “so I began by listening to recordedBible reading. Now I find that the Bible ismore exciting than a good novel.”��

STEP 6 Meditate˛ The pace and distractions of modern-daylife are not conducive to meditation. How-ever, just as we have to digest our food in or-der to be nourished, we must meditate onwhat we read from the Bible in order to ben-efit. We do this by mentally reviewing whatwe read and by asking ourselves such ques-tions as these: ‘What have I learned about Je-hovah God? How does this apply to me?How might I use it to help others?’

Such thinking allows the Bible’s messageto touch our heart and increases the joy wefind in reading God’s Word. Psalm 119:97says: “How I do love your law! All day long itis my concern.” Through meditation, thepsalmist made the Scriptures his concern allday long. Doing so helped him to develop adeep love for what he learned.��

STEP 7 Get help to understand˛ God does not expect us to grasp his Wordfully on our own. Even the Bible acknowl-edges that it contains “some things hard tounderstand.” (2 Peter 3:16) The book of Actsdescribes an Ethiopian official who was per-plexed by a portion of the Bible that he read.God sent one of His servants to help him,with the result that the Ethiopian man “keptgoing on his way rejoicing.”—Acts 8:26-39.

You too can profit more from Bible readingby getting help to understand what you read.Contact Jehovah’s Witnesses in your com-munity, or write to the address on page 4 ofthis magazine for a free home Bible study.


PICTURE a scene from the year 32 C.E. It islate in the day. Jesus, the foretold Messi-

ah, has alreadywongreat renown forhealingthe sick and even resurrecting the dead. To-day, he has awed a crowd of thousands byperforming powerful signs and by sharingteachings of God. Now he divides the hun-gry people into smaller groups. He prays toJehovah and miraculously feeds them all.Then, to avoid waste, he collects the left-overs. How do the people react?—John 6:1-13.

Well, after seeing Jesus’ miracles and hisskillful leadership in managing the crowdsand caring for their needs, the people con-clude that Jesus would be a perfect king.(John 6:14) Their response is not surprising.Remember that they were desperate for agood, effective ruler; their beloved home-land was under the oppressive rule of a for-eignpower. So they put direct pressure on Je-sus to join in the political process. With thatbackground in mind, consider his reaction.

“Jesus, knowing they were about to comeand seize him to make him king, withdrewagain into the mountain all alone,” saysJohn 6:15. Jesus’ stand could hardly havebeen more decisive. He resolutely refused toget involved in the politics of his homeland.His stand never changed.He said that his fol-lowers were to take the same position. (John17:16) Why did he take this stand?

Why Did JesusChoose Neutrality?

Jesus’ neutrality regarding the politics ofthis world was well-grounded in Scripturalprinciples. Consider just two.

“Man has dominated man to his injury.”(Ecclesiastes 8:9) That is how the Bible sumsup the historyof human rule. Remember, Je-sus existed as a spirit in heaven long be-fore he came to earth as a man. (John17:5) He thus knew that man, however well-meaning, lacks the ability to care properlyfor the needs of billions of people; nor washe created by God to do so. (Jeremiah 10:23)Jesus knew that the solution to mankind’sproblems lay elsewhere—not in human gov-ernments.

“The whole world is lying in the power of thewicked one.” (1 John 5:19) Do you find thatstatement startling? Many do. They think ofsincere people who get involved in govern-ment because they want to make the worlda better, safer place. Try as they might,though, even the most sincere rulers cannotovercome the influence of the one whom Je-sus called “the ruler of this world.” (John 12:31; 14:30) That is why Jesus said to oneworldly politician: “My kingdom is no partof this world.” (John 18:36) Jesus was theprospective King of God’s heavenly govern-ment. Had Jesus mixed in politics, he wouldhave sacrificed his loyalty to his Father’s gov-ernment.

Did Jesus teach, then, that his followershave no obligation to earthly governments?On the contrary, he taught themhow to findthe right balance between their responsibili-ties toward God and their obligations towardsecular governments.

Jesus Respected Governmental AuthorityWhile Jesus was teaching in the temple,

opposers tried to put him in an impossi-

Why Did Jesus Not Get Involved inPOLITICS?

ble situation by asking whether peopleshould pay taxes. If Jesus said no, his an-swer would have been deemed seditiousand might evenhave fueled a spirit of re-volt among downtrodden people eagerto throw off the yoke of Roman oppres-sion. But if Jesus said yes, many wouldhave felt that he condoned the injusticesthey faced. Jesus’ answer was a master-piece of balance. He said: “Pay back Cae-sar’s things to Caesar, but God’s thingstoGod.” (Luke 20:21-25) Sohis followershave obligations to God and to Caesar—that is, the secular government.

Governments maintain a measure oforder. They rightly require citizens to behonest, to pay taxes, and to uphold thelaw. What example did Jesus set in pay-ing “Caesar’s things to Caesar”? Jesushad been raised by parents who obeyedthe law even when doing so was in-convenient. For example, Joseph andhis pregnant wife, Mary, traveled some90 miles to Bethlehem when a Romancensus decree required it. (Luke 2:1-5)Like them, Jesus was law-abiding, evenpaying taxes that he did not really owe.(Matthew 17:24-27) He also carefully re-frained from overstepping his authorityin secular matters. (Luke 12:13, 14) Wemight say that Jesus respected the ma-chinery of government, although he re-fused to operate it. What, though, did Je-sus mean about paying “God’s things toGod”?

How Jesus Gave“God’s Things to God”

Jesus was once asked which was thegreatest of all the laws God gave toman. Christ answered: “ ‘You must love

When people pressured Jesus toget involved in politics, he withdrew“into the mountain all alone”

Jehovah your God with your whole heartand with your whole soul and with yourwhole mind.’ This is the greatest and firstcommandment. The second, like it, is this,‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”(Matthew 22:37-39) Jesus taught that whenit comes to paying “God’s things to God,”the first thing we owe Him is love—whichinvolves our wholehearted, complete alle-giance.

Can such love be divided? Can our loyaltybe split, with some going to Jehovah Godand his heavenly government and somegoing to an earthly government? Jesus him-self stated the principle: “No one can slavefor two masters; for either he will hate theone and love the other, or he will stick to theone and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:24) Jesus was there speaking about dividingone’s loyalties between God and riches, but

he clearly felt that the same principle ap-plied to involvement in politics—as did hisfollowers in the first century.

The oldest available records show that Je-sus’ followers in the ancient world did nottake any active part in politics. Because theygave all their worship to the One whomChrist worshipped, they refused to pledge al-legiance to Rome and its emperor, to take upmilitary service, and to accept public office.They suffered all manner of hostility as a re-sult. Their enemies sometimes accused themof hatred against mankind. Was that accusa-tion a fair one?

True ChristiansCare About People

Recall Jesus’ reference to the second-greatest of God’s commandments—“Youmust love your neighbor as yourself.” Clear-

Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Help the Community?

Jehovah’s Witnesses are politically neutral. They are, however,deeply involved in helping people of all races and backgroundsin their community. Consider a few facts:

˛ Jehovah’s Witnesses include over seven millionvolunteers who spend a total of more than1.5 billion hours annually teaching people whatthe Bible contains and how it can help themovercome harmful habits and practices, buildhappy families, and otherwise improve their lives.

˛ They print and distributeliterature free of charge inover 500 languages, includ-ing some in which no otherprinted literature exists.

˛ They conduct public speaking coursesthat have helped millions learn to expressthemselves clearly and tactfully.

24

ly, no genuine follower of Christ is free tohate mankind. Jesus loved people, expendedhimself for them, and helped them evenwith the most practical and mundane prob-lems.—Mark 5:25-34; John 2:1-10.

For what, though, was Jesus primarilyknown? He was addressed, not as Healer, notas Feeder of Thousands, and not even as Res-urrector of the Dead—although he did fill allthose remarkable roles. But people calledhim Teacher, and rightly so. (John 1:38; 13:13) Jesus explained that a major reason hecame to the earth was to teach people aboutthe Kingdom of God.—Luke 4:43.

That is why Christ’s genuine followers de-vote themselves to the same work that oc-cupied their Master when he walked theearth—teaching people the good news aboutGod’s Kingdom. Jesus Christ commissionedall true Christians to teach people world-

wide about that subject. (Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20) That incorruptible heavenly govern-ment will rule over all of God’s creation,according to the law of love. It will accom-plish God’s will, even eliminating sufferingand death. (Matthew 6:9, 10; Revelation 21:3, 4) No wonder the Bible refers to Christ’smessage as “good news”!—Luke 8:1.

So if you are looking for the genuine fol-lowers of Jesus Christ on earth today, howcan you identify them? Will they be mixingin the politics of this world? Or are theymaking their main mission the same as thatof Jesus—preaching and teaching about theKingdom of God?

Would you like to learn more about theKingdom of God and how it can affect yourlife now? We invite you to contact Jehovah’sWitnesses locallyor to visit their officialWebsite, www.watchtower.org.

˛ They sponsor literacyprograms that have helpedtens of thousands of peopleworldwide learn to readand write.

˛ They have organized over 400 Regional BuildingCommittees worldwide to train volunteers in con-struction skills so that they can build centers of Bibleeducation. In the past decade, over 20,000 houses ofworship, or Kingdom Halls, have been built.

˛ They are involved in disasterrelief around the world, ren-dering aid to Witnesses andnon-Witnesses. In a two-yearperiod following a recentspate of hurricanes that struckthe United States, Witness vol-unteers rebuilt over 90 King-dom Halls and 5,500 homes.

An Early PublisherPromotes the Bible

THE history of handwritten books and scrolls goes back thousandsof years. Printed books, however, are not so old. The first knownprinted books were produced in China in 868 C.E. by using carvedwooden blocks to make the impressions. In about 1455 in Germany,Johannes Gutenberg invented movable metal type and produced thefirst printed Bible in Latin.

All Bible photos: Courtesy American BibleSociety Library; Koberger: Mit freundlicherGenehmigung der Linotype GmbH

LEFT TO RIGHT: WOODCUTOF DANIEL IN LIONS’ DEN;GOLD-LEAF INITIAL CAPITAL;SHARPLY DEFINED TYPEFACES

KOBERGER

DETAILS OF KOBERGER’SLATIN AND GERMANBIBLES, SHOWING ILLUMI-NATED DECORATIONSAND COMMENTARY ONGENESIS 1:1


Only some years later, however, after bookpublishinghadbecome an established indus-try, did the distribution of Bibles and otherbooks really take off. Nuremberg became afocal point of the German publishing indus-try, and Anton Koberger, a native of that city,may have been the first large-scale, interna-tional Bible printer and publisher.

People of all cultures are indebted to theearly Bible publishers, including Anton Ko-berger. Let us, then, take a closer look at Ko-berger and his work.

“The Care of One Book—The Bible”Koberger opened Nuremberg’s first print-

ery in 1470. At its peak, his firm operated 24presses simultaneously, employing 100print-ers, artisans, and other workers in Basel,Strasbourg, Lyon, and other European cities.Koberger published medieval Latin writingsand much of the scientific literature of theday. During his career, he produced 236 sepa-rate works. Some ran to several hundred pag-es, all printed one at a time on hand-operatedpresses.

Koberger’s high-quality typefaces made hisbooks famous for their beauty and readabili-ty. “Koberger always insisted on using freshlypoured, sharply defined types,” writes his-torian Alfred Borckel. “Worn out letters werenot allowed to be used.” In addition, manyofKoberger’s books and Bibles included de-tailed woodcut illustrations.

From the beginning to the end of Ko-berger’s career, “the care of one book—theBible—is seen throughout,” wrote his bi-ographer, Oscar Hase. Koberger and his col-leagues expended great effort to obtain themost accurate Bible texts available. This taskmust not have been easy, since many parch-ment manuscripts were the cherished trea-sures of particular monasteries and were lentout only briefly—if at all—for copying.

Latin and German BiblesKoberger made 15 separate print runs of

the Biblia Latina (Latin Bible), the first edi-tion appearing in 1475. Some editions in-cluded depictions of Noah’s ark, the TenCommandments, and Solomon’s temple. In1483, Koberger printed his Biblia Germanica(German Bible), with a print run of about1,500—a large number for the time. This Bi-ble included over 100 woodcut illustrationsto arouse readers’ interest, clarify the text,and remind those who could not read of fa-miliar Bible stories. The pictures in this Biblesignificantly influenced later Bible illustra-tors, particularly in the case of German Bi-bles.

Koberger’s 1483 German Bible becamepopular, but as things turned out, it was theonly German edition that Koberger wouldever publish. Although his editors had care-fully adjusted the wording to conform tothe church-approved Latin Vulgate, he hadbased his version on a banned 14th-centuryWaldensian translation.� The following year,Pope Innocent VIIImoved to destroy theWal-densian communities. Thereafter, church op-position to vernacular Bibles continued toincrease. On March 22, 1485, ArchbishopBerthold of Mainz, Germany, issued an edictcondemning Bible translation into the Ger-man language. On January 4 of the followingyear, Berthold renewed the edict. In that toxicatmosphere, Koberger never again dared toprint the Bible in German.

Nevertheless, Anton Koberger did not laborin vain. He took the lead in using the newlyinvented art of printing to make books ofmany kinds more affordable and available inEurope. Koberger’s work thereby helped toput the Bible into the hands of the commonman.

� See the article “The Waldenses—From Heresy to Prot-estantism,” in the March 15, 2002, issue of The Watch-tower.


ˇ The Bible answers that God did not have abeginning. God has always existed. As difficultas the concept of God’s eternity is to grasp, wecannot dismiss the idea simply because wecannot fully comprehend it.

How reasonable is it that we should expectto understand all of God’s ways? The apostlePaul declared: “O the depth of God’s richesand wisdom and knowledge! How unsearch-able his judgments are and past tracing out hisways are!” (Romans 11:33) Our minds cannotfully grasp the depth of God’s wisdom andknowledge any more than an infant can un-derstand all the ways of a parent. These in-spired words of Paul, although primarily aboutthe uniqueness of God’s wisdom and mercy,suggest that there are aspects of Jehovah Godand his workings that are too deep for ourminds to fathom. The concept of God’s beingwithout a beginning is apparently one ofthem. Yet, we can have absolute trust in whatthe Bible teaches about God. Jesus Christ saidregarding the sacred writings: “Your word istruth.”—John 17:17.

Moses said in prayer to Jehovah: “Youhave always been, and you will always be.”(Psalm 90:2, The Holy Bible, New Century Ver-sion) Here Moses describes God’s existence asstretching in two directions. One is toward thefuture. Jehovah is “the One that lives foreverand ever.” (Revelation 4:10) Thus, God’s exis-tence stretches forward into the eternal future.The other is toward the past. In other words,

God was neither created nor did he come intoexistence. Rather, God’s existence stretchesback into the infinite past.

Abstract ideas are hard for most of us tocomprehend. Yet, we sometimes deal withchallenging concepts, such as positive andnegative numbers. Counting numbers can goon endlessly, either up or down. Could we notapply this example to the years in the life of theCreator?

It is therefore fitting that only God bears theunique title “King of eternity.” (1 Timothy 1:17) Just think: Jesus Christ, the myriads of an-gels in heaven, and mankind on earth all havea beginning because of being created. (Colos-sians 1:15, 16) Not so with God. To insist thatGod must have been created introduces point-less and circular logic about who created theCreator. No, Jehovah alone exists “from eterni-ty to eternity.” (Psalm 90:2, The New AmericanBible) In other words, Jehovah existed “beforeall time.”—Jude 25, footnote.

Keep in mind, though, that the concept ofGod’s eternal existence is not just a cold fact. Acloser look at Moses’ prayer reveals that God’seternity guarantees a warm promise of ever-lasting life for us. In contrast with the fleetingnature of our present life, God is described as“a real dwelling for us during generation aftergeneration.” As a loving Father, Jehovah hasbeen, is, and always will be there for his peo-ple. May you take comfort in that wonderfultruth!—Psalm 90:1.

OUR READERS ASK . . .

Did God have a beginning?


1 KINGS 14:13��

“ALL hearts Jehovah is searching, and every in-clination of the thoughts he is discerning.”

(1 Chronicles 28:9) Those inspired words weremeant to fill us with appreciation for the depthof Jehovah’s interest in us. Jehovah looks for thegood in our hearts even though we are far fromperfect. This is clearly evident in his words re-garding Abijah, found at 1 Kings 14:13.

Abijah lived in a wicked household. His fa-ther, Jeroboam, was the head of an apostate dy-nasty.� Jehovah purposed to make a cleansweep of Jeroboam’s house, “just as one clearsaway the dung.” (1 Kings 14:10) But God or-dered that only one member of Jeroboam’shousehold, Abijah—whowas gravely ill—be giv-en an honorable burial.� Why? God explained:“Something good toward Jehovah the God ofIsrael has been found in him in the house of Jer-oboam.” (1 Kings 14:1, 12, 13) What do thesewords tell us about Abijah?

The Bible does not say that Abijah was a faith-ful worshipper of God. Still, there was a mea-sure of goodness in him. This goodness was “to-ward Jehovah,” perhaps involving His worship.Rabbinic writers suggest that Abijah made a pil-grimage to the temple in Jerusalem or that heremoved the guards that his father had postedto prevent the Israelites from going to Jerusa-lem.

Whatever its exact nature, Abijah’s goodnesswas noteworthy. First, it was genuine. This

� Jeroboam had set up idolatrous calf worship in thenorthern ten-tribe kingdom of Israel to keep the peoplefrom going to Jerusalem to worship Jehovah at the tem-ple there.� In Bible times, to be denied a decent burial was seen

as an expression of divine displeasure.—Jeremiah 25:32, 33.

goodness was “in him”—that is, in his heart.Second, it was exceptional. Abijah exhibitedthis goodness even though hewas “in the houseof Jeroboam.” One scholar says: “It is a greatcommendation for men to retain their good-ness whilest they live in bad places and fami-lies.” Another says that Abijah’s goodness was“conspicuous . . . , just as the stars are brightestwhen the sky is dark, and the cedars are mostbeautiful when surrounding trees are leafless.”

Most important, the words of 1 Kings 14:13teach us something beautiful about Jehovahand what he looks for in us. Recall that some-thing good was “found in” Abijah. Jehovah evi-dently searched through Abijah’s heart until Hefound a trace of goodness. Compared to hisfamily, Abijah was, as one scholar put it, thelone pearl “in a heap of pebbles.” Jehovah cher-ished this goodness and rewarded it, granting ameasure of mercy to this one member of a wick-ed family.

Is it not reassuring to know that Jehovahlooks for and values the good in us despiteour imperfections? (Psalm 130:3) Knowing thisshould move us to draw closer to Jehovah, theGod who sifts through our heart in search ofeven the smallest trace of goodness.

DRAW CLOSE TO GOD

He Looks for the Good


– ANALYZE THE SCENE.—READ 1 SAMUEL 17:57–18:11; 19:1; 20:1-17,41, 42.

Describe Saul’s appearance as you imagine it to be. (Clue: See 1 Samuel 10:20-23.) ��

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When he met Jonathan, David was likely a teenager. How do you imagine hisappearance? (Clue: See 1 Samuel 16:12, 13.) ��

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What emotions do you sense in the voices of David and Jonathan when theypart at the end of 1 Samuel chapter 20? ��

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— DIG DEEPER.

The account states that “Jonathan’s very soul became bound up with the soulof David”—or as the Contemporary English Version puts it, “David and Jonathanbecame best friends.” (1 Samuel 18:1) What qualities did David possess thatmight have drawn Jonathan to him? (Clue: See 1 Samuel 17:45, 46.) ��

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David and Jonathan were approximately 30 years apart in age. What factors doyou think helped them to become “best friends” despite the age gap? ��

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FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

How to Find Loyal FriendsInstructions: Do this exercise in quiet surroundings. As you read thescriptures, imagine that you are part of the event. Visualize the scene.Hear the voices. Feel the emotions of the characters. Let the accountcome to life.Main characters: Jonathan, David, and SaulSummary: After David kills Goliath, Jonathan becomes David’s bestfriend.

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What are some characteristics of a genuinefriend, as shown in this gripping account?(Clue: See Proverbs 17:17; 18:24.) ��

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Why did Jonathan put loyalty to Davidabove loyalty to his own father? ��

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˜ APPLY WHAT YOU LEARNED. WRITEDOWN WHAT YOU LEARNED ABOUT . . .

Friendship. ��

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Loyalty. ��

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Friendships with older ones. ��

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How can you attract the best kind of friends?��

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™ WHAT ASPECT OF THIS ACCOUNT ISMOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU, AND WHY?��

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IF YOUDON’T HAVEA BIBLE,

ASK JEHOVAH’S WITNESSESFOR ONE, OR

READ IT ONLINE ATwww.watchtower.org

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wp10 07/01-E

What can you do to encourage a friend who isseriously ill? SEE PAGES 10-13.

Who was Hannah, and how did her faith help herto cope with a mean-spirited rival? SEE PAGES 14-18.

What is one thing you can do to make Bible readingbeneficial? SEE PAGES 19-21.

Did God have a beginning? SEE PAGE 28.

What does God look for in our heart? SEE PAGE 29.

Would you welcome a visit?

www.watchtower.org

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wp10 07/01-E - Maka Boy Do You... · —She Opened Her Heart to God in Prayer 28 Our Readers ... Venda, Vietnamese, Wallisian, Waray-Waray, Wolaita, Xhosa ... Jesus declared in prayer