ISAIAH'S

PROPHECY
Light for All Mankind
VOLUME IJ

CONTENTS
CEIArTER

1 A Prophet of God Brings Light for Mankind

I'hoto Cred~ts: Cover dnd page 11: Dead Sea Scroll of Isalah: Shrxne of
the Book,Israel Museum,Jerusalem Page 52: Statu? of Baal MusCe du
Louvre, Paris; hgunnes of Ashtoxeth:Photograp11D lsrael Museum, courtesy of Israel Antiquities Authority; statues of Athena and Aphrodtte: Archdologisches Museum der LVe~tfaliscl~cn
WilheIms-Universltat Mtlnster; Lgyptian triad: MusCe du Louvre, I'arls Page 73: Lrich I.essing/ht
Page 124: Elgu~ine
Resotirce, NY
Page 116: MusCe du Louvre, Paris
of Ishtar and symbol of Marduk: Musfc du Louvre, Pans Page 170:
Clemson University Department of LntomoIogy, Cooperative L~tension
Servlce Page 206: Alinari/ht Resource, NY Page 267: Garo Nalband~an IPage 395: Courtesy of Anglo-Australian Observatory, phetograph L
v David Malin Page 413. Chad EhkerstStone

. .

02001
Watch 'rower Blble and Tract society of Pennsylvania
All kghts Reserved
PUBLISHERS
Watchtower Bible and Tract Soclety of New York, Inr
International RIble Students Association
Brooklyn, Netv York, USA.
First Printing in English.
5,DU0,000 Copies

Unless otl~erwlse~ndicated,S f l i p r e quotations

are from the modern-language
New World Tmnslahon of the Holy Scrrpturrs- With Keferer~ces

Isaiah's Proplrecy-L&ht for Ail Mankirld I7

English ( ip-2-EI
Made In the Unitrd Stares of America

PAGE

2 Prophetic Words of Comfort

That Involve You
3 "My Chosen One,

Whom My Soul Has Approved!"

30

4 "YouAre My Witnesses"!

46

5 The True God Foretells Deliverance

61

6 Jehovah-"A Righteous God and a Savior"

76

7 Return to the Warship of Jehovah

93

8 False Religion-Its Dramatic End Foreseen

105

9 Jehovah Teaches Us for Our Good

120

10

Time of Goodwill"

136

11 "Do Not Put Your Trust in Nobles"

152

12 Comfort for God's People

165

13 "Cry Out Joyfully in Unison"!

180

14 Jehovah Exalts His Messianic Servant

194

CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER

PAGE

15 The Barren Woman Rejoices

215

16 A Message of Hope for Downhearted

Captives
17 Foreigners Gathered to God's
House of Prayer

232

A Prophet of God
Brings Light for Mankind

247

18 Jehovah Revives the Spirit

of the Lowly Ones

262

19 Hypocrisy Exposed!

276

20 Jehovah's Hand Has Not Become Short

290

21 True Worship Expands Worldwide

303

22 Righteousness Sprouts in Zion

321

23 "A New Name"

335

24 Jehovah Makes a Beautiful

Name for Himself

349

25 A Prayer of Repentance

3 60

26 "Be Joyful Forever in What I Am Creating" 372

27 Jehovah Blesses Pure Worship

390

28 A Light for the Nations

403

WE LIVE in an age when virtually anything seems within man's reach. Space bavel, computer technology, ge-

netic engineering, and other scientific innovations have

opened up new possibilities to the human race, bringing
the hope of a better life-perhaps even a longer one.
2 Have such advances enabled you to remove the locks
from your doors? Have they eliminated the threat of war?
Have they cured disease or removed the sorrow of losing a
loved one in death? Hardly! Human progress, remarkable
as it may he, is limited. "We have figured out how to travel to the moon, make ever more powerful silicon chipr,
and transplant human genes," states a report by Worldwatch Institute. "Rut we have not yet been able to provide
clean water to a billion people, slow the loss of thousands
of species, or meet our energy needs without destabilizing
the atmosphere." Understandably, many look to the future with anxiety, uncertain about w~hereto turn for comfort and hope.
3 The situation we face today is similar to that of God's
people during the eighth century B.C.E. At that time, God
commissioned his servant Isaiah to bring a message of

1, 2. What present-day circumstances cause great anxiety for many?

3, What situation existed in Judah durhg the eighth century B.C.E.?

Isnidll's P r ~ p k t q ~ - l . i ~ Tor
l i t All .Wonkind I1

comfort to the inhal~ltantsofJudah, and comfort was just

what they needed. Turbulent m n t s rocked the nation.
The m e 1 Assyrian Empirc would soon menace the land,
filling many with dread. Where could God's peopIe turn
for salvation? The namc of Jchovall was on their lips, hut
they preferred to put their trust in men,-2 Kings 1h:7;
18:21.

Light Shining in the Darkness

4 As a result of Judah's rebel lIous course, Jerusalem was
to be destroyed, and the in tiahltants of Judah w r e to be
taken captive to Babylon, Ycrr, dark times were coming. Jehovah commissioned h Is prnpllct Isaiah to foretell
this ominous period, but Hc also instructed him to proclaim good news. After TO years of cxJls the Jews would
be liberated from Babylon! A joyful scmnant would re
turn to Zion and have the privilege of restoring true worship there. With this happy message,Jehovah through his
prophet caused light tu shine in t h e darkness,

5 Judahwas not desolated until more than a century after Tsalah recorded his praphccics. Why, then, did Jehovah reveal hi pucporw so far in advance? Would
not those who had gcrsonally head Isaiah's proclamations be Iong dead by the time the prophecies were fuIfilled? That is true. Still, thanks to Jchnvah's rweIations
to Isaiah, those living at the t i m e of Jerusalem's desbuction in 607 B.C.E. would have a written record of Isaiah's
prophetic messages. This would provide irrefutable proof
rhat Jehovahis "the O n e telling from the beginning the
r~nale,and horn long ago thc tltings that have not been
done."-baiah 46:lQ;55: 10, t E.

4. What twofo1d message was Isalnh cnmml~rlnnedto proclaim?

S. Why didJehovah reve~lhls purpciscs s o fdr In ,ltlvnnce?

A Prnplitlt of Goil Brings Light for Mnrrklrrd

Only Jehovah can rightfully make such a claim. A buman might be able m predict the near future based on
hIs unrirrstanding of the political or sodat climate of the
day. Rut only Jehovah can foresee wlth ahsolute certainty what will happen at any point in time, cven in the distant future. He can also empower his scrvants to foretell
events long before they occur. The BIblc states: "The Sover~jgnLorrl Jehovahwill not do a thing ~znlesshe has rewalcd his confidential matter to his servants the prophets."-Amos 37.
How Many "Isalahs"?
7 The Issue of prophev is one thing that has caused
many scholars to question the writership of Isaiah. These
critics insist that the latter portion 01' the lmok must
have k e n written by someone who lived in the sixth
centuy R,C.E, either during or after the Babylonian exile. According to them, the prophecies of Judah's desolatlon were written after their fulfillment rlncl hence were
not really predictions at all. Thesc ctltics also note that
after chapter 40, the book of Isaiah speaks as If Babylon
were the prevailing power and the Israelites were In cap
tlvity there. So they reason that whoever wrote the latter
portion of Isaiah must have done so durlng that era-durIng the sixth century B.C.E. Is there n. solid basis for such
reasoning? Absolutely not!
8 It was not until the 12th century C.E. that the wrltership of Isaiah was called into quest.ion.This was by JaYish

6, What are some ways in which Jehovah Ir tuperlor to nll human

forecasters?
7, Flow haw many scholars questioned the wrltershlp of Isaiah, and
why7
8, when dld skepticism regarding the wrltetshlp of Issinh begin, and
how dld It sprcatl?

Isaiah's Pmplr~cy-LIfEit far All Mnnklnd II

commentator Abraham Ibn Ezra, "In his commentary on

Isaiah," says the Encycfopaedid rudalcff, " 1Ahraham lbn
Ezra] states that the second half, from chapter 40, was the
work of a prophet who lived during the hhylonian hlle
and the early period of the Return to Zion." During the
18th and 19th centuries, Ibn Ezra's vlws wcrc adopted by
a number of scholars, including Jol~annChdstoph I?oederlein, a German theologian who pub1lshed his exegetical work on Isaiah in 1775, with a second edition In 1789.
The New Cenhrry BihIe Cornmentnry notes: "A11 but the
most conservative scholars now accept the hypothesis put
forward by Doederleln . . . that the prophecies contained
in chapters 4 M 6 of the hook of Isaiah are not the words
o f the eighthentury prophet Isatall hut come from a later time."

C. Torrey succinctly surnmarfzes the result of this reasoning process. "The once great 'lVrophetof the Exile,'" he
says, "ha3 dwindled to a very small figure, and is all but
buried in a mass of /urnbled fragments." However, not all
scholars a p e with such dissecting of the bmk of Isaiah.

Evidence o f One Writer

10 There is strong reason to maintain that the book of
Isaiah is the work of lust one writer, One Hne of evidence
pertains to consistency of expression, For example, the
phrase "the Holy One of Israel" Is found 12 timcs in Isaiah chapters 1 to 39 and 13 times in lsaiah chapters 40 to
66, yet this description of Jehovahappeatv only 6 rimes in
10. Give one example nt how nlnslstcncy of cxprenlon provides widence of onc writer for the l)nnk a[ E\llilh.

9 However, questions about the wrttersh tp af the book

of Isaiah did not stop there. The theory regatdin8 a scc-

ond Isaiah-or Deutero-Isaiah-gavt! birth to the notlon

that a third writer may have bccn involvccl.* Then the
book of Isaiah was dissected further, so that one scholar
ascribes chapters 15 and 16 to an unknown prophet,
while another questions the writershlp of chapters 23 to
27. Still another says that lsaiah could not have penned
the words faund in chapters 34 and 35.Why? Recause the
material closeIy resembles that found In clrapters 4 0 to 66,
which had already been credited to sornconc rrther than
the eighth-century rsaiah! Bible commentator Charles
' The hypothetical thlrd writer, supposedly rerponsll?le fnr chap.
ters 56 to 66, is referred to by scholarr n 5 'I'rltcr-l'lnlt~ll.

9. (a) What dissecting of the book of Iiiala h hns takcn place? (b) Iiaw
does one Bible commentator summarire the CQntrOVPEy surrounding IsaiaWs mitership?

Evidence From Diachronlc Analysis

Diachronic studies-which trace the subtle changes

that take place in language over many years-provide
further evidence that the book of lsaiah is the work
of a single writer. If part of Isaiah were written in the
eighth century B.C.E. and another portion 200 years
later, there should be differences in the kind of Hebrew
used in each seaion. But according to a study published in the Westminster Theologicafjournal, "the evidence fram diachronic analysis overwhelmingly supports a pre-exilic date for lsaiah 40-66." The author of
the study concludes: "If crltlcal scholars continue to insist that lsalah should be dated in the exilic or postexilic period, they must do so In the face of contrary evidence from diachronic analysis,"

10,

ha&h3 hphscy-LigRr far All m k i n d 11

the rest ofthe H e b m S 6 i p W . The repeated use of W

otherwise i&equently used qreaion argues br unity
of w r 1 t ~ h i pof Isaiah,

There are other similarities betweem Isaiah chapters 1

to 39 md chapters 40 to 66,Both portlorn contain Erequent usage of the same dMctl.ve frgum of speech,
such as a mtaan d t h birth pains and a "way* or a "highwayhB"~~i~
-repeated r d e m m ta "Eon,""
a krm
that B used 29 ames Irs d~srpters1 to 39 and 18 tirnesb
chapfen40 to 66.F
n fa* Z i o n is -red
t~ mre h Isaiah than in my atha Blue W! 5ud1 evidencesInotes
The ItePnatfanaal SdfjlrdBib& E q l q e d i P I "stampthe
&oak w3t.h an indr.@dudiVwhich it is diBcult to account
for" the h u ~ was
k wxittenby ma,three, or mdre write&
12 The strungst aai&Me that the Book aE Isaiah had
pst one writer is h d in the Wphed Christrlm Greek
b ~ p n t mThese
.
dearp indicate that fim-mnlmy Christians believd that the b w k of 1m the work a
one writer, LukeI for example, telk of an Uhiopi2m offtdd who was r
eam m a w #at is now found frf 1%iah chapter 53,the>wryportion tfiat rnader&it~CS
s & ~b Deutew-hdab. Luke, h~Mtea@~
-S
th& &,
Ethiopb was " ~ a d h g
aloud the prophet lsai&hW-Acts
826-28

Negt $odder the GaQel W'T~&I Mg#hew who explains ktow the mintshy of Jafin the Baptizer hl'iled

11. What sithihities e&t between ehp& 1 %Q39 and &a@krs qU

ta 66 of Isaiah?
12, 13. How d a the. ChrGx& S c r I p t ~h&&E that
b ~ of kt~rriabw a , work
~ of onk writer?

A Ho@af of God BPings Light for Wwvkind

11

the prophetic words that we now h d at 11tei& 403.

To whom does Matthew attrtbute the pmphw? An. unh w n Bwtero-Isaiah? Na, he tdmtifh the writer s h ply 4s ' W hthe prophet,*"anhew
51-3)On another
ocwi~n,
Jesus read fram a small the wa& we now ftnd
at lsaiah Bl:l, 2, Inrelating t h e account, Luke state$; "The
moU of the prophet Isaiah w% Wded him." (Luke 4:
17) la his letter tu the Roams, Paul
to both the
&er and the later pactlorn of Isaiah, yet never d w
-

" In the pellei am~unks,M a k , Lulre, andJohnuse the s a m e pbrdqe:

-Ma& 12: Luke 34; JOWI1:23,

A Prophet of God Bring Light for Mankind

13

he even hint that t h e writer was m v n e other Vam t ? ~ e

sme pemh* h i a h . (Romans l& 16, 20; 15: 121 CkadpI
fitstentury C & m did not Mew that the babk of
Isaiah utas the work of two, three; or mnre permmen.
Cbmider, too, the testimony of the DPlad Sea SaoIIs
-ancient d ~ ~ m many
t s of
~ which date h r n before
the trme of Jesus,One manuscript ofIsaiah, kmw aishe
Isaiah Scroll, dates h m the second century B.C.E,, and it
~ f u t ecritic$
s
claims that a Deutera-Tsaiah taokwer the

writing at chapter 40, H w r so? In t h i s andent docum&ti

what we now know as chapter 40 begins on the last line
of a rolum, the opening sentence being complekd In
the next column. The copyist was.dwrlyunaware of my
supposed change in writer ar &Tidon in the bmk at that
pint,
15 FinallyJ consider the tqtirno~ysf first-centuryJewish htitarian Flavius Joxphus. He nat only jndicata that
the prophecies in Isaiah pertaining ta Gyms were written

14. How do the Dead Sea SmoU~-sbad@ht on the matter of Isdah'h's

writaship?

IS. What: does first-centuryJewish IrktorIan Plavius Jmephus haw

to say about Isaiah's pmQbec&aconcerning QT~s.?

14

Isaiah's Prophecy-L~gllt for All Mankind 11

in the elghth century B.C.E. but also says that Cyrus was
aware of these prophecies. "These thmgs Cyrus knew,"Josephus writes, "from reading the book of prophecy which
Isaiah had left behind two hunched and ten years earlier." According to Josephus, knowledge of these prophecies may even have contributed to Cyrus' wdlingness to
send the Jews back to their homeland, for Josephus mites
that Cyrus was "seized by a strong desire and ambition to
do what had been written."-Jewish Antiquities? Book XI,
chapter 1, paragraph 2.
16 As mentioned earlier, many critics point out that from
Isaiah chapter 40 onward, Babylon is described as the prevailing power, and the Israelites are spoken of as alreacly
being in exile. Would this not indicate that the witer lived during the sixth century B.C.E.? Not necessarily.
The fact: is that even b@re chapter 40 of Isaiah, Babylon
is sometimes described as the prevading world power. For
example, at Isaiah 13:19, Babylon is called "the decoration of kingdoms" or, as Today's English Version renders
it, "the most beautiful hngdom of all." These words are
clearly prophetic, since Babylon d ~ dnot become a world
power until more than a century later. One critic "solves"
this so-called problem by simply dismissing Isaiah 13 as
be% the work of another writer! Really, though, speaking of future events as though they have already occurred
is quite common in Bible prophecy. This literary device
effectively underscores the certainv of the fulfillment of
a prophecy. (Revelation 215, 6) Indeed, only the God of
true prophecy can make the statement: "New things I am
tell~ngout. Before they begin to spring up, I cause you
people to hear them."-Isaiah 4 2 9 .

A Pruphet of God Brings Light for Mankind

15

A Book of Reliable Pxophecy

17 TOwhat conclusion, then, does the evidence point?
That the book of Jsaiah is the work of one inspired writer. This entire book has been passed down through the
centuries a5 a single work, not two or more. True, some
may say that the style of Isaiah's book changes somewhat from chapter 40 onward. Remember, though, that
Isaiah served as God's prophet for no less than 46 years.
During that time it is to be expected that the content of
his message, and with it his way of expressing his message, would change, Indeed, Isaiah's commission from
God was not simply to deliver severe warnings of judgment. He was also to convey Jehovah's words: "Comfort,
comfort my people." (Isaiah 40:l)God's covenant people would truly be comforted by his promise that, after
70 years of exile, the Jews wouId be repawiated to their
homeland.
18 The release of the Jews from Babylonian captivity is
the theme of many of the chapters of Isaiah discussed in
this book.'A number of these prophecies have a modemday fuIfillrnent, as we will see. In addition, we find in the
book of Isaiah thrilling prophecies that were fulfilled in
the life-and death-of God's only-begotten Son. Cextainly, a study of the vital prophecies contained in the book of
Isaiah will benefit God's servants and others earth wide.
These prophecies are, indeed, light for all manlund.

' The first 40 chapters of Isaiah are discussed in Isaiah's Prophecy

-Light for All Manki~ldI, published by the Watchtower Bible and
'fract Society of New York, Inc.
17. How can the change of style from Isaiah chapter 40 onward be

explained?

16. What can be said about the crltlcs' assertton that Babylon is described in the latter portion of Isaiah as the prevailing power?

18. What 1s a theme in the book of rsaiah that will be discussed in

this publication?

CHAPTER TWO

Prophetic Words of Comfort

That Involve You
lsaiah 41:l-29

I S M wrote the book that bears his name almost 3,000

years ago, but it has real value for us today. We can learn
vital principles from the historical events that he recorded. And we can build our faith through study of the
prophecies that he wrote down in Jehovah's name. Yes,
Isaiah was a prophet of the living God. Jehovah inspired
h m to record history in advance-to describe events before they happened. Jehovah thus demonstrated that he
can both foretell and shape the future. After studying the
book of haiah, true Christians are convinced that Jehovah
will fulfll all that he has promised.
2 By the .time Isaiah completed the writing of his pmphecy, Jerusalem had survived the hsyrian threat. The temple was still standing, and people were going about their
day-to-dayaffairs much as they had for hundreds of years.
However, that situation would change. The time would
come when the wealth of the Jewish kings would be carried away to Babylon and young Jews would be court officials in that city." (Isaiah 3 9 6 - 7 ) This would occur more
than 100 years later.-2 Kings 24:1217; Daniel 1:19.
" See chapter 29 of Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I.
I, Why should we be interested in the prophecy of Isaiah?
2. What was thesituation in Jerusalemwhen Isaiah recorded his prophetic book, and what change would occur?

Prophetic Words of Comfort That rnvolve You

17

3 God's message through Isaiah, however, i s not merely

a message of doom. Chapter 40 of his book begins with
the word "Comfort."" The Jews would be comforted by

the assurance that either they or their children would be

able to return to their homeland. Chapter 41 continues
that comforting message and foretells that Jehovah would
raise up a powerful king to fulfill the divine will. It contains reassurances and gives encouragement to trust in
God. It also exposes as powerless the false gods in whom
people of the nations put their trust. In all of this, there
is much to strengthen faith, both in Isaiah's day and in

ours.

Jehovah Challenges the Nations

4 Jehovah through his prophet says: " A ~ nto
d me in silence, you islands; and let national groups themselves regain power. Let them approach. At that time Iet them
speak. Let us come up close together for the judgment itself" (Isaiah 41 :7) With these words Jehovah challenges
the nations who oppose ~ L people.
S
Let them stand before
h m and gird themselves to speak! As will later be seen,
Jehovah demands, as though he were a judge in a court,
that these nations furnish proof that their idols are truly gods. Can these gods foretell acts of salvation for their
worshipers or judgments against their enemies? If so, can
they fulfill such prophecies? The answer is no. Jehovah
alone can do these things.
5 As we consider I s a i a s prophecy, let us hear in mind
that, as with many Bible prophecies, his words have more
See chapter 30 of hninh's Prophecy-Light forAll Mankind I.

3. What message is found in Isaiah chapter 41?

4. With what words does Jehovah challenge the nations?
5. Explain how Isaiah's prophecies have more than one fulfillment.

18

Isaiah's Propllecy-Light for All Mankirtd I1

than one fulfillment. In 607 B.C.E., Judah will go off into

exile in Babylon. However, Isaiah's prophecy reveals that
Jehovah will deliver the Israelites held captive there. This
happens in 537 B.C.E. That release had a paralleI in the
early days of the 20th century, During the fast world war,
Jehovah's anointd servants on earth passed through a
period of bibulation. In 1918pressure fram Satan's world
-incited by Christendom as the leading part of Babylon
the Great-brought the organized preaching of the good
news to a virtual halt. (Revelation 11:s-10)Some leading
officers of the Watch Tower Society -re sent to prison
on trumped-up charges. To all intents and purposes, the
world had triumphed in itr battle against God's servants.
Then, as happened back in 537 B.C.E., Jehovah unexpectedly brought about their liberation. In 1919 the imprisoned officers were released, and later the charges against
them were dropped. A convention at Cedar Point, Ohio,
in September 1919 reinvigorated Jehovah's servants to
pick up the work of preaching the good news of the k n g dom. (Revelation 11:11'12) From then till now, the scope
of that preaching work h a increased remarkably. Moreover, many of Isaiah? words will have wonderful fulfillment in the Paradise earth to come. Consequently, Isaiah's words of long ago involve all nations and peoples
today.
A Deliverer Called Forth
6 Through Isaiah, Jehovah foretells a conqueror who will
both save God? people from Babylon and bring judgment upon their enemies. Jehovah asks: "Who has roused
up someone from the sunrise? Who proceeded in righteousness to call him to His feet, to give before him the

Cyrus, though a
pagan, is chosen to
do God's work

notions, and to make

Iw

him
subduing even
kings? Who kept giving them like dust to
his sword, so that they
have been driwn about
like mere stubble with
his bow? Who kept pursuing them, kepfpeace'

which he did Xot praceed to come? ~ h has

b been active and has done this,
calling out the generations from the start?I, lehovah, the
First One; and with the last ones I am the same."-isoiah
41:24.
7 Who is the one to be roused from the sunrise, from
eastern parts? The countries of Medo-Persia and Elam are
located east of Babylon. From there marches Cyrus the
Persian, along with his mighty armies. (Isaiah 41:25; 44:
28; 451-4, 13; 46:ll) Though Cyrus i s not a worshiper
of Jehovah, he acts in harmony with the will of Jehovah,
the righteous God. Cyrus subdues kings, and these arc
scattered Iike dust before him. In pursuit of conquest, he
passes "peacefully," or safely, over paths not customarily
traveled, overcoming all obstacles. By the year 539 B.C.E.,

6. How does the pxophet describe a future conqueror?

7. Who is the coming conqueror, and what does he accomplish?

isaterh 3 P m p R ~ - L @ f r t far All Manki~~d

II

Cyrus reaches the mighty dty of Habylon and overthrows

It. As a result, Gad's p p l e are releasedsa that they might
return tu JaWem to reatablish pure mrship.-Ezra 1:
1-7:
8 Thus, t h r ~ ~ W,
@ JebwahS o r d l s the rise of Cycus
langbebr~rhatbgisbarn,Odythe true Godan accurately prophew such a tthng.Jehrwahfins no equal among
the falsegods of the nations.Wfth good reason, Jehovah
states: T o na m e else shall I gfve my own glory."Only Je
huvah canrightfullysary:"Iam the W a n d 1 am the fast,
and k h k s me there is no Gdm-IMah 428; 44:6>7.

Frfgbtened Peoples Trust iX1 Idols

9 TmU now d-s
tlae reaction of the nations to this
future^^ "The Warsdssswa n d f q u nb h,
fie
wyextrenilffes of the earth begun trembHng, m
y dtw
mar ond kept mmlrsggThey went helping each one his
comrprr~ion,andme wolrld say to his brother: '@estrang.'
Srr the cmfbrnam went stmgthening the mxrrtwarker;the
one king fhe smmihitq nut with the !bye hammer hlm
thuttr I s m m ~ g ~ y a t t err*
h e $@ng tegardhg the
saIdahg: 'It&gad'# h & ~ nfo-ad
e
It with nalk that
R could not be made m t~&c~--Isalah47:s-Z
10 Looking some 2UO p m inb the fumJehovah
,
survegs the wwdd sclene. Mighty armies under Cyrus mom
swifdy, conquering all la opposition. P e o p l e ~ the
n
'The &eater m,who in 1919 liberated "the Israel of God* fmm
spiritual w
t
y
,IS rs noPleher hathan Jesus Cbrbt, wha SRS enthroned as King of God's heavenly KLngcbm slnce 1914.--Galaths
k16.

8, What can Jehalone do?

9-11. Hwu do the m o r n react to the advtlnce of Cpus'!

Tke nallons trust in IIMw idols

Inhabitants of the islands, those In the most distant

places-tmnble at his approach. In fm they unite to oppose the one whom Jehovah has d e d fmm the east to
execute ludgment. They try to encourage one another,

mng:"Be

22

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light far All Mankind TI

11 Craftsmen work together

to fashion idol gods to deliver the people. A wooden frame is fashioned by a carpenter, who then encourages the goldsmith to plate it
with metaI, perhaps gold. A sculptor hammers the metal
smooth and approves of the soldering. Perhaps it is with
some sarcasm that mention is made of fastening it with
nails so that it does not totter or show weakness, as did
the idol of Dagon that toppled before the ark of Jehovah.
-1 Samuel 54.

Fear Not!
12 NowJehovah turns his attention to his people. Unlike
the nations who l r u s t in lifeless idols, those who trust in
the hue God need never fear. Jehovah's reassurance b e
p s with the reminder that Israel is the offspring of his
friend Abraham. In a passage of great tenderness, Isaiah
reports Jehovah's words: 'You, 0 Israel, are my servant,
you, 0 lacob, whom I haw chosen, the seed of Abraham
my friend; you, whom I have taken hold of from the extremities of the earth, and you, whom I have called even
from the remote parts of it. And so I said tu you, 'You
are my serwmt; I hove chosen you, and I have not rejected you. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not gaze
about, for I am your God. I will fortr'Q you. I will really help
you, I will really keep fast hold of you with my right hand
of righteousness."'-tsaiak 41:8-10.
13 How comforting these words will be to the faithful
Jews held captive in a foreign land! How encouraging it
will be to hear Jehovah call them "my servant" at the time
when they are exiIes, servants of the king of Babylon!

12. What reassurance does Jehovah give to Israel?

13. Why will Jehovah's w o ~ d sbe of comfort to the captive Jews?

Prop!ietlc Words of Comfort That Involve You

2.7

(2 Chronicles 36:20) Though Jehovah will discipline

them because of their unfaithfulness, he will not reject
them. Israel belongs to Jehovah, not to Babylon, There
will be no reason for God's servants to wmble at the approach of the conquerirlg Cyrus. Jehovah will be with hs
people to help them.
14 Those words have reassured and strengthened God's
servants even down to our day. Back in 1918they yearned
to know Jehovah's will for them. They longed for deliverance h m their spiritually captive state. Today we yearn
fur relief from the pressures inflicted on us by Satan, the
world, and our own imperfection. Rut we appreciate that
Jehovah knows precisely when and how to act in behalf of
his people. Like young children, we hold on to his mighty
hand, confident that he will help us to cope. {Psalm 63:
7, 8) Jehovah treasures those who serve h m . He supports
us today just as he supported h s people thmugh the difficult period of 1918-19and just as he supported faithful
Israelites so Iong ago.
15 Consider what Jehovah next says through Isaiah:
"'Look! All those getting heated up against you will become ashamed and be humiliated. The men in a quarrel
with you will become as nothing and will perish. You will
search for them, but you will not find them,those men in a
struggle with you. l3ey will become as something nonexistent and as nothing, those men at war with you. For I,
jehovah your God, am grasping your right hand, the One
saying to you, "Do not be afraid. I myself will help you."
Da not be afraid, you worm jucob, you men of Israel. I
14. HOWdolehovah's words to IsraeI comfort God's servant=,today?
15, 16. (a) What wlIl become of Israel's enemies, and in what ways
does Israel resemble a worm? (b) In view of what impending attack
areJehovahls w o ~ d sparticularly encouraging today?

24

Isaiah's Propi~ecy-L(p.lrt far All Mnnkfnrl I1

myself will kelp you,' is the utkmnce of jehovah, even your

Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel"-lsaiah 41: I f 14.

16 Israel's enernier will not prevail. Those who arc heakd

up against Israel will be ashamed.Those who fight against
her witl perish. Though the captive Israelites swm as wcak
and defenseless as a worm squirming in thc dust, Jehovah will help them. What encaura~rnentthis ha5 been
all through "the last days" as true Christians have faced
the determined hostility of so many in t h e world I ( 2 'l'imothy 3:l)And how strengtheningJehavrih's promise is In
view of the impending attack by Satan, who is referred to
in prophecy as "Gog of the land of Magog"' Undcr C ; o ~ ' s
ferocious assault, Jehovah's people will seem as defenseless as a worm-a people "dwelliog without wall" and not
having "wen bar and doors."Yet, those hoping in Jehovah will not need to quake with fear. The Almighty himself will fight to deliver them.-FkekieI 38:2, 11, 14-16, 2123; 2 Corinthians 1:3.

Comfort for Israel

17 Jehovah continues to comfort hls people: "Look! I
have made you a threshing sledge, a new threshing Inslrument having doubleedged teeth. You wlll tread down the
rnountain~and crush them; and the hills you will moke
just like the chaff. 'Yco wifl winnow them, and a wind itselfwill cony them srwoy, and o windstom itself will drive
them differentwqs. And you yourself will be jayful in jehovoh, In the Holy One of Ismel you will boast about yourselfu-Isaiah 41: 15, 16.

Prophetic Words af Cornfort Thnt lnvolvc Yo11

25

emies. When Israel returns from exile, she d l 1 Wiumph

over enemies who try to prevent the wbuilding of the
temple and of Jerusalem's walls. ( h a 6:12; Nehemiah 6;
16) However, Jehwah? WOKIS will be fulfilled on a grand
scalewith "theIsrael of God," (GaEatlans 6:16)Jesuspromises anointed Christians: "'To him that conquers and observes my deeds down to the end I wlll give authority over
the nations, and hc shall shepherd the people with an
iron rod SO that they will he broken to pleccs like clay vessels, the same as T have EWIVPCI fmm my Father." (Revelation 2 2 6 , 27)The time wlll certainly come when Christ's
brothers resurrected to heavenly glory will have a part in
the destruction of Jehovah God'r enemies.-2 Thessalo-

nians 1:7,8;Revelation 21):4,6,

19 In figurative language, Jehovah now reinforcer his
promise to bring succor to his people. tsaiah writes: 'The
afflicted ones and the poor anes are seeking for wate4 but
there is none. Because of thirst their very tongue has become dry. 1 m e e l f ,jehovah, shall answer them. t, the God
of Ismel, shall not leave them, Upon bare hills I sha/l open
up rivers, and in the mldsr of the wlley pbins, springs. /
shall make the wilderness inm a &y pool of woter, and
the waterless land into sources of warn In the wilderness I shall set the cedar Sree, the acacia and the myrtle
and the oiF tree. tn the desert ploin I hall pface the juniper tree, fie ash cmd the cypress ot the same fime; in order
thatpeople may see and know and pay heed and have insight at the same time, that the wry hand of lehovah has
done this, and the Holy One of Ismel has himself created

be given to Israel to take the offensive

and, in a spiritual sense, to subdue her rnountalnlike en-

it."-isaiah 4 1: 17-20.

17, 18. How does Isaiah desaibc the ernpowerin# of Israel. and nl
what fulfillment may we be arsured?

1% 20. What does Isaiah wdte about the restnraHon of Israel tn a

phce of beauty, and hmv I s tlilr fulfillctl?

18 Strength will

20 Though

the exiled Israelites reside in the capital d y

of a W & y world paw=, it is to thm U e a waterless desert, They fed like David when he was hiding
Born King Saul. In 537 B%.C&,
Jeimmh a p the w y f o ~
them to mrn tuJudah and rebuild his4emple inJerwalem, thus mt&ng pure worship Jehovahf in tutn, bless@$them. h a l a b prophecy Isaiah foretells: "Jehovahwill
M
y mmfmt 3on. HEwill facertain cambrt all her
W;~stated
placq and he wdl W e her w i l d e m W e
Eden and her d@& plain hke the grden d Jehovah."
(Isaiah $I:$ This d y &a accur d t e the
~ Jews return tn
their holllehd,
21 Somthing s h h r mumd in modern times w h a
t hG
~ ~atm
Gyms, C W t J e ~ u sIibe~&d
,
hb mobfedfdlwm from spjritual a p w so that they p d d work
to restme pure worship. Thme faithful ~zla
Weg $I&@
with a rid^ spbibaal pad*, a -ti%
garden ol Eden.
&d& 11:6-9;35:l-7) SoO$ ~ h m
a d d @ t ~ hb
q Wemi.esI the entire e d d
lbe &mshtmdinto P p l p i a l
pafadbe, just asJents pmmised the d d a a an the stake.
- L u ~ 23:43.

J&mahnow r&ns to his mnWersp with the mtiom Bttld their idol gbdx "'B~fngyour c n t r o m i i l i case
f b r ~ ~ r says
d i ]efrevahh 'Prodme your clrguruten$' says
the KSng of lcrco4, 'Produre and f
d fo us the thfiit~pthat
are going to hg'ppen, me fird things-what they were-do
Mi, that we m y appfy our heart and kmw the fuhtt'e o f
them, Or mum w m h m r m tks thihgr thatare coming.
Tgii the things rhaa #re a8 come a f t e m d , tbat we mdy

h, What restmationa c m r d inmodern t b w , and what will happeninthe fimxtd

22. With what wads dws Jehovahagain chidI~gCthe ~ W S ?

Ism,wthatyoucwgo& rirs,puy1rrghtbodogudw&
bad, t h a we
~ may gaze ohut a d s w it at the s u m time.
Look! You are something d s t e n t , and your ahiwementls nothing A deEembEe thing b anyone that-c
you.' (,hiah41 :21-24) Are the gads of the pafions able
ta prophesy accurately a d thus prove that they have supwn@~ralknowledge?If they m, surely there s h d be
some rmults,,eithsr g a d w bad, to support Wir dairm,
In fact, though, idol gods are not able to t o w e a n w g
and are as mmething nonexistent
23 rn OUF day some might wormrler w ? q Jehovahe
through Isd& a d h@ fdlow prophets, spent m much
time condemning khe fully of idolatry, The usehssqess of

23, Why did Jehovah;through hhb prophets?m~andmnni13~J.s

so per-

s$?Jsntlfl

28

Isaia!r's Prophecy-Light for AII Mankind 11

man-made idols may seem obvious to many today. However, once a false system of belief has been established
and widely accepted, it is hard to root it out of the minds
of those who believe it. Many contemporary beliefs are as
senseless as the belief that lifeless images are really gods.
Yet, people cling to such beliefs despite persuasive arguments against them. It is only by hearing the truth again
and again that some are moved to see the wisdom of
busting in Jehovah.
24 Jehovah again refers to Cyrus: "I have roused up
someone from fhe north, and he will come. From the rising of the sun he will call upon my name. And he will
come upon deputy rulers as if they were clay and just as a
porter that tramples down the mairtmaferial." (Isaiah 41:
25)' Tn contrast to the gods of the nations, Jehovah can
accomplish things. When hc bring Cyrus out of the east,
from "the rislng of the sun," God will demonstrate his
abiIity to prehct and then fashion the future to fulfill his
prediction.
2s These words remind us of the apostle John's prophetic description of hngs who tvould be roused to action in
our time. At Revelation 16:12,we read that the way will be
prepared "for the kings from the rising of the sun." These
kings are none other than Jehovah God and Jesus Christ.
Just as Cyrus delivered God's people long ago, these far

mightier kings will annihilate Jehavah's enemies and

shepherd his people through the great tribulation into a
"Although Cyrus' homeland was east of Babylon, when he made his
final attack on the city, ha came down from the north, born Asia Mi-

nor.
24, 25. How does Jehovah again refer to Cyrur, and of what other
prophecy does this remind us?

hophetic Words of Cornfort That Irivolve You

29

new world of righteousness.-Psalm 2 3 , 9; 2 Peter 3:13;

Revelation 7: 14-17.

Jehovah Is Supreme!
26 Again, Jehovah cleclares the truth that he alone is the
true God. He asks: "Who has told onything from the start,
that we may know, or from times past, that we may s q ,
'He is right'? Really there is no one telling. Really there is
no one causing one to hear. Really there is no one that is
hearing any sayings of you men." (Isaiah 41:26) No iclol
god announced the coming of a conqueror to liberate
those trusting in it. ,411 such gods are lifeless, silent. They
are not gods at all.
27 After reporting these stirring prophetic words of Jehovah, Isaiah drives home a vital truth: '7here is one first,
saying to Zion: 'Look! Here they are!' and to lerusalem I
shall give a bringer of good news. And I kept seeing, and
there was not a man; and out ofthese there was also no
one that was giving counsel. And I kept asking them, that
they might make a reply. Look! All o f them are something
nonexistent. Their works are nothing. Tkeir molten images
are wind and ~ n r e a l i ~ . ~ ' - I s a4i h7.27-29.
28 Jehovah is first. He is supreme! He is the true God,
who announces the deliverance of his people, bringing
good news to them. And only his IVihesses proclaim his
greatness to the nations. Scornfully, Jehovah denounces
those who trust in idol worshp, dismissing their idols as
"wind and unreality." What a powerful reason to cling to
the true God! Jehovah alone is worthy of our confident
trust.
26. What questron does Jehovah now pose, and i s it answered?
27, 28. What vital truth i s e~npharizedin the concluding verses of
Isaiah 41, and who only procla~mthis?

CHAPTER THREE

"My Chosen One, Whom My

Soul Has Approved!"
Isaiah 42:T-25

"'YOU are my witnesses,' is the utterance of Jehovah,

'even my servant whom I have chosen."' (Isaiah 43:lO)
Ths declaration by Jehovah, recorded by the prophet Isaiah in the elghth century B.C.E., shows thatJehovah's ancient covenant people were a nation of witnesses. They
were God"s chosen servant. Some 2,600 years later, in
1931, anointed Christians publicly declared that these
words applied to them. They took the name Jehovah's
Witnesses and wholeheartedly accepted the responsibilities associated with being God's earthly servant.
2 Jehovah's Witnesses earnestIy desire to please God. For
this reason, the 42nd chapter of the book of Isaiah is of
intense interest to each one of them, far it provides a portrait of a servant whom Jehovah approves and another
of a servant whom he rejects. Considering this prophecy
and its fulfillment gives insight into what leads to God's
approval and what leads to his disfavor.

"My Chwen One, Whom My Soul Has Approved!"

31

has approved! I hove put my spirit in him. lustice to the

nations is what he will bring forth. He will not cry out or
mise his voice, and in the street he will not let his voice be
heard. No crushed reed will he break; and as for a dim
flaxen wick, he will not extinguish it In trueness he will
bring forth justice. He will not grow dim nor be crushed
until he setsjustice in the earth itselc and for his law the islands themselves will keep waiting."-Isaiah 42: 1-4.
4 Who is the Servant referred to here? We are not left in
doubt We find these words quoted in the Gospel of Matthew and applied to Jesus Christ. (Matthew 12:lS-21)Jesus is the beloved Servant, the "chosen one." When did
Jehovah put his spirit upon Jesus? In 29 C.E., at the time
of Jesus' baptism. The inspired record describes that baptism and says that after Jesus rose from the water, "the
heaven was opened up and the hoIy spirit in bodily shape
like a dove came down upon him, and a voice came out
of heaven: 'You are my Son, the beloved; I have approved
you,' " In this way Jehwah personally identified his beloved Servant.Jesus' subsequent rninistsy and the miraculous works that he performed proved that Jehovah's spirit was indeed upon hirn,Luke 3:21,22; 4:14-21;Matthew
3:16,17.

We Will Bring Forth Justice to the Nations'

"I Have Put My Spirit in Him"

3 Through Isaiah, Jehovah prophesies the corning of a
servant whom he himself will choose: "Look! My servant,
on whom I keep fasf hold! My chosen one, whom my soul

5 Jehovah's Chosen One was to "bring forth," or make

stand out, true justice. "What justice is he will make clear
to the nations." (Matthew 12:18) How this was needed in
the first century C.E.1 The Jewish religious leaders taught
a distortedview of justice and righteousness. They sought

1, 2. Why is chapter 42 bf Isaiah of interest to Christians today?

3. W h a t does Jehovah prophesy through Isaiah about "myservant"?

4. Who is the foretold "chosen one," and how do we know this?

5 . Why was clarification af justice needed in the first century C.E.?

to attain righteousness by folLowing a rigid code of laws

-many of their own making. Tkmelr legallsljc j u ~ c was
e
void of mercy and comp~ion.
6 In cunbaxq Jesus m a d God's view of jmti~e.By
what he taught and haw he lived, Jesus showed that true
justice is compassionate and rnadfd. Just consider his
famous Sermon on the Mount. &fatthmJ chapters 5-71
What a a
t
& aplamtiun of how ji19tice and dghteousness s h d d be practiced? When we read the Gapel
acwuntsJarewe not touched byJes.ustmmpwion for the
p o o and
~ &hiW?
watthew 20:3$ Mark 1d1;6:34;Luke
7:s) He carried his cornfu*ng message b,m y wha
were like bruised reeds, bent over wid knocked about.
They were like a smold&ng flaxen wick, tlm& last spark
ofWe almost mothmd, Jausnetther hoke a "uwhed
reedJ' nor extinguished "a dm flaxen wick," Rathq, his
loving and cornpasdona= wqr& and aeons lifted up the
h e m of the meek.-Matthew 11:2&3Q,
7 Wh~r,

does t h e pruphecy say that Jesuswould

'not cry out of a k w his wite, and be would nut let his
VO* be head in the s M ' ? &ecau$ehe did not pramote
himid, as did r n a q in his day. (Pvfatthew6:s)When cuririga ]&per,he told the heaied ma&;
that J ~ B Utell nok d y a thing." (Mark 1:40-44)Eather than $&In$ publicity and having people mch mnclustons. on the h i s
of xcondhand rt!psrks, Jesus wanted them to discern for
thkmselws m the basis af soiid widen& that he was the
Christ, Jehovah'smainTed %marnt,
6. In what w$pdid lous make w e justice known?
X Why w l d h e prophecy say thatJesusw d d 'not wy out or zahe
his qal# iathe street'?

stre irrsrice Is campesslanoteand merciful

*MyChosen me, Whom My Saul Has Appruvwdta

BThe W e n Servant was to bring forth ''justice to

the nations."This Jesus&d, Apart from emphasizing the
w ~ o n a t nature
e
of godly j-ce,
Jesus taught that
It should embrace all people. On one occasion Jesus r
e
minded aman wrsed in the Law that he should love Gad
and his neighbor. The man asked Jaw:"Who d y is my
neighbor?" Perhaps he expected Jesus tu answer: "Your
fellow few," Hut Jesus told the parable of the neighbarIy ? m ~ a ~ IIn
wthe
. parable a Samaritan came to the aid
af a man set upon by robbers, while a Levite and a pri&
had refused to help. The questioner had to admit that
on W o d o n the despised Samaritan was the n q h bor, not the k i t e or the priest Jesus conduded his Ulustration with the advice "Re doing the same yaurseIf."
-tulae 102537;LevItIcu~19:18.

W e Will Not Grow Dim nor Be CrushedN

9 Since Jesus made clear the nature of true lustlce, his
dhcipin learned to ddisphy this qudlliv, So must we. Fbt
of all, we need ta accept God's
of good and M,
since he has the right to determine what Is just and right m ~As
. we strive ta do things Jehovah's way, our up
right mnduct will speak mhunes about what true justice
is.-1 hta 2:f 2.
10 W e also Bisplag true jusllce when we dIlIgently engage

~~

la) Haw dldJeswbrlng h#th Wlustleeto the mti~n~'?

@] What
does Jesus' Uu&atton abut the neighborly SaSamluftan teach us
a h t justla?
9. H w will an undentandlw of the nature of me justfee 8Rectua4
IU. Why does dbsplaylng pstlee entail sharing In the preach@ and
teaclrtsg m
7
&

In the pamble of the neighborly SamaritanI ]esus showed

that truejustice srnbmeos all people

in the preaching and teaclzing arlivity,Jehnvah has gcnerousIy provided Iifesaving k n o w l ~ d gof himsclft Iiis Son,
and his purposes. Uohn 12.3) I t would not IF right or
just to keep that knowledge to ourselves. "Ilo nal hold
hack good from those to whom it Is owing, when it hnppvns to be in the p w e r of your hand to do It," says Solomon, (Proverbs 327) Let us wholrhrartcd f y share what
we know about God with all pcoplc, rcgarcllcas of their racial, ethnic, or national background.-Act 10.:34, 35.

11 Further, a genuinc (.:hri<tiantrcats others as Jesusdid.

Many today face disheartening pn)htems and aw En nelrd
of compassion imd cncourag3rnrnt.I:,vcn some dedicated
Christians may he so hattcrrtl Ily cirn~rnstanccsthat they
come to resemble crushr(l rr*c.tls or smolrlcrlng wicks. Do
thtiy not need our support? (1,ukc 22:32; Acts 11:23) How
refreshing to bc part nt an asroclatlon trf truc Chrtstlanr,
who try to imitate Jesus in cxcrcislnl: Jusllce!
12 Will there cvcr hc lilstlce for all? YPS, indccd. Jehovah's Chosen One "will not grow dim nor he csurhed unhl he seb justice in thc cart h !ts~lI'."
Very soon the enthroned King, thc rcn~rscctedChrist Jesus, wi31 'bring
vengeance upon Ihme who CIOnot know God.' (2 Thesmlonians 1:6-9;Revelation lfr:14-16) Human rulership will
b e replaced by &ti's Kingdom. Justiceand righteousness
will abound. (l'rovcrhs 2:21, 22; Isaiah 1133-5; Daniel 2:
44; 2 Peter 313) Wlth eager expectation, Jehovah's servants everywhere-evcn thosr in rcmote places, "the is-

landsn-await that cliiy.

'I Will Give Him as rl Llght of the Nations'

13 Isaiih contlntres: '7bfs is what the h e Cod, lehoyoh, has said, the C m h r of the heavens and the Gmnd
One stretching them out; the One laying out the earth
and its produce, the One giving brmth to the people on
it, and spirit to those walking in it," (Isuiah 4 2 5 ) What
a powerful riescription of Jrl~nvah,thc Creator! This reminder of Jehova h'r might gives gwat wcight to his utrerance. Jehovah says: "I myselF, Jehovah, have culled you in
11. In imitation of Jeruq, hnw shnuld wr trcirt othox?
12. Why can we bc cunfident that luqllrp lor all will srron become a

reaw?
13. What does Jehnvali prnphcsy ebnut h l Oiosen
~
S~rvant?

Isaiah's Pmphcly-tlght @rAll Mankind Li

righmusnas, and I pmcded to bk hold o f p u r hand.

And I s h d su@uad you and g k yar m o cowmatat of
the people, as u Cight of ?hen h n s , hr you to open the
bllnd epest ta bdty kt& out of the dungmn the pt?sonec out of the house of d&n#on thosestltlng in darlvless."
-IJaJah 42:6, j!
14The Grand Creator of the universe, the Giver and S
w
tainer of life,takes hold of his Cham Servant's hand and
promhm full and constant support. How ~assurhgthat
bl Purthermo~,Jehovah keeps him safe so as to give him
as "EL covenant of the pmple."A covenant is a contract, a
compact, a solemn pmfse, It fs a sure ordhnce, Yes, Jehovah has made his Servant "a pledge to the people."-&
A&cunlhmhtim
15 As "a lqht of the natians,* the promised Servant will
open "theblind eyes" and liberate "thosesltthg in darkness,' Thls J w s &. By bearfng witness to the truth, Je
sus glbrlfied the name of his heawnIy Patha, Uuhn 17:
4,6) He laid bare W o u s falsehoods,preached the g a d
news of the Kingdom, and opened the d w r to spiritual freedom for rhme in Mglou bondage. (Matthew 15:
3-9; Luke 443; John1&37) He warned against performing
wads that belong to darkness and exposed Satan as "the
father of the Ue" and "theruler of thfs worid."-John 31921;8:44; 16:ll.
16 Jesus said: '1 am the light of the world" (John 8:
12)He proved to be so in an outstanding way when he

14. (a) What Is meant by Jehwah's -t

hold of the hand of his
approved Semnt? Wbat mIc dou the Chwen S e m t play?
IS, 16, In W k t WWdid Jesus sem as na Hght of the nationsN?

b i a h 3 s Pmphrrcy-Lkht fir All Mankind Il

we not also light &?

By our way of life and by our

preaching work, we have the prMlege of d h 3 h g uthers ta Jehovah, the Source of true enlgbnrnent. In
bitatlan of JesusIwe make known Jehovah'sname, u p
h d d His mmignty, and proclaim His Kingdom as mankind's or@ hope, Further, as light beams we expose rellgisus fddmods, warn against undcan works that belong
to d a b a s , and expose Satan, the wicked one.-1:8;
1 john 5:19.

offered his perfect human Ilfe as a ransom, Thus he

openedtrptkwayhr thosewboe~~&@hithto
have
hrgimm of sinsI an appmvd reladonship with cd,
and the p
m of ekmd We, (Mathew 2028; John 3:
16) By maia4ainhg
godly dewlion -out
his Me,Jesus upheld Jehovah's wvece&nty and prrrved
the Devil a liar. Ja
truly was a giver of sight to the blind
and a llkrator uf ofat hprhoned in spiritual darhess,
17 In the k m ~ on
n the Mount, Jmstold his dsdples: "You rn the Iight of the mxld," w~tthewS: 14) Are

"Sing to Jehovah a New Song"

1Naov Jehovah tums his attention to his people, saying:"iam~.ThatIsmynamo;mdtonoone&
- ~ * r n y ~ ~ ~ r o r V t - m ~ p r o l P e ~ ~
~ T h e f l r s f t M n ~ t h y h m r o m e ; b r r
things I urn telhg out Belbre theyto sprlng up,
I wuw pu p@ rn hear ttrsXPr.'
(/SUM
42:8# 9)The
propheq about "mysewantHwas- uttered, not by om of
the Muelm gods, but: by the only living and true God.
It was bound to come true, and it dld. JehovahGod is inde& the Author of new things, and he causes his people Eo know ofthem before they occur. How should WP

17.lawhatw~lygdowesermasU@tbeortf~?

Ths ap@

ssrvrtnt was g l m "us a Ilght of the nations*

?-

'
I

19~wrltes:Wrp9trPj~hanew~M

-~the~i~oftkeu~youmwrthdamgo
downboth~rmdtomatwhkh~itpuisErrndr
and you hhu#ting tkm. La the wlhness and L dtier
mlse Wlr dm,the setd#?entt that Kedor inha&, lat
&e inha#tanb of the crag rry out In loy, hwm the &p of
~ r n O u ~ 1 ~ ~ ~ h ~ ~ 0 & ~ 0 ~
e h d cause hia p p h to how?
19, m. (4whai song must ba sung?(b) who today are singingthe
of pralse toJehmh?
18. What does J

42

Jsniair:~Propl!ecy-Li#/!r f i r All M f l t l k i r ~ t I1
j

lehovah glory, and in the islands let them tell forth

his praise."-Isaiah 42: 70-72.

even

20 The inhabitants of cities, of vjllages in the wilderness,

of islands, wen of "Kedaq" or encampments In desesL3
-people everywhae-are u r ~ to
d sing a song of praise to
Jehovah. How evciting it is that in our day millions havc
responded to this prophetic appeal! They have embraced
thc mth of God's Word and have made Jcl~ovahtheir
God.Jehovah's people are singing this n w sung-attributing glory to Jehovah-in more than 230 lands. How
thrilling it is to sing in this m~dtimItural,multilingual,
and muEtirada1 chorus!
21 Can opposers stand up against God and slfence this
song of praise? ImpossiMe ! "Uke o mighty man jehovoh
himself will go forth. Like a warrior he will awaken zeal.
He will shout, yes, he wiil iet out a war cry; over his enemies he will show himself mightier." (Isaiah 42: 13) What
power can stand up against Jehovah? Some 3,500 years
ago, the prophet Moses and the sons of Israel sang out:
"Jehovahis a manly person of war. Jehovah Is his name,
Pharaoh's chariots and his military forces he has cast Into
the sea, and the choice of hls warriors have been sunk
in the Red Sea."(Exodus 153, 4) Jehovah was victorious
over the most powerful military force of that time. No
enemy 05 God's people can succeerl when Jel~ovahgoes
forth as a mighty warrior.

long time. 1 continued silent I kept exercising self-control.

Like a woman glving birth I am going to groan, pant, and
gasp ot the same time. I shall devastate mountains and
hills, and ali their vegetation I shall dry up. And I will turn
rivers into islands, and reedy pools I shall dry up."-lsaI

I
I

"I Have K e p t Quiet for a Long Time"

22jehovah is fair and just, even when executing judgment against his enemies. He says: "I haw kept quiet for a

21. Why can the enemies of God's people not succeerl In silencing
the song of praise m Jehovah?
22, 23. Why does Jehovah [keep qulet Inr a long tlrne'!

iah 42:l.Q,IS.
2:l ncfore taking

judicial actjon, Jehovah a l l m tjme to

par5 in onler to give wrun~clwnan opporhlnity to turn

hum thcir had ways. (Jcrcrniah 18:7-10; 2 Peter 3 9 ) Consjder the cast of the Rabylonians, who, as the dominant
world power, desolate Jeruwlern in the year 607 3.C.E.
Qehova11 pcrrnlts this so as to discipline the Israelites b e
cause of their untalt hfttlness. I-lowever, the Babylonians
fail to rccognixe the mlc that they are playing. They treat
Gocl's pcoplc far more harshly than God's judgment sequlres. (Isaiah 47:6,7; Zechariah 1:15) Mow it must hurt
thc truc God ta sec his people sufier! Rut he withholds
tnkfnf: actlon until his drlc time. Then, he labors-like a

wuinan glvlng birth-to 1lberate his covenant people and

briry~sZhcm fclrth as an independent nation. To accompllsh this, In 539 I1.CVlI,,he dries up and devastates Baby b n and hcr clcl'enscs,
24 How thrillcd God? pcoplc must be when, after so
many years of exile, the way home finally opens up for
tlleml (2 Chsnniclrs 36:22,23) Tllcy must be delighted
to experience the fulfillment of Jehovah's promise: "I will
make the blind ones walk in a way that they have not
known; in a roadway shot they have not known I shall
cause them to tread. S shaN turn a derk place before them
Into SIghc and rugged terrain into level land. These ore the
things that I will do for them, and E will not leave them."
-Isaiah 42:16.

24. What prospect rCocr Jehovah open up For his people Israel?

44

Isairrk's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I1

25 How do these words apply today? Well, for a long

time now-for centuries-Jehovah has let the nations go
their own way. However, his appointed time for settling
matters is close. In modern times he has raised up a people to bear witness to his name. Leveling any opposition
against them, he has smoothed the way for them to worship him "with spirit and truth." (John 4:24) He promised: "I will not leave them," and he has kept his word.
What of those who persist in worshiping fake gods? Jehovah says: "They must be turned back, they will be very
much ashamed, those who are purring trust in the carved
image, those who are saying to a molten image: 'You are
our gods.' " (Isaiah 42:77) How vital that we remain faithful to Jehovah, as did his Chosen One!

'A Servant Who Is Deaf and Blind'

26 God's Chosen Servant, Jesus Christ, remained faithful
to death. Jehovah's people Israel, though, prove to be an
unfaithful servant, deaf and blind in a spiritual sense. Addressing them, Jehovah says: "Hear, you deaf ones; and
look forth to see, you blind ones. Who is blind, if not my
servant, and who is deaf as my messenger whom I send?
Who is blind as the one rewarded, or blind as the servant of jehovah? It was a case of seeing many things,
but you did not keep watching. It wus a case of opening the ears, but you did not keep listening. jehovah himself for the sake of his righteousness has taken a delight
in that he should magnify the law and make it majestic."
-Isaiah 42:78-21.
25. (a) Of what can Jehmah's people today be certain? (b) What
should be our determinatfon?
26, 27. How does Israel prove to be 'a servant deaf and blind,' and
with what consequences?

' M y Chosen One, Whom My Soul Has Approved!"

45

27 What a lamentable failure Israel is! Her people repeatedly fall away to worshiping the demon gods of the
nations. Again and again, Jehovah keeps sending hs messengers, but his people pay 00 heed. (2 Chmnicles 36:1416) Isaiah foretells the consequences: I t is a people plundered and pillaged, all of them being happed in the holes,
and in the houses of detention they have been kept hidden. 7bey have come to be for plunder without a deliverer, for pillage without anyone to say: 'Bring back!' Who
among you people will give ear to this? Who will pay attention and listen for later times? Who has given lacob for
mere pillage, and lsruel to the plunderers? Is it not Jehovah, the One against whom we have sinned, und in whose
ways they did not want to walk and to whose law they did
not listen? So He kept pouring out upon him rage, his anger, and the strength o f war. And it kept consuming him
all around, but he took no note; and it kept blazing up
against him, but he would lay nothing to heart."-lsaiah
42:22-25.
28 Because of the unfaithfuIness of her inhabitants, Jehovah allows the land of Judah to be plundered and plllaged in 607 B.C.E. The Babylonians burn Jehovah's temple, desolate Jerusalem, and take the Jews captive.
(2 Chronicles 36:17-21) May we take to heart this warning
example and never turn a deaf ear to Jehovah's instructions or a blind eye: to his written Word, Rather, may we
seek Jehovah9 appmval by imitating ChristJesus, the Servant whom Jehovah himself approved. Like Jesus, may we
make true justice known by what we say and do. In this
way, we will remain among Jehovah's people, serving as
light bearers who praise the true God and give him glory.
28. (a) W h a t can we learn from the example of the inhabitants of
Judah? (b) How may we seek Jehovah's approval?

CHAPTER FOUR

"YouAre My Witnesses"!
THE abiliv to predict the future is one thing that distinguishes the true God from all false gods. But when Jehovah prophesies, he has more in mind than proving his
Godship. As demonstrated in Isaiah chapter 43, Jehovah
makes prophecy a proof both of his Godship and of his
love for h covenant people. His people, in turn, are not to
discern fulfilled pmphecy and yet remain mute; they are
to bear testimony to what they have seen. Yes, they are to
be Jehovah's witnesses !
2 Sadly, by Isaiah's time brael is in such a deplorable state
that Jehovah considers the people spiritually disabled.
"Bring forth a people blind though eyes themselves exist,
and the ones deaf though they have ears." (Isaiah 43:8)
How can people who are spiritually blind and deaf serve
Jehovah as his living witnesses? 'There is anly one way.

Their eyes and ears must be mi~aculouslyopened. And

open them, Jehovah does! How? First, Jehovah adrninisters severe discipline-the inhabitants of the northern
kingdom of brael go into exile in 7'40 B.C.E., and those of
Judah, in 607 B.C.E. Then, Jehovah acts with power in behalf of his people by liberating them and bringing a spiritually revitalized, repentant remnant back to their home1 How does Jehovah use prophecy, and how are his people to respond to fulfilled prophecy?
2. (a) What i s the spiritual condition of Israel in Isaiah's time?
(b) I-low does Jehovah open the eyes of his people?

"You Are h4y Witnesses"!

47

land in 537 B.C.E, In fact, Jehovah is so confident that his

purpose in this regard cannot be thwarted that some 200
years in advance, he speaks of Israel's liberation as though
it has already occurred. ,
3 'Tiis is what lehovah has said, p u r Creator, 0 jacob,
and your Former, 0 Israel: 'Lb not be afraid, for I have repurchased you. I have called you by your name. You are
mine. In case you should pass through the waters, I will be
with you; and through the rivers, they will not flood over
you. In case you shouId walk through the fireI you will not
be scorched, neither will the f h e itFelf singe p u . For I
am jehovah your God, the Holy One of Israel your Savior.'"
-Isaiah 43: 1-3a.
4 Jehovah has a special interest in Israel because the nation belongs to him. It is his own personal creation in
fulfillment of the Abrahamic cownant. (Genesis 121-3)
Thus, Psalm 10@3 says: "Know that Jehovah is God. It is
he that has made us, and not we ourselves. We are his
people and the sheep of his pasturage." h Israel's Creator
and Repurchaser,Jehovah will bring his peopIe safely back
to their homeland. Impediments, such as waters, flooding
rivers, and fiery deserts, will not hinder or harm them,
just as similar things did not slow their befathers when
en route to the Promised Land a thousand years earlier.

5 Jehovah's words also give comfort to the modern-day

remnant of spiritual Israel, the members of which are a
spirit-begotten "new creation." (2 Corinthans 5:17) Having stepped boldly before "the waters" of mankind, they
3 . What encouragement does Jehovah give to the future exiles?
4. I-Iow is it that Jehovah is Israel's Creator, and what assurance does
he give his people in regard ro their return to their homeland?
5 . (a) How do Jehovah's words comfort spiritual Israel? (h) Who are
the companions of spiritual Israel, and by whom were these prefigured?

50

"Yori Are My Witnesserr"!

Isaiah's Prophety-Light for All Mankind II

inheritance and the ends of the earth as [his] own pmsession."-Psalm 2 8 .

7 Notice how Jehovah openly expresses his tender feelings toward the repurchased exiles. He tells them that they
are "precious" and "honorable" to him and that he 'loves'
them. (Jeremiah 31:3) He feels the same way-and even
more so--toward his loyal servants today. Anointed Christians have been brought into a relationship with God, not
by birth, but by the operation of God's holy spirit following their personal dedication to their Creator.Jehovah has
drawn these ones to his Son and to himself and written
his Iaws and principles on their receptive hearts.-Jeremiah 31:31-34;John 6:44.
8 Offering h l l more reassurance to the exiles, Jehovah
adds: "Do not be afraid, for / am with you. From the sunrising I shall bring your seed, and from the sunset I shall collect you together. I shall say to the north, 'Give up!' and to
the south, 'Do not keep back. Bring my sons from far OK
and my daughters from the extremity of the earth, everyone that is called by my name and that i have created for
my own glory, that I haw formed, yes, that I have made.' "
(lsaiah 43:s-7) Not even the remotest parts of the earth
will be beyond Jehovah's reach when the time comes to
free his sons and daughters and to bring them back to
their beloved homeland. (Jeremiah 30:10,11) No doubt,
in their eyes this liberation will eclipse the nation's earlier
deliverance from Egypt.-Jeremiah 16:14,15.
9 By reminding his people that they are called by his

51

name, Jehovah confirms his promise to deliver Israel. (Isaiah 545, 6) What is more, Jehovah attaches his name to
his promises of liberation. In so doing, he ensures that he
will receive the glory when his prophetic word is fulfilled.
Not even Babylon's conqueror will be entitled to the honor due the one and only living God.

7. How does Jehovah feel toward his people, both in ancient and in

The Gods on Trial

makes his promise to free Israel the basis
far a universal court case in which he puts the gods of the
nations an trial. We read: "Let the nations a11 be collected together at one place, and let national groups be gathered together. Who [of their gods] is there among them
that can tell this? Or can they cause us to hear even the first
things? let them [their gods] furnish their witnesses, that
they may be declared righteous, or let them hear and say,
'It is the truth!'" (Isaiah 4339) Jehovah places a formidable challenge before the nations of the world. In effect,he
says: 'Let your gods prove that they are gods by accurately foretelling the future.' As only the hue God can prophesy unerringly, this test will expose all impostors. (Isaiah
4&:5)But the Almighty adds yet another legal stipulation:
AlI who claim to be true gods must furnish witnesses, both
to t h e i ~predictions and to the fulfillment of these. Naturally, Jehovah does not exclude himseIf from this Iegal requirement.
11 Being impotent, false gods can furnish no witnesses.
Hence, the witness stand remains embarrassingly empty.
But now comes Jehovah's time to confirm h s Godship.
h o k i n g toward his people, he says: "You are my witnesses, . . . even my servant whom I have chosen, in order that

modern times?
8. What reassurance does Jehovah give the exiles, and how will they
feel about their deliverance?
9. In what two ways does Jehovah relate his acts of deliverance to
his name?

10. What challenge does Jehovah put before the nations and their
gods?
11. What commrssion does Jehovah give to his servant, and what
does Jehovah reveal about his Godship?

10 Jehovah now

Jehovahchallenges the nations

to produce witnesses for their gods

"You Are My Wltnesses"1

53

you may know and have faith in me, and that you may
understand that !urn the same One. Before me there was
no God formed, and after me there continued to be none.
/-I am jehovah, and besides me there is no savior. I myself h a w told forth and have saved and have caused it to
be heard, when there was among you no strange god. SO
you are my witnesses, . . . and I am Cod, Also, all the time

am the same One; and there is no one effecting deliverance out o f my own hand. I shall get active, and who can
turn [my handJ back?"-Isaiah 43: 30-13.
12 In response to Jehovah's words, the witness stand soon
overflows with a joyful throng of witnesses. Their testimony is clear and unassailable. Like Josllua, they testify that
'everything Jehovah has spoken has come true. Not one
word has failed.' (Joshua 23:14) Still ringing in the ears of
JehovaWs people are the words of Isaiah, Jeremiah, b e kiel, and other prophets who, as with one voice, foretold
Judah's exile and their miracuious deliverance from exile.
(Jeremiah 25:11, 12) Judah's deliverer, C p s , ryas named
well before he was wen born!-Traiah 44:26-451.
13 In view of this mountain of evidence, who can deny
that Jehovah is the only true God? Unlike pagan gods, Jehovah alone is uncreated; he alone is the true God."
Consequently, the people bearing Jehovah's name have
the unique and thriIling privilege of relating hir wonderful deeds to future generations and to otherr who inquire
about him. (Psalm 785-7) In a similar way, Jehovah's
modern-day Witnesses have the privilege of declaring Js
hovah's name in all the earth. In the 1920's the Bible
I

I
I

I
I
I

1
I . Bronze statue of Baal 2,Clay figurines of
Ashtoreth 3, Egyptian triad of Horus, OsTris, and
isis 4. Greek gods Athena (left) and Aphrodite

" In the rnyfhologles of the nations, many gods are "horn" and have
"children."

12, 13. (a) What abundant teshmony do Jehovah's people have to

present? (b) How has Jehovah's name come to thc fore In modern
times?

54

isainh's Propl~ery-Li,y/it fi)r All Mzrt?kill t i [I

Students became increasingly aware of the deep signlficance of God's name, Jehovah. Then, on July 26, 1931,
at a convention in Columbus, Ohio, the Society's preddent, JosephF. Rutherford, presented a resolution enlitlcd
"A New Name." The words, "Wedesire to be known a5 and
called by the name, ro wit, jeizovnh's witrrexws," thrilled
the conventioners,who approved the resolution wlt h a resounding "Aye!" Since then, Jehovah's namc has gained
woddwlde prominence.-Psalm 83:18.
14 Jehovah cares for those who bear his name honorably,
viewing them as "thepupil of his eye." He reminds thc Israelites of this, telling them hcnr he delivetd them from
Egypt and led them safely though the wElderness. (Ileuteronomy 3210,12) At that the there was nn strange god
among them, fur they saw with their own eyes the tittrr
humiliation of all the gods of Egypt, Yes, the entire I<gyptian pantheon could neither protect Egypt nor prewnl Israel's departure. {kodus 12:12)Likewise, mighty Br\hylnn,
whose urban landscape is dominated lry at least SO tcnipies to false gods, will be unable to check the liand of Ihc
Almighty when he frees his people. Clearly, "there i q no
savior" besides Jehovah.

War-Horses Fall, Prisons Open

15 %is is what Jehovah has said, the Repurchaser of you
people, the Holy One of Israel: 'For your sakes I will send to
Babylon and cause the bars of the prisons to come down,
and the Chafdeansin the ships with whining shes on their
part I am jehovah your Moly One, the Creuhr of Israel,
your King.' This is wflatjehovah has soid# the One making
a way through the sea itrelf ond a madway wen tkmugh
14. Of what does Jehovah remind the Israelites, and why Is thls re-

minder tlmrly?
15. What d m Jehovah prophesy concerning Babylon?

s h n g waters, the One bringing forth the war chariot and

the horse, the military force und the strong ones at the
same time: 'They will lie down. They will nor get up, They
will certainly Se extinguished. like a flaxen wick they must
be put out.'"-lsoioh 43: 14-fZ
1 0 Balylon Is Bike a prison to the exiles in that it prwenb
their return to Jrr~~salem.
nut Rahylon's defenses are no
obstacle Inthe Almighty, ithc One who earlier made "a way
through Ihe [Red Sea] itsell and a roadway even through
strnng waters"-apparently those of the Jordan. (Exodus
14: lh; Joshua 213) In a similar way, Jehovah's agent, Cyrus, will makc the mighty Et~phratesrecede, alIowing his
warrlon errtry into the city. Chaldean merchants plying

Ijnhylon%canals-wat~rways frw thotaands of commercial

gnllcys and for i~argescarrying the Babylonian gods-wiiI
wlllnc in grid when their mighty capital falls. Like Pharaoh's clialhfotsIn i h c Rcd Sea, Ilahylon's swift chariots will
hc helpless. 'l'hcy wit1 not s a w her. As easily as one extinplahcs the flaxen wick of an oil lamp, the invader will
s n ~ ~ f l ' othe
u t llvcs of any woulcl-bc defenders.

Jehovah Leads His People Safely Home

17 Cr)rnparlng his earlier am of deliverance with what he
is alsnut tn do, Jchwah saF: "Do not remember the Sirst
things, ond to the former things do not turn your consideration. Loakl I .am doing something new. Now it will spring
up. You people will know it, will you not? Really, through
the wilderness I sholl set a way, through the desert rivers. The wild beust of the field wWI gloriSy me, the jackals
and the ostriches; becuclse I shall have given water even in
the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to cause my people, my
16. What will bcfall Ikhyton, the Chatdean merchants, and any
would-lw dckndcr., of Il;thylon?
17, 18. ( n ) Wh;bl "n~w"
t h l n dws
~
Jehovah prophesy? Cb) In what
way ihm tlie penple not to rc~rivntbcrthe former things, and why?
- A

56

Isaiah's Propki~cy-Lfghtfor All Mflnklnd ST

chosen one, to drink, the people whom I haw formed For

myself, thor they should recount the praise of me."-lsaiah

11
I

43: 18-21.

a In saying, "do not remember the first things," J e h ~

vah is not suggesting that his servants erase his past acts
of salvation from their minds. In fact, many oaf these
acts are part of brael's divinely insplred hlstflry, and Jehovah commanded that the escape from Empt bc remembered annually at the Passmer celebration,(Leviticus
235; Deuteronomy 16:l-4) However, Jehovah now wants
his people to glorify him on the basis of "something
new"-something they will experience firsthand, This Includes not just their deliverance from nabylon but also
their miraculous journey home, perhaps Ily the more dlrea desert mute. In that barren Iand, Jehovah will make
"a way" for them and will perform powerful works reminiscent of what he did for the Israelites in Moses' day-lndeed, he will feed the returnees in the desert and quench
their thirst with veritable rivers. So bounteous will Jeh*
vah's provisions be that even the wild heasts will glorlly
God and rehain from attacking the people,
19 Similarly, in 1919 the remnant of spiritual Israel were
freed from Babylonishcaptivity, and they set off on a route
Jehwah had prepared for them, "the Way of Holiness."
(Isaiah 35%) Unlike the Israelites, they did not have to
move through the burning desert horn one geographical
Iocadon to another, and their journey was not concluded
after a few months with an arrival In Jerusatcm. I-lowever,
"the Way of Holiness" did lead the remnant of anointed
Christians into a spiritual paradise, In their rase, they remain on that "Way of Holiness,"since they still haw to
journey through this sptem of things. As long as they re19. M o w do the remnant of splsltual Israel and thelr compnnlons
walk upon "the Way of Holiness"?

"Yorr Arc My Witnesses'l

57

main on the highway-as long as they obsem God's standards of cleanness and hollne~s-they remain in the spiritual paradise. And what a lay for them to he joined by a
great m w d of "non-Israelite"companions! In sharp conhast with those who look to Satan's system, both the remnant and their companions continue to enjoy a rich spiritual banquet at Jehovah's hand. (Isaiah 256; 4 5 1 3 , 14)
Discerning Jehovah'shlesslng on his people, many beast-

like ones have cl~angedtheir ways and glodfied the true

God.--Isaiah 11:6-9.

I
\

1
I

Jehovah Reveals His Hurt

In anaent times the resto~dremnant of Israel are a
changed p p l e when compared with Isaiah? wicked genaation. Of the latter, Jehovahsays: 'You haw not caSM
even me, 0 Jacob, because you haw grown wmty of me,
0 I s m i . You have not bmught me the sheep ofyour whole
burnt offerings, and with your sacrifices you have not glorified me.I hove not compelied you ro serve me with a gift,
nor have I made you weary wirh frankincense, For me you
have bought no sweet cone with any money; and with the
fat of your sacrifices you haw nor soturoted me. In reality
you have compelled me to serve because of your sins; you
have mode me weary with your errors."-lioioh 43:22-24.
a In saying, "I have not campelled you to serw me
with a gift, nor haw I made you weary with frankincense," Jehovah is not suggesting that sacrifice and frankincense (a mmponent of holy incense) are not required.
Indeed, these are an integral part of true worshipunder
the Law covenant. The same I s true of the "cane,"which
refers to aromatic calamus, a sweet-smelling Ingredient of
20. How has the lsrael of Isaiah's day hll~dJehavah7
21, 22. (a) Why can It be sald that Jehovah's pqulrernents are not
burdensome? (b) flow do the people, 111 efiect, ~ n a k eJehovah serve

them?

"You Arc My Witncs.~i*s~l

59

holy anointing oil. The Israelites have been neglecting the

use of these in temple service. But are such requirements
burdensome? No indeed! Jehovah's requirements are light
when compared with those of false gods. For instance,
the false god Molech demanded child sacrifice-something that Jehmah has never required! -Ueu teronomy 30:
11; Micah 6:3, 4, 8.
22 If only the Israelites had spiritual perception, for thm
they would never 'grow weary of Jehovah.' By looking in
his Law, they would see his deep love for them and gladly offer him "the fat," the best part of their sacrifices. Instead, they greediIy keep the fat for themselves. (Leviticus
3:9-11, 16) How this wicked nation weighs Jehovah down
with the burden of their sins-in effect,making him serve
them!-Nehemiah 9:28-30.

Discipline Reaps Fruitage

23 Although severe, and deservedly so, Jehovah's discipline achieves the desired results, making mercy possible.
"1-i am the One that is wiping out your transgressions for
my own sake, and your sins I shall not remember. Remind
me; let us put ourselves on judgment together; tell your
own account o f it in order that you may be in the right.
Your own father, the first one, has sinned, and your own
spokesmen ["interpreters," footnote] have tmnsgressed
against me. 50 1 shall profane the princes of the holy place,
and I will give lacob over as a man devoted to destruction
and Israel over to words o f abuse." (Isaiah 4325-28) Like
all the nations of the world, Israel descends from Adam,
"the fiat one." Hence, no Israelite can prove himself to be
23. (a) Why is Jehovah's disc~plinewell deserved? (b) what is involved in God's disciplining of Isracl?

"You are my wifnesses."-Isaiah 43:70

60

Isahh's Prophecy-light forA11 Mankind II

"in the right!' Even Israel's "spokesmen"--her teachers, or

interpreters, of the Law-have sinned againstJehovahand
taught falsehoods. In turn, Jehovah will hand his entire
nation aver "to destruciion" and "to words of abuse." He
will also profane all those officiating at his "holy place," or

sanctuary.
24 Notice, though, that the resulting divine mercy will
not simply be because of Israel's contrition; it will be for
Jehovah's own sake. Yes,his name is involved. Were he to
abandon Israel to permanent exile, his own name would
be reproached by onlookers. (Psalm 79:9; Ezekiel 2B8-10)
Likewise today, the salvation of humans is secondary to
the sanctification of Jehovah'sname and the vindication
of his sovereignty. Nonetheless, Jehovah loves those who
accept his discipline without reservation and who worship
him with spirit and buth. He demonstrates his love for
these ones-whether anointed or other sheep-by wiping
out their transgressions on the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.-John 316; 423, 24.
25 Furthermore, Jehovahwill soon demonstrate his love
for a great crowd of his loyal worshipen when he
does something new in their behalf by delivering them
through "the great tribulation" into a cleansed "new
earth." (Revelation 7:14; 2 Peter 3:13) They will wihess
the most awesome manifestation of Jehovah's power ever
seen by humans. The certain prospect of that event causes the anointed remnant and all those who will make up
the great crowd to rejoice and to live each day in accord
with that lofty commission: "You are my witnessesn!-lsaiah 43:10.

24. For what primary reason will Jehovah forgive his people-both
ancient and modern-yet, what are hls feelings toward them?
25. What awe-inspiring thingr w ~ lJehovah
l
perform in the near future, and how can we demonstrate our appreciation now?

CHAMER FIVE

The True God

Foretells Deliverance

Isaiah 44:l-28

'WHO is the true God?' This question has been asked

throughout the centuries. Haw surprising, then, that in
the book of Isaiah, Jehovah himself raises the question!
He invites humans to consider: 'Is Jehovah the only true
God? Or is there another who can chalIenge his position?' After initiating the discussion, Jehovah provides
reasonable criteria for settling the issue of Godship. T h e
reasoning presented leads honesthearted people to one
irresistible conclusion.
2 During the days of Isaiah, images are widely worshiped. In the frank and clear discussion recorded in
chapter 44 of Isaiah's prophetic book, how futile image
worship is shown to be! Yet, God's own people have fallen into the trap of worshiping idols. Hence, as seen in
previous chapters of Isaiah, the Israelites are in line for
strong discipline. Lovingly, though, Jehovah offers the
nation reassurance that although he will allow the Babylonians to take his people into captivity, he will deliver
them in his own due time. The fulfillment of the prophecies of deliverance from captivity and of restoration of
pure worship will prove beyond doubt that Jehovah
-

1, 2. (a) What questions does Jehovah raise? @) Huw will Jehovah

prove that he alone is the true God?

IsaicikJs PrapIPecy-Light far Ale Manklnd II

alone is the true Gad, to the shame of all who worship

the lifeless gods of the nations.
3 The prophecies in this part of Isaiah and their fulfillment in andent times strengthen the faith of Christians
today Moxeover, Isaiah's prophetic words have a fulfillment in our day and wen in the future.And those events
involve a deliverer and a deliverance even greater than
the ones predicted for Gad's ancient people.

Hope for Those Who Mong to Jehovah

4 Chapter 44 begins on a pc~sitlwnote with a reminder
that Israel has been chosen by God, separated from the
surrounding nations to become hi$ servant,The prophecy says: "Now listen, U lacab my servant, and you, 0 israel, whom I hove chosen. This is what jehavah has said,
your M o k r and your Former, who kept helping p u even
from the belly, 'Do not be afraid, 0 my servant lamb,
m d pu, leshunmn, whom I have chosen,'" (Isaiah 44:1,
2 ) Jehovah has cared for Israel horn its mother's womb,
as it were, wer since Israel became a nation after corning
out of Egypt. He cdh his people collectively "Jeshumn,'"
meaning "Upright One," a title expressing affection and
tenderness. The name is also a reminder that the Israelites must remain upright, which they have often failed
to do.
5 How pleasant and refreshing are Jehovah" next
wo~ds!He rays: Y shall pour arrt wafer upon the thi*
3. How do Isaiah's prophetic wards help Christians today?
4, How does Jehovah encaurag IsraeI?

5, 6. M a t refmshhgprovislons does Jehovahsupply for Imel, and

with what result?

Can an unburned piece of firewood deliver anyone 7

64

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind II

one, and trickling streams upon the dry place. I shall pour
out my spirit upon your seed, and my blessing upon your
descendants.And they will certainly spring up as among
the green grass, like poplars by the water ditches." (Isaiah 44:3, 4) Even in hot, dry country, stands of trees can

flourish by water sources. When Jehovah provides his

life-giving waters of truth arid pours out his holy spirit,
Israel will flourish mightily, like trees alongside irrigation
canals. (Psalm l:3; Jeremiah 17:7, 8) Jehovah wiIl give his
people the strength to carry out their role as witnesses to
his Godship.
6 One result of this outpouring of holy spirit will be a
renewed appreciation by some individuaIs of Israel's reIationship with Jehovah. Thus, we read: "Jhis one will say:
'I belong to jehowh, 'And that one will call himself by the
name oflacob, and another will write upon his hand: 'Belonging to Jehovah.'And by the name of Israel one wilE
betitle himself." (Isaiah 44:s)Yes, there will be honor in
carrying the name of Jehovah, for he will be seen to be
the only true God.

A Challenge to the Gods

the Mosaic Law, a repurchaser-normally a
male next of kin-could buy a person out of bondage.
(Leviticus 2547-54; Ruth 220) Jehovah now identifies
himself as Israel's Repurchaser-the one who will redeem
the nation, to the embarrassment of Babylon and all her
gods. (Jeremiah 50:34) He confronts the false gods and
their worshipers, saying: "This is what jehovah has said,
the King of Ismel and the Repurchaser of him, lehovah of
armies, '1 am the first and I am the last, and besides me
7 Under

7, 8. How does Jehovah challenge the gods of the nations?

1
I

Thc lYue God Fu~etellsDeliverance

there is no God. And who is there like me? Let him KO// out
that he may tell it and present it to me. From when I uppointed the people o f long ago, both the rhings coming
and the things that will enter in let them tell on their part.
Do not be in d m d , you people, and do not become stupefied. Have i not from that time on caused you individually to hear and told it out? And you are my witnesses.
Does there exist u God besides me? No, there is no Rock. I
have recognized none.' "-Isaiah 44:6-8.
8 Jehovah challenges the gads to present their case. Can
they call the thngs that are not as if they are, prehcting
future events with such accuracy that it appears as if they
are already happening? Only 'the first and the last,' who
existed before all the false gods were thought of and will
still be there when they are long forgotten, can do such
a thing. His people need not fear to bear witness to t h ~
truth, since they have the support of Jehovah, who is as
firm and stable as a massive rock!-Deuteronomy 324;
2 Samuel 22:31, 32.

The Vanity of Image Warship

9 Jehovah's challenge to the false gods brings to mind
the second of the Ten Commandments. That commandment clearly stated: "You must not make for yourself a
carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is
in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down
to them nor be induced to serve them." (Exadus 20:
4, 5 ) Of course, thrs prohibition did not mean that the
Israelites were not to make decorative representations of
things. Jehovah himself directed that representations of

9. Was it wrong for the Israelites to make any kind of representation

of a living thing? Explain.

66

Isalah's Prophecy-Light for A12 Mankitrrl I1

pIants, animals, and cherubs be placed in the tabernacle.

(kodus 25:18;26:31) However, these were not to be venerated, or worshiped. No one was to pray to or offer sacrifices to those representations. The divinely inspired commandment prohibited the making of any lund of image
to be used as an object of worship. Worshiping images or
bowing down to them in reverence conrtitrutes idolatry.
-1 John 521.
10 Isaiah now describes the uselessness of lifeless images
and the shame awaiting those who make them: 'The farmers of the cawed image are all of them an unreality,
and their darlings themselves wiil be of no benefit; and as
their witnesses they see nothing and know nothing, in order that they may be ashamed. Who has formed a god
or cast a mere molten image? Of no benefit at all has it
been. Look! Ail his partners themselves will be ashamed,
and the craftsmen are from earthling men. They will all
of them collect themselves together. They will stand still,
They wi// be in dread. Jkey wiil be ashamed at the same
time."-isaiah 44:9- 17.
11 Why does God regard these images as so shameful?
First, it is impossible to represent the Almighty accurately with material things. (Acts 1729) Moreover, to worship
a created thing rather than the Creator is an affront to Jehovah's Godship. And is it not really beneath the dignity
of man, who was created "in God's image1'?-Genesis 1:
27; Romans 1:23, 25.

12 Can physical matter somehow acquire holiness because it has been crafted to become somethingto be worshiped? Isaiah rernindf,us that making an image is just a

10, 11. Why does Jehovah view images as shameful?

12, 13, Why can man not craft any image worthy of worship?

1I
I

I
I

The True God Foretells Drliverance

human endeavor. The tools and techniques of an image

maker are the same as those used by any other artisan:

"Rs for the carver of iron with the billhook, he has been
busy at it with the coals; and with the hammers he proceeds to form it, and he keeps busy at it with his powerful
arm. Also, he has become hungry, und so without power.
He has not drunk water; so he gets tired. As for the wood
carver, he has stretched out the measuring line; he traces
it out with red chalk; he works it up with o wood rrmpeq
and with u compass he keeps tracing it out, and gradually he makes it like the representation of a man, like the
beauty of mankind, to sit in a house."-Isaiah 44: 12, 13.
13 The W e God made all the living creatures on this
earth, including man. Sentient life is a wonderful testimony to Jehovah's Godship, but of course, everything
that Jehovah created is inferior to him. Is it possibIe
that man c a n do better than that? Can he make something superior to hmself-so superior that it is worthy
of his clwotion? When a man makes an image, he gets
tired, hungry, and thirsty, These are human limitations,
but at least they show that the man is alive. The image he makes may look like a man. It may wen be beautiful. Rut it is lifeless. Images are in no way d i ~ n eFur.
ther, no carved image has ever 'fallen from heaven,' as
if its source were anything more than mortal man.-Acts
19:35.
14 Isaiah proceeds to show that image makers are cornpletely dependent on natural processes and materials
that Jehovah created: "There is one whose business is to
cut down cedaq and he takes a certain species of tree,
even a massive tree, and he lets it become strong for
14. How are image makers completely dependent on Jehovah?

68

The True God Foretells Deliverance

Isaiah's Pmphecy-Light for All Mankind II

16 Idolatry really got its start in the heavens when the

ponerful spirit creature who became Satan coveted the
worship due Jehovah alone. So strong was Satan's desire
that it alienated him from God That was really the beginning of idolatry, since the apostle Paul said that covetousness is the same as idolatq* (Isaiah 14:12-14; Fzehe1 28:13-15, 17; Colossians 3 5 ) Satan induced the first
human couple to entertain selfish thoughts. Eve coveted what Satan offered her: "Your eyes are bound to bbe
opened and you are bound to be like God, knowing good
and bad." Jesus stated that covetousness issues horn the
heart. (Genesis 3:s;Mark 720-23) Idolatry becomes possible when hearts are corrupted. How important, then,
for all of us to 'safeguard our hearts,' never allowing anyone or anything to occupyJehovahlsrightful place there!
-Proverbs 423; James 1:14.

himself among the trees of the forest He planted the

laurel tree, and the pouring rain itrelf keeps making it get
big. And it has become something for man to keep a fire
burning. So he takes part of it that he may warm himself.
in fact he builds a fire and actually bakes bread. He also
works on rr god to which he may bow down. He has made
it into a carved image, and he prostmtes himself to it. Half
of it he actually burns up in o fire. Upon half of it he roasts
well the flesh that he eatr, and he becomes satisfied. He
also warms himself and says: 'Aha!I have warmed myseIf,
I have seen the firelight' But the remainder of it he actually makes into a god itself, into his curved image. He
prostrates himself to it and bows down and prays to it and
says: 'Deliver me, for you are my god.' "-Isaiah 44: 14- IZ
Is Can an unburned piece of firewood deliver anybody? Of course not. Only the true God can provide deliverance. How can people idolize inanimate things? Isaiah shows that the real problem lies in a person's heart:
'7hey have not come to know, nor do they understand,

because their eyes have been besmeared so as not to see,

their heart so as to have no insight, And no one recalls
to his heart or has knowledge or understanding, saying:
'The half of it / have burned up in a fire, and upon its
coals I have also baked bread; 1 roast flesh and eat. But
the rest of it shall / make into a mere detestable thing? To
the dried-out wood of a tree shall I prostrate myxeif?' He is
feeding on oshes. His own heart Zha t has been trifledwith
has led him astray. And he does not deliver his soul, nor
does he say: 'Is there plot a fdsehood in my right hand?' "
(Isaiah 44: 78-20) Yes, imagining that idolatry can prcvide anything good spiritually is like eating ashes instead
of nutritious food.
15. What total lackof understanding is shown by a maker of images?

69

Jehovah Appeals to Hearts

17Jehovah next appeals to the Israelites to recall that
they are in a privileged, responsible position. They are
his witnesses! He says: "Remember these things, 0jacob,
and you, 0 Israel, because you are my servant. I have
formed you. You are a servant belonging to me. 0 Ismel, you will not be forgotten on my part I will wipe out
your transgressions just as with o cloud, and your rhr
just as with a cloud mass. Do return to me, for I will repurchme you. joyfully cry out, you heavens, for Jehovah
has taken action! Shout in triumph, all you lowest parts
of the earth! Become cheerful, you mountains, with joyful outcry, you forest and all you trees in it! For lehovah
has repurchased lacob, and on lsmel he rho ws his beauty."-/saih 44:21-23,
16. How did idolatry originate, and what makes it possible?

17. What should Israel take to heart?

70

Isainh's Prophecy-Light for All lMnnkind I1

18 Israel did not form Jehovah. He is not a man-made

god. Rather, Jehovah formed Israel to be his chosen servant. And he will prove his Godship once again when he
delivers the nation. He addresses his people tenderly, assuring them that if they repent, he will completely cover over their sins, hiding their transgressions as if behnd
impenetrable clouds. What a reason for Israel to rejoice1
Jehovah's example motivates his modern-day servants to
imitate his mercy. They can do so by seeking to help erring ones-trymg to reestablish them spiritually if passib1e.-GaIatians 6:1,2.

The Climax of the Test of Godship

19 Jehovah now brings his legal argument to a powerful
climax. He is about to present his own answer to the severest test of Godship-the ability to foretell the future accurately One Bible scholar called the next five verses of
Isaiah chapter 44 a "poem of the transcendence of the
God of Israel," the one and only Creator, the sole Revealer of the future and Israel's hope of deliverance.The passage rises in a dramatic crescendo to the announcement
by name of the man who would liberate the nation from
Babylon.
20 '7his is what lehovah has said, your Repurchaser and
the Former of you from the belly: 'l, lehovah, am doing
everything, stretching out the heavens by myself, laying
out the earth. Who was with me? I am frustrating the
signs of the empty talkers, and I am the One that makes
diviners themselves act cmzily; the One turning wise men
18. (a) Why does Israel have reason to rejoice? (b) How can J e h e
vah's servants imitate his example of mercy today?
19, 20. (a) In what way does Jehovah bring his case to a climax?
(b) What heartwarming thlngs does Jehovah prophesy for his people, and who will be his agent to bring these things about?

The True God F~retellsnsliverance

71

backwards, and the One that turns even their knowledge

inta foolishness; the One making the word o f his servunt
come true, and the One that carries out completely the
counsel of his own messengers; the One saying of ferusa/em, "She will be inhabited, " and of the cities of fudah,
"Theywill be rebuilt, and her desalated places I shall raise
up"; the One saying to the watery deep, "Be wapomted;
and all your rivers I shall dry up"; the One saying of Cyrus,
"He is my shepherd, and all that I delight in he will cornpletely carry out";even in my saying of lerusalern, 'She
will be rebuilt," and o f the temple, "You will have your
foundation laid.'""-Isaiah #:24-28.
21 Yes, Jehovah has not only the ability to foretell future
events but also the power to carry out his revealed purpose in its entirety. This declaration will serve as a source
of hope to Israel. It is a guarantee that although the Babylonian armies will desolate the land, Jerusalem and her
dependent cities will rise again and true worship will be
reestablished there. But how?
22 Uninspired diviners usually dare not be too specific in their predictions for fear that time will prow them
wrong. By contrast, through Isaiah, Jehovah reveals the
very name of the man he will use to free his people from
captivity so that they can go home and rebuild Jerusalem
and the temple. His name is Cyrus, and he is known as
Cyrus the Great of Persia. Jehovah also gives details of the
sbategy that Cyrus will use to peneli-ate Babylon's massive and elaborate defense system. Babylon will be protected by hgh walk and by waterways that run through
and around the city. Cyrus will turn a main element of
21. What guarantee do Jehovah's words provide?
22. Describe how the Euphrates River evaporates.

72

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for AII Mullkind 71

that system-the Euphrates River-to his advantage. According to ancient historians Herodotus and Xenophon,
at a location upstream from Babylon, Cyrus diverted
the waters of the Euphrates until the level of the river dropped low enough for his soldiers to wade through.
As far as ih ability to protect Babylon is concerned, the
mighty Euphrates evaporates.
23 What about the promise that Cyrus will reIease God's
people and that he will see to it that Jeruralem and the
temple will be rebuilt? Cyrus himself, in an official proclamation preserved in the Bible, declares: "This is what
Cyrus the hng of Persia has said, 'All the kingdoms of the
earth Jehovah the God of the heavens has given me, and
he himself has commissioned me to build him a house
in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among
you of all his people, may his God prove to be with him.
So let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of Jehovah the God of Israel-he is the
true God-which was in Jerusalem.' " (Ezra 1:2, 3) Jehovah's word through Isaiah is completely fulfilled!

Isaiah, Cyrus, and Christians Today

24 The 44th chapter of Isaiah magnifies Jehovah as the
one true God and the Deliverer of h s ancient people.
Moreover, the prophecy has deep meaning for d l of us
today. Cyrus' decree to rebuild Jerusalem's temple, given in 5381537 R.C.E., set in motion events that culminated in the fulfillment of another remarkable prophecy.
Cyrus' deaee was followed by that of a later ruler, Arta23. What record exists of the fuldlllmentof the prophecy that Cyrus

would liberate Israel?

24. What relationship is there between the going forth o f Artaxerxes' command "to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem" and the coming
of the Messiah?

The Trite God Foretells Deliverance

73

xerxes, who decreed that the city of Jerusalem should be

rebuilt. The book of Daniel rweald that "from the going
forth of the word to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem [in
455 B.C.E.] until Messiah the Leader," there would be 69
"weeks" of 7 years each. (Daniel 9~24,25) This prophecy also came true. Right on schedule in the year 29 C.E.,
483 years after Artaxerxes' decree went into effect in the
Promised h n d , Jesus was baptized and began h s earthly
ministry.*
* Sep chapter 11 of the book Pay Attenlion to Daniel's Prophecy!, pubIished by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.

h i a h 5 PMphhy-Ugh t fbr All Mu n klnd II

ZThe release of loyal Jew fmm exlle, made possible

by the fall of Eabyion, fiomhadowed the release In 1919
of anointed Christians from spiritual exile. That release
was widace tbat mother Babylm, d d k d as a haI@, Babyhn the Great-a symbol af all the world's false
i d mIledhdy-had experienced a fall. As
fec6rded In the book of Revelatian, the apostle John
fomm her fall, (Rmdation 14.8) He also foresaw her
suddend - a
John's dadption of the destructl~n
of that idol-ladm mdd empire resembles in some w q s
Isaiah's d-on
of C p s ' successful cmquat of the
andent dty of Babylon. Just as Rabylon's protective wakmays Med rn s a w her horn Cprus, so the 'warns' of
mankindthat q p r t and protect Babylon the Great will
be WIed up" More she is justly &tqed.-Raelatlon
dgiofls v

16:UmW

perspectiver more than two-anda-hdf milllen~urnsafterIsaiah deliveped I-& prophecy, we can see
that God indeed "&s
oMt campletely the couszsel of
his m mes;sefqps." fWah 4426) The fulfillment of
Isaiah's p q h q B zfamfore an outstanding example
ofthe tmsiworthines ofdl the p p h e d a In the Holy
26 From our

v,
-

Seedkapkrs 35 and 36,af the book &whtlo+I3s Gmnd CNma~lAt

P m d , pubkhd by the Watcmwa BBk and lha Sod* of New
Yo&

25. What does the fslT of Babylon at Cyrus' baads polnt to In modem tlmes?
26. How does h a w s prophecy and its hWlment stmngrhen our
Wth?

C p w fuMIIs ptvphecy by diverting

the waters of the Euphmtar

CHAPTER SIX

Jehovah-"A Righteous
God and a Saviorp'
Isaiah 45:l-25

JEHOVAH'S promises are reliable. He is the God of revelation and the God of creation. Time and again he has
proved to be a righteous God and a Savior of people of all
nations. These are some of the heartwarming assurances
found in lsaiah chapter 45.
2 Ia addition, Isaiah chapter 45 contains a remarkable
example of Jehovah's prophetic ability. God's spirit enables Isaiah to gaze upon distant countries and to survey
events in centuries to come, and it mwes him to describe
an episode that only Jehovah, the God of true prophecy, could foretell with such accuracy. What is that event?
How does it affect God's people in Isaiah's day? What significance does it have for us today? Let us examine the
prophet's words.

Jehovah's Pronouncement Against Babylon

'This is what jehovah has said tu his anointed one, to
Cyrus, whose right hand I have taken hold of, to subdue
before him nations, so that I may ungird w e n the hips of
kings; to open before him the two-leaved doors, so that
wen the gates will not be shut 'Before you I myself shall
3

1, 2. What assurances are given in Isaiah chapter 45, and what questions will be considered?
3. With what vivid expressions does Isaiah 45:l-3a describe Cyrus'
conquest?

Jehovah-'iR Righteous God and

Savior"

77

go, and the swells of land I shall straighten out The copper doors I shall break in pieces, and the iron bars I shall
cut down. And I will give you the treasures in the darkness
and the hidden treasures' in the conceaime~r
t places.' "
-Isaiah 45:7 -3a.
4 Jehovah, through Isaiah, speaks to Cyrus as if he were
alive, although in Isaiah's day Cyrus has not yet been
born. (Romans 4:17) Since Jehovah appoints Cyrus in advance to accomplish a specific task, Cyrus can be said to
be God's "anointed one." With God leading him, he wilE
subdue nations, rendering kings weak and incapable of
resistance. Then, when Cyrus attacks Babylon, Jehovah
will see to it that the doors of the city are left open, rnaking them as useless as gates that have been shattered. He
will go before Cyrus, smoothing out all obstacles. In the
end, Cyrus' troops will conquer the city and take possession of its "hidden treasures," its wealth stored in dark
vaults. This is what Isaiah foretells, Do his words come
hue?

5 In the year 539 B.C.E.-some 200 years after Isaiah records this prophecy--Cyrus does indeed arrive at the walls
of Babylon to attack the city, (Jeremiah 51:11, 12) The
Babylonians, however, are not concerned. They feel that
their aty is unconquerable. Its towering walls loom over
deep moats filled with water from the Euphrates River,
which forms part of the city's defense system. For over a
hundred years, no enemy has been able to take Babylon
by storm! En fact, Babylon's ruIer in residence, Relshazzar,
feels so secure that he feasts with members of his court.
-

does Jehovah call Cyrus his "anointed one"? (b) Haw

will Jehovah ensure victory for Cyus?
5 , 6. When and how does the prophecy about the fa11 of Babylon
come true?
4. (a) Why

78

IsaiaIl's Prophecy-Lkht fur All Mrtttklnd 11

(Daniel 51) That night-the night of October S/h-Gyrus

completes a brilliant military maneuver.
6 Upstream h r n Babylon, Cyrus' engineers have cut
diverting Its wathrough the bank of the Euphrates
ters so that they no longer flow southward toward the
city.Before long, the water Iwcl of the river in and ari~und
Rabylon falls so low that Gyrus' troops are able to slosh
dong the riverbd toward the heart of the city. (Isaiah
4427; Jeremiah 50:38)Amazingly, just as Isaiah foretold,
the gates along the river arc open. Cynrs' forces swarm
into Babylon, take the palaceI and put King Belshazlar to
death. (Daniel 5:30)In one night the conquest ts at t over.
Babylon has fallen, and the prophecy is fulfilled to the letter*
7 The precise fulfillment of this prophecy strengthens
the falth of Christians today, It gives them strong rearon
to believe that Bible prophecies not yet Fulfilled are also
completely rellable. (2 Peter 1:20, 21) Jehwah's woxshipers know that the event foreshadowed by the fall of nabylon in 539 B.C.E.-the fall of "Babylon the Great"-already occurred back in 1919. Still, they look forward to the
destruction of that modernday religlaus organization as
well as the promised removal of the political system under Satan's control, the abyssing of Satan, and the corning of new heavens and a new earth, (Revelation 18:2,21;
19:19-21; 209-3,12,13;21:l-4)They know that Jehovah's
prophecies are, not empty promises, but descriptions of
definite, future evefie. The confidence af true Christians
is strengthened when they remember the fulfillment of
all the detaih of Isaiah's prophecy regarding the fall of
Hahylon. They know thatJehovahalways hfulflls
i his word.
7. How are Christianr, mengthened by the remarkable fulfillment ni

Isaiah's p q h q regarding Cyrus?

Jelrovoli-"A Rlk~litroi~s
God r t ~ dn Savlur *

79

Why Jchovah Will Favor Cyrus

8 Aftw stating who wlll conquer Babylon and how this
wlll he done, Jehovah goes on to explain one reason why Cyrus will be ~ v e nthe victory. Jehovah, prophetrcally speaklng to Cyrus, says that it is "in order that
yoti may know that 1 am /ehowh, the One calling you
by p u r name, the Cod of Esrael." (Isaiah 45:3b) It is fitting that the ruler of the fourth world p e r of Bible his
tory nxognizcs that his greatest victory comes as a result
of the support of one who is greater than he is-Jehovah,
the 'Universal Sovereign. Cyrus should acknowledge that
the onc who cat Is, or cornmisstons, him B Jehovah, the
God of Israel. The Bible record shows that Cyrus did indeed acknowledge that his great victory came fram Jeh*
vnh.-Fkra 1 2 , 3,
9 Jehwah explains the second reason why he brings Cyrus to conquer Bal~ylon:"For the sake ofmy servantlacob
and of Ismel my chosen one, !even proceeded to call you
by your name; I proceeded to give you a narne of honor,
although you did not know me." (Isaiah 45:4) Cyrus' victory over Babylon is earth-shattering, It marks the falI of
one world power and the ascent of another, and it leaves
Its mark on hlstory for generations to come. Yet, those
of the nations round about who are anxiously watching
events would likely bc astc~undedto know that it all hap
pens for the sake of a few thousand "insignifimnt" exIlcs in Babylon-the Jews,descendants of Jacob. 113Jehovah" eyes, however, these survivors of the ancient nation
of Israel aw far from insignificantThey are his "sewanLW

8. What Is one rearnn thatJehwah glvcs Cyms ~IctorywerhbyIon?

9. For what seconct reawn dws Jchovah bring Cyrur to mnquer Bab

ylon?

Clf all the nations of the earth, they arr his "cho.rcn onc."
Evcn though Cyrus previously dirl not know Jchc~vnh,hc
IF l~?e,edIy Jchovah as I-lis anointed nnc to o v ~ r t h r o ~tlir
u
city that refused to give up itr ciiptivrs. It is nrll I;otl'a ~ u r lwvc that his chosen people 1an~uil;hforcvur rrrl fnrcli~n
stlil.
10 Thcrc is a third, even more irnpor tiint IViISoII why Jchov;ih user Cyrus to overthrow Ral,ylon. Jcl~ovahsays: "I
am lehovah, and there is no one else. Wlth the exception
of me there is no God. I shall closelygird yair, althouglr you
have not known me, in order that peapte may know from
the rising of the sun and from itE setting that [here ir none
berides m
e
.I om lehovah, and there is no one else." (/soioh 45:5, 6 ) Yes, the fall of the Babyloniihn Worlcl I1nwcrI5
n cle~nnnrtration
of Jehovah'sGod~hip,proof ro cvvryone
that he alone is worthy of worship. 1iec;luse Gad's pcoplc
are relcascd, individuals from many nations-from c i ~tn
t

10. Wllt~t1s the moqt important Rilron why lehnvah u u (~; v r i i > hj
Iwltig almut Lhe end of the i3abylonidn Wr~rldPowur?

Jehovah, who forms Iight end

creates darkness, con make

peace and create calamity

wmt-will come to a c k n o w l c t l ~that

~ J~hovahir the only
true God.-Malachi 1: 1 1 .
11 Remember that this prophecy of Isalah w a ~
rrcolulcd
some 200 years before Zhc ctcnt. Upon 11c;lring it sorne
may have won~l~'m2,
'I)oe%lelinvnh truly hnvc Itw power
to 13Iftll it?' history tcytifirs, thr i1nswr.r i\yes. Jehovah
explains why it is rensflnehle lo hrl irw 1hat l ~ c;in
c occomplish what he says: "Forming light and creating darkness,
making pecrce and creating ctrfamlty, I, lehovah, am doing alE these things." (Isabh 4 5 7 ) I<v:vcrylhitil: in crcation
-From light to darkness-ilr~cl cv~rythingi n history-hm
peace to calamity-is sulsjecl to .lehcwah's coutrol.just as
he creates the Bight of day and thu tlarkncs~of night, so
he will make peace for lsracl and calamity for Bnllylon,
Jehovahhas the powcr to mate the ~~niverw,
and he also
has the power to tuEhll hir prophrrlcs. 'llrnt is reaqsuring
to Christians today, who closely study hls prophetic word.
17. How does Jel~ovnhtltu~tratcthat hc h ; ~ s t l ~ cp o w r to Fulfill hls
Ilurpose regarding Babylr~n?

12R ~ I yJehovah
r
uses events that regularly o n r i
n
mation to Illustrate things th?t await the captive Jews:
''0 you heavens, touse a *ping h m ahme; and kt the
cloudy s k i s ern^^ trickle with dghteou5jna. Let the
earth open up, snd let it be hiiful wiih mfwHmf and kt
it cause righ-ess
belf to spring up at the m s time
1 q s d t jebfumh, hove mufe fed it." (Isulah 458) Just as
the Iibal heavens c a w life-giving rain to fall, Jehovah
will cause righteous influencesto s h m e r from the:figurative h e m upan his ~
kAnd.
just as the literal earth
opens to producebountiful hawits?Jehovahwill 4 an
the W a t i v e earth ta pruduce events in harmany w'ith
his @hkous p u r p m ~sdvatlon
s ~ ~for his captive
people i
nEWyh, In I-, Jehovah caused ?leavenYand
"earth1'to produse mmts in a similar way in order b lib&ate his peopIe, Seeing such things causes Christian5 today to rejoice. Why? k a m e those events strengthen
their faith ae they look f a m d to the time when the figurative heavens, God's Kingdom, will bring blesings to a
Qhteous eath. At t b t time the nghteausnes and $aIvation coming forth from the @mdve heavens and earth
will be on a far grander scale than when andent Babylon
was overthrown. What a gloriom final fulfilheritof Isiah's w a d i thatwilI be!-2 Peter 3:l$ Rmlatian 21:l.

Blessing From Recognizing

JeBovah's Sovereignty
13 After this desdrp'tion of htue joyful blessings, the
tone of t h e pr~pheqd x q p abruptly3and I a a h pronounces a double woe: "Woe to the one that
wnM [a) What dms Jehouab cause the fipatlw heawns dnd earth

to pmduw? &I Whatdottingptwlltse do the

contain fmChri$ths today?'

of Isaiah 438

13: Why is it ridiculous for humans to chal1engeJehmahfspqme8P

Juhovah-"A Rlgkteous God aad a Savbr"

selfhaw mused up someone In righmusness, and 011 his

ShouId CHScardedscraps oigottery question

fhe wisdom of thdr moker?

portraythe abmd@ofsuch objecttans, bafah compares

objectorsto discardedlump of clay and scraps of pottery
that would dm to qwtlan the wlsdorn of their maker. The wry thing the potter h formed b now stating
that the potterhas no hands or pow m form. How foolIshl The obj-m
are like little children daring to crlUcize their parer&' authoriQ.
14 Isaiah gives Jehovah's reply ta such ob]ectors: #Thh
Is what j d m d has said, the Holy One of lsmd and
~C*oJmerofhirn:'Askmeewnabauttkt#ngsthat
am comkrg concerning my sons; and ctmcemlng the ucW a f my hcmdr p u people shwhi c o m m d me, I myself haw mOd& the mrth and haw makd e w man
~
upon i t I--my own hands haw
out the hmvmst and the army of i k n I haw m m n k d . 1 my14, 15. What do ths w s l o n s "the
m e a l abwt J e h M

ways I shall stmighten out He is the one that wlfl buId

my ciw, and those of mine In edk he will h?t go, not ibr a
p k e nor hr b r l e , ' jehovPh of armies has said,"--lwI& 45:f 7-13,
1s Dsdblng Jehovah as "the Holy One" stresses his
sanctity. Calling hlm "the Former" emphasizes his right
as the Creator to dedde how things will m&out. Jehovah is able to Inform the sons of Israel about things to
come and w take care of his handiwoilc, that is, his
ple. Once agaln the prlndples of creation and revelation
are shown to be related. As the Creator of the endre uniw e , Jehovah has the right ta guide m r s in the way
he deckla, (1 Chronfcles 29:11,12) In the msebeing discussed,the S m d g n Ruler has decided to raiseup Cynrs,
a heathen, as liberabar of f srael. Gyms' coming, although
st111 future, is as certain as the cdstence ofheaven md
earth. Which son of Israel, then, wuId dare m crltidze

the Father, tlJehcnrmhofarmla"?

I6 These w e verses of Isaiah contain yet anofher reason why God's sewants should subject t h m e . 1 t~o
him. His decisions are always ln the b a t fntepests of his
servants, uob 36:J) He made laws to help his people
benefitthernselm, (Isalah 48:17) The Jews in Cgrus' day
who accept Jehovah's sowdgnty h d this to be m e .
Cyru~,actfng in harmony with Jehovah's righteousness,
sends them home from Babylon so that theytebulld
the temple. (Ezra 63-51 Wewise todayI bieisings are experienced by those who apply W ' s laws in their aly liws and who submit to his sopereignty.-Psalm 1:1-3;
197; 119:lOS; John8:31,32.

M y One" md "the Former

16. Why should Jrhovbh's scrvmts sublect themsdm to htm?

86

Isalah's P~ophecy-Llght for All Monkltlli I1

Blessings for Other Nations

17 Israel will not be the only nation to benefit from the
fall of Babylon. Isaiah says: '73;s is what jehowh has said:
7he unpaid laboreo of Egypt and the merchants of Ethiopia and the Sabeuns, toll men, will themselves come over
even to p u , and yours they will become. Behind you they
will walk; in fefters they will come over, and to you they
will bow down. Ta p they will pscry, sayingI "Indeed Cod
is in union with p u , and Sfrere is no one else; there is no
other Cod."'
" Clsoioh 45: 743 In Moses' clay, "a vast mixed
company" ofnon-Isdites accompaniect the IsmcIites on
their Exodus from Egypt. (Exodus 7237, 38) In a sfmIIa t way, foreigners will accompany the Jewlsh exiles who
return home from BabyIon. 'Ihese nan-Jays will not he
forced to go but "wiIl themselves come over." When Jehovah says, "to you they will bow down" and "to you they
wLU pray,"he is referring to the willing subjection and allegiance shown to Israel by these foreigners, If they wear
fetters, it will be in a voluntary sense, signifying their willingness to serve God's covenant people, to whom thcy
will say: "God is in union with you."They will worship Jelrovah as proselytes, under the provisions of his covenant
with Israel.-Isaiah 56:6.
18 Since 1919 when "the Israd of Gad" was released
from spiritual captivityI Isaiah's words have had a greater
fulfillment than in Cyrus' day. Millions earth wide show
a willingness to serveJehovah.(Galatians 6:14; Zechariah
8:ZJ) Like the "laborers"and "themerchants"mentioned
by Isaiah, they cheerfully oEer their physical strength and
17. Beides Israel, who will benefit from Jehovah's savin~acts, and

how?
18. Who today have bendted from Jehovah's Ilkratlng "the Israel
nf God,'' and in what ways?

finandal resources t.o support true worship. (Matthew

25:34-40; Mark 12:3Q)They dedicate themselves to God
and walk In his paths, gladly becoming his slaves. (Luke
923)They worship only Jchovah, enjoying the benefits
sf as so cia tin^ with Jehovah's"faithful and discreet slave,"
who ;~rcin a special covenant relationship with God.
(Mntth~w24:45-47; 262% Hebrews 8:R13) W h i not
participants in that covenant, those 'laborers" and "merchants" benefit from It and obey the laws associated with
It, l>aldly proclaiming: "There is no other Goci." How
thrilling to b e eyewitnesses today of the grand increase in
the ntrrnber of such willing supporters of true worship!
-[salah 60:22.
19 After the dlsctasure that people of the nations will
join In worshiping Jchovah,the prophet exclaims: " T d y
you are o Cod keeping yourself concealed, the God of Isme/,a Savior"! (Isablr 45: 15) Although Jehovah refrains
from showing his power at present, in the futute he will
no longer lzitle himself. I-le wlll show hlrnself ta be the
God of Israel, the Savlor of his people. Homer, Jehovah will not be the Savior of those who trust in idols. Of
such ones Isalah says: "They will certainly be ashamed and
m n be humiliated, ail of them. Together in hurniJiation
the manufacturers of idol forms will hove 30 walk." (Isaiah
45:76) Their humiliation will be more than a temporary
scnsc of disgracc and shame. It will mean death-the o p
posite 05 what Jehovahnext promises Tsrael.
20 "As for Israel, he wlll certuinly be w d In union with
Jehovah with a sulvution for times indefinite. You
people will not be osbumed, nor will you be humiliated
19. What wlll happen to those who Insist on worshiping idols?
20. In what way will Isrikcl cxperlence "a salvation lot times indefitltte"?

88

Isaiah's Prophecy-Lifht for AII Mankind I1

for the indefinite times of eternity" (Isaiah 45: 77)Jehovah

promises eternal salvation for Israel, but this Is conditional. Israel must remain "in union with Jehovah." When Israel breaks that union by rejechng Jesus as the Messiah,
the nation will lose its prospect of "salvation for times indefmte." Hawwer, some in Israel will exercise faith in Jesus, and these wiIl become the nudeus of the Israel of
God, which will take the place of fleshly Israel. (Matthew
Z1:43;Galatians 3:28, 29; 1Peter 2 9 ) Spiritual Israel will
never be humiliated. It will be taken into "an everlasting
covenant."-Hebrews 13:20.
In Creation and in Revelation,
Jehovah Is Reliable
21 Can the Jews rely on Jehovah'spromise of eternal salvation for Israel? Isaiah answers: ' 7 l i s is what jehovah
has said, the Creator of the heavens, He the true God,
the Former of the earth and the Maker of it, He the One
who firmly established it, who did not create it simply for
nothing, who formed it even to be inhabited: 'I am Jehovah, and there is no one else. In a place of concealment I
spoke not, in a dark place of the earth nor said / to the
seed o f lacob# "Seek me simply for nothing, you people."
i am jehovah, speaking what is righteous, telling what
is upright'" (Isaiah 45:18, 19) For the fourth and final
time in this chapter, Isaiah opens a weighty prophetic
passage with the phrase: "This is what Jehovah has said."
(Isaiah 45:1,11, 14) What does Jehovah say? That both
in creation and in revelation, he is reliable. He did not
create the earth "simply for nothing." Likewise, he does
not ask his people, Israel, to seek him "simplyfor noth21. How does Jehovah show himself completely reliable in creation
and in revelation?

Jehovah-*A Righteous God lanil o Snvior*

89

ing." Just as God's purpose for the earth will he carried

out, so God's purpose for his chosen people will be carried out. In contrast with the obscure utterances of those
who serve false gods, Jehovah's words are openly spoken.
His words are just, and they will come true. Those who
serve him will not serve him in vain.
22 For God's exiled people in Babylon, those words are
an assurance that the Promised Land will not remain
desolate. It Mrlll be reinhabited And Jehovah's promises
to them come true. By extension, Isaiah's words are an
assurance to God's people today that the earth will not
22. (a) Of what can the Jews exiled In Babylon be sure? (b) What

assurance do Christians today have?

90

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind II

become a desolate ruin-charred by fire, as some believe,

or destroyed by nuclear bombs, as others fear. God purposes that the earth will remain forever, robed in paradisaic beauty and populated by righteous inhabitants.
(Psalm 37:11, 29; 115:16; Matthew 6:9,10; Revelation 21:
3,4) Yes, as in Israel's case, Jehovah's words will prove reliable.

Jehovah Extends His Mercy

23 The salvation of Israel is emphasized in Jehovah's
next words: "Collectyourselves and come. Bring yourselves
up close together, you escapees from the nations. Those
carrying the wood of their carved image have not come to
any knowledge, neither have those praying tu a gad that
cannot save. Make your report and your presentation. Yes,
let them consult together in unity. Who has caused this to
be heard from a tong time ago? Who has reported it from
that wry time? is it not E, jehovah, besides whom there
is no other God; a righteous God and a Savior, there being none excepting me?" (Isaiah 45:20,2 1 ) Jehovah sum-

mons the "escapees" to compare their salvation with what

happens to those who worshp idols. (Deuteronomy 30:3;
Jeremiah 2994; 50:28)Because idolaters pray to and serve
powerIess gods that cannot save them, they "have not
come to any knowledge." Their worship is in vain-simply for nothing. Those who worship Jehavah, however,
find that he has the power to bring about events that he
foretold "a long time ago," including the salvation of his
exiled people in Babylon. Such power and foresight set Jehovah apart from all other gods. Truly, he is "a righteous
God and a Savior."
23. What: is the outcome for those who worship idols, and how do

those who worship Jehovah fare?

Jehnvah-"A Righteous God and a Savior"

91

"Salvation We Owe ta Our Godr'

24 Jehovah's mercy moves him to extend an invitation:
'Turn to me and be saved, all you at the ends of the earth;
for I am God, and there is no one else. By my own self I
have sworn--out of my own mouth in righteousness the
word has gone forth, so that it will not return-that to
me every knee will bend down, every tongue will swear,
saying, 'Surely in lehovah there are full righteousness and
strength. All those getting heated up against him will
come stmight to him and be ashamed. In jehovcrh all the
seed of lsrael will prove to be right and will boast about
themselves.' "-lsaiah 4522-25.
2s Jehovah promises Israel that he will save those in
Babylon who turn to him. Failure of his prophecy is an
impossibility because Jehovah has both the desire and
the ability to rescue h s people. (Isaiah 55:ll) God's
words are reliable in themselves, but they are all the
more so when Jehovah adds his oath to confirm them,
(Hebrews 6:13) He rightfully requires submission ("every
knee will bend down") and commitment ("every tongue
will swear1')on the part of those d~siringhis favor. 'She
Israelites who persevere in worshiping Jehovah will be
saved. They will be able to boast of what Jehovah docs for
them.-2 Corinthians 10:17.
26 God's invitation to turn to him, however, is not limited to the exiles in ancient Babylon. (Acts 14:14,15; 15:19;
1Timothy 2 3 , 4) This invitation is still going out, and
-

24, 25. (a) What invitation does Jehovah extend, and why is his
promise sure of fulfillment? (b) What does Jehovah rightfully require?
26. How are ''a great crowd" from all nahons responding to Jehovah's invitation to turn to him?

92

isaiah's Proph~cy-Ltqht for AII Mfln k l ~ ~II d

"a great crowd . . . out of all nations" respond and proclaim: "Salvationwe owe to our God. and to thc Lamb
Uesus]." (Revelation 73, 10; 154) Every year, hundreds
of thousands of new ones swell the mat crowd by turning to God, fully recognEng his sovereignty and puhlicly
declaring their allegiance to him, In addition, they loyally support spiritual Israel, the 'seed of Abraham.' (Galatians 329) They express their love far Jehovah's rlghteous mIe by prodaiming idw wide: "Surely in Jehovah
there are fuIl righteousness and stren#h."* In his letter
to the Romans, the apostle Paul quoted the SepfimflL@nt
rendering of Isaiah 45:23 to show that eventually everyone alive wit! acknowledge God's sovereignty and wi t1
praise his name continually.-Romans 14:11; I1hilippians
2:9-11; Rwelafion 21322-27.

CHAPTER SEVEN

..

Wily can members of the great crowd trust that turning to God means salvation? Because Jehovah's promises
are reliable, as the prophetic words found In Isaiah chapter 45 so clearly show. Just as Jehovah had the power and
wisdom to create the heavens and the earth, so he has the
power and wisdom to cause his prophecies ta come true.
And just as he saw to it that the prophecy concerning Cyrus came m e , so he will fulfill any other njble prophecy that still awaib fulfillment. Worshipers of Jehovah,
therefore, can be coddent that soon Jehovah will again
prove to be "a rightmus God and a Savior."
27

* The Xelv World Tmnsfutionus= the expwsslon "fi~El

rlght'cnurncc;~"
because the Hebrew text has the word "righteot~sncsses"
In the plural form. The plural is here used to expresr the abundant dcgrcc ol Ichovah's righteousness.

27. Why can Christians m

a
y haw absolute trust In Jehovah's pmmInes?

Return to the
Worship of Jehovah
WHEN Israel is exiled In Babylon, she will be surround4 l~lyfnlsc worship, D u r i n ~
Isaiah's time, Jehovah'speu
ple are atill in their own land, and they have the temple
and the prt~.sthootl.Yet, many of God's dedicated nation have mccurnbed to idolatsy. It is vital, then, ta prepare them In aclvance so that they will not be w m w e d
by the falsc gods of Babylon or tempted to serve them.
Hence, speaking pmpht?tlcally of two of the main Babylonian gods, Isaiah says: "Be1has bent down, Nebo is stoopIng over; their Idols haw come to be for the wild beasts
and for the domestic animals, thelr loads, pieces of luggage, a burden For the tlred animals," (Isaiah 46:l) Be1
is the chief Idol god amon8 the Chaldeans, Nebo is venerated as a god of wlsdnm and learning. The respect that
many have l'or these two gods is seen by the fact thattheir
names are incorporated into a number of pesonal names
uf Aabyloniws-Relsl~arzar,N~hopolassar,Nebuchadnezzar, and NtBhrrzaradan,to mention just a few.
2 Isaiah says that Re! has "bent down" and N e b is
"stooping over." These false gods will be laid low. When
Jehovah brings his judgment am against Babylon, these
1. What are the names oftwo af Babylon" principal gods, and what
Is fnrctold ahnut them?
2. How IS thc hclplcwness of Rabylonbsgods emphasized?

'
I

gods will be unable to come to the aid of theh worshipers, They WU1 n& wen be able to saw themselvesI
Bel and Nebo wlll no longer be cartfed In the honored
place in processions, such as durlng the Babylonian New
Year'sDay w a l . Instead, they will haw to be carred off
like wmmon luggap by those who worship them. Pr&e
and adoratlon of them will glw way to derlsion and conmpt.
3 What a shock for the Babylonians to learn that their
cherished idols are no more than a burden to be arr*d off by tired beasts1 S h i h l y today, the world's gods
-the thhgs in which people put their trust md hwhose
behalf they expend their energy and even g k their
lives-are an illuston. Wealth, armaments, pl-,
rdem,the folthehd or symbols thereof, and many other
thing haw come b be objem of devotion. The anpiness d such gods wiif be exposed tn Jehovah'sdue the.
-Daniel 11:38; Matthew 694; Acts 12:22; mulllppiarts
3:19; Colossians 3:s;kmlaflon 13:14,15,
4 W e t Mgh&htQ the utter fail= of Babylon's
gods, the prophwy cantinurn %ey must s&op wet
they must each dik bend down; thw urn dm& unabk
to hrnM escape Ibr the burden, brcE hto c a p w the+
own soul must go,' (Isahh 469)Babylon's gods seem to
"stoop ovu" and "bend down' as if wounded in battle
or d q i t wlth age. They cannot men lighten the logd
or furnish escape fior the lowly beasts that a n y them So,
should Jehovah'scuvmant people, even though capthe

3. (1)mt WUshock the Babylonians? (b)What can be learned w

day from whet happened m B m s gods?
4. In what wnse do Babylon's gods #stoop owf d "bend down"?

BabyIon's gods do not protect her h m dertnrc~on

96

isainh'r Prophecy-Light far All Munkind I1

in Dabylon, give any honor to them? No! In a similar way,

Jehovah's anointed servants, even when in spirituaI captivity, gave no honor to the false gods of "Babylon the
Great," which were unable to prevent her fa11 in 1919 and
will be unable to save her fsom the caImity that will befall her during the "great bibulation."-Revelation 18:2,
21; Matthew 24%.
5 True Christians today do not bow down to idols of any
kind. (1 John 5:21$ Crucifixe5, prayer beads, and images
of saints do not make the Creator more accessible. They
cannot intercede in our behalf. In the first century, Jesus
taught his disciples the proper way to worship God when
he said: "I am the way and the m t h and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it."-John 14:6,14.

"Carried From the Womb"

Having exposed the vanity of worshiping Babylon's
idol gods, Jehovah says to his people: "Listen to me,
0 house o ffacob, and all you remaining ones of the house
of Ismel, you the ones conveyed by me from the belly, the
ones carried from the womb." (Isaiah 46:3) What a difference there i s between Jehovah and the graven images
of Babylon! Babylon's gods can do nothing for their worshipers. If they are to move, they have to be carried by
some beast of burden. In contrast, Jehovah has been carrying his people. He has sustained them "from the
womb," from the time when the nation was formed.
Warm memories of being carried by Jehovah shouId encourage the Jews to shun idol worship and to place their
trust in him as their Father and Friend.

5 . How do Christians today avoid repeating the m~stakesof the idolworshiping Babylonians?
6. How i s Jehovah differat from the gods of the nations?

I
Il

Return to the W o r ~ h i poflehoval~

7 Jehovah has further tender words for hjs people: "Even
to one's old age I am the same One; and to one's grayheadedness i myself shall keep bearing up. I myself shall
certainly act, that I myself may curry and that I myself
may bear up and furnish escape." (Isaiah48:4) Jehovah's
care for his people overshadows that of the most attentive human parent. As children grow up, parents may feel
less and less responsibility toward them. When the parents grow old, the children often care for them. Tt is never
like that with Jehovah. He never stops caring for his human children-even in their old age. God's worshipers today trust and Iove their Creator and find great comfort in
these words of Isaiah's prophecy. They need not be anxious about the remaining days or years that they have
to spend in this system of things. Jehovah promises to
"keep bearing up" those who are advanced in years, giving them the needed sbe~qth
to endure and remain faithful. He will carry them, strengthen them, and furnish escape.-Hebrews 6:10.

Beware of Modern-Day Idols

8 Imagine the disappointment in store for the Babylonians who put their eust in idols, which will pmve to be
completely useless! Should Israel believe that those gods
are to be compared to Jehovah? Of course not. Rightly, Jehovah asks: '70whom will you people liken me or make
me equal or compare me that we may resemble each other?" (Isaiah 46:s) How inexcusable that some of Isaiah's
fellow countrymen have turned to the worship of speechless, lifeless, and helpless statues! For a nation that knows
7, How is Jehovah's tender care for his worshipers even greater than
the care of human parents for the~rchildren?
X. What inexcusable sin have some of Isaiah's fellow countrymen
commitkd?

1
1

Return to tire Worship afjchova h

Jehrwah, relying on lifeless, defensda images ma& by

h
m hands is fmllsh indeed.
9 Consider the empty-headed,mmningof idol worshipers. The prophecy continues: %em m those who are
M i r y out the gold liom the purse, and wltfi fha scuk
beam they weigh out the dhr. They him a metrrIwrCcer,
and he makes It Inb a god, Fhey prostrate themseks, yes,
they bow dowfi.'' (Iwlah46:d) k If an expensive idol had
p k r saving power than one made of wood, worshipers
spare no expense in bullding their deity, StJIl, no matter
how much effort isexpended or how mstly the materials,
a IiMess Idol remalns a Iifelas idol, nothing more.
lo m
e
r highlighting the foolishness of idol warship,
the prop*
continues: r h q r carry It upon the shwIdevI
&qkritanddepvsft#inItspke thatltmaysiandstiII.
Fmrn its standing place it d m not mow away, One ewn
vies out to it but it does not answer; out of one's dIr&u
it does not s w e one," (IsuIah46:7) How ridiCU10~~
to pray
to an image that lacks the ablllty either to hear or to act?
The pwelt describes the uselessness of such o b
pA of worship: Their idols are silver and gold, the work
of the hands of adding man. A mouth they have, but
they cannot speak; eya they have, but they cannot see;
earsUley~,butthqcannothear.AnmeUley~,
but they cannot smell. Hands are theirs, but they cannot
W. Feet are theirs, but they mnnot walk; they utter no
somd with th& thmt Those maldng them will b m e
just kthwn, all those who are trusthg fnthem!'-Psatm
1lk4T4,
9. D e s d x the euqq-heded ~monlng
of some Idol wotshlpers.
10. Haw i s the absolute futlllty of Idol worship &ctlbed?

O t n s t i . N today must bewarn of r n o d m d y ldolr

100

Isaiah's I'ropllecy-.L/,pht for All Mr~)tki~rri

Ii

"Muster up Courage"
11 Having demonstrated the futiIity of idol worship, Jchwah now gives his people reasons why they should
serve him: "Remember this, that you people may muster up coumge. Loy it to heoe you transgressors. Remember the first things of a long time ago, that I am the Divine One and there is no other God, nor anyone like me."
(lsalah 46:8, 9 ) Those who waver between true worship
and idolatry should rem~mberhistory. They shoulcl hear
in mind the things Jehovahhas done. This will help thcm
nurter up courage and do the right thing. It will help
them return to worshiping Jehovah.
12 This encouragement is still needed today. Like the ESraelltes, sincere Christians have to fight against temptations and their own imperfections. (Romans 7:21-24)In
addition, they are locked in a spiritual battlc 14th an uasecn but Immensely powrful enemy, The apostlc Paul
says: "We have a wrestling, not against blood and flesh,
but against the gavernments, against the authorftles,
against the world rulers of this darkness, against thc wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places."-Ephesians 6:12.
1:l Satan and his demons will stop a t nothinl: to turn
Christians aside from true warship. To wage a succcssEul fight, Christians need to follow Jehovah's counsel and
muster up courage. How? The apostle Paul explains: "Put
on the complete sait of armor from God that you may
be aRIe to stand firm against the machinilhons of the
WC\rll.n Jehovah does not send his servantr in to battle illequipped. Their spiritual armor jncludes "'thclarge shield
of faith, with rvhch [they] will be able to quench all the

11. What will help those m-ho waver to 'rnustcr up murap"?

12, 13. What struggles are Christians caught up In, and how can
they come off viaorious?

1I

H ~ t ~ l l ' ttol 1 / 1 1 '

W~lrsl!lp
o/ j t ' i ~ o v r ~ l ~

wlckecl one's hurnlng missiles." (Ephesians 6:11, 26) The

Ism~likc~
wclr transgressors hecarisc they Ignored the spirttunl prwisic~nsthat Jehovah had rnoclr for them. If they
had rellectcd on the powerful
that Jehovah repeatedfy pcrft,rmed In their hchalf, they would nwer hwe
turnctl tu disgusting Idol worship. May we learn from
their cxiimplc nrld he dotcrmincd nwer to waver in the
C i ~ h to
t do what 3s right.-1 Corinthians 10:ll.
Muster up courage
to do what b right

102

Isaiuln's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind U

14 Jehovah is "the One telling from the beginning the finale, and from long ago the things that have not been
done; the One saying, 'My own counsel wilE stand, and
everything that is my delight I shall do.'" (Isaiah 46: 10)
What other god can compare to Jehovah in this regard?
The ability to predict Me future is an outstanding proof of
the Creator's Godship. However, it takes more than foresight to ensure the fulfillment of thngs that are foretold.
The declaration "my own counsel will stand" sfresses the
unchangeableness of God's established purpose. Since Jehovah has unlimited power, nothing in the universe can
prevent him from accomplishing his wdl. (Daniel 4:35)
Therefore, we can be certain that any prophecies that arc
yet to be fulfiIled will indeed come true in God's due
time.-Isaiah 55:ll.
15 A sbiking example of Jehovah's ability to faretell future events and then bring about the fulfillment of his
words is next drawn to our attention by Isaiah's prophecy:
'me One calling from the sunrising a bird ofprey, from a
distant land the man to execute my counsel. I have even
spoken i t I shall also bring it in. I have formed it, I shall
also do it''
(Isaiah 46: 7 1 ) As "the One telling from the beginning the finale," Jehovah God will shape the circumstances in human affairs in order to carry out his counsel.
He will call Cyrus "from the sunrising," or Persia in the
east, where Cyrus' favorite capital, Pasargadae, will be. Cyrus will be like "a bird of prey," pouncing suddenly and

unexpectedly upon Babylon.

16 The certainty of Jehovah's prediction concerning Bab14. To what ability does Jehovah point in order to show that he is
the only true God?
15. What remarkabIe example of Jehovah's ability to foretcll the future is drawn to our attention?
16. How does Jehovah confirm the certainty of his prediction concermng Babylon?

Return to the Worship of Jehovah

103

ylon is confirmed by the words, "I have even spoken it;

I shall also bring it in." While imperfect man is prone to
make impulsive promises, the Creator never fails to fulfill
his word. Because Jehovah Is the God "who cannot lie,"
we can be certain that if he has "formed it," he will "also
do it."-Titus 1:2.

Faithless Hearts
17 Once again, Jehovah prophetically turns his attention
to the Babylonians, sayng: "Listen to me, you the ones
powerfui at heart, you the ones far away from righteousness." (Isaiah 46:72) The expression "the ones pmerful at heart" describes those who are stubborn and confirmed in their opposition to the will of God. Without a
doubt, the Babylonians are far away from God. Their Ratred for Jehovah and his people moves them to destroy
Jerusalem and its temple and to carry its inhabitants into
exile.
18 Today those with skeptical and unbelievjng hearts
stubbornly refuse to lirten to the Klngdorn message,
which is being preached in all the inhabited earth. (Matthew 24:14) They do not want to acknowledge Jehovah
as the rightful Sovereign. (Psalm 83:18;Revelation 4 : l l )
With hearts "far away from righteousness," they resist
and oppose his will. (2 Timothy 39-5) Like the Babylonians, they refuse to listen to Jehovah.

God's Salvation Will Not Be Late

19 The closing words of Isaiah chapter 46 highlight aspects of Jehovah's personality: "1 hove brought near my
17, 18, Who can be described as "ones powerful at heart" (a) in ancient times? (b) today?
19 In what way will Jehovah perform an act of righteousness for Is-

rael?

204

Isaioh's Prophecy-Llxht for All Mankind II

righteousness. It is not far away, and my own salvation

will nof be late. And I will give in Zion salvation, to Isme1 my beauty" (Isaiah 46:13) God's liberation of Israel
will be an act of righteousness. He will not allow his people to linger in exiIe. Zlon's salvation wdl come at the appropriate time, it "wdl not be late." Following their release

from captivity, the Israeliteswill become a spectacle to the

nations round about. Jehovah's deIiverance of his nation
will be a testimony to his saving power. The uselessness of
Babylon's gods Bd and Nebo will be exposed for all to see,
their impotence revealed.--1 hngs 18:39, 40.
20 Tn 1919,Jehovah brought about the release of his people from spiritual captivity. He was not late. That event,
as well as the events in ancient times when Babylon fell
to Cyrus, encourages us today. Jehovah has promised to
bring an end to this wicked system of things, including its false worship. (Revelation 19:1, 2, 17-21) baking
at things from a human standpoint, some Christians may
feel that their salvation has been delayed. However, Jehovah's exercise of patience unbl his own due time to futW that promise is really an act of righteousness. After all,
"[Jehovah] does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance." (2 Peter 3 9 ) Be assured, therefore, that just as in the days of ancient Israel,
"salvation will not be late." Indeed, as the day of salvation draws closer, Jehovah lovingly continues to extend
the invitation: 'Search for Jehovah, you people, while he
may be found. Call to him while he proves ta be near. Let
the wicked man leave his way, and the harmful man his
thoughts; and let h m return to Jehovah, who will have
mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will forgive in a
large way."-Isaiah 55x5, 7.

CHAMER EIGHT

False Religion-Its
Dramatic End Foreseen
Isaiah 47:l-15

"RELIGION Makes a Corneback." That was the message

proclaimed by an article in The New York Times Magazine.The article indicated that religon still seems to have
a t~naciousgrip on the hearts and minds of millions of
people. Et may therefore be difficult to believe that a radical change in the world's religious dimate is about to take
place. But such a change is indicated in the 47th chapter
of Isaiah.
2 Isaiah's words were fulfilled 2,500 years ago. However, the words recorded at Isaiah 428 are quoted in the
book of Revelation and given a future application. There
the Bible foretells the end of the harlotlike organization
called "Babylon the Greatn-the world empire of false religion. (Revelation 16:19)The designation "RabyIon" for
the false religions of the world is appropriate, since it was
in ancient Babylon that false religon got its start. From
there it spread to the four corners of the earth. (Genesis 11:l-9) Religious doctrines that originated in Babylon,
such as the immortality of the soul, hellfire, and the worship of triune gods, axe shared by virtually all religions,
-

1, 2. (a) Why does it seem unlikely to some that there will soon be
a radical change in the world's religious climate? (b) How do we know
thatthe words of Isaiah chapter 47 have a future application? (c) Why
Is "Babylon the Great" an appropriate designation for all false reli-

20. How can Christians bc sure that Jehovah's "salvation will not be
late"?

gion?

106

Isaiah's Prophecy-Ltqht for All M m ~ ~ k i t nIId

including Christendom." Does Isaiah's prophecy throw

any light on the future of religion?

Babylon Brought Down to the Dust

3 Listen to this stirring divine declaration: "Come down
and sit down in the dust, 0 virgin daughter o f Babylon.
Sit down on the earth where there is no throne, 0 daughter of the Chaldeans. For you will not experience again
that people call you delicate and dainty." (Isaiah 47: 1 )
For years Babylon has been enthroned as the dominating
world power. She has been "the decoration of kingdnms"
-a thriving religious, commercial, and military center.
(Isaiah 13:19)At Babylon's peak her empire extends as far
south as the border of Egypt. And when she defeab Jerusalem in 607 E.C.E., it seems that God himself is unable
to halt her conquests! Thus, she sees herself as a "virgin
daughter," one who will never suffer a foreign invasion."
4 However, this haughty "virgin" is to be knocked off
her throne as the undisputed world power and made to
'sit in the dust' in humiliation. (Isaiah 2 6 5 ) She will no
longer be considered "delicate and dainty," like a pampered queen. Jehovah thus commands: "Take hand mill
and grind out flour. Uncover your veil. Strip o f fthe flowing skirt Uncover the leg, Cross over the rivers." (Isaiah
47:2) After having enslaved the entire nation of Judah,
* For detailed information o n the development of false religious doctrines, see the book Mankind!$ Search f i r God, published by the

Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc.

*In Hebrew "virgin daughter of Babylon" is an idiom referring to
Babylon or the inhabitants of Babylun. She is "virgin" because she
has not been despoiled by a conqueror srnce she became a world
power.
3. Describe the greatness uf the Babylonian World Power.
4. What will Babylon experience?

False Religion-Its Dra?na tic End Foreseen

107

Babylon will now be treated as a slave herself! The Medes

and the Persians,who unseat her from her position of
power, wdl force her to do humiliating labor in their behalf.
5 Babylon mill thus be stripped of her "veil and flowing skrt,' losing every vestige of her former greatness
and dignity. "Cross over the rivers," her taskmasters will
command. Perhaps some Babylonians will actually be ordered to perform slavish outdoor labor. Or the prophecy may mean that some will literally be dragged across
rivers as they are taken into exile, In any event, Babylon
will no longer travel in the grand style of a queen who is
transported across a stream in a chair or by carriage. Instead, she will be l~kea slave who has to forsake modesty,
raising her skut and exposing her legs in order to wade
across a river. How humiliating!
6 Jehovah continues his taunt: "You ought to uncover your nakedness. Also, your reproach ought to be seen.
Vengeance is what i shall rake, and / shall not meet
any man kindly." (Isaiah 47:3)" Yes, Babylon will sufier shame and dishonor. The wickedness and cruelty she
perpebates against God's people will be openly exposed.
No human can head off God's vengeance!
"The Hebrew expression rendered "I shall not meet any man kindly"
has been descrjbed by scholars as "an extremely dificult phase" to
translate. The New World Tr~inslationinserts the word "kindly" so as
to convey the thought that no outsiders would be allowed to come to
Babylon's rescue. A translation by the Jewish Publication Society renders this cla~~se.
"I will . . . let no man intercede."
5 . (a) How will BabyIon be stripped of her "veil and flowing sKirt'7
(b) What may be indicated by the command for her to "cross over
the rivers"?
6. (a) In what sense will Babylon's nakedness be uncovered?
(b) How does God ldnntmeet any man kindly"? [See footnote.)

108

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All M~nkinciTI

7 After having been held captive in mighty Babylon for

70 years, God's people will rejoice greatIy at her fall.
They will cry out: 'mere is One repurchasing us. lehovah of armies is his name, the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah
4Z4) Under the Mosaic Law, if an Israelite sold himself
into slavery in order to pay of his debts, a repurchaser (a blood relative) could buy him, or repurchase him,
out of slavery. (kviticus 2547-54) Since the Jews will
have been sold into slavery to Babylon, they will need
to be repurchased, or set free. For slaves, conquest normally means little more than a change of masters. But
Jehovah will move conquering King Cyrus to release the
Jews from slavery. Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba will be given to Cyrus as "a ransom" In place of the Jews. (Isaiah
43:3) Appropriately, Israel's Redeemer is called "Jehovah
of armies." BabyIon's seemingly powerful military force
is puny when compared with Jehovah's invisible, angelic
hosts.

The Price of Cruelty

8 Jehovah resumes his prophetic denunciation of Eabylon: "Sit down silently and come into the durkness,
O daughter o f the Chaldeans; for you will not experience
agoin rhaE people call you Mistress of Kingdoms." (Isaiah
47:s)There will be nothing but darkness and gloom for
Babylon. No longer will she dominate other kingdoms as
a cruel mistress.-Isaiah 14:4.
9 Why is Babylon allowed to harm God's people in the
first place? Jehovah explains: "I grew indignant at my

7. (a) How will Jewish exiles respond to the news of BabyIon's fall?
(b) In what way will Jehovah repurchase his people?
8. In what sense will Babylon "come into the darkness"?
9. Why does Jehovah become indignant at the Jews?

False Religion -Its Drarnah'c End Foreseen

109

people. I profaned my inheritance, and I proceeded to

give them into your hand." {lsaiah 4Z6a) Jehwah has
good reason to be indignant at the Jews. Formerly, he
warned them that disobedience to his Law would result in their expulsion from the land. (Deuteronomy 28:
64) When they feIl into idolatry md sexual immorality,
Jehovah lovingly sent prophets to help restore them to
pure worship. Rut "they were continually making jest at
the messengers of the true God and despising his words
and mocking at his prophets, until the rage of J e h ~
vah came up against his people, until there was no healing." (2 Chronides 36:16) God therefore allows his inheritance, Judah, to be profaned when Babylon invades
the land and defiles His holy temple.-Psalm 79:l;Ezekiel 2421.
10 In view of that, is not Babylon simply performing
God's will when she enslaves the Jews? NO, for God says:
"You showed them no mercies. Upon the old man you
mode your yoke very heavy And you kept saying: 70time
indefinite I shall prove to be Mistress, forever.' You did not
take these things to your heart; you did not remember the
finale of the matter." (Isaiah 4 M b , 7) God has not commanded Babylon to act with excessive cruelty, showing
no favor "even to the old men." (Lamentations 4:16; 5:
12)Neither has he urged them to take sadisticpleasure in
mocking their Jewish captives.-Psalm 137:3.
11 Babylon fails to grasp that her hold on the Jews is
temporary. She has ignored the warnings of Isaiah that,
in time, Jehovah will free his people. She behaves as
if she were entitled to have permanent dominion over
the Jews and to remain misbess aver her vassal nations
10, 11. Why 1s Jehwah angry at Babylon, even though it is his will
that she conquer h ~ people?
s

forever. She fails to heed the message that there MI be a

"finale" t~ he^ oppressive xulel

Babylon's F d I Foretold
12 Jehovah&lam: "Now hear this, you glewu~~given
wornon, the one sitting in securI& f
k ane xrying in her
he- 3 am, and there is nahdy &e4 f shdl not sfi as a
wfdow, and t shof!not know the IOU of &Idren/" (Isaiah
438) Babylon's reputmtlon for pleasure-seeking is Wknown. Fifth century B,C,E, historian Herodatus tells of
a "most shamem mm" of the hbylanlans, namelyF
that all m e n are requiied to prostitute themselves in
h o m e to their goddess af love. Ancient historh~~
Curtius 1iW4e said: WO contadnation a n surpass the
mamen of the dtjq no spgternatlc cornpion caa o&r
more srimulations arrd allaremmf3to debauMery!'
~3 hbylbrz's penchant Br pleasure-seekhg will hasten
her fall, On the we of hw f d , her kmg and his pdees Will feast, drinking themseJves ihto a stupo~.Thus,
they will pay no heed to the MedwPersim armies invading the dty. (Dank1 5:l-4)fi5ittingin secuxity"Ebbylon wiU imagine that her seemingly impme@BbkWIs
atld moat urill protect hex from inVaio3n. She t& herself that "there 15 nfibody else' who could ever aaplr
her plxe of supmmq. She does not imagine that she
wuId btxome 'a widow," losjng her imperial ruler as
welI as her "children,'" or populace. $ti& no wall an pmX a 3 her h r n the avmgihg arm of Jehovah Gad! Jehavah will lam v:
"Even if bhyllon should ascend to the
12. Why is hlylon called a splewre-@venwmm"?
13. HOWwill Babyli3nJspenchant faf @ ~ ~ u * ~ e e W ghasten her

fall?

Pleasure-seeking Babylon wi!l be bmugkt down to the dust

I12

Isaiah's Prophecy-Llght for A11 M a r ~ k i n dII

heavens and even id she should make the height of her

strength unapproachable, from me the despoilers will
come to her."-Jeremiah 5153.
14 What w
ill result to Babylon?Jehovah continues: "But
to you these two things will come suddenly, in one day:
loss of children and widowhood. In their complete meosure they must come upon you, for the abundance of your
sorceries, for the full might of your ~~peIls-exceedingly."
(Isaiah 4Z9)Yes, Babylon's supremacy as a world power wilI suddenly come to an end. In the ancient Eastern
lands, becoming a widow and losing children were the
most calamitous experiences that a wornan could undergo. We do not know how many 'children" Babylon loses
on the night of her fall." In due time, though, that city
will be abandoned entirely. (Jeremiah 5129) She will also
suffer widowhood in that her kings will be dethroned.
15 Babylon's mistreatment of the Jews, however, is not
the only reason for Jehovah's rage. 'The abundance of
her sorceries' also incites him to anger. God's Law to Israel condemns the practice of spiritism; Babylon, though,
avidly pursues the occult, (Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Ezekiel 21:21) The book SocialLifeAmong the Assyrians and
Babylonians says that the Babylonians' lives "were passed
in perpetud fear d the multitudinous demons by which
they believed themselves to be surrounded."

" The bonk Nabonidus and Belshazzar, by Raymond PhiIip Dougherty, notes that while the Nabonidus Chronicle claims that Rabylon's
invaders entered "without fighting," Greek historian Xenophon indicates that there may have been considerable bloodshed.
14. In what ways will Babylon suffer both "lossof children and wldowhood"?
15. In addition to Babylon's buelty to the Jews, For what further reason is Jehovah wrathful with her?

1I

Fnlse Religion-Its Dramatic End Foreseen

113

Trusting in Badness
16 Will Babylon's fortune-tellers save her? Jehovah answers: "You kept trusting in your badness, You have said:
There is no one seeing me.' Your wisdom and your kno wledge-this is what has led you away; and you keep saying
in your heart: 'i am,and there is nobody else.' " (Isaiah 47:
TO) Babylon reckons that by means of her secula and religious wisdom, her rnilitav might, and her cunning ruthlessness, she can maintain her position as world power.
She feels that no one can 'see' her, that is, hold her accountable for her wicked actions. Nor does she perceive a
rival on thr horizon. "I am, and there is nobody else," she
tells herself.

l
1

'II

17 However, through another of his prophets, Jehovah

warns: "Can any man be concealed in places of concealment and I myself not see him?" (Jeremiah 23:24; Hebrews 4:13)Jehovah therefore declares: 'Upon you calamity must come; you wilt know no charming against it. And
upon you adversity will fall; you will not be able to avert
i t And upon you there will suddenly come a ruin that you
are not accustomed to know." (Isaiah 47: 11 ) Neither Babylon's gods nor the magical "charming" performed by
her spiritisticpractitioners can avert the coming calamity
-one unlike anything that she has ever experienced!

Babylon's Counselors Fail

stinging sarcasm, Jehovah commands: "Stand
still, now, with your spells and with the obundonce o fyour
sorceries, in which ybu have toiled from your youth; that
18 With

16, 17. (a) How does Babylon 'trust In her badness'? {b) Why can
Babylon's end not be averted?
18, 19. Huw wjlI Babylon's reliance on her counselors prove disas-

trous?

E*atseReLl'glwl-Its Dru r l ~ r tic

n E H Fak?seefi
~

ha counselon. True, centuries of astrenornical a b s m tiOn will have gmle Inta the W ~ p m e n of
t Babflonim
mology. But an the night d her fall! the pitiful MU*
of

Babflon's astmfogers will be unabie to predict her fall

perhaps yw m l h t be abk to benefit, that perhaps you

might strike people with awe." (Isaiah 4Z72) Babylon is
challenged to "stand still," or pe~istunrefonne& in her
reliance on magic. After dl,as a nation she h a Wiled in
the development sf the occult arts from her "youth"
le But Jehovah mocks hert saying: "You huve gmwn
weary with tke muftIiude of your c?auPrseiors. kt themi
stand up, now, and saw you, the worshipers of the hewms, the lookers at the stars, thow giving our kaowktig~
at
the new m o n s concerning the fClings that will come upon
you." (lsujah 47: 731" Babylon wilI face the utter failure of

" Some render the Hebrew expression aanslated "worshipers of the

heavens1'as "dividers ofthe heawm." This would refer to the practice of padtionirig the heavens into fields so as to cast horoscopes.

h e astrologev will expos ' d i v h a t i ~

as~useI@.-I3alzid
5:7) 8.
W Jehovah coneludes fiis s d o n of the pmpheq by
saykgr '"hokl t h q haw hemhe I& stubble. A fire ifself Wsjll certain& $urn t h m u p 7tiqdl not d d k r PfFeir
mu/fmm itre power of the flame, There will be no glow
of rharcoals forpwpk ta warm &mseluuss, no fidlgkah
front of whkh io sit down. Thus they &if certainly become
b p u , with whom p u have tor'ied as your charmers from
your pi&.They will actually w n d q each one ta his own
q i m . There will berm o w to save you." (IsaiQkl$EM,
75) Ygs, fiery tizlkq*m about to m e upan these false
counselsr~1t.wlll bei riot a I I D f~ie araund which penple can warm themselves, but a dauctiw, mmmjng
fire that wiII mpw the f a l g 12ounsebtsas useless stubble.
Little wonderJthen, that Baby10n'f mmsdof5:wiil flee in
wlc!&bytan's last mppstgQneIthere will be no am W
saw her. Shk will e i w the very fare &at she Mll heeve
,inflicted upari Jerusalem-Jehiah 11:12.
21 In the p a r 539 R.C.E., these Impired wards start to
b fultjkd. The armies of the Medes and the Persians
under the leadership of C p s capture the dtgi Mling iix
resident W g , BeIshazm. '(Dasliel5:1-4; 3Q)In m e nqht
IhhyJ~nis toppled fram her p i d m of wmld -&minance, Thus ends renturies of Semitic mpemaq, &
tke w d d now falls under APyan mntroL Babyl~nit&
goes into a centuries-long period d decline, 3y fhe faurth
20. What
b tke fate of Bak$b's ~ u ~ b r s ?
21. How and when do Isaiah%prophetic WQ& prow tru&

116

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for AII Mankind II

century C.E., it is nothing more than "piles of stones."

(Jeremiah 51:37) Isaiah's prophecy is thus completely fulfilled.

A Modern-Day Babylon
22 Isaiah's prophecy furnishes much food for thought.
For one thing, it underscores the dangrs of pride and
haughtiness. Proud Babylon's fall illustrates the Bible
proverb "Pride is before a crash, and a haughty spirit before stumbling." (Proverbs 16:18) Pride sometimes dominates our imperfect natures, but being "puffed up with
pride" can lead to corning "into reproach and a snare of
the Devil." (1l3mothy 3:6, 7) We do well, then, to heed
James' counsel: "Humble yourselves in the eyes of jehovah, and he will exalt you."-James 4: 10.
22,W h a t lesson about pride does Babylon's h l l teach us?

A Babylonian astrological calendar, first millennium B.C E.

i3l.w Religion-It,s Drarnn tic dnd Foreseen

117

23 These prophetic words also help us to have uonfidence in Jehovah, who is more powerfuI than all
his opporers. (Psalm 248; 34~7; 50:15; 91:14, 15) This
is a comforting reminder in'these difficult days. Confidence in Jehovah strengthens our determination to remain blameless in his eyes, knowing that "the future of
[the blamcle5s] man will he peaceful." (Psalm 3737, 38)
It is always wise to look to Jehovah and not rely on our
own resources in the face of Satan's "crafty acts."-Ephesians G:10-13, footnote.
24 Notably, we are warned against spiritistic practices,
espe~allyastrology. (Galatians 5:20, 21) When Babylon
fell, astrol~gy
did not lose its hold on people. Interesljngly, the book Great Cities of the Ancient World notes tlmt
the constellations mapped out by the Babylonians have
"shifted" from their ancient positions, "making nonsense of the whole idea [of astrology].'' Still, astrology
continues to thrive, and many newspapers carry columns
that make hororcopes readily available to their readers.
25 What makes people-many of them well educatedconsult the stars or engage in other illogical, superstitious practices? The Wurld Book Encyclopedia says: "Superstitions will probably have a part in life as long as
people fear each other and have uncertainties about the
fuhire." Fear and uncertainty may drive people to become superstitious. Christians, however, shun supexstition. They do not fear mm-Jehovah is their support.
(Psalm 6:4-10) And they are not uncertain about the future; they knowJehovahlsrevealed purposes and have no
23. Isaiah's prophecy helps us to have what confidence?
24, 25. (a) Why i s astrology iIlogica1, yet why do many turn to it?
(b) What are some reasons why Christrans shun superstition?

Isaiahk Prnpkecy-Light for AII Manktnd R

118

doubt that "to time indefmite the very C O U ~ af

S ~Jehovah wdl stand." {PsaIra 33:11)Bringing our lives into harmony with Jehovah's counsel ensures a happy, long-twm
future,
215 In recent years some have tried to discern the future in more "scientific" ways. There is even a.discipline
called futurology, dehned as "a study that deals with future possibilities based on current trends." For example,
back in 1972 a group of academics and businessmen
known as the Club of Rone predlckd that by 1992 all the
world's reserves of gold, mercury, zinc, and pehaleum
would be exhausted. Well, the world hqs faced horrendous problems since 1972,but &at preclictlon was wrong
on all counts. The earth still has ~mes
of gold, memary, zinc, and pemleum. Indeed, man has worn hmself
out trying 0predict the future, but his guesses are always
unreliable. Trulg: "the reasonings of the wise men are futile1'!-1 Corinthians 3 2 0 .

The Coming End of Babylon the Great

27 Modern-day religions have perpetuated many of

ancient BabyIan's doctrines, Hence, the world empire of

false religion is well hruned Babylon the Great. (Revelation 1Z5) That international religious conglsmerate has
already suffered a fall similar to that of ancient Babylon
in 539 B.C.E. (Rwelatiun 148;18:2)In 1919 the remnant
ofChrist's brothers came out of spiritual captivity and
shook offthe religous influence of Christendom, a dominant part of Babylon the Great. Since then Christendom
2d. How have "the reasonings d the wise men" proved to be "futile"?
27. When and in what way did BabyIon the Grear undergo a fall like
that of Babylon h 539 B.C.E.?

has 1m-t considerable influence in many lands where it

m formerly -6ng.
28 That fall, however, ?as just a precursor to the u i mat@deswuction of false religion. Tnte~stingly;Revelation's pmphk'cy bf the destruction of Babylon t h e Great
reminds us of the prcrpheiic wrds recorded at Isaiah 47;
I,9. L W anaent BabyE~n,mcudern-day Bawlan the
Gxeat says: ? sit a qumtand I am no widow, and I Wl
never see moumhg." But "in one day her plagues will
come, &ath m d mourning and fmine, and shewill be
completely burned with fire,,became Jehovah W, who
judged her, is &WE!'
SQ the prophetic words recorded in
h i a h chapter 47 stand asa warning t~ those who are still
affilhted with false religion, If they are ta amid sharing
in her destruction,let them heed the inspired command:
"Get out of herM!-Itwelation1&4,7,8.
26. Wbat boast doe$Babylob the sat make, btwhat awaits her?
Madesnd~ryB # ~ Y ~ Q o
4

will soon be no m m

'

CHAPTER NINE

--

Jehovah Teaches Us
for Our Good
.-

- - ..--

Isaiah 48:l-22
.-

WHEN Jehovah speaks, those who a E wlsc Ilstcn wit11

&mat respect and respond to hls words. I:.verythinff that
Jehovah says is for our benefit, and he is keenly interested in our welfare. For example, how heartwarming it is
to consider the way Jehovah addressed his ancient covenant people: "0if only you woz~lclactually pay attention
to my commandments!"(Fsaiah 48~18)The prnvcn whue
of God's teachings should move us trt listen to him and
follow his guidance. The recard of ful fillccl prophecy rlispels any doubt about Jehovah's determlnatlon to FulfilF
h js promises.
2 The words of the 48th chapter of the bonk of Isaiah
were evidently wrim for the sake of theJews who would
be exiles in Babylon. Further, thcse words contain a message that Christians today cannot ignore. In Isaiah chapter 47, the Bible hretokl the fall of l'4abylon.Now Jehovah
dectihes what he has in mind for the Jewishexilcs i r that
~
city. Jehovah is grieved by the hypocrisy of his chosen
people and their stubborn disbelicf in his promises. Still,
hc wants to instruct them for thelr good. Hc lorcsees a period of refinement leading to the restoration of a t'althl'ul
remnant to their homeland.
1. How do wise ones respond to Jehovah's wordr?
2. Fot whom were the words of Isaiah 48 rccardcd, and w31n else can
benefit from them?

1
I

3 How far Jehovah's penplc haw dcviakd from pure

worship! Isaiah's opening words are sobering: "Heor this,
O house of jacob, you who ore calling punelyes by the
n m of Israel ond who hdw come forth from the w r y
waters ofjudah, you who ere swearing by &hename of jehowh and who make men tion even of the Cod of ismel,
not in truth and not in righteousness, For they haw called
themselves as being from the holy city, and upon the God
of Israel [hey have supported themselves, Iehowh of armies being his name." (Isaiah 48: 1, 2) J-Jm I iypoaitical!
"Swearing l ~ ythe name oi' Jchovnh" is clearly no more
than using Gad's name in a brrnalirtic way, ((Zephaniah
1:s)Before their exile in flahylon, the Jews worshiped Jehovah at "theholy city,"Jcrusnlem.llut their worship was
insincere. Their hearts were far rcmmd horn God, and
their acts of worship were "not In truth and nuk in righteoumess." They dirt not havc the faith of the patriarchs.
-Malachi 3:7.
4 Jehovah'swards rcmlnd us that worshlp sho~lld
not he
perfunctory. It must be hcartfclt. Mcrc token service-perhaps performed just to pleasc or Impress others-does not
constitute "deeds of godly dwntlon." (2 PHer 311) A person's calling himself a Christian does not in itself make
his worship acceptable to Cod, (2 'Sirnothy 3:s)Recognizing that Jehovah exists is vital, but it is only a beginning.
Jehovah wants worship that is whole-souled and motivated by deep love and app~ecEatlon.-CoEosslans323.

Foretelling New Things

Perhaps those Jews In Babylon necd to have their
memories refreshed. Hence, Jchovah once again reminds
5

3. What was wrong wlth judnh's worship?

4. What kind of warslllp Is p l c ~ s i n
to~Jchovah?
5. What are some of "!he first t hingr" Furctolrl by Jchwah?

lehovak Teuches Us far Our Good

123

them that he is the God of true prophecy: 'me ffhf

Ohlngs I haw &/dm
ham that tJm and out ofmyown
m u & &ey went forth, and I kept moklrlg them head.
Suddenly I acted, and'bhe thtngs piwed& &I corn
In." (Isaluh 48:3) "Thefirst things" are things that God

has already accomphhed, such as liberating the I d ites from Egypt and glvhg them the Pmmised Land as
an inheritance. (Geneis 13:14, IS;1s:W, 14) Suchpredlctlons go out ram God's mouth; they are ofdivine o w .
God mwes men to hear his m,
and what they hear
s h d d m m them to be o W e n t . (Deuteronomy28:15)
He acts suddenly to perform what he has foretold The
fact that Jehovah is the Almighty ensures that his purpose is fulAi1ed.-J&ua 21:45; 2314.
6Jehoy;ih's people have become '%tubbornand rebelllous," (Psalm 7&8) He frankIy tells them "You are hard

..

and , your neck Is m Itwn shew and your fo~hecrd

Is coppe~"(Isolah 48;4) Llke metals, the Jews am h a d
to bend-unyielding, That b one reason why Jehovah remah th* before theyoccur. OtheFwise, his people will
say of the Wqs Jehovah has d o w "My own idol has
done them, and my own c a d Image and my own mod
&n Image haw mmmunded hem." ( h l c r k
WiU
what Jehovah Is now saying have aay e&ck an the unfaithful Jews?God says tio them: "Kw haw heard. M o l d
Itall. As RorpupeopCe, wiHywnottellit?~hawmade
yw hear new thlngs from the V n t time, ewn things
kept In mmq that you haw not known. At the p e n t
time they must be ma*
and not fmm fhot time, e m

&:a

6. To what extent h m the Jewsbecome "stubhrnand ~ l i o u s " ?

Isaiah's message of mtarathn provides a my of hope

far faIthfLllJews b mile

'

Jehovah Teaches Us for nurGotld

ed brick fi

The Jewshad a tendency to attribute

Jehovah'sacts to idols
things that betore today you have not heard, that you
may not say, 'Look! I have already known them.'"-Isaiah
48:6,

Long in advance Isaiah recorded the prediction about

the fall of Babylon. Now as exiles in Babylon, the Jews
are prophetically commanded to contemplate the fulfillment of the predict-ion. Can they deny that Jehovah is
the God 05 fulfilled prophecy? And sincc the inhabitants
of judah have seen and heard that Jehovah is a God of
truth, must they not also declare this buth to others? Je7

7. What will the exiled Jews have to admit, and what can they ex-

pect?

125

hovah's rwealed word foretells new things that have not

yet come to pass, such as Cyrus' conquest of Babylon and
the release of the Jews. (Isaiah 48:14-16) Such startl~ng
events seemingly come out of nowhere. No one could
have foreseen them merely by considering the developing world conditions. They arrive as though created out
of nothing. Who causes there events? SinceJehovah foxetells them some 200 years in advance, the answer is obvious.
8 M o r e m , Jehovah carries out his word according to
his own timetable. Fulfilled prophecies prove his Godship not only to the Jews in ancient times but also
to Christians today. The record of numerous prophecies that were fulfilled in the past-"the first thingsu-is
an assurance that the new things promised by Jehovah
-the corning "great tribulation," the survival of "a great
crowd" through that tribulation, the "new earth," and
much more-will come to pass. (Revelation7:9,14,15; 22:
4, 5; 2 Peter 393) That assurance motivates righthearted
ones today to speak about him zealously They share the
feelings of the psalmist, who said: "I have told the good
news of righteousness in the big congregation. Look! My
lips I do not restrain."-Psalm 40:9.

Jehovah Exercises Self-control

9 The Jews' disbelieving response to Jehovah's prophecies has prevented them fmm heeding his warnings. That
is why he goes on to say to them: 'Moreover, you have
not heard, neither have you known, nor from that kime on
has your ear been opened, For I welE know that without
8. What new things do Christ~anstoday hope for, and why do they
have complete confidence in Jehovah's prophet~cword?
9. How has the nation of Israel been a "transgressor from the belly"?

fsafah5 Prophecy-Light fir? Ail EARnkirrd II

hi/you kept dealing tmchemt& and a 'tmnsgressor

h m &e &el&' p hQve been called." (Isaiah 48:8) Judab's ear has hshut to Jehovah's glad tidlnjp. (Isaiah
29:lO)The way Gad's covenant people have acted shows
the nation ta be a "mnsgmmrh m the belly." From its
birth and for its end^ history, the nation of Israel has
built up a m d ofrebellion. T r a n s ~ s l o nand ma&ery are inmemte faults of the people, not mere occasional sins.-Psalm 9S:lO; Malachi 211,
10 Is all hop Iost? No. Even though Judah has been
rebellious and treacherom, Jehovah is always true and
faithful. For the hmor of his own great name, he will
limit the outpouring of his wrath. He says: "For fhe sake
of my name I hlfdwck my anger, and Ibr my pmise
1 shafl mtmIn myseIY towad you that there may be no
curtlngpu off" <Isaiah4kP) What a tontwtl Jehwah's
people, b t h IsraeI and judah, have k n unfaithful to
him, But Jehovah mill snctify his name, acting In a way
to bring praise and honor to it, For this reason, he will
nDt cut u$ his chosen popla-Jm12: 13,1.4.
12 IUghthearkd individuals among the exiled Jews are
awakened by Gcd's reprimand and k a m e determined
to heed his teachings. To such cmes the Following d d a Won is most reaswing "Laak! I h e dried you, but
not in the h o f s i i . I haw made choke of p u in
he smelting funma of ~~n~ For my own suke, for
myownsalreIshellact, f o r h o w ~ ~ ~ k i o n e k t o n e s d f k
pmhned?And to no one e k sfirdl I g k my own glory,,"
(Isaiah 48: 10, PI) The -me
ordeals-as in the "furnace of aflictionN-thatJehovah has allowed to come
10. Why wIIl JehWahm&in bimseLfl
11. WhpwlUWnatdmhispeoplebbeu~rlydestroyad?

A "furnaceof aFHlchn'can m o l
whether or #at our matlves for serving jehowh

me pore

upon his people haw tested and refined them, revealiq

what is ln their hearts. Something similar happen&! emturies wller when Moses $aidto thefr ancestors: "JeW
vah your Cad made you walk these forty y e m in the wi1cferness, in order to humble you, to put you to the t a r so
as fa know what was In your heart." (Mterox10my 83)
Despite their ~kIliousattitude, Jehovahdid not dthe natlon at that tlme, and he will not u W y dthe natlon now. Thus his name and honor will be up
held. If hls people were to perish at the hands of the Eab
ylonlans, he would be untrue to his covenant and his
name would be profaned. It would appear that the Gad
of Israel Is powerless to save his people,-Wel m:9.
12 In madern dmes too, Jehovah's people haw needed

12. How were true C h . r i s t h refined durlng the fast w d d wm?

111

True Ulristlum hove

fbced the most vicious
fvrms of persecution

eWd from the r e h h g proms. They m e out of World

WarlmOred~edtharlm~servethetr~Go
Itlwhamw way he indiated.
13 S i thclse days, ~ e h w d t WItnwm
s
haw t h e and
agaW faced the most aclous brms of p e m d a n , Thts
has not made them doubt the word of thdr Creator.
Rhtbe, they Rsrve Wen note of the wards of the apostle
Pew tu p ~ c u t e Christians
d
of his dar "Youhave been
gamed by various trfals, in order that the tested qwIity
d y ~ u r f a i t h ... m ~ foundr
k
muse for praise and@ry and honor at the -on
ofJmChrist" (1 FEW I:
6 , 7 ) W r y persecution does not deitroy the inkgity of
trueChMam.Instead, itmdsthepurityofWmc+
tiws.Ttaddstoth&Wtha~pualfty~shmthe
depth of thdr deMdon and l o v e r m b s 17:3.
1

refining. Back in the early days of the 2tkh century, many

af the small group of Bible Students served God out of
a sincere desire to please him, but some had wrong rnG
tives, such as a desire for pmminmce. Before that small
group could spearhead the worldwide preaching of the
good news prophesied for the time of the end, they
would need tobe c l e d (Matthew 24:14) The prophet
Malachi pmphesid that just such a refining work would
be accomplished in connection wlth Jehovah's coming
to his temple. (Malachi 3:1-4)His worrls were fulfilled in
1918. True ChrJstlans had gone through a perlad of fiery
testing in the heat of the first W d war and that &sting mhinated in the imprisonment of Joseph F. Rutherford, then pmident of the Watch T m r Society, and
some of its leaofficers.Those sincere w a r n ben-

Am the Lastt
14 NW Jehmah warmly appeals to his cwenmt pmpk
'Lism to me, 0 Mob, and you ISMmy called m. I
'1 Am the First, I

m#e~One.IamthetirstIWweovlrr,iumffiebt
Mom+q myown handhid the Roundd~
ofthe ecrrth,
a n d m y o w n ~ t h a n d a t m ~ o u t t l Irm
e~
c m $ l m ~ r n , t h o t i l r e y ~ ~ J t P n d k r
(Isakd!48:12, N) Unlike man, God Is eternal and d m
nat dmg~(Malachi 3:6) fn Rmlatlon, Jehovah de
dares,"1 am the Alpha and the Omega, the fmt and
the k
t
,the beginning and the end,"(kwbtion 2213)
Before jehovah thm was no a h Q h v God and afterMm
there will be none.He is the Supreme and Rernal One,
13. How have Jehmh's popla r
esmdad to perge~utionin the
yearssInwthehrstworldwar7
14. [a) h f n t way Q JehoMh 4ha W md "the lasf? Ib) What
mighty works did Jehmh accomplish by mmm of his %amlL7

71

130

Isainlr'x Pmph~t:y--Liglrt for A17 M ~ Iklnd

I

II

the Creator. His '%andn-his applied power-established

the earth and stretched out the starry heavens, (Job 38:4;
Psalm 102:25) When he calls his creations, they stand
ready to serve him.-Psalm 1474.
1s A solemn invitation is addressed to both Jewsand
non-jm: "Be collected tagether, all you people, m d
hear. Who among them has told these things? jehovah
himself has loved him. He wilj do what is his delight
upon Bubflon, and his own a m will be upon the Chaldeoms. E-f myseHhm spoken. Moreover, I have coled hfm.
i hove brought him in, and there will be o making of
his woy succertful." (Isaiah 48:14, 15) Jehovah alone is
all-powerful and able to foretekl ewnts acctzrateiy. None
among "them," the worthless idols, is able to tctt these
things. Jehovah,not the idols, has "loved him,'T~yrus
-that is, Jehovah has chosen him for a specific purpose,
(Isaiah 41:2; 4428; 451,13; 46:ll) Me has foreseen Cyrus' appearance on the world stage and has singled him
out as the future conqueror of Babylon.
16 In an inviting tone, Jehovah continues: "Come near
to me, you people. Hear this, From the smrt I have spoken in no place of concealment at all. From the time of its
occusring 1 have been there." (Isaiah 48: 76a) Pred lctions
from Jehovah have not been given In secrecy or made
known only to a few initiates. Jehovah's prophets wre
forthright speakers on behalf of God. (Isaiah 6t:I) They
publicly declared the will of God. For example, events
connected with Cysus were not new to God or unforeseen 'by him. Some 200 years in advance, God openly
f o m l d them through Isaiah.
IS. Tn what way and to what end has Jehovah "loved" Cyrus?
16,17. (a) Why can it be said that GQC~
has not Riven his pmdlctlons
In swecy? (TI) How has Jehovah pubficized his purposes toctay!

Jcknvrrk Tilrrches Us for 0 1 1 rGawd

17 In the same way today, Jehwah is not secretive about:

his purposes. Millions of people In hundreds of lands
and islands of the sea proclalrn from house to house, on
the strcets, and wherever else they can the warning of the
corning end of this system of things and the good news
of blessings :s tome under God's Kingdom. 'Sruly, Jehe
vah is a God who communtcates his purposes.

*Pay Attention to My C~mmandments!~

I u Ernpowerecl by Jehovah'sspirit, the prophet dedam:
'me Sowwign Lord Jehowh himself has sent me, wern

his spirit. mis is what jehovah has surd, F u r Reputrhoser, the Holy One of Isrcrel: "I, lehowh, am your God, the
One teaching you to benefit yourself, the One causing
you to tread in the way in whkh you should walk.'" (Isoiah 4&:?6tr, 17) This lovlng expression of Jehovah's care
should rcassure the natlon of [srael that God is going to
tlclivcr them from Babylon, He is their Repurchaser. (Tsalah 54:s) Jehwahk heartfelt desire is that the Israelites
rcstorc their relationship with him and pay artention to
his commandments. True worship is based upon obeying divine Instructions. The Tsraelites are unable to walk
in the right way unless they are taught 'the way in whch
to walk.'

19 Jehovah's deslre that his people avoid calamity and

enjoy life is heautlfully expressed: "0H only p u would
actually pay atr;ent;on to my commmdments! Then your
pra~
m u l d become just like a tiw, and yoor righte~usness Ifke the waves of the sea." (lsuioh 48:78} What a
heartfrlt appeal Crom the almighty Creator! (Deuteronomy 5:29;ISalrn 81:13) Instead of going into captivity,

18. What Is Jehovah's deskre for his people?

1Q. What heartfett appeal dms Jehovah make?

Isaiah's Prophecy-Lkht fir All Man kind H

the Israelites a n enjoy peace that will be as bountiful as

the water flowing in a river. (Psalm 119:165) Thelr deeds
of ~ ~ u s n easnsbe a innumerabie as the waves of
the sea. (Anm S.i&Q As the one really inkmted In them,
Jehwahappeals to the Israates, lavlfigly showlng them
the way h M c h they shouid waIk. Oh,ff only they wlU
listen!
20 What blessings would come if Israel would repent?
Jehovah saps: V*awoaSpdng wwdd &@corn
jwt flk the
sand, and the h d a n t r # b nyour M c u j purts llCw
the g m h of It We's name wufd not be cut off or be
annIhIla#d kwn be8,m m."(I&
#:I91 lehwah re
d n d s the m l e of his promise that Abraham's seed
would become m
y
,
'like the stars of the heavens and
U e me grains of sand that are on the seashom" ( W e
sis 22;17;3212) However, these d-ts
of Abraham
have been om, and they do not have th0 Qht to
receiw the fulfrlLment af the promise. Really, their temrd
has beenso bad Wat by Jehovah'sown law, they deserve
to have th& m e a s anattoncutoff. (Deuteronomy28:
45) Still, J
ehm
d m not d e s k the adhilation of his
people, and he does not want to f o e them utterly,
21 The prlndpls embodid in this powerful
ap
ply to Jehovah's wo~Wperstuday. JehovahIs the Source
of life, and he lawws bttathaa anyone how we should
we our lives. (Psalm3691 He has given us guldellnes,not
brob w of enfommt,but to Mefit us,W e Christians

20. (a) What Is Gad's desW for Isreel despite their rebelllausnw?
(b)What do we l & m h a Jebwahfrom hip dealings wlth his p w
ple? (See boK on papie U3.1
21. What bLesstagS a w e expxience m l q Y weseek JehwahtsInstruction?

L j e h ~ Bffrhes
h
Us for Our Owd

'I
.

Almighty God Restrains Hlmself

*I shall check my anger. , .I shall W n mydf,"
Jehovahinid the aportate lsraelltes. (1%
iah#9)Sudr~tamen(lhelp~~s*M~

Gad. That Is why we refer to hlm as the dlpowerful One, the ornnlpobnt One. He rightly
but he has all authority bmuse of his position

134

Isaiah's Prophecy-Li~ht for All Mankind U

respond by seeking to be instructed by Jehovah. (Micah

42) His diredives protect our spirituality and our relationship with him, and they shield us from Satan's corrupting influence. When we appreciate the principles behind God's laws, we see that Jehwah teaches us for our
good. We realize that "his commandments are not burdensome."Andwe will not be cut off.-l John 2:17; S:3.

'Go Forth Out of Babylon!'

22 When Babylon falls, will any Jews manifest the right
heart condition? Will they take advantage of God's deliverance, return to their homeland, and restore pure worship? Yes. Jehovah's next words show his confidence that
this will happen. "Go forth, you people, out of Babylon!
Run away from the Chaldeans, Tell forth even with the
sound of a joyful cry, cause this to be heard. Make if to go
forth Ito the extremity of the eurth. Say: lehovah has repurchased his servant lacob. And they did not get thirsty
when he was making them walk even through devastuted places. Water out of the rock he caused to flow forth
for them, and he proceeded to split a rock that the water
might stream farth.' " (Isaiah 48:20,2 1) Jehovah's people
are prophetically urged to depart from Babylon without
delay. (Jeremiah 50:8)Their redemption must be made
known to the very ends of the earth. (Jeremiah 31:lO)
After the Exodus from Egypt, Jehovah provided for the
needs of his people as they walked through the desert
lands. Similarly, he wdl provide for his people as they
make their way home horn Babylon.-Deuteronomy 8:
15,6.
22. What are faithful Jews urged to do,and what assurances are they

given?

Jehovah Teaclres Us for Our Good

135

23 There is another vita1 principle that the Jews must

bear in mind regarding Jehovah's saving deeds. The righteously inclined may suffer because of their sins, but
they will not be destroyed. It is different, though, for
the unrighteous, " m e r e is no peace, ' Iehovah has said,
'for the wicked ones.' " (Isaiah 48:22)Unrepentant sinners will not receive the peace that God has reserved for
those who lave him. Acts of salvation are not intended
for the stubbornly wicked or the unbelieving. Such acts
are only for those who have faith. {Titus 1:15, 16; Rwelation 22:14, 15) Peace from God is not the possession of
the wicked.
24 In 537 B.C.E., the opportunity to leave Babylon
brought great joy to faithful Israelites. In 1919 the release
of God's people from Babylonish captivity led to rejoicing on their part. (Revelation 11:11,12) They were filled
with hope, and they seized the opportunity to expand
their activity. True, it required courage for that little band
of Christians to take advantage of the new possibilities
of preaching in a hostile world. But with Jehovah's help,
they got down to the work of preaching the good news,
History testifies that Jehovah blessed them.
25 This part of Isaiah's prophecy stresses that Jehwah
teaches us for our good. It is very important to pay close
attention to God's righteous decrees. (Revelation 15:2-4)
If we remind ourselves of God's wisdom and love, it will
help us to conform to what Jehovah says is right, All his
commands are for our benefit.-Isaiah 48:17, 18.

23. Who will not enjoy God-given peace?

24. What brought rejoicing to God's people in modern tlmes?
25. Why is it important to pay close attention to God's righteous de-

crees?

CHAPTER TEN

"A Time of Goodwill"

-1

'A Time of Goodwill"

lsaia h 49:l-26

ALL faithful humans have long enjoyed God's approval

and protection, But Jehovah does not extend his goodwill
indiscriminately. A person must qualify for such an incomparable blessing. Isaiah was one who did. He enjoyed
God's favor and was used by Jehovah as an instrument to
make known His will to others. An example of this is recorded in the first half of chapter 49 of Isaiah's prophecy.
2 These words are prophetically addressed to the seed of
Abraham. In the initial fulfillment, that seed is the nation of Israel, which descended from Abraham. However,
much of the language clearly applies to the long-hopedfor Seed of Abraham, the promised Messiah. The inspired
words also apply to the spiritual brothers of the Messiah,
who become part of the spirituaI seed of Abraham and of
"the Israel of God." (Galatians 3:7,16,29; 6:16) In particular, this portion of Isaiah's prophecy describes the special
relationship that exists between Jehovah and his beloved
Son,Jesus Christ.-Isaiah 49:26.

Appointed and Protected by Jehovah

3 The Messiah enjoys God's goodwill, or approval Jeh*
vah gives him the authority and credentials needed to ful1, 2. (a) What blessing did Isaiah enjoy? (b) Who are involved In
the prophetic words recorded in the first half of Isaiah chapter 497
3, 4. (a) What support does the Messiah haw? (b) To whom i s the
Messiah speaking?

fill his mission. Appropriately, then, the future Messiah

says: "Listen to me, 0 you islands, and pay offention, you
notional gmupr far away lehawh himself has called me
even fram the belly. Fmmmtke inward parts o fmy mother
he has mode mention of my nome."-lsaioh 49: 1.
4 Here the Messiah directs his remarks to peoples from
"far away." Although the Messiah is promised to the Jewish people, hjs ministry will serve to bless all the nations, (Matthew 25:31-33) The "islands" and the "natinnal gmups," even though not in a covenant with Jehwah,
should heed Israel's Messiah because he is sent to br~ng
salvation to all humankind.
5 The prophecy says that Jehovah will name the Messiah
before he is born as a human. (Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:31)
Long before hls birth, Jesus is named "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) Immanuel, Likely the name of a son of Isaiah, also
turns out to be a prophetic name of the Messiah. (Isaiah 7:
14; Matthew 1:21-23) Even the given name by which the
Messiah will come to be known-Jesus-is foretold before
~ L S
birth. (Luke 1:30, 31) This name comes from the Hebrew word that means "Jehovah Is Salvation." Clearly, Jesus is not a self-appointed Christ.
6 The Messiah's prophetic words continue: "And he proceeded to make my mouth like o sharp sword. In the shadow ofhis hand he has hidden me. And he gmdually made
me a polished arrow. He concealed me in his own quiver."
(Isaiah 49:2)When the t h e comes for Jehovah's Messiah to begin his earthly minisby in 29 C.E., Jesus' words
and actions do indeed prove to be like sharp, polished
5 . How is the Messiah named even before he is barn as a human?
6 . In what way is the Messiah's mouth like a sharp sword, and how
1s he hidden, or concealed?

wapons, able to pen-@ the hearts of his kkners.

(Luke 4:31,32) H b w& and actions p m k e the wrath
of Jehomhtsgreat enmy, Satan, Satztrt hhb agents. Fmm the
tlme ofJesusk
b i d , Satan tries to & take life, but Jm
b
like an maw concealed InJehovah's own quiver? He a n
mnfidendyaunt on his Father's protection. (Psalm 91:l;
Luke 195) At the appinted m e , Jesus gives his life In behalf of m-d.
But the time wiIl come when he wIlI go
forth as a mighty heavenly warrior armed in a different
sense, with a sharp smtd pmwdhg out of his mouth.
This timeIthe sharp sword represents Jesus' authority to
pronounce and execute judgmenb againstJehovah's en&
m i a . - k v & t i ~ ~1:16,

The Labors of God's Servant Are Not In Vain

7 Now Jehovah speaks t h e prophetic words: "Ywam
myserwn& O Ismd, you t&e one in whom I shallshow my
bsauty '(Isui~~k
4931Jehovahrefers to the nation of Israel as his servant. (1sdzlh 41:0) But Jesus Christ 1s God's
preeminent Servant. (Acts 3:13) None of God's creatures
can reflectJehovah's %eauty" better than Jesus. Hence,

" 'Satan, no doubt idenJesus the Son of God and the one
who was pmphesled to bruise bLm Inthe head (Ce 3:1S), dld everythhg he could to destroy Jesus.But, when announclng the cancep
Hon of Jesus to Mary, the angel Cnbriel told her. 'Holy spirit wlll
come upon you, and power of the Most High will mrshadaw you.
For that rearon also what is born will be ailed holy, God's Son! (Lu
1%) Jehovahsafeguarded his Son. 'lhe effortsto destroy Jesuswhen
an Infant we^ unsuccessfu1-"-Insight OH Lke Scriptum, Volume 2,
page 868, published by the Watchtower Biblo and lhct Sod* of
New York, Inc.

7. To whom are Jehovah'swards at Isaiah 49:3 applied, and why?

The Messioh is like "a polished a mw" In jehowh's quiver

Iscriflh's PropAtcy-Light for All Mankirnd II

while nominally addressed to Israel, these words have

their real appBcafhn to Jesus.-J&n 14:5);Colossians

1:G.
Is it not m e , though, that Jesus is despised aid rejected by must of hi own p p l d % I3y m d large, the
mlAon of Israel dam riot accept Jesus as God's anointed Smant. (John 1:11) All that Jesus accomplishes while
on earth might seem to his contemporaries to he of little value, wen im@nifimnt.This apparent failure in his
ministry is alluded to next by the Messiah: "/tIs For nothing &at I have MIIed. Tor unrecrlly and wnIty I huve used
up my own power." (Isaiah #9:4u) These statements are
not made because the Messiah is dismumg@d.Consider
M a t he says next W y my judgment h with ]ehovah,
m d my wage5 wkh my Cod," (Isaiah 49:4b]The Messiah's success^ is to be judged, mt by men, but by God,
9 Jesus

is prlm,dpalIy Fntmted in God9 apprmal, or

goadW. In the prophecy, the Messiah say$:'"Mow jehowh) fie One forming me from the b ~ l &
as o servmt b e
longing to him, has said far me to bring h c k Jutob to
him, In order that to him ismel itself may be gathered.
And 1 shall bi? glorified in the eyes of jehovah, and my
own God wM haw beeom my strength." (lsaiah 49:s)
The Messiah comes to turn the hearts af the sons of 1%
me1 back to their heavenly Father. Most do not respond,
but same do. However, his real wages ate with Jehovah
God, His success is measured, not in human terms, but
8, How dothe Messiah's own people react ta him, but to whom dms
the Messiah laak,to judge his success?
9, 10. (a) What is the Mgsiah's commission from Jehovah, arid

what resdta daes he achieve? &) How can Chrktiw today be encmraged by the Wrierregs of the Mes$i&?

The Messidh has

been "n light of
the nations"

accosding to J&ovab's awn standards.

l o Toclay, Je$m' bllowers may at times
feel as if they are toiling 6oa nozing. In
some places, the results of thar ministry
may seam insignificant when compared
with the amount of
work and e&t exp&d. Still, they endure, enmuraged by I
the example of Jesus.They axe also strengthened by the
words of the apostle Paul, who W e : *Csnseqyently,
my beloved brothers, h e m e sfadfast, unmovable, always having plenty to du in fhe work of the Lord, howing that your labor b not in vain in connectionwith the
Lord."-1 Chrinthhns 15:58.
"A Light af the Nations"
11 In Isaiah's prophecy, Jehovah enmurages the Messiah by reminding Zlirrm that being .Gad3 Sewant is no
"'&iYiaJmutter." Jesus is "Lo mise up the #3es of Idcob
and tu bring bock eveh the safeguarded ones of Ism&l.''
11, 12. HOWha&the Messiah been "a light of t h e natIpn$*?

142

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for A11 M ~ n k i n dIT

Jehovah additionally explains: "'1 also have given you for

a light of the nations, that my salvation may come to be
to the extremity of the earth." (Isaiah 4 9 6 ) How does
Jesus enlighten peoples "to the extremity of the earth"
when his earthly ministry is restricted to Israel?
12 The Bible record shows that God's "light of the nations" was not extinguished with Jesus' departure from
the earthly scene. About 15 years after Jesus' death, the
missionaries Paul and Barnabar quoted the prophecy of
Isaiah 496 and applied it to Jesus' disciples, hs spiritual
brothers. They explained: "Jehovah has laid commandment upon us in these words, '1 have appointed you as
a light of nations, for you to be a salvation to the exWmity of the earth.' " (Acts 13:47) Before his own death,
Paul saw the good news of salvation made available to
not only the Jews but "all creation that is under heaven." (Colossians 15, 23) Today, the remaining ones of
Christ's anointed brothers continue this work. Supported by "a great crowd" numbering into the millions, they
serve as "a light of the nations" in more than 230 lands
around the world.- R m l a t i m 7:9.
lJ
Jehwah has indeed proved to be the strength behind his Servant the Messiah, the anointed brothers of
the Messiah, and all those of the great crowd who, with
them, continue the work of preaching the good news.
True, like Jesus, his disciples haw faced disdain and opposition. (John 1520) But in his due time, Jehovah always causes a reversal of circumstances in order to rescue and reward his loyal servants. Regarding the Messiah,
-

13, 14. (a) The Messiah and his followers have met up with what
reaction to the preaching work? @) What reversal of circumstances
has taken place?

"A Time of G~odwill'

143

who is "despised in soul" and "detested by the nation," Jehwah promises: "Kings themselves will see and certainly
rise up, and princes, and they will bow down, by reuson
of lehovah, who is faithfui, the Holy One of Israel, who
chooses you."--lsaiah 493
14 Later the apostle Paul wrote to Christians in Philip
pi about t h s foretold reversal of circumstances. He described Jesus as someone who had been humiliated on a
torture stake but then was exalted by God. Jehovah gave
his Servant "a superior position and kindly gave him the
name that is above every other name, so that in the name
of Jesus every knee should bend." (Phlippians 2%-11)
Christ's faithfil followers have been warned that they
too will be persecuted. But like the Messiah, they are assured of Jehovah's goodwill.-Matthew 5: 10-12; 24:9-13;
Mark 10:29,30.

"The Especially Acceptable Time"

15 Isaiah's prophecy continues with a statement of great
significance. Jehovah tells the Messiah: "In u time of
goodwill I have answered you, m d in a day of survation I have helped you; and I kept safeguarding you thut
1 might give you as a cownan t for the people. " (Isaiah 49:
8a)A similar prophecy is recorded at Psalm 4913-18.The
psalmist refers to "a time of goodwill," using the expression "an acceptable time." These terms imply that Jehovah's goodwill and protection are extended in a special
manner but only during a specific and temporary period.
16 'When was that time of goodwill? In the original setting, the words were part of a restoration prophecy and

15. What special "time"is mentioned in Isaiah's prophecy, and what

is implied by this?
16. What war Jehovah's lime of good~villfor ancient Israel?

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for Ail Mankind XI

144

foretold the Jws' return from exile. The nation of Israel

experienced a time of goodwill when they were able to
"rehubiiimte the land" and repossess their "desolated hereditary possessions." (Isaiah 49:Sb) They were no longer "prisoners" in Babylon. During their journey home,
Jehovah made sure that they did not go "hungry" or
"thirsty,"nor did any "'parchingheat or sun strike them."
Scattered Israelites flocked back to their homeland "from
far away. , from the north and from the west." (Isab h 49:9- 12) Notwithstanding this initial dramatic fulfillment, the Bible shows that there are extended applications of this propheq.
17 First, on the occasion of Jesus' birth, the angels proclaimed peace and God's goodwill, or favor, toward men.
(Luke 2:13,14) This goodwill was offered, not to men in
general, but only to those who exercised faith in Jesus.
Later Jesus publicly read the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1, 2
and applied it to hunself as the proclaimer of "Jehovah's
acceptable year." (Luke 417-21) The apostle Paul spoke
of Christ as receiving Jehovah's special protection during the days of his flesh. (Hebrews 5:7-9) So this time
of goodwill applies to God's favor upon Jesus during his
lifetime as a human.

1
I

..

18 However, there is a further application of this prophecy. After quoting the words of Isaiah regarding the time
of goodwill, Paul went on to say: "Look! Now is the especially acceptable time. Look! Now is the day of salvation.* (2 C o ~ t h i a n 6:2)
s Paul wrote these words 22 years
after Jesus' death. Evidently, with the birth of the Christian congregation at Pentecost of 33 C.E., Jehovah ex17, 18. What time of goodwill did Jehovah appoint during the first
century?

1
(

A!'

Time of Goodwill"

145

tended his year of goodwill so as to include Christ's

anointed followers.
19 What about Jesus' followers today who are not
anointed as heirs OF God's heavenly kingdom? Can those
with an earthly hope benefit from this acceptable time?
Yes. The Bible book of Rwelasion shows that this is a
time of goodwill on the part of Jehovah toward the great
crowd that will come "out of the great bibulation" to enjoy life on a paradise earth, (Revelation 7:13-17) Hence,
all Christians can take advantage of this limited period
during which Jehovah offers his goodwill to imperfect.
humans.
20 The apostle Paul preceded the proclamation of Jehovah's acceptable time with a warning. He entreated Christians "not to accept the undeserved luridness of
God and miss its purpose." (2 Corinthians 6:1) Accordingly, Christians make use of every opportunity to please
God and do his will. (Ephesians 5: 15, 16) They do well
to follow Paul's admonition: "Beware, brothers, for fear
there should ever develop in any one of you a wicked
heart Iacking faith by drawing away from the living God;
but keep on exhorting one another each day, as long as
it may be called 'Today,' for fear any one of you should
become hardened by the deceptive power of sin."-Hebrews 3:12, 13.
21 As the prophetic expressions between Jehovah and
his Messiah come to an end, Isaiah utters a joyful statement: "Give a glad cry, you heavens, and be joyful, you

19. How ran Christians today benefit from Jehovah's time of goodwill?
20. In what way can Chrisilans avoid missing the purpose of Jehovah's undeserved Mndness?
21. What joyful statement concludes the fi~stpart of Isaiah c h a p
ter 49?

146

Isai~h'sPraphecg-Light for AIl Mankind

II

earth. Let the mountains become cheerful with a glad

outcry. For jehovuh has cornhmd his peopier and he
shows pity upon his owti- afflicted ones." (Isaiah 49: 13)
What beautiful words of comfort far the Israelites of old
and for Jehovahk great Servant, Jesus Christ, as weU as
forJehovah's anointed s e w and their "other sheep"
companions today1-John 10:16.

Jehovah Does Not Forget. His People

22 Isaiah now continues to report Jehovah9 pronouncements. He foretells that the exild Israelites will tend
to tire out and lose hope. Isaiah says: "Iion kept wing:
7ehovah has left me, o ~ jehovak
d
himself has forgatten
me.'" (Isaiah49:14) Is t h i s true? Has Jehovah abandoned
his people and forgotten them? Act-lng as Jehovah's
spokesman, Isaiah continues: "Can a wifeforget her suckling so that she should not phy the son of her belly? Even
these women can forget, yet 1 myselfshall notforget you,"
(15~iofi
49%) What a Ioving response from Jehavahl
God's love for his people is greater than that of a mother
for her child. Be is constantly thnkirhg of his loyal ones.
He remembers them as if their names were engraved oh
his hands: "look! Upan my palms I have engraved you,
Your wolls are in h n t of me constantly."-Isaiah 49: 16.
In his letter to the Galatians, the apostle Paul exhorted Christians: ' l e t us not give up in doing what is fine,
for in due season we shall reap if we do not tire out."
(Galatians 6:9) Ibthe Hebrews he wrote the encouraging
words: "Godis not unrighteous so as to forget your work
and the love you showed for his name,' (Hebrews 6:lOj
-

How does Jehmah emphasize that he d l 1 never forget his people?

23. How did Paul encourage Christians to trust Jehovah not to for22.

get *?

God's Iove for his people 1s greater than

fiat of Q M&& ~ O her

T ~hi!d

Never should we fee1 that Jehovahh a forgatten his p a ple. 'Likeancient Zion, ~ i s t b m
have goad reasan to refaiceand patlendy wait onJ&w&. He holds fum to his
aovmant tams andpmmbes*

a Jehovahjthrough Is&&, &ers additional camfort.

We:''Wring [Ziot~]down," either the Babylmim w
the apostate Jews, are no longer a threat. Zion's MmrH
exiled Jews that remain I@ to J&dt
%ave hurried
up." Theywill be "%oIlectedtogether," Having W e d
back ta Jerusalem, the repatriated Jewwill be adornm t s ta their capital city, just a
bride" is clothed
with dornamentr." (lmkrh 49:lT 78) Zion's places have
been N d ~ s t a t e d . Imagine
"
her surprise when she
24. In what way will Zion be restored, and what questims wiII she

ask?

148

Is~alah'sProphecy-Light for All Mankind I1

suddenly has so many inhabitants that her dwelling

place seems cramped. (Read Isaiah 49:19, 20.) Naturally, she asks where all these children come from: "You
will for certain say in your heart, 'Who has become father to these for me, since 1 am a woman bereaved of children and sterile, gone into exile and taken prisoner?As for
these, who has brought them up? Look! I myselfhad been
left behind alone. These-where have they been?' " (isaiah 49:ZJ) What a happy situation for prwiously barren
Zion!
2s These words have a modern fulfilIment. Tn the difficult years of the first world war, spiritual Israel experienced a period of desola~onand captivity. But she was restored and came to be in a spiritual paradise. (Isaiah 35:l10) Like the once devastated city described by Isaiah, she
was delighted-as it were-to find herself teeming with
joyful, active worshipers of Jehovah.
"A Signal for the Peoples"
26 In a prophetic way, Jehovah nuw takes lsaiah to the
time when His people will be released from Babylon.
Will they receive any divine direction? Jehovah answers:

"Look! I shall raise up my hand even to the nations, and

to the peoples I shall lift up my signal, And they will bring
your sons in the bosom, and upon the shoujder they will
carryyour own daughters.'' (Isaiah 49:22$In the original

fulfilIrnent,Jerusalem, formerly the seat of government

and the location of Jehovah's temple, becomes Jehovah's
"signal." Even prominent and powerful people of other
nations, such as "kings" and ''princesses, " assist the Isra25. In modern times, u-hat restoration did spiritual Israel experi-

ence?
26. What direction does Jehovah provide for his liberated people?

9 Time of Goodwiil"

149

elites in their journey back there. (Isaiah 49:23a) Persian

lungs Gyms and Artaxerxes Longimanus and their households prove to be among these helpers. (Fxra 5:13;7:1126) And Isaiah's words have a furthex application.
27 Isaiah 11:10speaks of "a signal for the peoples." The
apostle Paul applied these words to Christ Jesus. (Romans
15:s-12) Hence, in the greater fulfillment,Jesus and his
spirit-anointed corulers are Jehovah's "signal" to whch
the peoples flock. (Revelation 141) In due time all the
peoples of the earth-even today's ruling classes-will
have to bow to the Messiah's rulership. (Psalm 2:10, 11;
Daniel 244) The result? Jehovah says: "You will have to
know that I am lehavah, of whom those hophg in me will
not be ashamed."-lsaiah 49:23b.

II

"Now Our Salvation Is Nearerr'

28 Some of those in exile in Babylon may wonder, 'Is it
really possible that Israel will be released?' Jehovah takes
that question into account by asking: '"Canthose already
taken Be taken from a mighty man himself, or can the
body of captives of the tyrant make their escape?" (Isaiah
49:24) The reply is yes. Jehovah assures them: "'Eventhe
body of captives of the mighty man will be taken
away, and those already taken by the tyrant himself will
make their escape." (Isaiah 49:25a) What comforting assurance! Moreover, Jehovah's goodwill toward his pep
ple comes with a firm commitment to protect them. In
no uncertain terms, he says: '54gaip11~t
anyone contending
-

27. (a) In the greater fulfillment, t o what "slgnal" will the peoples
flock? @) What will result when all nations are forced to bow to the

Messiah's rulership?
28. (a) With what words does Jehovah once again assure his people
that they will be released? (bj What commitment does Jehovah still
have with regard to hrs people?

150

Isnloh's Pmphrcy-Ll,~lrt fir All Munkir~d$1

against you I myself shall contend, md your own sons

I myself shall save.." (Isaiah 49:ZSb) 'That mmmi tment
still stands. As recorded at Zechariah 2:H, Jehwah says to
his people: "He that is tuuching you is touching my eyeball." True, we now enjoy a period of goorlwiIE during
which peoples throughout the earth have opportunity to
flock to spiritual Zion. Howewr, that period of goodwlll
will come to an end.

rl
I

29 What will happen to those who stubbornly refuse ta

obey Jehwah and who even persecute his worshipers?
He says: "i will make those rnalhnting you eat their own
flesh; and as with the sweet wine they will become drunk
with ?heirown IbIood." (Isoiah 49:26a}A grim prospect!
Such stubborn opponent5 have no long-term filhlre.
They will be destroyed. Thus, both by saving his ~ m p l e
and by d e s w n g their enemies, Jehovahwl ll be seen as
a Savior. 5411 flesh will have to know that I, Sehovah, am
your Savior and your Repurchaser, the Powerful One of la-

cob,"-Isaiah 49:26b.
.la Those words fsrst applied when Jehwah used Cyrus
to free His people from nabylontan bondage. They applied equally in 1919 when Jchwah used his entl~roned
Son, Jesus Christ, to release His peoplc from spirihral enslavement Hencel the Bible speaks of both Jehovah and Jesus as saviors. (Titus 2:11-13; 3:4-6) J e h o
vah is our Savior, and Jesus, the Messiah, Is hts "Chlef
Agent." (Acts 531) Indeed, God's saving acts thrnugh Jesus Christ are wonderful, By means of the good news,
Jehovah frees righthearted ones from bondagc tto ialsc religion. Through the ransom sacrifice, hc dcljvrrs them

29. What grim prospect awaits those wha whsc to obey Jehovah?
30. What s h g acts has Jehovah pcrhrmcd In k l i n l f of his yrmple,
and what will he yet do?

"A Time of GoodwlllH

from bondage to dn and death. In 1919 he delivered

Jesus' bmthem from spirltlial hondagc. And in the fastapproaching war of Armageddon, hc will deliver a great
crowd of faithful humans f n ~ mthe rlcstruction that will
come upon sinners.
31 What a privilege, thcn, t-o bc recipients of God's
goodwiIl! May all of us use this acceptable time wisely. And may we act in harmony with the urgency of our
times, paylng heed to Paul's wo~dsto the Romans: "You
people know the season, that it Is already the hour for
you to awake from sleep, for now our salvatlon is nearer
than at the time when we became bellcvers. The night is
wellalong;thedayhasdravnnear.LctlathereIaepn
off the works belonging to darkness and let us put on the
weapom of the light. Ar In the daytime let us walk decently, nut In revelries and drunken bouts, not in illicit
intercourse and toosc conduct, not in strife and jealousy.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not be planning
ahead for the desircs of the flesh,"-llomans 3 3:11-14.
32 Jehovah will contlnue to favor those who heed his
counsel. He wjll provide them with the strength and abilities needed to mrr y out t lie preachl ng of the good news.
(2 Corinthians 4:T) Jehovah will use his servants as he
uses their Leader, Jesus. He will make their mouth 'like
a sharp sword" 50 that they wlll reach the hearts of the
meek with the message of the g o d RWT. (Marthew 28:
19, 20) He will protect his people "in the shadow of his
hand." Like "a polished arrow," they will be concealed
"in his own quiver." Indeed, J e l ~ w awlll
l ~ not forsake his
people!-Psalm 94:14; Isaiah 492, 15,
31. How should Chrlsti~nsreact to being rcclplents of God's good-

will?
32. What assurances d o God's people haw?

CHAPTER ELEVEN

"Do Not Put

Your Trust in Nobles"
Isaiah 50:l-11

"DO NOT put your trust in nobles, nor in the son of earthling man, to whom na saIvation belongs. . .. hap^ is the
one who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope
is in Jehovah IS God, the Maker of heaven and earth."
(Psalm 14633-6)If only the Jews living in Isaiah's day
would do as the psalmist counseled! If only they would
place their confidence, not in Egypt or in any other pagan
nation, but in "the God of Jacob"! Then, when Judah's
enemies come up against her, Jehovah wouId act to protect her. However, Judah has refused to turn to Jehovah
for help. As a result, Jehovah will allow Jerusalem to be destroyed and the inhabitants of Judahto be taken into c a p
tivlty in Babylon.
2 Judah has no one to blame but herself. She cannot
rightfully claim that her destruction comes about because
Jehovah has dealt treacherously with her or has neglected
his covenant with the nation. The Creator is no covenant
breaker. (Jeremiah 31:32; Daniel 927; Revelation 154)
Underscoring this fact, Jehovah asks the Jews: "Where,
then, is the divorce certificate of the mother ofyou people,
whom I sent away?' (Isaiah 50:1a) Under the Mosaic Law,
a man who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of
1, 2. (a) What inspired counsel do the Jews fail to heed, and with
what result? (b) U'hy does Jehovah ask: 'Where is the divorce certificate?'

"Do Net Put Your Trust in Nobles*

153

divorce. She is then free to become another man's, (Deuteronomy 24: 1,2) In a figurative sense, Jehovah has issued
such a certificate to Judah's sister kingdom, Israel, but he
has not done so to Judah." He is s t d l her "husbandlyo m e t " (Jeremiah 3:8, 14)Judah is certainly not free to consort with pagan nations. Jehovah's relationship with her
wdl continue "until Shiloh [the Messiah] comes."-Genesis 49:lO.
3 Jehovah also asks Judah: "Which one of my creditors is it
to whom I have sold you people?" (lsuiuh 50:l b ) The Jews
will not be sent into Babylonian captivity to cover some
supposed debt that Jehovah has incurred. Jehovah is not
like a poor Israelite who must sell his children to a creditor
in order to settle accounts. (Exodus21:7) Rather, Jehovah
points to the real reason that his people will be enslaved:
"Look!Because of your own errors you have been sold, and
because of your own transgressions your mother has been
sent away." (Isaiah 50:lc) It is the Jewswho have forsaken Jehovah; he has not forsaken them.
4 Jehovah's next question clearly highhghts his love for
his people: "Why is it that, when I came in, thew was no
one? When I called, there was nobody answering?#(Iraiuh 50:2a) Through his servants the prophets, Jehovah
has come in, as it were, to his people's home to plead with
them to return to him with all their hearts. But the answer
is silence. TheJews prefer to look to earthling man for sup.
port, at times wen turning to Egypt.-Isaiah 30:2; 31:l-3;
Jeremiah 375-7.
'In the hrst three verses of Isaiah chapter 50,Jehovah describes the
nation of Judah as a whole as his wife and its individual inhabitants
as her children.

3. For what reason does Jehovah 'sell' his people?

4, 5. How does Jehovah show his love for his people, but how does
Judah respond?

Isaiah k Pmphery-Light for AH MnnRind I1

5 Is Egypt a more reIjable sador t b n Jehovah?These unfdthfulJmhave appmntly forgotten the events that led
up to the birth of their natSnn centuries earlier. Jehwah
asla them: "Hasmy hand become in fact st^ short that it
cunndmi@mIoris t k m In meno power to deifwr?took1
With my Febukel dry up the sea; 1 make rivers a wilderness.
%ir f& dankdue to <therebeing na wfq and fhey die
b-usie of t h 3 ~ It dothe the heavens wih o h c u r i ~a#$
, I
make sackdoth itself tbelr c~ring.~-Imiufi
S0:2&$3,
6 In 1513 BCB, Egypt was theuppressr-nbt the hopedhr deliverer-d God's p p l e . The kraeliw were slaws
In h t pagan h d . But Jehovah delivered them, arld what
a t
h
r
w deliverance that was! FW he brought Ten
Plagues u p ~ nthe land. Fallowing the pxtialarly devastating tenth pIqgue, Egypt's Phmdh urgd the Isra&s to
lea= the muntry, [Exodus 714-12:31) However, soon after they Qld so, Pharaoh had a change: of heart. He mustered his b p 5 and set out to f o ~ the
e Israelites to return
to
(Exodus-1459) With a h m of E m a n soidiers
khindthern md the Red %?a ahmd of them, the Ismlit&
W e bqped! But Jeftovah was t b ts fight for them.
7 Jehovah &toppedthe Egypti& In their tracks by p i tionkng a pillar of cIaud between them and the Israelites.

m.

Qrt the -dm'

side of the cloud-mas, there was ob
seuriy; on the Isra&t& ~itle,there was Iight, (Fxdus 14:
2Yj Then, with the Emtian amries held at bay, Jehqvah
''beganm h g t h e sea ge back by a s b n g east wind all
night long and converting the sea basin into dry ground?
[Exodus l4:Zl)Once the watas were parted, ail the people

-men, Women, and children-WE

abIe to' cross, the

7. HOW did Jehovah show W saving power in the face of the

Egyptian threat?

TheJews look to humon ruters rather than to lekowh

Red Sea rn
When his people were well on thelr way
totheopdteshm,JehahWtheclwd,Inhotpursuit, the &@ans ditshed headtong into the seabed.
When his p p l e were safety on the shox, Jehovah released the wa-, b w n h g Phmoh and hts armies. Thus
J h m hf q h t for his people, What an enoouragment
that is for ChrWims why!-Ww 1423-28.
8 By Isafah's ttme, seven hundred years have passed since
that divinevkkorf~.
Judah fs now a mdaa in her mr$ht.
At times, h e en- In& dtplomatk negoW!ons with fore@ gmmmmts, such such Assyrh and m.
But the leaders of these pagan naUons rannot be -.
They WUal8. For @dng what wamlngs do the Inhabltlnts of Ju#
go Into

a?

finally

ways put self-Inbest ahead of my oovenants they make

with Jdah.S p d h g in the nam@
ofJehovah,the prophets warn the people not to put their t
m
tin such men,
but the prophetst words fall on deaf ears. Finally, theJews
will be wiled to Babylon to spend 70 years in smhde.
Uerrmiah 25:ll)H m m r , Jehovahwill not foq& his pmpJeJnar will he mt them off fndefinltely. At the a w t ed t h e , he will remember them, and he will open the way
hr their return to their homehd to restow pure worship.

Towhatald?Tbp!xpmfortherozntngof Shil&,theane
to whom the obedience of dl the people wiu belong!
9

Shiloh Comes
pa%. "The full h i t of the time* arriveit arid
the one called Shiloh, the
Lord Jesus Christ, appears
on the earthly scene,
(Gala44; Hebrews I:
1, 2) The fact that J&Qvah has dealgnat& his
cbatw*m~h4
Spokesman to the Jews
s h m how muchJehovah
loves his people. What
Wnd of spokemm does

9. Who tr Shiloh, and what

klnd of teacher b he?

and the Egyptians

158

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for A11 Mankind II

Jesus turn out to be? One of the highest order! Jesus is

more than a spokesman, he is a teacher-a Master Teacher. That is not surprising, for he has a marvelous Insbuctor-Jehovah God himself. (John 530; 6:45; 7:15, 16, 46;
8:26) This is confirmed by what Jesus prophetically says
through Isaiah: 'The Sovereign lord lehovah himself has
given me the tongue of the tought ones, that I may know
how to answer the tired one with a word. He awakens
morning by morning; he awakens my ear to hear like the
tought ones."--lsaioh SO:#.*
10 Before coming to earth, Jesus worked at his Father's
side in heaven. The warm relationship between Father and
Son is poetically described at Proverbs 8:30: "I came to be
beside [Jehavah] as a master worker, . . . being glad b e
fore him all the time." Listening to hs Father brought Jesus great joy, He shared his Faher's love far "the sons of
men." (Pmverbs 8:31) When he comes to earth, Jesus answers "the tired one with a word." He begins his ministry
by reading a comforting passage from Isaiah's prophecy:
"Jehovah's spirit is upon me, because he anointed me to
declare good news to the poor, . . . to send the crushed
ones away with a release!' (Luke 4:lS; Isaiah 61:L)Good
news for the poor! Refreshment for the weary! What joy
that announcement should bring to the people! Some do
rejoice-but not all. In the end, many refuse to accept Jesus' credentials as one taught by Jehovah.
11 However, some want to hear more. They respond glad* From verse 4 to the end of the chapter, the writer appears to speak
about himself. Isaiah may have experiened some of the tr~alsthat

he mentions in these verses. However, in the fullest sense,the prophecy Is fulfilled In Jesus Christ.
10. How does Jesus reflect Jehovah's love for His people, and what
response does Jesus receive?
11. Who get under the yoke with Jesus, and what do they experience?

(
I

1
I

"Do Not Put Your Trust in N a b l a "

159

ly to Jesus' heartwarming invitation: "Come to me, all

you who are toiling and loaded down, and I will refresh
you. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I
am mild-tempered and lowly in heart, and you will find
refreshment for your souls." (Matthew 11:28,29) Among
those who draw near to Jesus are the men who become
his apostles. They h o w that to get under the yoke with Jesus means hard work for them. This work involves, among
other things, preaching the good news of the Kingdom to
the ends of the earth. (Matthew 24:14) As the apostles and
other disciples get involved in this work, they find that it
does indeed bring refreshment to their souls. The same
work is being carried out by faithful Christians today, and
sharing in it brings them similar joys.

He Is Not Rebellious
12 Jesus never loses sight of his purpose in corning to
earth-to do God's will. His view of matters is foretold:
'The bvereign Lord Jehovuh himself has opened my eor,
and I, for my part, was not rebellious. I did not turn in
the opposite direction." (Isaiah 505)Jesus is always obedient to God. Indeed, he goes so fax as to say: "The Son
cannot do a single thing of his uwn initiative, but only
what he beholds the Father doing." Uohn 519) In his pre-

human existence, Jesus likely worked alongside his Father

for millions, even billions, of years. After coming to earth,
he continues to followJehovah's instructions. How much
more should we, Christ's imperfect followers, take care to
do as Jehovah directs!
13 Some of those who reject Jehovah's only-begotten Son
12. In what ways does Jesus show his obedience to his heavenly Fa-

ther?
13. What lies ahead for Jesus, yet how does he show himself courageous?

persecute him, and this too Is foretold: "My back i gave

tu the strikers, and my cheeks tn those plucking off the
hair. My face I did mt conceal from humiliating things rrnd
spit" (Isaiah 50x5) According ta the prophecy, the Mcssiah wiIl suffer pain and humiliation at the hands of opp s a s . Jesus h o r v s this. And he knows how far t his persecution will go. Yet, ar his time on earth draws to a close,
he s h m no fear. With flintlike determination he sets out
forJerusalem, where his human life will come to an end.
On the way these, Jesustells his disciples: "Here we are, advancing up 20 Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will
condemn Rim to death and will deliver him to men of the
nations, and they will make fun of him and will spit upon
him and scourge him and kill him,but three day5 later he
will rise." (Mark 10:33,34) All this wlcked mistreatment
will be at the instigation of men who should know better
-the chief priests and the scribes.
14 On the night of Nisan 14, 33 C.E., Jesus is in the garden of Gethsernane with some of hls followers. He Is praying. Suddenly, a mob appears and takes him into custotly,
But he is not afraid. He knows that Jehovah is with him,
Jesus assures his terrified apostles that If he wantccl to, he
could appeal to his Father to send more than twelve It.gions of angels to rescue him, hut he adds: "In that case,
how would the Scriptures he hlfilled?"-Matthew 26:36
47,53,54.
15 Everything f m t o l d concerning the trials and the
death of the Messiah comes to pass. After a rigged trial hefare the Sanhedrin, Jesus is examined by Pontius Pilate,
who has him whipped. Roman soldiers "hit him on the
head with a reed and spit upon him." Thus Isaiah's words
14, 15. How are Isaiah's wards that Jesus would be struck and humiliated fuIfiIled?

are hlfilled. (Mark 14:65;1519; Matthew 26:67, 68) A\though the Blblc does not state that some of the hair ofJesus' bcarrl Is lltcrally pulled out-a pstr~reof extreme contempt-this no cloubt occurs, just as Isaiah foretold.*
-Nct~emjah 13:25.
In Whcn Jesus stands before Pilate, he does not beg for
his life tn lw spared hut maintains quiet dignity, howlng that he must die in order far the Scriptures to be fulfilled. When the Roman gowrnor points out that he has
the power to condemnJesus to death nr to rrleasehim,Jesus fearlessly replies: "You would have no authority at all
against me tlnles~it had been granted b you from above.*
(Jolrn 1911) Pilate's soldiers suhjea Jesus to inhuman
trmrtment, but they fail to shame him. Why should he feel
ashiimctl? Hc is not being justly punished for some transgrcssion. Rather, he is being persecuted for righteousness'
sakc.. In thlr respect, Isaiah's further prophetic words are
fu 1Rllcd: 'The Sovereign Lord jehovuh himself will help me.
That is why I shall net have to feel humiliated. That is why
/ have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be
ashamed."-Isaiah 50:Z
17 Jesus' courage Is rooted In his complete confidence in
Jchovah. H'ts comportment shows 1 - h to be in full harmony wlth the words of Isaiah: "The One declaring me
righteous h near Who con contend with me? let us
st~lndup together. Who is my judicial ontuqonist? Let him
al~13mnchme. Look! f i e kwreign Lord lehovoh himself
will help me. Who is there that can pronounce me wicked?

16. In thc Iacc of ImrnPnw prcswre, what Is Jesus' demeanor, and

why dncs h e n d feel ashamed?
17. In w h ~ ways
t
ha? Jel~avahstood besldeJmus all through his minIstry?

162

Isolah!r Propl~rr)d-Llgl~tfor All Manklild TI

look! Ali of them, like a garment wltl wwr out. A mere

moth will eat them up." (Isaiah 50:8, 9 ) On the day nf
Jcsm' baptism, Jehovah dcclam him righteous as a spiritual son of God. In fact, God's own voice is heard on that
occasion, saying: "This is my Son, the beloved, whom 1
hawapproved." watthew 3:17) Near theend of htr earthly Ilk, as Jesus kneels in prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, %an angel from heaven appears to II i rn and stren@hens
him.' (Luke 22:41-43) So Jesus knows that: his IJather npp r m s of his life course. This perfe~?Son of Gad has cornmitted no sin. (1 Peter 2:22) His cncmles falsely accuse
him of being a Sabbath bwakcr, a drunkard, anrl n demonized person, but Jesus is not dishonored I>ythclr Iles. God
is with him, so who can he against him?-Lukc 234; John
5~18;720; Romans 832; Hebrews 123.
18 Jesuswarns his disciples: "If they have persecuted me,
they wilt persecute you also." (John 15:2(1)I k n t s soon
prove this true. At Pentecost 33 C.E.,holy spirit comes
upon Jesus' faithful disciples, and the Christian wnjiregation is horn. Almost immediately rcrllgiotts leaders try
to suppress the preaching work of rllcsc faithful men
and women who are now assodated with Jcst~sas part of
"Abraham's s e e p and adopted as spiritual sons of God.
(Galatians 3:26, 24; 45, 65 From the first century until
now, anointed Christians, while taking a firm stand for
righteousness, have had to contend wlt h lyinfi propaganda and bitter persecution from Jesus%enemlcs.
13 SttQ, they remember Jesus' encouraging words: "Happy are you when peopIe reproach you and persecute you
and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against you far
my sake. Rejoice and leap for joy, sincc your rrward Is great
In the heavens." (Matthew S:11, 12) Hence, m n ulider

18, 19. What eqerienms similar to thorc of J e w hm.e anolnted

Christians had?

the most bitter of attacks, itnoinwd Christians hold their

heads high. Whatever their opponent5 mlght say, they
know that they have h e n dcclarcd rightmus by God. In
his sight they are "unhlcmlahr<li~nrlopcn to no accusation."--(lolmsians 1:21,22.
20 Inmodern timcs anointed Chrlstlans are supported by

I
1

"a great crowd" of "other sl~cep.''Thew too tnkc a stand

for righteousness. Conscqucntly, thcy have suffered along
with their anointcd t~lnthcrsnntl have "washed their
robes and made tlwm white In the blood F(I thc Lamb." Jehovah has declared them rl~htcouswlth a view to survival of "the great tribulation." (llcvclation 7:9, 14, 1.5; John
10:14; James 223) h e n if their opponents seem strong
right now, Isaiah's p r o l ~ h i qsays that in C;odls due time,
those opponents will prcwr. to he Irku ;I moth-eaten gxment, fit only to be cl iscanled, Meatiwhlle, holh anointcd
Christians and "other sheep" keep strclna through regular

prayer, study of God's Wo~~d,

a r ~ dattcntlancc at meetings
for worship. Thus thcy arc tal~gtit1)yJchuvah and learn to
speak with the tongue of the laught ones.
Trust in the Name of Jehovah
21 Now note B striking contrast: 'Who among p u pmp/e is in fear oflehowh, listening to the voiceof his serw n c who has waIked in continual darkners and far
whom &we Srm been no brightness? Let him trust in the
name of lehovah and support himself upon his God." (Isaiah 50:10) Those who listen lo t h c vt~iccof God's Servant, Jesw Christ, walk In thc light, (john 323 ) Not only
20. (a) Wio support anointed I:hrlstlans, anrl what II~IVC
they experienced? (h) Motv do anolntcd Chr1stI~1t1v
an11 "othcr sliecp" come to
have the tonguc*of thc i a u g l ~nnes'?
l
21. (a) Who arc those who walk in the Ilght, and what outcome is
there for them? (11) U7iaz l l a p p n ~to tliusc wllo ~ v a l kIn darkness?

164

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I1

do they use the divine name, Jehovah, but they also put
their trust in the one who bears that name. Even if at
one time they walked in darkness, now they da not fear
men. They support themselves on God. However, those
who persist in walking in darkness are gripped by the fear
of man, Such is the case with Pontius Pilate. Although
he knows that Jesus is innocent of the false charges that
have been brought against him, fear prevents that Roman
official from rekasing Jesus. Roman soldiers kill the Son
of God, but Jehovah resurrects him and crowns him with
glory and honor. What of Pilate? According to the jewlsh
historian Flavius Josephus, a mere four years after Jesus'
death, Pilate was replaced as Roman governor and ordered
to return to Rome to answer charges of serious wxongdoing. What of the Jews who brought about Jesus' death?
Less than four decades later, the armies of Rome destroyed
Jerusalem and caused her inhabitants to be slain or taken
into slavexy. There is no brqht light for those who prefer
the darkness!-fohn 3:19.
22 To look to men for salvation is the height of folly. Isaiah's prophecy explains why: "Look! All you who are igniting a fire, making sparks Iigh t up, walk in the light of your
fire, and amid the sparks thot you have set ablaze. From
my hand you will certainlycome to hove this: In sheer pain
p u will lie down." (Isaiah 50:11) Human leaden come
and go. A charismatic indil~dualmay capture the imagination of the people for a while. Rut even the most sincere human is limited in what he can accomplish. Instead
of lighting a roaring fire, as his supporters expect, he may
succeed only in Gniting a few "sparks," which give off
a small measure of light and heat but soon die out. On
the other hand, those who put their trust in Shiloh, God's
promised Messiah, will never be disappointed.

22. Why is it the height of folly to look to men for salvation?

CHAPTER TWELVE

Comfort for God's People

Isaiah 51:l-23

SEVENTY years-a norma1 human life span-that is how

long the nation of Judah will be captive in Babylon.
(Psalm 90:10; Jeremiah 25:ll; 29:lO) Most Israelites taken captive will grow old and die in Babylon. Think how
humiliated they will be by the taunts and jeers of their
enemies. Think, too, of the repmach that will be heaped
upon their God, Jehovah, when the city on which he
placed his name lies desolate for so long. (Nehemiah 1:9;
Psalm 132:13; 1371-3)The beloved temple, which was
filled with God's glory when it was dedicated by Solomon, will be no more. (2 Chronicles 7:l-3) What bleak
prospects! But Jehovah, through Isaiah, prophesies a restoration. (Isaiah 43:14; 4426-28) In chapter 51 of the
book of Isaiah, we find further prophecies on this theme
of comfort and reassurance.
zTo those in Judah who incline their hearts toward
him, Jehovah says: "Listen to me, you people who are
pursuing after righteousness, you who are seeking to
find l e h o ~ a h{lsaioh
.~
51:1 a) "Pursuing after righteousness" implies action. Those 'pursuing righteousness' will
1. What bIeak prospects lfe ahead for Jerusalem and her inhabitants,
y& what hope is there?
2. (a) To whom does Jehovah, through Isaiah, address his message

of comfort7 (b) How do falthful Jews 'pursue after righteousness'?

lq6

ISdaPs R%$kecy-Light for A 1 Mflnkind II

claim to be God's people, They will zealously

skive to be r i g h t u s and ta live in harmony wlth W s
will. (Psalm 34:W; Pmvmbs 2191)They will look to Jehm& as the only Source of righteousness,-mdthey will
'seek to hdJehmak' [Psalm 119; 14%:17)It is not that
theywiII not already
who Jehovah is orh w to ap-

not &y

proach him in prayer. Rather,they will e n d m r t~ draw

d o e r f~ him, wmMping him, p r a m ta hWrand seeking onin Ell1thEy ao.
3 Hb-jwwer, thm who truly p m e righteousness ate
corry>aatiWy few inJudah, and thrs m y cause them to
be fdnthcxterl anddespondent So using the illustration
of a quarry' Jehovahencourages them: "La& to the roek
h m which p were hewn ou&and to the hollaw of the
pit h m which you were &g out. LaDk to A h h m your
&th
father and to $a& who gmduufly hougfit
&th chM6W1 pins. For he was: gne WM
I cdId hkn,
and 1 pmeeded to bias Mm und io make him many,*
(!ai& 57:1b, 2) The rack" from which the Jews wre
hewn is Abraham, a hismr.lcd *re in Whom the nation
of Wml takes much pride. (Matthew39; john &33, 351)
He is t
k progmttor?the human ~ U X C B of
, the na~on.
'{Thehollow of the pitqf s S a d , h m whose womb m e
Israel's ancestor I-.
4 A b r a m and Sarah were beyond t h r promtive
ye& a d w e childless. Yet, Jehmah promised t~ bless
Abraham and " t ~make him mimy? [Genesis 17:1 4 , l S 17) By divine msto~ationof their praeMtiv@p w ~ x s ,
Ahtahm and Sarah brought forth a Ghild in their old
3, 4. @) Who is "the mckYfrom which the Jews m e hem, and
who i s Ifthe hqUw d the pip from whf& ?hey web? dirg out?
@) Why will remembering the* mt5 bring c0mW t~ the lM?

ComfirT far Gad 3 People

age, and f?om hun God's covenant nation sprang. Tkus

Jehovah made that one man father of a great nation
whose number turned out to be as uncountable as the
, stars in the h e a m , (Genesis 155; Acts 7:5) If Jehovah
could thus take Abraham from a distant land and form
hun into a mighty nation, he can certainly carry out his
pramise to free a faithful remnant from bondage in hbylon, restare them to their homelandJ and once again
form them into a great nation. Godb promise to Abraham was fulf~lled;h~~ltr
panis@ta those captive Jew will
also b~ carried out
5The symbolic quarrying of Baiah 51:1, 2 likely has
a further application Deuteronomy 3 2 18 call$ Jehovah
5. (a) Whom dg Abraham and Sasah picture? Explajn. (bj In the
fmal fulfillment, who trace their origin to "therock"?

168

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind 11

"the Rock" who fathered Israel and "the One bringing

[Israel] forth with childbirth pains." Tn the latter expression, the same Hebrew verb is used as that which appears
at Baiah 51:2 wit11 regard to Sarah gving birth to Israel.
Hence, Abraham stanch as a prophetic type of Jehovah,
the Greater Abraham. Abraham's wife, Sarah, well pictures Jehovah's universal heavenly organization of spirit creatures, represented in the Holy Scriptures as God's
wife, or woman. (Genesis 315; Revelation 12:1, 5) In the
final fulfillment of these words of Isaiah's pmphecy, the
nation that springs horn "the rock" is "the Israel.of God,"
the congregation of spirit-anointed Christians, which
was born at Pentecost 33 C.E. As discussed in previous
chaptexs of this book, that nation underwent Babylanish captivity in 1918but was restored in 1919 to a state of
spiritual prosperity.-Galatians 326-29; 428; 6:16.
6 Jehovah's comfort for Zion, or JerusaIem, includes
more than just a promise to produce a populous nation.
We read: 'yehovah will certainly comfortZion, He will
for certain comfort all her devastated places, and he will
make her wilderness like Eden and her desert plain like
the garden of jehovah. Exultation and rejoicing themselves will be found in her, thanksgiving and the mice
of melody." (Isaiah 51:3) Durjng the 70 years of desolation, the land of Judah will revert to a wilderness,
werrun with thombushes, brambles, and other wild vegetation. (Isaiah 64:lO;Jeremiah 4:26; 9:lO-12) So in addition to the resettling of Judah, the restoration will have
to include the restoring of the land, which will be converted into an Edenic garden with well-watered produc-

comfort for cod's ~ a p l e

169

tive fieIds and fruitful orchards. The ground will appear

Reasons for Confidence in Jehovah

7 Calling for renewed attentiveness, Jehovah says: "PPy
atEention to me, 0 my people; and you national group of
mine, to me give ear. For from me a law itself will go forth,
and my judicial decision I shall cause tn repose even as a
light to the peoples. My righteousnessis near. My sulvofion
will certainly go forth, and my own arms will judge even
the peoples. In me the islands themselves will hope, and
for my arm they will wait1'-Isaiah 51:4, 5.
8 Jehovah's call to grve ear to him means more than
just heanng hls message. It means paying attention with
a view to acting on what is heard. (Psalm 491; 78:l)The
nation must appreeate that Jehovah is the Source of instruction, justice, and salvation. He alone is the Source of
spirituaI enhghtenment. (2 Corinthians 46) He is the ultimate Judge of mankind. The laws and judicial decisions
that emanate from Jehovah are a light to those who allow
themselves to be guided by them.-Psalm 433; 119:105;
Proverbs 6:23.
9 All of this is to be m e with regard not only to God's
covenant people but also to rightly disposed people everywhere, wen on the most distant isles of the sea. Their
confidence in God and in his abihty to act in behalf of

to rejoice. Compared with its desolate condition during

the exile, the land wilI be paradisaic. The anointed remnant of the Israel of God entered just such a paradise in a
spiritual sense in 1919.-Isaiah 11:6-9; 35:l-7.

6 . (a) What lies ahead for the land of Judah, and what restoration
will be called for? (b) Isaiah 5 1 2 minds us of what modern-dayres-

7, 8 , (a) What does Jehovah's call to give ear to him mean? (b) Why
is it important that Judrlh pay heed to Jehovah?
9. Besides God's covenant people, who will benefit from Jehovah's

toration?

saving acts?

Comfort f a r God's Peioplr

Oppanents
af God3 w p l e
wffl dimppeac like
a garment euten
by moths

his faithful servankj and to save

t h e m d l not Qe disappointed.His
might, w powerI rep~etientedby his
am,>
is sure; if cannot be stayed by anyone. [Isaiah 40:10; Lake 151, 52) Similarly
toby, ihezealompreach* wotk of the mainlng members of the Israel of Gad bas led mihas, many from rema&i s W of the sea, to turn toJehovah and put faith
in him.
m Jehovahnext refers toa truth t@atKing N & u m a z a of
~ Babylon wfu b v eta lean. Nothing inheavenrre on
earth can stop Jehovahfrom
out his will. tDar3iel
$:MI35)We red: "Raiseyour eyes to the R
m themseIves# md look at the mrth kneath. For the very hegvens must be d i s p d ,in fragments /#sf like smoks, and
like a garment the earfh heIf will weur out, and its inhubjtwfs tkmeIves will dle like a mere gmt But as
my
sahfion, it wili prove to be wen to time indefin3teb and
my awn r g htwusness MI1 tmt be rhrrttered," (Isaiah 51 :6)
A l b q g h it is against the policy of the BabyIonh monarchs to a l l m caplives to return hame, Jehovnh'ssamg
of his people wjll not be thwarted. Psaiah 14:16,17)The
Babylonian "heavm,"or ruling power& wil be broken in
dekat, The Eamhnian "earth," the subfm of .those nzl10. (a] What truth wiIl King Wehuchadnezzar be forced to lea&?
What "heayens"and fleafthwwiIl be brought a an end?

ing powers, will gradually come to an end. Yes, wen t h e

greatest p m r of the day cannot stand against Jehovah's
might or gxevent his acts of salvaiion.
11 How encouraging it is' for Christians Wday to h o w
that these prophetic words were completely fulfilled!
Why? kcawe the apostle Peter used similar expressions
regwdhg a yet future went. He spoke of the rapidly approaching day of Jehovah, "thxough which the heaveas
being on b will be diswlved and the dements being intensely h ~will
t melt!" Then he said: "Thereare new heavens and a new emth that we are awaiting according to hrs
promise, and in these rightausness is to dwell." (2 Peter 3:12,13; Isaiah 344; Rwdation 6:12-14)Although the
mighty nations and their lofty stad& rulers may stand in
d&mce of Jehovah, In his due time they will be brought
to nuthing--crushed as easily as a mere gnat. (Psalm 2:l-9)
Only W ' s righteous gavernmentwill rule farmer, over a
dghtesus human society,-Daniel 244; Revelation 21:14.
12 Speaking to the "people who are pursuing after righWusness,"Jehovah now sayx "&ten tu m,you the onex
knowing righkousnesr, the w p i e in whose heart is my
bw, Do rnt be afraid of the reproach of mortal men, and
do not h sinirk with m r just because of their abuwords. For the moth will eat them up ju5t US If a garment
and the dotkes moth will eat &em up just as if wool. But
as for my righteousness, it will prove to be even to time indefinite, ond my sulwtiat~to unnumbered gmemti~ns."
(isaiah 57:T 8 ) Those trusting in J e h d will be vilified
11, Why is the ~ompletefulfillment of the propheq that the Babylonian "heavens"and "earthnwould be brought to an end encwr-

aging. to Christians today7

12. Why should God's servants not h fearful when t h y are vilified
by human opponents?

172

Isaiah's Proyliincy-Llglrt f i r All M ~ t i k i n dI1

and reproached for their courageous stand, hut thlr is not

something to be feared. The reproachem arc mrrc mortals who will be 'eaten up,' just as a woolen garment
i s consumed by a moth.* Like faithful Jews of old, true
Christians today have no reason tu fcar any who oppose
them. Jehovah, the eternal God, Is thcjr salvatjon. (15alrn
37:1,2) Reproach from God's enemjes stands as widcnce
that Jehovah's people have his spirit.-Matthew 5:11, 12;
10:2431.
13 As if callingJehovah to actlon In behalf of His captive
people, Isaiah says: %wake, owake, clothe yourself with
strength, O o m of Jehovah!Awake as in the days of long
ago, as during the generations of times bng past. Are
you not the one that broke Rahab to pieces, that pierced
the sea monster? Are you not the one that dried up the
sea, the waters of the vast deep? The one that made the
depths of the sea a way for the repurchased ones to go
ncross?"-lsaiah 51 :9, 70.
14 The historical examples of which Isalah speaks are
well chosen. Ewry Israelite knows of the nation's deliverance from E m t and passage through the lied Sea, (Fxodus 1224-27; 14:24-32) The expressions "Rahab" and
"the sea monsterwrefer to Egypt under her Pharaoh who
opposed Israel's Exodus from Egypt. (Psalm 74:13; 8?4;
Isaiah 30:7) With its head a t the Nile Delta and its elangated body stretching hundreds of mlles up the fertlle
Nile Valley, ancient Egypt resembled a monstrous serpent. (Ezekiel 293) But this monster was cut to pleces

"The moth referred to here Is evidently the webbing clothas moth,

parttcularly In its destructive larval stngc.

13, 14. What is p i d by the expresstons "Rnhab" snd "the sea

munster," and how is it 'broken In pleces' and "pterced"7

Comfort fbr God's Peoplp

173

when Jehovahpoured out the 'I'en Plagues upon it. It was

p i e d , sorely wounded, and cnfccbled when its army
was destroyed in the waters of t hc I?NI Sca. Yes, Jehovah
shaved the paver of his arm in his tlealings with Egypt.
Will he be any less ready to fight for his people exiled in
Babylon?
15 NOWlooking ahead to Israel's deliverance from Babylon, the prophecy continues: "Then the redeemed ones
of lehovah themselves will return and must come to Zion
with a joyful outcry, and rejdcing to time Indefinite will
be upon their head, To exultation and rejoicing they will
attain. Grief ond sighing will certahly flee crwuy." (Isuioh
51:17) How~vcrsad their sitletion [nay l ~ cin Babylon, thaw who seck JchovaPi's rightc'cou~nrrsshave glorious prospects. The time will cnmc when grief and sighing will he no more. A joyful outcry, rejoicing, exuItation
-these wlll be heard from the ]Ips of the redeemed, or
ransomed, ones. Tn the ri~ndernfulfillment oi' those prophetic words, the Israel of God was released from Rabylonish captivity in 1919. They returned to their spiritual
estate with great rcj~icin~-~joiclny:
that has continued
dawn until today.
16 What will be Ehc prlcr o f thc rcdcmption of the Jews?
Isaiah's prophecy has already rmrealed that Jehovah gives
"Egypt as a ransom for you, Ethiopia and Seha in place
of you." (Isaiah 4 3 1 -4) This will lake place later. After
conquering Babylon and releasing the Jewish capthes,
the Persian llmplre will conquer Egypt, Ethiopia, and
Seba. Those will be giwn in place of the Israelites' souls.
15. (a) When and hmv wtlE the grlet and sighing nF Zlon flee away?
(b) When did grief and sl~hlnfiflcc ilwny tor thc Israel of God in
modern times?
16. What price b p l d In order tn d e c m the Jews?

174

Israiah's Prophecy-Light for A l i M a n k ~ n dI1

This is in harmony with the principle stated at Proverbs

21:18:"The wicked is a ransom for the righteous one; and
the one dealing treacherausly takes the place of the upright ones."

Further Reassurance
17 Jehovah further reassures his people: "/-I myself am
the One that is comforting you people. Who are you that
you should be afruid of a mortal man that will die, and
of a son of mankind that will be rendered as mere green
gmss? And that you should forget Jehovah your Maker,
the One sfretching out the heavens and laying the foundation of the earth, so that you were in dread constantIy the whole day long on account of the rage of the one
hemming you in, as though he was all set to bring you to
ruin? And where is the rage of the one hemming you in?"
{Isaiah 51:12, 13) Years of exile lie ahead. Still, there is no
reason to fear the rage of Babylon. Although that nation,
the third world power of Bible record, will conquer God's

people and seek to 'hem them in,' or block their way

of escape, faithful Jews know that Jehovah has foretold
the fall of Babylon at the hand of Cyrus. (Isaiah 4423, 2428) In contrast to the Creator-the everlasting God, Jehovah-the inhabitants of BabyIon will perish as grass that
withers under the sun's intense rays during the dry season. Then where will their threats and rage be? Haw unwise it is to fear man and forget Jehovah, the one who
made heaven and earth!
18 Although Jehovah's people will be captive for a whilc,
"stooping in chains," as it were, their release will be sud-

17. Why is there no need for the Jews to fear the r a g of Babylon?
18. Although his people w11Ibe prisoners for a time, what assurances
does Jehovah give them?

-1 I
1

Comfort for God's People

den. They will not be exterminated in Babylon or die

of starvation as prisoners-rendered lifeless in Sheol, the
pit. (Psalm 30:3; 88:3-5)Jehovah assures them: '7he one
stooping In chains will cedainly be loosened speedily, that
he may not go in death to the pit and that hb bread may
not be lacking."-Isaiah 51:14.
19 Still cornformg Zion, Jehovah continues: "But I, jehovah, am your Cod, the One stirring up the sea that itr
waves may be boisterous, lehovah of armies is his name.
And I shall put my words in your mouth, and with the
shadow of my hand I shall certainly cover you, in order
to plant the heavens and lay the foundation of the earth
and say to Zion, 'You are my people.' " (Isaiah 51:15, 16)
The Bible repeatedly mentions God's ability to extend h s
power over the sea and to control it. (lob 26:12; Psalm
89:9;Jeremiah 31:35) He has total control over the forces
of nature, as he displayed when he delivered his people
from Egypt. Who ran be compared, even in the smallest
way, to "Jehovah of armies"?-Psalm 24:10.

The Jews remain God's covenant people, and Jehovah assures them that they will return to their homeland,
to live once more under his Law. There they wilI rebuild
Jerusalem and the temple and resume their responsibilities under the covenant that he made with them through
Moses. When the land begins to be repopulatedwith the
repatriated Israelites and their domestic animals, "a new
earth" will come into existence. Over it will be placed
"new heavens," a new governmentaI system. (Isaiah
-

19. Why can faithful Jewshave complete confidence in Jehovah's

words?
20. What "heavens"and "earth1'will come into existence when Jehwah restores Zion, and what comforting words will he utter?

Comfwt for God's People

69:17- 1%Haggai 1:1, 14) JehovahMI again say to Zion:

"You ae my people:
A Call to Action
a
w ~ m zi~n,
d jehmah i s u a a d l actkaa Spleaklng as If she had already reached the end sf
her sufferbgs, he say: aRausc purse& muse jwmI$
rise up, 0je~usuiern~
you wha h w dr& at the hand of
jelaomh tjis cup of mge. I331.egoBkCthe cup wusimg re&
In& you k m drunkCp u haw dmlned outk (Iraigh 97:
77) Ws,Jadamust rise up krn her czhrnitm condition and recover her f o r m position and splendor. The
time will c m e when she will have drained the qmbolic cup oof divine rebhtian, There will be nothing Ie ft of
Gad's anger tmard her.
22 Rcverth&ss, while Jenwkm is being punish&,
21, What call b.ad0~
d1
m jehovah h u e ?
22, 2.3. W ~ wilI
W JerusaLm experience when shedrlnb the cup of

Je4waHJs$!a&?

none of her h h b I t a m , her "sans,"will be able ta prevent what is happe-,

(Tsaiah 435-7; Jeremiah 314)
The prophecy says: %ere was none of 011 the sons that
she brought to bj* cohductit~gher, und them was none
of all the sons that h e brought ~p &king hold af her
hmd." (Isaiah S1:W) How she will suffer at the hands of
the WEI@lonians! 'Those two thit~pwere befaling you,
Who will sy~pathizewith you? Despoiling and breakdawn, and hunger and sword! M u wit1 comfiKf you?
Your own sons have swooned away, They haw laln &wrt
at the head of all the 3-b
like the wild sheep in the mi!,
us those who are full of the mge &Jehovah, the rebuke of
I;od."-l~hh 51:19, 20.
3 PQOI Jerusalem! She wlW endure "despoiling md
breakdownn as well as '%unger and word." Unable to
guide hm and k p her on her feet) her nsons" will
stand by helpless, emaciated, not stmng erloug"n to repel the Babylonian Invaders. Csnspkuously, at the head,
or cornerI of the stre&, they will lie hint, WE&, and
.JeTtovuhhas shewn h h , qWIW
'"tocontrol the elemem-,;

c:am@rt
,@I God's Pcopfe

exhausted. (Iamentatlons 219; 4:l, 2) T h q will hawe

drunk the cup of W s rage and wlll be as powdm as
d m a h aught h a net,
% k t thts sad Atuatlon wiU come b an end Isaiah mmforth$y says: " l ? / e m hlisten
~
Cn bM$, pkae,
CA m m n #?kt& and dm& h t not wtth wine. ?his is
Whgt your LO^ /ehovuhI ewn your Cod, who contmds
Por h b peoplef has said; 'Look! I wIII lurk awuy h m pur
h d the cup cumhg mdhg. 7he g
a
w my cup drip
-pi W n o t ~ t k & h g o f I t o n y n w # e , A n d i I l l
p t i r m t k h m d o f t h e o n w I t r & t i n g y o u , who&
SaidQoywrrsoul," b w down that we muycross -,"SO

~ y o u ~ ~ ~ e i d o m k e p u r b a c k ~ f l ~and
keth

/ike theM fw thoje

-'" (IwM 57:21-23)
A f k dsdpllnlngJerusalem,Jehovahfs d y to act wtth
pity a d ko show a Eorgivhg spfrlt toward her,
Jehovah will now turnhis anger away from Jmsalem
and d i m it Ward Babylon. Babylon MI1 have razed JeW e m and humlllated her. (Palm 137:?-9) But Jemm
lemwill not haw to drlnk from such a cup again at the
hands of Babyion or her allies. Instead, the cup will lw
taken out of Jerusalem's hand and glven to those who rp
joked at her disgrace. (Lamentations 4:21, 22) Babylon
will go dorm, dead drunk (Jeremiah51:&8) Meanwhile,
Xion WUrlsel What a revmall M y , Zion can be cornby such a prospect.And Jehovah's sewants can be
assured that hfs name will be mxtlfid through his saving am.

24, B.I@ What will not ba repented for JeruufemT(b) After JEW
dm,
.whowill be ntm in Hw to Wnk the cup of Jehwahksanger?

77re cup from wAkh lerusaIam wlil haw drunk As to be

p o d to Babylon and her allies

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

*I1

"Cry Out Joyfully in Unison"!

lsaiah 52:f -12

LIBERATION! Can there be a more joyfulpros*

for a
captive people? Since a major theme in the book of Isaiah is liberation and restoration, it is not surprising that
aside from the kalms, this RiMe book contains mare
expressions of joy than any other. Isaiah chapter 52 especialIy gves reason fur God's people to rejoice, Its prophetic wo& are fuINled upon Jerusalem In 537 B.C.E,
And they have a greater fulfillment involving "Jerusalem
above," Jehovah's heavenly organization of spirit creatures, which is sometimes described as a mother and a
wife.-Galatians 4%; Revelation 12:1.

"Put O n Your Strength, 0 Zionl"

2 Jehwah, thmugh Isaiah, calls out to His b e l m d ciy,
Zion: "Wake up, wake up, put on p u r strength, 0 Zion!
P u t on your beautiful garments, 0 ~erusalem,the holy
city! For no more will there come again into you the uncircumcised and unclean one. Shake yourself free from the
dust, rise up, take a seat, O jerusaiem. Loosen for purself the Bands on y w r neck, 0 captive daughter of Zion."
(Isaiah 52:1, 2) Because her inhabitants have provoked
Jehovah's anger, Jerusalemhas lain desolate for 70 yr.;lrs.
1. Why are the prophetic words of Isaiah chapter 52 a source of loy,
and what two FulfilIrnents do they have?
2 . When docs Zion rwke up and hmv does this happen?

/
1

"Cry nlrt Iijyfidlly Irr UnisonK!

(2 Kings 24~4;2 Chronicler 36315-21; Jeremiah 258-11;

Daniel 92) Now It is time for her to wake up from her

long period of Inactivity and don the beautiful garments.

of liberty, Jehovah has moved the heart of C l u s to free
the "captive daughter of Zion" so that the former inhab
3lantr ofJerusalem and their offspring can leave Babylon,
return to Jerusalem, and rcskorr true worship. No undrcumcised and unclean ones must be found in Jerusalem.
-Ezra 1:1-4.
3 Thcse words of Isaiah also have a fulfillment on the
Christian congregation. 'I'he congregation of anointed
Chriskinns can hc dr~crihctas thc modernday "daughter af Zion," since "Jerusatemabove" is their mother."
Set free from pagan teachings and apostate doctrines, the
anolnted must malntain a clean standing before Jehovah, no, not by being cirmrncisecl in the flesh, but by being clrcumclsed In their hearts. (Jeremiah 31:33; Romans
2:25-29) 'I'i~lsIncludcs maintaining spiritual, mental,
;tnd moral cleanness hefore Jehovah.-1 Corinthians T
19; F,pheslans 2:3.
4 'l'rue, "Jeruselern ahow" has never disobeyed Jeha
vah. During the first world war, however, her-representa tives on earth-anoi nted C h r i s t i a n - 1 broke
J~hovah'slaw because they did not properly understand
true Christian neutrality Losing divine favor, they came
Into spiritual captivity to "Rahylon the Great," the world

' Sec Chnptcr 15 of this bonk br a more extenslw discussion of the

relatjonship between "]erus:~lcma h m " and her earthly, anointed
uhilrlr~n,

I
I

3. Why can the mngregatlon of anolnted Christians be called the

"daughterof Zlnn," and in what sense arc they liberated?
4. Alt)inu~h"Jcrusnlcmabove'' has never clisobcyrd Jchwah, what
exprlt.nrr.9 o l hrv rcyimwntatlvcs on earth mirror thuse of the ancIcnl Int~nl~ttsnts
of Jcttrsalern?

I82

Bahhb Prophecy-Ligh t f i r M I Mankind Il

empire of false rd@m.(Revelation 175) Their con&dcin of hing in s h a y climaxed la. June 1918 when
e@t d members of the Watch Tomr Sad* were imprisoned on false c h a p , hduding cmspiracp, At that

p o i n t t h e ~ p ~ a f t h e g ~ n e w s ~ y
stopped. In 1919,however, a dadoncall tn spiritual wake
fulnas was sounded forth. Anointed M a n s began
to s-te
thmw1- more curnplctdy from the moral and spiritual unckamess of Babylon the Great. They
ruse from the dust of captivityI and "Jerusalem&oveH
m e to ham the splendor of a " h adtf' where sflrItualundeammisnat.allOwed
5 Both in 537 B.C.E.and in 1919C.E,Jehovah had a prf
artght to liberate hi5 people. h i a h explerfns: mk is
whatmhhsaid:'kwwIbrn&n9
thatpup
pkwetl~suId~mdifwUIi#wlfhoutmoneytfrotyou
wllfbe mpu&d/"
f/s&h $23) Neither andent Babylon nor Bahylosn the Great pad myth@ when they
took possession of God's mmmt people as slaves. Since
no transaction tnwlaing money took placq Jehovahwas
skill the Iegd OMnerdMs people.Shouldhe baw felt indebted to m@dyP OfmEse n& In bath as=,Jehe
mta d d rightly r e p u d w hfs worstzipers without
Ing any mmpsatEml tu their captors.-Is&h 45:13,
6 Jehovah's en-3
had not leaned any lessons from
W r y . Weread: " t h i s i s w f i a f l h e - & n d j @ b
vsah has =Id: 'it H~YLS fX1 E
w
t that my peopde wnt
~ w n h t t h e ~ h t u m e b m & k ~ a s d k # &
and WThutco~ueAssyria,Witspurt o p p m d them.'"
( I d a h 52:4) Pharaah oJ!&p
e m l a d the MaeUtes,

*-

5. Whyd~es~ehcwahhawap&ectrighttOrepumh@hi~peop1~
without g i v i n g m m p m t h to their q t m ?
6. what 1-a
from b k b y did Jehovah's enemies M
to
I heed?

who had been invited

to hls land to mlde
as guests, But Jeh*
vah dmvnd Pharaoh
and his army In the
lbd a.
(Hxodus 1:1114; 11427, 28) When
King Sennacherib of
Assyrta threatened Je-

mdem,Jehovah's angel stnlck down 185,000 d the king's sddiets. (Isaiah 3233-37) SMarlpt
neither ancient Babylon nor BabyIon the Great c m &cape the consequsnw of opgrmslng Gad's people.

"My People Will Know My Namen

7 The captive aondltlon of Jehrwah'speople has an ef-

fect on his name, as the prophq shows: "Now, w h t

InWe~tdoI haw hemp Is the utimvnce of]&oWII'Fm
my psopie w m taken Ibr nothing. Tke wry o m ruling owrbhm kqlthowlh&'& th@mEmnWofiehavlbr,
'and conswty, d day hlang, my name wus behg treated withdkrespeet. forthatn?wnmypeoplewMknow
mynume, e m I b r t h a t ~ I bhatdcry,hmuseIlam
n
hOns that Is s p h g . Lookl It Is I.' " (lsaioh 52:5, 6)
What: indoes Jehovah have in the situation?What
conof hb is it that Israel ts enslaved in lhvon?

7. What a c t hns the wptlvIty

name?

of Jrtrovah's people had m b4s

184

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for AIZ Mankind I1

Jehovah must act because Babylon has taken his people captive and has howled over them in triumph. Such
bragging has led to Babylon's treating Jehovah's name
disrespectfully. (Ezekiel 36:20, 21) She has failed to recognize that the desolate condition of Jerusalem is on account of Jehovah's displeasure toward his people. Rather, Babylon has viewed the enslavement of the Jews as
evidence of the weakness of their God. The Babylonian
coregent Belshazzrtr even mocks Jehovah by using vessels
from His temple during a feast in honor of Babylonian
gods.-Daniel 5:1-4.
8 How does all of this apply to "Jemsalem above"? Ever
since apostasy took root among professed Christians, it
could be said that "the name of God is being blasphemed
on account of [those] people among the nations." (Romans 224; A& 2029'30) For that matter, because of superstition the Jews eventually started to avoid using the
divine name.Soon after the death of the apostles, apostate Christians followed suit and ceased to use God's personal name. The apostasy resulted in the development of
Christendom, a major part of Babylon the Great. (2Thessalonians 2:3, 7; Revelation 175) Christendom's wanton
immorality and brazen bloodguilt have refleaed badly
on Jehovah's name.-2 Peter 2:1,2.
9 When the Greater Cyrus, Jesus Christ, freed God's covenant people from captivity to Babylon the Great in 1919,
they came to a better understandingof Jehovah's requirements. They had already cleansed themselves of many
teachings of Christendom that have their roots in preChristian paganism, such as the Trinity, immortality of
&, How has Jehovah's name been treated since the death of the apostles?
9, 10. What deeper understanding of Jehavah's standards and his
name have God's covenant people of modern times come to have?

"Cry Out Ioyfully in Uriison"!

185

the soul, and eternaI torment in a fiery hell. Now they

set out to rid themselves of all traces of Babylonish influence. They also came to realize the importance of maintaining sbict neueality regardihg this worId's partisan affairs, They wen wanted to purify themselves of whatever
bloodguilt some might have incurred.
10 The modernday sewants of God also came to have
a deeper understanding of the importance of Jehovah's
name. In 1931 they adopted the name Jehovah's Witnesses, thus publicly announcing that they supportedJehovah and hs name. Moreover, through the publication
of the Nav World Pamhtion since 1950, Jehovah's Witnesses have restored the divine name to its proper place
in the Bible. Yes, they have come to appreciate Jehovah's
name and are makrng it known to the ends of the earth.

"The One Bringing Good News"

11 Naw our attention is turned back to Zlon when she
is still in her desolate state, A messenger approaches bearing good news: "Now comely upon the mountains ore the
feet o f the one bringing good news, the one publishing
peace, the one bringing good news o f something better,
the one publishing salvation, the one saying to Zion: 'Your
God has become king!' " (Isaiah 525') In 537 B.C.E., how
can it be said that Zion's God has become King? Has not
Jehovah always been King? Indeed, he is the "King of eternity"! (Revelation 15:S) But the exclamation "Your God
has become king!" is appropriate because Babylon's fall

and the royal proclamation to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem and restore pure worship t h m constitute a new expression of Jehovah's kingship.-P~ah 97:1.
-

11. Why j s the exdarnation "Your God has become king!" appropriate with regard to events in 537 B.C.E.?

"Cry O I L S Joyftrlly if! U n i ~ u"!

r~

Isaiah 5 2 7 to highlight the importance of the work of

preaching the good news. He poses a series of thoughtprovoking questions, including 'How will people hear
without someone to preach?' He then says: "Just as it is
written: 'How comely are the feet of those wrho declare
good news of good tlzings!'" (Romans 10:14, 15) Paul
thus expands the application of lsaiah 52:7, using the plural form "those" instead of the singular "one," which appears in the original text of Isaiah. Imitating Jesus ChrEst,
all Christians are messengers of the good news of peace.
How are their feet "comely"? Isaiah speaks as if the herald
is approaching Jerusalem froin the nearby mountains of
Judah. From afar, i i is impossible to see the rncrscngerJs
feet. Rather, the focus here is on the mesrenger, the feet
standing for the messenger himself. Just as Jcsus and his
dirciples were a beautiful sight to meek ones in the first
century, present-day Witnerses are a urelcorne sight to
humble one3 who heed the lifesaving message of good
news.

Starting in 7919, 'cornely feet' have once again

appeared on "themountains"
12 In Isaiah's day, no individual or group of individuals was identified as "the one bringing good news." Today, though, the identity of the bearer of good news
is known. Jesus Christ is Jehovah's greatest messenger of
peace. While on earth, he preached the good news that
there would be a release from a l l the effects of sin inherited from Adam, including sickness and death, (Matthew 9:3S) Jesus set a zealous example in publishing this
good news of something better, seizing every opportunity to teach people about the Kingdom of God. (Matthew
5:1,2; Mark 6:34; Luke 1931-10;John 4:s-26) And his disciples fallowed his example.
13 In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul quotes
12. Who took the lead In "bringing good news," and how?
13. (a) Hmv does the apostle Paul expand on the meaning of the
expression "How comely upon the mountains are t h e feet of t h one
~
hri~lglnggood news"?(b) Why can it be said that the feet of the mes-

sengers are f'comdy"'?

187

14 Since when in modem times has the cry "Your God

has become king!" been heard? Since 1919. In that yeax at
a conventioll in Cedar Point, Ohio, J. F. Rutherford,
then president of the Watch Tower Society, stirred his
listeners with a talk entitled "Address to Co-laborers." The
talk, based on Isaiah 52:7 and Revelation 15:2, encouraged all present to take up the preaching work. Thus,
'comely feet' began to appear on "the mountains.'Virst
anointed Christians and later their companions of the
"other sheep" zealously went forth to preach the good
news that Jehovah had become King. (John 10:16) How
14. How has Jehovah hecnme King in modern times, and since when
has thir been announcctl to manklnd?

188

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for dl! Man kind I1

"CryOufJgvfi~llyinU~in.oa'!

had Jehovah become King? He expressed his kingship

anew in 1914 when he installed his Son,Jesus Christ, as
Kng in the newly established heavenly Kingdom. And Jehovah made yet another expression of his kingship in
1919 when he liberated "the Israel of God" from Babylon
the Great,-Galatians 6:16; Psalm 47:8; Revelation 11:15,
17; 195.

"Your Own Watchmen

Have Raised Their Voice"
15 Does the cry "Your God has become king!"elicit a response? Yes. Isaiah records: "Listen! Your own wutchmen
have raised their voice. In unison they keep crying out joyful/~
for it will be eye into eye that they will see when lehovah sathers back Zion." (Isaiah 52:8) No literal watchmen take their positions in Jerusalem in 537 B.C.E. to
welcome back the first returning exiles. The city has lain
desolate for 70 years. Uexerniah 25:11,12) So the "watchmen1'who raise their voice must be those Israelites who
get the news in advance regarding Zion's restoration and
who become responsible for passing the news on to the
rest of Zion's children. Upon seeing Jehovah give Babylon into the hands of Cyrus in 539 B.C.E., the watchmen have no doubt in their minds that Jehovah is liberating his people. Together with those who respond to
their call, the watchmen keep cryng out joyfully, in unison, letting others hear the good news.
16 The alert watchmen establish a close, personal relationship with Jehovah, seeing him "eye into eye," or
face-to-face, as it were. (Numbers 14:14) Their close contact with Jehovah and with one another highlights their
15. Who are the "watchmen" who raise their voice in 537 B.C.E.?
16. Whom do the watchmen see "eye ~nto
eye," and inwhat sense?

189

unity and the joyful nature of their message.-l Corinthians 1:10.

17 In the modern-day fulfillment, the watchman class,
"the faithful and dismet slave," raises its voice not just
to the ones who are already in God's visible organizatian but also to outsiders. (Matthew 24:45-47) A call went
out to gather in the remaining ones of the anointed
in 1919, and in 1922the call was intensified at the Cedar
Point, Ohio, convention with the appeal to "advertise,
17, 18, (a) How has the modern-day watchman class raised its
voice? (b) In what sense has the watchman class called out in unison?

lehovah's Witnesses speak in unison

20 In these "last days," Jehovah has bared his holy arm

advertise, advertise, the King and hjs klngdom." Slncc

1935, attention has been turned to gathering in a great
cmvd of sheeplike ones. (Itevelation 7:9,10) In rcccnt
years the announcement of Jehovah's kingship has intensified. Mow? In the year 2000, some slx million were
sharing in telling ofJehovahlskinghip in marc than 230
lands and territories. Further, 77re Wt~tchtower,the foremost instrument of the watchman class, sounds out t hc
joyful message in more than 130 I;m&~iages.
18 To share in suck a unifying work takes 11umilil-yand
brotherly love. For the call to be effective, all involved
must preach the same rnesrage, featuring Jehovah's
name, his ransom provision, his wisdom, his love, and
his Kingdom. As Christians all around the world work
shoulder to shoulder, their personal bond with Jehovah
is strengthened to sound out the glad tidings in unison.
19 With God's people shouting in joy, even thc placc
in which they dwell looks cheerful. The prophecy continues: "Become cheerful, cry out joyfully in unison, you
devastated places of ]erusuiem, for jehowrh has comforted his people; he has repurchased jerusalem. jehovah has
bared his holy arm before the eyes of all fhc notions; and
ail the ends of the earth must see the salvation of our
Cod." (Isaiah 52:9, 70) With the arrival of the returnees
from Babylon, the mournful-looking places of desolated
JerusaIem have a cheerFul appearance because Jehovah's
pure worship can now be restomd. (Isaiah 35:1,2) ClvarIy, Jehovahhas his hand in this. He has " h a r d his holy
am,"as if mllingup his sleeves in order to apply l~imself
to the task of saving his people.-Ezra 1 :Z, 3.

19. (a1 How do the "devastated places of Jerus;ktem"bemmc chccrful? th) In what sense has Jehovah "bared his holy arm"?

In nrcler to revive the anointed remnant, the "two witnesses'kf the book of Revelation, (2 Timothy 3:1; Revelation 11:3, 7-13)Since 1919, these have h e n brought
into a spirlhral prtradiw, the spltitrtal estate that they now
share with millions of their associates, the other sheep.
Ikentunlly,Jehovah will bare his holy arm to bring salvation to his people at "Har-Magedo~~."
(Revelation 1614,
1h) Then, "all the cnds of the earth must see the salvation of OUT C;ocI."
A n Urgent Requirement

1I
I

21 Those who get out of Babylon to return to Jerusalem

havc n, requirement to meet. Isaiah writes: 'Turn away,
turn away, get out of there, touch nothing unclean; get
out from the midst of her, keep yourselves cleon, you who
are carrying the utensils ofjehowh. Far you people will
get out in no panlc, and you will go in na flight. Forjehovah will be going even before you, and the God of Israel
will be your rear guard." {Isaiah 52:1I, 12) 'I'he departing
Ismelites lnusl leave behind them in Uaby1on anything
having a taint of l3alylon% false worship. Since they carsy the utensils of Jehovah that came from the temple
In Jerusalem, they have to be clean, not merely in an
outward, ccrcmonjal way, but primarily In their hearts,
(2 Kings 24:11-13; Ebra 1:7) Further, Jehovahis going before them, so they do not haw to panic, nor do they have
to run frantically, as though bloodthirsty pursuers were
hard on their heels. The God of Israel i s their sear guard.

-F.%ra 821-23.

ZOWhathu~rc~vltcdundwillyrtrprultfmmJ~hwah.sbadnghir
holy arm En modern times?
21. (EL)W l ~ Isl requttetl af those "carrying the utensils of Jehovah"?
(IJ)Why is t trcrc no rcason forJewsdeparting from Babylon to panic?

~Ishh's~~t~deanhaweam#orfrrl-

-."

malt an the ofbphg of *J&m

mm
Paul admontsbd the Corhtblan ChrbUm not to b&
came unevdy pked with unbelimm, he quoted w
words of h h h 521k ' T h d r e @ out Born among
22. How d m Paul
chrwam?

the rssed f i r cbmnW man#anohted

nose * c ~ r r y h gthe utsnslls of /ehovah#

haw to &e mom/& anrj)splrftuoI/yclean

ttrem, and separate yourselws,' says Jehovah 'and quit

towhhg the unclean thing.'" (2 Corintbhm 6:14
17) Just like the haelites heading home fnnn w
o
n
,
ChWam have to sbed clear of Babylonlsh false mrship.
23 This was partiGularly true of those andated f-011~ers crf Jesus Chrtst who fled Babylon the mt in 1919.
They pmgresslveiy cleansed themselves of rxtl traces d
fabe mahip. (hiah 8:19, 20; Komans 154) They
&came inmast~~$y
mare of the importance of m ~ a l
elmmess.AlthoughJehovahls'Wltmseshave alwaysu p
held high moral standads, W WaWltmmcarried articles in 1952 emphasizing the need to dMpUne immoral
ones so as to keepthe cmgqationcleah Such disdpharyactlcmalsohelpsthewrongdaerhhnselfto -the
need for s i n e repentance.-1 Corinthians 5 5 , 7, 9-13;
2 Corinthians E8-10;2 John 10,11,
24AnohtedChrMans together with the p a t m d of
&her sheep are Wrmined to much nothing that LspiriWly unclean. Their purified, c l d cmditfon qaUfies them to be bearers of "the utensils of JehmW-the
pdous prwWons that God m a w for samd semi- in
the houseto-house and Blble study mlnhtq and otba
dormsdf CMstlan activity, By B y t a W q a dean standing, W ' s p p l e today a n be confident that Jehovah

willcanthue to gobeforethemaswllasbethelrmr
gmd As God9 dean people, they haw an abundance of
w w n to
~ "cry out joyfully in untsonHl

Z3, Cn whit ways do rervents of phmh

today endeavor to keep

t
~
d
~
?
24. (a) In modem times, wbat nre "the um& of JehmIf?

(b]~arechrtsW~EonfldtnttMtJthw&wLlt~cta

go Wofe tbem as well as be their mar g u d ?

jehovalt !Tx#rIts His Messianfc Servnr~t

CHAMER FOURTEEN

Jehovah Exalts His

Messianic Servant
Isaiah 5213-53~12
-

TMAGTNE that you are to meet with an important dignitary. The time and the place of p i t meetlng are set. But
there Is a problem: You do not know what he looks like,
and he will be mveling discreetly, wlthout fanfare, How
will you recognize him? It would help if you had a detailed descriptionof him.
2 In the early part of the first century C.E.,many Jews
faced a situation like this. They were expecting the Messiah-the most important man who would ever live. (Danicl 9:24-27; Luke 3:15) But how were faithful Jews to
recognize him?Jehovah,by means of the Hebrew prophets, had painted a detailed written portrait of events surrounding the Messiah that woukl enable discerning ones
to identify him unmistakably.
3 Among the Hebrew prophedes of thc Messiah, perhaps none provide a clearer piclure than that recorded at
Isaiah 5213-5332.Over 700years, In advance, Isaiah described, not the physical appearance of the Messiah, but
details that were more signi ficant-the purpose and man-

I. 2, (a) tllusmte the situation faced by many JewsIn the earlypaa

of the first century C.E. (b) What provlslon had Jehovah made to
hclp falthful Jews rrcognlzc the Messiah?
3. What description of the Messlah ts provided at Isaiah 521353:12?

195

ner of his suffering and specifics about his death, burial, and exaltation. A consideration of this prophecy and
its fulfillment will warm our hearts and strengthen our
falth.

I
I

'My Servantf'-Who Is He?

4 Isaiah has just told of the release of the Jewsfrom exile
In Hnbylon. Now looking ahead to a Far water event, he
records Jehovah's words: "Sookl My servant will oct with
insight. He will be in high station and will cersaltnly be elevated and exalted w r y much." (Isuiah 52:13) Just who
Is th Is "servant"?Over the centuries, Jewish scholars offered various opinions, Some claimed that he represented the whole nation of Israel during Its Babylonian MIe.
But such a n explanation does not match the pmphecy. God" Sewant suffers voluntarily. Although innocent,
he suffers for the sins of others. 'Chis hardly describes
the Jewish nation, whch went &to exile hecause of its
sinful ways, (2 Kings 21:ll-15;Jeremiah 25:8-21) Others
claimed that the Servant represented the pious elite in Israel and that these sufferedin behalf of sinful Israelites.
Horvwer, during times of affliction in Israel, no one spedfrc group sufferedfor another.
5 Before the advent of Christianiv and tu some extent
during the early centuries of the Common Era, a few Tewirh rcholars did apply this prophecy to the ~ A s i a hThat
.
this Is the correct application i s seen in the Christian
Greek Scriptures. The boDk of Acts reports that when the
4, What opinions as to the identlty of the "servant"haw some JewIsh scholars offered,but why da these not m ~ t c hIsalah's prophecy?
5 , (a) Some Jewlsh schoIars haw made what appllcation of Isaiah's
prophecy? (See Footnote.) (b) What clear lclenllT~cfitlnnof the Servnnt Is glven in the Bible book of Acts?

196

Jehoviah Exalts His Messianic Servant

Isaiah3 Prophecy-Light for ,411 Mankind II

Ethiopian eunuch said that he did not know the identity

of the Servant of Isaiah's prophecy, Philip "declared to
him the good news about Jesus." (A& 826-40; Isaiah 53:
7, 8) Other Bible books likewise identify Jesus Christ as
the Messianic Servant of Isaiah's prophecy." As we discuss this prophecy, we will see the undeniable parallels
behveen the one whom Jehovah calls "my servant" and
Jesus of Nazareth.
6 The prophecy begins by describing the ultimate success of the Messiah in carrying out the divine will. The
ward "servant" indicates that he will submit to God's
will, as a servant does to that of his master. In so doing,
he "will act with insight." Insight is the ability to see into
a situation. To act with insight is to act discreetly. Regarding the Hebrew verb here used, one reference work says:
"At its heart is the thought of prudent and wise dealing.
He who deals wisely will obtain success."That the Messiah will indeed be successful is seen in that the prophecy
says he w ~ U
"be elevated and exalted very much."
7 Jesus

did "act with insight," showing understanding

of the Bible prophecies that applied to him and being
guided by them to do the will of his Father. (John 17:4;
19:30)With what result? Following Jesus' resurrection
* In its rendering of Isaiah 52:13,the Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel
(first century C.B.),
as translated by J. F. Stenning, states: "Behold, my
scrvant, the Anointed One (or, the Messinh), shall prosper." Similarly, the Babylonian Talmud (c, third century C.E.)says: "The Messiah
-what is his name? . . . I; those] of the home of Rabbi [say, The sick
one], as It is said, 'Surely he hath borne our sicknesses.' "-Sanhedrin
9Sb; lsaiah $ 3 4 .

ti. How does Isaiah's prophecy indicate that the Messiah will successfully carry out the divine will?
7. How did JesusChrist "act with insight," and how has he been "elevated and exalted very much"?

197

and ascension to heaven, 'God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above
every other name." (Philippians 2:9;Acts 2:34-36)Then,
in 1914 the glorified Jestis was elevated even further. Jehovah exalted him to the throne of the Messianic Kingdom. (Revelation 12:l-5) Yes, he was "elevated and exalted very much."

'Staring at Him in Amazement'

8 How will the nations and their rulers react to the exalted Messiah? If we momentarily skip the parenthetical comment in the second part of verse 14, the prophecy reads: 'To the extent that many have stared at him
in amazement
he will likewise startle many nations.
A t him kings wiii shut their mouth, because what hod
not been recounted to them they will actually see, and
to what they had not hmrd they must turn their consideration." (Isaiah 52:74a, 75) With these words Isaiah describes, not the Messiah's initial appearance, but his final
confrontation with earthly rulers.

...

1
I
I

9 When the exalted Jesus comes to execute judgment

on this ungodly system of things, earthly rulers will
'stare at him in amazement.' True, human rulers will not
literally see the glorified Jesus. But they will see the visible evidences of his p m r as a heavenly Fighter for Jehovah. (Matthew 24:30) They will be forced to turn their
consideration to what they have not heard recounted by
religious leaders-that Jesus is the Executioner of God's
judgments! The exalted Servant whom they will encounter will act in a way that they do not expect.
8, 9, When the exalted Jesus comes to execute judgment, how will
earthly rulers react, and why?

198

7saiizh's Prophrcy-Lixlit for AIE Mnnklnd II

10 According to the parenthetical comment in verse 14,

Isaiah says: "So much was the disfigurement as respect5
his appearance more than that of any other man and
as sespectr hi1 statey form more than that of the sons
o f mankind." (Csaiah 52: 146) Was Jesus physically dlsfigured in some way? No. Nthough the Bible does not
give details about what Jesus Iooked Iike, the perfect Son
of God no doubt had a pleasing appearance and countenance. Evidently, Isaiah's words refer to the l~urniliation
that Jesus exprimmi. He boldly exposed the religious
leaders of his day as hypocrites, liars, and rnurclemrs; and
they responded by reviling him. ( I Peter 2 : 2 5 2 3 )They
accused him of being a lawbreaker, a blasphemer, a deceiver, a sedtionist against Rome. Thus,thesr false accusers painted an utterly disfigured picture of Jesus.
11 Today the misrepresentation ofJesuscontinues. Most
people picture Jesus as a babe in a manger or ar a tragic
figure nailed to a cross, with his face distorted in agony
under a crown of thorns. Christendom's clergy haw encouraged such views. They have failed to present Jesus as
the mighty heavenly King with whom nations will have
an accounting. When human rulers confront the exalted
Jesusin the near future, t h q will have to deal with n Messiah who has 'all authority in heaven and on the earth' !
-Matthew 28:18.

Who Will Put Faith in This Good News?

12 After desaibing the amazing ttansforrnatlon of the
Mmiah-from 'disfigured' to "exalted very much"-Isaiah asks: "Who has put hi* in the thing hwrd by us?And
as for the a m oflehowh, to whom has It been revwIed?"
10, 11. In what way can it be said that Jesus was dlsftp~redIn thc
first century, and how has this been done today?
12. What inmguing questions do the rvords a t Isalah 5 3 1 ralxc?

fcl~ovulrBxaltg Hla Measlnnlc Servant

199

(Isaiah 53:1$These words of Isaiah raise intriguing questions: Wlll this prophecy be fulfilled? WiIl "the arm of Jehwah," representing his ability to exert powerI reveal itscl f and makc these words come cue?
23 The answer Is unquestEonabFy yes! In his letter to
the Romans, Paul quotes Isaiah's words to show that the
prophcxy heard and recorded by lsaiah came h u e in Jesus. The glorificationofJesusafter his sufferings on earth
was ~ o t xnews.
l
"Nevertheless,"says Paul with reference
to thc unbeliwing Jews,"they did not all obey the good
news. For Isaiah says: 'Jehovah, who put faith in the
thing heard from us?'So faith follows the thi heard. In
turn the thlng heard Is through the word about Christ."
(Romans 10:16, 1 7) Sadly, though, few in Paul's day put
faith In the good news about God" Servant. Why?
14 The prophecy next explalns to the lsraelites the Teasons Far the questions recorded in verse l, and in so doing' sheds light on why many wlll not accept the Messiah: "He will come up like a twig before [an observer],
and like a root out of waterless /and. No stutely form
does he hove, nor any splendor; and when we shall see
him, there Is not the appearance so that we should desire him." (Isaiah 53:2) 1 Ierc we see the backdrop against
whlch the Messiah is to enter the earthly scene. He is to
have a lowly start, md to observers he will appear unlikely to amount to anything. Mareover, he is ta be Iike a
mere twig, a tender sap!ing, that grows on the mnk rn
branch of a tree. He is also to be like a water-dependent
root in dry, unpromlsin~
soil. And he is not to come with
regal pomp and splendor-no robes of mydty nor any
-13. Hmv did Paul show that lsalah's prophecy was Eulf~lledin Jaw,
and what response was thete?
14, IS, Agalnrt what backdrop Is the Messiah to enter the earthly
tcene?

200

Jehovah Exults His Messianic Servarnt

IsaiahJs Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I1

sparkling diadems. Instead, his start is to be humbIe and

unpretentious.
15 HOWwell that describes Jesus' lowly beginning as a
human! The virgin Jewess Mary gave birth to him in a
stable in a little town known as Bethlehem." (Luke 2:7;
John 7:42) Mary and her husband, Joseph, were poor.
About 40 days after Jesus' birth, they brought the sin offering permitted in the case of the poor, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons," (Luke 224; Leviticus 12:
6-8) In time, Mary and Joseph settled in Nazareth, where
Jesus grew up in a large farmly, likely in modest cirmrnstances.-Matthew 1355,56.
16 It seemed that as a human, Jesus did not have his
roots in the right soil. (John 1:46; 7:41, 52) Although he
was a perfect man and a descendant of King David, his
humble circumstances did not impart to him any "stately form" or "splendor"-at least not in the eyes of those
who were expecting the Messiah to come from a more
impressive background, Spumd on by the Jewish religious leaders, many wexe led to overlook and even despise him. In the end the crowds saw nothing desirable
in the perfect Son of God.-Matthew 2211-26.

201

avoided by men, a man meant for pains and for having

acquaintance wiPh sickness. And there was as if the concealing of one's face from us. He was despised, and we

I
I

held him as of no account." (Isaiah 53:3) Certain that his

words will come true, Isaiah writes in the past tense, as
if they had already been fulfilled. Was Jesus Christ really
despised and avoided by men? Indeed, he was! Selfrighteous religious leaders and their follawers viewed
him as the vilest of humans. They called him a friend of
tax colIeaors and harlots. (Luke 7:34, 37-39) They spit in
his face. They hit him with their fists and reviled him.
They sneered and jeered at him. (Matthew 26:67) Influenced by these enemies of truth, Jesus' "own people did
not take him in."-John 1:10,11.

'The prophet Micah referred to Bethlehem as 'the one too little to

get to be among the thousands of Judah." (Micah 5:Z) Yet, small Bethlehem had the singular honor of being the town in which the Messiah was born.

18 As a perfect man, Jesus did not get sick. Yet, he was "a
man meant for pains and for having acquaintance with
sickness." Such pains and sicknesses were not his own. Jesus came from heaven into a sick world. He lived amid
suffering and pain, but he did not shun those who were
ailing, either physically or spiritually. Like a caring physician, he became intimately acquainted with the suffering
of those around him. Moreover, he was able to do what
no ordinary human physician can do.-Luke 527-32.
19 NwertheIess, Jesus' enemies viewed him as the ailing one and refused to look upon him with favor. His
face was 'concealed' fromview but not because he hid his
face from others, In rendering Isaiah 53:3, The New English Bible uses the phrase "a t h n g from which men turn
away their eyes." Jesus' opposers found him so revolting
-

16. How is it true that Jesus had no "stately form" or "splendor"?

17. (a) What does Isaiah hegin to describe, and why does he write
in the past tense? (b)Who was it that "despised" and "avoided" Jesus, and how did they do so?

18. Since Jesus was never sick, how was he "a man meant for pains
and for having acquaintance wlth sickness"?
19. Whose face was 'concealed,' and how did Jesus' enemies demonstrate that they "held him as of no account"?

'Despised and Avoided by Men'

17 Isaiah now begins to describe in detail how the Messiah will be viewed and beated: "He was despised and was

that they, in dfkt, timed away from him a If he were

too lwthsom&tu I d upon.They &ned his worth at
no m w than the price of a slave (kodw 21:32; Matthew26:1416)Tbeyhdless~&rnforhim than for the
murderer -bas.
B l & W ) What more could
they have done to d m a m t e their law opWon of JP
sus?
ZO Jehovah'simmts today can ddw much mmfwt
from Isaiah's words. At times, opptlsers may dfsdain
MthMwmhipen ofJehavahor treat them as if they
wme of no a m m t . Pet, as was true with JesusI what really m a w is how Jehovah Gnd values us. After all, even
th~ughmen 'hehiJesusas of no m t , ' this certaMy
dldnot~hisgreat~uehGod'sey%4!
T i e r a d for Owc ~ ~ g ~ i o n ' ~
21. Why did the Messiah have h~ su%r and &el Isaiah
explains: T u / your sichemz were whot Re himself carrted; and as hr our pfm, he iwm them, BUt we owaccounted him ats plagued, strfckn by God and offlitted, But he was M g pi=&
krr our m s g d n ; he
ws belng d e d W W ~ T rtsechadsemmtmant
S ,
Ibrourpaw wm u p o hlm,
~ a m l h u s ofhis
~
wn&
~husbentrhd~iw~cs.Uksheepwe~QUof

mbwt?&dah~$kwweuchmetohioownwaythat
we have tuandJehovahh l d h a mused the error of w d b n ~ up
&w f i that one."-Isahh S 3 : M .

a.WS
words 6 1 kwhat &rc

& ~ehwuh'speople Way?

21, 22. {a) What did the M
e m q aod besr In behalf of 0then? (h} Haw did
regard the Messiah, and In what did his suf-

fsdns-1
'He was d ~ p i s by
d men'

204

Isnhh's Pmphccy-1,lght far A11 Mnnklnd 11

22 The Messiah carried the sicknesses of others and bure

their pains. He W up thetr burdens, so to speak, placed
them an his own shoulders, and carried them, And dnce
sickness and pain are consequences of mankind's sinful
state, the Messiah clarried the sins of others. Many did
not understand the reason for his suffering and believed
that Gad was punishing him, plaguing him wit11 a loathsome disease." The Messiah's suffering culminated In his
being pierced, crushed, and wounded-strong words that
denote a violent and painful death. Rut hls death has
atoning power; it provides the basis for recovering those
who wander about in error and sin, hetpfng them to find
peace with W.
23 How did Jesus bea~the suffering of others? The
Gospel of Matthew, quoting Isaiah 534, says: "People
bmught him many demon-posscssed persons; and he expelled the spirits with a word, and he cured all who wcre
faring badly; that there might bc fulfilled what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying:'He hlrnsclf took
our sicknesses and carried our diseases.' " (Matthew 8:16,
17) By curing those who came to him with various dbeases, Jems, in eect, took their suffering upon himself.
And such healings dwwon his vitality. (lake8:43-48) His
ability to heal all kinds of ailments-physical and spiritual-proved that he was empowered to cleanse people
from sin.-Matthew 92-8.
The Hebrew word rendered "plagued"Is also used tn regard to Icpmsy. (2 Klngs 1 5 5 ) According to certaln scholars, somc Jrws dcrlvcd
from Isaiah 5 3 4 the idea that the Messlnh would bc a Icller, 'The Bahylonlan Talmud applies this verse to thc Mesqlah, calling him "the
leper scholar."The Catholjc Donrfly Vtninn, retlectlng t t ~ cLntln Vrilp t e , renders this verse: "We have thought htm as It werc 8 leper,"

23. In what way did Jesusbear the szrffcring of others?

Iehovah Cxolrs His Mtsslnnlc Scrvnrit

205

many it seemed that Jesus was "plagued" by

Cad. After all, he suffered at the instigation of respected religious leaders. Remember, though, that he did not
suffer on account of any sins of his awn. "Christsufleered
fur you," says Peter, "lcaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely. Hc committed no sin, nor was deception found In hls mouth, He himself bore: our sins
in his own body upon Lhe stake, in order that we might
be done with sins and llve to righteousness.And 'by his
stripes you were healed.'" (1 I'ctcr 221, 22, 24) We were
all at one time lost in sin, "Ilkc shccp, going asmy." (1Pete~225) Through Jesus, howvcr, Jehovah provided redampion from our sinful state. He caused our error to
"meet up with" Jesus, to mt upon him. 'ke sinless Je24 Yet, to

1
1

sus willingly suffered the penalty for our sins. By undeservedly suRering a shameful death on a stake, he made
it possible for us to be reconciled to God.

'He Let Himself Be Afflicted'

25 Was the Messiah willing to suffer and die? Isaiah
says: "He was hard pressed, and he wrrs letting himself be
affiicted; y& he would nor open his mouth. He was being
brought just like sr sheep to the sluughtening; and like a
ewe that before her shearers has become mute, he also
would not open his mouth." (balah 5.37) O n the final
night of his life, Jesus could havc summoned "more
than twelve legions of angels" to come to his aid. But
he said "In that case, how would the Scriptures be hlfilled that it must take place this way?" (Matthew 2653,
24. (a) Why dld It seem to many that Jesus wax "pIagued"by God?
(b) Why d ~ Jesus
d
sufter and dlcl
25. How do we knw that the Mes~lah$uReredand died willingly?

~ e ~ s vExalts
a h His Messlanit S m n t

543 Instead, "the Lamb af God" offered no resistam.

(John 1:29) When the chief priests and the older men
falsely accused blm before PIlate, Jesus "made no answer.'' (Matthew 27:11-14) He'did not want to say anything that might hkfm with the carout of W s

will formJesuswas
.
Wling Wdfeas a -&Lamb,
knowing frtlf well that his death would redeem obedient

mankind fram sin, sickness, and death,

~6Isaiah now gives mom details of the Messiah's sufand hutdhd~n.The prophet: W h : # ~ U U Wof
festmint and offudgmnt k wcrs &h
ttwa)~
and who
will r o l l ~ s mh i d m ~ l a i
hk d&Ib of his mtlon?brhe w v r ~ d l i w thehndof
n
tbe livingaria
Bemu5eof t h e ~ m s i o n o f r n y p e d p l e h e m a d t h e
53:8) When Jesus was fmally taken by
his enemies, these Wglous opposers applied "restmi&
In tEre way they dedt Mth hfm. It was not that they
held back from expressing their hatred but that they restrained, or withheld, justiw., In its rendof bahh
538, the Greek Sqfuaglnt says "RumUiationwbstead of
HmtmintH
Jesus' enemla humiliated hlm by withholding the fairWtment to which even a common aimfrral
of Jesusmade a modmyof justice.
was en~ded.
The

mu
(is&

How so?
In their debmination to get rid of Jews,the Jewish religious leaders broke thelr own rules. 8cmrdit-qto

~
~
tapplied
~ by
t hsus'
" opgosers?
26. In what w q
27. W e n the Jegrish religious leaderr w e a conducting Jesus' trial,
what ruIes did they ignore, and in what way did they b W God%

law?

"He would nor open hls mouth"

aetall from 'Ema H o m d by Anbnlo ChrI

208

Isniah's PropheqcLight for Ail Mankrnd IT

tradition, the Sanhedrin could try a capital case only in

the hall of hewn stones in the temple precincts, not in
the h g h priest's house. Such a trial had to be held during the day, not after sundown. And in a capital case,
a guilty ver&ct had to be announced the day following
the conclusion of the hearing. Hence, no trials could be
held on the eve of a Sabbath or a festival. These rules
were all ignored in the case of Jesus' trial. (Matthew
26:57-68) Even worse, the religious leaders flagrantly
broke God's Law as they handled the case. For example, they resorted to bribery to entrap Jesus. (Deuteronomy 16:19; Luke 22:Z-6) They gave heed to bearers of
false witness. (Exodus 20:16; Mark 1455, 56) And they
conspired to release a murderer, thereby bringing bloodguilt upon themselves and their land. (Numbers 353134; Deuteronomy 19:ll-13; Luke 23:16-25) Hence, there
was no "judgment," no fair trial resulting in a correct,
impartial ruling.
28 Did Jesus' enemies investigate to see who the man
on trial before them really was? Isaiah asks a similar
question: "Who will concern himself even with the details of his generation?" The word "generation" may refer to one's descent, or background. When Jesus was on
eial before the Sanhedrin, its members did not take into
account his background-that he fulfdled the requirements for the promised Messiah. Instead, they accused
him of blasphemy and held him liable to death. (Mark
14:64) Later, the Roman governor Pontius Pilate yielded to pressure and sentenced Jesus to he impaled. (Luke
25:13-25)Thus Jesus, at just 33 112years of age, "was severed," or cut off, in the midst of his life.
28. What did Jesus' enemies fail to take into account?

Jehovah Exalts HIS Messhnic Servant

209

29 Concerning the Messiah's death and burial, Isaiah

next writes: "He will make his burial place even with the
wicked ones, and with the rich class in his death, despite
the fact that he had done no violence und there was no
deception in his mouth." (Isaiah 5 3 9 ) How, in his death
and burial, was Jesus with the wicked as well as with the
rich? On Nisan 14, 33 C.E., he died on the execution
stake outside the walls of Jerusalem. Since he was impaled between two evildoers, in a sense h s buriaI pIace
was with the wicked ones. (Luke 23:33) However, after
Jesus died, Joseph, a wealthy man from Arirnathea, rnustered up the courage to ask Pllate for permission to take
down Jesus' body and bury it. Along with Nicodemus,
Joseph prepared the body for burial and then placed it in
a newly excavated tomb that belonged to him. (Matthew
2757-60; john 19:38-42) So Jesus' burial place was also
with the rich class.

'Jehovah Took Delight in Crushing Him'

30 Next Isaiah says something startling: 'yehovuh himself took delight in crushing him; he made him sick. If
you will set his soul us a guilt offering, he will see his offspring, he will prolong his days, and in his hand what is
the deiight of jehovah will succeed. Because of the trouble of his sod he will see, he will be satisfied. By means of
his knowledge the righteous one, my servant, will bring
a righteous standing to many people; and their errors
he himself will bear." (Isaiah 53: 10, 1 7) How could Jehovah possibly take delight in seeing this faithful servant
29. How was it that Jesus' burial was "with the wicked ones" and
"with the rich class1'?
30. In what sense did Jehovah take delight in crushing Jesus?

rsabb%&aphecy-Ll$kt

fOr All ManWfld N

aushed?C l d y , JehorPah, did nat p a o d y Wet sufdently, this b howledge that

f d n g ~ p ~ n f i f s d ~ h JEullyffe u ~ ' ~ ~ ~ Jaw
~ ~ aaqufred by b m f n g
sp~mtbleh~what
did him,But JeRovahpmta man and s u f M q unjustted them to act meup. (John1911) For what m a n ?
ly for his obedience bo W.
&rely the God of mp&y and tender conpsion was
(Hebrew 415) Having sufpalnedto~hisinn~San-(Isalab(i3:9;~
fered bo the pdnt of death,
1:77, 78) J&mh m d
y not displeased in any
Jm
was able bo provtde the
way with Jesus.Even SD, Jehovah m k dellgfit In his
s d c e needed to help othSon's wiIlhgness -to su*
-use
of all the blessfIlgs
ers acquire a righimu standthatwould~t~mft
ing. To whom
this rigb-us m
d
h
g come? First,
31 POC one thing,Jehovahset Jesus' soul as 'a guilt ofto his anointed foliowm, Befering." Hence, when Jesus ascended back to heaven,he
caw they WerdSe Mth in
enJ&ovahts pmeme bearlag the m d t of hls sacJaw'
s a a c e , Jehwah de
~ced~Wasa$uilt~fl[erln&andJehmahwas
clnm
them
righteous wlth a
pleased to accept 3t in hehalf ofdl mankind, (Hebrew
view
to
adoptfng
them as
99+1Q:S-14) By means af his guilt 0-g,
Jam BCsons
and
making
them
joint
qutred "offspring."As '%tanal Father? he is able ta give
heirs
with
Jesus,
(Romans
5:
Me-eternal Ufe-to those who exercise Nth in his shed
1% 8:16, 17) Then, "a great
blood. Crsdah 961 &r dl the mufile that Jesus went
mwd"d '
&a sh-" athrough as a h u m soul, how sa&fylng it must be for
erdse faith in Jesus' shed
him to have the pqmt ofdeIkrhg mankind fmm
blood and enjoy a righteous
sin and deathi Ofcame, it must be men more satisfystandingwithaviewtobeingforhhtohmvthathishtegritypmldedhisheavirrg Mends of G a l and swenly Father witb an answsrr m the taunts of m AdmVlVOTS
of ~
n
.
~
s a y , Sataa the Deail.-kmab 27:lL
elation Z9; 16714, 16; fohn
32 Another blthat read& from Jesus*death is that
#Hepured out hk soul
10:16; James 223,25.
b t i ? s ~
now. He
he brings "a rightmm standlxlp;to uaan~"
33 Finally, Isaiah desaibes
does~,sayshiah,%ymeansofhlshawI~."Evithe triumphs of the MessW "For thut mm I rhafl

31. (a) l D w h t w a y d i d J e b w d h s e t f ~ ' ~ a%s g u & ~ ?

derhhimoportlonamngthe~~andltwlnbewrttr
(b)Akrall the W e t h a tJent5wrperied as a human, what must
be partlmhdy-s
forhim?
33, 34, (a) What do we h abwt Jehovahthat wamu our beats?
32. By m a of what %mwIedge" does Jwbrhg "a rlgh(b) Who am "the rnanpkamong whom tBe M w W c Swam re
~ b ~ ~ ~ ~ a n d m ~ ~ t ~ a t a n d i n g ~ ~ cefvss
m e 4?portlona?

'

Jehovah Exalts His Messiank Servant

jEHOVAHfS SERVANT
3w JesusFulfilled the RL.,

( II (

PROPHECY

EVENT

Isa. 5213

Elevated and exalted

Acts 234-3

Misrepresent~d
and
dlsciedlted

Matt. 11 :19;

Startled many
nations

Matt. 2k

FULFILLMENT

Not believed in

Iss. 5 3 2

Isa. 53:~

Human heginning
humbleand
unpretentious
Desplsed and
rejected
Carried ou

tsa. 53:s

sicknesses
Pierced

Ira. 53x5

Suffered for tht

111 1
lsa. 53:3

isi

ii8,

r-

urnomplainin
Unjustlytried and
condemned

lsa. 53:9
tsa. 53:10

Isa. 53:11

1'Soul,et as a
guilt offering
Opened the way for
many to acquire a
righteous standing
Reckoned wlth;
sinners

JJ 1 I p$bs:
Z33%

..

213

the mlgbty ones that he will apportion the spoil, due to

the fact that he poured out his soul to the very death,
and it was with the transgressors that he was counted in; and he himself carried the very sin af many people, and for the transgressors he proceeded to inferpose,"
-Isaiah 53:12.
34 The dosing words of this part of Isaiah's prophecy
teach something heatwarming about Jehwdx He values those who remain loyal to him This is indicated by
the pramhe that he wiIl "deal"the Messianic Servant "a
portion among the many."These words are appmntly
derived from the custom of dividing spoils of war. Jehovah appreciates the loyalty of '"the many Eaithful ones
of andent m e $ , including Noah, Abraham, and Job,
and he has reserved "a portiont' for them in his coming new worid (Hebrews 11:13-16) Similarly,he will deal
out a portion to his Messianic Sewant. Indeed, Jehovah
will not let his integrity go wewarded. We to^ can rest
assured that Jehovah will not 'fmget our work and the
love we show for his name,'-Hebrews 6:10.
35 God's Servant will also gain spoils of war by victory over his enemies. He will share these spoils with "the
mighty ones." In the fulfillment, who are "themighty
ones"? They are the first disciples of Jesus to conquer
the world as he did-the 144,000 citizens of "the Tsrael of God." (Galatians 6:16; John 16:33; Reveladon 3:21;
14:1) What, then,are the spoils? Evidently, these include
the "gifts in men,'' whom Jesus wrenches from Satan's
control, as it were, and gives to the Christian congregation (Ephesians 48-12)The 144,000 "mighty ones" a e
35. Mtha are "the mighty ones" with w
and what are the spoils?

b Jesus shares the sgoils,

214

Isaiah:? Prophecy-Llght for All Mnnklrtd I1

also given a portion of another spoil. Ry reason of their

victory aver the world, they wrest from Satan any basis
for taunting God. Their unbreakable devotion to Jchm
vah exalts him, making his heart rejoice.
36 J s u s was aware that he was fuihlllng the prophecy
about God's Sewant On the night of his a m t , hc quoted the words recorded at Isaiah 5312 and applied them
to himsef: "I tell you that this which is written must be
accomplished in me, namely, 'And he was reckon4 with
lawless ones.' For that which concerns me is having an
accomp~shment."(Luke 2236, 37) Sadly, Jesus was indeed m t e d like a lawless one, He WE executed as a lawbreaker, impaled between two robbers. (Mark 1527) Yet,
he willingly bore this reproach, knowing full we11 that
he was interceding for us. He stood, in effect, between
sinners and the stroke of the death penalty, and he received t h e blow himself.
39 The historical record of Jesus' life and death enables us to make an unmistakable Identification: Jesus
Christ is the Messianic Servant of Isaiah's prophecy, Mow
thankfuI we should be that Jehovah was wilIing to let his
dear Son fulfdl the prophetic roIe of the Servant, suffering and dymg that we q h t be redeemed from sin and
death! Jehovah thus showed great low for us. Romans
5:8 says: "God recommends his own love to us in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."How grateful we should also be to Jesus Christ, the exalted Servant,
who willingly poured out his soul to the very death!
36. Was Jesus aware that he was fulfiliing the prophecy about God's
Servant? Explain.
37. (a) The historical reaord of Jesus' life and death enabler us to
make what identification?{b) W h y should we be thankful to Jchovah God and to his exalted Servant, Jesus Christ?

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The Barren Woman Rejoices

SARAH longed to bear children. Sadly, she was barren,

and that pained her greatly. In her day, barrenness was
viewer! as a reproach, but there was more to Sarah's pain
than that. She yearned to see Gad's promise to her busband fulfilled. Abraham was to father a s e d that would
be a blcssing to all familirs of the earth. (Genesis 12:
1-3)~ o w w g r decades
,
after God had made that promise, there was still no child. Sarah grew old and remained
cl~lldless.At times, she may haw wondered if her hopes
had heen In vain. One day, though, her despair turned to
joy!
2 Sarah's plight helps us to understand the prophecy recorded in Isaiah chapter 54, There Jerusalem is addressed
as 1 F she were a barren woman who comes to know the
great joy of having many children. By picturing hs andent people collectively as his wife, Jehovah shows his
tcndcr fceltngs toward them. Mareover, this chapter of
Isaiah helps us to unravel a crucial aspect of what the Bible calls a "samd secret."(Romans 16:25,26) The identity of the "wnman" and her expriences foretold in this
prophecy shed important light an pure worship today.
1. Why dld Sarah long to hcar children, and what was her experience In this rrgardl
2. Why shsulrl the prophecy m r d e d in Isaiah chapter 54 interest us?

The "Woman" Identified

3 Chapter 54 opens on a happy note: "'Cry out jo@Iyou b u m woman that did not ghe brrthl Become
cheerful with o joyful outcry and cry rhrilty~you thot had
no childbirth pains, for the sons of the desolated one
are more numerous than the sons of the woman with a
husbandiy ownes,' lehowh has surd." (Isaiah 54:1 ) Mow
thrilled lsaiah must be to speak thcse wolrls! And what
comfort their fulfillment will bring to the Jews exiled in
Babylon! At that time Jerusalem will still be lying desolate. From a human standpoint, there wlll seem to be no
hope that she will ever again he populated, just as a barren woman could not normally hope to hear children in
her old age. But this "woman"has a p a t blessing in her
future-she will become fertile. Jerusalem will be beside
herself with joy. She will again teem N t h "sons,"or inhabitants.
4 Isaiah may not know it, but hls prophecy wilt have
more than one fulfillment. The a1)ostle Paul quotes
from Isaiah chapter 54 and explalns that the "woman1'
signifies something far more important than the carthly city of Jerusalem. He writes: "'TheJerusalem abwe is
free, and she is our mother." (Galatians 426) What
is this " J e ~ l e mabove"? Clearly not the city of Jerusalem in the Promised Land. That city is earthly,
not "abwe" in the heavenly realm. "Jerusaternahsve"
is God's heavenly "woman,"his organizatlan nf mighty
spirit creatures.
-3. Why wlll the barren "woman" haw reasnn to reloice?
4. (a) Hotv does the apostle Paul help us see that Isalah chapter 54
must have a fulfillment greater than that In 537 lI.C.11.?(1,) What Is

"lvrusalem above"?

1I

I
I

The Barren Womarr Rt-jalces

5 HOW,though, can Jehovah haw two symbolic women-one heavenly and the other earthly? Is there some
inconsistency here? Not a t all. The apostle Paul shows
that the answer lies in the prophctil- picture provided
by Abraham's family. (Galatjans 4322-31; see "The Family of Abraham4 t'rnphctlc Picture," on page 218.) Sarah, "the free woman" ant1 Abraham's wife, ptchrres Jehovah's wifelike organi7~tlonof spirit creatures. Hagar, a
slave girl and Abraham's sccandary wlfe, or concubine,
pictures earthly Jerusalem.
6 With that background, we begin to see the profound
significance of Isaiah 541. After decades of barrenness,
Sarah bore b a c when she was 40 years old. SimiIarly, Jehovah's heavenly organization went through a Iong
period of barrenness. Way hack In Men, Jehovah promised that his "woman" would produce the "seed." (Genesis 3:lS) Over 2,000 years later, Jehovah made his covenant with Abraham regarding the Seed of promise. But
God's heawnty "woman" had to wait many, many more
centuries before producing that Seed. Still, the time came
when the children of this once " h m woman" were
more numerous than those of fl~shlyIsrael. The illustration of the barren woman helps us to see why the angels.
were so eager to wimess the arrlval of the foretold Seed.
(I Peter 1:12) When did that finally happen?
7Jesusr birth as a human child was certainly an
occasion for rejoicing among the angels, (Luke 2:Y-14)
But that was not the event foretold a t Isaiah 54:l. Only
5, In the symbolic drama outllnrd nt Galatians k22-31, who I s plchred by (a) Ahraham? (13) Sarah? (c) 1ss;tcJ (dl Hagar? (el Ishmael?
6. Inwhat sense dld God's hcavcnly os~nnlrnttonuntlcrgo a longperiod of barrenness?
7. When did "Jerusalemahwe" hove occaslon to rcjoicc, as foretold
a t Isaiah 54:1, and why do you so answrr7

218

Isaiah's Pmpliccy-J.ight for All Mankllld I1

The llartvlt~Wonrntr Rejnlr~a

The Family of Abraham

-A Prophetic Picture
The apostle Paul explained that the family of
Abraham serves as a symbolic drama, a prophet-

ic picture of Jehovah" slationship with his heavenly organization and with the earthly nation of Israel
under the Mosaic Law covenant-Galatians 4:22-31.

219

Isaac typifies the spiritual Seed of God's woman. Primarily, this is jesus Christ. However, the
seed also came to include Christ's anointed brothers, who are adapted as spiritual sons and become
joint heirs with Christ.-%mans 815-17; Galatians 3:
16, 29.
Hagar, Abraham" secondary wife, or concubine,
was a slave. She aptly pictures earthly Jerusalem,
where the Mosaic Law code held sway, exposing all
af i t s adherents as slaves to sin and death. Paul said
that "Hagar means Sinai, a mountain in Arabia," because the Law covenant was established there.-4alatians 3:10,13; 4:25.

Abraham, as family head, represents jehovah

God. Abraham's willingness to offer up his dear son
Isaac as a sacrifice foreshadows jehovah'r willingness to offer up his own belovedSon as a sacrifice for
mankind's sins.-Genesis 22:l-13;John3:16.

Sarah pictures God's heavenly "wife," his arganitation of spirit beings. That heavenly organization
is aptly described as lehovah's wife, far she is intimateely associated with Jehovah, is subservient to
his headship, and is fully cooperative In fulfilling his
purposes. She i s also called "Jerusalemabove." (Galatians 4:26) The same "woman" is mentioned a t
Genesis 3:15, and she i s depicted in vision at Revelation 12:l-6,13-'17.

Ishmael, Hagar's son, pictures the first-century

Jews,the sons of Jerusalemstill enslaved to the Mosaic Law, As Ishmael persecuted Isaac, so those Jews
persecuted the Christians, who were anointed sons
of the figurative Sarah, the "Jerusalemabove," And
Justas Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away, Jehuvah ultimately cast off Jerusalemand her rebellious
sons.-Matthew 23:37,38.
1

when Jesus was begotten with holy spirit in 29 C.E. did

he become a spiritual son of "Jerusalemabove,"publicly
acknowledged by God himself as his "Son, the beloved."
(Mark 1:10,11; Hebrews 15; 5:4,5) It was then that God's
heavenly "woman"had cause for rejoicing, in fulfillment
of Isaiah 54:l. At last she had produced the promised
Seed, the Masiah! Her centuries of barrrnness were over.
That, however, was wasnot the end of her rejoicing.

Numerous Sons for the Barren Woman

After Jesus' death and subsequent cesurreaion, God's
heavenly "woman" rejoiced to receive this favored
Son back as "the firsttarn fsom the dead." (Colossians
1:18) Then she began to p r o d u ~more spiritual sons.
8. Why did God's heavenly "woman" haw reason to rejoice after
pmiucing the prornEred Seed7

!lXe& a w n W d m n ltejolcw

221

At Pentecost 33 CE,,
about 120 of Jesus' foIlowm we!^
anointed with how
thmby being adopted as
W
s joint helts. hta that d q a further 3,MlO
added. (John 1:12; Acts 1:13-15; 214, 41; Romans 8:14
163 This body of sons wntlnud tu grow. During the early mturia of Christendom's apostasy, the growth
S f D d to a ttlckte, However, that was to change h the
20th mtiq.
9 blah goes on to prophesy about a pe&d of ram&able $rowth: IYM4kdht place ofpur tent mom spadour.
A n d k t t h m out
~ dteMtclothsof~rgmnd&&
made. 13ro not hdd back, h f l e n wt yrurr bent corbs,
and mabe those awlt pins ofpurs m g ,b r do the @t

swt,

andfiotheleffpu MbmkIbrth, andpurownofi-

~"9IrllltakpaFsesslon~0f~ns,rrndttreywlE
hfiabitewnEhedesdoteddtk hmrtbeahtd, Ibryw
~ n o t h e p t t o o h a m e ; a n d d o n o t k l h u m H lor
~,
p u MI nat be dhappobbed, For you wlll Ibrget m n tk
shame of p u r t h e of youth, and the rtlpmach af ptrr
conainerou~w l d o w h d p u WM member no mom,"
-hid M:2-4,
lo Here Jerusalem Is Itddrwd as ff she were a wife and
mothmdwelllagbmts, jwtupesmh, Whenblersed
withagmwingfady, ItisUmeSorsuchamothertosee
ta the expansionof her home. She fieedsto put up longer

tmtdothsmdmrdsmdsecurethetentpinsintheIrnew
~WQXLS.
This is happy work for her, and at such a busy
8, 10,What would the 11naWcticmto 'maka the plnce of the mt
mare spadous' mean B a knt-dwellFngwoman in andent times, and
whyisthis a t h e o f joy fofsuchawoman?

After his hpttsm, laus wws cmolnted with holy spid4 and
Isaiah 54:J began to h m Itr most lmpomnt ArInIfmettt

222

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for'dll Mankind II

time, she may easily forget the years she spent wondering
anxiously whether she would ever bear children to carry
on the family line.
11 Earthly Jerusalem was blessed with such a time of renewal after the Babylonian exile. "Jerusalem above" has
been wen more blessed." Particularly since 1919, her
anointed "offspring" have flourished in their newly restored spiritual condition. (Isaiah 61:4; 66:s) They 'took
possession of nations' in that t h q spread abroad into
many lands to seek out all those who would join their
spiritual family. As a result, explosive growth occurred
in the gathering of the anointed sons. Their final
number of 144,000 appeared to be filled sometime in the
mid-1930's. (Revelation 14:3) At that time the focus of the
preaching work ceased to be the gathering of the anointed. Still, expansion did not stop with the anointed.
12 Jesus himself foretold that besides his "little flock''
of anointed brothers, he would have "other sheep" that
must be brought into the sheepfold of true Christians.
(Luke 1232; John 10:16j Though not among the anointed sons of "Jerusalem above," these faithful companions
of the anointed fill an important and long-prophesied
role. (Zechariah 8 2 3 ) From the 1930's until today, a
-

The Barren Woman Rejoices

"great crowd" of them have been gathered, resulting in

unprecedented expansion of the Christian congregation.
(Revelation 7:9, 10) Today that great crowd numbers well
into the millions. All this expansion has created an urgent need for more Kingdom Halls, Assembly Halb, and
branch complexes. Isaiah's words seem ever more apt.
What a privilege to be part of that foretold expansion!

A Mother Who Cares for Her Offspring

13 We have seen that in the greater fulfillment, the
"woman" of the prophecy represents JehovaWs heavenly organization. But a&er reading Isaiah 54:4, we may
wonder how that organization of spirit creatures has ever
suffered shame or reproach. The ensuing verses say that
God's "woman" will be rejected, afflicted, and subjected
to attack. She will wen provoke God's indignation. How
can such t h q s apply to an organization of perfect spirit
creatures who have never sinned? The answer lies in the
nature of farmly.
14 Jehovah uses family relationships-husband and wife,
mother and children-to convey profound spiritual truths
because such symboIs are meaningful to humans. Regardless of the extent or quality of our own family experiences, we likely have an idea of what a good marriage
or a good parent-child relationship ought to be. How vividly, then, Jehovah teaches us that he has a warm, intimate, and trusting xelati.onship with hs vast throngs of
spirit servants! And how impr~ssivelyhe teaches usthat
his heavenly organization cares for its spirit-anointed offspring on earth! When the human servants suffer, the

11. (a) How was God's heavenly "woman" blessed in 1914? (See
footnote.)(b) From 1919 onward,what blessing have the anointed
on earth experienced?
12. In addition to the anointed, who have been gathered into the
Christian congregation since the 1930's?

13, 14. (a) What apparent difficuIty Is seen in connection with

some of the expressions directed to God's heavenly "woman"?
(b) What insights can we gain from God's illustrative use of family
relationships?

"According to Revelation 121-17, God's "woman" was greatly

blessed by giving birth to a most important "offspring1'-not an Individual spirit son, but the Messianic Kingdom In heaven. This birth
accurred in 1914. (See Revelation-Its Grand Climax At Hand!, pages 177-86.)Isaiah's prophecy focuses on the joy she feels as a result
of God's blessing on her anointed sons on earth.

Isaiah's PMphwy-L@kt

fbr All Mankind I1

hithful heavenly servants, "J~USatemabove,"suffer,Slmh

1y, Jesus said: "To the extent that you did it to one of
the least of these my fsp5rit-anohWJbrothers, p u did it
to me."-Matthew 2540.
IS Not surprisirrglp; then, much of what is said do Jehe
vah's b a w d y "IHwmanUreflectr the apdences of her
children on eartk Cansider these wrds: "'Your Cmnd
# o h b pur hidmdlj. o m r jehmwk of am& belng
hisname;ondffKHOEyOnedhr&IsprR@p~
er. TheGodofthe w h o k d h e w i l l k c d l e d . W j e b
w h mlkd you as H y m r wem a Mleft mtiw and hurt
Inspi& a n d a s u ~ k ~ f ~ i h e d p whowrrshm
uth
H,
,'your tod hsr sakl."-h~hh 54:5,6.
1~Whofsthevvldehereatdm~edlIwl
theinitialfMllmat, it Is Jerusalem, q m e u t i n g G d ' s people. Dwfng
their 70-year edh in lbby1011, they will fed as IfJehovah
has rejected them and I& them mtfrdj.In the greater
fulfilment, ttme words &a t~ 4'Jerusalemabove'' and her
q m k n c e uf Andy pmdudng the "seedH In fulfillment
ofGene& 3:25,

Momentary Disdpane, Eternal Blessings

17 The pmpheq watinues: "'hr a little m o m t I /&
you e
n
t
i
e
,but with gmt medm 1 huII cdlect yau toWit4 Q flood of h d i g n d m I mncwrkd my k e
frrrmpuhrbuta~butwlfhbvhpMtdrmsb
time i n m i t e I will h m
u p n you,' p u r Repurdraw, ]ehov~pb~
h m H U(154:& 8 ) EarthlyJerusalem Is bundated by "a Rood" of Sad's indignation when
15, 16. What b tBe IniW WtilIment of Isaiah SQS, 6,and what is
the greater fulfithmt?
17. (a) HawwillearthlyJeni~alem
e x p h c e "a flood" of dMne Indlgnation?@) What "Wdid the sons of Seru!iaiem ubow" ex-

pedenee?

T%I# Barrtrn Waman Re]oke~

the Babylonh hroes attack in 607 B.C.P, Her 70years in

exile might s e m a long time.S U , such trfalslast "krbut
a moment" when compared with the eternal b l d n g s
in store for those who m p n d well to the disdpllne. Slmfelt as ff
M y , the mohted sons d "Jerusalem
they had been ~h~
by *a flood* of dMne mth
when Jehovahallowed them to come under attack by p
U W elements at the Indgatlon of Babylon the Great,
But how Mef that dfsdpbmy measure bier seemed, in
contrast with the era of sphitual blesfqp that ham hllowed since 19191
18These vass express mother gmt t r u t h 4 d ' s m
th
is fIeetlq, but his m e q lasts h m . His anget blazes against wrongdoing, but it is always wmlled, dways purposeful. And if we accept Jehovah's WpUne,
hb anger 1"for but a moment,"then subsides. It is
replaced by his "gmtmde5"-his forgivenw and his
lovhg-Mndness,These last ''to time tndefinit&"When we
18, What important principle can be dimmed rqardtng Jehwh's
wmth against hh pkoplc, and how might tUa ahkt ru p m U p ?

j&owh c o n w l d hls hce h m jmsaIm

"for but a moment"

commit a s i n J then, we should never hesltate to repent

and seek to make amends with God. If the sin i s nf a serlous nature, we should approach the con~regationeiders
immdiately. (James 514) True, discipline may he need&, and that can be hard to take, (Hcbwws 1 2 1 1 ) Rut it
will be brief when compared with the eternal blessings
that flow from receiving the forgiveness of Jehovah Gocl!
19 Jehovah now offers hb people comforting rcassurance: "7711s is just as the days of Noah ta me, just us / have
sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more pass owr
the ecrrfh, so I hove sworn that I will not become indignant toward you nor rebuke p u . For the mountains themselves may be removed, and the w r y hills may stagger, but
my /ovEngikindnessiBeF will not be mmowd fromyou, nor
will my covenant ofpeace itself stagger,')et?oval~,the One
hmhg mercy upon you, has said," (lsnlah 54:9, 10) After
the Dclt~ge,God made a covenant-ximetimes known as
the rainbow covenant-with Noah and every other llvitlg
soul, Jehovah promised that no mol-ewottlcl he Ilrlng clestruttion upon the earth by means of a gld>al flond.
(Genesis 9:&17) What does that mean to Tsaiah and his

people?
2~ It is comforting to know that the punishment they
must suffer-the 70-yar exile in Babylon-will occur only
once. When it is over, it will happen no more. Thereafter, God's "covenantof peace" will be in effect. The Hcbrew word fm "peace" conveys not just the absence of
war but also well-being of every klnd, On God's part thls
covenant is permanent. Sooner will the hllls and mountains vanish than his loving-kindness towarc1 his faithful
19, 20. (a) What Is the ralnbowcmnant, and llow Is It relwnnt to
Ihc exiles In Babylon? (b) The "cavenanl of peace" affords what assurance to anointed Christians today?

I
I

1
I

The Barren Woaarr nclioircr

people end. Sadly, his earthly nation will ultimately fail tn

live up to their side of the cmnant and will shatter their
o+mpeace by mjecling the Messiah. The sons of "Jerusalem above," howwer, fared much htter. Once their dif6 d t period ofdiscipline was over, they were assuwd of
divine protection.

The SpirituaI SectirZty of God's People

21 Jehovah goes on to foretell securlty for his faithful
people: "0 warnon afflkted, tempest-tossed, uncomforted, here I am laying with hard mortar p u r stones, and /
will lay your foundatjon with sapphires. And I will make
your baItIementr of rubies, and your gates of fiery glowing stones, and all your boundaries of delightsome stones.
And at! your sons wit! be persons taught by tly&ovoh, and
the peace of your sons will be abundant. You will prove to
be firmlyestablished in righteousness itself. You will be far
away from oppression-for you will fear none--and from
anything terrifying, for It will not come near you. If anyone
should at atl make an attack, it will not be at my orders.
Whoever is making on attack upon you will fall even on
account of you."-Isaiah 54:7 1 75.

a Of course, Jehovah's"woman"in the spirit realm h a

never been directly afflictecl or tempest-toswd. nut she
SUM
when her anointed "offsprin#"on earth suffered,
especial@when they were in splrituat captivity during the
1918-19 period. Conversely, when the heavenly "woman"
is exalted, this reflects a similar state prevailing among
her offspring. Consider, then, the glowing description
of "Jerusalem above." The prcclous stones on the gates,
-

21, 22. (a) Why i s "Jenrsalern ahnve" said tn he afflicted and

tempest-tossed?(h) What would the blerserl urodltlun of God's hmvenly "woman" sigR1fy rrgarcling hcr "ofl~prina"on earth7

the costly "hard mortar," the foundations, and cvcn thc

boundaries suggest, as one reference work notes, "beauty,
magnificence, purity, strength, and so1ldlty." What woulcl
lead anointed Christians to such a secure and blessed condition?
23 Yme 13 of Isaiah chapter 54 provides the key-all will
be "taughtby Jehovah."Jesus himself applied the words
of this yerse to his anointed folollowers. (john 6:45) The

prophet Daniel foretold that during this "time of the

end,'" the anointd would be blersed with an abundance
of m e howledge and spiritual insight. (Daniel 123, 4)
Such insight has enabled them ta spearheaci the gpawst
educational campaign in history, spreading divine teaching in all the earth. (Matthew 2414) At the same tlme,
such insight has helped them to see the difference between true religion and false. Isaiah 54:12 mentions
"boundariesof delightsome stones." Since 1919,lehovah
has given the anointed an ever clearer understanding of
the boundaries-the lines of spiritual dernarcatlon-setting them apart from false religion and ungodly elements
of the world. (Ezekiel 44:23; John 17:14;
James 127) 'I'hey
are thus set apart as God's own people.- t Peter 2:9,
24 Thus, each of us does welt to ask himself, 'Am I hcing taught by Jehovah?' We do not receive such teach Ing
automaticafly. We must put forth effort. If we read G d f s
Word regulady and meditate upon it and if we take
in instruction by reading the Bible-based literature published by "the faithful and discreet slave" and by prsparing for and attending Christian meetings, we will i n d d
-

23. (a) BeingmtaughtbyJehovahUhas had what effect upon anolnted Christians in the last days? (b) In what sense have God's peoplc
been biased with "boundarier of dellghtsornr sturlrs"?
27. How may we ensure that we are taught by Jehovnh?

1
I

I
I

Thr nrrrrerr Wotrrrrn Rejoices

be taught by Jehovah. (Matthew 24:45-47) If we endeavor to apply what we learn and remain spiritualIy awake
and watchfttl, divine teachlng wlll set us apart as different from those In thls godless wodd. (I Peter 5:8,9) Better still, it will help us "draw close to Gad."-James 1:2225; 4:s.
2s Isaiah's prophecy also shows that the anointed are
blcsscd with abundant peace. Does this mean that they
arc never under attack? No, but G d gives the assurance that he dl1 neither order such attacks nor allow
them to rucced. We mad: "'Look! I myreIf have ueatd
the cmhman, the one blowing upon the fire of charcoal
and bringing forth a weapon as his workmanship. I myself, too, have csealed the ruinous man for wrecking wark.
Any weapon whotewr that wili be formed against you will
have no srrccess, slnd m y tongue at all that wili rise up
against you in the Judgmentyou will condemn, This is the
hereditary possession of the servantr of jehovuh, and their
righteousness is from me,' Is the utterance of jehovoh."
-Isaiah 54: 16, 17,
26 FOC the second tlme In this chapter of Isaiah, Jehovah
reminds hls servants that he is the Creator. Earlier, he telIs
hls syrnhollc wlfc that he is her "Grand Maker." Now he
say?h a t he Is the Creator of all mankind. Verse 16 des & l b a metalworker Illowing on the m a l s of his forge
as he creates his weapons of destruction and a warrior, a
"ruinous man for wrecking work." Such men might present a hightening piatire to fellow humans, but how can
they possibly hope to prevail against their own Creator?

--

25. What doe5 God's promlsc of p a c e mean for his people in modctn tlnics?
26. Why is It wassuring to know thatjehwah Is the Creator of all

mankind7

230

Irabk's hophacy-Light for All Mankind II

So mday, wen when the most pwrfiil Bfces of this

world attack Jehmaht5;people, they will have no chance

of ultimate sucresa Haw can that be?
27 The time for ntiwus attack against W
s pmpk and
their =hip with spirit and truth has pamd. Uohn 4:
23,241 Jehovah a f l m d Babylon the G m t t~ m& om
~thtprovedtempo~su~Forabriemo.
mat, 'JeruPalem above" saw her ofhprlng brwght bo
near sllert- as the pmding work on earth ground to a
m d hat. N m again1 Now she exults aver her sons,
for they are, in a spfdtmlsense, unconquerable (John16:
33; 1 john 54) Qh, there have been mapom of attack
l o 4 against them, and then wIU k more. WdaUon
1217)Buk thae havenot and wtir not s u e d , S a m possmes no weapon that a n qud r
k faith and burning
meal of the anointedand their:companions.This
pace is "the heditary ion of the sewants of Jehmah," so no one tan forcibly &t it way from them,
-P&n 118:6; Romans &38,39.
26 No,nottbat Sam's world on do wiU ever put a
stop tn the mtk md endurlng dean erWp of GoB
by Ma dedimted s m t s . The analxlted of%prhgof Y e
rusalm abow'' h m taken great oomfr,ft in that mwan-, Members of the grwt amd do the sane.The more
WE come ba know abuutJehovah's h e a ~ d aqpnWtIon
y
and its dealings with his worshipen mi earthIthe stroll-

gexourfai~wlllbe.~r~aourfai.this~g,~'s
~118~prrrae~~futileintbehght~usl
27, 28. Of what a n wz be sum durlng t h e troubled tlmcs, and
why do we weknow that dam's mcks agsindt us W pr$minePdw7

Can the warrlor md Ml t 1 8 W u o r k r p ~ I l

ugainst their mbr?

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

A Message of Hope for

Downhearted Captives
Isaiah 55:l-13

IT WAS a dark period in Judah's history. God's covenant

people had been forcibly taken from their homeland and
now were languhhmg in captivity in Babylon. Granted,
they were allowed a measure of freedom to carry on their
daily affairs. (Jeremiah 29:4-7) Some acquired professional skills or engaged in commercial enterprises."(Nehemiah 3:8, 31, 32) Nevertheless, life for the Jewish captives
was not easy.They were in bondage, both physically and
spiritually. Let us see how.
2 When the Babylonian armies destroyed Jerusalem in
607 B.C.E., they did more than devastate a nation; they
also dealt a blow to true worship, They strippedJehovah's
temple and destroyed it, crippling the priesthood arrangement by taking some of the tribe of L w i captive and putk g others to death. With no house of worship, no altar,
and no organized priesthood, it was impossible for the
Jewsto offer sacrifices to the true God as prescribed by the
Law.
3 Faithful Jews could still preserve their religious identity
* Many Jewish names have been found in andent Babylonian business records.

A Message of Hope for Downhearted

Captives

23 3

by practicing circumcision and following the Law to the

extent possible. For example, they could abstain from forbidden foods and observe the Sabbath. But in doing so,
they risked the ridicule of ,their captors, for the Babylonians viewed the religious rituals of the Jews as foolish.
The downhearted condition of the exiles can be seen in
the psalmist's words: "By the rivers of Babylon-there we
sat down. We also wept when we remembered Zion. Upon
the poplar trees in the midst of her we hung our harps.
For there those holdmg us captive asked us for the words
of a song, and those mockmg us-for rejoicing: 'Sing far
us one of the songs of Zion.' "-Psalm 137:l-3.
4 To whom, then, could the Jewish captives turn for
comfort? From where would come their sdvation? Certainly not h m any of the surrounding nations! All of
those were powerless against BabyIon's armies, and many
were hostile to the Jews. But the situation was not hopeless.Jehovah,against whom they had rebelled when they
were a free people, graciously extended a heartening invitation ta them, even though they were in exile.

"Come to the Water"

5 Through Isaiah, Jehovah speaks prophetically to the
Jewish captives in Babylon: "Hey there, ail you thirsty
ones! Come to the water.And the ones that have no money! Come, buy and eat Yes,come, buy wine and milk even
without money and without price." (Isaiah 55:7 ) These
words are rich in symbolism. For example, consider the
invitation: "Cometo the water." Without water, life is impossible. Without that precious liquid, we humans can
4. Why would it be futile for the Jewsto look to other nations for

1. Describe the situation of the Jewish4 e s in Babylon.

2, 3. How did the exile affect the Jews' worship of Jehovah?

deliverance, but to whom could they turn for help?

5. What is the significance of the words "come to the water"?

234

raairrh's P M p h e ~ - L b h t f d r All Mankind I1

sumhe only for about a week Hence, it is fitting that Jehovah uses was a metaphor for the effect that his
words will have rrpon the Jewish cnptfves. His rntmge
willrefreshthem, likeamlddrinkonahotday, 1twiU lift
them out of *their despondent state of mind, quenchbg
their thirst Eor truth and righteausness.And it will infuse
them with hope offreedm from qlivity. Still* to benefit, the Jewish exiles will hawe to drink in G d J s m e w ,
pay attentionrn it, and act upon it,
6 Jehovah also ofkm "wine and milk"Milk -hens
yaung W a and helps children to grow, Similarly,Jehovah's mds wW swqfhrn his people s p i r i w y and enable them t~
their relatioxzship with him. What,
&oughIof wlne?Wine is o f t e n used on W w ocmiions,
.

6. .R

w q w JImtefittLf
~ W
;

h y 'wlneandmllk"?

Iews with a splrltual thirst

arc invited m Xcometo
'4e wateruand to "buy

h the Bible, it is d a t e d with prwperity and rejoicing. (Psalm lW15) By t d h g his people ta 'buy wine,"
Jehovah is assurlng them that a wh~leheartedretunx to
tnteworstripwill make thkm 'nathhgbtrt j0yfUL"-Deuteronomy 16:15; EWm 19:& koverbs 10:22.
7 How merdful ofJehovahto olia such spkitual h h ment to the d e d Jews1 His compdon is all the more
remarkable when we remember the Jews' histoy of
w a d m s and rebellion. It Is not that they ate deserving
of JehovahIsappnwal Hwrewr, thepsabht fravld wrote
centuries earlier "JehovahIs merdful and pcbus, slow
bb anger and abundant in l m h g - b W . He will npt for
a11 t h e k p finding Eault, ndther wlll he thne tndffinite keep menrful.#(Psafm 103:8,9) l
k b m cutting OE
his people, Jehmi s Wing the f h t step toward mdhti~n.
Truly, he tle a God "delightingtm laving-Hndna."
-?dl& 718.

Misplaced Trust
8 Up until now m y Jews have not put their full trust
in Jehov& f i r Ormfon. Before Jerusalem's MI, for ample, her rulers 1 o M to
Mans for support,
pmstltuthg thelnseh, as it WeR, both to Egypt and to
Babylon, @zeIdel16:26-29;2314) With good m n ,Jatmlah warnedthem:"CuxsedIsthe able-bodiedman*

putshls~inearthhg~and~makafle

h ! ~ ~ ~ ~ h o o e h ~ ~ ~ f r o m J e h o v
self." (Jeremiah175) Yet, that is predsely what God's pee

pie M
I
7. Why I

what

s J ~ ~ ~
It bweh us about W7

236

Isaiah's Prophecy-Lixllt for All Mankind

II

9 Now they are enslaved to one of the nations in which

they had put their trust. Have they learned their lesson?
It may be that many have not, for Jehovah asks: "Why do
you people keep paying out money far what is not bread,
und why is your toil for what resultr in no satisfaction?"
(Isaiah 55:Za) If the captive Jews are trusting in anyone
other than Jehovah, they are '"paying out money for what

is not bread." They will certainly get no release from Bab-

ylon with its policy of never aIlowq captives to return

home. In truth, Babylon, with her imperialism, commercialism, and false worship, has nothing to offer the exiled
Jews.
10 Jehovah implores his people: "listen intentfy to me,
and eat what is good, and let your soul find its exquisite delight in fatness itself lncline your ear and come to
me. Listen, and your soul will keep diveI and I shall reudily conclude with you people an indefinitely lasting covenant respecting the loving-kindnesses to David that are
faithful." (Isaiah 55326, 3) The only hope for these spiritualIy malnourished people rests with Jehovah, who is
now prophetically speaking to them through Isaiah. Their
very Lives depend upon listening to God's message, for he
states that by their doing so, their "soul will keep alive."
What, though, is the "indefmitely lasting covenant" that
Jehovah will conclude with those who respond to h m ?
That covenant is "respectingthe loving-kindnessesto David." Centuries earlier, Jehovah promised David that his
throne would become "firmly established to time indefinite," (2 Samuel 7%) Hence, the "indefinitely lasting
covenant" mentioned here pertains to rulership.
9.

How may many Jews be "paying out money for what is not

bread?
10, (a) How will Jehovah reward the exiled Jews if they listen to
h m ? (b) What covenant had Jehovah made with David?

A Mcsslrge of Hope for Downheurted Captives

23 7

A Permanent Heir to an Everlasting Kingdom

of ruIership in the line of David
might seem farfetched to those Jewish exiles. They have
lost their land and even their nationhood! Rut that i s
just temporary. Jehovah has not forgotten his covenant
with David. No matter how unlikely it seems from a human standpoint, God's purpose concerning an everlasting Kingdom in David's h e will succeed. But how and
when? In 537 B.C.E., Jehovah releases his people from
Babylonian captivity and restores them to their homeland. Does this resuIt in the establishment of an indefinitely lasting kingdom? No, they continue subject to another pagan empire, Medo-Persia. "The appointed times"
for the nations to have their rule have not yet expired.
(Luke21:24) With no lang in Israel, the promise that Jehovah gave to David will remain unfulfilled for centuries
to come.
12 More than 500 years after Israel's release from Babylonian captivity, Jehovah took a major step toward fulfilling the Kingdom covenant when he transkrred the life of
his firstborn Son, the beginning of his creative work, from
heavenly glory into the womb of the Jewish virgin Mary.
(Colossians 1:15-17}When announcing that went, Jehovah's angel told Mary: "This one will be great and will be
uUed Son of the Most High; and Jehovah God will give
him the throne of David his father, and he will rule as
king over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no
end of his kingdom." (Luke 1132,33) So Jesus was born
into the royal line of David and inherited the right of
11 Admittedly, the idea

11. U'hy might the fulfilment of God's promise to Dav~dseem far-

fetched to the exiles in Babylon?

12. What step did Jehovah take toward fulfilling his Kingdom covenant made with David?

'to time inkingshfp Once @~I~IWUX~.&~

Jattf W d
MnitaH
( h i a h 97;Dmiel214) Tbus the way was now
ope0for the merit of Jebwab'scenturk-ald promIse to give KingDavid a permanent heir.
"Commander to the Naliobal GroupsM

~WhatwiUtl&future~d~?Jehovahsays:~Lmk!
Asuwiblefftothen~grrurps/h~gJmhhR
us,
a k dd
~ cormunder b the national g m p a n(Isalah 55M) When $- grew up, he was Jehavah's representatbe on earth,God's Mtna to the mblom. During
his human Wtbe,his ~ w a s d h c t d t "thelost
o
sheep of the h o w of Israel." However, shortly before hls
~ i s tu h
n m l ,JesusSald to (ItzisllowE!rs:
thm

fore and make disciple$of p p k of d 11 mtiom . . ,

h k l I am with you dl the days mtiI the adusion of
the system of things>*@ktthm1&5,6; 1534; 28:19,U1)
Thus, in h e , t h e &gdmn mmiage w a s wrfed fa nonJews, and same of Jfms
d in the f u l m a t of the
crwewt madewifh David. (Acts 1346)In this way, even
after hfs death,
md ascension to heaven, Jesus wntinwd to k Jehmah's "witness to the nadanal
~~J

wv-#

14Jesus was also to be #a h d e r and commander: Ttue

t~ thts: prophetic dwhen on earth Jesus fully accept4 the qxmsibilities of his headship and tpok

13. How was Jam 'a witness to the m h n a l pups" both durlng
blsnWstryaad&erhkgscension?
14, 15. (a) How did Jesus pxcm htmself to IR *a Isader and cornmnndd? (bl What pfospect ww entertained hp JESUS' 5rsr-century

60bws?

1auspmved h h s d f b leader and mmmunderu

to the notional gmupr

240

Isaiah's Prophecy--Light for AII Mankind IT

the lead in wery respect, attracdng huge crowds,teaching

them words of truth, and indicating the benefits that
come to those who follow his leadership. (Matthew 4:24;
7:28,29;11:s) He effectively trained his disciples, preparing them to undertake the preaching campaign that lay
ahead, (Luke 10:l-12;Acts 1:8;Colossians 1:23) In just
three and a half yeas, Jesus laid the foundation for a unified, intemationaI congregation with thousands of members d r a m from many races! Only a true "leader and
commander" could have accomplished such a manumental task.*
15 Those who were gathered to the first-century Christian congregation were anointed with God's holy spirit,
and they had the prospect of becoming joint rulers with
Jesus in his heavenly Kingdom. (Revelation 14:l) However, Isaiah's prophecy looks beyond the days of early
Christianity. Evidence shows that Jesus Christ did not begin ruling as King of God's Kingdom untiI 1914. Shortly
thereafter, a situation developed among anointed Christians on earth that had many parallels with that of the
exded Jews in the sixth century B.C.E. In fact, what h a p
pened to those Christians constitutes a greater fulfillment
of Isaiah's prophecy.

Modern-Day Captivity and Release

16 Jesus' enthronement as Klng in 1914 was marked by
unprecedented world distress. Why? Because upon be*Jesus continues to oversee the disciple-making work. (Kcvelation
14:14-16)Today, Christian men and wemenview Jesus as the Head of
the congregation. (1 Corinthians 11:3) And in God's due time, Jesus
will act as "a leader and commander" In another way, when he directs the decisive battle against God's enemies at the war of Armageddon.-Revelation 19:19-21.
16. What distress followed Jesus' enthronement in 1914?

A Message of Hope for Downhearted Captives

coming King, Jesus ousted Satan and the &her wicked

spirit creatures from heaven. Once confined to the earth,
Satanbegan waging war against the remaining holy ones,
the remnant of anointed Christians. (Revelation 12:T-12,
17) The climax came in 1918 when the public preaching work virtually stopped and responsible officers of the
Watch Tower Society were imprisoned on false charges
of sedrtlon. In this way, Jehovah's modern-day servants
went into a spiritual captivity, reminiscent of the physical captivity of the ancient Jews. Great reproach hung
over them.
17 However, the captive condition of God's anointed
servants &d not last long. On March 26,1919, the imprisoned officers were released, and later all charges against
them were dropped.Jehovah poured out holy spirit upon
his liberated people, invigorating them for the work that
lay ahead. Joyfully, they responded to the invitation to
"take life's water free." (Revelation 22:17) They bought
"wine and milk wen without money and without price"
and were spiritually fortified for a marvelous expansion
that was on the horizon, one that the anointed remnant
had not foreseen.

A Great Crowd Runs to God's Anointed

18 Jesus' disciples entertain one of two hopes. First,
a "little flock" numbering 144,000 has been gathered
-anointed Christians of b a h Jewish and Gentile backgrounds who are "the Israel of God" and have the hope
17. How was the condition of the anointed reversed In 1919, and
how were they then fortified?
18. What two groups are found among the dlsciples of Jesus Christ,
and what do they form today?

242

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for A11 Mankind I1

of ruling with Jesus in his heavenly Kingdom. (Luke 1 2

32; Galatians 6:16; Revelation 14:1) Second, in the Iast
days, "a great crowd" of "other sheep" have manifested themselves. These have the hope of living forever on a paradise earth. Before the outbreak of the
great tribulation, this multitude-whose number is not
foreordained-serve alongside the liH1e flock, and both
p u p s form "one flock" under '"one shepherd."-Revelation 7:9,10;John 10:16.
19 The gathering in of this great crowd can be discerned
in the following wards of Isaiah's prophecy: "Look! A nation that you do not know p u will call, and those of a
nation who have not known you will run wen to you, for
the sake of lehovak your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he will have beautified you. " (Isaiah 55:s)
In the years following their release from spiritual c a p
tivity, the anointed remnant did not at frrst understand
that before Armageddon they would be instrumental in
calling to Jehovah's worship a large "nation." However,
as time went on, many honesthearted ones who did not
have a heavenly hope began associating with the anointed and serving Jehwah with the same zeal as that of the
anointed. These newcomers took note of the beautified
condition of God's people, recognizing that Jehovah was
among them. (Zechariah 8:23) In the 1930Fs,the anointed came to understand the real identity of this group,
whose numbers were growing in their midst, They came
to discern that a great ingathering work stiIl lay ahead.
The great crowd was hastening to associate with God's
covenant people, and with good reason.
19. How has "a nation" previously unknown to the Israel of God responded to the call of that spiritual naeon?

A Messa$e of Hope for Do wnheartecl Captives

20 In Isaiah's day, the call went out: 'Search forlehovah,

you people, while he may be found. Call to him while he
proves to he near." (Isaiah 5 5 6 ) En our day, these words
are appropriate, both for those who form the Israel of
God and for the growing great crowd. Jehovah's blessing
is not unconditional, nor is his invitation extended indefinitely. Now is the time to seek God's favor. When the
appointed time for Jehovah's judgment arrives, it will be
too late. Hence, Isaiah says: "Pet the wicked man leave his
way, and the harmful man his thoughts; and let him return to lehowh, who will have mercy upon him, and to
our God, for he will forgive in a large way."-Isaiah 5 5 3
21 The phrase "let him return to Jehovah implies that
those needmg to repent had a relationship with God formerly, l'he expression reminds us that many aspects of
this part of Isaiah's prophecy have their first application
with the Jewish captives in Babylon. Centuries before,
the forefathers of these captives declared their determination to be obedient to Jehovah when they stated: "Itis
unthmkable, on our part, to leave Jehovah so as to serve
other gods." (Joshua 24:16) History shows that the "unthinkable" did happen-repeatedly! The lack of faith on
the part of God's peopIe is the reason why they are exiles
in Babylon.
22 What will happen if they repent? Through Isaiah, Jehwah promises that he will "forgive in a large way." And
he adds: " 'For the though& of p u people are not my
-

20. (a) In our day, why is it urgent to "searchfor Jehovah," and bow
is this done? @) How will Jehovah respond to those who search for
him?
21. How bas the nation of Israel proved unfaithful to the dedaration made by their forefathers?
22. Why does Jehovah say that his tlloughts and ways are higher
than those of humans?

-1

244

iwiah'r Prophecy-LIXII~Ibr All Mnnklrrd TI

though&' nor ore my ways your m y s , ' is the utterance of

lehovah, 'For as the heuvens ore higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts
than your thoughts,'" (Isaiah 55:8, 9 )Jehovah is perlcct,
and his thaughk and ways are umeachably high. F V C ~
his mercy is on a l d that we humans can nwcr hopc to
atlain. Camider: When we forgiw a fclPow human, it ir ;1
case of a sinner forgiving a sinner. We realize that sooner
or later we will need to have some fellow human forgive
us. (Matthew 612) But Jehovah, w e n though hc ncwr
needs to be forgiven, forgives "in a large way" ! 'Truly, he
is a C;od of great loving-Kindness.And in his mercy, Jehovah opens the flmdgatcs of the heavens, showering
down blesrings on those who return to him with all
their hearts.-Malachi 3:lQ.

Blessing for Those

Returning to Jehovah
23 Jehovah promiws h l people:
~
'yust
as the pouring rain descends, and
the snow, from the heavens and
23. How rlocs Jphovah Illu<trate

the certainty of the fuI6llr11cnt

"Letthe wicked mon

I
I

A M~~~.rii,$~r
trpIlrrpr

D o r v t r / r e ~ ~ r tCrrptlvrr
~il

245

does not return to that placet unlesx Is ucf~~olly

saturates
the earth and makes it produce and sprout, and seed ix
actualiy given to the sower and bread to the eater, so my
word thot goes forth from my mouth will prove to be. It
will not return to me without ~sults,but it will certainly
do that In which 1 have delighted, and it will have cerfoin
success in t l ~tafor which E Ilaw sent it." (Isaiah 55:'10, TI )
1:verylhin~lrhovvah say% i\ cc*rtnin to be ft~lfillcd.Just as
the rain ,111dtho snow falling lrnm the skies accomplish
their purpose of sahlrating the carth and bringing forth
I ruit, so Jehovah's word that gws forth from his mouth
is complctcly rcliablc. Whal he promiser, he will fulfill
-with absolutc certainty.-Numhcrc 23:19.
24 Hence, if the Jews hectl thc wards prophc.tically uttcrcrl for [hem through I ~ a l a h they
,
will without fail recelve thc salvation Jrhovah has promised, Ar a reqult,
thcy will experience great joy, Jehovah btatcs: "With reloicing you people will go Forth, and wlth peace you will
24, 25, Whikt I)lcs\lngs art In htorc fnsjewlsh exile? who act on Jehnv:~li'+rncwagc t h m ~ ~ gIralah
ti
l

246

isaiuh's Prophecy-Light furA71 Mankind II

be brought in. The mountains and the hills themselves

will become cheerful before you with a joyful outcry, and
the very trees of the field will all clop their hands. Instead of the thicker o f thorns the juniper tree will come
up. Instead of the stinging n e w the myrtle tree will come
up. And it must hecome for Jehovahsomething famous, a
sign to time indefinite thot will not be cut off."-lsuiah 55:
7Z1 713.
25 In 537 B.C.E., the Jewish exiles do indeed go forth out
of Babylon with rejoicing. (Psalm 126:1,2) When they arrive in Jerusalem, they find a land choked with thickets
of thorns and stinging nettles-remember, the land has
lain desolate for decades. But God's repabiated people
can now help to bring about a lovely transformation!
Towering trees, such as the juniper and the myrtle, replace thorns and nettles. Jehovah's blessing becomes
readily evident as his people serve him "with a joyful outcry." It is as if the land itself were rejoicing.
26 In 1919 the remnant of anointed Christians were liberated from their spiritual captivity. (Isaiah 66:8)Together with the great aowd of other sheep, they are now serving God with rejoicing in a spiritual paradise. Free of any
taint of Babylonish influence, they enjoy a favored con&tion, which has become for Jehovah "something famous." Their spiritual prosperity glorifies his name and
exalts him as the God of true prophecy. What Jehovah has accomplished for them demonstrates his Godship and is widence of his faithfulness to his word and
his mercy toward repentant ones. May all who continue
to "buy wine and milk even without money and without
price" rejoice in serving him forever!
26. What blessed condition do God's people enjoy today?

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Foreigners Gathered to God's

House of Prayer
Isaiah 56:l-12

ON FRIDAY, May 31,1935, Joseph F. Rutl~exfoxdaddressed

a convention crowd in Washington, D.C. He discussed

the identiq of the "great cmwd," or "great ~nultitude,"
seen in vision by the apostle John. At the climax of Bxother Rutherford's talk, he asked: "Will all those who have
the hope of living forever on the earth please stand?" According to one of those attending, "wer half of the audience stood." Then the speaker said: "Behold! The great
multitude!" Another who was present recalls: "There was
at first a hush, then a gladsome cry, and the cheering was
loud and long."-Revelation 29; King J ~ m Vmion.
a
2 That was an outstanding moment in the ongoing fulfillment of a prophecy written down some 2,700 years
earlier and appearing in our Bibles as Isaiah chapter 56.As
with many other prophecies in Isaiah, this one contains
both comforting promises and stern warnings. In the first
application, it is addressed to God's covenant people of
Isaiah's own day, but its fulfillment extends over the centuries to our day.

What Salvation Requires

3

Isaiah chapter 56 begins with admonition to the Jews.

1,2. What thrilling announcement was made in 1935, and of what

was this a part?
3. If the Jews seek salvation from God, what must they do?

248

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light forA11 Mankind 11

However, all true worshipers should take heed of what the

prophet writes. We read: '7his is what jehovah has said:
'Keepjustice, you people, and do what is righteous. For my
salvotion is at hand ta come in, and my righteousness to
be revealed. Happy is the m o d man that does this, and
the son of mankind that lays hold of it, keeping the rubbath in order not to profane it, and keeping his hand in order not to do any kind of budness."' (Isaiah 56:7, 2) The
inhabitants of Judah who seek salvation from God must
obey the Mosaic Law, observing justice and leading righteous lives. Why? Because Jehovah himself is righteous.
Those who pursue righteousnessenjoy the happiness that
comes from having Jehovah's favor.-Psalm 144:15b,
4 The prophecy highlights Sabbath observance because
the Sabbath is an important feature of the Mosaic Law.
Indeed, one of the reasons why the inhabitants of Judah
eventually go into exile is their neglect of the Sabbath.
(Leviticus 26:34, 35; 2 Chronicles 36:20, 21) The Sabbath is a sign of the special relationshp Jehovah has
with the Jews, and those who observe the Sabbath show
that they value that relationship. (Exodus 31:13) Further,
obsening the Sabbath would remind Isaiah's contemporaries that Jehovah is the Creator. Such observance would
also bring to mind his mercies toward them. (Exodus 20:
8-11; Deuteronomy 5:1215) Finally, keeping the Sabbath
would provide a regular, structured arrangement for worshiping Jehovah. Resting once a week from their reguIar
work would pve the inhabitants of Judahopportunity for
prayer, study, and meditation.
5 What, though, of Christians? Does the encouragement
4. Why is Sabbath observance of importance InIsraeI?
5. In principle, how can Christians apply the counsel to keep the

Sabbath?

Foreigners Ga thcred to God's House of Prayer

249

to observe the Sabbath apply t~ them? Not dmciiy, since

Christians are not under the Law and are therefore not required to observe the Sabbath, (Colossians 216, 17) Still,
the apostle Paul explained that there is "a sabbath resting" for faithful Christians. This "sabbath resting'' involves having faith in Jesus' ransom sacrifice for salvation and ceasing to rely on works alone. (Hebrews 4:6-10)
Hence, the words of Isaiah's prophecy regarding the Sabbath remind Jehovah'sservants today of the vital need to
have faith in God's arrangement for salvation. It is also a
fine reminder of the need to cultivate a close relationship
with Jehovah and to pursue a course of regular, consistent
worship.

Comfort for the Foreigner and the Eunuch

6 Jehovah now addresses two groups who want to serve
him but who under the Mosaic Law are disqualified
from coming into the Jewish congregation. We read: "Let
not the foreigner that has joined himself to Jehovoh say,
'Without doubt Jehovah will divide me off from his people.' Neither let the eunuch say, 'Look! I urn a dry tree.'"
(Isaiah 56:3)The foreigner's fear is that he will be cut off
from Israel. The eunuch's con= is that he will never
haw children to preserve his name. Both groups should
take courage. Before we see why, let us consider what
standing they have under the Law in relation to the nation of Israel.
7 Uncircumcised foreigners are excluded fron sharing
in worship with Israel. For example, they are not allowed
to partake of the Passover. (Exodus 12~43)Foreigners who
6. What two groups now receive attention?
7. What Urnits d w s the Law put on foreigners in Israel?

Pomlpcn Gathered b God's Hause o f w r

do not m
y break the laws uf the Iand enjoy jmtie
and hospitality, but they haw no ~~t
tla with
the nation Of course, some fully embraee the Law,and
as n sign of this, the men & ckumckd. Then a
e
y are
prosem,privileged to worship in rhe
of Jehovah's house and mnsidmd a part of the mngregation
of Israel. (LRvldcus 17:1@14; ZQ2; 2452)Howma, mm
proselytes m not full partldpants tn Jehovah's covmmt
wlth Israel, and they have no land inheritance in the
Promised Land. Other hmignets may turn to the temple
Inprayer, and evidently they may ofha sacrifim through
the prlesthmd as long as the sactifices coto the
Law, (Levitims 2225; 1 Kin@8:41-43) But Israelites are
not to assodate closely with them

Eunuchs Receive a Name to Time IndefmIte

8 Eunuchs, even If they are born of Jewish pasen% m
danied full rnmbashlp of the nation af M.' I M ternnomy 23:l) h o w same pagan nattons of Bible
Wa, eunuchs had a spedd g k e and ft rn the c
w
tom to castrate some of the c h I b n taken capti= In

war. Eunuchti were appIxlted as o&d& In the rcyd

murts. A eunuch might be a
of the women,"

to a cwrt oBci& witbat

*The W m "cunu&" a h m e to
-to~lmutbtJan.
sincethe--byip lppsars to have been a pwdyw+tre was bq&db e b e the my
wa6 opened b undmundd non-Je~b-he
must kaae baen a anurh In thls rmse,-kb C27-39.
8. (a) Under theLav,howwereeunuJlsvimd? (b) H o w w m e e y
~ehsusedIn~nstiom,l,aadwwhatcanthetenrraU~uchu
soroetlmw dm?

The Sabbath would p m d e

appwtunlty br pmyer, stu*, aod m e d I W n

2 52

I s a i ~h's Prophecy-Light for A11 Mankind I1

a "guardian of the concubines," or an attendant of the

queen. (Esther 2:3, 12-15; 4:4-6, 9) There is no evidence
that the Israelites fallowed such practices or that eunuchs
were specially sought out for employment in the service
of Israelite kings."
9 In addition to being able to share in only a limited way
in the worship of the true God, physical eunuchs in Israel suffer the great humiliation of being unable to father
chldren to carry on their family name, How comforting,
then, are the next words of the prophecy! We read: ''This
is what jehovah has said to the eunuchs that keep my
sabbaths and that have chosen what I have delighted in
and that are hying hold of my covenant;. 'I will even give
to them in my house and within my wails u monument
and a name) something better than sons and daughters.
A name to time indefinite I shall give them, one that will
not be cut off' "-Isaiah 56:4,5.
10 Yes, the time will come when being wen a physical
eunuch will no longer be an impediment to being fully accepted as Jehovah's servant. If obedient, eunuchs
will have "a monument," or a place, in Jehovah's house
and a name, better than sons and daughters. When does
this happen? Not until after the death of Jesus Christ.
At that time the old Law covenant was replaced by the
new covenant, and fleshly Israel was replaced by "theIs-

* Ebed-melech, who m e to Jeremiah's aid and who had direct access ta King Zedekiah, is called a eunuch. This would appear to have
reference to his being a court official rather than his being physically mutilated.-Jeremiah 38:7-13.
9. What consoling words does Jehovah address to phyqical eunuchs?
10. When did the situation of eunuchs change, and what privilege
has been open to them srnce then?

1
1

Foreigners Gathered to God's House of Prayer

rael of Cod." (Galatians 6:16) Since then, all of those exercising faith have been able to render acceptable worship to God. Fleshly distinctions and physical condition
no lunger count. Those who endure faithfully, whatever
their physical state, will have "a name to time indefinite
. . . one that will not be cut off." Jehwah will not forget them. Their names will be written in his "book of remembrance," and in God's due time, they will receive
life everlasting.-Malachi 3:16; Proverbs 22: 1;1John 2:17.

Foreigners Worship With God's People

11 What, though, of the foreigners? The prophecy now
returns to these, and Jehovah has words of great comfort
for them. Isaiah writes: "The foreigners that have joined
themselves to lehovah to minister to him and to love the
name of jehovah, in order to become servants to him, all
those keeping the sabbath in order not to profane it and
laying hold of my covenant, I will also bring them to my
holy mountain and make them rejoice inside my house
of prayer. Their whole burnt offerings and their sacrifices
will be far occeptmce upon my altar. For my own house
will be called even a house o fprayer for all the peoples,"
-Isaiah 56:6, Z
12 In our time "the foreigners" have made their appearance graduaIly. Before the first world war, it was understood that a greater number of individuals would receive
salvation than the number of those with the hope of ruling in heawn with Jesus-the ones we recognize today
as the Israel of God. Bible students were aware of Jesus'
words recorded at John 10:16:"I have other sheep, which
11.

~eceiveblessings, what are foreigners encouraged to do?

12. What was the ullderstandlllg once held regarding Jesus' proph-

ecy of the "other sheep"?

254

Isnlnll's Proplrccy-L(pltf [or All Mflnklnd 11

arc not of this fold; those also I must bring, and t h y

will tisten to my voice, and they will become one f l ~ k ,
one shepherd."These "other sheep" were understood to
be an earthly class. But most Bible Students believed that
the other sheep would make thcir appearance during the
Millennia1 Reign of Jesus Christ.

13 Eventually, progress was made In the understanding

of a related scripture that speaks of sheep, In Matthew
chapter 25, there is a record of Jesus' parable of the sheep
and the goats. According to that parable, the sheep reccivc cwrIasthg life hcausc thcy strpport Jcsus' brothers. Hence, they are a class separate and distinct from the
anointed brothers of Christ. In 1923, during a mnvcntion in h s Angeles, California, U.S.A., it was explained
that those sheep must make their appearance, not during
the Millennium, but during the concluding days of this
system of things. Why? Because Jesus gave the parable
as part of his answer to the question: "When will thcsc
things be, and what will be the sign of your preqencc and
of the conclusion of the system of thln~?"-Matthew
243.

14 During the 1920'5, some individuals who were associated with the Bible Students came to feel that Jehovah's
spirit was not witnessing to them that they had a heavenly calling. Yet,they w m zealous scrvants of the Most
High God. In 1931the position of thesc was better understood when the book Vindication was published. A$ part
of a verse-by-verse discussion of the Bible book of I!ze
13. Why war it reasoned that the sheep nf Matthm chapter 25 murt
npperr durhg the concluding days of this sy5tcm of thins%?
14, 15, Howwas progress made in understanding thc po~ltlon
of the
other sheep in the me of the end?

Foreigners Gatherrd to God's Holrse n f ~ t f i y l ' r

Met, Irindicfltion expt a i n d t thc vlst on of '"he man" with

the writer's inkhorn. (Fxekiel 91-1 3) This "man" is seen
going through Jerusalem and marking the foreheads of
those sighing and crying over the abominations being
committed there. "'The man" represents Jcsus' brothers,
the remnant of anointed Chrhlians alive on earth during the time of judgment of antitypical Jerusalem, Christendom, Those marked arc the other sheep Hvlng during
that time. In the vlslon they are spared when Jehovah's
executioners bring vengeance on that apostate city.
15 In 1932 a deeper understanding of the prophetic drama of KingJehu of Israel and Jchonadab, a non-Israelite
supporter, indicated how these other sheep act in support of Christ's anointed brothers-just ar Jehonadab
went along and supported Jehu In his destruction of Bad
worship. Finally, In 1935 thc other sheep living during
the time of the end of this syslern of things were recognized as being the great crowd seen in vision by the apostle John, This was first explalned at the aforementioned
convention In Washington, D.C., when Joseph F. Rutherford pointed to those with an earthly hope as "thegreat
multitude,"
16 Thus /f was gradually seen that "the foreigners" have
a large part to play in Jehovah's purposes during these
last days. They come to the Israel of God in order
to worship Jehovah, (Zechariah 8;23) With that spjsitua1 nation, they offer acc~ptablesacrifices to God and enter into the sabbath restlng, (Hebrews 13:15, 16) Mareover, they worship at Cfid's spiritual temple, which, like
the temple at Jerttsalem, is "a house of prayer for a11 the

16. What prMleges and rcsponslbllltl~do "the torelgners" enjoy?

,411 Mankind El

h i a h ' s Fnrpliacy-LlbJlr

&w@mG~thstsdfa W's HOUM of Prcry~r

257

h
e Patha and the supreme Smmip.-Jeremid~
nattolls."(Ma&1k17)They e m c h Mth in the ransom
s a d k e o f ~ e s u s ~ ~ ~ b i n g r h e i r m ~3133,34;
~ ~ Matthew 69;John 17:3.
them white in the b l d of the Iamb! And they serw Je18 m J s prophecy mqtlnws: Vhe uttmnce of
h o n h ~ ~ * u r e a d e r j n g i l l m ~ ~ ~ a a ~d ~ L o r d ~ ~ , w t r ~ i
d&t."-kA&i~fl
7;14,15,

diqm&tamof ismel, fs: 'I Shcrllrollect-dohh

ba&s $wre &wdy d k & d W e r of hb.'"
wvmmt in the sense that by aawdadng with the Im(Isaiah 56:8] Durhg the time of t h e end, JWahbas
el of God, thq e n j q benefiB and bkssings that come
collected 'the dispersed ones of brael," those of the
through the new m t . While aey are not WCanointed ~ a m n tIn
, -don,
he fs collecting dttrds,
igantsinthat~t,theysutrmit~leh~to
thw d the gr& erawd.'Ibgether they worship in peace
the lam asmhted with it t
.Jehmhtslaw is witha n d ~ n y u n d e r t h e ~ t o f J ~ a
inth&hearb,andfhqr~~netoknawJehwahastheh
enthronedKing,~Jesus.Becauseoftheirl~tyto
17. H o w d o t h e m d e l l l ~ ~ l a y h o t d ~ f t h a ~ ~ t ? JehovahJsgmmnwlt by Christ, the Plne Shepha has

a These mademday h~-ignmlay hold of the new

madethanlntoaunitW4,jayfulflock.
Tlre porltlon of Phe other sheep
wcrs clearfyexplckredatao m d o n
In WashIn-,
0.C. In 1935 (baprrm
p k W d below*pmgram dgbt)

Blind Watchmen, Voicela Dogs

~mfUEgdngwam,~~wor88lueW

by a strlkhg, almost shocking, contrast. Jehovahis prep&ID act with mercy bmd foreigners and m&~ umany
t
who
to be members of God's cmgqa-

lion are fxmkmn@dand are M Ilne for fudgmeat. Mme

tbanthat,fbeyarenotwen~ofa~
andamfrtonlytobe devPured b y r r r v e n o w ~Thw,
.
weIread:YM~wEId#~oftkopenflelrG
t o e d l p u WlhlankffakIn t h e f ~ m t . " ( I569)
d
what are these wltd animds going to feast on? The
prophecy will explain, In doing so,it m
y remind m of
the fate awaiting those who oppose Ciod at the coming
I& W$atberfmg work f befng BOEompIt&ed drrring W time J
the end?
19. What invitation is cxbendsd t~ the wlld animds of W sad fotest.3

Itmtgmers GnZkeed ttr God's House of P ~ p r

They bunhed the peogk with W t l o n s of men, spoke

religiou5 lies, and tmtd in APsyria br help rather
looking to C;od. (2 K h g i 165-9; lsaiah 29:1, 9-14) They
N o n e o f f h e m k h # h n ~ & . A I J ~ f b h ~ # ~ ~ k have cleady l e m d nothing. Sadly, the same sort of leaderswerrp~tintbfmtcenturytury~ofembradn
$ogs;tkyarpll~tabkdoba&pantln~~ngdown,hw
theg~~~ght~thembyGod'smSM1,they
ing toslumber. l?teyatrmdogssfnong h r s o u K u ~ ~ ~ ;
refm&Jegm and conspired to have him put bo death.&they haw known m s a t i s k t h . ?Beyom also s h e p W
sus fimkly cded them "blindguides," lrddtng t h t If "a
thnt haw nof hmhow to tmderstund, They huw aH
blind man guides a Hind man, both will fall Into a pit1'
of them turned to their own woy, done hr hhls unjust
15:14.
gcrln~Msom~'~nn?,menl~#?etuk@s~
wine; and kt us &ink i n W d 3 n g I4mr h the I i M , h d
f i e &Id unfmals am Invftrd W come to -st
~mmwwlll~tumwtluJtm~,gmtina
wry much krrger w~y.'~--l~~1loh
56:10.12,
21 The religious leaders of Judah profess to worship je
h m h They claim m k "his watchmm." But they
spiritually bbd, midem, and sleepy. If they cannot
keep on the watch and sound the d n g of danger,
what g o d sre they? Such ~ l ~ o watchmen
u s
are withwt understmdin&in no position to glm spiritual direction to sheepUk peqk. Mor~wer,they are cormpt,
They haw insatiable! xMsh W,Instead of kHowhg
jebvah's diraim, heyseek their own way, pursue unptgain, overin*
infnaowladngllquor, and enmua~ athers to do the same So oblipious are thw of God's
impending judgmmt that they tell people that thingP
will be Me.
Mer in his pmphq, Isaiah used similar hagmy to
describe the unfaithful~ l @
leaders
s
of Judah-spirftudly drunk, & o w , and lacking in understanding,

war of Amagwldsn, whose slain bodies are left h r the

bids of hto demm4mhUon 1917,18.
a The prophecy mnttnws: "His wrrtrhmm am bllnd.

20, 21. What failings mile the mligious leader8 uarhs a~ spiritual
gulQes?
22. Haw are the muglom haden of Jesus' day Ulos! thcrae of anclent

Judah1

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All M.ionkind I1

Watchmen of Today
23 The apostle Peter warned that false teachers would
also rise up to mislead Christians. He wrote: "There also
came to be false prophets among the people [of Israel], as
t h e ~ ewill also be false teachers among you. 'These very
ones will quietly bring in destructive sects and will disown even the owner that bought them, bringing speedy
destruction upon themselves." (2 Peter 2:l) What has
been the result of the false teachings and sectarianism of
such false teachers? Christendom, whose religious leaders today pray for God's blessing on their politicaI
friends and then promise a bright future. Christendom's
religious leaders have prtwed to be blind, voiceless, and
asleep with regard to spiritual things.
24 However, Jehovah is bringing millions of foreigners to worshp with the last ones of the Israel of God in
his great spiritual house of prayer. These foreigners, although from many nations, races, and languages, are at
unity with one another and with the Israel of God. They
are convinced that salvation can come only from Jehovah God through Jesus Christ. Motivated by lwe for Jehovah! they join Christ's anointed brothers in giving
voice to their faith. And they are deeply comforted by the
words of the inspired apostle who wrote: "If you publicly
declare that 'word in your o m mouth,' that Jesus is Lord,
and exercise faith in your heart that God raised him up
from the dead,you will be saved."-Romans 10:9.
23. What prophecy of Peter regarding religious leaders has been ful-

aledl
24. What unity exists between spiritual Israel and the foreigners?

The foreigners and the Israel of God

are at unity with one another

1
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Jehovah Revives the Spirit

of the Lowly Ones
Isaiah 5 7 1 -21

"THIS is what the High and Lofty One, who is residing

forever and whose name is holy, has said: 'In the height
and in the holy place is wl~ereI reside, also with the
one crushed and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of
the lowly ones and to revive the heart of the ones being
crushed.'" (Isaiah 573) So wrote the prophet Isaiah in
the eighth century B.C.E. What was happening in Judah
that made this message so encouraging? How do these
inspired words help Christians today? A consideration of
Isaiah chapter 57 wi11 help us answer those questions.

"You Men, Come Up Close Here"

2 This part of Isaiah's prophecy seems to apply in Tsaiah's own day. Consider how entrenched wickedness has
now become: 'me righteous one himself has perished,
but there is no one taking it to heart. And men of lovingkindness are being gathered to the dead, while no one
discerns that it is because of rhe calamity that the righteous one has been gathered away. He en ters into peace;
they take rest upon their beds, each one that is walking straightforwardly," (Isaiah57: 1,2) If a righteous man
1. What assurance did Jehovah give, and what questions are raised
by his words?
2. (a) When do the words of Isaiah chapter 57 seem to apply?
(b) What is the situation of righteous ones in Isaiah's clay?

JeltovaahRevives thc Spirit of the Lowly Ones

falls, no one cares. His untimely death goes unnoticed.

Falling asleep in death brings him peace, release from
the suffering inflicted hy the ungodly, and escape from
calamity. God's chosen enation has sunk to a deplorable state. But how those who remain faithfuI must be
encouraged to h o w that Jehovah not only sees what is
going on but will support them!
3 Jehovah summons the wicked generation of Judah,
saying: "As for you men, come up close here, you sons
of a soothsaying woman, the seed of an adulterous person and of a woman that commits prostitution." (Isaiah
5Z3)They have well earned such shameful descriptions
3. How does Jehovah address the wicked generation of Judah, and

why?
judah practicer immoral worship under every luxuriant tree

264

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light f o dl!

~ Mankind II

as sons of a soothsayer and offspring of a n adulterer and

of a prostitute. The false worship to which they have
turned includes disgusting acts of idolatry and spiritism
as well as immoral sexual practices. Hence, Jehovah asks
these sinners: "Over whom is it that you have a jolly
good rime?Against whom do you keep opening wide the
mouth, keep sticking out the tongue?Are you not the children of transgression, the seed of falsehood, those who
are working up passion among big trees, under every iuxuriant tree, slaughtering the children in the torrent valleys
under the clefts of the crags?'-Isaiah 524, 5.
4 The wicked ones of Judah practice their shocking pagan worship openly, Raving "a jolly good time." They
scornfully mock God's prophets who have been sent to
correct them, sticking out their tongues in a shameless,
disrespectfulgesture, Although they are children of Abraham, their rebelhous ways make them children of transgression and the seed of falsehood. (Isaiah 1:4; 309; John
8:39, 44) Out among the big trees in the countryside,
they stir up religious fervor in their idolatrous worshp.
And what cruel worship! Why, they even slaughter their
own children, like the nations whose detestable ways led
to their being driven off the land by Jehovah!-1 Klngs
14:23; 2 Kings 16:3,4; Isaiah 1:29.

Pouring Out a Drink Offering to Stones

5 See how deeply the inhabitants of Judah have plunged
into idolatry: "With the smooth stones of the torrent valIey was your portion. They-they were your lot. Moreover,
to them you poured out o drink offering, you ofired up a
4. Of what are the wicked ones of Judah guilty?
5, 6. (a) What haw the inhabitants of Judah chosen to do rather
than worship Jehovah? {b) How blatant and widespread is Judah's
id01 wo~ship?

fehovah Revives the Spirit of the Lowly One3

265

gift. For these things shall I comfort myself?" (Isaiah 57:6)

The Jews are God's covenant people, yet rather than worship him, they pick stones out of the riverbed and make
gods of these. David proclaimed that Jehovah was his
portion, but these sinners have chosen lifeless stone idols
as their lot and pour out drink offerings to them. (Psalm
165; Habakkuk 2:19) What comfort can Jehovah find in
such perversion of worship by his name people?
6 Everywhere-under big trees, in torrent valleys, on
hills, in their cities-Judah commits idolatry But Jehovah sees it all, and through Isaiah, He exposes her depravity: "Upon o mountain high and lifted up you set your
bed. There also you went up to offer sacrifice.And behind
the door and the doorpost you set your memorial." (Isaiah 57:7-8a)Upon the high places, Judah makes her bed

of spiritual uncleanness, and there she offers sacrifices to

foreign gods." Even private houses have idols behind the
doors and the doorposts.
Same may wonder why Judah has become so involved
in unclean worship. Has some stronger power forced her
to abandon Jehovah? The answer is no. She does it willingly, eagerly.Jehovah states: 'Mpcrrt from me you uncovered yourself and proceeded to go up; you made your bed
spacious, And for yourself you went concluding a covenant with them. You loved a bed with them. The mule organ you beheld." (Isaiah 57:8b) Judah has made a
covenant with her false gods, and she loves her illicit relationship with them. She especially loves the immoral
* Likely the term "bed refers either to the altar or to the place of pagan worship. Calling it a bed is a reminder that such worship l s splsitual prostitution.

7, With what spirit does F d a h engage in immoral worship?

s e n d pracdms-likely inclvdhg the use af p W c symbols-that charackaizeworship of these gods1

suade Gentile nations t~ make pUtlcaf alliance with

her. Having Uned her back on Jehovah, she puts her
trust In hrelgn kings.
100ne example of &is is in the days of King Aha,
FeelhgthmtenedbyanaUaucebetweenWandSyrla, that unfaithful Hng of Judah sends rnesmgers m
Tiglath-pileser III ofAssyrfa, Wng:Y am p u r s e m t
and p son. Come up and s a w me out of the palm of
the Mng of Syia and out of the palm of the king of Israel,
who are rhhg up against me,"Ahaz sends dlwr and gold
as e bribe to the ldng of Aspria, and the king mpomh,
hunching a dwabthq attack on Syria. (2 X i q s 16:a-9)
In her dealings with the Gentile nationsl Ju&h stwps to
'the depths of Sheol."(An A
~B
e
c
a
w
of those dealin@, she wlll die, or cease to exist as m independent natfmwith a k g .

8 The MptIon pf grossly immoral, cruel idol warship fits what we know of several wicked klqp ofJudah.
Mama&, for example, built up the high places, erected altars to MI and put false religious altars In two

temple cmmyads*He made his sons pass through the

fuel practiced mgiq employed dlvha~on,and promoted spiritisticpractice. King Manasseh also put fntoJeh*
vah's temple the graven hna@ of the sacred pole that he
had made.' He seduced JudahInto doing "what was bad
mare than the nations whom Jehovahhad annihilated?
(2 Khgs 21:29) Same Wew that Manas& bad Wah
killed, althoughMmassehlsm e d m not appear in Isaiah 1:1,

"YouContinued k d h g Your Bnvoys"

f 0, [a) How dOC8 Rng Ah= seek an Prltlance with the king d Awyrk?tb) In what way does ludah "omr mewrs ta Sbeal'?

JUWS
lxmspssion goes beyond d n g false gods.
Using Isaiah as his mouthpiece, Jehovah says: "Youpro.
ceeded to b n d to&
M e w wftJl a$ and kept makI t g p u r ointments &un&nt h n d p mntfnuedsending
yourenwysfaroif s o t h d y o u h d m i t e r $ bSkec
01." (Ircdah 5E9)TRe unfaithful kingdom of Judah goes
down to "Melech,"'the kJng" in Hebrew-likely the klng
of a doreign ~4~
him expemfve and appealing glkr, q-dmlimi by oil and perfumed ointments,
Judah sends e m b a r k to hraway places. Why? To pa-

'S a d poles may traM rrpreserrted thh a l e prlndple, and sPCffd

pillars may have h e n phaUc MS. Both were used by the unfaithful inhabitoffidah-2 Kings 1&4; 23:14.

8. Under which king in prtrHcular did fdalaq flourkh inJudah?

9. ~
a
o
e
~
j
~
~
~
~
p
m

268

Isaln h's Proplrtnc}d-L~l~

t fir All Mo nkind I1

Ielrovirh R~vlvcsthe Spirit

of the

LowIy O n n

269

continues to a d d ~ s sJudah: "In the multitude of your woys you have Wed. You have not said, 'It
is hopeless!' You h w e found o redm1 of your own power. That is why you haw not grown skk,"(isuiuh 5Z10)
Yes, the nation has labored liard In llcr apostate ways,
and she fails to see the haplessness of her cndcavors. To
the conbary, she deludes herself into beUeving that she
i s succeeding in her own power. Shc iwls invigorated and
healthy. How h l i s h !

fear oCJehovah.Otherwise, she would not have hecome

a nation of liars, worshipers of false gods. Jehovah goes
on to say: "I was nut the one that p u remembered. You
took nothhg to your heart. War I nor keeping silent and
hidng matters?So you were in no fear even of me." (Isaiah 57:1 1 ) Jchovah has kept silent, not I nflictlng immcdiale ~ ~ t ~ n i s h mupon
e n t JucIah. Does Judah appreciate this?
No, instead she views God's forbearance as indifierence.
She has lost all fearof him.

12 Today there is an organimtIon whose conduct is seminiacent of that of Judah in Isaiah's day. Christendom
uses the name ofJesus,but she pursues alliances with the
natlons and has filled her places of worshlp with idols.
Her adhesenls even set up Idolatrous images in their private homes. Christendom has sacrificed her young people in the wars of the nations. I-low offensive all of this
must be to the m e God, who commands Christians:
"Flee from idolatry"I (1 Corinthians 10:14) By involving
hcrself in politics, Christendurn has 'committed fornication with the kings of tlre earth.' (llevelatlon 17:l, 2) She
is, In fact, a major supporter ofthe United Nations. What
lies ahead for this religious harlot? Well, what does Jehovah say to her pratotype, unfaithful Judah, especially as
represenrrd by her capital city, Jerusalem?

14 However, the pericd of Gocl's long-suffering will end.

Lookinl: toward that time, Jehovah declares: "I myself
shall tell forth your righteousness and your works, that
tltey will nal benefit you. When you cry for old your collection of things will not deliver you, but s wind will
carry even a// of them away. An exhoEation wilr' take
them away." (Isaiah 5Z72, 730) Jehovah will expose Jurlall's sham righteousness. Her hypocritical ruorks will be
at' na hencfit. Her "collection of things," her Inventory
of Idols, will not cleliver her. When calamity strlkes, the
gods in which she trusts dl1 be Iiown away hy a mere
breath of wind.
1s Jehovah's words are fulfilled in 607 B.C.E. That is
when nabylonian King Nebuchadne7~1r
destroysJerusalem, burns the tempIe, and takes most of the people cap
tive. "'I'hus Judah went into exile from off Its soil."
-2 Kings 25:1-21.
16 Sjmilarly, Christmdom's large Inventory of idols will
not deliver her in the day of Jehovah's anger. (Isaiah 2:19-22; 2 Thessalonians 16-10) N o n ~
with the rest
-

11 Jehovah

'Your Collection Will Not Deliver You'

13 "Whom did you become frightened at lrnd begin to
fesrr, so that p u took up lytng?" asks Jehovah. A good
question! Judah certainly shotvs no wholesome, godly
-.T t. What false sense ofsecurity does Judah dlspiay?
12. What conditions in Chrtstendom p a m l l ~ lthose In Judah?
13, What "lying" does Judah take up, atid how does she rcact to Jehovah'*, patience?

14, tS. What doesJehovahsay aboutludnh's warks and her "collectbn ofthlngs1'?
16, What nwnlts Christendom and the rest of "llnlvlant h e Great"?

270

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I1

of "Babylonthe Great"-the world conglomerate of fdse

religion-Christendom will be anmhdated. The symbolic scarlet-colored wild beast and its ten horns "will make
[Babylon the Great] devastated and naked, and will eat
up her fleshy parts and will completely bum her with
fire." (Rmelation 17:3, 16, 17) How glad we are to have
obeyed the command: "Get out of her, my people, if you
do not: want to share with her in her sins, and if you do
not want to receive part of her plagues"! (Revelation 18:
4, 5 ) May we never return to her or her ways.

"The One Taking Refuge in Me

WilI Inherit the Land"
1 7 What, though, of the next words of Isaiah's prophecy? 'The one taking refuge in me will inherit the land
and will take possession of my holy mountain." (Isaiah
57: 13b) To whom is Jehovah speaking now? He is lookmg beyond the coming cataclysm and foretelling the
liberation of his people from Babylon and the restoration of pue worship in his holy mountain, Jerusalem.
(Isaiah 66:20;Daniel 9:16)What a source of encouragement this must be to any Jews who remain faithful! Further, Jehovah says: "One will certainlysay, 'Bank up, you
people, bank up! Clear the way. Remove any obstacle
from the way of my people.' " (Isaiah 57: 14) When the
time comes for God to deliver his people, the way will
be ready, with all obstacles removed.-2 Chronicles 36:
22,23,

1s It is at t h s point that the prophet Isaiah relates

-

17. What promise is made to 'the one taking refuge in Jehovah,'and

when i s t h s realized?
18. How i s Jehovah's loftiness described, yet what loving concern
does he display?

Jehovah Revives the Sptrit of the Lowly Ones

271

the words quoted at the outset: 'This is what the High

and Lofty One, who is residing forever and whose name
is holy, has said: 'In the height ond in the holy place is
where I reside, also with the one crushed and lowly in
spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly ones and to reviw
the heart of the ones being crushed.' " (Isaiah 57:15) Jehovah's throne js in the highest heavens. There is no position higher or lofher. How comforting to know that
from there he sees everything-not only the sins of the
wicked but also the righteous acts of those who try to
serve him! (Psalm 102:19; 103:6)Moreover, he hears the
groans of the oppressed and revives the hearts of the
crushed. These words must have touched the hearts of
repentant Jews in ancient times. They certainly touch
our hearts today.
19 Comforting, too, are Jehovah's further words: "'Itwill
not be to time indefinite that I shall contend, nor perpetually that I shall be indignant; for because of me the spirit itself would grow feeble, even the breathing creatures
that I myself have made." (Isaiah 5Z 16) None of God's
creatures could survive if Jehovah's wrath were perpetual, without end. Happily, though, God's indignation is
only for a limited time. When it has accomplished Its
purpose, it ceases. This inspired insight helps us develop
deep appreciation for Jehovah's love toward his creation,
20 We gain more insight as Jehovah continues. First he
says: 'At the erroneousness of his unjust gain I grew indignanc and I proceeded to strike him, concealing my
face, while I was indignant But he kept walking as ct
-

19. When does Jehovah's indignation cease?

20. (a) How does Jehovah deal wlth a n unrepentant wrongdoer?
(bj In what way does Jehovah comfort the contrite one?

272

Bfliali'~Proph~cy-Light for All Mankind 11

mnegade in the wuy of his heart" (Isobh 57:77) The

wrongs committed because of greed certainly invite
God's wrath. As bng as one remalns a renegade at
heart, Jehovahremains indignant, Rut what If the rene
gadc responds to the disclpllne? Then Jehovah shows
how his love and compassion move him to act 9 have
seen hls very ways; and I began to heui him and conduct
him and make co~pensarionwlth comfort RJhim and
to his mourning ones." (tsoiuh 57: 18) After taking discip l nary action, Jehovah heals the contrite one and comforts hlm and those mourning wlth him, That ir why in
537 B.C.E., the Jews were able tQ return home. True, Judah was never again an independent kingdom. Still, the
tcmple in femalem was rebullt, and true worship was
restored.
21 "The High m d Lofty One," Jehovah, also showed
concern for the welfare of the anointed remnant in
1919,Because of their contrite, humble spirit, the great
God, Jehovah, kindly notlced their amiction and delivered them from Babylonish captivity. He removed all
stumbling blocks and led them to Freedom so that
they could render pure worship to him. Thus Jehe
vah's words through Isaiah had a fulfillment then. And
behind those words are eternal principles that apply to
each one af us. Jehovah accepts worship only from those
who are lowly in mind. And if one of God's sewants
should sin, he should be quick to acknowledge his error,
accept reproof,and correct his ways. May we never forget
that Jehovah heals and comforts humble ones but "opposes the haughty ones,"-jam= 4:6.
21. (a) How did Jehovah revive the sprrlt of snnlnted Christians in
19197 (b) What quality do we as indivlcluals dn well to cultivate?

Jrrrovnii l l c v i v ~ rtlre Spirit of the Lowly OIIES

273

'Peace to Those Far and Near'

22 Contrasting the future of those who repent with that
of those who persist in their wlcked wayr, Jehovah declares: "I am creating the fruit of the lips, Continuous
peace there will be to the one that is far away and to the
one that is near, . and I wdll hear' him, But the wicked
ore like the sea that is being tossed, when it is umbEe to
calm down, the waters of which keep tossing up seaweed
and mire. Thereis ne peace ... for the wlcked ones."-!soi ~ Sf:
h 19-21,
23 The fruit of the lips is the sacrifice of praise offered
to God-public declaration to his name, (Hebmvs 13:15)
How is Jehovah"creating"that public declaration? In order to offer a sacrifice of praise, an individual first has to
learn of God and then put faith in him. Faith-a fruit of
G d ' s spirit-mows thatperson to tell others what he has
beard. In other words, he makes public declaration. (RQ
mans 10:13-15;Galatians 522) It should he remembered,
too, that Jehovah is ultimately the one who mrnrnlssions
his servants to tell forth his praise. And Jehovah i s the
one who liberates his people, making it possible for them
to offer such s a d m of praise. ( I Peter 2 9 ) Hence, Je
hwah can well be said to create this fruit of the Iips.
24 What thrllIIng fruit of the lips the Jews must be offering as they return to their homeland slndng praises to jehmahl They must be joyful to know God's
pence, whether they are "far away"-distant from Judah,
-

..

22. What future does Jehovahforetell fur (a) the repentant?(b) the

wlckcd?
23. W h ~ 14t the h i t of the lips, and fn what way Is Jehovah "mating" thl.; fruit?
24, (a) Who come to know God's peace, and wlth what result?
(b) Who do not come to know peace, and what Is the result for them?

rrsziqa's haphety-Light f i r AIZ ManRlnd I7

still waiting ta ~turn-or oneaf'--already in t h e honeland. In brad cosrtrast, how different thugs are for the
wicked! Any who fail tq regpond to Jehovah's disciplinary
acts, the wicked whaever and wherever they are3have no
peace at all, Seething WC& the mtless sea, they keep padqcing, not-the fruit ~f the lips, but "seaweed and &,'
evethat is unclean.
25 Today, tm, Jehovah's worshipers evewhere declare
the good news of W ' s Xingdorn, Christians far and
near in morel than 230 lands offer the fruit of their lips,
sounding Wth praise of t h e oilly m e God. The praises they sing are heard Nfromthe exkmityof the earth."
[Isaiah 42:1@1-aThme who hear their eqreaiom and
respand are eMbrWrq the truth of W ' s Word, the Bible. Such tries are romlng to kndw piace, which coma
horn s m & q
God who givers peace!'-Rofmns
16:20.
26 True, the wid& pay no heed m the EWgdom masage. Soon, though, they will nat be allowed to disturb
the peace of the righteous. 'Just a little while longer,
and the wicked one will be no more,'' Jehovthpromises. Those tztIwlg refuge in Jehovah will inherit the land
ina wonderful way. "Themeek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they will indeed fmd their exquisite
delight in the abundance of paere? (Psalm 37:10,11, -29)
What a lwely place ow earth will then be! May all of m

be determined never to lose Gad's peace, so that we can

sing God? praise for 1 1 eternity.

25. Hem are many fa1 and near coming to know peace?
26. k) mat lies ahead f ~ thewicked?
r
(bi) m
t grand pmmise is
made to t h e meek, and what should be our dete-tion?

"1 dm creating the fruit of the lips",

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Hypocrisy Exposed!
Isaiah 58:l-14

"OUTWARDLY indeed, [you] appear righteous to men,"

Jesus said to the religious leaders of hs day, "but inside
you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." (Matthew 23:
28) Jesus' condemnation of hypocrisy reflects the viewpoint of his heavenly Father. Chapter 58 of Isaiah's prophecy specificallyfocuses attention on the hypocrisy that is
rampant in Judah. Strife, oppression, and violence are the
order of the day, and Sabbath observance has degenerated into a meaningless ritual. The people give mere token service to Jehovah and make a showy display of piety
by insincere fasting. No wonder Jehovah exposes them
for what they are!

'Tell the People Their Sins'

2 Although Jehovah is disgusted with Judah's conduct,
His words include a heartfelt appeal for the nation to repent. Still, Jehovah does not want his reproof to be indis
tinct. Hence, he commands Isaiah: "'Caliout full-throated;
do not hold back. Raise your voicejust like a horn, and tell
my people their revolt, and the house of Jacob their sins. "
(Isaiah 58:7) Boldly proclaiming Jehovah's words might
earn Isaiah ill will from the people, but he does not
I. How do Jesus and Jehwah view hypocrisy, and what form does it
take in Isaiah's day?
2 . What spirit does Isaialah show as he declares Jehovah's message,
and who today are like him?

Hypocrisy Exposed!

277

shrlnk back. He still has the same spirit of dedication that

he showed when he said: "Were I am! Send me." (Isaiah
6:8) What a fine example of endurance Isaiah is to the
modern-day W~messesof Jehwah, who also are commissioned to preach God's Word and expose religious hypocrisy!-Psalm 118:6;2 Timothy 4:l-5.
3 Ostensibly, the people in Isaiah's day seek Jehovah and
express delight in his righteous judgments. We read Jehovah's words: "Doy after day it was l whom they keptseeking, and it was in the knowledge of my ways that they
would express delight, like a nation that carried on sighteousness itself and that had not left the very justice of
their God, in that. they kept asking me for righteous judgment%, drawing near to God in whom they had delight"
(Isaiah 5 8 2 ) Is this professed delight in Jehovah's ways
genuine? No. They are "like a nation that carried on righteousness itself," but the resemblance is merely superficial. In m t h , this nation has Yeft the very justice of their
God."
4 The situation is much like that later revealed to the
prophet Ezekiel. Jehavah told Ezekiel that the Jews were
saying to one another: "Come, please, and hear what
the word is that is going forth from Jehovah." But God
warned Ezekiel of their insincerity: "They will come in to
you, . . . and they will certa~nlyhear youx words but these
they will not do, for with their mouth they are expressing
lustful desires and after their unjust gain is where their
heart is going. And, look! you are to them like a song of
sensuous loves, Iike one with a pretty voice and playing a
stringed instrument well. And they will certainly hear
your words, but there are none doing them." (Ezeluel
3, 4. (a) What false appearance do the people h Isaiah's day put
on? (b) What is the real situation in Judah?

Hmcrlry&posed1

279

33:30-32) Isaiah's contempodes also c h h tu be se&q

JehovahmtWmtly, but they do not obey his words.

H y p d t i c a l -F
~InanefXorttogahdMnefam,~eJewsga
the formaIlty of fa-,
but thdr pended p f q only
alienates them Min Jehovah. In apparent M d c r m e n t

they a s k uF;wwlratrwondldwhtundyoudldnotsee,
and d# me
our soul a d p u m k J sake no no&?
Jehmh respods fimkIy, saying: "Indeed f l u people
w m flndlq delbht In t
k wry d Q ofwfast@ Men
dlmwewdyouraolIwrs~tyouk~@drMngfro~~
indesdliPr~mgondsiwggkpud~andIbr
s W n g dth the ftstof wkkedmsx LWwu notkegp RaFtIng as In the day fDT making your voice t~ be heard In
thshdght?SfrddthelhFCthatI&~~llkstMs,
ay o day Ibr mihIIng man b Llfffkt his sod? For bowing

down hfsharrrEjustfko~sh,
mdahotheshould~

out mere ~ ~ ~ c k rand

h f hashes as hh coudr? Is It thtrls that
you d/
P ibst and a day m b b k to ~ & o w h r " ~ l ~ I u h
58:3-5.
6W
e fasthg, fdgntng r@hteoum&s,and even asking

forJehovah9righteous judgments, thepeople pursue selfIsh pleasum and business inkre&. T h q indulge in strife,
oppression, and v h h c e . In an attempt to whitewash
thek behavior, they engage In showy atsplays of mourning-drooping t h d x hea& like bulrushes and sItthg in
saddoth and ahes-in apparent repatmce Fof:their sins.
How do the Jews try to galn dime favor, dwlth what reaction
from Jehovah?
6,What actions by the Jewsbemy thetr bsiq as hypocrittral?
5.

The bws hsted and bowed thdr heads in mock mpentunce

--but tkey did not change their ways

280

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for AIl Mankind II

Of what value is all of this if they continue to rebel?

They show none of the godly sorrow and repentance that
should be assodated with sincere fasts. Their wding-although noisy-is not heard in heaven.
7 The Jews of Jesus' day put on a simiIar show of cerem*
nial fasting, some cloing so twice a week! (Matthew 61618; Luke 18:11,12) Many of the religious leaders also imitated Isaiah's generationby being harsh and domineering.
Hence, Jesus courageously exposed those religious hypocrites, telling them that their form of worship was futile.
(Matthew 15:7-9) Today, too, millions "publicly declare
they know God, but they disown him by their works, because they are detestable and disobedient and not approved for good work of any sort."(Titus 1:16) Such ones
may hope for God's mercy, but their conduct betrays their
insincerity. In centraft, Jehovah's Witnesses display true
godly devotion and genuine brotherly love.-John 13:35.

What True Repentance Involves

8 Jehovah wants his people to do more than fast over
their sins; he wants them to repent. Then they will gain
his favor. (Ezekiel 18:23, 32) He explains that in order to
be meaningful, fasting must be accompanied by a correction of past sins. Consider the heart-searching questions
that Jehovah asks: "Is not this the fast that I choose? To
loosen the f e e s of wickedness, to release the bands of
the yoke b a and
~ to send away rhe crushed ones free, and
tho t you people should tear in two every yoke borJr7"--1s~iah 58:6.
9 Fetters and yoke bars are apt symbols of harsh bendage. So instead of fasting and at the same time oppress-

Hypocrisy Exposed!

281

ing fellow believers, the people ought to obey the command: 'You must love your feIlow as yourself."(Leviticus
19:18)They should release all whom t h y have oppressed
and unjustly enslaved."Showy religious acts, such as fasting, are no substitute for genuine godly devotion and acts
demonstrating brotherly love. A contemporary of Isaiah,
the prophet Micah, writes: "What is Jehovah asking back
from you but to exercise justice and to love kindness and
to be modest in walking with your God?"-Micah 6:s.
10Justtce, kindness, and modesty call for the doing of
good to others, whch is the essence of Jehovah's Law,
(Matthew 7:12) Far bmef than fasting would be a sharing of their bounty with the needy.Jehovah asks: #Is [the
fast that I choose] not the dividing of your bread out
to the hungry one, and that you should bring the afflicted, homeless people into your house? That, in case you
should see someone naked, you must cover him, and that
you should not hide yourself from your own flesh?" (Jsaiah 58:7) Yes, rather than making a show of fasting, those
having the means to do so should give food, clothing, oor
housing to needy fellow inhabitants of Judah-their own
flesh,
11 These beautiful principles of brotherly lwe and compassion expressed by Jehovah do not apply only 10
the Jews in Isaiah's time. They guide Christians as well.
Hence, the apostle Paul wrote: "Really,then, as long as we
have time favorable for it, let us work what is good towaxd
-

*Jehovahmade the provision for those of his people who fell into
debt to sell themselves into slavery-essentially becoming hired laborers-to pay off their debt. (Lwiticus 25:39-43) However, the Law
required that slaves be treated kindly. Those treated brutally were to
be set free.-Exodus 21:5 3, 26, 27; Deuteronomy 15:12-15.

7. How did the Jews of Jesus' time act hypocritically, and bow do
many today do the same?
8, 9. What positive actions must accompany sincere repentance?

10, 11. (a) For the Jews, what would be better than fasting? (b) How
can Christians today apply Jehuvah's counsel to the Jews?

~salir'sProphq-Light

282

Pr Af t Mankind 11

all, but-se
tmwd those rehkd to us in the Wth?
(Galatians S:10) The & m a n oongrqatbnmust be a ha,
ven af luve and brotherly m n , especfally in view of
t
k h m y uitkid tlm& in which W@li~e.-Z Tim*
thy 31;James1:27.

Obedience Brings Rich B l a s h g s

12 If only J e h d s people wwld have the hd&t to
heed his loving reproof! jehmah satys: "htbut cme p r
lk&t would h a k Ibrth @st N k the dam and -1-

&mw

nsprCnguphiyrru,Andbdbpu

p r w t e o ~ m u M d b w a l ~ ths myglwyof

W w k W bepurmwgucml. In dratcawpu wwld

ca4 and)efrwr$r h h d f d a ~ y o would
u
cry Ibr
Wp, and he would q#
'&re I ampa (Isaiah 58:8, Prr)
What warm, e x m g words! Jehovahb l m and p m
t&s
dtebgkdng in loviqgldndnw and righteousness. IfJ&w&%
p p l e =pent sfth&hztmhnas and hypoaisy and obey him, thm@will get much brighter hr
them. Jehu& MI1 grant l're~pmtlon,u
a spiritual and
physicat mavery &t the natian. He d l a h guard them,
as he did their forefathenwhen they were leaving Egypt
And he will w n d hmedbkly to their afa br help.
14:19,20,31~
13 Jehovah now adds to his eadier exboWn, saying:
V y o u will removefmm p u r midst thepke bar [of harsh,
unjust b-s
the @ng out of the hgw lpossibly In
mrn or fake acaatianl and the s p d h g of what Is

--

12. What will *J

do if his p p l e obey him?
13. What blesmgs await t h e Jmif they respond to Jehwah's exhottatron?

nose with the mwns to do so give housing,

dothhg, or provisions to these In need

2R4

Isn!nh's Pmplrecy-Liagtft for All Mankind I1

hurtful; and you wilt grunt to the hungry one your own
soulful desire, and you wit1 satis* the soul that is k i n g affjicted, your light also will ceminly flash up even in the
durkness, and your gloom will be like midday." (Isaiah58:
96, 10) Selfishness and harshness arc rclf-defeating and
hrlngJehwal~'s
wrath, Kindncss and pneroslty, however,

1
/
I

especially when exercised toward thc hungry and the affl icted, brmg God2 rich blessing. If only the Jews will take
these truths to heart! Then their spiritual radiance and
prosperity will make them shine likr thc midday sun, dispelling any gloom. Above all, they wilI hrlng honor and
praise to Jehovah, the Source of thcir glory and blessings.
-1 IQngs 8:41-43.
A Nation Restored
14 Regrettably, the nation Ignores Jehovah's appeal and
plunges even deeper Intu wickedness. Eventually, they
Icave Jehovah no choice hut to send them into exiIe, just
as he warned. (Deuteronomy 28:15,36, 37, 64, 6 5 ) Still,
Jehovah's next words through Isaiah continue to offer
hupe. God predicts that a dlrdpl jned, contrite remnant
wlll joyfully mrn to the land of Judah, even though it
lies desolate.
15 Pointing forwad to the restoration nf his people i
n
537 R.C.E., Jehovah, through Isaiah, says: " k h m h will
he bound to leud you constantly and to satisfy your soul
even In a scorched land, and he will invigorute your very
bones; and you must become like a well-watered garden,
and like the source of water ["spring," The New English Bible], #he waters of which do nor lie ["hit,"
Nfl." (lmiab 58:f 1 ) Jehovah will restow Israel's scorched home--

Hyf~ncri.tyExposed!

land to luxuriant productivity. What is more wonderful,

he will bless his repentant people, Invigorating their "wry
hones" from a spiritually lifeless state to one of full vitality. (Ezckiel 37:l-14) The people themselves wlll become
like wcll-watered garden" filled with rplritual fruitage.
16 Restoration will include the sehuitding of citles destroyed by the Babylonian invaders In 607 1LC.E. "Atyour
Instance men will cwtainfy build up the places dewstated
a Jong the; you wjll mix up even the fotmdatkns of continuous generations. And you wWI actually be called the
repairer of the gap, the restoner of roadwcrys by which to
dwell." (Isabh 58:12) The parallel expl.cs{ic~tis"the places
dwnstatcd a long time" and "the l'ountlations 01' continuous generations"(or, the foundatlons that have been
lylnfi in ruins for generations) show that the repatriated
remnant will rebuild the ruined citics of ludah, e~pciaUy
Jerusalem.(Nehemiah 25; 12:27;Isaiah 44:28) 'Fhey will
repair "the gap"-a colIectiveterm referring to breaches in
t h e walls ofJerusalem and na doubt of other citles as well.
-Jcr~miah31:38-40;
Amos 9:14.

Blessings That Come From

Faithful Sabbath Observance
IT The Sabbath was an expression of God's deep concern for the physical and spiritual wel Inre at his people.Jesus sald: "The sabbath came into existence for the sake of
man." (Mark 2:27) This day sanctified by Jehovahafforded
the Israelites a special opportunity to show thelr love for
G M , Sadly, by Isaiah's time jt has been reduced to a day
of observing empty rituals and indulging in selfish desires.
So once again, Jehovah has cause to censure his people.
Rncf again, he trim to reach their hearts. I-Ie says: "If in

14. (a} How do Isaiah4 conternporarle3 react to his words? (b) What
dnes,Jehovahcontinue to offer?
75. What joyful restoration does Jchovah foretell?

16. How wlll the land be restored?

17, Iltw docs Jchovah appeal to hls people to obey the Sfillbath laws?

on the p c e and low manifest In his Law. Thus,him

obsmance of this hoiy day should help the people draw
closer to thdr God. Instead, they am m
g the Sab
bath and therefore are in danger of being cut off fromje
hovahtsblessing,-Lwi26:34;2 Chronicles 36:21.
19 Stlll, if the Jews leam from the dhdphe and turn to
honoring the Sabbath amngement, rich blessings are fn
store.The g o d el&& of hue woshlp and respect for the
Wbath wlU spill a m into a l l aqxm of theh Iloes.
(Deuteronomy %I-13; Psalm 19:7-11) For example, Jeha
rrah vrtI1.1 make his p p l e "ride upon the hIgh phces of
the earth." This W s i m signifies securip and conquest
of one's enemies. W h e w contxols the high phm-the
hills and the rnounWm--~)ntroIs
the land. (Deumnomy 3213; 33:29)At one t h e Israel obeyedJehovah, and
the nation enjoyed hls pmkction and was respect& even
feared, by other nations, (Joshua2:Pll; 1 Kings 420,221)
If once again they turn to Jehovahin obedience, some of
that former glory will be mtored. Jehovah wlll grant his
people a full s h a i~n "thehereditary possession of Jacobn
-the blwlng~p r o w through Hls ~ n a nwlth
t thelr
Sorehthm, especially the b l a h of secure p w s l o n of
the Promised Land.-Fsalm 105:&11.
20 Is t h e a lesson in this for ChrMms?Upon the death
of Jesus CMst, the Mosaic L21W was done away with, indud@ Itf Sabbath requirements. (Colossians 2:16$17)
Howwer, the spirit that the Sabbath obsewmc@should
haw a a ~ w inJt~&h-putthg
d
~pirltualh k m first
and drawing close InJehwah-b still vital or worshipers
of Jehovah (Matthew 633;James4:s) M o m r , Paul, in
his letter to the Hebrew, says: There rwnains a sabbath
19, Whet rfch blesskqy axe fn stme far Gad%p p l e if they turn ta
keepin the Sabbath?
lo. &t u~bbth
reserting t there tor ~ ~ d m f i ~

'I
resting for the people of God." Christians enter Into this
"sabbath resting" by king obedient to Jehovah and pursuing righteousness t3ased on faith in the shed blood of
Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 3:1.2,18, 19; 45, 9-11, 14-1G) Tar
Christians, this Idnd of sabbath observance Is kept, not
lust one day a week, but every day,-Colossians 3:2:4,24.

Spiritual Israel 'Rides Upan Earth's High Places'

21 Since their release from 13abylonlsh captivity In 1919,
anointed Christians have faithfully observed what was
foreshadowed by the Sabbath. As a result, Jehwah has
made them "ride upon the high places of the earth." In
what sense? 'Back in 1513 B.C.E., Jehovah made a covenant with Abraham's descendants that iF t hey were obed ient, they would become a kingdom of priests and a holy
nation. (Exodus 195,6) Throughaut the 40 ycars in the
wilderness, Jehovahcarried them safely, as an eagle carries
Its fledglings, and bIessed them with abundant provisions.
(Deuteronomy 32:lO-12)The nation lacked falth, howm r , and fmally lost out an all the prlvlleges t l ~ c ycould
haw had. In spite of that, Jehovah does have a ki ngdarn of
priests today It is the spiritual Israel of God.-Galnsians A:
16;1 Peter 29.
22 During "the time of the end,"this spidtual nation has
done what ancient Israel failed ta do. They haw kept faith
with Jehovah. (Daniel 817) As its members shtctly observeJehovah'shigh standads and lofty ways, in a sptrikual sense Jehwah raises them on high. (Pmverhs 4:4, 5, 8;
Revelation 11:12) Protected frOM the uncleanness surrounding them, they enjoy an clcvatcd Iifc-stylc,and rather than insisting on following their own ways,they find
"exquidte delight in Jehovah" and in his Word. (Psalm
21, 22.

In whatway hasJehovahmade the Isracl af God "side upon

the high places of the earth"?

Hypocrisy Exposell!

them splrlhially secure in the

face ofdetermined opposition worldwide. Since 1919 their
spiritual "land"has not h e n breached. (Isaiah 66:s)They
continue to be a pnplc for his lofty name, which they
joyfully declare worlclwldc. (Deutcn,nomy 323; Acts 15:
14) Moreover, an increasing nu mhcr ofincfk ones from all
nations now share with them in the grand privilege of beingtaughtJehovahtswaysandhelpecltow~lkinhispaths.
23 Jehovah has caused his nnolntecl servants to "eat from
the hereditary possession of Jacol,," When Isaac blessed
Jacob instead of h a u , the patriarch's words foretold lslessmgs for all who would exercise faith in thc promised Seed
of Abraham. (Genesis 2727-29; Galatians 3: 16,17) Like Jac o b a n d unlike Wu-anointed C:hrlqtlans and their corn
panions 'appreciate sacrctl thing,' especially the spiritual
food that God supplies in abunrlance. (I-lebrews 12:76,77;
Matthew 4:4) T h i s splrltual fotld-w11it.h includes knowledge of whatJehovah Ir accornpllqhlng t. hraugh the promised Seed and that Seed's asaoclates-Is sttrngthcning, invigorating, and vital for their splrltual life. Hence, it is
crucial that they constantly take In spiritual nourishment
by reading and rnedltatlng nn Gad's Word. (1Salm 1:l-3)
It is imperative that they awodate with fellow believers at
C h r i a n meetings. And it is essential that they uphold
the high standarch of pure worship as they loyhtlly share
that nourishment with others
24 While eagerly awaiting the fulfillment of Jehovah's
promises, may true Christians continue to repudiate hypocrisy of aU kinds. Nourished by "thc hereditary possession of Jacob," may they continue enjoy spiritual security upon "the high places of the earth."
374) Jehwah has kept

23. How haslehnvah caurcd his nntllnted servants to "eat frnm the
Iiereditary posresrlon of Jarwh"?
24. I4ow do true Chrjstlans today conduct themselves?

Jehovah's Hcwd

you and p u r Cod, and your own rlnr hove toured the mnceding of his face fromyou to keep fmm hearing."-lmiuh
59:7, 2.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Jehovah's Hand Has

Not Become Short

THE nation ofjudah claims to be in a covenant relatlonship with Jehovah. Yet, then? ts trouble werywherc. Justice is in shott supply, crime and oppresston are rampant,
and hopes for improvement go u n ~ a t b e dL%rnelhing
,
is
seriously m n g . Many wonder if Jchuvah will ever correct matters. TI& is the situation in the clays of Isaiah, Rut
Isaiah's account of this time Is more than mere ancient
history, His words contain prophetic warnings for any
who claim to worship God but Ignore His laws. And the
inspired prophecy recorded in Isaiah chapter 59 provides
warm encouragement for all who strive lo serve Jehovah
despite living in difficultand dangmus times.
Isolated From the Trite God
2 Just imagine--Jehovahrscownant people haw lapsed
Into apostasy! They have turned their backs on their Maker, thus removing themselves fmm under his protective
hand. Because of this, they are experlmcing severe distress,Do they perhaps blame Jehovah for their hard times?
Isaiah tells them: "Look! Tke hand of jehovah has not become too short that it.cannot sow, nor has his ear become
too heavy that it cannot hear. No, but the very errors of you
people have become the things causing division between
1, What Is the situation in Judah,and what do many wonder?
2, 3. IVhy IsJehovahnot protecting Judah?

'

hrolRerornr lhnrr

291

3 Those words are frank lrur true. Jchwah is s d l the

God of salvation. As the "Hearer of prayer," he listens to
the prayers of his fajtliful servants. (Psalm 65:2) Howwer,
he does not bless wrongdoers, The people themselves are
responsible for their alienation from Jehovah. Their own
wickedness has led him to mncetll his facc from them,
4 me truth is,Judahh a a terrible record. Isaiah's pmphecylistr m e of the charges against them: fiYouror*npalmr
have become polluted with blood, and your fingers with ermr. Your own lips havespoketr fulsehood. Your own tongue
kept muttering sheer tmrighreousness." (Isaiah 59:3) The
people lie and speak unrightenus t h l n p . l'he reference to
"palms .. .polltitcd with I~luod"indlcatcs that some have
even commitrcc~murrlcr, W l ~ a al dishonor to God, whost?
Law not only prol~ibitsmtrnler but also forbids 'hating
your brother in your heart? (1,evltlcus 19:17) The unbridled sinfulness of the Inhabltnnts of Judah and the inevitable outcome should rcmind each one at us today that we
need to control sinhil thoughts ancl feelings, Otherwise,
we could end up committing wicked acts that would separate us from God.-ltomans ?2:9;Chlatlans 515; James 1:
14, 15.
5 The disease ofsin has infected the whole nation. The
prophecy says: 'There Is no one calling out in righteousness, and no one at all has gone @ court in faithlulness.
There has been a trusting in unreality, and a speaking of
worthlessness. There has been a conceiving of tmuble, and
abringhgofwhatirhu~ltoblrth."(/raiahS9:4)Noone
is speaking righteousness. Ilven In courn of law, It is rare to
4. What charges arc leveled agirlnst Judnh?
5. How far Etas JucEaWs corruption Ronr?

292

Isablr's Prophecy-l.i,rlrt fir AII M ~ n k l n dIf

find someone who is reliable or faithful. Judah has turned

her back on Jehovah and put her trust In alliances with nations, ewn in Lifeless idols. All of t h m are "unreaIity," of
no value whatsoever. (Isaiah 4017, 23; 41:29)As a result,
there js much talk, but all of it is worthless, I1lansare conceived, but they result in trouble and hurtfulness.
6 Wnrlghteousness and violence in Judah find a striking
parallel in Christendom. (See "Apostate Jen~salem-A Parallel of Christendom," on page 294,) Two vicious world
wars have been fought involving so-called Christian nations. Down to the present, Christendom's form of religion has proved powerless to stop ethnic cleansing and
Intertslbal slaughter among her awn members. (2 Timcthy 3 5 ) Although Jesus taught his followers to trust in
God's Kingdom, the nations of Chrlskndorn continue to
rely for secudty on military arsenals and politlcal alliances.
(Matthew 630) Indeed, most of the world's major ams
producers are fwnd in the nations of Christendom! Yes,
when Christendom trusts in human efforts and institutlons for a secure future, she too is trusting in "unreality."

Reaping Bitter k u i t
7 Idolatry and dishonesty cannot produce a healthy s c ~
dety, Because of resorting to such measures, the unfaithful Jews me now reaping the trouble that they themselves have sown. We read; "The eggs of a poisonous
snake ore whot they how hatched, and they kept weaving
the mere cobweb of a spides. Anyone eating some of their
eggs would die, and the egg fhat was smashed would be
hatched i n b a viper." (Isaiah 5 9 5 ) From conception to
rtlalization,Jwdah's schemes produce nothing substantial.

Icfrnvnlr'y Hattd Has Not Become SIlorl

293

Their wrong thinking results only in bad, just as the eggs

of a poisonous snake pmdum only poisonoussnakes. Rnd
the uatton suffers.
8 Some Inhabitants of Judah may resort ta violence in
an effort tr, protect themselves, but they wlll fall, I'hysical
forrc cannot replace -trust in Jehovah and works of xlghtrausness as protection any more than cobwebs can replace seal fabric as protection against the elements. Isaiah
declaws: "Iheir mere cobweb wlll not serve as a g a m n t
nor will they cover themselves with their works. Their
works are hurtful works, and the activity of violence is in
their palms. Their own feet keep running t~ sheer badness, and they are in a hurry to shed lnnocent blood. Their
thoughts use hurtful thoughts; despoiling and breakdown
ore in their highways."(l~niah
59.6, 7 )Judah's thinking is
flawlrl. t3y terorting t~ violence. to try to solve hcr probterns, shc demonstratesan ungodly aeHZl~de,It matters Iittle to her that many of her victims are Innocent and that
some are gcnuine servants of Gad.
9 These inspired wards remind us of Lhe bloody record
of Chrlstendorn. Surely, Jehovah will call her to account
for her tragic misrepresentation of Christianity ! Like the
Jews of Isaiah's day, Christendom has pursuetll a morally
twisted cotirse because her leaders believe f t to be the only
practical one, While they talk of peace, they act with injustice. What duplicity! Since Christendom's leaders continue uslng this tactic, t r u e peacc will remain beyond
their grasp. It is as the prophecy goes on to say: 'me way
of peace they haw ignored, and there is no justice In their
Smcks. Jheir modwoys they have made cmoked for themselvw. No one ut oil treading in them wid octually know

peace."-baiah 59:8.

6. How Is Christendom's record Hke that of Judah7

7, Why do Judah'sschemes result anly in what Is harmful?

8, What demonstrates Judah's flawed thlnkln R?

0 . Why ls true peace beyond the grasp of Ghr~stendum'sleaders?

1
Apostate jerusalem
-A Parallel of Christendom
Jerusalem, the capital city of Cod's chosen nation,
plctures God's heavenly organltation of spirit creatures
and also the body of anointed Christians resurrected to
heaven as the bride of Christ. (Galatians 4:25, 26; Rwelation 21 :2$Often, however, Jerusalem's inhabitants
were unfaithful to Jehwah,and the city was described
as a prostitute and an adulteress. (Ezekiel 16:3,1 5 33042) In that state, lenrsalem provided a fitting model of
apostate Christendom,

Jesuscalled Jerusalem"the kllleraf the prophets and

stoner of those sent forth to her." (Luke 13:34; Matthew
16321) Like unfaithful Jerusalem,Christendom claims to
serve the true God but deviates widely from his righteous ways, We can be confident that lehovah will
judge Christendom by the same righteous standards
with which he judged apostate Jerusalem,

Wandering in Splrltual Darkness

10 Jehovahmmot bless Judah's rlcvious and destructive
ways. ( k a l m 11:5) So speaking on behalf of the entire natlan, Lsaiah confesses Judah's guilt: +'justice has come to
be far away from us, and righteousness does not catch
up with US. We keep hoping for light but, Iookl darkness;
for brightness, but in continuous gloom we kept waiking. We keep groping for the wa//]ustlike blind men, and
like those without eyes we keep groping. We have sturnbled at high noon just us in evening darkness; among the
shut ones we are just like dead people. We keep groaning,
EU. What confession does Isaiah make an behalf of Judahl

~elravtth'sIInnd Has Not Becotne Shorr

all of us, Justllke bears; and like dows we mournfully keep

cooing." (Isaiclh 5939-7 Fa) The Jews have not let God's
Word be a lamp to their feet and a l l ~ h to
t their madway. (Psalm 119:105) .As a consequence, things look dark.
Even at high noan, they grope about as If it were night.
It is as though they were dead. In their longing for relief,
thcy Eman loudly like hungry or wounded hears. Some
coo pitifully, like lonely doves.
11 Idah is only t
m a ~ that
m the reason for Judah's pl tght is revolt against God. He says: "We kept hoping for jrrstlce, but there was none; for salvation, but it
has stayed far away from us. Far our revoltr hcrve become
many in fmnt of you; and as for our sins, each one has
tesrified ogoinsr us. For our m l t r are with us; and as for
our errors, we well know them, Then? heve been W n s gressing and a denying of jehowh; and them was o mow
ing back from our God, o speaking of cppresrfon and revolt, a conceiving and a muttering of words of falsehood
fram the w r y heart." (Isaiah 59: 7 f b- 13) Sincc the inhabitants of Judalr have not repentcrl, thclr slnr still count
against them. Justice has left the land lxcause the people I~aveleft Jehovah.They have proved false tl~mughand
through, even oppressing their brothers. How like those
in Christendom today! Not only do many ignore lustice
but thcy also a&veIy persecute faithhl Wltnerses ofJeh*
vah, who seek to do God's will.

Jehovah Executes Judgment

12 There seems to be no pstlce, righteousness, or truth
in Judah. 'ylustice was forced So mow back, and dghteousners itself kept standing simpty far off. For truth has
I I . Why a n Judah's hopes for justice and snlvatlon In vain?
12, What Is thc attitude of those responslhle fnr aclmlnlskerlng )ustlce In Judnh?

#F#uwk's Hand H# Not Bumme Shut

~Thosewho~to~outag&mtmoral~
that God is not b h d , Ignorant or pombs. Isa-

Zr,rg&

iahwri&s"j&whgotbow?, andItwvrsbadInhls~
~ ~ w l a s n o ~ . A n d w h s n k s m t h a t
no mfhe
b strow h I m s e l f ~ I s h e dthat them

uvas no oneIrt&rp&g. And his a m proceedd& sow*

hfm, and his own dghtmusm was the thing that supported hfm,' (Isa/u!?$9:ISb, 16) Since appointed
are de&EiCt In their duty, Jehm
will intervene In the
matter. WkLen he d m , he will act in rlghteousnm and

withpwex.
MThereLashnUarsituatlon Way. Weli~einawodd
wh~mmyhwreNmmetobepwtallmoralsense.*
(Fqheians k19) Few b a r n that Jehovahwill eper intervene@ dimhate wit from the mr& But W
s pmphe
cg sham that Jehovahcloseiy obsewa human f l a k . He
makes fudgmenrs, and in his own h e , he acts -r&g
tw tJrcase ludgments, Arik hb judgments fair? Idah shows
that they an?.Inthe case of the nation of Judah,he mi*:
%en [ j e h m h ] put on WhbaouJness as o coat of wIlr
and the M n e t of s o a n upon hk head. F
u
heputon t h e g a m ~ o f ~ c e a s ~ a
himseffW seat m Ha s k w h mutY[Imiah
59:17)lhm propheticwotlis plctw Jehovallas a wanlor
gi&q himself for battle. He is intent on the salvation of
&s muse. He is SUE of his own ahhtte and u w a h b l e
rightmumess. And he wUI be Wessly %eatomin hts acts
of Wdpent, Thm is no doubt that right MpQ,
-

*%ice
ao?
13.

J u W s jud#es me derelict in thelr duty, what will 3d'w

14. [a) W h r u a t W u d e d o m u r y ~ h m ? ( b ) ~ ~ J & o w h

p r e p e bhmidf for a&m?

{ehovufifs Hand Ha$ NqZ E m m e Short

15 Today i
n 50me lands, enemies af buth hy to binder the work of J e h . d ' 4 servants by spread- false
and defamatory propaganda. True Chisbans do not haitate to W d up for the Wth, but they never seek perwnd vengeance, @mans 12:19)E m when Jehovah settles accounts with afp~sbteChristendom, bls worshipers
on earth will have no hand in her destruction. They know
that Jehovah h a merved vengeance for himself and that
he will We appropriate a d o n when the tIme m s , The
prophecy assures us: "En accordance dth the dealings he
w;li reward eorrespndingb mge to his adversaries, due
m i m e n t to his enemies, To the islrlrlds he will m m perrse due frwtmmt,N(Isaiah 59:f 8 ) As in Isaiah's day,
not only will M s judgrnbe fair but they will,alsa be
complete, They will
reach "to tohe islands," to distant
parts, No one will be so remate or lhlated that he will be
out af reach ofJehwahisjudgment a a .

15. (a] In what way Nil true Chri$&ns conduct themselves when

iudsrmms?
Like a r&r in flood, jeEromh3 jjud!ehrs ~ i l sweep
!
away all bamiiers t~ the b l n g of his wilt

29-99

16 Thme who exert themselves to do right are fudged

dghtwusly by Jehovah. Isaiah faretells that from one horizon to the dhm-throughout the entire earth-mch
ones will survive. Arid their experiencing Jehovah's protectionwill pwfoundly smngthen heir r m n c e and respa far him. (Malachi 1:11) We mck "From the sunre# t h y will begin & f a r the name oflebwah, md from
the rising of the sun the glory of him, for he wilI came
in like a didmsirlg r/wc which fie very spirit sf lehuwh
bas driven along." (issriah 59:IP) Like a powerful windstorm pwhing a demctivc wall of water ahead of it and
washing away all in its path, Jehovah!~spirit will sweep
away all kamtrs to the fulHlment of his will. His spirit is
more powerful than any force that man possess-, When
he uses it to execute judgment on men and nations, he
wiU have certain and wmplek mcesz

Hope and Blessing for Repentant Ones

17 Under the Law of Moses, an Ismelite who sold himself into slavery could be bought bark out of slavery by a
*purchaser, kevSously in Isaiah's prophetic book, Jeh*
vah has b m chilrackrizd as the Repurchaser sfrepentant hdiPiduala. (Isaiah 48:17) Now he b again d~scribd
as the Repurchaser of repentant: ones. Isaiah recurds Je
hmah's pfamise: ''90Zion the Repupchaser will certainly
came, and to those Wning Wm transgmsIonin lacob,' is
the utterance of lekowh." ChuiaPr 59:2Q)This reasuring
promise is hfulfilled in 537 B.C.E. But it has a further fulfillment, The apostle Paul quoted these words from the Septuagint mion and a @ d them to Christians. He wrote:
16. Who Will survive Jehovah%judgment acts, and what will they
learn from their survival?
17, Who is Z M $P&prcWer, a d when W p Re xipurdhase Zion?

BOO

Isn2ah's Prophecy-L/,rht tbr AIf Manklrrd 11

"In this manner all Tsrael will saved, Just ar It Is wrltRn: 'The deliverer will come out of Zion and turn away
ungodly practices horn Jacob. And this is the covenanton
my part with them, when 1 take their sins away."'(R*
mans 11~26,27) Indeed, Isaiah's prophecy has a greatly
extended application-one that teachcs down to our tlme
and beyond. How so?
18 Tn the first century, a small remnant of the na2.lon of
lsrael accepted Jesus as the Messiah. (Romans9:27; 11:s)
On the day of Pentecost 33 C.E.,Jehovah poured out his
holy spirit on about 120 of those believers and brought
them into his new covenant mediated hy Jesus Christ.
(Jeremiah 31:31-33; H e b m 915) On that day there
came into existence "the Israel of God," a new nation
whose members are characterized, not by fleshly descent
horn Abraham, but by a begemng by C;od's spirit. (Galatians 6~16)Starting with Cornellus, the new natlon Included uncircumcised Gentiles. (Acts 10:24-48;
Revelation
5:9,103 Thus they were adopted by Jehovah Cnd and became his spiritual children, fellow heirs with Jesus,-Romans 8:16,17.
19 Jehovah now makes a m e n a n t wlth the Israel of God.
We read "'As far me, this is my cownanl with them,' leh o d has said. 'Myspirit that Is upon you and my words
hut / have put in p u r mouth-thq will nor be removed
from your mouth or from the mouth of p u r offspring or
from the mouth of the offspring of your offspring,' jehovah has said, 'fromnow on even to time indeflnlte*'" (Isaiah S9:ZT) Whether these words harl an appllca tion upon
Isaiah Imself or not, they were certainly Culti llcd in Jc18. When and how did Jehovah brlng into exlxtcncc "thc Tsrael of
G&l
19. What mnant does Jehovahmake with the Israel of Cod?

Jehovah's Hand Ifis Not IIecomr Shot!

301

sus, who was assured that 'he would see his offspring.'
(Isaiah 53:10)Jesusspoke words that he had learned from
Jehovah, and Jehwah" spirit rested upon him. U o h 1:
18; T16) Fittingly, his brothcm and fcllow heirs, members
of the Ismel of God, also receiveJehovah's holy spirit and
preach a message that they have learned from their heavenly Father. They are all "persons taught by Jehovah."
(Isaiah 54:13;Luke 12:12; Acts 238) Either through Isaiah or thmugh Jesus,whom Isaiah prophetically pictures,
Jehwah now covenants never to replace them but to use
them to time indefinite as his witnesses. (baiah 43:lO)
Who, though, are their "ofiprlng" who also benefit from
this covenant?
ZJI ln ancient times Jehovah promised Abraham: '%y
means of your seed all nations of the earth will certainly
bless themsdves." (Genesis 22:lB) In harmony with this,
the small remnant of natural Bracllte who accepted the
Messiah went out into many nations, preaching the good
news about the Christ. Starting wlth Cornelius many uncircumcised Gentiles 'blessed themselves' by means of Jesus, Abraham's Seed. They became part of the Israel of
God and a secondary part of the reed of Abraham. They
are park of Jehwah's "hoIynation," whose cornmissian i s
to "declareabroad the excellendes of he one that called
[them] out of darkness into his wonderful light"-l Peter
29;Galatians 3:7-9,14,26-29.
21 Today the fuU number of the Israel of God appears
to haw been gathered. Still, the natlons continue to be
lt

20. How was Jehwah'n promise to Ahr~hornfulfilled In the first century?

21. [a) What "offspring" has the Israel of God produced In modern
times? (b) How are the "offrprlng"cornfortcd by the covenant, or
conBart, that Jehovah has made with the Israel of God?

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

blessed-and on a grand scale. Hnw? In that the Israel

of Gml has had "ofipring,"disciples ofJaus whose hope
Es everlasting life on a paradise earth, (t'salm 37:11, 29)
These "nffspring" are also taught hy Jehnvah and are instructed in his ways. (Isaiah 2:2-4) Whilc not baptized
wlth holy spirit or considered to he participants in the
new covenant, they are strengthened by Jchwah's holy
spirit to overcome all the obstacles that Satirn p u in~ the
way of their preaching work. (Isaiah 40328-31) Their numbcr now reaches into the millions and continues to increase as they produce offspring of their awn. Jehovah's
covenant, or contract, wlth thc anointed ones gives
these "offspring" confidence that Jchovah wlll continue to use them too as
his wakesmen to time indefinite.
. .
,, .

all of us, then, maintaln our faith infehovah. He is

both willing m d able to save!
22 May

d!
I

.,,,,,h,

"1 , ,

rr.k I

22, What confidence can

wc h : ! In
~ Jehovah, and
how should this affect us?

3 4

jehovd covenantr thatP

''
hls people will never lose
privilege of being his witne

II

-'->

L&~.F~&~~

6,

' ,?

,,,~fi(~y

.-.
:
..

T-lrs hand will never be short;

.'CW
lie wlll always deliver 311s
&. +IM.
faithfuI people. All who
tsu~tin him will continue
to beat his good words in
their mouths "from now
*T,y
&&r
on even to dme indef-

inite,"
-

,-,

True Worship Expands

Worldwide
Isaiah 60:l-22

CHAPTER 60 of Isaiah is written as a soul-stirring dmma, In the opening vases, our attention Is captured by
a touchlrqj scene. A series of events follows in rapid succession, leadjng us to a moving finale. The chapter describes in colorful word plctures the mtorntlon of true
worship in ancient Jerusalem and the worldwide expansion nf true worship today. Moreover, 1t p i n t s to eternal
hlessinm in store for all of God's loyal worshipers. Each
one of us can play a part in the fuIFrIlrnent ofthis fascinatlng portion of Isaiah's prophecy, Let us therefore examlnc it carefully,

Light Shines in the Darkness

2 The opening words of this chapter of Isaiah are addressed to a woman in sad circumstances.She is evidently lying prostrate in darhess on the grnund, Suddenly,
light pierces the gloom as Jehovah, through Isalah, calls
out: "Arise,0 woman, shed forrh light, for your light has
come and upon you the very glory of jehovah has shone
forth," (lsabh 60:I ) Yes, the owoman"sl~ouldget to her
icet and reflect G d s glory! W y is this n, matter of urgency? The prophecy continues: "Look! darkness itrelf
I. What encouraging message dws Isalah chapter 60 contain?
2. What command is given to a wnrnan lying In darkness, and why
Is It u r g n t that slie obey?

Isuiah's Prophecy-Light far All Mankind I1

will cover the earth, and thick gloom Eke national groups;
but upon you Iehovah will shine forth, and upon you his
awn gioy will be seen." (Isaiah 605') For the benefit of
those around her who are still groping in darkness, the
"woman" must "shed forth light." What will be the result? "Nations wiii certainly go to your light, and kings to
the brightness of yaur shining forth." (Isaiah 60:3)These
o p e 4 words provide the gist of what will be explained
in greater detail in the verses that follow-true worship
must expand worldwide!
3 Although speaking about future events, Jehovah tells
the "womanuthat her light "has come." This stresses the
certainty that the prophecy will be fulfilled. The "waman" being referred to is Zion, or Jerusalem, the capital of
Judah. (Isaiah 52:1,2; 60:14)The aty stands far the entire
nation At the time of the first fulfillment of this prophecy, the "woman"is found lyhg in darkness, where she
has been since Jerusalem was deslqed in 607 B.C.E.
However, in 537 B.C.E., a faithful remnant of exiled Jews
return to Jerusalem and restore pure worship. At last, Jehovah causes light to shine upon his "woman," and
his restored people became a source a5 enhghtenment
among the spiritually bedarkened nations,

A Greater Fulfillment
4 Our interest in these prophetic wards goes beyond
their fulfillment upon Jerusalem of old. Today Jehovah's
heavenly "woman" is represented on earth by "the IweI
3. (a) Who is the "woman"?(b) W h y has the 'fwaman" been lying
in darkness?
4. Who today on earth represent the "woman," and to whom do the
prophetic words apply by extension?

The "woman"is cammanded to "arise"

306

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light far All Mnrrklr~dII

of God." (Galatians 6:16) Over the period of its exlstence, from Pentecost 33 C.E. until now, this spiritual nation has come to have a total of 144,000 spirit-anotnted
members, "who have been bought from the earth"with
the prospect of ruling with Christ in heaven. (Rwelation 14:1,3) The modern-day fulfdlment of IsaiJ~chap
ter 60 centers on those of the 144,000 who are aliw an
earth during "the last days." (2 Timothy 3 1 ) The pmphecy also has to do with the companions of these anointed Christians, the "great mwd" of "othersheep."-Relation 29;John 1@11,16.
5 For a s h o time
~ in the early 1900'~~
those of the Israel
sf Gud s!Af on earth faund themselves prostrate in darkness, so to speak. The first world war drew to a close with
them in the situation symbolically described in the book
of RweIatian-their corpses lying "on the bmad way of
the great city whch is in a spiritual sense called Sodom
and Egypt." (Revelation 11:s)In 1919, however, Jehovah
shed forth his light upon them. In response, they stood
up and reflected God's light, fearlessly proclaiming the
good news of God's Kingdom.-Matthew 514-16; 24:14.
6 Influenced by Satan, chief of "the world rulers of
this darkness," mankind in general has rejected the announcement of the royal presence of Jesus Chrlst, "the
light of the world." (Ephesians 6:12; John 8:12; 2 Corinthians 4 3 , 4) Nonetheless, millions have been drawn to
Jehovah's light, including "kings" (those who hecome
anointed heirs of the heavenly Kingdom) and "nations"
(the great m d of other sheep).
-

Trrr~W ~ r ~ t r1ixponrl.r
lp
Wtjrlrlwlde

307

Expansion Causes Heartfelt Joy

7 Developing the theme set forth at lsaiah 60:3, Jeho-

5. When did survivingmembers of the Israel of God find thernwlws

lying in darkness. and when did Jehovah's light shine forth upon

vah gives the "woman'knothcs command: "Raise your

eyes all around and see!" When the "woman"obeys,
a heartwarrnlng d g h t greets ha-her children are corning homc! 'They have all of them been collected together; they have come to you. From far a w y your own sons
keep coming, and your daughters who wit/ be fnken cure
of on the flank." (Isaiuh 60:4) The international Kingdom proclamation that began in 1919 resulted in thousand~of ndditional annintcil "sons"and "daughters"being /oincrl to the Israel of God. In this w;ryJehovah took
steps to cornplet~the foretold number of 144,000, who
will rule with Christ,-Revelation 5 9 , 10.
8 This increase caused rejoicing. "At that time you will
see and certainly become radiant, and your heart will actually quiver and expand, because to you the wealthiness of the sea wIII direct Itselc the very resources of
the natlons will come to you," (Isalah 60:s) The ingathe r i n ~of anoirltccl ones during the 1920's and 1930's
brought great happiness to the Israel of God. Yet, they
11ave had an additional reason for joy. kpecially since
the mid-1930'~~
people who were once part of "the sea"
of man kind alienated from God have come out of all the
nations to wonhlp wlLh the Israel of God. (Isaiah 5720;
Haggai 2 9 )Thesc people do not go off to serve Cod, each
one in his own way. Rather, they come to God's "wornan'hnd become part of the united flock of God. As a result, all of God's wrvants share in the expansion of m e
worship.

them?
6. How has the world in gene~alresponded to the proclamatIan of
Jesus' royal pmnce, but who have been drawn to Jehovah's It~ht?

7. What hcartwarmlng sight rlws the "woman" see?

8. What ca~tscfor happlncqs has the lsraeI of God had since 1919?

308

Isniah's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind I1

Nations Converge Upon Jerusalem

9 Using illus~ations
familiar to Isaiah's contemporaries,
Jehovahdescribes the expansion. The "woman," Looking
from her vantage point on Mount Zion, first scans the
eastern horizon. What does she see? ''?Re heoving moss
of camels iWf will cover you, the young male cumels of Midian and of Epkah. All those from Sheba-they
will come. Gold and frankincense they will carry. And
the praises of fehovah they will announce." (Esaiah 6 0 6 )
Camel caravans used by traveling merchants of various
Mbes wend their way along the roads leading to Jerusalem. (Genesis 37:25, 28; Judges 6:1, 5; 1 Kings 10:1, 2)
Camels are everywhere, like a flood covering the land!
The caravans bring valuable gifts, showing that the haders come with peaceful intentions. They want to worship
Jehovah and give him the best they can offer.
lQ These merchants are not the only ones on the march.
"All the flocks of Kedur-they will be collected together to you. The rams of Nebaioth-thq will minister to
you." Yes, pastoral tribes are also eweling to Jerusalem.
They come with gifts of their most valuable possessions
-flocks of sheep-and offer themselves as ministers.
How will Jehovah receive them? He says: "With approval they will came up upon my altar, and I shall beautify
my own house of beauty." (Isaiah 60:7)Jehovah accepts
their gifts, which will be used i n pure worshp.-Isaiah
56:7; Jeremiah 49:28,29.
11 Jehovah

now directs the "woman" to look to the

9, 10. Who are seen converging on Jerusalem, and how does Jeh*
vah receive them?
11, 12. (a) What sight greets the "woman" as she gazes westward?
(b) Why are so many hurrying to Jerusalem?

True Worship Expands Worldwide

309

western horizon, and he asks: 'Who are these that' come

flying just like a cloud, and like doves to their birdhouse
holes?" Jehovah himself answers: "In me the islands
themselves wijl keep hoping,' the ships of Tarshish also as
at the first, in order to bring your sons from fur away, their
silver and their gold being with them, to the name of Jehovah your God and to the Holy One of Israel, for he wilE
have beautified you. 'I-lsaiah 60:8, 9.
12 Imagine that you are standing with the "woman,"
gazing westward across the Great Sea, What do you see?
A distant cloud of white dots skimming the surface of
the water. They look like birds, but as they come closer,
you see that they are ships with their sails unfurled. They
have come "from far away."*(Isaiah 49:12)So many vessels are speeding toward Zion that they resemble a flock
of homeward-bound doves. Why is the fleet in such a
hurry? It is eager to deliver its cargo of worshipers of Jehovah coming from farawayports. Indeed, all the new arrivals-both Israelites and foreigners, from the east or the
west and from nearby or faraway lands-are hurrying to
JerusaIem to dedicate their all to the name of Jehovah,
their God.-Isaiah 555.
13 What a vivid picture Isaiah 60:4-9 paints of the worldsince Jehovah's
wide expansionAthathas taken
"warnan" began shedding forth light amid the darkness

* Tarshish was likely located in what is now known as Spain. Howec~r,

according to some reference works, the expression "ships of Tarshish"
refers to the type of ships-"high-masted ocean-gomg vessels"-that
were "fit to ply to Tarshish,"in other words, ships consrdered suitable
for mak~nglong voyages to faraway ports.-1 Kings 2248.
13. In modern times, who are t h e "sons"and "daughters," and who
are the "resources of the nations"?

310

lsalnh's Prwpllrry-tlgltt lhr All Mtin klnd I1

of this world! First came the '"sons" and "daughturs" of

heavenly Zion, those who became anolnted Christlann
In 1931 t h a e publicly identified themselves as Jehovah's
Witnesses. Then a cloud of meek ones, "the wry resources of the nations" and "the wea t t h t nrss al the ~ea,"
hurried to join the remaining ones of Ch rlst? hrothcrs,"
Today all these servants of Jehovah cuming from the four
corners of the globe and from all walks of llfe join thc
Israel of God in praising thejr Sovereign Lord, Jehovah,
and in exalting his name as the grandest name In all the

universe.
14 What does it meanI though, that these npw arrivals
horn the nations "comeup upon [God"] altar"? A sacrifice is placed upon an altar. The apostle Paul used an expression im*oIvingsacrificewhen he wrote: "!entreat you
, . to present your bodies a sacrifice Ilving, holy, acccptable to God, a sacred service with your power of reason."
(Romans 12:l) Genuine Christians are wllllng to glvc of
themselves. (Luke 923, 24) They dwote their time, energy, and skills to the promoting of pure worship. (Romans k13) In doing so, they offer acceptable sacrifices of
praise to God. (Hebrews 13:lS) How heartwarming it is
that millions of worshipers ofJehovahtoday, Imth young
and old, have put their personal desires in a position secondary .to the interests of God's Kingdornl They display
a genuine spirit of self-sacrifice.-Matthew 6 3 3 ; 2 Corinthians 5:15.
* While there were active, zealous Chrjstlnns with all earthly hope as-

1
1

New Arrivals Share In the Expansion

15 The new arrivals offer both their possessions and
their personal services in support of Jehwah's "woman." "Somgners w/l/ LKfuolly build your WOIII, and their
own kings wilt minister to you; For In my indignation I
shall have struck you, but in my goodwill I rhaB certainly have mercy upon you." (Isaiah 60:10)Jehnva h's mercy
was expressed ill thc sixth century D.C,IS. when foreigners helped in the constructton work In Jerusalem, (Ezra
3:7;Nehemiah 3:26) In today's lal-ges fulfillment, "foreigners,"the great crowd, support the anointed remnant
in building up m e worship. They help build Christian
qualities in their Bible student5 and thus build up Chris
tian congregations and strengtlten thc citylike '"walls"
of Jehovah's organization. ( 1 Corinthians 3:10-15) They
dso build in a literal way,working hard in the canstmction of Kingdom Halts, Assemhly Malls, and Bcthel f a d ities. Thus they join their anointed hrathers in caring for
the needs of Jehovah's expanding organi7atlon.-1saiah

615.

sociated with the Israel of God before 1930,tlleir niimbcrs stnrtcd Increasing noticeably in the 1930's.

14. How is it that the new arrlvals "come up upon [God's] altar"?

T w e Worship Expandl Worldwide

16 Each year as a result of the spiritual building program, hundreds of thousands of "foreigners"begin to associate wlthJehovah'sorganization, and the way i s open
for s U more. Jehovah says: "Your gut= will ucma/~be
kept open constantly; they will nor be closed wen by
day or by night, in order to bring to you the msources
of b notions, ood their Lings viii be taking the l e d "

15. {a) In ancient times, how was Jehovah's mercy expressed with
regard to forelgners? (b) In modctn tlmer, how haw "forelgners"
shared In bullding tip true wnrshlp?
16, 17, [a) How have the "gates" of Gotl's arganlzation been kept
npen? (b) Huw have "klnn" ~nlnlstcrcclin Zlnn? (c) What wlll hap
pen to these who try to clwe the "ralcs" thdt Jehwah wishes left
open?

Nehemiah

rebuild the:walls of Jems&

314

Isriloh's Proplrrcg-tl,glrl for All Mmi kind II

decisions that he]@

to keep those "gates" open. (lb
mans 13:4) In 1919, secular authorities released Joseph
K Rutherford and his companions imm unjust fmprisonment. (Revelation 11:13) Human governments "swallowed up" the flood of peraecutlan unleashed by Satan
after his fall from heaven, (Revelatlnt~12:16) Some gwernments have promoted rellglou~tolerance, sometimes
sped fically in behalf of Jehovall'sWitne,ssrs,This kind of
ministering has made It easier for crowds of meek ones
to pass through the open "gates" in to Jehwah's organization. And what of the clppoaers who try to dose
those "gates"? They will never stlcceed, Of them, Jehovah says: 'Hny nation and any klngdom that will not serve
you will perish; and the nations rl~emseheswill without
fail come to devustution." (isakh 60:12) All who fight
against God's "wornan"-be they individuals or orgdnitations--will perish in the coming war of Armageddon at
the latest.-Revelation 16:14, 16.
18 After this warning of judgment, the prophecy t u r n
back to promises of exaltation and prosperity, Speaking
to his "woman," Jehovah states: 'To you the ~ e r glory
y
of
Lebunon will come, the juniper We, the osh tree and the
cypress at the some time, in order I.o beautify the place
of my janctuaty; and I shal! glorify the very place of my
feet" (Isaiah 60:13) Luxuriant t reps symbolize beauty
am1 fruitfi~lness.(I~aiah41:19; 55:13)The expressions
"sanctuary" and "place of my fc~t"in this verse refer to
JerusaIern's temple. (1 Chronicles 28:Z llsalm 995) However, the apostle Paul explained that the bmple inJerusalem was a typical representation foreshadowing a greater
spiritual temple, the arrangement for approachingJ e h ~
-18. (a) What i s meant by the promlsc that twes will flourlsh in Israel? (h) What is the 'place o f Jehovah's ieet' loday?

vah In worship on the basis of Christ'ssacrifice. (I-lehrews

#:I-5;9:2-10,231Today Jehovahglorifies the 'place of his
feet,' the earthly courtyards of this great spiritual:temple.
These become so inviting that they attract people out of
a l l nations to share in true worship there.-Isaiah 2:l-4;
I-laggai 2:7.
19 Now turning his attention hack to the opposers, Jehovah s ~ '70: you the sons of those afflicting you must
go, bowing down; and all those treotfng p u disrespectful& must bend down at the very soles of your feet, and
they will have to call you the city of jehovah, Zhn of the
Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 60:14) Yes, seeing thc bountiful increase and the superior way of life that God's blessing brings to hb people wjlI mrnpel some opposers to
bow down and call out to the "woman." That is, they
will hc forced to acknowledge-at Armageddon at: the latcst-t hat the anointed remnant and their companions
truly do wpresent God's heavenly organization, "the city
of Jehovah, Zion of the Holy One of Israel,"

Using Available Resources

Hmnr great a change in dscumstances Jehovah's
"woman" experiences! Jehwah says: ''Instead of your
proving to be one left entirek and hated, with nobody
parsing through, I will even set you as a tlr Jng of pride to
time indefinite, an exultation for generation after generation. And you will actually suck the milk of nations, and
Il~e
breast of kings you will suck; and you will be certain
to know that I, jehowh, om your Savior, and the Powerful One of lacob is your Repurchuser."-lscrioh 60:15, 16.
20

19. What wfll opposers be forced to acknowledge, nnd when at the

latest wlll they do this?
2 0 . Whrit great: change in circumstances does the "wnman" experie11ce7

True Worship Explrnds Worldwldp

2J For 90 years ancient Jerusalem is off the

map, so to
speak, "with nobody passing through." But starting in
537 B.C.E, Jehovah repopulates the city, making it "a
thing of pride." Sirnilarlv, toward the end of the first
world war, the lsraeE of God experienced a peslod of desoIation in which they felt "left entirety." But In 1919, Jehovah repurchased his anointed sewants from captivity,
and since then he has blessed them with unprecedented
expansion and spiritual prosperity. His people haw
sucked "the milk of nations," using resotirces from the
nations for the advancement of Hue worship, 1:e.r exarnple, wise use of modern technology has made possible
the translation and publication of liibles and Bible literature in hundds of languages. As a result, hundreds of
thousands each year study the Bible with Jehovah5 Witnesses and come to h o w that Jehovah, through Christ,
is their Savior and Repurchaser.-Acts 5:31; 1 John 4:14,

I
I

Organizational Progress
a The growth in the number of Jehovah's people is
accompanied by organizational progress.Jehovah states:
"Inskadof the copper 1 shot/ bring in gald, and inskod of
the iron I shall bring in silver, and instead of the wood,
copper, and instead of the stones, imn; and I will appoint
peace as your overseen and righteousness us your tusk
assignm." (lsaiah 60:J7) Replacing copper with gold is.
an improvement, and the same is true ( ~ the
f other materials here mentioned. In harmony with this, Jehovah's
people have been experiencing improved organizational
arrangements throughout the last days,
21, (a) Haw does ancient Jerusalem become "a thing of prlde"?
(h) What blessings have Jehovah's anolnted servants enjoyed dnce
1919, and how have they mckcd "the milk of nations"'?
22. What speaal kind of progtess does Jehwah pmmlse?

23 By 1918, congregations had elders and deacons who

were elected In a dernocsatlc way. Starting in that year, a
d m director was t heomtica l!yappol nted to supervise
field service activities in the conflregation,but there were
cases where some elected elders rcsistd the service direaor. In 1932, things chanpd, 'Through the Watchtwer
magazine, congregations were instructed to discontinue
the electing of elders and deacons. Rather, they wauld
elect a service committee to work along with the service
director. That was a great improvement.
24 In 1438, more "gold"was brought In when it was established that all servants in the congregation were to
be theomtically appointed. Congregation adminimation came to be in the hands of a company servant (later, congregation servant) and the various servants who
assisted him, all. appointed under the oversight of "the
faithful and discreet slave,""(Matthew 24:45-47)
In 1972,
however, it was seen that the Scriptural method of werseeing a congregation is through a body of elders rather
than through one man. (Phlllpplnns I:]) Other changes
were made at both the congregation lewl and the Governing Body level. An example of the latter was seen on
Oaober 7,2000, when It was announced that members
of the Governing Body who were serving as dimtors of
the Watch Tower Society of Pennsylvania and affiliated
mrpcratiom had voluntarily stepped aside. In this way,
the Governing Body, representing the faithful and discreet slave, is able to glve more attention t-o caring for the
spiritual oversight of "the congregation of God" and its
* In those days, local congregations were called companies.

23, 24. What Impmed organizational arrangements h m Jehw

vah's people been experiencing since 19191

318

Tr11c Worshlp Expflnds Worldwide

Jsninirtlr's Propllcry-Llyh t for All ,Um~kindII

associates, the other sheep. (Acb 20:28)All s~rcharrangements haw been improwrnents.They have strengthened
Jehovah'surprkmtion and blessec2 his worshipers.
2s Mrho has been behind these Improvements? Are they
due to the organizational ability or the Ingenious thinking of some humans? No, for Jehovah stated: "I shall
bring in goEd." All this progress is the result of divine
guidance. As Jehovah's people submit to his guidance
and make adjustments, they reap benefits. Peace prevails
among them, and the love of righteousness Impels them
to serve him.
26 God-given peace has a transforming eflect. Jehovah
promises: "No more will violence be heard in your land,
despoiling or breakdown within your boundaries. And
you will c#tuinly co/l your own walk Salvation and your
gates Praise." (Isaiah 60:18) 14ow truc! Iken opposers
admit that peacefulness is an outstanding mark of m e
C:hrlstians. (Micah 4 3 ) This fleacc wit17 God and among
Jel~ovah'sWihesses themselves makes each Christian
meeting pIace a refreshing oasis En a vlolent world. (1Peter 217) It is a foretaste of the abundance of peace that
will exist when all earth's inhabitants wlll be "persons
taught by Jehovah."-Isaiah 11:9; 54:13.
The Glorious Light of Divine Approval
27 The intensity of the light that shines upon Jerusalem
la desaibed by Jehomh when hc states: "For you the sun
will no more prove to be o Iight by day, and for brightness
the moon itself will no more ghe you Iight. And )tehovah
-25. Who has been b e h h d t h e organlzaHnnal progress of Jehovah's
people, and what benefits haw bccn resped?
26, Whnt mark rdentifylng true Cllrlstlans dn even opposers notice?
27. What constant light shines upon Jellovalr's "woman"?

I1

11
I
I

319

must become to you an indefinlkly lasting Ilght, and p u r

Cod your bwuty. No more will your sun set nor will your
moon go on the wane; for Iehowh himself will become
for you an indefirtitely lasting light, and the dayr of your
mourning will have come to completion." (lsaiah 60:79,
20) Jehovah will continue l.o be "an indefinitely lasting
light" for hls "woman" He will newr "set" like the sun
or "wane" like the moon." His constant light of approv(11 shines upon anointed Christians, the human r e p sentatives of W s "woman."They, along with the great
crowd, enjoy such a blaze of spiritual Iigllt that no darkness on the world's political or econornlc scene can ditnlnish It. And they have confidence in the bright future
that Jehovah has set before them.-Romans 2:7; RevelatEon 21:3-5.
28 Rqarding Jerusalem's inhabitants Jehovah gaes on
to say: "As for your people, all of them will be righteous;
to time indefinite they will hold possesslon af the land,
the sprout of my planting, the work of my hands, for
me to be beautified." (Isaiah 6O:21) When naht ral Israel returned from Babylon, they took "possession of the
land." But in that case, "to time indefinite" turned out
to he until the first century C,E,whcn the armies of
Rome destroyed Jerusalem &d the Jewish state. In 1919
the remnaniof anointed Christians came out ofspiritual
The npoatle John uses similar language tn clescrlblng "new Jerusalem," t lle 144,000in their heavenly glary. (Kev~latlon312; 21:10, 2226) Thls I s tittlng, for "newJfrusalrm"repreretit5 all rncrnhers of the
l~rilelof God after t h w receive their hcavctily rcwartl, hccomlngwith
JcfurChrist the capital partof Godls*r*oman,""IheJcrusaltrn a k c . "
-G;llat~anr 4:26.

28. (a) What i s promised rcga~dingthe returnln~Inhabitants of Jerilanlem? (b) What did anointed Chrlstlan5 lake posscsslon of in
19197 (c) l:nr how long wiLl the rightenus posscss the land?

Isaiah's kaphecy-Llxht for A / / Munkltrd 11

captivity and took possession of a spiritual land. (lsaiah

66:8)This land, or realm of activity, is marked by a paradisaic spiritual prosperiry that will not fade, Unlike ancient Israel, spiritud Israel as a body will not prove unfaithful. Moreover, Isaiah's prophecy will also haw a
material fulfillment when the earth becomes a literal
paradise characterized by an "abundanceof peace."Then
the righteous with an earthly hope will possess the land
foremi-.-Psalm 3T11.29.

Isaiah chapter 60 a n be hum1

a solemn promise, which Jehovahparantem by his own
name. H e states: "She IMe one himself will become a
thousand, and the small one a mighty natlon. S myself, ]ehovah, shall speed it up in ib own time." (Isaiah 60:22)
When the dispersed anointed ones were restoreti to nctivIty in 1919, they were "the little one,"" Rut their number multipIied as the remaining spiritual Israelites were
brought in. And the increase became phenomenal as the
gathering of the great crowd got under way.
30 Before long, the peace and righteousness existing
among God's people attracted so many honesthearted
ones that "the small one" literally grew into "a m i ~ h t y
nation." At present it is more populous than a censjderable number of the world's sovereign states. Clearly, Jchovah, through JesusChrist, has d i ~ c t e dthe Kingdom
work and h;ts sped it up. What a thrill it k to see the
worldwide expansion of m e wonhip and to have a part
in it! Yes, it is a joy to realize that this increase brings glory to Jehovah,who pmphesied these thing so long ago.
29 A t the conclusion of

In 1918 the average number who s h a d in preaching the wnrd each

month was fewer than '%,OW.

29, 30. How has "the little one" become "a thousand"?

ClJAMER
TWENTY-TWO
-

Righteousness Sprouts
in Zion

LET freedom he proclaimed! Jehovah has determined to

free his people and restom them to their ancestral land.
Like a seed that sprouts after a gentle rain, true worship
will once again appear. When that day arrives, despair
will give way to joyful praise, and heads formerly covered with ashes oE mourning wZll be crowned with divine
approval,
2 Who will bring about this mamlous transformation?
Only Jehovah can do such a thing. (Psalm 9:18, 20;
Isalnh 40:25) The prophet Zephaniall prophetically comrn~~ndecl:
"Joyftlllycry out, 0 daughter of ZIon! Break out
in cheers, O Israd! Rejoice and cxult with all the heart,
0 daughtrr ol'Jerusalem! Jehovah has removed the judgments upon you." (Zephaniah 3:14, 15) What a joyful
time that wllI be1 When Jehovah gathers the restored
remnant from Habylnn In 537 B.C.E., it will be like a
dream come true.-l'salm I26:l.
3 This restmation is foretold in lsaiah chapter 61. However, whlle that pmphecy clearly had a fulfillment in
537 B.C.E., it is fulfiElcd in greater detail a t a later period. 'l'he more detailed fulfillment involves Jesus and
1, 2. What chan~cis a b u t ta befall Israel, and who will bring this
about?
3. mat fulftllments do the prophetic words of Isaiah chapter 61
have?

Isalahts Pmjhscy-Light for All Mankind II

his followers in the first century and Jehovah's peaple

in modern times. How rneanfngful, then, these inspired
wards are!
"The Year of CoodwtII"
4 Isaiah writes: 'me sflrit of the Sovereign hd ]&owah
is u p n me, for the reason that lehovah has anointed ma
to Wgood n e w ta the meek ones. He has rent me to bind
ug the brokenhmrte$, to pmdaim l k r t y to those taken
captive and the wide opening of the eyes even to the prison&~."(isaigh 61tl) Who is the m e commissiandtotell
good news? Likely, in the first instance it is Isaiah, who is
inspired by God to record good news fur t h e captives in
Babylon. Howwer, Jesus painted to the most Impartant
fuhillment when he applied Isaiah's wards to himself.
(Luke $:16-2l] 'Yes, Jesus w sent forth to tell p o d news
to the meek! and to this end he was anointed with haly
spirit at hi$baptism.-Matthew 3:16,17.
5 Marmve~Jesus byght his hllawers to be wangelizm, or preachers of the good news. At Pentecost 33 C,E,,
about 120 of t h s e were anointed with holy spirit and became spiritual sons of God, (Acts 2:l-4,1442;
Romm 8;
14-16) They @a were commissioned to tell the good
news to the meek and brobnhearted, Those 120 were
the first of 144,000 to be anointed in this way. The final
me?,of this goup are still active on earth todap Hmce,
for about 2,OOQ yeru5, anointed folluwers of Jesus have
been witneaing "aboutrepenmce toward God and faith
in our LordJesus."-Am 20:21.
4.
i s comm$ston"edto ti41 g b ~ flews
d
in the first W1lment of
I d a h 61: 1, and who In the second?
5. Whn b v e been preaching the gmd news for some 2,000yeam?

lsaioh has gaod news tu prodaim to Jewishcaptives

324

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Mankind II

6 Isaiah's inspired message brought r&ef to repentant

Jews in Eabylon. In the days of Jesus and his disciples, it
brought relief to Jews who were brokenhearted because
of the wickedness in Israel and were languishng in cap
tivity to the false religious traditions of first-centuryJudaism. (Matthew 15:3-6)Today millions ensnared by Christendom's pagan customs and God-dishonoring baditions
are "sighing and groaning" because of the detestable
things committed in that religious system. (Ezeluel 9:4)
Those who respond to the good news are liberated from
that pitiable state. (Matthew 935-38)Their eyes of understanding are opened wide when they learn to worship Jehovah "with spirit and truth."-John 424.
7 There is a timetable for preaching the good news. Jesus
and his followers were commissioned: "Proclaim the year
of goodwill on the part o f jehovuh and the day of vengeance on the part of our Gad; to comfort all the mourning ones." (Isaiah 67:2)A year i s a long time, but it has a
b e p n m g and an end.Jehovah's "year of goodwill" is the
period during which he gives meek ones the opportunity
to respond to his proclamation of freedom.
8 In the first century, the year of goodwill for the Jewish nation started in 29 C.E. when Jesus began his earthly
ministry. He told the Jews: "Repent, you people, for the
kingdom of the heavens has drawn near."watthew 4:17)
That year of goodwill lasted until "the day of vengeance"
of Jehovah, which climaxed in 70 C.E. when Jehovah allowed the Roman armies to desmy Jerusalem and its temple. (Matthew 24322) We today are living in another
-

6 . Who received relief from hearing the good news preached in ancient times, and what about today?
7, 8. (a) What are the two 'years of goodwill'? (b)What are Jehw
vah's 'days of vengeance'?

Rishteousness Sprouts in Zion

325

year af goodulll, one that began with the establishment

of God's Kingdom in the heavens in 1914. This year of
goodwill will conclude with another, more widespread
day of vengeance when Jehwah brings about the destruction of this entire world system of things at the "great
tribulation."-Matthew 24:21.
9 Who today benefit from God's year of goodwill? Those
who accept the message, demonstrate meekness, and zealously support the pmclamation of God's Kingdom in "all
the nations." (Mark 13:lO) Such ones find that the good
news brings real comfort. However, those who rejea the
message, refusing to take advantage of Jehovah's year of
goodwill, will soon have to face the reality of his day of
wngmce.-2 Tllessalonians 15-9.

Spiritual Fruitage That Glorifies God

lo The Jews who return from Babylon realize that Jehovah has performed a great deed in their behalf. Their
mourning as captives turns into exultation and praise because they are finally free. Thus, Isaiah fulfills his prophetic commission, that is, "to assign to those mourning over
Zion, to give fhem a headdress instead of ashes, the oil of
exultation instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of the downhearted spirit; and they must be culled
big trees of righteousness, the planting of iehovah, for him
to be beautified."-lsaiah 67:3.
11 In the h t century, the Jews who accepted release
from bondage to false reIigion also praised God for his
great deed in their behalf. Their downhearted spirit was
9. Who today benefit from Jehovah's year of goodwill?

10. How are the Jews returning fmm Balrylan affected by Jehovah's
great deed in the11 behalf?
11. Who in the first century had good teason ta praise Jehovah for
his great deed?

326

Is~lfah'SPropIrccy-1,klrt for A / / Mmnkind 11

replaced with a "mantleof praiset' when they were delivered from a spidtuaflv dead nation. Such a change was
first experienced by Jesus' disciples whcn their mourning over his death m e d to rejoicing over their anolnting with holy spirit by their resurrected hd.Soon after, a
similar change was experienced ly 3,000meek individuals
who responded to the preaching of those newly anointed
Christians and got baptized at Pentecost 33 C,E. (Acts 2:41)
Howgood it was to be confident of havlngJehovahfsblessing! Instead of "mourning over Zion," they received holy
splrlt and were refreshed by "theoil of exultatlan,"which
symbolizesthe &tation of those who are richty blessed
by Jehovah,-Hebrews 1 9 .
12 Jehovah bIesses his people with "big ttees of righteousness." Who are these big mes?In the years Tollowing 537 B.C.E., they were individuals who studied and
meditated on W s Word and cultivated Jehovah's rlghteaus standards. (Psalm 1:l-3;Isaiah 44:2-4; Jeremiah 17:
7,&) Such men as Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah, and High Priest
Joshuaproved to be outstanding "big mes'~sta1wartsfor
nut h and against spiritual polit~ttonin the nation.
13 From Pentecost 33 CL onward, God planted slmllar
"big &es of righteousness"--couravous anointed Christians-in the spiritual estate of his new nation, "the Israel
of God."{Galatians b:16) O w r the centuries, these "trees"
have come to number 144,000, producing righteous h i t aw to beautify, or bring glory to, Jehovah God. (Revelation 14:3)The final ones of these stately "trees" l'lave flourished in the years since 1919, when Jehovah revlved the
remaining ones of the Israel of God from tilelr temporary
12, 13. (a) Who were "big trees of rtghteourneta" among the returning Jews in 537 B.C.E.? (b) who have been "big tree5 of rlghtmusnesr" since Pentecost 33 C.E.?

Righteousness Sprallts In U o n

327

supplying them wlth an abundant

supply of spiritual waters, Jehovah has produced a
virtual forest of righteous, fruit-bearingtrees.-Isaiah 226.
14Highlighting the work of these "trees," Isaiah continues: 'They must rebuild the long-standing dewstated
places; they will mlse up even the desolated places of former times, and they will certainly make anew the dewsstate of Inaaivity. By

tared cities, the places desolate for generation after genemtion."(Isaiah 61 :4) Under Ihe decree 01' King Cyrus of
Persia, faithful Jewswho returned from Babylon rebuilt Jerusalem and its temple, which had been left in a devastated condition for so long. Restoration projects would also
mark the years following 33 C.E. and 1919.
15 In 33 CE., Jesus"isciples were greatly saddened by
his arrest, trial, and death, (Matthew 26:31)However, their
outlook changed when he appeared to them after his resurrection. And once holy spirit was poured out en them,
they got busy with the work of preaching the good news,
"both in JemsaIem and In all Judca and Sarnaria and to
the most distant part of the earth,'"Acts 1:8) Thus they
began to restore pure worship. In a slmllar way, from 1919
onward Jesus Christ caused the remnant of his anointed
brothers t~ rebuiEd "pEaces daolate for peration after
generation." For centuries the clergy of Christendom had
failed to impart the knowledge of Jehovah, repladng it
with man-made tradltjons and unrcriptlrral doctrines. The
anointed Chrjstians cleaned out of their congregations
practices that were tainted by false religion so that the ITStoration of true worshlp could go forward, And they began
what would prow to be the greatest witnessing campaign
that the world has ever known.-Mark 13:10.
14, 15. What projects were undertaken by Jehovah's released worshipers starting in [a) 537 R.C.E.? (bE 33 LC.?(c) l919?

16 This was a huge commission. I-low cotrld the relatively Few remaining ones of the Israel of God accomplish
such a task? Jehovah inspired Isaiah to declare: 'Wungers
will ~ctuallystand and shepherd the flocks of you people,
Be your formers and your vinedmssand the foreigners
em."(Isaiah 61.5) The figurative strangers and: forei~ners
11ave provcd to be "a great crowd" of Jesus'"other s hccp."*
(Revelation 7:9;John 10:11, 16) They are not anointed
with holy spirit with a view to a heavenly hhcrllance.
Rather, they have the hope of everlasting life on a paradise earth. (Revelation 215, 4) Still, they love Jchwal~
and haw been entrusted with spiritual shepherding, farming, and vinedtessing duties. Such actlvisies arc not menial
tasks. Under the direction of the remaining ones of the 1srael of Eod, these wmkers help in the shcphercling, nusturing, and harvesting ofpeople.-Luke 102; AL% 2028;
1 Peter 92; ReveIation 14: 15, 16.
17 What of the Israel of Gad? Jehovah tells them,
t h r w g l ~Isaiah: ''A for you, the prleslr of jehavah p o will
be called; the ministers of our God you will be sald to be.
The resources of the nations yau people will eat, and in
thelr glory you will speak eialediy ebout yourselves." (1st~ioh 61:6) In anaent Israel, Jehovah prmlded the I~vitical
priesthood to offer sacrifices in behalf of the priests themselves and their fellow Israelitm. However, In 33 C.E, Jell*
vah ceased using the Levitical priesthood and Inauhrurated

* Esdah 61:5 muld have had a futFtIlmcnt In anctcnt times, slnm nonJews accompanlcd naturalJewson their return to Jetusalcm ant1 Ilkcly helped in restoring the land. (Ezrd 2:43-58) Ilnwewr, I'rorn vcrsc 6
the prophecy seems m apply only ttl the Israel of God.

16. Who have been helping anolnted Christians in thelr restoration

work, and with what tasks have they been entrusted?
17. [a) What will members of the lztarl nf Got! IIC called? (b) What
ir the only sacrifice needed for forgivenms of sins?

a better arrangement. He accepted t l ~ cperfect life ofJesus

as a sacrjfice for the sins of mankind. Since then, no other sacrifice has been ncedcd. Jesus' sacrifice is valid for all
;time.-John 146; Coloaians 2:13,14; Hebrews 9:lI-14,24.
18 How, then, are the members QT the Israel of God "the
priests of Jehovah"? Wrltlng to fellow anointed Christians, the apostle Peter said: "You are 'a chosen race, a mya1 priesthood, a holy natjon, a people for special possession, that you should declare abroad the excellencies' of
the one that called you out of darkncss into his wonderful
light." (1Peter 2 9 ) Hence, as a group, anolntd Christians
form a priesthood wlth a spedfic commission: to tell the
nations a b u t Jehovah's glory. 'l'hey arc to be witnases of
him. (Isaiah 43310-12) Ti~mughoutthe last days, anointed Christians have faithfully di~chargedthis vital commission. As a result, miltlons now share with them in the
work ofwitnessing about Jehnvah's, Kl ngclorn.
19 Further, members of the rsrael of God haw the prospect of servlng as priests in another way. After their death,
they are resurrected to Immortal splrlt Hfe in heaven.
There they serve not only as rulen w
l th Jesus in his Kingdom but also as priests of Gad. (Revelatlon 5:lO; 205) As
mch, they will be privileged to apply the benefits of Jesus' ransom sacrifice to faithful mallkind on earth. In the
a p d e John's vision recorrEerl In Revelation chapter 22,
they are again descrjkd as "trees." A11 144,000 "treesNare
seen in heaven, produclnfi "twelve crops of fruit, yielding
their fruits each month, And the leaves of the trees [are]
for the curlng of the nations,"(Revelation 22:1,2) What a
wonderful priestly service that IF!
-

18. What kind of priesthood does thr Irracl of God form, and what
is their commission!
19. M a t service will anolnted Chrlsttrns be prlvlleged to perform?

Shame a d H ~ a t i Then
~ , Rejoicing
Shce 1914 when Jehovah's year of gmdwiII began,
but apposithe m p l prl&thd has met Nth
tIon horn C h r ~ o m 'clergy.
s
(Rmdaiion 12:17) Nevertheless, all &rts to stopthe pof the gmd news
haveulhatdyfailerl. rsai2th*spmpheqforetoldthis,saying: V n W o f y o u r s h a m ~ w f l l b e a d o u b l e p o r t l o n ,
and Inof humlliotion t h q wlll cry out/o@llly owr
their rho= lhmfmin &eik land they will take posse-

shndemadoubleportion. ~ n g B o i i m e M ~ I t e

h whrrt dl/ WIIW

Qo Be thefrs.."-hhh

61:Z
21 Durrng World W
ar I, the anointed remnant suered
shame and h u m W m at the hands of natlonahtic
amtmd~m.
Members of the m g y we@ among those
who f
wa a w i e&htfaithful W e r s fmm the headqamtm in Bmklyn d sddan. T f r e brothers were uh-

justly imprkwned for me month. Finally, h the sprlng

of 1919, thq were freed?and later all dw@s agalnst
then were dropped.1Erw the s a m e to stop the preaching work h a ,Instead of dowing m worshipers to
suffer lasting shame, Jehovah liberated them and restored
themto the spidW am,
'their land." There they rec e i d n double w o n of bldngs, Having Jehovah's
biasing more than made up for all that they had suered,
Truly they had mason ttr cry a t joyfuyrl:
22 What Jehomh MIYSn a t provides another reason for

m. DPapite oppmitlw, Phe myal p m t b d m

3
i what blessing?
21. Haw did anohid ChrMans come to enfay a double portion of
bwlngs?

22,23. How haw anointed Christians hitateti J c m and haw

has he mudd them?

Starting in 33 C.E., jehamh has planted

344,QOO "big fm& of r f g h t e o u w "

332

Isaiah's Prophecy-tl,plrt for All Mnr~klrrdII

Christians today to rejoice: "I, jehovah, am lwlng ]ustice, hating mbbev along with unrighteousness. And I;
will give their wgey in trueness, and on indefinitely
l d n g covenont I shal! conclude towad them." (/so/ah 6193) T h g h their study of' the bible, the anointcrl rcrnnant learned to love justice and hatc wickcdncss. (Prove?bs 6:12-19; 11:20) They learncd t-o "beat their
swords into plowshares,"remaining neutral In mankind's
wars and political upheavals. (Isaiah 2:4) They also left
behind God-dishonoring practices, such as slander, adultery, theft, and drunkenness.-Galatians 5 :19-21.
23 Because anointed Christians share thelr Creator's love
of jttstice, Jehovah has given them "their wages in trueness." One such 'wage' is an indefinitely lasting covenant
-the new c w m t - w h i c h Jesus announced to his followm on the night before his death. It is on the bash of
this menant that they became a spiritual nation, God's
special people. (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 2220) Under it,
Jehovah will apply all the benefits of Jesus' ransom sacrlRce, including the forgiveness of sins for 130th anointed
and all other faithful ones of mankind,

Exulting in the Blessings of Jehovah

24 Some among the nations have m g n l r e d Jehovah%
blessing on his people. This was foretold l ~ yJehovah's
promise: 'Their offspring wl!! actually. be known even
among the nations, and their descendants In among the
peoples. All those seeing them will recognize them, Lhot
they are the offspringwhom jehowrh has blessed." (Isaiah
61:9)Members of the Israel of h c l , anointed Christians,
have been active among the nations during J ehovah's year
of goodwilI. Today those who have responded to their
24. W h o frnm among the nations are "the offspring" who come to
be bjessed, and how have they h m m c "offsprIng"7

Righteousness Sprolrts In %loti

333

ministry number into the millions. By working cIoseIy

with the Fsrael of Gal, those from thc nations have the
privilege of becoming "the affsprinp:whom Jehovah has
blessed.'TTheirhappy condition Is visible 20 all mankind.
25 All Christians, hoth anointed and other sheep, look
forward to praising Jehovah eternally, They wholeheartedly agree with the prophet Isaiah, who says under inspiration: "Without fall I rhall exult in lehovah. My soul will be
joyful in my Cod. For he has clothed me with the garments
o f salvation; with the sleeveless coat o f righteousness he
has enwrapped me, like the bridegroom who, in u priestly way, pub an a headdress, and like the bride who decks
herself with her ornamental things."-lsoiah dl: 10.
a Clad in "the sleeveles;~mat of righteousness," nnointed Christians are determined to remain pure and dean
in Jehovah's eyes. (2 CorlnthJans 11:1, 23 Declared righteous by Jehovah with a view to inheriting heavenly life,
they will nwes return to Ihc desolate cstate of Babylon
the Great, from which they have brcn I Iberated, (Romans
5 9 ; 8:30) The garments or salvatlan are priceless to them.
Their other sheep companions are similarly determined
to observe Jehcrvah Gocl's elevatetl standards of pure worship. Having 'washed t heir robes and made them white En
the blood of the Lamb," they are declared righteous and
will survive "thegmat rribulattan."(Revelation 7:14;James
223,W)
Until then, they Imitate their anointed cornpanions in avoiding any cnntamlnation by 13abylon the Great.
27 Today Jehovah's worshipers delight to be in a spiritual
paradise, Soon they wlll also cnjoy I'aradlse In a physical
How do all Chrlstlans echo the sentlmenrs expressed at Isaiah 61:10?
27. (a) During the M1IIennlal Relgn, what noteworthy "sprouting'*
will there be? (h) Horv Ir r@-ttcoi~rncssalrcatty ~prnuttngamong
25, 26.

mankind?

I s d t ~ h SPmph~cy-LlgMfir All hdartklnd IE

sense. We laQk faward with all our h e t~ that time,

which h vividly d d b d in the closlng wo& of Isalahchapte~62:~Asthe~rthItrdfbrl~gslbrth~yHwrt
wrdasZkga~itrdf~thetMngshtorsrown
In ltspivut A M e m a n n e r a R e Lordjdmwh
~
win muse the sproMng af r f g h t e o m and of p l l p k
in frwtt of all the ndm." ( h u M 61:f 1 ) During Christ's
Mllennfal R&pt the wth wlll apriena "thesprouting
of righteousness." Hmms will shout triumphantIy, and
righteousness
expand to the ends d the e&~, (Is&
hh 2-69)
We, h m r , do not h a ~ &
e wait for that glodousdnyin order-togiwpmisehfmntof all thenattom.
lUghtmusn@ssis already p U n g among the millions

wbgtveglarytotheGodofheawnandpubIlshthegood
newsabauthiskngdo1~1.~nawaurfaithando~r
h o p e g i v e ~ ~ e ~ e r y ~ n t o e x u l t i n tour
he~~of
God

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

"A New Name''

W ~ ~ C
cornfort,
l $ hope of restmatlon-thak is
what despondent Jmin Babylon need, Several decades
hawe passed sin& Jerusalem and I ~ Jtemple were d+
stmyxi W e 500 mILes away h m Babyion, Judahk
desshte,and theJewsseem to haw been forgottenby Jehovah. What can improw thelr situation?
bm
]elmah that he wiU brlng them back home and allow
them to w
r
n pwtr worship. Then such descrlptim as
*left e
n*
and "W1ateHwill be replaced by names
d6nothg Gvd's approval. (Isaiah 624; Zedmiah 212)
C h q t a 62 of Isaiah is full of these promises, Howem?
Itk other restmatian prophecies, thL chapter touches an
&suesk
kbepnd the Liberation of the Jewsfrom q t i v i ty in 3abylaa In I$ Wor ful6llmen$ I d a h ehapta 62
amm w that the sdwatlon ofJehovah's spiritual natbn,
"the Tsmel of Gd," b cerhh.4aiathns 6:16.

Jehovah D w Not Stay Quiet

z&ByIon is ov;erthrown In 539 B.G.E. Thereafter,
llCyrus of P d a issues a decm enabling God-fmbg
Jewsbreturn toJerusalemernd mtoreJehovsh'sw o r n .
(Em12-4)In 537' B,C,E. the first retuning Jews me bxk
ih their homeland. Jehovah once again shows favor to
fenmkm, as h refleckd in the warmth of his p q W c

336

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All ,Mankind 11

declaration: "For the sake of Zion I shall not keep still, and
for the sake of Ierusalem I shall not stay quiet until her
righteousness goes forrh just like the brigbmess, and her
salvation like a torch that burns."-lsaiah 62:7 .
3 In 537 R.C.E., Jehovah fulfi1Ied his promise to restore
Zion, or Jerusalem. Her inhabitants experienced salvation
by him, and their righteousness shone brightly Later,
though, they again drifted away from pure worship. Eventually, they rejected Jesus as the Messiah, and Jehovah
h a l l y abandoned them ar his chosen nation. (Matthew
21:43; 23:38;John 1:9-13)
Jehovah caused a new nation,
"the Israel of God," to be born. This new nation became
his special people, and in the first century, its members
zealously preached the good news throughout the thenknown world. (Galatians 6:16; Colossians 1:23) Unhappily, following the death of the apostles, there was a falling away fmm hue religion. As a result, an apostate form
of Christianity developed, as found today in Christendom. (Matthew 1324-30, 36-43; Acts 20:29, 30) For centuries, Christendom had been allowed to bring great reproach upon Jehovah's name. Finally, however, in 1914,
Jehovah's "year of goodwill" began, along with the major
fulfillment of this part of Isaiah's prophecy.-Isaiah 61:2.
4 Today Jehovah's promise to restore Zion has been fulfilled on his heavenly organization, "Jerusalemabove,"
as represented on earth by her children, spirit-anointed
Christians. (Galatians 4:26) Jehovah's heavenly organiza3. (a) Why is earthly Zion finally rejected by Jehovah, and who replaces her? (b) What falling aruay occurs, and when, and in what period are we living today?
4, 5. (a) Whom do Zion and her children symbolize today? (b) In
what way has Jehovah used Zion to make "her salvation like a torch
that burns"?

"A New Name"

337

tion serves as a devoted helper-watchful, loving, and

industrious. What a thrilling occasion it was when in
1914 she gave birth to the Messianic Kingdom! (Revelation 12:1-5) From 1919 in particular, her earthly children
Rave preached to the nations about her righteousness and
salvation. As Isaiah foretold, these children have illuminated the darkness like a torch, letting their light shine.
-Matthew 5:15,16; Philippians 215.
5 Jehovah is keenly interested in his worshipers and wilI
not rest, or stay quiet, until he has fulfilled all the promises he made to Zion and her children. The remaining ones
of the anointed dong with their "other sheep" cornpanions also refuse to keep silent. (John 10:16) They are noisy
indeed as they point people to the only way of salvation.
-Romans 10:lO.
"A New Name" Given by Jehovah
6 What does Jehovah haw in mind for Zion, h s heavenly "woman," represented by ancient Jerusalem? He
states: "The nations will certainly see your righteousness,
0 woman, and all kings your glory, And you will actually be called by a new name, which the very mouth of Jehovah will designate." (Isaiah 6232) As the Israelites act
in righteousness, the nations are forced to look on atLentively. Even lungs are forced to acknowledge that Jehovah
is using Jerusalem and that any rulership they exercise
pales into insignificancebeside Jehovah's Kingdom.-Isaiah 4923.
7 Jehovah now confirms the changed condition of Zion
by giving her a new name. That new name signifies the
blessed condition and honored status enjoyed by Zion's
6 . What does Jehovah have in mind for Zion?
7. What does Zion's, new name signify?

338

Bahk's Pmphq-Lkkt

for Ail Mankind R

e W p children begi?mingin 537 B.C.E." It show"$>

that
Jehovah a c k m m i Zion
~ as; belongbg ta him. To&$,
the Tsmd QT Gad is thrilled to be the objw of J&e
v2rh7sdelight hthfswa~and the other sheep f+lce with
them.

he^ rlew name, Jehmah now p m 8 Havinggimn

3 s s "You must hecathe a m w n sf k a u in~the hand of
[ehowhj tmd a king& wrhan h the pdh of wr G d H
[Isaiah 6224)Jehovah Bol& up his qmbolic wife, h=vmly Zion, ta be t.femd with admiration, @ a h 88:a
SQ:Z] The a m 6f beauty aftd the "kiq#y turban* haa t e that she is dothd with honor and a ~ b r i t y .

{&&ariah R 16) &prksWirkg

Zion, rn &Jerusal e a &We," the Isfad of Gad is a 1m&ab1@mult d
Godg$hand-Ms applted power-in actldn. (Galatians 4:
2.1 With J&m&'s help, that spiriW miion has eshb
,lis&d a nmnmlWal rW.ofd df "i$.tegrivand dwoeon.
Millbm, iduding bdth minted and other sheep, axe
-st&@hmedtodamskate ~u~~
faith and bve.
During the Wkez~nidReign of Christ, the &&ttkd, Ming aWn& their @rimh&venly ward,will be instruments in Jeh-s
haid to upw the gaming a e aaon to e~erl@?lglife,-Ronhs 821, 22; Revelation
222.
'Jehovah Has Taken Delight in You'
%Thegiving of a new name is part of the delightful
* In Bible propheq "a n m name" can signify a new position or prfvilege.-Rewheon 2:17;3:12,

In what way5 bas Jehwah honored Zion?

9, D w i b e the transformatian of Zion.

8,

jehovah wlll call heweniy Eilibh by a new nume

340

I s n l a l ~ ~Praphecy-Ll,ylrt
s
f b r All Mnnklnd II

transformation of heavenly Zion as represented by her

earthly children. We read: "No more will you be sold to be
o woman left entidy: and p u r own Fond will no more
be said fu be desolate; but you yourself wi!! be culled M y
Delight Is in Her, and your lond Owned os o Wlfe. For ]Phovah will have token delight in you, and your own land
will be owned as a wife." (Isaiok 62:4) lLrt hly Zion has
been desolate since her de~tructlonin 607 R.C.I!, Jehovah's words, however, assure her of the restoration and
repopulation of her land. Once-ravaged Zlon will no longer be a woman left entirely, and her land will no longer be desolate.The restoration ofJerusalem tn 537 B.C.E,
means a new condition for her, in complcte contrast with
her formerly mined state, Jehovahdecbres that Zion wi 11
be called "My Delight Is in Her," and her land, "Owned
as a Wife."--Tsaiah 54~1,5, 6; 44:s;Jeremiah 235-8;30:
17; Galatians 437-31.
10 Starting in 1919 a similar change was expcsienced by
the Israel of God. During the first world war, anolnted
Christians appeared to be disowned by God, But In 1919
their favored status was restored, and thels way of worship, purified. This a&ctecl their teachings, thelr oganlaltion, and their activity.The Israel of God came Into its
"land,"i b spiritual estate, or realm of activity,-Ssaia h 6ti:
7,8,20-22.
11 Stressing further the new,favored position of his people, Jehovah decla~s:"lustas a p u n g man takes ownership of a virgin as his wife, p u r sons wlll take ownership
of you as a wife. And with th he exultation o f a brkdegroorn
over a bride, your Cod wilE exult even over you." (Isaiah

10.(a) How was the Israel of God transformed? (h) What 13 the "land"
of the Ispael of God?
11. How do the Jews take ownership of thelr mother as a wlfe?

625)How can she Jews, the "sons"of Zion, take ownership of their mother as a wife? En that Zion's returning
sons released from Babylonian cxilrr take possession of
their old capital city and scttle in her once again. When
that happens, Zion is no lunh~rdesolate but filled with
sons.-Jeremiah 3:14.
12 In a parallel way, since 1919 the children of heavenly
Zion have taken possession of thcir land, their spiritual
estate, which has the prophetic name "Ownedar a Wife."
Their Christian activity In that land has made It evident
that these anolnted Chtbtians are the "people for Dehovah's] name."(Acts 1214) Their brlngtng forth the fruits
of the Kingdom ancl publishing Jehovah's name have
made it plain that Jehovah takes delight in these Christians. He has made Jt clear that khcy are part of the
organization that Is joined to him in unbreakable unity.
By anointing these Christians with holy spirit, liberating
them from spiritual captivity, and using Z hem to preach
the Kingdom hope to all mankind, Jehovah has dernonstrated that he rejoices over them wlth the joy of a bridegroom over a bride.-Jeremiah 32:41.

"Let There Be No Silence on Your ParP

13 The Qurative new name given by Jehovah makes
his people feel secure. They know that he acknowledges them and that they are owned by him. Now using a different Illusiratjon,Jehovah speaks to hls people
12. (a) In what way hns Jchovnh matlc It clear that anointed Christians are part of the nrganizatlon thnt Is lol~ledIn marriage to him?
(b) Haw do Jehovah's rlcalln~swlth 111s people pravide a lofty model for marriage today? (Scc bux on page 342.)
13, 14, (a) In ancient tlmes, how tlucs Jerusalem become a dty providing safety? (h) In m o d ~ r ntimer, how h ~ Xlon
r
hcnrne "a praise
in the earth"?

"A New Name"

as to a walled city: "Upon your walls, O jerusalem, I have

commissioned watchmen. All day long ond all night lorrg,
constant/& let them not keep sti//. You who are making
mention of jehovah, let there be no silence on your port,

A Lofty Model for Marriage

When people marry, they bring their own expectations to the marriage union. But what are God's expectations?The institution of marriage originated with
him. What was his purpose for it?

and do not give him any silence until he fixes solidly, yes,
until he sets ]erusalem as a praise in the earth." (Isaiah
626, 7) In Jehovah's due time after the return of the
faithful remnant from Babylon, Jerusalem does become
"a praise in the earth"-a walled city providing safety
to her inhabitants. Day and night, watchmen o n those
waIls are alert to ensure the secwity af the city and to
relay warning messages to her citizens.-Nehemiah 6:15;
7:3; Isaiah 528.
14 In modem times Jehovah has used his anointed
watchmen to show meek ones the way to freedom from
bondage to false religion. These ones have been invited
to come within his organization,where they Ernd protection from spiritual contamination, ungodly influences,
and Jehovah's displeasure. (Jeremiah 33:9; Zephaniah 3:
19) Vital to such protection is the roIe of the watchman
class, "the faithful and discreet slave," which provides
spiritual "food at the proper time." (Matthew 24:45-47)
Worlung with the watchman class, the "great crowd also
plays a significant role in making Zion "a praise in the
earth."-Revelation 7:9.

One indication of God's perspective comes from his

relationshFp with the nation of Israel. Isaiah portrays
this relationship as a marriage. (Isaiah 62:l-5) Notice what Jehovah Cod as a "husband" does for his
"bride." He protects and sanctifies her. (Isaiah 625,7,
12) He honors and values her. (Isaiah 62:3,8, 9) And
he finds delight in her, as indicated by the new names
he gives her.-Isaiah 62:4, 5! 12.

In the Christian Greek Scriptures, Paul echoes Isaiah's description of the relationship between Jehovah
and Israel when he compares the relationship of a husband and wife to that of Christ and the congregation
of anointed Christians.-Ephesians 5:21-27.
Paul encouraged Christians to imitate in their marriages the relationship between Jesus and the congregation. There can be no greater love than that shown
by Jehovahtoward Israel and that shown by Christ toward the congregation. Those symbolic relationships
provide a lofty model for a successful and happy marriage between Christians.-Ephesians 5:28-33.

343

'

15 The service of the watchman class and their companions continues! Their whole-souled attitude is seen
in the zealous activity of millions of faithful individuals
supported by traveIing overseers and their wives; volmteen in the various Bethel homes and printing facilities
of Jehovah's Witnesses; missionaries; and special, regular, and auxiliary pioneers. In addition, they work hard in
constructing new Kingdom Halls, visiting the sick, assisting individuals who face challen~ngmedcal situations,
15. How do the watchman class and their companions serve Jehovah constantly?

344

7sniah'.~Prophecy-Ll,qh t for AII

Man kind I1

and providing timely relief to victims of disasters and accidents.Many of these self-sacrificing individuals often
serve literally 'day and night" !-Revelation 714, 15.
16 Jehovah's servants are encouraged to pray without
ceasing, to ask God that his "will take place, as in heaven,
also upon earth." (Matthew 6:9,10; 1Thessalonians 517)
They are exhorted: "Do not give Uehovah] any silence"
until the desires and hopes regarding the restoration of
true worship are granted.Jesus stressed the need to pray
constantly, urging his followers to "cry out to [God] day
and night."-Luke 18:l-8.

Service to God Will Be Rewarded

17 The new name Jehovah gives h s people reassures
them that their efforts are not in vain. "jehovah has
swarn with his right hand and with his strong arm: 'I will
no more give your gmin as food to your enemies, nor
will foreigners drink your new wine, for which you have
toiled. But the very ones gathering it will eat it, and they
wi// be certain to praise lehovah; and the very ones collecting it will drink it in my holy courtyards.' " (Isaiah 62:
8, 9 ) Jehovah's right hand and strong arm are symbols
of his power and swmgth. (Deuteronomy 32:40; Ezekiel
20:5) His swearing by these shows that he is determined
to change Zion's state of affairs. In 607 R.C.E., Jehovah
permits Zion's enemies to rob her and plunder her belongings. (Deuteronomy28:33, 51) But now, Zion's possessions will be enjoyed only by those who have a right
to them.-Deuteronomy 14:22-27.
16. In what way do Jehovah's servants "not give him any silence"?
17, 18. (a) In what way can inhabitmts of Zion expect to enjoy the
fruits of their labor? (b) How do Jehovah's people today enjoy the
fruits of their labor?

I
I

'
I

"A New Nome"

345

18 In the modernday fulfillment of this promise, Jehovah's restored people experience great spiritual prosperity. They fully enjoy the fruitr of their labor-an increased number of Christian disciples and a n abundance
of spiritual food. (Isaiah 55:1, 2; 6514) Because his people are faithful, Jehovah does not let their enemies interfere with their spiritual prosperity or rob them of the results of their whole-souled service. None of the work that
is done in the sewice of Jehovah is in vain.-Malachi 3:
10-12: Hebrews 6:lQ.
19 The new name also makes Jehovah'sorganization attractive to honesthearted people, Multitudes flock to it,
and the way is kept open for them. Isaiah's prophecy
states: "Pass out, pass out through the gates, you men.
Clear the way of the people. Bank up, bank up the highway. Rid it of stones. Raise up a signal for the peoples."
(Isaiah 6210) In the first instance, this call likely refers to passing out of the gates of the cities of Babylonia
in order to return to Jerusalem. The returnees are to clear
stones out of the way to make the journey easier and to
raise up a signal to show the way.-Isaiah 11:32.

20 Since 1919, anointed Christians have been set apart

for divine service and are traveling "the Way of Holiness." (Isaiah 35:8) They were the first to walk on
the spiritual highway out of Babylon the Great. (Isaiah 40:3; 4820) God gave them the priviIege of taking the lead in declaring his mighty works and in showing others the way onto the highway. Ridding it of stones
-clearing away stumbling bIocks-was mainly for their
19, 20. (a) Row is the way cleared for the Jews to remrn to Jerusalem? (b) How in modern times has the way been cleared for meek
ones to come into Jehovah's organizatinn?

IM~~W
~rapkeq-~~gfr
S
t for A

~Mankind
I

own Wefit. (ls&

57:14) They needed to see God's purposes and teihhgs ckaxlp, Fahe W& are stumbling
stun& on the pathwaym We,but Jehovah's Word is *Ilk
a forge hammer that mashes the crag."With it, anoint~~~s h a w mmbUng stones that could trlp
those who wanted to smejeIwvah.-Jemniah 2329.
21 In 537 0-CE.,J d ma
e the signal that beckoned the Jewishremnant to xetum and rebulld the tam
ple. (Isaiah 49221 En 1919 when the anohted remnant
~feredelidftombmlageta~~on,theydtd
not wander aimlessly. They knew their destination, for
Jehovahhad wabhhed a signal for them. What signal?
The same signal foretpldat Isaiah f l:10,m c h reads: #It
must mcur in that day that thae will be the root of Jesse
that will kw standing up as n signal for the peoples."The
a w e Pad applies these words to Jesus. (Romms IS:
8,121Yes,the signal k Christ Jms,relgdng as King on
heavenlyM m t Ban!-Hebrews 1222;Reuelaaon I4:L
22 Around Jaw Chrht, both the m i n t e d CMstlans
and the other sheep are gathered to engage in the unifying worship of the Most High God, Hb rulershtp serves
to vindicateJehovah's univmd sowreignty and to bless
honatheartedones outaf alL nations of the earth Is this
not m n for wry one af us to join In d d n g him
with pciw?
'"YourSalvation Is Co-l
23The new oame tbat J e h h grants to his wife
Iikg oqmhtion has to do with the eternal salvation of
22. what signal has Jehwahe s t a b k h d br thme leaving blse
~on,andlwwcbwelmow~
23, 24. How 19 sdwtlon W g brought to those havlag faltb in
21,

W?

'A New Name"

her children. blah writes: "Laokl jehwrrh h#&

hcrs
c a w t to be heard to the krthest prt of the e&h:
'Say, p u yoU people, the daughter of-,
#Look1 Your suiwrrtlon Is coming. Look! the m r d he g h k with him,
and the wges he pcrys are belbre him."'" (IsaEah 62:f 1 )
Salvation came to the Jews when Babylon fell and rhey
returned to their homeland But these words pomt to
something greater. Jehovah'sd e h t l o n brings to mind
Zechariah's prophecy regatdingJerusalem:"Be very joyful, 0 daughter of Zion. Shout in trlwq&, O daughter of Jerusalem.Look1 Your M n g himself comes to you.
He Is righteous, yes, strved; humble, and rldlng upon an
ass, even upon a full-grown animal the swr of a sheas.*
-Zechariah 9:9.
In modern times lehowh3 watchman
ctajs has nut kept dent

348

Isalah's Proplrecy-Ltpht for All Mnnklnd I?

24 Three and a half years after Jesus was baptized In

water and anointed with God's spirit, he rode into Jerusalem and cleansed its temple. (Matthew 21:1-5;john
12:1416) Today,Jesw Christ is tlrc one bringing salvation from Jehwah to ail of those having faith in Gcxi,
Since his enthronement in 1914, Jesus is also Jehovah's
appointed Judge and Executioner. In 1918, three and a
half years after his enthronement, he cleansed Jehsva h's
spiritual temple, as represented an earth by the congregation of anointed Christians. (Malachi 3:1-5) His bpi ng
raised as a signal marked the keginning of a great ingathering of people h m a11 over the earth, in support of the
Messianic Kingdom. Following the ancient pattern, "salvation" came to the Israel of God when they
lilxrated from Babylon the Great in 1919. "The reward" or "the
wages" in store for the self-sacrificing harwst workers is
either immortal Me in heaven or eternal life on earth.
All who stay faithful can be confident that thelr "labor Is
not in vain in connection with the Lord."- 1Cosint hians
1558.
2s How positive the outlook is for Jehovah's heavenIy organization, for its anointed representatives here on
earth, and for everyone actively assdated with them l
(Deuteronomy 26:19) Isaiah prophesied: "Men wfll certainly cull them the hoiy peoplet those repurchased by lohovah; u d you yourseIf will be caIIed Searched For, a City
Not Left Enti*"
(Isaiuh 62:72) At one ti me 7emsalem
above," represented by the Israel of God, felt forsaken.
She will never feel that way again. Jehovah's people will
forever be the object of his protective care, enjoying his
continuing smile of apprwal.
25. W a t assurance is given to Jehovah's people?

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Jehovah Makes a Beautiful

Name for Himself
Isaiah 63:l-14
.- .

FOR ncarly two thousand years, Christians haw been

"awaiting and keeping close in mind the presence of the
day of Jehovah."(2 Peter 3:12;Titus 2:13) I t i s understandable that they are anxinus for that day to come. After all, it
will mark thc beginning of their relief from the ravages of
Irnperfcaien. (Romans 8:22) lt will also mean an end to
the pressures they suffer durlng these "critical times hard
to deal with."-2 'Timothy 3:l.
2 However, wl'lilc Jehovah's day will bring relief for righteous ones, it will also mean destructran for "those who
do not know Gad and those who do not obey the good
news about our 1,orclJesus." (2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8 ) This
Is sobering; to contemplate, Will God really bring about
thc destruction of the wicked simply to rescue his people fmm dlstresslng conditions? The 63rd chapter of Isaiah shows that there is a fitr Loftier issue involved, namely,
the sanctification of God's name,
3

The March of the Victorious Warrior

In Isaiah chapter 62,we read of the libexation of the

1, 2. (a) What personal Interest do Christians have in the corning

"day of Jehovah"7 t 1)) Whot lolty issue is Involved in the coming of
J c I I w ~ Id~ '~F ?
3, 4. ( i l l What IF the r e t t i n ~for the prophecy in Isaiah chapter 63?
(1)) Who dws I%alahsee lnarcliing towarrlJcrusalem,and whom h a w
sump bcholars Identified ihai nnc to he?

350

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for AFI Mankind I1

Jews from captivity in Babylon and their restoration to

their homeland. Naturally, the question arises: Will the
restored remnant of Jews need to fear further devastation
from other memy nations? Isaiah's vision does much to
allay their fear. The prophecy b e p s : "Who is this one
corning from Edom, the one with garments of glowing
colors from Bozmh, this one who is honorable in his clothing, marching in the abundance of his power?"-lsuiak
63: Fa.
4 Isaiah sees a warrior, energetic and triumphant,
marching toward Jerusalem.His magnificent clothing indicates that he is of the very highest rank. He comes from
the direction of Edorn's most prominent city, Bozrah,
suggesting that he has won a great victory over that enemy land. Who can this warrior be? Some scholars identify him with Jesus Christ. Others believe him to be the
Jewish military leader Judas Maccabaeus. However, the
warrior himself indicates his own identity when he answers the foregoing question by saying: "I, the One speaking in righteousness, the One abounding in power to
SUW?."-~SU~U/I63: 1b.

5 There is Little question that this warrior is Jehovah

God himself. Elsewhere, he is described as having an
"abundance of dynamic energy" and as "speahng what
is righteous." (Isaiah 40:26; 4519, 23) The warrior's magnificent garments remind us of the psalmist's words:
"0Jehovah my God, you have proved very great With
dignity and splendor you have clothed yourself." (Psalm
104:1)While Jehovah is the God of love, the Bible shows
that he takes on the mantle of a warrior when necessary.
-Isaiah 34:2;1John4:16.
5 . Who is the warrior seen by Isaiah, and why do you so answer?

Jehovah Makes a Beautiful Name for Himself

351

6 Why, though, is Jehavah returning from a battle in

Mom? The Fdornites, perpetuators of an animosity that
began with their forefather, Esau, are age-old enemies
of God's covenant people. (Genesis 25:24-34; Numbers
20:14-21) The depth of Edom's hatred for Judah became
particularly evident during the desolation of Jerusalem
when the Edomites cheered on the Babylonian soldiers.
(Psalm 1327)Jehovah takes such animosity as an offense
against hlm personally. No wonder that he determined
to unleash his sword of vengeance against Edom!-Isaiah
345-15;Jeremiah 49:T-22.
7 Isaiah's vision is therefore of much encouragement to
the Jews returning to Jerusalem. It assures them of safe
dwelling in their new home. Indeed,by the days of the
prophet Malachi, God made Edom's "mountains a desolated waste and his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness." (Malachi 1:3) Does this mean, then, that Isaiah's prophecy was completely fulfilledby Malachi's day?
No, for in spite of its desolate condition, Edom was
determined to rebuild its devastated places, and Malachi continued to call Edom "the territory of wickedness" and "the people whom Jehovah has denounced
to time indefinite."" (Malach 1:4, 5) Prophetically, however, Edom encompasses more than the descendants of
Esau. It serves as a symboI of all the nations that prove
themselves to be enemies of Jehovah's worshpers. The
nations of Christendom have been particularly prominent in this regard. What will happen to this modern-day
Edom?

" The Herods of the first century C.E. were Edomftes.

6 . Why is Jehovah returning from a battk in Edom?
7. (a) How was the prophecy against Edom initially fulfilled?
(b) What doe5 Edom symbolize?

352

Jehovah Makes n Reatrtlful Name for Hlmself

Isaiall's I ~ r ~ p l ~ r i - y - l , l for
, ~ l All
r t Mnttkind I1

The Winepress
8 Isaiah asks the returning warrior: "Why is it that your
clothing is red, and your garmenb are like those of one
hading in the winepress?" Jehovah rcplies: '7he wine
trough I hcnne trodden by myseIt while there wus no mon
with me from the peoples. And I kept treading them In my
anger, and I kept trumpiimg them down in my mge. And
their spurting blood kept spattering upon my garments,
and all m y dothing I have poliuted.N-lsaiah 632, 3.
9 These graphic words describe a bloodbath. Why, men
God's elegant garments are stained, like the garments of
one h a d i n g a winepress! A winepress is a fitring symbol
of the trapped condition in which enemies of Jehovah
God find themselves when he mows to destroy Lhem.
When will this syrnboljc winepress be trodden? The
prophecies of Joel and of the apostle John also speak of a
symbolic winepress. The winepress of those propl~eclesIs
to be trodden when Jehuvah treads down his enemies to
destruction at Armageddon. (Joel 3:13; Revelation 14:1820; 16:15) The prophetic winepress of Isatah points forward to the same time.
10 Whyr though, does Jehovah say that he trod this
winepress by himself, while there was no man with him
from the peoples? Will not Jesus Christ, as God's representive, take the lead in heading the winepress? (Revetation 1911-16) Yes, but Jehovah is referring to humans,
not spirit matures. He is saying that no human is equal
to the task of ridding the earth of Satan's followers. (Isaiah 59:15, 16) It is left to God Almighty to kecp Wad8, 9. (a) In what activity has the warrlor seen by Isalah bccn engaged? (b) When and how is the symbolic winepresr tmdden''
ID, Why does Jehovah say that he trod the winepress by hlmseif?

1
I

I
I

'

353

ing them in hla anger, until they have been completely

crushed,
11 Jehovah hrther explatns why he perfarms this task
personally, saying: 'flte day of vengmnce jir in my hear2
and the very year of my repunchosed ones Itas cum."
(lsoiah 63:4)* OnlyJehovah has the right toexecutevenkvancc upon those who harm his people. (Deuteronomy 3235) In ancient times the "repurchd ones" were
the Jmwho suffered a t the hands of the Babylonians.
(Is;alah 3510; 43:l; 48:20) In modem times they are
the anointed remnant. (Revelation 12:17) Like their ancient counterparts, they have been repurchased kern religious captivity,And like those Jews, the anointed, along
with their "other sheep" companions, have been the victlms of persecution and opposition. (John10:16)Isaiah's
prophecy thus assures Christlans today that at God's appointed rime, He will intervene in their behalf.
12 Jehwah continues: "I kept looking, but there was no
helper; and I began to show myselfastonished, but there
wns no one offeringsupport. So my arm furnished me salwtlon, and my rage war what supported me. And I kept
stamping down peoples in my anger, and I proceeded to
make them drunk with my rage and ta bring down to the
earth their spurting blood."-Isaiah 63:5,6.
13 NO

human helper can claim credit for Jehovah's

"The expression "year of my repurchased ones" may refer to the

same period of tlrne ar the term "day of wngeance."Note how simIlar terms are used In parallel at Isaiah 34:8.

11. (a) WhydoesJehovahbringaudayotven~nce"?~)Whowr

the "repurchased ones" in ancient times, and who are they today?
12, 13. (a) ln what way is there no helper for Jehwah?@}How does
Jehovah's arm furnlch salvatlon, and how does Ills r a p support him?

grand day of vengeance. Nor does Jehovah need any human support to carry out his will." His Immeasurably
powerful arm of m n g t h is suficient for the task. (Ralm
443; 98:l; Jeremiah 27:s) Morewer, his r a g supports
him. How? In that God's rage is not uncontrolled emotion but righteous indignation. Slnce Jehovah always acts
on the basis of righteous prlndples, his rage supports
and motivates him in bringing "dawn to thc earth" the
"spurting blood" of his enemies, to tthelr hurnlllation
and defeat.--Psalm 75:8;Isaiah 2510; 265,
God's Loving-Kindnesses
14 In times past, the Jews quickly lost appreciation for
the things Jehovah did in their behalf. Appropriately, then, Isaiah reminds them of why Jehovah did such
things. Isaiah declares: T h e loving-kindnesses of Jehomk I shall mention, the pruises of jehavah, according to
all that lehovah has rendered to us, even the abundant
goodness to the house of Ismel that he has rendered to
them according #ohis mercies and according to the abundunce of his loving-kindnesses, And he went on to sar
'Surely they are my people, sons that will not prove false.'
So it war to them fhot he came to be o Savior, D u h g alE
their distrea it was distressing to him. And his own persond messenger sawd them. In his love and in his compassion he himself repurcI7used them, and he proceeded
lo lift them up and sorry them all the days of long ago,"
- I s ~ i ~ 63:7-9.
h

Jehovah expresses astonishment that m one offered support. It

mlght indeed be thought astonlshlng that almost 2,000 yenrs ~ f t c r
the death of Jesus, the powerful onca of manklntl btlll oppose God's
will.-Psalm 2:2-12;Isaiah 59:16,
14. What appropriate mtnders does Isalah now glw?

15 %at an outstandtng example Jehovah sets in demonstrating loving-kindnes, or loyal low! (Psalm 36:7;
6212) Jehovah formed a loving attachment to Abraham.

(Micah 720)He promised the patriarch that by means

of his seed, or offspring,all nations of the earth would
bless themsefw. (Gencsls 22:17, 18)Jehovah stuck to
that promise, showing abundant goodness to the house
of Israel. Outstanding among his loyal alts was his rescue of Abraham's off~pclngfrom sIavery in Egypt.-Exodus 14:30.
16 FolIowing the Fxdus, Jehovah brought IsraeI to
Mount Sinai and made this promise; "If you wit[ s t t i d y
o b v my voice and will indced keep my covenant, then
you will certainly become my special property. . . And
y ~ t yousselves
l
will become to me a kingdom of priests
and a holy natlon." (Fxodus 195, 6) Was Jchwah being deceptive in rnaklrzg this offer?No,for lsajah reveals
that Jehovah said to himsclf: "Surely they are my people, sons that wlll tlot prove false." One scholar observes:
"The 'surely' is not the fiat of sovereignty or foreknowledge: it is the hope and confidence of love." Yes, Jehovah made his covenant En good faith, sincerely wanting
his people to succeed. In spite of their obvious shortcomings, he displayed confidence In them. How wonderful it
is to worship a God who places such trust in his worshipen! Elders today do much to strengthen those entrusted to their char~ewhen they manifest similar confidence
in the basic goodness of God's people,-2 Thessalonians
3:4; Hebrews 6:9, 10.
15. How and why dld Jthovah show lwlng-klndr~cssto Abraham's
ampring In Egypt7
16. (a) What viewpoint dld Jehovah haw when he made his covem t r v i t h Israet? (b) How docs Gotl dcnb with hls pmpte?

356

Isaiah's Prophecy-l,lght for All Mnnklnd II

17 Nevertheless, the psalmist says regarding the Israelites: "They forgot God their Savior, the Doer of great
things in Egypt." (Psalm 106:21) Their disobedient, stlffnecked attitude often resulted in their coming into dire
drmmstances. (Dcuhmnomy 9:6) Did Jehovah cease
showing them Iwing-kindness?On the contrary, Isaiah
relates that "during all their distress it was distressing
to him." What empathy Jehovah has! As with any loving father, it pained God to see his children suffer, wen
when the suffering was due to their own Foolishness. As
foretold and in evidence of his love,he sent Ms "pessona1 messenger," likety Jesus in his prehuman existence, to
lead them into the Promised Land, (Exodus 2320) Thus
Jehovah liftedthe nation up and carried it, "just as a man
carries his son." (Deuteronomy 1:31; Psalm 106:10) Today we can be confident that Jehavah is equally aware of
our sufferings and that he feels for us when we are in dire
straits, We can confidently "throw all our anxieties upon
him because he cares for us.'-1 Peter 5 7 ,

God Becomes an Enemy

18 Never, though, shouId we presume upon God's
Ioving-kindness. Isaiah continues: '7hey themselws mbelled and mode his holy spirit feel hurt. He now was
changed into on enemy of theirs; he hlmself wurmd
against Ehem." (Isaiah 63:10) Jehovah warned that although he is a God neTciful and gracious, '" no means
will he giw exemption from punishment."(hodus 34:
6 , 7 )The Israelites put themselves in line for punishment
by establishinga pattern of rebellion. "Donot forget how
17. (a) What midenre did Jehovah give of Ms love for the Israelites?
(b) What confidence can we have today?
18. Why did Jehwah come to be an enemy of hk people?

l~hovalrMakes a Usautlful Nnnre for Himself

357

you have provoked Jehovahyour God in the wilderness,"

remtnded Moses, "From the day that you went out of the
land of Egypt until your corning to this place you people
have proved rebellious in your behavior with Jehovah."
(Deuteronomy 9:7) Ry resisting the wholesome effects of
God's spirit, they have hurt, or grieved, it. (Ephesians 4:
30)They have for& Jehovah to become an enemy of
theirs.-Leviticus 26:17; Deuteronomy 28:63.
39 In the midst of their afflidon, some Jews are mwed
to reflect on the past. Says Isaiah: "One began to remember the days of long ago, Moss his servant: Where
is the One that bmught them up out of the sea with the
shepherds of his flock? Where is the One that put withIn him His own holy s p M ? The One making His beautiful
arm go at the right hand of Moses; the One splitting the
watfrs from before them in order lo make an indefinitely
lasting name tor his own selc the One making them wok
through the surging waters so that, like a horse in the wilderness, t h y did not stumble?lust as when a beas t itself
goes down into the valley plain, the very spirit of jehovah
proceeded to make them rest,'"-lsoiuh 63:17 - 140."
20 Yes, suffering the results of disobedience, the Jews
long for the days when Jehovah was their Deliverer instead of their enemy. They recall bow their "shepherds,"
Moses and Aaron, led them safely through the Red Sea.

'This wne could also begin: "Ilebegan to remember." (Isaiah 63:I1,

footnote) Ilowwer, this tEms not necessarily mean that Jehovah is
tlle one rcmcrnbcrin~.The words that follow express the feelings of
Ciod'r p p l e and not of Jehovah hlmsetl. The Soracino Rooks of fhe
Rllrle thus rpndcrs t hesc wordr: "Then His people remembered the
days of old."

19, 20, What thlngs do tlic Jews remember, and

why?

I ~ f n h 'Prophecy-Light
s

pw A n Man klnd II

( W m ?7:2G h i a h 51:10) They recd a time when inWad ofhurting God's spirit, they weit led by it through
the guidance given by Moses and other spirit-applnted
older men @iamben11:16,17) They al%o member s e e
ingJehovab'S "beautifnl am"of strengtR bdng used In
their behalf through Mom1 In time, God took them out
of the great and kar-bphiq wilderness and led them
into a hnd flowing with milk and honeypa place d &r
(Dwkmnomy 1:19; Joshua 5:6; D.4) Now,though, the
Israelite mfkr kcawe of havlng lost W famrable re
latiorlshlp wlth God!

jehowh had high hopes

Ibr h b peopk

hael In the wlldema,

his~nfordoingsa
was not mere s@i~tlment.

Jehovah MmAf said: "I

w l e n t m b r t h e s a k ,'
of my own name that it
mw't not be pfaned
before the eyes of the mtion~P-Wel20:8-10~

'A Beautiful. Name for Himself'

22 W h a t a ~ o o n c l u s i o n ~ t h e n ~ t o U s
a Stlll, the material loss of the Israellb pales in cumprophecy!
He sa "Thus you led p u r p p k in o d ~
p r b n with the 1- of the prfdege they have tossed
b
muk
a
bmu
1 name Ibr your m sel6." (Isaiah 63:
away mdy, ~t ofs f m h g in the glorifying of Gad's
I&)
Now
It
can be clearly seen why J e f i d Sghts
name. Moses pmmiaed the Jm:"Jehovah wit1 -tabmightily in the interests of his people. It is tu make a
h h you as a holy people to himelf, just as he swore
kautihl name for himself, lsainh's prophecy thus s e w
to you, because you clwvttntre ta keep the commandas a powerful reminder that bearing the name ofJeR*
m t s of Jehovah your -,
and p a haw wlkd in
vah is both en wesome privfIwand a jptatrespmlbllhis ways. Arrd all fhe peapies of the a r t h wll1 have to
fty.We C h r l s W May love the m e ofJehavahmore
~ ~ a t J ~ ' s ~ k a s ~ ~ e d l r pand
o n y o u , than th& own lives,(Isaiah 566; H e m 6:lO) They ate
they will indeed be &aid of you." (Deuteronomy2&9,
lath todowrrgthIns~tcoUld~lybringrepffMcb
10) Whm Jehovah amd in &fens@ofAbraham's desmupon that sacred name They rapand to God's loyal lave
dants, =cuing them fmm slavery kn Egypt, he was not
by xerrraMjlg layal tu hlm And because they love J ~ D
doing so Wply to &life more convenient or pleasvah's beautiful name, they long h r the day when he will
ant for them. He was
in behalf of samethlng far
trample his enemia In the wlnqmss of his aneper--not
merely because it will benefit them but
it will
more hportant-hs m e Yes,he was seeing ~KI it that
lead tu the ghrifiation of the m e of the God they
his name was '&dared in dl the earthH@ d u 5 915,
1 6 ) A n d ~ e n ~ ~ h o w g d m ~ a f k r t h e r e ~ n o f lm.-Mtthe~6:9.
Wt in behalf of hb
22, (4In the htum, why wlU God once
21. (a) What great pripilege auld rsrael W had in cwneEblon

&

with W 5 m e ? &) What was God's primary -on

A b M s dexeudanis from &pi?

for Ilberatlng

72's name afkct our ac-

people? (b) In what ways dom wr lon krr

tlolu?

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

A Prnyer of

Repentance

361

A Cornpassf onate Father

A Prayer of Repentance
Isaiah 63:15-6412

THE destruction af Jerusalem and her temple In

607 B.C.E. was discipline horn Jehwah, a n expression of
his extreme disapprwal, The disobedlent nation of Judah deserved the severe punishment. Yet, Jchovah did
not intend that the Jews be extcrrnlnated. 'The apostle
Paul alluded to the putpose ofJehovah? discipline when
he said: "True, no discipline seems for the prcsent to be
joyous, but grievous; yet afterward to those who have
been trained by it it yields peaceable fruit, namely, rjghteousness."-Hebrews 12:11.
2 How will the Jews react to the hard experience? W-Ill
they hate Jehovah's discipline? (Psalm 5016, 17) Or
will they accept it as training? Will they repent and be
healed? (Isaiah S7:I8; Ezekiel 18:23)The prophecy of Isaiah suggests that at Iem some of the former inhab1t a m
of Judah will respond well to the discipline. Beginning
in the last versa of chapter 63 and continuing through
chapter 64, the nation of Judah I s represented as a contrite people who approach Jehovahin heartfelt supplication, The prophet Isaiah, on behalf of his muntrymen in
thelr future exile, utters a prayer of repentance. While doing so, he speaks of coming ewnts as If they were taking
place before his eyes.
I, 2. (a) What is the purpose of divine dlsctpllne? (b) What choice
will the J e w face a&- receivingJehovah's dlzclptlne7

3 Isaiah prays to Jehwah: "took from k m m and see

out of your hfty abode of .holiness and bwuty." The

prophet is speaking of the splrltual I~eavens,where Jeh*

vah and his invisible spirit matures dwell. Expressing the
though^ of the Jews In exile, Isaiah continues: "Where
are your zeal and your full might, rhe commo~onof your
in ward parts, and your mercies? Toward me they have
restrained themselves," {lsaiah 63:75) Jehovah has held
back his power and controlled his deep feelings-"the
commotion of pis] inward parts, and [his] mercies"-tcward his people. Yet, Jehwah 6s the "Father"of the Jewish nation.Abraham and Israel (Jacob)were their natural
forefathers, but if t h e were restored to life, they might
be indined to reject thelr apostate offspring.Jehwah has
greater compmslon. (Psalm 27:lO) Isaiah gratefully says:
"You, Olehovah, are our Father. Our Repurchaser of long
ago is your name."-Isaiah 63:16,
4 lsaiah continues with a heartfelt expression:"Why do
you, 0 jehovah, keep making us wander fromyour woys?
Why do p u make our heart hard against the fear of
you? Come back for the sake of your serwn6, the triber
of your hereditary possessfon." (Isufcrh63: 17) Yes, Isaiah
prays that Jehovah will a ~ a i nturn his attention to his
servants. In what sense, though, does Jehovah make the

Jews wander from his ways? Is Jehovah responsible far

the hardness of thelr hearts that leads them to have no
3. (a) How does Isaiah's prophett prayer exalt Jehovah? (b) How
does Daniel's prayer show that the prophetic prayer of Isaiah represents the thoughts of rcpcntnnt Jcwq In Ilahylon? (See box on
page 362.)
4, 5. (a) In what sense does Jehovah make his people wander born
his wags? Jb) What kind of worship iloes Jchovah want?

A fiapzr of Repentance

Daniel" Prayer
of Repentance

The prophet Daniel lived in

Babylon throughout the 70-year
period ofjewish captivity. Sometime during the 68th year of the

exlle, Daniel discerned from JMerniah's prophecy that Israel's so-

ioum was nearing its end. Qeremiah -25:ll; 29:lQ; Daniel 9:1, 2) Daniel
turnea to Jehovah in prayer-a prayer of repentance on
behalf of the entire Jewishnation, Daniel relates: "I ptow e d d to set my face to Jehovahthe true God, in order
to seek him with prayer and with entreaties, with fasting
and sackcloth and ashes. And 1 began to pray to Jehovah
my God and to make confession."-Daniel 9:3,4.
Daniel uttered his prayer surne two hundred years afb r lsalah penned the prophetic prayer found in chapters 63 and 64 of his book. Undoubtedly, many sincere
Jews prayed to Jehovah during the drfficutt ymrs of exile. The Bible, however, highlight4 Daniel's prayer, which
evidently represented the feelings of many faithful jews.
Thus, his prayer shows that the sentimen& of Isaiah's
prophetic prayer were indeed the sendrnents of faithful Jews in Babylon.
Note some similarities between
Daniel's prayer and Isaiah's.
taalah 63:16
Isaiah 6918 ,

Danlel9:15
DanIe151:17
Isaiah 641-3,---Danlel9:15
lsaia h 64:4-7
Daniel 9:4-7
Isaiah M:6
Daniel 9:9,1Q
isaiah &1:10,11 -Daniel 9:1&18

fear of him? No, hut he does dtow it, and in their despair the ]em lament that Jehovah gave them s u d We~
dom. (Exadus 4%; Nehemiah 9 16)They wish t'bat Jehowh had stepped in to p v e n t them from doing won$.
5 Of course, God does not deal with humans In that
way. We are free moral agents, andJehovah allows us to
decide fm ourselves whether to obey him or nQt. [Dwternnomy 30:15-19)'JehaM w a ~ l pt x~ , ~ h i pthat S~=S
from hearts and miods that me motivated by genuine
love, Hence, he hAs all~wedthe J m s to exercise their
bee WL, e m though this has permitted them to rebel against him. It: is.Ihthis way that he has made theit
hearts had.-2 Chrbfllde~36:14-21.
6 What is the result? Isaiah prophetically saps: "For a little wMie your holy p@e hod poswssfon. Orrs own adversaries hawe 5hrnped down your sunchary We have for a
long time become rrs those over whom you dCd not rule,
as thase upoa whom your rtme had not been calM."
(Isdab 63:18, 7
qJehovah's people had possession af his
smmary br a while. Then Jehowh allowed it to he des t r q d and Ws naaon to be taken into exile. When that
happened, it was as if there had been no covenant between him and the o%prfrxg of Abraham and & if his
name had not been d e d upon them. Now captive in
Bahyion, the Jews cry out in their hopelessness: ""O i f
0~1hYOU had
the h m e s apart6 that
had
come down, that an account of yqu the very atountuins
had quaked, us wheh o ik i p h s the brush&
md
the flre makes the wry waferboll up, h order to make
-

6, 7. da) what results fwm the Jms' W n g Jehovah's ways?

fbj What vain wbh i s expreed, hit what have t h e Jews no right -beP

expet?

364

Isalah's Pmphccy-Light for All MfinkJnd11

your n m e known to your adversaries, that on account of

you the nations might be agitated!" (lsalah 64:l, 2) Jehovah does indeed have the power to save. He certainBy couId have come down and fought for fils people, ripping apart heaven1jke governmental systems and
breahng up mountainlike empires. Jehovah could have
made his name known by showing his fiery zeal In hehalf of his people.
7 Jehovah had done such things in the past. Isaiah recounts: "When you did fear-inspiring things for which we
could not hope, you came down. On occount of you the
mountains themselves quaked." (Isaiah 64:3)1Suc11 great

am demonstratedJehovah's power and Godship. Howwer, the unfaithful Jew5 of Isaiah's time haw no right to
expect Jehovahto act in such a way fur their benefit.

Only Jehovah Can Save

8 False gods perform no powerful acts of salvation for
thelr worshipers. Isaiah writes: '/Fromtime long ago none
have heard, nor have any given ear, nor has an eye Itself
seen a God, except you, that ads for the one that keeps
In expertation of him. You have met up with the one exuEting ond doing righteousness, those who keep wmembering p u in your own ways." (lsrriah 64:4 Sa] Jehovah
alone is '"e rewarder of those earnestly seeking him."
(Helmws 11:6)He acts to protect those doing righteousness and those remembering him. (Isaiah 30:18) Iiave
the Jews acted in this way? No. Isalah says to Jcllwah:
"Look! Yau yourself become indignant while we kept
A. (a) What is one way that fehwah Is dlffeerrnt From the false gods
of the nations? (b) U'hy does Jehovah ntlt act tn save hts pcoplr tlcsplte being able to do so? (c) Wow does Paul quotc and npply lsalah
64:4? (See box on page 366.)

A Prapr of Repentance

365

sinning4.n them a long t h e , and should we be sawd?"

(Esahh 64:Sb) Because God's people have a long record
of persistent sintulness, there Is no basis for Jehovah to
hold back his indignation and act for their salvation.
9 The Jews cannot undo the past, but If they repent and
return to pure worship, they can hope for forgiveness
arid future blessings. Jellwahwlll reward repentant ones
In hs due time by releasing them from Babylonian captivity.Still, they need ta be patient. Despite their repentance, Jehovah will not change hh timetable. If they keep
alert and are responsive to Jehovah's will, however, they
are assured of eventual liberation. Similarly, C M a m
today patiently keep in expectation of Jehovah. (2 Peter
3:11,12)We take to heart the words of the apostle Paul,
who said: "Let us not give up in doing what is fine, for
in due season we shall reap if we do not tire out."-Galatians 6:9,
10 Isaiah's prophetic prayer Is more than a formal confession of sin, It expresses sincere recognition of the nation's inability to save itself, The prophet says: "We become like someone unclean, ail of us, and oil our acts
of ffghteousness are llke a garment far periods of mensmution; and we shall fade away like leofag~,all of ur,
and our emrs themselves will cony us away just like a
wind." (!saiah 646) By the end of the exile, repentant Jews may have ceased praalcing apostasy, They may
have turned to Jehovah with acts of righteousness. But
they are still imperfect, Thelr good deeds, while praiseworthy, are no better than solled garments when it
9 . w h a t can repentant Jews hope for, and what can we learn from
this?
30. W h a t inabilkty ISfrankly contessecl in Isaiah's pmyer?

366

Iscliahk Propke~y-Lkht pr All Mankind 11

"Eye Has Not Seen"

tn his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul quotbook of Isaiah when he wrote: "Just as it is
written: 'Eye has not seen and ear has not heard, neither have there been conceived in the heart of man the
things that God has prepared for those who love him.'"
(1 Corinthians 2:9)" Neither Paul's statement nor the
expressions of Imiah refer to the mings lehovah has prepared far his people R a heavenly Inheritance or In a future earthly paradise. Paul is applying Isalah's words ta
the blessings that were already being enjoyed by Christians in the first century, such a5 understsndlng the
deeper thlngs of God and receiving spiritual enlighknment from Jehovah.

ed the

We can understand deep spiritual things only when

it is jehovah's due tlme to reveal them--and even then,
only if we are spiritual people with a dose relatianship
with Jehovah. Paul's words apply to thme with little
or no spirituality. Their eye annot see, or discern, spiritual truths, and their ear cannot hear, or understand,
such things. Knowledge of the things that God has prepared for those who love him does not even enter into
the hearb of such men. But to those who are dedicated to Gad, as Paul was, Cod has revealed these things
through his spirit-1 Corinthians 21-16.

'Paul's words are not Saund in the fIebr&v Saiptures exactly as

he quoted them. He semis to IE combining the thoughts bf haiah 5k15;643; and 6515.

comes to atonement for sins. Jehovah'sforgiveness is an

undeserved g f t rnutivated by Eais mercy. It is not something that can be earned.-Romans 3:23,24,

11 h Isaiah looks ahead

what does he -7 The -prophone cc~IIingupan your name, no

one musing himseif to lay hold an you; tbrw have concea/edpur face fmm us, and you cuuse US to melt by the
p w e r af our error." (Isaiah $49) The spirituaI condiBbn
et pfap: 'mere k no

11. (4) What unbeaJthygplritual Mnditlbn exists among most of

the Jews in exile, and why may this be? @] Who were excellent ex;
amples af faith &zing the idle?
. .&k$W

Cod's people had

possesion ~#~i?rusa/em

anal her temple '"for

a little while"

,
I

I
.

'

368

IsaiahJ$Prophecy-Light

for All

Manklnd If

A Prayer of

of the nation is abysmal, The people haw not been calling upon God's name in pmyer. While no longer guilty

h&,

of the gross sin of idolatry, they are wldently negligent

in their worship, and there Is "no one rousing himself tu
lay hold"on Jehwah. They clearly do not enjoy a heal thy
relationship with the Creator. Perhaps some feel unworthy to address Jehovah in prayer. Others may go about
their daily routine without taking him into account. Of
course, there are such indlvlduals as Daniel, Hananlah,
Mishael, Azariah, and Ezekiel among the exiles, and
these are fine examples of faith. (Hebrews 11:33, 34) As
the 70-year period of captivity draws to a close, such men
as Haggai, Zechariah, Zerubbabel, and High Prlest Joshua
stand ready @ take an excellent lead in calling u p n the
name ofJehwah.Still, Isaiah's prophetic prayer seems t.o
describe the condition of the malorily of the exiles.

64:P.

"To Obey Is Better Than

a SacrificeN
12 Repentant Jews are wllling to change. Represenslng
them, Isaiah prays to Jehovah: "Now, O jehomh, you are
our Forher. We ore the clay, and you are our Potter; and
all of us are the w w k of your hunal" (Isaiah 64:8] These
words once again acknowledge Jehovah's authority as Father, or L i N i v e r . (Job 109)Jews who repent are cornpared to malleable clay. Those who respond to Jehovah's
discipline can in a figurative way be shaped, or formed,
in Ilarmony with God's standards, Rut thls can be accomplished only if Jehovah,the Power, extends fagiveness. Hence, Isaiah twice appeals to him to remember
that the Jews are his people: "'Do not be Indignant, 0 le-

12. How does Isaiah express the willlngnesr of wpntant Jews to

change their conduct?

Repentance

369

to the extreme, and do not f o m r m e m b e r our

error. Look, now, please: we are all p r people."-Isaiah

During the exile, the J& endure much more than

mere captivity In a pagan land. The desolate condition
of Jerusalem and her temple brlngs reproach upon them
and their God. Isaiah's prayer of repentance recounts
some of the things that cause thls reproach: "Yow own
holy cities have become a wilderness. Zlon Itself has become o sheer wilderness, ~erusalerna desolate waste. Our
house of holiness and beauty, in which our forefathers
praised you, hos Itself become something for burning in
the fire; and everyone of our desirable things hos become
a devastation."-Isaiah 64:10, 1 1.
14 Of course, Jehovah is well aware of the state of affairs in the ancestral land of the Jews. About 420 years before the destruction of Jerusalem, lle warned his people
that if they turned away from hb commandments and
served other gods, he would "cut [them] off from upon
the surface of the ground," and the beautiful temple
would "become heaps of ruins." (1 Klngs 9:6-9) True, Jehovah found delight En the Eand he had given to his
people, the magnificent temple built In his honor, and
the sacrifices made to him. Rut IoyaIty and obedience
are more important than material things, even sacrifices,
The prophet Samuel aptly said to King Saul: "Dws Jehovah have as much delight in burnt offcslngs and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Look!To obey

13. What is the condltlon of the land of Israel whlle God's people
are in exile?
14. (a) H w did Jehwah warn of the sltuatlon that now exists?
(I?
While
)
Jehovah found dcllght In hls temple and the sacrfices
made there, what i s more Important?

370

Jsaiah's Propltccy-Llght for All Mnnklnd I1

is better than a sacrifice, to pay attention than the fat of

rams."-1 Samuel 15:22.
15 Nevertheless, a n the God of Israel look upon the calamity of his repentant people and fail to be mowd to
pity? Such is the question with which Isaiah ends his prophetic prayer. On behalf of the exiled Jews,he pleads: "In
the face of these things will you continue keeplng yourself in check, 0 jehovah? W/l/you stay stlll and let us be
afflicted to the extreme?" (Isaiah 64: 72) As the dtuation
turns out, Jehwah does indeed forgive his people, and In
537 B.C.E, he brings them back to their land so that they
can m m e purr worship there. (Jwl2:13)Centuries later, however, JerusaIem and her temple wew once again
destroyed,and God's covenant nation was finally rejected
by him. Why? BecauseJehomh"s people had drifted away
from his commandments and had rrjected the Messjah.
(John 1:11;3:19, 20) When that happened, Jehovah replaced Israel with a new nation, a spiritual nation,namely, "the Israel of God."-Galatians 6:16; 1Peter 29.

J e h m h , the "Hearer of Prayer"

I6 rmportant lessons can, be learned from what hap
pened to Israel. We see that Jehovah Is "good and reacly
to forgve." (Psalm 8 6 5 ) As irnperfwt maturn, we depend on his mercy and hrgjveness to wcelve salvation.
No works of ours can help us to earn these blessingr. However, Jehovah does not extend forgiveness indlscrimlnately. Only those who repent of their sins and turn around
are in line for divine pardon.-Acts 3:19,
15, (a) What plea does Isaiah prophetlcnlIy make to Jehovah, and
haw 1s It answered? (b) What ewnts led up to Jchovnh's;final rejcctlon of Israel as a natron?
16. What d m the Bible teach regardtng Jehovah's forglwness?

A Prayer of R~pentnncr

371

17 We also Ieam that Jehovah Is keenly inte~stedin our

thoughts and feelings when we express them in prayer
to him. He is the "'Mearrr of praycs." (Psalm 65:2, 3) The
apostle Peter assuns.us: 'The eyes of Jehovah are upon
t h e r~hteousones, and his ears are toward their sup
plication." (1 Rter 3:12) klrthcr, we learn that a prayer
of repentance must Include a Ilumhle confesslan of sins.
(Proverbs 28:13)This doer not mean, though, that we can
presume on God's mercy, Thc Uiblc warns Christians "not
to accept the undeserved klnclness of God and miss its
purpasc."-2 Corinthians 6:1,
18 F M y , we learn the purpose s
f God's patience toward
his sinful people. 'The apostk firer explained that Jehovah is patient "because he does nut desire any to be desimyed but desims all to attain to repentance." (2 Peter
3:9) Nevertheless,thosc who persistently abuse God"s patience will ewntually be punished. Concerning this we
read: "Uehovah] will mndcr to each one according to his
work everlasting life to tllosc who arc seeking glory and
honor and it~corruptlblenessIly endurance In work that is
good; however, for thosc who arc contentious and who
disobey the truth but obey unrighteousness there will be
wrath and anger."-Romans 2:6-8.
19 This is the way God dealt with ancient Israel. Our relationship with Jehovah today is governed by the same
principles because he does not change. Wlrile not holding
back deserved punishment, he will always k AJehwah,a
God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant
in loving-kindness and truth, preserving loving-kindness
for thousands, pardoning error and transgression and
sin."-Exodus 34:6, 7.
17, 18. (a) H m do WE know that Jehovah Is ~cnulnclyInterested In
our thoughts and feelln~s7(h) Why does Jehovah exerclse patience
toward sinful: humans?
19. What unchangeable qualltles d I I Jehwah always display?

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

"Be Joyful Forever

in What I Am Creating"
lsalah 65:l-25

WILL we ever see an end to inlustices and suffering?

Over 1,900years ago, the apostle Peter penned these reassudng words: There are new heavens and a ncw earth
that we are awaiting according to [God's j promise, and
in these righteousness is to dwell." (2 Peter 313) Peter,
along with many ather faithful servants of God throughout the centluies, looked forward to the grand day when
lawlessness, oppression, and vioIente would cease and
righteousness would prwail, Can we be sure that this
promise will be fulfilled?
2 Yes, we can! When Peter spoke of "new heavens
and a new earth," he was not introducing a new Idea.
About 800 years exIler, Jehovah through the prophet
Isaiah uttered similar words. That earlier promise had a
small-scale fulfillment in 537 R.C.E.when the Jews were
released from Babyionish captivity, enabling them to re
turn to their homeland, But Isaiah's pmphery Is having a
grand fulfillment today, and we look forward to an even
mare thrilling fulfillment in God's corning new world.
Indeed, the heartwarming prophecy given through

1, What reassuring words were penned by the apostle Peter, and

what question arises?
2. Which prophet had spoken of "new heavens and a new earth,"
and what fuIhIFments does that ancient prophecy have?

"BeJoyfuI Forever in Wlrnt l Am Creating"

373

Isaiah provides a gtimpse of the blesstngs that God has in

store for those who love him.

Jehovah Reaches Out to "a Stubborn People"

3 Recall that lsalah 63:15-6412 mntalns Isaiah's prophetic p ~ on rbehalf of the Jewish exiles in Babylon.
As Isaiah's words make cIcar, many Jews are not worshiping Jehovahwhole-souled, but some have repented and
turned to him, Will Jehovah now restore the nation for
the sake of that contrite remnant? We find the answer in
Isaiah chapter 65. Rut before urterlng a promise of deliverance for the few who are faithful, Jrhovah describes the
judgment awaiting the many who are without faith.
4 Jehovah has put up with persistent rebelliousness on
the part of his people. The time will come, however,
when he dl1 abandon them to their enemies and kindly
welcome others into his favor, Through Isaiah, Jehovah
says: "I have kt myself be searched for by those who had
not asked for me, I haw let myself be found by those who
had not looked for me. I have said) 'Here i am, here I am!'
to a nation that was nor calling upon my name." (Isaiah 65:7 ) It Is a sad commentary on Jehovah's cwenant
people that those of the nations dl1come to Jehovah
butstubborn ~udahas a whole will refuse to do so. Isaiah
is not the onIy prophet to foretell that God will ultimately choose a people not previously recognized. (Hosea 1:
10; 2:23)The apostle Paul quoted Isaiah 65:1, 2 from
the Septuagintto prow that pcoplc of t h e nations would
obtain "the righteousness that results from faith" wen
though natural-born Jews refused to do so.-Romans 9:
30;10:20, 21.
3. What questton Is answered br us In Isalah chapter 657
4. {a) In cnntrasl with 1115 w b ~ l l i o ~ptrlple,
l%
who wlll search for Jehovah? [b) How did the aposttc E'lritE apply Iratah 65:F,2?

374

Js~inh'sProphecy-Light for A i l Mankind iI

5 Jehovah explains why he will allow his own people to

suffer calamity: "I have spread out my hands all day long
to a stubborn people, those who are walking in the way
that is not good, after their thoughts." (Isaiah 652) To
spread out one's hands denotes an invitation or an entreaty. Jehwah has spread out his hands, not just briefly,
but all day long. His heartfelt desire is that Judah return
to him. Yet, this stubborn people has failed to respond.
6 What a heartwarming lesson we learn from Jehovah's
words! He wants us to draw dose to h m because he is an
approachable God. (James 4:s) These words also show us
that Jehovah is humble. (Psalm 113:5,6)After all, he continues figuratively to spread out his hands, enwating his
people to return despite the fact that their stubbornness
has made him "feel hurt." (Psalm 78:40, 41) Only after
appealing to them for centu~iesdoes he finally abandon
them to their enemies. Even then, he does not close the
door on humble individuals among them,
7 The stubborn Jews have repeatedly provoked Jehovah
by their disgraceful conduct. Jehovah describes their offensive actions: '7he people made up of those offending
me right to my face constuntly, sacrificing in the gardens
and making sacrifjciui smoke upon the bricks, seating
themselves among the burial placest who also pass the
night even in the watch huts, eating the flesh of the pig,
even the broth o f foul things being in their vessels; those
who are saying, 'Keep close to yourself. Do not approach
me, for I shall certainly convey holiness to you. 'These are

a smoke in my nostrils, a fire burning all day long." {lsa5, 6 . (a) What earnest desire has Jehovah manifested, but how have
his people responded? (b) What can we learn from Jehovah's deal-

ings with Judah7

7, 8. In what ways have Jehovah'sstubborn people provoked him?

'Be Joyful Forever in What I Am Creating"

375

iuh 653-5)These seemingly pious ones are offending Jehovah 'right to his face'-an expression that may imply
audacity and disrespect. They make no effort to conceal
their abominations. Is it+notespecially reprehensible to
commit sins in the very presence of the One who ought
to be honored and obeyed?
8 These self-righteous sinners are, in effect, saying to
other Jews: 'Keep your distance, for I am holier than you.'
What hypocrisy! These "pious" ones are offermg sacrifices and burning incense to false deities, which God's
Law condemns. (Exodus 20:Z-6) They are sitting among
the burial, places, which makes them uncIem according
to the Law. (Numbers 1994-16) They are eating the flesh
of the pig, an unclean food.* (Leviticus 115') Yet, their religious activities make them feel hoIier than other Jews,
and they want other people to keep away so that these
wdl not become sanctified, as it were, or clean, by mere
association. Nevertheless, that is not at all how the God
who exacts "exclusive devotion" views matters!-Deuteronomy 434.
9 Rather than considering these self~righteousones to
be holy, Jehovah says: "These are a smoke in my noseils."
The Hebrew word for "nose" or "nostril" is often used
figuratively far anger. Smoke too is associated with Jehovah's burning anger. (Deuteronomy 29:20) The disgusting idolatry into which his people have fallen has provoked Jehovah's burrung anger.
10 In his justice, Jehovah cannot let these wdlful sinners

* Many think that these sinners were at the burial places attemptlng
to communicate with the dead. Their eating the flesh of the pig may
have been connected with idol worship.
9. How does Jehwah Yiew the self-righteous sinners?
10. How will Jehovah repay those in Judah for their sins?

376

Isaiah's Prophecy-Ligh t for A!? Man kind U

go unpunished. Isaiah wm'tes: "'Look! It is written before

me. I shall not keep sti/II but I will render a reward; I will
even render the reword into their own bosom, for their
own errors and for the erran of their forefathers at the
same time,' jehovah has said. 'Because they have made
mcrjficial smoke upon the mountainsI and upon the hills
they have reproached me, I will also measure out their
wages first of all into their own bosom.' " (Isaiah 656, 7)
By engaging in false worship, these Jmhave reproached
Jehwah. They have made worship of the true God appear to be no better than that of the nations around
them. "For their awn errors," including idolatry and spiritism, Jehovah will recompense them "into their awn bosom." The expression '%osom" evidently refers to a gathered fold of the upper garment that formed a pouch
where vendors might pour a measured amount of produce. (Luke 6:38) For apostate Jews, the meaning is clear
-Jehovah will measure out their "reward," ox punishment. The God of justice will exact retribution. (Psalm
7912; Jeremiah 3218) Since Jehovah does not change,
we can be confident that in his due time, he will measure
out punishment in a similar way on this wicked system
of things.-Malachi 3:6.
"For the Sake of My Servants"
11 Will Jehovah show mercy to faithful ones among his
people? Isaiah explains: "This is what jehovah has said:
'In the same way that the new wine is found in the cluster
and someone has to say, "Do not ruin it, because there
is a blessing in it," so I shall do for the sake of my servants in order not to bring everybody to ruin. And I will
bring forth out of jacob an offspring and out of judah

"Be Joyful Forever in W a t IAm Crenting"

the hereditary possessor of my mountuirts; and my chosen ones must take possession o f it and my own servantr

will reside there,'" (Isaiah 658, 9) In comparing his people to a cluster of grapes,Jehovah uses an illuswation that
they can readily understand. Grapes are abundant in the
land, and wine made from grapes is a blessing for mankind. (Psalm 104:15) The image presented may be that
of a cluster on which some, but not all, of the gapes are
good. Or the idea may be that one cluster is good, while
other clusters are unripe or rotten. In either case, the
vinedresser will not destroy good grapes.Jehovah thus reassures his people that he will not utterly destroy the nation but wilI spare a faithful remnant. He states that this
favored remnant will possess his "mountains," that is, Jerusalem and the land of Judah, the hilly country that Jehovah cIairned as hs own.
12 What bIessings await this faithfuI remnant? Jehe
vah explains: "5haronmust become a pasture ground for
sheep and the low plain of Achor a resting-place for cottie, for my people who will have looked for me." (Isaiah
65:10) Flocks play an important role in the lives of many
Jews, and abundant grazing land helps to create prosperity during times of peace. Jehovah refers to two -mities of the land in order to paint a picture of peace and
prosperity. To the west the Plain of Sharon, noted for its
beauty and fertility, stretches along the Mediterranean
Coast. The VaIley of Achor forms part of the northeastern boundary of the land. (Joshua 15:7) During the coming exile, these areas will lie waste, along with the rest of
the land, Jehovah promises, however, that after the exile they will become beautiful pasture grounds for the returning remnant.-Isaiah 352; Hosea 2%.

11. How does Jehovah indicate that he will save a faithful remnant?

377

12. What blessings await the faithful remnant?

378

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for All Mnnklnd II

Trusting in "the God of Good Luck"

13 Isaiah's prophecy now turns back to those who have
Ieft Jehovah and have persisted in idolatry. I t says: "You
men are those I-ng
Jehwah, those Forgetting my holy
mountain, those setting in order a table for the god of
Good tuck ond those fiIIing up mixed wine for the god
of Destiny" (Isaiah 6977) By setting a table of food and
drink behm "the god of Good Luck" and "the god of
Destiny," these backslidingJewshave faIlen into the idolamus practices of the heathen nations." What will Secome of any who naiwly bust in these gods?
14 Jehovah forthrightly warns them: "I wll desttne you
men to thesword, and you will all ofyou bow down to being slaughtered; for the reason that I called, but you did
not answer; I spoke, but you did not listen; and you kept
doing what was bad in my eyes, and the thing in which I
took no delight you chose." (Isaiah 65:12) With a pun on
the name of the god of Destiny in the original Hebrew,
Jehovah says that those who arc worshiping this false deity will be 'destined to the sword,' that is, to destruction.
Jehovah has repeatedly called these men to repentance
by meam of his prophets, but they have ignored him and
have stubbornly chosen to do what they know b bad in
his eyes. What contempt they show for God! In fillfillment of God's warning, the nation will suffer a great ca* Commenting on this verse, Bible translator Jerome (born In the
fourth c e n t u ~
C.E.) telfs of an ancient custom ohsewed 'by idolaters
on the last day of t h e h l month of their year. H e wrote: "'They
would spread a table covemi with various kinds of f d r and a cup
mixed with s w e t wine to ensure good luck for the Iestlllty of elther
the past or t h e coming year."

13, 14. What practices show that God's pwple haw left him, and
what MI1 happen to them as a result?

i
I

tastmphe In 607 B.C.E, when Jehovahallows the Babylonlnns to destroy Jerusalem and her temple. At that time
"the gcxl of Good Luck" wlll fail to protect its devotees in
Judah and Jerusalem.-2 Chronicles 36:17.
1s 'Today true Christians heed the warning found at halah 65:1I, 12. They do not bciieve in "Good Luck," as if it
were some kind of supernatural brce able to bestow favors. Refusing to squander their material possessions in
trying to appease "the god of Good Luck," they avoid all
forms of gambling, 'l'hey are convinced that those devoting themselves to this god will eventually lose everything, fbr tu such ones Jehovah says: "I wiIl destine you
nien to the sword."

"Look! My Own Servants Will Rejoice"

16 In rrprwing those who have abandoned Jehovah,
the prophecy describes the contrasting portions awaiting
thosc who sincerely worship God and those who do so
hypocrIt l cally: "This Is what the Sowreign Lord jehovah
has sold: 'Lookl My own servantr will eat, but you yourselves wlil go hungry. Look! My own servants wilt drink,
but you yourselws will go thirsty look! My own servants
will rejoice, but you yourselves will suffer shame. Look!
My own servanB will cry out joyfully because of the good
condition of the heart, but you yourselver will make outcries because of the pain ef heart and yoo will howl because of sheer brerrkdown of spirit.'" (Isaiah 65:13, 14)
Jehovah will bless, his faithful servants. With hearts overflowing with joy, they will break out in shouting. Eating,
drfnking, and rejoicing are terms signiving that Jehovah

--

IS. In what way do true Chrlstlans today heed the warning found at
lsalah 65:11, 127
16. In what ways will Jehwah bless his faithful servants, but what
rvlll I l e True 01 ZIIOSC who hnvc forsaken him?

380

I~aiah'sProph~cy-Llfht for All Manklnd I1

d l 1 abundantly satisfy the needs of hls worshlpen. In

contrast, those who have dosen to forsake Jehovah will
hunger and thirst spiritually.Their needs will not he satisfied. They will cry out and howl because of the anguish
and distress that will come upon them.
17 JehovaWs words we11 desdbe the spiritual condition
today of those who merely claim to srm God. While
Christendom's millions suffer breakdown of spirit, however, Jehovah's worshipers cry out joyfully. And they have
good reason to rejoice, They are well fed spirltually. Jehovah provides them with an abundant supply of splrlma1food thmugh Bible-based puhllcatlons and Christian
gatherings. Truly, the upbuilding buths and the comforting promises of God's Word give us a "good condition of
the heart"!
18 Jehovah continues to address those who haw farsaken him: "You men will certainly lay up your name for an
oath by my chosen ones, and the Sovereign lord jehowh
will actually put you individually to death, but his own servan tF he will call by another name; so that anyone blessing himself in the earth will bless himself by the God of
foith, ond anyone making a sworn statement in the earth
wit1swear by the God of Mlh;because the former distresses will clctually be beforgottenand because they will crctualiy
be concealed from my eyw." (Ssaiah 65: 15, 76) AI I that
will remain of those who have forsaken Jchovah i s thcir
name, which will be used only In an oath, or a curse. This
may mean that those who wish to blnd themselves in a
solemn manner by an oath will, in effe~t,say: 'If I cia not
fulfill this promise, let me experience the punishment
17. Why do God'speople today have goad reason to c y out loyfully?
18. What will remain of those who have forsaken Jchovah, and what
may be suggested by the use of their nsnie 1!1 an oath?

"Be Joyfuf Porever In What I Am Crratin~"

381

that those apostates received ,Vt may wen mean that their
name will be used illustratively, like Sodom and Gonorrah, as a symbol of God's punishment of the wicked.
19 How different the lot of God's own *wants wtll be!
n e y WlI be caIle$ by another name. That signifies the
blessed condition and honor they will enioy back in their
homeland. They will not seek a blessing from any false
god or swear by any lifeless Idol. Instead, when they bless
themselves or swear an oath, they will do so by the God
of faithfulness. (Isaiah 65:lG, footnote) The inhabitants of
the land will have reason farcomplete conlidence In God,
for he will have proved himself to be true to his promise
.
' Safe in their homeland, the Jews will soon forget the
farmer distresses.

"I Am Creating New Heavens and a New Earth"

W Jehovahnow expands on his promise to restore a repentant remnant after their return from exile in B a b
ylon. Through Isaiah, Jehovah says: "Here I am creating
new heavens a ~ adnew earth; and the former things will
not be calied to rnlnd, neither will they come up Into the
heort." (Isaiah 65:17) Jehovah's promise of restoration
is certain to be fulfilled, so he speaks of that future resr
toration as If It were already taking place. T h i s pmphe q was Id.blally fulfilled in 537 B.C.E. when the Jewish
Acceding to Isaiah 65:16 In the Hebrew Masoretic text, Jehowh is
"the God of Amen.'' "hmcn" means "so be It," or "surel~r,"
and is an
affirmation or guarantee that sornethlng Is true or Is bound to come
true. By carrying out all that he prornlscs, Jchovah showr that what
he says is true.

19. How will God's servants be called by another name, and why will
they have confidence In the God of faithfulness? (See also footnote.)
20. How was Jehovah's promtse of "new heavens and a new earth"
fulfilled in 537 R.C.E.?

382

Isrrlnh's Pmphccy-Li~Jit for At1 Mankind 11

rmnnant was restored to Jerusalem.M a t : constituted the

'hew heavens" at that time? The governorship of Z m b babe1 supportd by High Priest Josllua and centered atJerusalem. The restored Jewish remnant made up "a new
earth," a cleansed society that submitted to s ~ z c hrulership and helped to reestablish purc worship In the land,
( b r a 5:1, 2) The jay of that restoration ecllpsed all previous suffering; the former distrcsscs were not even called
to mind.-Ralm 126:1,2.
21 Recall, however, that Peter echoed Isa Iah's prophecy
and showed that it had a future fulfillment. The apostle
wrote: "There are new heavens and a new earth that we
are awaiting according to his promlre, and in these righteousness is to dweII," (2 Pet~r3:13) In 1914 the Iongawaited new heavens came into existence.The Messianic
Kingdom born in that year rules from heaven itself, and
Jehovah has given it authority over all the earth. (Psalm
2:6-8) This Kingdom government, under Chrlst and his
144,000 corulers, is the new heavens.-Revelation 14:l.
22 What of the new earth? Following the pattern of the
ancient fuIErllment, the new earth hill be made up of
people who gladly submit to the rulership of the new
heavenly government. Even now, mill ions of sighfly disposed individuals subject themselves to this government
and strive to follow its laws as found in the Bible. These
anes come from all nationalities, languages, and races,
ancl they work together to servc the reigning kng Jesus Christ. (Micah 4:l-4)After the passlng of t h present
~
wicked system of things, this group will form the nucleus
of a new earth that will eventually be a globe-encirclii
21. What new heavens came into exlstence In 19141
22. Wha will make up the new earth, and how arc people being prepared even now to become the nucleus of t.hat arrangement?

"Be foyfi~lForever in Whrnt I k m Creatln~"

383

swlety of God-fearing humans who Inherit the earthly

realm of God's Kingdom.-Matthew 25:34.
23 The book of Revelation describes a vision the apostle
John saw of the comi& day of Jehovah, when this system of things will be removed. After that, Satan will be
aiyssed. (Revelation 19:ll-2&3) Followl ng that description, John echoes the prophetlc words of Isaiah, wrtting:
"1 saw a new heaven and a new earth." The subsequent
verses of the a c c m of this glorious vision tell of the
time when Jehovah God will radically change conditions
on this earth for the better. (Revelation 21:1, 3-5) Clearly,
Isaiah's promise of "new heavens and a new earth" wll
have a wonderful fulfillment in God's new world! Under the new governmental heavens, a new earthly society will enjoy a paradise that is both spiritual and physical. Comforting indeed is the promise that "the former
things [sjcknesses, suffering, and the many other woes
humans face] will not be called to mjnd, neither will
they come up into the heart."Whatever we may remember at that time will not cause us the deep hurt, or pain,
that now burdens the hearts of many.
Isaiah's prophecy continues: " h k , you people, and
be joyful forever in what I am creating. b r here I am
rrwtfng jerusalem a cause for joyfrrlness and her people
a cause for exultation. And I wllf be joyful in Jt.?rusalem
and exult In my people; and no more will there be heard
In her the sound of weeping or the sound of a plaintlve cry." (Isaiah 65:18, 79) Not only wi! 1 t hc Jews rejoice
23. What Informationdowe find In the h o k of Rwclatlon concernIng 'a new heawn and a new earth," and how wjtl this prophecy be
fulfilled?
24. Why will Jehovah rejaim over the restoratlan of Jeiu8alem,and
what wlll no longer be heard in the streets of that clty7

384

Isaiah's Propkccy-Li,ght fbr AII Mnnkind II

over being restored to thelr homeland but God himself

will rejoice, for he will make Jerusalem beautiful--once
again the center of m e worship in the earth. The sound
of weeping over damity, which was heard in the streets
of that city decades ear[Eer, wil I be heard no more.
25 Today, too, Jehovah makes Jerusalem "a cause for joyfulness." A w ? As we have already seen, the new heavens that came into existrnce in 1914 will mnmally include 144,000 corders, who haw a share In the heavenly
government. These are prophetically descrihcd as "New
Jerusalem." (Revelation 21:2) It is with regard to New Jerusalem that God says: "Here I am creating Jerusalem a
cause for joyfulness and her people a cause for exultation."New Jerusalem will be usdl by God to shower untold blessbgs on obedient mankind. Ko more will be
heard the sound of weeping or a pIalntlve cry, for Jeh*
vah will satisfy "the requests of [our]heart."-PsaIrn 37:
3'4.
26 M y , there is every reason for us today to exult!
Soon Jehwah will sanctify his illustrious name by destroying dl opposers. (Psalm 83:17, 18) Then the new
heavens will be in complete control. What wonderful
seasons these are to exult and be joyful f o m r in what
God is creating!

The Promise of a Secure Future

27 In t h e first fulfillment, what is life to 'be like for returning Jews under the new heavens? Jehovah says: "No

25, 26. (a) In our day, how does Jehovah m ~ k eJcrusalern "a cause
for ]oyfulness"?@) How will Jehovah use Ncw Jerusalem, and why
can we today exult?
27. In what way drses Isaiah describe the secudty that the returning
Jews will enjoy in their homclmd?

come to be a suckling cr few days old

from that place, neither an old man that does not fulfill
his days; h r one wiII dle as u mere boy, although a hundred y m of age; and as for the sinner, although cr hundred p r s of age t ~ ewill haw wil coiled down upom
him." (Isaiah6520)What a benutiful plctuse of the security t h a t the returning exlles will enjoy In their restored
homeland! Untimely death will not claim a newborn,
who is but a few days old. Neither will such a death take
an older man who has not yet Ilved out a full life span."
How reassuring Isaiah's words arc to the Jews who will
return to Judahl Safe in thelr land, they need not worry
that enemies will carry OR their babes or slaughter their
men
~8 What do Jehovah's words tell us about life in the
coming new world? Under God's Kingdom, every child
wilI have the prospect of a secure future. Never will death
claim a God-fearing man In his prlrne. On the contrary,
obedient mankind will be safe, secure, able to enjoy life.
What of any who choose to rebel against God? Such ones
will lose the privilege of life, Even If the wbelllous sinner
is "a hundred years of age," he will die, Tn such a case, he
will be "a mere boy" compared to what he could have become--a man wit11 endless life.
"Jehovah continuer his description of the conditions
more will there

'

" The JmtsaEemBible renders Isaiah 6520: "No more wIII be found
the infant llving a few day5 only, or thc oIcl man not living to the end
of his days."
28. What do we learn from Jehovuh's words about Ilk In the new
world under his Kingdom'?
29. (a) Cod's obcdient people wlll have what lays In the restored
land of Judah? (h) Why arc trcrs a fitelnu Illustration of longevity?
(See hotnote.)

386

Isaiah's Praphcry-ll,rht for A / / Manklad II

that will prevail in the restored land of Judah: 'They wl//

certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will
certainly plant vinqurds and eat their fruitage. 77wy will
not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not
plant and someone else do the eating. For like the days
of a tree will the d v of my people be; and the work
of their own hands my chosen ones wi'll use to the full."
(lsaiah 65:27,22) After returning to the desolate and no
douht houseless and vineless land of Judah, God's obedient people will have the jay of living in their own homes
and of eafing the hitage of their own vineyards. God
will bless their work, and they MI have long lives-llke
the days of a m-in which to enjoy the fruits of their
Iabors.*
30 In our day, there has been a fulfillment of this prophecy. Jehovah's people came forth from spiritual exile In
1919 and began restoring their "land," or realm of aaivity and worship. They built congregations and cultlvnted spiritual fruitfulness. As a result, even now Jehovah's
people enjoy a spiritual paradise and God-given peace.
We can be sure that such peace will continue Into
the physical Paradise. We cannot even begin to h a g ine what Jehovah will accomplish with the willing hearts
and hands of his worshipers in the new world. What a
joy it will be to build your own home and then to live
in it! Under Kingdom rule, there will be no shortage of
satisfying work. How rewarding it will be always tu "see

good" for the frults of your own labors! (Ecclesiastes 3:

73) Will we have ample time to entoy to the full the work
of our lqands? Yes, indeed! 3'he unendjng lives of faithful
humans wlll he "like thedays of a tree"-tl1otmnd3 of
years, and more!
31 Jehovah describes more blessings that await the r
e
turning exi la:"They will not toil For nothing, nor will they
bring to birth for disturbance; because they are the offsprjrrg made up of the blessed ones of jehovah, and lPleir
descendon& wfth them." (lsuiah 6523)Those restored
Jews will l ~ ehlesserl by Jehovah, so they will not laI ~inFvain. Rrents wl t l not bring forth childsen merely
for these to suffcr an early death. The former d e s will
not bc alone In enjoying the blessings of the restoration;
their ofisspring will be with them. So eager is God to fulfill his people's needs that he promises: "If will actually
occur that before they call out I myself shall answer; while
they are yet speaking, E myself shall hear."-lsaiah 65-24.
32 How will Jehovah fulfill these promises in the coming new world? We wlll have to wait and see, Jehovah
has not provided all the derajk, but we can be sure that
faithful llumans will n m r again "toil for nothing." The
great crowd of Armageddon survivors and any children
who may be born to them will have the prospect of a
very long and satisfyng life-werlasting life! Those who
come back in the resurrection and who choose rn Eve in
harmony with Cmd's standards will also find joy in the
new world.Jehovahwill l~earand respond to their needs,
even anticipating them. Indeed, Jehovah will open his
hand and satisfy the proper "desireof every living thing."

'Trees are a fitting illustration of longrlty, for they arc among the
most enduring living things known. For example, an ollw tw produces fruit for hundreds of years andmay live up to a thouran(! ycan.

-balm 145:16.

30. What happy situation do Jehovah's senlants en)oy today, and

what will they enjoy in the new world?

31, 32, Fa) What blcalngswill the returning exiles enjoy? (b) In the
new worttl, what prospect wilt falthiul humans have?

-.

khk's,mphacy-L&I~tfor At1 Mankind ZI

33 HOW far-reawill the p m d e d peace and s e w
rity be? Jam&
concludes this portIan of the prophe

cg:"'l7te~ngHcmdtheImbth~willW~som,

andthelionIvHIeut~b.rmjustiIkethebu&andasIbr
t h e s q m f h&Saodwillbedust.Thy dildonohum
mr cause any ruin in all my
moun&In; j & w h has
said,' (imlah 6595) When the faithful Jewish remnant
return -to thei~
homelandI they will be under Jehovah's
are.AUonwill,ineffect, eatstrawUkea bull, forthelion
wW do no harm to the Jews or their domestic animals.
This promise fs sure, for it concludeswith t h words,
~
"Jehovah has said"And hisword always comes trw I -Isaiah
55:10111,
34 Jehovah's wsds are finding a tMlling fulfillment
among true worshipers today. Since 1919, Gad has
blessed the s p h i h l a l land of his people, tramforming It
Into a spiritual paradise.Those coming into this spiritual
paradise make remarkable chzrnges in their I-.
(Ephesima 4:B-%) With the help af God's spirit, fndlvlduals who at one tibe had b w t W perwnalides-Who
perhaps e ~ ~ p l o i kord otherwise uldxnized th& Wow.
man-make ptogm in taming wdeslrablt traits,As a result, th@yenjq peace. and unity of worship with fellow
believers,The blwings now en)- by Jehovah's people
in their spiritual p a d i s e will atend illto the physical
Paradise, w h the p a e p d l l n g among humans will
be matched by peace w
a
l the animals. We can be SUR
that in W ' s due time, his o r i g ~commhlon
~~I
to mankind will be pmpdy d e d out; " S W e [the earth],
andhapr!hsubjedi~nthefuh of the seaand the flyirrg

33. When theJ-

r & m tothek bomeland, In what sense will the

animals be at p c e ?

34. What thrllllng =nt

the new WOtld?

do Jehwah'smrb have today and i

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Jehovah Blesses Pure Worship

IN THE final chapter of Isaiah, same of the major

themes of this prophetic book are brought to a resounding climax, and a number of Important questions are
answered. Among the themes that are highlighted are
Jehovah'sloftinas, his hatred for hypocrisy, his determlnation to punish the wicked, and hi5 low and concern
for the faithful. Moreover, the follow!ng quesHons are
answered: What distinguishes m e worship from false?
How can we be sure that Jehovah will bring retribution
upon hypocrites who pretend to he holy while oppressing God's people? And how will Jehovah bless those
who remain faithful to hlm?
The Key to Pure Worship
2 To begin with, the prophecy emphasizes Jehovah's
grandeur: 'This is what jehowh hos said: 'The heawns
om my throne, and the earth Is my footstool. Where,
then, is the house that yw people can build for me, ond
where, then, is the pime os o resting-place for me?'"
(Jsoiah 66:J) Some believe that the prophet is dlscouraging the Jews from rebuilding the temple to Jehovah
when the nation is restored to iits homeland, Not: so; Jehovah himself will command that the temple he rebuilt,

[ehovalt Blesses P t ~ n ,Wonhip

3 91

(Ezra 1:1-6; Isaiah 60: 13; Haggai 1:7,8) What, then, does
this passage mean?
3 FirSt, we might consider why the earth is described
as Jehovah's "footstool This is not a derogatory term
Among all the billions of celestial bodies in the universe, the earth alone is given thls special designation.
Our planet will stand forever as unique, for it is here
that Jehovah's only-begotten Son pald the ransom, and
it is here that Jehovah will vindicate his sovereignty by
means of the Messianic Kingclom. How fitting that the
earth be called Jehovah's footstool! A king might use
such a smI for ascendln~to his lofty throne and thereafter as a resting-place For his feet.
4 Of course, a king would not redde upon his foobtml,
nor does Jehovah reside upon this earth. Why, even the
vast physical heavens cannot contain him! Far less so
could any mere buildlng on the earth accommodate Jehovah so as to servc likrally as a house for him. (1 Itings
8:27) Jehovah's throne and hls restlv-place are located in the spirit realm, which is the sense of the expression "the heavens" as used at Isaiah 66:l. The next verse
drives the point home: "'Naw all these things my own
hand has made, so that all these come to be,' is the utterance of lehovah." (Isaiah 66:Za) Picture Jehwah making a sweeping gesture as he points out "ail these things"
--everything in heaven and on earth. (Isaiah 40:26; Revelation 1O:ti) As thc Grand Creator of all the universe, he
deserves to have more than a mere building devoted to

."

3. Why is it Bttlng that the earth Is descrlhed as Jehovah's "foot-

1. What themes are highlighted In the finnl chapter of Isaiah, and

what questfons are answered?
2. W h a t pronouncement dws Jehovah make concerning his V n deur, and what does this pronouncement nnt Imply?

stool"?
4. (a) w h y is it tmposslble for m y butldtng on earth to be a mstlngplace for Jehovah I;od7 (hl What Is meant by thc phrase "all these
thing," and what must we tunclude abut worshlp of Jehovah?

392

Isaiah's Prophecy-Ll~lrt for AII M ~ n k i n dI I

him. He deserves more than merely an outward form of

worship.
5 What kind of worship is fitting for the Universal S0vereign? He himself tells us: 'To t h i s one, then, I shall
/mk, to the one afflicted and contrite in spirit and tnembling at my word," (Isaiah 66:2b)Ycs, essential to pure
worship is a right heart attltude on the part of the worshiper, (Revelation 4:ll)The worshiper of Jehovah must
be "afflicted and contrite in spirlt." Daes t h b mean
that Jehovah wants us to be unhappy? No, he Is "the
happy God," and he wants his worshipers to be joyful as
weI1. (1 Timothy 1:lI; Philippians 4:4) However, all of
us sin frequently, and we must not take our sins lightly.
We ought to be "afflicted"by them, saddened that we
miss the ma& of Jehovah's righteous standards. (Psalm
51:17)We need to show that we are "contrite in spirit"
by repenting, fighting against our sinful tendendes, and
praying to Jehovah for forgiveness.-Luke 11:4; 1 John 1:
8-10,
6 In addition, Jehovah looks to those 'trembling at his
word,' Does this mean that he wants us to quake d t h
fear whenever we read his pronouncements? No, mther, he wanE us to view what he says with awe and reverence. We sincerely seek his counsel, using I t for guidance
in all the affiin of life. (Psalm 119:105)We may 'tremble,' too, in the sense that we fear the very thought of
disobeying God, of polluting his truth 'Mrlth human traditions, or of mating it lightly. Such a humble attitude is
essential to pure worship-but, sadly, it is a rarlty In today's world.
5. How do we show that we are "affltcted rnd contrite tn splrlt"?
6. lo what sense shoufd true worshipers 'twrnble at God's word'?

Jehovah Blesses Pure Worslzip

393

Jehovah Hates Hypocritical Worship

7 As Isaiah contemplaw his contemporaries, he is well
aware that few have the dispositron that Jehovah seeks
in his worshipers. For this rcason, apostate Jerusalem
deserves her impending tudgrnent. Note how Jehovah
vim wo~sMgtaking place in her: r ) l e one slaughtering the bull is as one striking down a man. The one sacrificing the sheep Is as one breaking the neck of a dog.
The one offering up a gift-the blood of a pig! f i e one
presenting a memorloll of frunkincense Is m one saying a
biasing with unconny words. They am also the ones
thwt have chosen their own ways, and in thelr disgustirrg
things their w y soul hm taken o delight "-Isaiah 66:3.
8 Thee words rernlnd us of Jehovah'swords recorded
in the first chapter of Isaiah. Jehovah there told his wayw a d people that their formal acts of worship not only
failed to please him but act~tallycaused his righteous anger to intensify because the worshipers were hypocritical. (Isaiah 1:ll-17) Slmllarly, Jehovah now likens their
offerings to heinous crimes. Their saaifidng a costly
bull would no more appease Jehovah than wouId their
murdering a human! Other sacrifices are likened to the
o
m up of a dog or a pig, animals that are unclean
under the Mosaic Law and certainly unfit for sacrifice.
(Leviticus 11:7, 27) Does Jehovah allow such religious
hypocrisy to go unpunished?
9 Jehovah now says: "I myself, In turn, s h d choose
ways of ill-Wuting them; and the things frightful to them
7, 8. How does Jehovah view formal worshlp by rellglaus hypocrites?
9. How have most Jews responded to reminders from Jehovah
through Isaiah, and what wtIl Iw the Inevitabtc result?

IsaIek's Praphq-Llght,fit All Mankind If

I shall bring upon them; h r the m a n thut I calkd,

but them was no one armwing I spoke, but them w e
m e thut I-ed;
md thy kept on dolng what WQ~F
bod in my
and the thlng in which 1 &o& no delight
they chose." (Isaiuh66:4) Isaiah is no doubt able to utter
thex words with heartklt conviction.For many y e m he
has been J&ovah"s hstmment, 'calling' and 'speaking'
to His people. The prophet knows all too we11 that, by

w,

and large, no one h a been listening, Because they have

kept on doing bad retributron is inevitable, Jehovab
their punishment and brlng frightful
d l indeed
events upan his apxtale people.
10 Modem+
Qa&tmdorn has simihdy pmcticd
things in whi& Jehovahtaka no W h t . Idolatry flourishes Irlh a churches, Unsaipunsatpturalpwasophia and tm
didom are exalted from her pulpits, and the quest
for polltical pwer has led her ever d q e r Into a spfrftually mdttltwuk rdad~nsbtpwith the natfons of the
world, mark 7:U;Reveladon 18:4, 5, 9) As was the case
with ancient JeWem, ChrlstenQm~sjust mibution
-a "frightful"thing-is coming ~ e x o m b ~upon
y her,
Among the ceamm for her wrMn punishment Is the
way she h a tmtd God's people.
11 Isaiah continues: " k u r tfre wwrl of ief?owh,p u
men who um trendding at his d:
'Your brothm that
m hum p u , that am e&uding you by mson of my
name, said, "May lehowh be ghriflwl!" He must also
appear w M m j o k i q on p u r par$ and thqr are the ones

10, What do Jehovah's dealing$with Judah tell us about his view of

ChrlstendomT
11. (a) What adds to the sln of the apwtaba In Isaiah's day? (bl In
what senre do Isaiah's mn!mnporades exdude faithful ones 'by Feason of God's name'?

]ekOwh B l e s ~ fire
s
Worship

fh4twill be put to shame.' " (lsalah66:s)Isaiah's "brothers," his awn countrymen, bear the Gad-glven q m m i -

biUeyofxepmenUngJehwahGod and submining to hls

swmignty. Thdr sin In faUng to do so is grave inBut what adds tu their sin is that they hate men who am
faithful and humble, such as Isaiah,These apostats hate
and exdude the f d W because these repsentJehovah

God truthfttIly. In that s a c the exclusion is made 'by

reason ofGud's name! At the same time, these false servants ofJehovah chhn to represent him, piously using

such ~ ~ ~ ~ - ~ ~ phrases
u n c asl 'Way
i n Jehovah
g
be gl*
rMdt ""
12 The hrrtred that false rrllglon has for adherem of

Today many in Christendomrehe to useJehrrvah'spersonal name,

m n ernovlng It from rrumwoua Blble tmnslatlons. Some deride
WJpsoplc for using his ~ n aname.
l Ytt, malry of these individuals maJcepious use of the expmrslon "Hallelujah," whleh m e w
"PraiseJab*
12, What me some examples of p~rstcutlcrnof f a i t h 1 servanrs of
Jehovah by rell@oush p a ' i e s ?

"All these things my own hand has made"

396

Isainlr'r PropJ;ecy-Li~~!~t
far All ,War!klt!d I1

pure worship is nothing new. It is a further fulfillment. of the prophecy at Genesis 3~15,which foretold long-standing enmity between Satan's swd and the
Seed of God's woman. Jesus told his anointed lollowers in the first century that they too would suffer at: the
hands of their feIIav countrymen-exclusion from the
synagogues and persecution even ta the polnt of death,
(John 162) And what of modern tlmcs? At the beginning of "the last days," Gad's people saw that slmllar
persecution lay ahead. (2 Timothy 31) Back in 1914,The
Wntch Tower quoted Isaiah 6 6 5 , noting: "Nearly all the
persecutions that have come to God's people have come
from professed Christians." The same article also said:
"Wedo not know but that they may go to the extreme
In our day-to kill socially, to ki 11 ecclesiastically, perhaps
to kill physidIy. .." How true those words htrned our to
be! Not long after they were published, clerby-instigated
persecution reached a fever pitch during World War I.
nut Christendom was put to shame, lust as foretold.

How?
A Swift and Sudden Restoration
13 Isaiah prophesies: '7here Is a sound of upmar orrt of
the city, a sound out of the temple! It is the sound of Jehowh repaying what is deserved to his enemies." (Iraiuh 66:6) Tn the original fulhllment of these words, "the
city" is Jerusalem, where Jehovah's ternplc is located.

'I'he "soundof uproar" imp1 ies the tumult of war, which

Is heard in the city when the invading Dabylonlan armies assault it in 607 B.C.E. What, though, about the
modernday fulfillment?

13. In the original Fulfillment, what Is the "souncl of uproar out of

the d ty"?

Jehovah Blesses Plrre Wonhlp

397

14 These wards in Jsalah harmonlz~

wlth Swe other prophetic utterances, the onc recorded at Fxekiell 43:4, 6-9
and the other at Malachi 31-5. Both Fzekiel and Malachi foretell a time when Jehovah God comes to his temple. Malachi'sprophecy shows that Jehovah comes to inspect his house of pure worship ancl te act as a Refiner,
rejecting those who misrepresent him. Ezekiel's vision
depicts Jehovah as enterlng the temple and demanding
that all traces of immorality and idolatry be removed."
In the modern-dayfulfillment sf these prophecies, there
was an important spiritual development In 3918 in conneztion with Jehovah's worship, Jehovah and Jesus widently made an inspection of all of those claiming to
represent pure worship. "Thatinspection led to the fhal
msting off of corrupt Christendom, ITorChrist's anointed foIIowen, the inspectlon meant a brief period of refinement fallowed hy a swift spiritual restoration in
1919.-1 Peter 4:17.
15 This restoration is aptly plctured In the fallowing
verses of Isaiah: "Before she began ta come Into labor
pains she gaw birth. Before birth pangs could come to
her, she wen gave delivemnce to a male child. Who has
heard of a thing like this? Who has seen things like She~e?
Will a Iond be bmught forth with labor pains in one day?
Or wiEl Q notion be born U S one h e ? For Zion has come

The expression "the carcasses of thelt ktn~s,"used at h e k i d 4 3 7 9 ,

refers to rdols. Jerusalem's rehelllous lcnrlcn and people had polluted God's tcmple wlth l t l o l ~
and, In effecl, had matlr klngs of them.

14. (a) What (lid Malachi Foreell about Jehovah's corning to His
temple? ( b ) According io Ezeklcl's pruphecy, what resulted whenJe+
hovah came to hls temple? [c) When dld Jehovah and Jesus Inspect
the spiritual temple, and how werr tlrosc claiming to represent pure
worship affected?
15. What birth is foretold, and how Is thls fulfilled In 537 I.C.E.?

398

IsaiaIr's Prophccy-I.i#kt

fhr

All Mnn kEr~dII

into labor pains as well as given birth to her sons." (haiah 66:7,8 ) For the exiled Jews In Rabylon, these words
find a tfuilhg first fulfillment. Zion, or Jerusalem, Is
again pictured as a woman giving birth, but what an unusual birth! It is so swift, so sudden, that it happens before birth pangs can begin! This is an apt plctt~re.?'he rebirth of Gad's people as a distinct nation in 537 R,C.E.
is so swift and sudden that it seems mlraculaus. Why,
from the t i m e that Cynts fees the Jews from captivity to
the time that a faithful remnant are hack In thelr homeland is merely a matter of months! What a contrast to
the events leading up to the arlglnal blrrll of the nation
of Israel! In 537 B.C.E, there is na need to petition a resistant monarch for freedom, no need to flee from a hostile army, no need to sojourn for 40 years In the wilder-

ness.
16 In the modem-day fulfilIment, Uon representsJehovah's heavenly "woman,"his heavenly organization of
spirh beings. In 1919 this "woman" rejoiced to see the
birth of her anointed sons on earth as an organized people, "a nation." That rebirth was swlft and sudden." In
just a matter of months, the anojnted as a group went
from a state of deathlike inactivity to one of vibrant, active life in their "land,"their God-given realm of splrltua1 activitg. (Relation 11:s-12)By the autumn of1919,
they even announced the publication of a new journal
to complement Dze Watclz Wr.Called The Golden Ape

'The birth here prophe~iedis not the same nr the one described at
Kevclation 121,2 , 5 . In that chapter of Rwelatlon, the "son, a male,"
pictures the Messianic Kingdom, which went Int~lopcratlon In 1914.
However, the "woman"of both propbecles 1s Ihe same.
16, In the modern-day fulfilment of Isalah 66:7, 8, whnr does Zlon
picture, and how have her ofisprlng underfione a rebirth?

fehovnh Blesses P u f f Wonlllp

(now Awake!), that new publication was evidence that

revitalized and once again organized

God's people were

for service.

17 NO force in the uri~versecould prevent this splritud rebirth. The next verse vividly says as mtfch: "'As far
me, shall I cause the breaking through and not cause
the giving birth?' says lehowh. 'Or am I causing a giving
birth and do I actually cause a rhuttlng up?' your Gad
has said." (Isaiah 669)just a the procen of hirth is inevitable once It has bcpn, so the rebjrth of spiritual Israel, once begun, was unstoppable. Rue, there m s o p
position, and there will likely he more opposition in the
future. But only Jehovah can put a s t o p to what he begins, and he never does that! Haw,though, does Jehovah treat his revitalized people?

Jehovah's Tender Care

18 The next four verses paint a touching picture of Jehovah's tender care, First, Isalall says: "Rejoice with ]emsalem and be joyful with hec all p u lovers o f her. Exult
greatly with her, ail you keeping yourselves in mourning
over her; for the reuson that you will suck ond certainly
get satisfaction From thp breust of full consolation by her;
for the reason that you will sip and experience exquisite
dejight from the teat of her glory." (Isaiah 66:70, 1f ) Jehovah here uses the fllustrtztivn of a wurnan nursing her
infant. When a baby fccls thc pangs of hunger, it wails
insistently, But when it is clrawn close to Its mother's
17. How does Jehovah assure hls penple that nothing can prwent
him from carrying out llls purpose rc~ardlngspfrltual Israel?
18, 19. (a) What touching Illu~tratlnndncr Jrhovnh use, and haw
does it apply tn 11ir exilrd pmplc? (b) Hmv have thc anointed remnant today benefited drt~t~i
lovlri~nnurlshmcnt and care?

400

Psala h's Prophecy-Light for AfI Mankind II

breast for feeding, itf grief turns to happy contentment

and satisfaction. In a similar way, the remnant of faithful Jews in Babylon will rapidly be brought from a state
of mourning to one of happiness and satisfaction when
the time of release and restoration comes. They will be
joyful. Jerusalem's glory will be renewed as it is rebuilt
and reinhabited. In turn,the city's glary will embrace its
faithful inhabitants. Once again, they will be nourished

spiritually by means of an active priesthood.-Ezehel44:

15, 23.
19 Spiritual Israel too was blessed with abundant nourishment after the restoration in 1919.Since then the flow
of spiritual food dispensed through "the faithful and &screet slave" has been steady. (Matthew 24:45-47) This has
indeed been a time of consolation and joy for the anointed remnant. But there have been further blessings.
20 The prophecy continues: "7bis is what lehovah has
said: 'Here I am extending to her peace just like a river
and the glory o f nations just like a flooding torrent and
you will certainly suck. Upon the flank you will be carried, and upon the knees you will be fondled.'" (Isaiah
66:72) Here the image of nutsing is combined with the
picture of an abundant flow of blessings-"a river" and
"a floodmg tomnt." Jerusalem will be blessed not only
with abundant peace from Jehovah but also with "the
glory of nations," which ffows to and blesses God's people. This means that people of the nations will flood to
Jehovah's people, (Haggai 2 7 ) In the ancient fulfiIlrnent,
a number of people from various nations dld indeed attach themselves to Israel, becoming Jewish proselytes.
20. How has Jerusalem been blessed with "a flooding torrent," both
in ancient and in modern times?

1
I

Jellovah Blesses Pure Worship

Hawever, a fa1 gEater fulfillment has occurred in our

own time when "agreat crowd . . . out of all nations and
tribes and peoples and tongues"-truly a flooding torrent
of humanity-has attached itself to the remnant of spiritual Jews .-Revelation 7:9; Zechariah 8:23,
21 Isaiah 66:12 also speaks of expressions of maternal
love-fondling a child upon the knees and carrying him
upon the flank, In the next verse, a similar thought is
expressed with an interesting s h f t in perspective. "Like a
man whom his own mother keeps comforting, so i myself
shall keep comforting you people; and in the case of ferusaiem you will be comforted.'' (Isaiah 66:73) The d x l d is
now "a man," an adult. But his mother has not lost her
desire to comfort him in a time of distress.
22 In this appealing way, Jehovah illustrates the strength
and tenderness of hs love for h s people. Even the strongest maternal love is but a dim reflection of Jehovah's
deep love for hls faithful people. (Isaiah 4915)How vital
it is that all Christians reflect this quality of their heavenly Father! The apostle Paul didt and thus left a fine example for elders in the Christian congregation. (1Thessalonians 29) Jesus said that bmherIy love would be the
chief identifying mark of his followers.-John 13:34,35.
23 Jehovah expresses his lave in action. Thus, he continues: "You will certainly see, and your heart will be
bound to exult, and your very bones will sprout just
like fender grass. And the hand o flehovah will certainly
be made known to his servants, but he will actually denounce his enemies." (Isaiah 66:74) A Hebrew-language
21. In an appealing word picture, what klnd of comfort is foretold?
22. How does Jehwahshow the tenderness and strength of his love?
23. Describe the happy state of Jehovah's restored people.

402

Isaiah's Propkccy-Light for AII Mnnklrrrl Jl

grammarian suggests that the expression "you will certainly see" implies that wherever the returning exlles
look in their restored land, "joy now meets thcir eye."
They wiIl indeed exult, thrilled beyond words that they
have been restored to their be~ovedhomeland. 'l'hey wi il
feel rejuvenated, as if their h n e s were growing strong
again, invigorated like grass in the spri&me. 1111 will
know that this blessed state has come about, not by any
human eBort, but by "the hand of Jehavah."
24 DO you recognize the hand of Jehovah at work
among his people today? No human could possibly have
brought about the restoration of pure worship. No human could conceivably have caused the flood of milllons
of precious people from all nations to join the falthful
remnant in their spiritual land. Only Jehovah God can
do such things. These expressions of Jehovah's love give
us Eason for profwnd joy. May we nwer take his Zwe for
granted. Let us continue to 'tremble a t his word,' Let us
resolve to live by Bible principles and to find delight In
serving Jehovah.
-

24. (a) What co~~clusion

do you draw when ronslderlng events affecting Jehovah's people today? 16) What should be o i ~ rrcsolvc:)

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

A Light for the Nations

I

JEHOVAH is the Source of tight, "the Giver of the sun for

I i ~ hby
t day, the statutn of the moon and the stars for
light by night." (Jeremiah31335) On this basis alone, he
strnuld be acknowledged as the Source of life, since light
means IIfc. If the carth were not constantlybathed in the
warmth and light of the sun, life as we h o w it would be
Impossible. Our planet would be uninhabitable.
2 Hence, It is of utmost concern to us that Jehovah,
looking forward t.n our day, foretold a time of darkness,
not Ilght. Undcr inspiration, Isaiah wrote: "Look! darkness Itself wit1 cover the earth, and thick glaom the natlonal group%'' (Isaiah 60:2) Of course, these words had
to clo wlth spiritual, not physical, darkness, but their serlousness should not be underestimated. IJfe wentually becomes Impossible for those without spiritual
light, just as it does for those deprived of light from the

sun.
3 During these dark times, we cannot afford to ignore
the sptrltual llght that Jehovahmakes available to us. R
Is essential that we look to God's Word to fight up our
roatlway, reading the Rible daiiy if possible. (Psalm 119:
105) Christian meetings provide opportunities for us to
encourage one another to remain on "the path of the
1, 2. Why I s Hght vital, and what sort of darkness c w w s the earth
today?
3. In thcsr dark Ilmes, where can we turn for light?

404

Isaiah's Proplrecy-Light for All Monklnd 11

righteous ones." (Proverbs 4:18; H c b m 1023-25) The

strength that we dwive from diligent Bible study and
wholesome Christian association helps us to avoid being
swallowed up in the darkness of thew "last days," which
will culminate in the great "day of Jehovah's anger."
(2 Timothy 3:l; Zephaniah 2 3 ) That day Is coming an
apace! It will come as surely as a slmllar day came upon
the inhabitants of ancient Jerusalem.

Jehovah 'Takes Up the

Controversy'
4 In the concluding verses of Isaiah's thrilling prophecy, Jehovah graphically describes events leadlng up to
the day ofhis anger. We read: 'yehomh himself comes as
a wry fire, and his chariotr ore like a sbm wind, in order to pay back his anger with sheer rage and his rebuke
wlth flumes of fire. For m fire Ieho wh himself wlll for a
fact take up the controversy, yes, with his sword, against
a// flesh; md the slain af lehovah will certaidy become
many."-Isaiah 66:15, 16,
5 Those wards should help Isaiah's contemporaries realize the seriousness of their situation. The time ts ap
proaching when the Babylonians, as Jehovah's executioners, will come against Jerusalem, their chariots
stirring up clouds of dust just Hke a storm wind. What a
fear-inspiring sight that will be! Jehovah MI1 use the invaders to carry out his own fiery judgments against all
unfaithful Jewish "flesh!' It wlll be as if Jehovah himself
were fighting against his people. His "sheer rag" wlll not
4, 5 , (a) In what way does Jehovah come agntnjt Jerusalem?
(h) W h y may we conclude that only a relatlvcly smnll number wlll
sr~rvivethe deshuaion otJerusalem In 6(17 D.C.E.?(See fnotnote.)

A Light for the Nflfi~fl~

be turned back. Many Jews will fall as "thedain of Jehe

vah." h 607 B.C.E., this prophecy is fulfitlcd."
6 IS Jehovah justified in "taking up the contmeq'
against his people? Certainly! Many times in our discussion of the book of Isaiah, we havc seen that the
Jews, though supposedly dedicated to Jehovah, have been
steeped in false worship-and Jel~ovahhas not been blind
to their actions. We see this again in the following wards
of the prophecy: " 'Those sanctlfylng themselves and
cleansing themselves for the gardens behind one in the
center, eating the flesh of the pig and the loathsome thing,
rn thejumping rodent, they will oil together reach their
&,'is
the uwerance of jehovah." (Isaiah 66:1 7 ) Arc those
Jews "sanctifying therns~lvesand cleansing themselves"
in order to prepare themselvcs for pure worship? Clearly
not. Rather, thcy m cngaglng In pagan purification rites
in special gardens. 'Thel.caftcr, thcy greedily devour the
flesh of the pig and of rjihcr creatures considered unclean
under the Mosaic Law.-l,evlticus 11:7,21-23.
7 What a dfsgustlng sltl~attanfor a nation In a covenant relationship with the only true God! But consider:
A comparably d i s p ~ s t i n
sltuatlon
~
exists today among the
religions of Christendom. 'Shese slrniIarly ctaim to serve
God, and many of their leaders make a pretense of piety. Yet, they sully themselves with pagan teachings and
* Regarding the sltuatlon after Jerusnlem fell to the Rabylonlans, Jeremiah 52:15 speaks of "some n l !lie lowly ones of the people and the
rest of The people 1l;nt were I C Jn~???irf!r!rr,y
~
Irr 1 1 1 rib"
~
Cnmnlentlng on
this, Ins(cltt of; fhc Srr/ptrrrrr, Vnluinc 1,
415, states: " l'he expression 'that were lcft retni~InIflgIn the city' apparently lndlcates that
great numbers had died Imm Fnnll~lc,~llgci~sc,
or fiw, or else they
were slaughtered in the wi~r."

6. What repreh~nsthlepractice take place in Judah?

7. Hmv dws Chrtslendnrn rr~ernhlcIdolatmu$Jurli~h?

40h

Isain11's Prophecy-lJglit for All Mnukind II

A Llg7it for the hmtians

.traditions, proving themselves to be In spiritual darkness.

How great that darkness is!-Matthew 6:23;John 3: 19,20.

'They Will Have to See My Glory'

8 Doef Jehovahtake notice of Christcndam's reprehensible actions and false teachings? Read the followlnp;words
of Jehovah, as recorded by Isalah, and see what you condude: "As regards their works and their though&, I am
coming in order to collect all the nations and tongues fagether; and they will have to come and see my glory" (haiah 66:38)Jehovah is aware of and prepared t~ judg not
only the worksbut also the thoughts of those who profess
to be his s m B . Judah professes t~ believe in Jehovah,
but her idolatrous works and pagan practices belie that
claim. It is to no avail that her citizens '"purify"themselves
according to pagan rites, The nation wlll be cut down,
and when that occurs, if will he In hill view oE her idolworshiping neighbors. These will 'see Jehovah" glory' In
that they will wihess the even^ and he forced to admit
that Jehovah'sword has come true, How does all of this
apply to Christendom? When she meets lwr end, many
of her former fnends and business partners will be forced
to stand by and watch helplessly as Jehovah's word Is fulfilled.-Jeremiah 25:31-33; Revelation 17:lS-18;l%:9-19.
9 Does Jerusalem's destruction In 607 B.C.E, mean that
Jehovahwill no longer have wftnesses on earth? No. Outstanding integr3ykeepers, such as Daniel and his three
companions, will continue to s e m Jehovah even as exlles
In Rabylon. (Daniel 3 :6, 7) Yes, the chain of falthhl witnesses of Jehovahwill remain intact, and at the end of 70
A. (a) What will befall both Judah and Chrlstcndaml (bl
sense will the nations 'see Jehovah's glory'?
9. What good navs does jehwah declare?

In what

407

years, faithful men and women will leave nabylan and re

turn to Judah to restore pure worship there. That is what
Jehovahalludes to next: 9 will set among them a sign, and
I wjll send some of those who am escaped to the nations,
to Tanhish, Pul, and Ivd, those druwing the bow, Tuba!
ond lavan, the faraway isbnds, who hove not head a report about me or seen my glory; and they will for certain
tell about my glory among the nations. "-lsaluh 66:79.
lo The host:of falthftil men and wamcn who return to Jerusalem in 537 B,C.E. wlll serve as an astonishing sign, evidence thatJehovah has delivered his people. Who would
have dreamed that the captiveJews would one day be free
to pursue pure worship at Jehovah's temple? In a cornparable way in the first century, the ones scrving "as signs
and as rniraclerwwere anoE nted Christians, to whom meek
ones wanting to serve Jehovah flocked. (Isaiah 898;Hebrews 213) Today anointed Christians, prospering in their
restored land, serve as an astonishing sbn in the earth.
(Isaiah 66:8) They are llvlng cvidcncc of the power of Jehovah's spirit, attracting meek ones whose hearts Impel
them to serve Jehovah,
11 How, though, after the restoratlon in 537 B.C.E., will
men of the nations who haw not heard a report about Jehovah come to know him? Well, not all faithful Jewswill
return t~ Jerusalemat the end of the Mbylonian captivity. Some, like Daniel, will rcmain in Babylon. Others wiIl
scatter to the four corners of the earth. Ry the fifth century B.C.E., there were Jews livlng throughout the Persian
-

10, (a) In what sense will Blthful Jews llbernted from nabylon serve
as a sign? (b) Who today serve al; a r l ~ n ?
11. (a) After the restoratlon, how wlll it bc that thaw of the nations
come to learn about Jchovaii? {I>) How was 7~charlah8:23 Initially
fulfilled?

408

Isaiah's Prophecy-Light for A l l Manklnd I1

Empire. (Esther 1:l; 3:8)No doubt some of them told their

pagan neighbors aboutJehovah, for many from those nations became Jewish proselytes. Such war eviclently the
case with the Ethiopian eunuch, to whom the Christian
disciple Philip preached in the first century. (Acts 8:26-40)
ALE of this took place as an initial fulfiEIrnent of the words
of the prophet Zechariah: "It will be in those days that tcn
men out old1the languages of the nations will take hold,
yes, they will actually take hold of the skirt of a man who
is a Jew, saying: We will go with you people, for we have
heard that God is with you people.' " (Zechariah 8:23)Indeed, Jehovah sent out light to the nations!-Psalm 433.
Bringing "a Gift to Jehovah"
12 After Jerusalemis rebuilt,Jews who are scattered far beyond their homeland will look to the city along with Its
restored priesthood as the center of pure worsh Lp. Many of
them will kavel long distances to attend the annual festlvals there. Under inspiration, Isaiah writes: " 'They wlll actuaily bring all your brothers out of all the nations as a gift
to jehovah, on horses and in chariots and in covemd wagons and on mules and on swift she-camels, up to my holy
mountain, )erusaiem,')ehovoh has said, 'just as when the
sons o f izmel bring the gift in a clean vessel into the house
of fehovah. And from them also I shall take some for the
priests, for the Sevjfes.'"-lsoioh 66:20,21.
13 Some of those %&hers out of all the nations" were
pment on the day of Pentecost when holy spirit was
poured out on Jesus' disciples. The account reads: "There
were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, reverent men, b r n
every nation ofthose under heaven."(Acts 2:s) They came
12, 13. In what way will "brothers" Iw brought t
o Jeruwlem beginning in 537 B.CE.?

Anointed Clfts for Jehovah

From All Nations

In 1920, juan Mufliz left the United States for Spain

and then journeyed on to Argentina, where he organized congregations of anointed ones. From 1923 on,
the light of truth shone on honesthearted ones in West
Africa when missionary William R. Brown (often called
Bible Brown) set out to preach the Kingdom message in
such places as Sierra Leone, Ghana, Liberia, The Gambia, and Nigeria. That same year Canadian George
Young went down to Brazil and then traveled on to Argentina, Costa R i a , Panama, Venezuela, and wen the
Swlet Unlon. At about the same time, Edwin Skinner
sailed from England to Indla, where he labored for many
years in the harvest work.

to Jccrusalem to worshlp according to Jewish custom, but

when they head the good news about Jesus Christ, many

exercised faith In him and were baptized.

14 Does this prophecy have a m o d e d a y fulfillment?
Yes, indeed. Following World War I, Jehovah's anointed
sewants discerned h r n the Scriptures that God's Kingdom had been set up in heaven in 1914. Through careful
Rlble study, they learned that additional Kingdom heirs,
or "brothers," were to k gat h e . Intrepid ministers baveled to "the most distant part of the earth," using all
14, 15. (a) How dld anolnted Christians gather more of their spiritual "Irmthtrs"after World War I, and how were these brought to JP
hovah as a "gift In a clean verse!"? (b) In what waydidJehovahUtake
some for thc prlcsb"? {c) Who were some anointed Christians involved In thc gatl~erlngaf their splrltual brothers? (See box on this
pane.)

J~asaiak"sfid$haq-LdgIst far A11 M u ~ k f f lIi

d

manner aconvqmce, in sea& of prospedve members

of the anointed fewant, M a 9 of whom m e out of
Chri&ndarn4s chutebq. m
e
nthee were I~cated,they
were brought in as a gift toJehoW.-Acts 1:8,
15 The mointetf ones who w e gathered jn t h e early
yean did not expect JeRo~iahto q e p t them EEthey were
bei'ore wming to a knowledge of Bib& truth. They took
steps t~ clews@ttremdva of spidtual
moral defile*
men$$0that they could be p s e n t d as a "@ina elvessel," or as stated by the apostle Paul, *achaste virgin k~
the CMstT (2 Corinthians 1
1.aIn dditian to rejecting
doch-inde m Ithe m a i n t d mes had to learn how tp remain
neutral fn the paBiicaI &airs d thts wodd.
III1931, when Ms servantshadbeenclezlrtxd to rn apppap t e degree, J e h a l a gpiowly granted +themthe privilege of bearing hi name as Jehovah's Wibes~s.(Isaiah
4310-12)In what way, though, did J&&
"take mme
far the pr1estsH?As a p u p , the# anointed ma became
part of "a royal ptiesthod, a holy nation,' offering sadfic& of pmse to Wd,-I Petw 2 9 ; Isaiah 54:l; H e b ~ w s
13:15.

The Ingathering Continues

16 The full number of that "royal priesthood" is 144,000,and in time, the gathering of them was completed.
(Revelation 7:l-8; 14:l)Was that the end of the ingathering work? No.Isaiah's prophecy continua: '"just as the
new h e m s and the new earth that I am making ore
standing before ma,' the uUerance of jehovah, 'so the
offspring of you people and the name of plr people will
keep standing.' " (Isaiah 6622)In the initial hlfLLLment
of those words, Jews who return from Babylonian captiv-

16, 17. Who are "the offsprmg of you people" after World War I?

A Light for Che hra tions

begin raising chiIdren. Thus,the restored J&k

ity
remnant, "thenew earth," under the new Jewtsh ndrninistration, "the new heavens," wiIl b e m k firmly estabIished. However! the propheq has bad a mmt remark*
able fulfillment:in our day.
4; I .
J7 "The offspriw
that he nation uf spiritual broth@
produces are the "great crowdit who have the hope of
everIasting lie on earth. They come "out af all natfona
and kibes and peopIes and tongues," and they-stand "before the throne and before t h e Lamb+" Thm ones "haw
washed their rubes and made them white in the blood'
of the Limmb,"(Revelation 29-14; 2217) Today the "great
aowd" are turning fram spiritual darkness to the light
gome j
ws at Pentecost wefe 'brothers
broughtoutofall the natiuns'

1
I

'

thatJehpmides. 'Ispey exercise faithin JeswWst,

and
their moInte13brothers and sisters, they strive
to main spiritually and morallyclean. As a grwp they
continue s m h g under C h W s W o n and will "kep
standtng* ~r~WI-Psalm37:11,29.
BThesehard-~menmdwornmwlthanearthly hope lmaw that w M e it is vibi to remain morally and spiritually dm, more is i
n
v
o
w in pleasing Jehovah.Theingatheringworkis In fullswing, and they
wanttoIXgveashminit. Thebmkof Rmlationprophesfm o o n a d a g them T h e y are befax the throne of
God; and they are renderinghim sacred service day and
night: in his temp1le." on 7 3 5 ) Those Prrotds remind us of the md-bZast wrse in W ' s pmpheq:
'Y'ItwllI~~~~r~~l)omn~maonbonewmaon
arrdhbtrbbdth t o s u ~ a l i WIllmrneIn
~ h
bb~w
daw &&re m,'j&wh has said," (lWah 6893) 3 ) s

is h a m
"Pmm new moon to new moon and
b r n sabbath to saWth"-that 4, regularly, every week
of eveq rnontk-hted
ChtWarts and thefr cornpan.
tons, the gnat amti,come tugether towonhipJehuvzh
They dothis by,among rE>ngWq$,attending CMstian
~andengagingintbepubUcmi&try.Areyw
one of those who qularly'caae and bow d m before
Jehwh'?Jehovah's-1e
k d great joy in doing thls,
andtbosebfthegteat~loak~tothedme
when "all fleshR-all living humans-will serve Jehmah
" h r n new moon to new moon and from sabhth to sab
bathnfor all

--

IS. (a] How have d

s of the great ccoavd conducted themhfilre~etranoIntedbr@hers7
@) HowdatbeamIrtmland thclt
cornpatdons w m h Q Jehovah *fnmt new moon m new mmn and
rQmsabmh to sabbathl

414

I3aiah's Prophecy-Llght for All Mnn klnrl !I

The Final End of God's Enemies

19 One verse remains in our study of Isaiah's prophecy,
The book concludes with these words: 'mey wIII ucfually
go forth rrnd laok y o n the comsses of the men that were
tmnsgrerting agoinst me; for the very w o r n upon them
will not die wnd their f i itself
~ will not be ednguished, and
they must become something repsibe b oll flesh." ( Isaluh
66:24)JesusChrist likely had this prophecy in mind when
he encouraged his dasciples to simplify their lives and put
Wjngdom interests first He said ''If your eye makes you
stumble, throw it away; it is finer for you to enter one-cyed
into the kingdom of God than with two eyes to be pitcl~
ed
into Gehenna, whew their maggot does not die and the
fire is not putout."-Mark 9:43,48; Matthew 5:29,30;633.
20 What is t h i s place called Gehenna?Centuries ago, the
Jewish scholar David m
i wrote "It is a place , . adjoining Jerusalem, and it is a loathsome place, and they
throw there unclean t h g s and carcasses. Also there was
a continual fire there to bum the unclean things and the
bones of the carcasses. Hence, the judgment of the wicked ones is called parabolically Gehinnom." If, as this Javish schoIar suggests, Gehenna was used for the disposal of
refuse and carcasses of those deemed unworthy of burial,
fire would be a suitable means of elimlnatlng such refuse.
What the frre did not consume,the maggots would. What
a fitting picture of the final end of all of God's enemies!
21 With such a reference to corpses, fire, and worms, is

' Slnce dead cam-,

nut liw p p l e , are cemurned In Gehenna,

t h i s place is not syrnboUc of eternal

torment.

19, 20. What purpose did Gehenna serw in Bible times, and what
does it symbolize?
21. For whom d m the h k of Isaiah conclude on a posltlw note,

and why?

it not truc that Isaiah's thrilling prophecy condudes on ir

gruesome note? God's avowecl enemies would uncloubtedly think so. But to God's friends, Isaiah's description of
the everlasting destructton of the wicked is most heartening. Jehovah" penple need this assurance that their enenlies will never again have the upper hand. Those
enemies, who have caused God's worshipers so much affllction. and have bmught so much reproach on his name,
will bc werlastingly decmyed. Then, " d i . m swill not r i . ~
up a second time."-Nahum 1:9.
22 As we conclude our study of the book of Isaiah, we
certainly appreciate that this Rjble book is not dead history, On the contrary, it has a message for us today. When
we reflect on the dark times in which Isaiah lived, we can
see thc simjlnrities betwcen that period and our day. Political unrest, religious hypocrisy, judicial corruption, and
oppression of the faithful and the poor characterized Isalah's time, and it chnracterjzes ours, Rithhl Jews in the
sixth century R,C,E. must have been grateful for Isaiah's
prophecy, and we today are comforted as we study it.
23 Tn these critical times when darkness covers the earth
and gmss darkness the natlanal groups, all of us are deeply
grateful that Jehovah, through Isaiah, has provided light
I'or all mankind! That spiritual light means nothing less
than everlasting Ilfe for all who wholeheartedly accept it,
wgarcltess of their national oripn or ethnic background.
(Acts 10:34, 35) May we, then, keep on wallung in the
light of God's Word, reading it daily, meditating upon it,
and cherishing Its rncssag. This will be to our own &rnnl blessing and to the praise ofJehovah'sholy name!
.-

22. 23, [a) Explain some of the ways that you haw knefited h m
yolir m d y of the book of Isalal~.(hl Flavlng studied the book of IsaIah, what it YQIlr T C S ~ I ~ V Crlnd
,
what is your hupc?

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