Pagină:Drama-of-vindication-part-VII-1939.djvu/3: Diferență între versiuni

She WAICHTOW? ANNOUNCING JEHOVAH’S KINGDOM VoL. LX May 1, 1939 No. 9 DRAMA OF VINDICATION PART 7 “Jehovah God of hosts! who like thee is potent, O Yah? with thy tokens of faithfulness surrounding thee?” —Ps. 89:8, Rotherham Psalms. performance of his covenant and in carrying out his testimonies. When Jehovah takes a creature into a covenant with him, that creature could never have cause for doubt as to Jehovah’s carrying out His part of the covenant. The man who seeks Jeho- vah with a pure and whole heart is blessed. He must always know that whatsoever Jehovah has prom- ised, that He is certain to perform. Extolling the name of Jehovah the psalmist says: “Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments. Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.” (Ps. 119:137,188) Every crea- ture taken into a covenant with Jehovah must prove his faith and faithfulness if he would receive Jeho- vah’s approval. That means that the creature must be put to the test and under the test prove his in- tegrity toward God. Those who are faithful have part in the vindication of Jehovah’s name. When the crucial test is applied and the creature seems overwhelmed with the burden, he must take courage and know that, if his faith remains strong and he continues faithful, Jehovah will bring him through in safety. “For the Lord preserveth the faithful.” (Ps. 31:23) As God’s people near the end of their earthly journey, and just preceding Armageddon, the tests upon them increase in severity; but that is no reason to be dismayed. “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted [tested or tried] above that ye are able.” (1 Cor. 10:13) The rem- nant are a called people, taken out from amongst men for Jehovah’s purpose: “Faithful is he that ealleth you, who also will do it.” (1 Thess. 5; 24) The Word of Jehovah repeatedly assures his cove- nant people of his own faithfulness; and such he records for the aid and comfort of those who love him. In the prophetic dramas recorded God has per- formed that which emphasizes his own faithfulness and has stressed the necessity for his people to be faithful. These are days of great peril; in these days Satan is desperately attempting to destroy those J pertorma is always and forever faithful in the who have made a covenant to do Jehovah’s will. Therefore the people of God have need to strengthen their faith and prove their faithfulness. ? The trespass of Achan had given great distress to Joshua; and this is shown by the fact that Joshua prostrated himself before the Lord and cried unto the Lord “until the eventide”. (Josh. 7:6) The en- tire camp of Israel was in distress and their faith put to the test. The faith of Joshua did not fail, and, when commanded by the Lord, he arose, stood up, and was diligent to obey God’s commandment to cleanse the camp. Jehovah foreknew that a time would come when spiritual Israel would be defiled by wrongdoing of some in the camp or congrega- tion, and in his faithfulness he made a picture there- of, and now in his due time he has revealed the mean- ing thereof; and this he does for the aid and com- fort of his people. Let no one who today truly loves and serves God be dismayed by any trials that come upon him. If faithful in the performance of our com- mission, we may be entirely certain that Jehovah in his faithfulness will preserve us and deliver us.

• Immediately following the cleansing of the camp

of Israel God caused his people to make another part of the drama picturing and foretelling the vindi- cation of his name. “And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land.” (Josh. 8:1) Thus Jehovah foretold that the vicious and mali- cious acts of the “evil servant” class, pictured by Achan, could not succeed and will not be permitted to retard the advance or increase of His witness work, which work must be done preceding Arma- geddon. The wrongful acts of the “evil servant” temporarily had an adverse effect upon the people of the Lord, but that is no reason to be afraid or dismayed. Jehovah commanded Joshua to go up to Ai, and this was proof that the camp of Israel had been cleansed and his covenant people was ready for 131