The Watchtower, September 15, 1952
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"YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12
The WATCHTOWER
Announcing
JEHOVAH'S
KINGDOM
SEPTEMBER 15, 1952
Semimonthly
OBEDIENCE LEADS TO LIFE
LOYALTY THE TEST
TOLERANCE FOR UNITY AND INCREASE
"THE THINGS UNSEEN
ARE EVERLASTING"
PALESTINE IN SPRING 1952
©WTB&TS
"YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12 THE PURPOSE OF "THE WATCHTOWER"
Literal towers in Bible times were elevated vantage points from which watchmen could observe happenings, warn of danger, or announce good news. Our magazine figuratively occupies such a vantage point, for it is founded on the very pinnacle of wisdom, God's Word. That elevates it above racial, national and political propagandas and prejudices, frees it from selfish bias. It is not bound by any traditional creed, but its message advances as the light on God's purposes and works increases.-Habakkuk 2:1-3.
It sees things Scripturally. When it observes this generation afflicted with greed, delinquency, hypocrisy, atheism, war, famine, pestilence, perplexity and fear, and persecution of unpopular minorities, it does not parrot the old fable about history repeating itself.Informed by Bible prophecy, it sees in these things the sign of the world's time of the end. But with bright hope it also sees opening up for us just beyond these woes the portals of a new world.
Thus viewed, "The Watchtower" stands as a watchman atop a tower, alert to what is going on, awake to note signs of danger, faithful to point out the way of escape. It announces Jehovah's kingdom established by Christ's enthronement in heaven, feeds his kingdom joint-heirs with spiritual food, cheers men of good will with glorious prospects of eternal life in a paradise earth, comforts us with the resurrection promise for the dead.
It is not dogmatic, but has a confident ring in its voice, because it is based on God's Word. It does not privately interpret prophecy, but calls attention to physical facts, sets them alongside prophecy, and you see for yourself how well the two match, how accurately Jehovah interprets his own prophecy. In the interests of our salvation, it keeps sharp and faithful focus on Bible truth, and views religious news generally.
'Be watchful in these perilous times,' God admonishes. So keep on the watch by regularly reading "The Watchtower".
PUBLISHED BY THE WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
117 Adams Street
Brooklyn 1, N. Y., U. S. A.
N. H. KNORR, President
GRANT SUITER, Secretary
"They will all be taught by Jehovah."—John 6:45, NW; Isaiah 54:13
CONTENTS
“The Things Unseen Are Everlasting”
Tolerance for Unity and Increase
Palestine in Spring 1952
Obedience Leads to Life
Loyalty the Test
Fiji Island Youth Remembers Creator
Questions from Readers
Announcements
Abbreviations used in "The Watchtower" for the following Bible versions
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ED - The Emphatic Diaglott RS - Revised Standard Version
Le - Isaac Leeser's version Yg - Robert Young's version
Unless otherwise indicated, the Bible used is the King James Version
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"THE THINGS UNSEEN ARE EVERLASTING"
VATICAN city attracts the eye of the tourist. St. Peter's Square and basilica, the Vatican gardens, the museums, priceless masterpieces of art and breath-taking treasures in jewels all stir the imagination as they dazzle the eye. Also, a wealth of tradition rivals this material glory. This is apparent in the Swiss Guards, the papal ceremonies and the religious devotion visiting Catholics bestow on the many statues and images. Yet there is a highly disturbing air present that the alert observer cannot miss. Catholic Italy is not a land of exemplary Christian zeal. A few blocks from the Vatican even the physical appearance changes abruptly into the streets of Rome with their lurking threats, filth, immorality and communism.
This latter evil alone has stricken Catholic hierarchs with fear. It has tainted more and more papal addresses with political flavor. It has prompted a frantic fight in which, by means of the Italian clerical party, the Christian Democrats, the church has barely held the line against an ever more menacing rising Red tide. Italy's pathetic peasant class and communism's mounting political promises currently nurture this fear. But the spiritual poverty rather than the physical should provide the real basis for alarm. Said the apostle Paul: "The kingdom of God does not mean eating and drinking, but means righteousness and peace and joy with holy spirit."—Rom. 14:17, NW.
Across Europe in England, traditional stronghold of Protestantism, conditions religiously are little if any better. The May 17, 1952, issue of the British publication Everybody's Weekly carried an article asking: "Is the Church of England Dying?" Attesting to a bitter wave of anticlericalism and a destitute clergy, the author remarks: "To all appearances the Church of England is dying on its feet." And beneath a large picture of a part of the stately Protestant cathedral, York Minster, we read: "Can it be possible that such a faith has become meaningless to people who are the inheritors of such glory?"
This spiritual impoverishment in the midst of material glory common to both Protestantism and Catholicism exists in direct contrast with the course of firstcentury Christians. Following the lead of their exemplar, Christ Jesus, the apostles and disciples continued after his death, resurrection and ascension to heaven to preach and anticipate the coming kingdom of the heavens and its rule of righteousness. Making them, as this did, neutral in respect to the politics and sects of the world, true Christians faced scorn, ridicule and physical violence. But of all this Paul said: "We do not give up, but even if the man we are outside is wasting away, certainly the man we are inside is being renewed from day to day. For though the tribulation is momentary and light, it works out for us a glory which is of more and more surpassing weight and is everlasting, while we keep our eyes, not on the things seen, but on the things unseen.
For the things seen are temporary, but the things unseen are everlasting."—2 Cor. 4:16-18, NW.
Paul and his Christian companions saw the visible Roman Empire then in its glorious power. But they knew it would not last. They certainly knew it was no competition for Jehovah God's theocracy in the hands of its anointed King, Christ Jesus. They could not see the theocratic government with the literal eye. It was then future and when it would come it would be spiritual, unseen to men. (Luke 17:20, 21; John 14:19) But they had faith in it because their ready minds had been opened by study and they were "handling the word of the truth aright".—2 Tim. 2:15, NW.
But those whose kingdom is from beneath, of the things seen, know only to build up material possessions, then to protect these by carnal might. Thus in a recent book (In an Age of Revolution) Britain's archbishop of York deplores the growth of communism and calls for an end of poverty to meet the threat. The writer of the Everybody's Weekly article, C. E. M. Joad, was alert enough to see the weakness this betrays. He comments on the archbishop's suggestion: "In order that it may effectively do these things, the Church must first put its own house in order. It must achieve renewal of faith and it must vigorously pursue the quest of Christian unity. Nothing has a more deterrent effect upon the wistful agnostic anxious to believe than the visible spectacle of the Churches' disunity." Furthermore, the unity they fail to muster against communism or other evils in time of peace they fail even more miserably to achieve in time of war, when national boundaries divide sectarians fighting to protect their wealth and property from each other. "These
things are done," says writer Joad, "in the name of the Prince of Peace, who abjured violence and bade his followers love one another."
Further, regarding Christendom's relentless effort to force its religion upon "the heathen", Mr. Joad asks: "What authority is there in the Bible or the teachings of Christ for supposing that it will ever convert them?" There is none. Jesus left behind for his followers the commission to preach his kingdom "for the purpose of a witness to all the nations". He said nothing of forced conversions or of building up sprawling religious structures with frocked and titled clergy, ornate buildings, great stores of accumulated wealth, ear-tingling "holy years" or eye-catching ceremonies steeped in creature worship. He simply said: "Give us today our bread for this day." Of food and drink and clothing he said: "Your heavenly Father knows you need all these things. Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you".—Matt. 6:11, 32, 33; 24:14, NW.
Is this practical today? It is very practical and very rewarding, as true Christians are proving today. Their righteous works amassed by preaching the good news of Christ's kingdom in public places and the abodes of the people not only bring the truth to more sheeplike ones, but yield peace of mind and joy to the preachers who follow the lead of God's holy spirit. This is not practical if you wish to build an empire or a great religious hierarchy with yourself placed in one of the high echelons and the people forced to come to you for help and to support the fabulous structure. But these things are themselves impractical, since they will not survive Armageddon. They will prove flimsy protection and go down in destruction. But, as we know, "the things unseen are everlasting."
Tolerance FOR UNITY AND INCREASE
AMONG the evils that afflict this corrupt old dying system of things is intolerance. Look where we may we find manifestations of it. The issue of racial intolerance is being hotly debated in South Africa, even as it is throughout the United States. Ideological and political intolerance manifests itself not only in Iron Curtain countries but also in many of the democracies. And religious intolerance, which goes back to the very first human murderer, Cain, shows itself in the attempt to force observance of Catholic holy days on the non-Catholic populations of Montreal, Canada, and New York city; in the desecration of Jewish graves in Germany; in the stoning of Protestant church buildings in Colombia; not to say anything of the world-wide intolerance expressed toward the witnesses of Jehovah.
Thereby such men show that they lack understanding. David, even though he had suffered much at the hands of envious King
Intolerance is bad fruit. All who practice it in any form could not possibly have or belong to the true religion or the pure worship of Jehovah God. "There is not a fine tree producing rotten fruit; again there is not a rotten tree producing fine fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit." Luke 6:43, 44, NW.
Those who manifest intolerance do not know God, for he is a most tolerant God. In what way or ways has Jehovah manifested tolerance? In that he has tolerated this wicked old system of things for more than four thousand years. Some men, suffering under injustices and oppression, have questioned God's wisdom in permitting these conditions and have accused God of being in sympathy with wickedness.
Saul, did not thus foolishly accuse God. Showing that he had proper understanding, he expressed himself thus: "Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: evil shall not sojourn with thee. The arrogant shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou wilt destroy them that speak lies: Jehovah abhorreth the bloodthirsty and deceitful man."—Ps. 5:4-6, AS.
WHY GOD HAS TOLERATED WICKEDNESS
Jehovah has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to end all wickedness. That being so we can be certain that he would not now tolerate it unless he had some very good reasons for doing so. Which reasons are? The same for which he spared Pharaoh for a time: "For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, so that you would have been effaced from the earth; but this is why I have spared you: to show you my power, and to have my fame recounted throughout all the earth." (Ex. 9:15, 16, AT) Back there Jehovah not only answered in his favor the question "Who owns the earth and is its ruler?" but he also made a prophetic picture of the time when he will answer in his favor the question "Who owns the universe and is its ruler?"
Ever since the rebellion in the garden of Eden Jehovah's supremacy has been challenged. To give the Devil full opportunity to demonstrate that he is unreformable and to give him time to build up his organization, consisting of demons (fallen angels) and the nations of this world, to its greatest strength God has tolerated wickedness.
Then, in his own due time, Jehovah God will display his superior power and destroy Satan and his entire organization even as he destroyed Pharaoh and his hosts in the Red sea. That will mark the end of God's tolerance of Satan and his old world. 1 John 5:19; Rev. 12:7-10; 18:21; 19:19, 20, NW.
This vindication of Jehovah's name and supremacy is of far greater importance than all the suffering God has permitted man to endure. At the same time God has accomplished very worth-while purposes by letting his creatures thus suffer unjustly. Satan boasted he could turn all men away from God. To prove the Devil a liar God permitted him to try to do so. As shown by the book of Job (chapters 1 and 2) this meant letting the Devil bring temptation and suffering upon men. Those who withstood the test would thereby vindicate Jehovah's side of the question and would prove their own obedience and integrity and come in for a share in the blessings of God's new world of righteousness. "If, now, God, although having the will to demonstrate his wrath and to make his power known, tolerated with much long-suffering vessels of wrath made fit for destruction, in order that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, . . . what of it?" Surely in view of such worth-while results God is fully justified in letting his creatures suffer unjustly.—Heb. 5:8, 9; Rom. 9:17-26, NW.
Not only has Jehovah God thus been tolerant with those practicing willful malicious wickedness, but he has at the same time shown mercy toward those who have dedicated themselves to his service; particularly in that he arranged for the sacrifice of his Son to take away their sins. (John 3:16) Since God is merciful, ever willing to forgive us our sins if we come to him in true repentance, should we not be
willing to likewise show mercy to those who offend or sin against us? (1 John 2:1, 2) The fact is, being forgiven ourselves depends upon our forgiving others: "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." That is why Jesus also stated, "Happy are the merciful, since they will be shown mercy."—Matt. 6:12; 5:7, NW.
SHOWING TOLERANCE TO EACH OTHER
Sometimes Christians permit foolish arguments to come up between them on such a thing as diet. One will maintain that a vegetarian diet is best and therefore all Christians should be vegetarians, while the other will insist that meat is indispensable. The one will point to the fact that Adam was not given meat to eat, and the other will point to the fact that the Jews were commanded to eat flesh. And so they will argue back and forth. Getting into arguments over such inconsequential matters is displaying intolerance which is most unprofitable, and contrary to the plain admonition Paul gives at Romans 14:2-4 (NW): "One man has faith to eat everything, but the man who is weak eats vegetables. Let the one eating not look down on the one not eating, and let the one not eating not judge the one eating, for God has welcomed that one. Who are you to judge the house servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for Jehovah can make him stand."
How foolish for Christians, who are of the same mind in regard to really important matters: the Kingdom, the issue of supremacy and the vindication of Jehovah's name, the need of maintaining integrity and keeping separate from the world, what the Bible teaches as regards the basic doctrines; who see in harmony as regards the fulfillment of prophecies; and further, who work side by side in publishing the good news of God's kingdom publicly and from house to house; yes, how foolish for Christians, who are agreed on all these points, to permit themselves to become divided, to get into arguments, to allow misunderstandings and bitterness to come between them over such immaterial matters as diet or which of the various therapies for treating mankind's ills is the best!
Yes, most foolish in view of the danger that some might be stumbled and be pushed out of the truth by such arguments.
Profitable tolerance indicates avoiding needless issues. We should carefully avoid needlessly offending others who may not be so mature as to appreciate the folly of being sticklers for such nonessentials, and on the other hand we should avoid giving offense by being sticklers ourselves. That is the sum and substance of Paul's advice at 1 Corinthians 10:25-30. We should forego our liberty of choice in such matters for the sake of the conscience of others; for after all, "The kingdom of God does not mean eating and drinking, but means righteousness and peace and joy with holy spirit."—Rom. 14:17, NW.
Incidentally, those who consider food so very important are in danger of making the same mistake as did Esau, who sold his birthright for a bowl of lentils. Or like Martha, who was so concerned about the incidental material things that she neglected the really important things. In modern times Christian ministers at assemblies who forego part of the spiritual feast in their concern to be served first with the material food give evidence of being more like Esau and Martha than like Jacob and Mary!
TOLERANCE FOR INCREASE
Not that Christians are to be wishywashy, without any principles. Not at all! When vital issues arise and the principles of God's Word are at stake, true Christians will not compromise. Regardless of how
unpopular it may make them, they will refuse to heil men, to bow down to any image or likeness, to take blood transfusions, etc. On the other hand, they will not stop speaking out the good news so long as they have tongues and there is someone to talk to. But where principle is not involved, where no direct command of God would be violated, they will gladly yield, will readily ignore their own personal preferences so as to help others on to the way of salvation instead of stumbling them. As Paul expressed it: "If food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat flesh at all, that I may not make my brother stumble." 1 Cor. 8:13, NW.
Christian ministers must also show tolerance to those whom they would give the milk of the Word. (Heb. 5:12) To those, for example, who make an issue regarding strict observance of the sabbath. In Paul's day some Jews, who became Christians, still felt very strongly regarding the keeping of the sabbath. On the other hand, Greeks and others who had not been under the law of Moses had no difficulty in appreciating that Jehovah nailed the law to the torture stake of Christ. (Col. 2:14, NW) So today, there are many who feel very strongly regarding seventh-day observance. The wise minister will exercise Christian tolerance by not harping on the fact that such observance is no longer required. Rather, he will ignore that controversial minor point and concentrate on putting across the truth regarding the main issues, the Kingdom and the vindication of Jehovah's name. Such is a time to remember that "a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be tactful toward all". (2 Tim. 2:24, 25, NW) The same would apply to other minor pet religious notions that some may want to cherish.
Christian ministers will also exercise profitable tolerance in the matter of clothes; they will not insist that those who attend their meetings measure up to certain standards as to appearance.
Nor will they discriminate between rich and poor, exalting the one and dishonoring the other. All such favoritism is a form of intolerance which the Bible most plainly condemns: "You look with favor upon the one wearing the splendid clothing and say: 'You take this seat here in an honorable place,' and you say to the poor one: 'You keep standing,' or, 'Take that seat there beside my footstool,' . . . if you continue showing favoritism, you are working a sin, for you are reproved by the law as transgressors."
Jas. 2:1-9, NW.
Christian tolerance also means that when we are engaged teaching others the truth of God's Word we overlook their personal habits, such as the use of tobacco. Nor should we pry into the personal affairs or past history of those with whom we are studying the Bible. None of us have anything to brag about as to what we were when we came to the Lord and his organization. (1 Cor. 6:9-11) So long as the people are hungry for the truth let us give it to them. As they continue to grow in knowledge and understanding and to associate with Jehovah's people they will see a clean organization and it will dawn upon them that they too should clean up.
If we would have a share in the increase that is now taking place by helping others to see their privilege of dedicating themselves to Jehovah God through Christ Jesus, then we must show tolerance. If we
love our neighbor as ourselves we will have patience with him and will not needlessly stumble him. If he needs education on eating, drinking, observing days, or in regard to personal habits, let us be tactful with him on these matters. Love will gladly deny itself certain things so that others may be aided, for is not the eternal destiny of others of far greater importance than our personal preferences and conveniences? Rom. 14:14-20.
Fulfillment of Bible prophecy shows that we are living in the most momentous days of man's history because God's kingdom, for which Christians have been praying for 1,900 years, has been established and Christ is present. (Matt. 24:1-51; Rev. 11:15-18) Soon that kingdom will vindicate Jehovah's name and supremacy by wiping out all wickedness and by establishing a new world of righteousness. (2 Pet. 3:7-13) By seeking first the Kingdom in our lives and by concentrating on the Kingdom theme in our preaching we shall avoid getting side-tracked on such insignificant things as the eating of meat or vegetables, drinking coffee, tea or alcoholic beverages or questionable personal habits.
"We, though, who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those not strong and not to be pleasing ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor in what is good for his upbuilding." (Rom. 15:1,2,NW) Intolerance is the rotten fruit of false worship. Christian tolerance is the fine fruit of true worship that results in unity and increase.
Palestine in Spring 1952
By a Watchtower Society missionary
NOW I write you with desire to give you pleasure in traveling with us to the various places of interest here where
so much Bible history was made and to convey to you some point of interest which is not apparent in reading the Bible text. For example: Why did Jesus tell his disciples, who were fishing on the Sea of Galilee and who had caught no fish, to cast their net on the opposite side of the boat? Or why did Jesus send Peter to catch a fish to get the coin to pay their taxes? From these questions you have already guessed what our journey is about this time. Yes, you are right. A visit to the Sea of Galilee.
Having spent a most unpleasant cold and rainy winter in Jerusalem, we are ready for a change. So this fine Sunday morning in the latter part of March, while the reproduction and blossoming forth of spring is at its best, we start out for Galilee aboard a rickety old bus with wooden benches for the seating comfort of its passengers. If possible, you can imagine how we are going to enjoy five hours of sitting on a board that will continually remind us that it is hard and unyielding, and not like the springy seats in our American buses.
We are leaving Jerusalem now around noon. The first part of our journey takes us down through the rugged and stony Judean hills to the almost flat and level plain of Sharon. All along the way we observe that these hills, which had looked brown and burnt during the summer, are now covered with a carpet of rich green dotted on every hand with pink and white stones of all sizes and shapes. About these stones, and on the spaces in between, flourish many kinds of beautiful wild flowers. Predominant among these flowers is the bright red poppy which is somewhat bigger than the domestic tulip grown in the States, and the yellow daisy which grows so profusely that in whatever direction one looks he is confronted by multitudinous seas of yellow.
Coming on the plain of Sharon, which strip of land extends in width from the foothills of the mountains of Judah to the Mediterranean sea, the scenery changes. Here we no longer observe the wild beauty of the hills, but the domestic beauty of the grain fields, the plowing and the planting of the crops, and as we come into the vicinity of the old Bible town of Lydda, where the apostle Peter once visited the congregation of Christians and healed a paralyzed man, we are greeted by the fragrant perfume emitted by the blossoming orange, grapefruit and lemon trees from whose branches ripe fruit is still hanging. We pass through Lydda and continue on northward some forty miles to the vicinity of the mountains of Ephraim. All along the route we are continually delighted by the pleasant aroma of perfume-laden air from the blooming vegetation.
An hour later and we are enjoying the roller-coaster effect of the foothills of the mountains of Ephraim, of which Mount Carmel is the western spur. We climb only a few feet and enter the narrow Megiddo pass, through which in ancient times many armies went to the battlefield of Armageddon, the plain of Esdraelon, and through which many rich camel caravans passed with their goods for Egypt and Syria. It is here we see for our first time in Israel a civilization as far back as Abraham. Arabs, dressed in the style of that time, are plowing their narrow patches of land by means of wooden plows. Some are drawn by camels and others pulled along by a yoke of oxen. Once we saw a horse and another time an ass drawing a plow. Many of the Arabs live near their plots of land in black tents made from wool; others live in stone huts. This unusual scene is short-lived, however, because as we come around a bend there lies before the sweep of our eyes another more captivating scene in all the splendor of its springtime dress—the fertile valley called Jezreel in the Bible and outside of the Bible by the names "Plains of Esdraelon" and "Armageddon".
FELLOW PASSENGERS
Since another hour shall pass before we reach our destination, and since we have become quite accustomed to the verdant splendor of the hills, I will give you some idea of what is going on in this old bus.
Yes, the board on which we sit is still with us. As the hours go by we become more painfully aware of its presence. In the front the driver, a careless, happy-go-lucky individual, is driving like a wild man. It appears that the steering mechanism is badly worn, and because of this he has to fight the wheel to keep this pile of junk on the road. But apparently no one has noticed this except me, because all about us there is hilarious conversation in a half-dozen
languages, with wild gesticulation to drive the points home. Nobody cares what the driver is doing. In the aisle of the bus seated flat on the floor are several Temanite women, one of which is breast-feeding a very dirty little baby. The immigrants from Teman before coming to Israel never sat on a chair nor slept in a bed. They consider such things as devices from which to fall and injure oneself. So they sit and sleep on the floor. Many of the passengers are orthodox Jewish men wearing long curls that hang down in front of their ears, which characterize members of an orthodox mystical sect that originated in central Europe.
We are doing a lot of winding around turns now, so I had better get my head back to the window of this contraption and see what goes on outside. There it is! Off to our left and away below us like a jewel unspoiled by man is the Sea of Galilee, with hills all around. While we descend we see the lake change from an infinite variety of blues to green and indigo and silver, according to the changing cloudy sky above. We are surprised to see it so beautiful. The hills on this side are smooth and green, but they look rugged and desolate beyond. We just passed a sign on the rapidly descending road marked "sea level", which is 680 feet above the lake. We go along for another mile or more through immigrant camps, waving palms and white hotels with Hebrew names, to Tiberias by the sea. Here at our journey's end we are more than anxious to get off this bus.
After a good night's rest, we rose early this morning, and, like the letter-carrier on his day off, we are going for a walk. We thought it would be more interesting if we walked the fifteen miles from Tiberias to Capernaum and beyond to where the Jordan enters the lake. Along the lake's edge runs a good road, so it will be smooth walking.
We started about eight o'clock and as we walked along in the quietness of the early morning the birds were chirping overhead among the branches of the giant eucalyptus trees. The fishermen were hanging their nets among these trees to dry and be repaired, because they were wet and torn from having been used for the catch during the night. My imagination began to work again.
Jesus must often have paused upon these hills above on the left of us as we walked northward along the lake, and thought over what he saw, and meditated on how to present the truth to the people he must witness to. But what he saw was greatly different from what we now see. Here, in Jesus' time ran trunk roads, with busy traffic passing to and fro and taxgatherers sitting at the customhouses to collect the tolls. Here were cities to compare with Tyre, Sidon, Nineveh. Here were noblemen's houses with many servants, wealthy landlords, whose barns must be torn down and larger ones built to hold the harvest; not country sins alone, but those which curse cities—public prostitution, jealous social conditions, bitter poverty close to fabulous wealth. Here to our right on the lake were fleets of fishing boats, and on the shores miles of fishing nets to be dried and mended. Everywhere around the lake Jesus moved in the midst of a populous cosmopolitan life where one might gain the whole world and lose his life, and where the exacting crowds so wearied him that at times he had to go apart and rest from them.
Today, however, this busy, wealthy life of Galilee is altogether gone. The towns as Jesus knew them have vanished; the trees that once covered the hills are gone; where beautiful gardens once grew, there are morasses, and the lake is empty of sails and the shores idle, and for the most part
uninhabited. Only the outlines of nature remain to indicate the setting of Jesus' ministry.
Just ahead of us in the bend of the road is a house with beautiful gardens and surrounded by palm trees. Here we will rest. No sooner had we walked through the gate and descended the stairs leading down to the big house on the slope than we were met by a kindly gentleman who spoke English. He gave us water, and after exchanging a few words with each other he began to explain fishing on the lake. He pointed out that tons of fish are caught each season along this piece of shore. Because of the warm springs that bubble up here, there are more fish than elsewhere in the lake. Very likely it was here that the apostles came to fish. From the steep bank it is possible to see the fish in the crowded shoals in the water when they are invisible to men in a boat. He said, "I have stood here and called to fishermen and told them where to cast their nets." Perhaps it was somewhere in this vicinity that Jesus called to his disciples to cast their net on the other side of the boat, but Jesus performed a miracle.—John 21:1-6.
This kind man went on to relate that there are two main kinds of fish in the lake. A little one called the sardine and a bigger one called the musht. The small ones are not really sardines, but they are a sort of fish easy to put within a roll, two of which the lad might have had with five rolls when Jesus fed the five thousand somewhere on these shores. The musht is known as "Peter's perch", in whose mouth Peter found the coin to pay his and Jesus' taxes. He went on to explain that the male fish has a little sac under his mouth. They are often attracted by any bright object, like a ring that has slipped off a finger into the water. It was not impossible, therefore, for the Roman coin to find its way into a fish's mouth.
We asked him many questions about the location of the different places, mentioned in the Greek Scriptures, along the lake, and he was most helpful. Pointing across the lake to the other shore to the country of the Gerasenes, where Jesus healed the man afflicted by the legion of demons and where the swine ran down the precipice into the sea and drowned, he said, "Draw a line from there to where we are, and north of it took place nearly all the events of Jesus' Galilean ministry." He pointed out for us the possible locations of Bethsaida on the far side of the lake, Capernaum to the north where a clump of trees stand at the north end, Chorazin farther away on the hills behind, and Magdala between here and Capernaum. We journeyed on to see some of the places he had pointed out.
The first is Magdala, once the home of Mary Magdalene. But occupying the sight of the town where Mary lived at the starting of the plain near the sea is a group of gruesome mud-brick hovels in which a few immigrants live. How far this town has fallen since Mary's day!
From here we walk without a letup for almost three hours to the hills north of the lake to the site where it is believed the once great city of Chorazin stood, where Jesus must have taught and healed. No more do the great roads pass by it, thronged with merchants. We cannot even find a path, but follow sheep trails and walk across open fields to where it perhaps was. Except for the views both inland and
lakeward, it is a desolate sight. Jesus' words are more impressively meaningful: "Woe to you, Chorazin!"-Matt. 11:21, NW.
Coming down over the hills from Chorazin toward the north shore of the lake, we continue our journey through a living mosaic of color produced by the thirty or more different kinds of wild flowers, to the most interesting spot on the lake—the possible location of Capernaum. The outlines of many foundations lying uncovered on every hand indicate a once populous community. Here lived Simon Peter and his brother Andrew; here dwelt also Peter's partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee; and here is where Jesus did many of his mighty works that drew the attention of the entire lakeside. Here also is where Simon the Zealot, a fanatical rebel against Rome, found agreement by learning the truth with Matthew Levi, who sat in the customhouse and gathered the taxes for Herod Antipas. Today it taxes one's imagination to picture what Capernaum used to be. Jesus described it as "exalted to heaven". (NW) As we are leaving the ruins of the last place of interest on our journey, we cannot help but call to mind the other words of Jesus about Capernaum, "Down to Hades you will come."—NW.
It is now late afternoon, and we must walk back across the fields of Galilee to the main road and catch a ride to Tiberias, where we will take a bus to Jerusalem and there write about the things we saw, so that we can pass them on to you.
OBEDIENCE LEADS TO LIFE
EHOVAH the Creator is the source of all life. He gives it to whom he pleases and takes it away from those not worthy. No creatures on earth can claim possession of life, for they have it only as long as they exist, though some do have it by promise. All sane persons want to live on forever, and always since man's disobedience brought the penalty of death the question has been asked similar to the one put to the Lord Jesus Christ by a man well versed in Jewish law: "By doing what shall I inherit everlasting life?" In answering Jesus questioned him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read?" In answer he said: "You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole strength and with your whole mind," and, "your neighbor as yourself." He said to him: "You answered correctly; 'keep on doing this and you will get life.'" (Luke 10:25-28, NW) Here then is stated concisely and correctly the command of Jehovah, and those obedient to it will obtain life and live forever. Do we really desire everlasting life? How much would we give to secure it? Are we prepared to obey God's commandments to the full so as to inherit it? No creature will get it unless he pleases God and receives His approval. It is also true that no one will be approved unless he is obedient.
"The Eternal your God you shall follow, him you shall revere, his commands you shall keep, his voice you shall obey, him shall you worship, and to him shall you be loyal." Deut. 13:4, Mo.
2 We may ask, Just what does obedience mean, and what is involved in our obedience? It actually means a compliance with commands, a readiness to perform that which is required or directed by authority, a dutifulness. Obedience is a divine requirement and includes a joyful, willing submission to do the will of God. Since the beginning of creation Jehovah God has always required and rewarded complete obedience. When he created the righteous world he performed it through spirit agencies under the direction of Christ Jesus in his prehuman state. "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him." (Col. 1:15, 16, NW) Also carrying out Jehovah's will were angels numbering "ten thousand times ten thousand". (Dan. 7:10) Yet with all these marvelous creatures there was perfect harmony at the beginning. God does not have to force obedience, but his commands are immediately obeyed. "For he spake and it was, he commanded, and it stood forth." (Ps. 33:9, Ro) This is borne out by the record from the beginning: "God said, Light be. And light was." (Gen. 1:3, Ro) On this the first morning of creation God's commands were completely obeyed, and so the record of obedience to his expressed purpose continues one creative day after another.
Jehovah requires something done. He commands, someone hears and readily and willingly obeys. Co-operation in the works of God is revealed by the statement: "Let us make man." (Gen. 1:26) This is not an example of a speaker speaking of himself in the plural, addressing his words to himself as if a plurality of persons, for such plurality is not shown in the script
ence. "Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if ye shall hearken unto the commandments of Jehovah your God, which I command you this day; and the curse, if ye shall not hearken unto the commandments of Jehovah your God." (Deut. 11:26-28, AS) Obedience also brings blessings and friendship with God. "And Jehovah said, Shall I hide from Abraham that which I do? For I have
tures where God is speaking of himself. But Jehovah does communicate to his Son and the other spirit creatures of what he purposes to do, so giving them an interest in the matter. This means Jesus Christ, as the Logos, and the millions of angelic creatures were co-operating together in complete harmony and perfect joyful obedience in working the works of God. All these services were completed on time and this loving obedience brought great pleasure to Jehovah. "Bless the LORD, ye his angels, mighty in strength, that execute his word,
known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken." (Jas. 2:23; Gen. 18:17, 19, AS) Obedience also brings salvation, for at the time of the flood Noah, his family and pairs of living creatures were commanded by Jehovah what to do. The commands were obeyed, and salvation came as a result. Then Jehovah proves his people by obedience. "It is
hearkening unto the voice of his word." Ps. 103:20, Le.
At the beginning of man's existence God commanded obedience from him. "Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Gen. 2:16, 17, AS) During Adam's short period of obedience he had a clear and clean conscience; he was neither afraid nor ashamed. Obedience meant peace, protection, happiness, harthe Eternal your God testing you, to see whether you really love the Eternal your God with all your mind and all your heart. The Eternal your God you shall follow, him you shall revere, his commands you shall keep, his voice you shall obey, him shall you worship, and to him shall you be loyal." (Deut. 13:3,4, Mo) Those who are to be Jehovah's people must be obedient. "This day thou art become the people of Jehovah thy God. Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of Jehovah thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes." He promises to regather the scattered ones if obedi-
mony with God, and life. When he was driven out of Eden for disobedience then obedience was seen in the cherubim who guarded the way to the tree of life, so man could not reach it. (Gen. 3:24) Also, at the time Jehovah first created a nation he was very specific in his requirement for obedience is manifested: "And thou . . . shalt return unto Jehovah thy God, and shalt obey his voice . . . then Jehovah thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the peoples, whither Jehovah thy God hath scattered thee." (Deut. 27:9, 10; 30:1-10, AS) This same chapter also promises to bring back the prisoners and
(a) How did God state his commands to the first man and theocratic nation at their beginning? (b) Explain some of the beneficial results from obedience.
dispersed to the land of promise, and that he will put curses on the enemies. These foregoing scriptures clearly show that obedience brings harmony and friendship with Jehovah, peace, salvation, testing for approval, release from oppression, and punishment upon the enemies of his own people. If then Jehovah God would do all those things for natural Israel, he will do greater things for spiritual Israel by reason of their full obedience to his commands.
Jehovah knows whether we are giving true obedience or not, and often he proves us to see if we are sincere. One of the most outstanding examples of this recorded in Scripture is that of Abraham. "God did prove Abraham; . . . And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." And Abraham showed his willing obedience, for he "rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass" and then on the third day he saw the place God had told him. When asked by Isaac where the lamb was for the burnt offering, Abraham replied: "God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son." Willingly, without complaint or question, Abraham carried out Jehovah's commands. He knew that it was Jehovah who had given the son and Jehovah could take him away. So Abraham took the knife to slay his only and very dearly beloved son, who lay bound on the altar. But before the blow fell, the voice of the angel of Jehovah called out to him, surely like the sweetest music he had ever heard: "Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him; for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld
thy son, thine only son, from me." How little Abraham knew that the "eyes" of Jehovah had been watching him all the time, to see whether Abraham would be obedient to the end, and only when the blow was about to be struck did he intervene. Jehovah then declared: "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." Hence Abraham's obedience produced, by Jehovah's undeserved kindness, this promise which is broad and generous enough to take in the whole world.-Gen. 22:1-18, AS.
Then the perfect example of our Lord Jesus Christ is set for the guidance of all his followers who would obtain favor and life from Jehovah. It is written: "He emptied himself and took a slave's form and came to be in the likeness of men. More than that, when he found himself in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient as far as death, yes, death on a torture stake." (Phil. 2:7, 8, NW) "My food is for me to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work." (John 4:34, NW) "I seek not my own will but the will of him that sent me." (John 5:30, NW) "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me. Yet, not as I will, but as you will." (Matt. 26:39, NW) Jesus was always obedient even before he suffered, but the proof that it was so must be shown in deed. He became a model of obedience to be rendered by all who follow. Suffer he did, though he was the beloved of God. Who, then, shall be free of suffering for righteousness' sake, and who will complain while suffering? Our heavenly Father is pleased with a joyful, willing and ready compliance with his will. "Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered, and after he had been made perfect he became responsible for everlasting salvation to all those obeying him."
(Heb. 5:8,9,NW) No one is excepted. Hence it is of utmost importance that we be obedient or we shall never gain life.
The Lord Jesus was obedient from the heart. But examples are provided in Scripture of those who did not obey from the heart, and one of the most outstanding is the first appointed and recognized king of Israel, Saul. His experience demonstrates
clearly that there may be outward obedience that is not a true indication of the heart's sincerity and compliance with God's will. Jehovah judges the real motive that inspires one to action. King Saul was commanded: "Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass." (1 Sam. 15:3, 19, AS) He did not carry out in
completeness the command. In questioning him after the battle, Samuel said: "Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of Jehovah?" Saul excused himself that he had saved the king, Agag, probably to display him and then kill him, and then partly blamed the people. "But the troops took some of the sheep and oxen, the best of what had been doomed to destruction, for a sacrifice to the Eternal your God." (1 Sam. 15:21, Mo) This was a paltry excuse, for it was self-evident Saul had not carried out the commands received, and to say the reason for not doing it was to offer sacrifice to Jehovah was not pleasing. So Samuel said: "Does the Eternal delight in burnt-offering and sacrifice as he does in obedience to his word? Obedience is better far than sacrifice, to heed him better than fat flesh of rams." (1 Sam. 15:22, Mo) Saul's heart was not right and he was not obedient even though there was
plenty of outward show. We cannot deceive Jehovah. Men judge far too often by external appearances. This fact is so well portrayed when Samuel went to the home of Jesse, the Bethlehemite, to anoint one of the sons to be king in Saul's place. Samuel exclaimed, "Surely Jehovah's anointed is before him," when he looked upon Eliab. "But Jehovah said unto Samuel, Look not
on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for Jehovah seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh on the heart."—1 Sam. 16:6, 7, AS.
The nation of Israel walked in the same way as King Saul. It was obedience from the heart God required. Israel showed no disposition to attend to his counsel, and God well knew it. They never learned that Jehovah always laid greater stress upon sincere and willing obedience than on external observances. Paul, writing on the same matter to the Hebrews, says, "Hence when he comes into the world he says: 'You did not desire sacrifice and offering, but you prepared a body for me. You did not approve of whole burnt-offerings and sin offering." Then I said, "Look! I am come (in the roll of the book it is written about me) to do your will, O God."' (Heb. 10:5-7, NW) Here with singular
(a) Jehovah gave what command to King Saul, and how did he carry it out? (b) What great lesson is taught by Saul's conduct and Jehovah's Word through Samuel?
What kind of obedience was really required, and how is Jesus Christ an example in this regard?
beauty is expressed the heart condition of Christ Jesus and the great truth that all outward observances are valueless without obedience and the servant's full concurrence in the will of God. Christ Jesus surrendered himself completely to the doing of God's will. From henceforth all his mind, heart, soul and strength would be devoted to the accomplishment of Jehovah's will.
Moses, will see God's will is done. The word from the throne of Jehovah in the heavens sounds to all God's people today: 'Hear ye him!' Peter emphasized this by saying: "In fact, Moses said: 'Jehovah God will produce for you from among your brothers a prophet like me. You must listen to him according to all the things he speaks to you. Indeed, any soul that does not listen to that Prophet will be completely destroyed
From this time forward he would claim no rights, for he was wholly dedicated to God's holy service. Everything he had, all human hopes and ambitions, were all placed on God's altar to be used in the precious ministry, and he gave them with gratitude of heart.
8 Even as he always performed Jehovah's command, we must do the same. The Scriptures bring to our attention the commands which in this time of the end we must obey in order to have his approval. If we disregard them we shall meet with his displeasure. For example, we are commanded
from among the people.'"—Acts 3:22, 23. NW.
JOYFUL AND WILLING OBEDIENCE
9 Those who obey Jehovah's command with a joyful and willing spirit and who do not complain are the ones who please him. Such a person keeps his ears open to Jehovah's commands and watches for opportunities of service. "Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes look unto Jehovah our God." (Ps. 123:2 48) Such re-
to "declare good news to the poor, . . . to preach a release to the captives"; to "sing [praise] unto Jehovah"; to 'bring good tidings, publish peace and salvation'; to 'preach this good news of the kingdom in all the inhabited earth'; to 'make a path for the returning exiles, bank up a causeway, clear out the stones; signal to the nations'; to "warn the wicked of his way to turn from it, . . . [lest he] die in his iniquity"; and to say "to them that are bound, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves". (Luke 4:18, 19; Matt. 24:14 NW: Isa 12:5 6:52:7:62:10:Ezek
sponsive hearts are delightful. Earthly parents find a great deal of pleasure in prompt and cheerful obedience, for it is rightly accepted as the measure of the child's love. Their enforced obedience is not an expression of love. Strict disciplinary penalties for misconduct compel soldiers in armies to be obedient to their superiors, whether they like it or not. Servants have to be obedient to their masters, or some form of punishment results. Jehovah has endowed his human creatures with freedom to obey or disobey that thereby he may prove
2:3-5; 33:7-9; Isa. 49:9, AS) These are just a few of the many commands Jehovah God and Christ Jesus have laid upon the faithful ones. We cannot disobey. Faithful performance is mandatory. The Most High voices the instructions through the King Christ Jesus, and he, the greater-than-
them, and rewards will depend upon joyful obedience. Each one, therefore, should ask himself the question, Am I joyfully and willingly obeying Jehovah's commands?
10 Let us also remember that to perform this world-wide preaching service much
What are some of God's commands for us today, and why must we obey?
With whom is Jehovah pleased, and what question should we ask ourselves?
Should one examine himself? How? Offer examples and show what should result.
equipment is necessary. For instance, literature and all forms of advertising are used, which means printing presses and other machinery to produce them. An organization created to operate in all parts of the world supervises and directs the Lord's work now performed by hundreds of thousands of Christian people who have escaped this doomed evil system of things, and who now form one great unified congregation. So some are invited to share in such work as attending to tables, cleaning floors, windows, clothes, or operating machines, packing literature for shipment to other parts of the field, general maintenance, or on Kingdom farms. This is all necessary because these faithful slaves of the Lord have to be fed, housed, clothed, prepared for other duties and made responsible for the services which have to be performed in the field. Sometimes a person's usefulness might be hindered by his own attitude toward the Lord's work entrusted to him. He may have allowed his assignment to become commonplace, like any other job a person might obtain in the world. By losing sight of the grand privilege he has of demonstrating his love for Jehovah by willing, joyful service, he may be inclined to murmur and complain, or begin to think no one else works as hard or has as little time to himself. Perhaps it would be well for such a person to examine himself. Why should he be feeling sorry for himself? Did he not dedicate all he had to Jehovah? Is he not glad that his life is filled then with privileges of service to Jehovah? After sober consideration, he will be grateful that he has much to do. Is it not better that way than having too little? Of course it is! Let more come, for all we want to do is to serve Jehovah and not let discomforts or personal inconveniences interfere. Then and only then can we say Yes to the question, Am I joyfully obeying Jehovah's commands?
11 It may be you are ministering as one of the servants in a congregation and you have been given added privileges of service on behalf of Jehovah's people. How do you view them? Do you call them "added burdens"? And are you being weighed down with those "burdens"? Perhaps you think, "If only some of the other servants would do more, then my 'burden' would be easier," and you do feel that you have so much to do, do you not? The others seem to leave everything for you to do, and you are beginning to feel it is not right. You should not have so much, while others apparently have so little. Why not first ask yourself, What are these "burdens"? Are they not the very precious privileges of Kingdom service that are entrusted to your care in this grand and glorious ministry? Actually is it not true that really in your heart you value these services given to you through the administration of the "faithful and discreet slave", and that you truly want to render joyful and willing obedience? When you consider your privileges in the proper light, then they are not really "burdens", but privileges, and Jehovah is proving us by how we accept and perform them. If this is your understanding, then how can you do anything else than thank the Lord for all he gives you to do, and render willing, joyful obedience with gratitude?
12 Perhaps you are not rendering willing, joyful obedience in service because of domestic problems. It may be that your marriage mate does not see eye to eye with you in the truth, and much disagreement is being manifested. Possibly it has gone beyond this stage and in the home you are experiencing opposition, jealousy because of your devotion to the truth, vulgar
When given more services, how should we view them? and how do we express ourselves to Jehovah for them?
Why is it necessary to get a clear perspective concerning domestic trials?
threats, obscene language, talk of breaking up the home, even brutality mentally and physically. You may have concluded that it is just impossible to render joyful and willing obedience to Jehovah in view of these things. However, it is possible, and even more than that, it is absolutely necessary, that those who are enduring such hardship and trial get a clear perspective of their position. Otherwise they will not be able to serve Jehovah properly.
13 True it is that you cannot be happy with the conduct of those hurting you. Neither can you be joyful about the actual hurt you receive. But why is it? Can there be any possible reason for such experiences? Let us get behind the immediate present troubles and try to ascertain the reason, and what will be the result. Suppose you were to receive this harsh, cruel persecution from someone of the world while you were actually engaging in the preaching service. What would be your reaction? Without a doubt you would determine that these were the persecutions the Lord Jesus said you would have, and you would feel grateful that you had been counted worthy to bear these reproaches, "because to you the privilege was given in behalf of Christ, not only to put your faith in him, but also to suffer in his behalf." Phil. 1:29, NW.
14 If then this unwarranted persecution comes to you, it is necessary to have a clear, balanced mind directed by the Lord's spirit; otherwise some impetuous or foolish action might be deeply regretted because it was not according to the expressed will of Jehovah for his children. A spiritually immature person might conclude that persecution need not be borne from one's marriage mate, and that would be justification for getting out of the situation. Such
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