Comments You Will Not Hear at the 07-31-11 WT Study (MAY 15, 2011, pages 27-32)(TRUST/CONFIDENCE)
Review comments will be headed by COMMENTS
WT material from today's WT will be in black
Quotes from other sources will be indented and identified
w = Watchtower
g = Awake
jv = Proclaimers book
EXCELLENT GENERAL WEBSITE : www.jwfacts.com
Bible translations www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible
WT publications www.strictlygenteel.co.uk
WT child abuse www.silentlambs.org
Blood issue www.ajwrb.org
United Nations http://www.randytv.com/secret/unitednations.htm
Also posted on
http://exjehovahswitnessforum.yuku.com
http://www.jwsupportforum.com/index.php
http://www.jehovahswitnessrecovery.com/
COMPLETE TRUST IN JEHOVAH
INSPIRES CONFIDENCE
“Jehovah himself will hear when I call to him.”—PS. 4:3.
OPENING COMMENTS
Complete trust in God inspires confidence in the WTS/FDS/GB as the end is NEAR, CLOSE, RAPIDLY APPROACHING, VERY SOON, VERY SOON NOW, only 132 years since 1879, when the WTS starting saying the end was in 1914. But it is now 2011, 97 years since 1914 and Armageddon or the great tribulation is still only on the horizon. Have people lost confidence in God or the promises of the WTS? As more and more of those die from the generation living in 1975 when the end again did not come, the WTS promise of their surviving without dying into the new system is shown to be false.
Even when the WTS/FDS/GB is right, they must be viewed as correct. Wait on God to reveal his truth…can’t trust imperfect humans, right?
(if you can point me to recent info about obeying the GB even if perceived to be wrong, please post it on this thread)
START OF ARTICLE
1, 2. (a) What perilous situation did David face?
(b) We will discuss which psalms?
KING DAVID has ruled Israel for some
time, but he now faces a perilous situation.
His scheming son Absalom has had
himself declared king, and David has been
forced to leave Jerusalem. He has also been
betrayed by a confidant, and now, accompanied
by a few loyal ones, he walks weeping
and barefoot over the Mount of Olives.
Moreover, Shimei, who belongs to a family
in King Saul’s house, is throwing stones and
dust at David while cursing him.—2 Sam. 15:
30, 31; 16:5-14.
COMMENTS
HITS: 0
OT = David again (remember he SCHEMED to commit adultery with another man’s wife and then arranged for that man to be killed when it became evident that his sin would become public knowledge)
David was betrayed by a confidant, but wasn’t David a friend to Uriah( one of his mighty men who has stayed loyal to David while Saul was seeking his death) while at the same time he was betraying him by taking his wife and then later have him killed?
There are times I wonder if the national of Israel knew of David’s sins of adultery and murder. The WTS says that David was repentant, that there weren’t 2 witnesses to his adultery (what about the servants?) Certainly David was observed staying overnight with Bathsheba without a chaperone, right?
Absalom’s full sister, Tamar, was raped by their half-brother Amnon. Was Amnon put to death, no, because she was not married or engaged. Could she be forced to marry him, no because it would be incest under the Law. So she had to live her life out as damaged goods. And what did David do? Would he have allowed Amnon to succeed him as the eldest son, the heir apparent, knowing that Amnon had raped his half-sister?
*** it-1 pp. 32-33 Absalom***Hearing of his daughter’s humiliation, David reacted with great anger but, perhaps due to the fact that no direct or formal accusation was made with the support of evidence or witnesses, took no judicial action against the offender. (De 19:15) Absalom may have preferred not to have an issue made of Amnon’s violation of the Levitical law (Le 18:9; 20:17), to avoid unsavory publicity for his family and name, but he, nevertheless, nursed a murderous hatred for Amnon while outwardly controlling himself until the propitious moment for exacting vengeance in his own way. (Compare Pr 26:24-26; Le 19:17.) From this point forward his life is a study in perfidy, occupying the major part of six chapters of Second Samuel.—2 Sa 13:21, 22.
(Comment: How is Absalom’s hatred of Amnon and putting him to death any different from David’s having Uriah put to death?
*** it-1 p. 96 Amnon***Since Amnon, as David’s eldest son, was heir apparent to the throne, his death may also have been viewed as desirable by Absalom as a means to better his own possibilities of gaining the kingship. With this event the prophecy made by Nathan following David’s own misconduct with the wife of Uriah began to undergo fulfillment.—2Sa 12:10; see ABSALOM.
(Comment: So why should Amnon and Absalom die for David’s sins? Could David’s lack of action regarding Tamar’s rape also be one explanation for why Absalom raped David’s concubines? Or felt he was not qualified to be king)
2 Will this ordeal bring David down to
Sheol in grief and disgrace? No, for he trusts
in Jehovah. This is evident in the 3rd Psalm,
composed by David regarding his flight. He
also wrote the 4th Psalm. Both of these compositions
express the conviction that God hears
and answers prayers. (Ps. 3:4; 4:3)
These psalms assure us that Jehovah is with
his faithful servants day and night, blessing
them with his support as well as peace and a
sense of security. (Ps. 3:5; 4:8) Let us, therefore,
consider these psalms and see how
they inspire confidence and promote trust
in God.
COMMENTS
HITS: trusts…confidence…trust
Why would God listen to the prayers of an adulterer and a murderer, who only “confessed” when he was caught. Why didn’t David pray when seeing Bathsheba the first time?
Is David the best or only example of faithfulness in the OT?
Trust in God = Trust in the organization
*** w03 9/1 p. 13 par. 2***In the preceding article, we learned that our trust in Jehovah is manifested when we turn to him in prayer, when we seek direction from his Word, and when we look to his organization for guidance.
*** w57 5/1 p. 284 par. 14***Showing respect for Jehovah’s organization really resolves itself down to our attitude toward God’s visible channel and the trust that we place in our proved, faithful brothers. If we have become thoroughly convinced that this is Jehovah’s organization, that he is guiding and directing his people, then we shall not be unsettled by anything that happens. If something comes up that we do not understand we will wait patiently until it is made thoroughly clear to us. If we feel sure something is wrong we will ‘keep the commandment’ of our Father and take whatever theocratic steps are open to us and then wait on Jehovah. We will not ‘forsake our mother’s teaching’ by immediately beginning to criticize and find fault. We will realize that Jehovah knows what is going on in his organization, and if he is willing to permit it, who are we to insist it should be different? If we really have faith, we will know that if it is wrong he will straighten it out eventually, and we are far safer inside his organization even with these minor difficulties than we would be on the outside where only chaos and destruction await us.
When ‘Many Rise Up Against Us’
3. As shown at Psalm 3:1, 2, what was David’s situation?
3 “The heart of the men of Israel has come
to be behind Absalom,” says a messenger.
(2 Sam. 15:13) Wondering how Absalom has
been able to marshal such support, David
asks: “O Jehovah, why have my adversaries
become many? Why are many rising up
against me? Many are saying of my soul:
‘There is no salvation for him by God.’ ”
(Ps. 3:1, 2) Many Israelites think that Jehovah
will not deliver David from calamity at the
hands of Absalom and his cohorts.
COMMENTS
HITS: 0
Why were these behind Absalom? Did they know of David’s sins, murder and adultery? Were they aware of David’s lack of action to comfort and protect his daughter, Tamar? Allowing Amnon to live and continue as heir to the throne until Absalom had him killed? Yet David was willing to render evil to someone who caused him no evil, but of course, Uriah was not his son.
*** it-1 p. 34 Absalom***David stands in sharp contrast to Absalom by his quiet submission and refusal to render evil for evil.
(Comment: That’s right, David rendered evil for good in the case of Uriah.)
4, 5. (a) David was sure of what? (b) What is the
significance of the words “the One lifting up my
head”?
4 But David is confident because he has
implicit trust in God. He sings: “Yet you,
O Jehovah, are a shield about me, my glory
and the One lifting up my head.” (Ps. 3:3) David
is sure that Jehovah will protect him just
as a shield protects a soldier. Yes, the aging
king is fleeing, his head covered and bent
down in humiliation. But the Most High
will change David’s condition to one of glory.
Jehovah will enable him to stand erect, to
raise his head and hold it high once again.
David calls out with confidence that God
will answer him. Do you display such trust
in Jehovah?
COMMENTS
HITS: implicit trust…confidence…trust
Did David have implicit trust in God and go to him and confess his adultery and arranging the murder of Uriah? Or did he cover up his sin of adultery with another of murder? After stealing Uriah’s wife, David steals Uriah’s life. But does David lose his life, no his family does, his concubines are raped, his young son dies, and later 70,000 people die for another sin of David’s (one he was warned by a trusted friend not to do).
Did God push forward his “eternal purpose” regarding the Messiah by keeping David alive despite his sins worthy of execution, so that David could bring forth a “suitable” heir?
So David expected God to protect him individually? Can jws today? No, only if his “purpose” is involved. So how important is any jw today?
*** w08 9/15 p. 9 par. 8***As individuals, we know that our immediate physical protection is not guaranteed
*** Close to Jehovah book (2002) chap. 7 p. 72 par. 12***Why did Jehovah protect certain individuals in such miraculous ways? In many cases Jehovah protected individuals in order to protect something far more important: the outworking of his purpose.
5 By the words “the One lifting up my
head,” David ascribes to Jehovah the help
he expects to receive. Today’s English Version
reads: “But you, O LORD, are always my
shield from danger; you give me victory and
restore my courage.” With regard to the expression
“the One lifting up my head,” one
reference work says: “When God lifts up . . .
one’s ‘head,’ He fills one with hope and
confidence.” Forced from Israel’s throne,
David has reason to be despondent. However,
‘the lifting up of his head’ will result in
renewed courage, confidence, and complete
trust in God.
COMMENTS
HITS: confidence…complete trust
Notice that the WTS chooses to quote from other Bibles. What would happen though if you chose to quote from a Bible other than the NWT? Be assured, an elder would be asking why you did so and might tell you that only the FDS is qualified to know which scriptures from other Bibles are accurate and quotable.
“one reference work” – and what would that be? Who wrote it and when? Googling takes me to Vine’s Expository Dictionary. Why hide the reference, the WTS quotes from it fairly frequently to support their definitions of Bible words?
‘Jehovah Will Answer!’
6. Why did David refer to having his prayer answered
from Jehovah’s holy mountain?
6 Trusting in Jehovah and filled with confidence,
David continues: “With my voice I
shall call to Jehovah himself, and he will answer
me from his holy mountain.” (Ps. 3:4) In
keeping with David’s orders, the ark of the
covenant, symbolizing God’s presence, has
been taken to Mount Zion. (Read 2 Samuel
15:23-25.) Fittingly, then, David refers to
having his prayer answered from Jehovah’s
holy mountain.
COMMENTS
HITS: trusting…confidence
What did happen when the ark of the covenant was transported to Mount Zion, ACCORDING TO DAVID’S ORDERS? What is done according to God’s orders? Who died because God’s orders were disobeyed?
*** w03 5/1 pp. 10-1 par. 12***After the ark of the covenant had been returned to Israel and had been kept for many years at Kiriath-jearim, King David desired to transfer it to Jerusalem. He consulted with chiefs of the people and said that the Ark would be moved ‘if it seemed good to them and it was acceptable with Jehovah.’ But he neglected to search adequately to ascertain Jehovah’s will on the matter. If he had done so, the Ark would never have been loaded onto a wagon. It would have been carried by Kohathite Levites on their shoulders, as God had clearly instructed. Though David frequently inquired of Jehovah, he failed to do so in a proper way on this occasion. The result was disastrous. David later acknowledged: “Jehovah our God broke through against us, for we did not search after him according to the custom.”
(Comment: But who died because of David’s orders? Uzzah not David)
(2 Samuel 6:7) At that Jehovah’s anger blazed against Uzzah and the [true] God struck him down there for the irreverent act, so that he died there close by the ark of the [true] God.
7. Why did David experience no dread?
7 Certain that prayer to God will not be in
vain, David experiences no dread. Instead,
he sings: “As for me, I will lie down that I may
sleep; I shall certainly awake, for Jehovah him-
self keeps supporting me.” (Ps. 3:5) Even at
night, when the danger of surprise attack is
the greatest, David is not afraid to go to
sleep. He is sure that he will awake, for his
past experiences have made him absolutely
confident that he can trust in God’s unfailing
support. So can we if we adhere to “the
ways of Jehovah” and never depart from
him.—Read 2 Samuel 22:21, 22.
COMMENTS
HITS: confident
So why was David so certain he would not die? All through his life others had died for his sins. He had God’s unfailing support because God had tied up his “purpose” on whether David lived or died.
And you better hope that God performs some individual act to help you because you cannot depend on the congregation. First, they have determine that you are a member in good (and long) standing.
exemplary
Demonstrating a commendable pattern worthy of imitation. (Compare {good standing} .) Congregation members viewed as exemplary are so noted because of zealous activity in service, regularity at meetings, diligence in personal study, and being irreproachable in matters of personal conduct, appearance, speech, and attitude. Exemplary persons are always in good standing in the congregation, but the converse is not necessarily true. <<In the absence of an elder or ministerial servant, some responsibilities may be handled by another exemplary brother.>>
http://jehovah.to/glos/=E.html#exemplary
8. How does Psalm 27:1-4 show that David trusted
in God?
8 David’s confidence and complete trust
in God are evident in another of his psalms,
one containing these inspired words: “Jehovah
is my light and my salvation. Of whom
shall I be in fear? Jehovah is the stronghold
of my life. Of whom shall I be in dread? . . .
Though against me an encampment should
pitch tent, my heart will not fear. . . . One
thing I have asked from Jehovah—it is what I
shall look for, that I may dwell in the house
of Jehovah all the days of my life, to behold
the pleasantness of Jehovah and to look
with appreciation upon his temple.” (Ps.
27:1-4) If you share those sentiments and
your circumstances permit, you will regularly
meet with fellow worshippers of Jehovah.
—Heb. 10:23-25.
COMMENTS
HITS: confidence…complete trust
Notice that the words “confidence” and “trust” occur in just about every paragraph. What happens when you say a word over and over and over, it loses any meaning.
David was able to ask things of God without going through a priest, a Levite, or an organization.
Were Gentiles before Jesus able to pray to God without going through an organization?
Circumstances permit = as judged so by the elders and other “mature” ones in the congregation. But then an example is given of someone else to shame people.
*** w04 6/1 p. 19 par. 21***Our challenge as Christians, then, is to make the most of our situation—to have as full a share in Jehovah’s service as our circumstances permit. When we do that, we are giving glory to Jehovah, and we can be assured that he is well pleased. Consider Ethel, an elderly sister in a nursing home. She witnesses regularly to fellow residents in her home and engages in telephone witnessing. Despite her limitations, she is whole-souled in her service.
*** w82 3/1 p. 25 par. 14***But even for those whose circumstances permit it, faith is required. A brother in Europe writes: “Many advised me not to become a pioneer, because that is for strong people. I am not physically strong, and, in fact, have a humped back. Still, I began and with the help of Jehovah I have been a pioneer for 30 years now.”
Worshippers of Jehovah = only jws
Even when he fled because of Absalom, David had confidence in Jehovah
9, 10. Despite the words of Psalm 3:6, 7, why would
you say that David did not have a vindictive spirit?
9 Although David is faced with Absalom’s
treachery and the disloyalty of so many others,
he sings: “I shall not be afraid of ten
thousands of people who have set themselves
in array against me round about. Do arise,
O Jehovah! Save me, O my God! For you will
have to strike all my enemies on the jaw. The
teeth of wicked ones you will have to break.”
—Ps. 3:6, 7.
COMMENTS
HITS: 0
So is David asking God to kill his enemies? That’s not vindictive? David did not want to have Absalom killed, someone else did it for him, Joab, David’s nephew. David mourned for Absalom his son, his beautiful son he loved, but did he mourn in the same way for Uriah or Uzzah?
What did Joab say though to his uncle, his king, God’s anointed?
(2 Samuel 19:5-6) Finally Joab came in to the king at the house and said: “You have today put to shame the face of all your servants, the ones providing escape for your soul today and for the soul of your sons and your daughters and the soul of your wives and the soul of your concubines, by loving those hating you and by hating those loving you; for you have reported today that chiefs and servants are nothing to you, because I well know today that if only Absalom were alive and all of us others were today dead, why, in that case it would be right in your eyes.
10 David does not have a vindictive spirit.
If his enemies were to be ‘struck on the jaw,’
God would do it. King David has written a
personal copy of the Law and knows that in
it Jehovah declares: “Vengeance is mine,
and retribution.” (Deut. 17:14, 15, 18; 32:35)
It is also up to God to ‘break the teeth of the
wicked ones.’ Breaking their teeth means
rendering them powerless to do harm. Jehovah
knows who the wicked are because “he
sees what the heart is.” (1 Sam. 16:7) How
grateful we are that God gives us faith and
strength to stand firm against the chief
wicked one, Satan, who will soon be abyssed
like a roaring but toothless lion fit only for
destruction!—1 Pet. 5:8, 9; Rev. 20:1, 2, 7-10.
COMMENTS
HITS: 0
Note that David killed quite a few in his day in warfare; and killed the innocent like Uriah.
Also Satan is only abyssed and allowed to continue existing for 1,000 more years, a total of 7,000 years per WTS chronology. Adam and Eve lived less than 1,000 years.
“Salvation Belongs to Jehovah”
11. Why should we pray for fellow believers?
11 David realizes that Jehovah alone can
bring about the deliverance that he so desperately
needs. But the psalmist is not thinking
only of himself. What about Jehovah’s
favored people as a whole? Appropriately,
David concludes his inspired composition
with the words: “Salvation belongs to Jehovah.
Your blessing is upon your people.” (Ps.
3:8) True, David has monumental problems,
but he bears in mind Jehovah’s people
in general and is confident that God will
bless them. Should we not also keep our fellow
believers in mind? Let us remember
them in our prayers, asking Jehovah to give
them his holy spirit so that they can muster
up courage and can act with confidence in
declaring the good news.—Eph. 6:17-20.
COMMENTS
HITS: confident…confidence
“favored” people = so God did not bless non-Israelites?
David has “monumental” problems brought on himself, yet others suffered for his misdeeds.
Fellow believers = only other jws = pray for them in their need by walk by them in their hunger and nakedness?
In disasters, jws only are concerned about other jws, nameless though they may remain, and though these praying jws never donate a dime to help them materially.
(James 2:15-16) If a brother or a sister is in a naked state and lacking the food sufficient for the day, yet a certain one of YOU says to them: “Go in peace, keep warm and well fed,” but YOU do not give them the necessities for [their] body, of what benefit is it?
12, 13. What happened to Absalom, and how did
David react?
12 Absalom’s life ends ingloriously—a
warning to all who would abuse others, especially
God’s anointed ones, such as David.
(Read Proverbs 3:31-35.) A battle takes
place, and Absalom’s forces are defeated.
Absalom himself is riding away on a mule
when his luxuriant hair becomes enmeshed
in the fork of a low branch of a large tree.
There he hangs—alive but helpless—until
Joab kills him by driving three shafts into
his heart.—2 Sam. 18:6-17.
COMMENTS
HITS: 0
What does it mean to “abuse” the anointed? Who are the anointed per the WTS today? All living jws that have the hope of going to heaven, approximately 11,000 (and rising today) per the WTS.
Did Joab abuse the anointed (David) with his statement above in paragraph 9? Did Paul “abuse” Peter when he reprimanded him publicly for shunning the Gentile Christians in the first century?
(Galatians 2:11-14) 11 However, when Cephas came to Antioch, I resisted him face to face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before the arrival of certain men from James, he used to eat with people of the nations; but when they arrived, he went withdrawing and separating himself, in fear of those of the circumcised class. 13 The rest of the Jews also joined him in putting on this pretense, so that even Barnabas was led along with them in their pretense. 14 But when I saw they were not walking straight according to the truth of the good news, I said to Cephas before them all: “If you, though you are a Jew, live as the nations do, and not as Jews do, how is it that you are compelling people of the nations to live according to Jewish practice?”
13 Does David rejoice when he learns
what has befallen his son? No. Instead, he
paces the floor, weeps, and cries out: “My
son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!
O that I might have died, I myself, instead
of you, Absalom my son, my son!”
(2 Sam. 18:24-33) Only Joab’s words bring
David out of his nearly overwhelming grief.
What a tragic end for Absalom, whose blind
ambition prompted him to fight against
his own father—Jehovah’s anointed—and
bring disaster upon himself!—2 Sam. 19:1-8;
Prov. 12:21; 24:21, 22.
COMMENTS
HITS: 0
No, instead David admits he would rather that the rest of his family had died and that Absalom was still alive.
I wonder if Absalom started on this road when his sister was raped by Amnon, the heir apparent, and David did nothing to help her? Perhaps Absalom felt that Amnon was not worthy to be king, seeing he was a rapist and had committed incest? Why did David bring disaster on himself alone because of his sins, rather than his children, Uriah, Uzzah, and later 70,000 Israelites?
David Again Expresses Trust in God
14. What can be said about the composition of
Psalm 4?
14 Like the 3rd Psalm, the 4th is an earnest
prayer of David that gives evidence of his
complete trust in Jehovah. (Ps. 3:4; 4:3) Perhaps
David composed this song to express
relief and gratitude to God after the failure
of Absalom’s coup. Or it may have been
written with Levite singers in mind. In either
case, meditating on it can strengthen
our trust in Jehovah.
COMMENTS
HITS: Complete trust…trust
PERHAPS…MAY HAVE BEEN: So the holy spirit hasn’t revealed it to today’s anointed?
15. Why can we confidently pray to Jehovah
through his Son?
15 David again manifests complete trust in
God and displays confidence in the effectiveness
of prayer. He sings: “When I call,
answer me, O my righteous God. In the distress
you must make broad space for me.
Show me favor and hear my prayer.”
(Ps. 4:1) We can have similar confidence if we
practice righteousness. Aware that Jehovah,
the “righteous God,” blesses his upright
people, we can confidently pray to him
through his Son with faith in Jesus’ ransom
sacrifice. (John 3:16, 36) What peace this
gives us!
COMMENTS
HITS: Complete trust…confidence…confidence…confidently
Effectiveness of prayer?? Prayer in the WTS is open-ended.
How many heard that silence or no seeming answer to a prayer means NO?
16. Why may David have become discouraged?
16 At times, we may face a discouraging
situation that robs us of confidence. Temporarily,
this may have been true of David, for
he sings: “You sons of men, how long must
my glory be for insult, while you keep loving
empty things, while you keep seeking to find a
lie?” (Ps. 4:2) The expression “sons of men”
evidently refers to mankind in an unfavorable
sense. David’s enemies ‘loved empty
things.’ The New International Version offers
this rendering: “How long will you love
delusions and seek false gods?” Even if we
become discouraged because of what others
do, let us continue to pray earnestly and
manifest complete trust in the only true
God.
COMMENTS
HITS: complete trust
May…have = so is the WTS he was never discouraged? Oh, only temporarily…how long is temporary in WTS world?
EVIDENTLY = the WTS adding to the Bible
Once again the WTS allows itself to quote from another Bible, NIV. What is wrong with the NWT?
(Psalm 4:2) YOU sons of men, how long must my glory be for insult, [While] YOU keep loving empty things, [While] YOU keep seeking to find a lie? Selah.
17. Explain how we might act in harmony with
Psalm 4:3.
17 David’s trust in God is clear from the
words: “So take knowledge that Jehovah will
certainly distinguish his loyal one; Jehovah
himself will hear when I call to him.” (Ps. 4:3)
Courage and complete trust in Jehovah are
required in order to remain loyal to him. For
instance, these qualities are needed by a
Christian family when an unrepentant relative
is disfellowshipped. God honors those
loyal to him and his ways. In turn, loyalty
and complete trust in Jehovah promote joy
among his people.—Ps. 84:11,12.
COMMENTS
HITS: David’s trust, complete trust
Christian family = only jws
Unrepentant relative = only jw
Absalom should have been executed under the Law but David would not do so; is David then a good example of how jws today should shun their jw family?
How about the 4 elders I know that still associate with their df’d family under the guise of “necessary family matters”? When that was discussed in a recent WT, did you think the “offenders” were “weak” jws not the so-called giants in the congregation?
July 15, 2011 Watchtower page 31
14, 15. What is the real decision that parents of disfellowshipped
children must make? Or will they rationalize that they can have regular
association with their disfellowshipped son and call it “necessary family business”?
In making their decision, they must not fail to consider how Jehovah feels about what they are doing. His purpose is to keep the organization clean and, if possible, to incite wrongdoers to come to their senses. How can Christian parents support that purpose?
(where did this concept of “necessary family business” come from? Individual jws or the WTS?)
*** w07 1/15 p. 20***While caring for necessary family matters may require some contact with the disfellowshipped person, a Christian parent should strive to avoid needless association.
18. In harmony with Psalm 4:4, what should we do
if we have been the object of unkind words or actions?
18 What if someone says or does things
that upset us? We can remain joyful if we do
what David says: “Be agitated, but do not sin.
Have your say in your heart, upon your bed,
and keep silent.” (Ps. 4:4) If we have been the
object of unkind words or actions, let us not
sin by retaliating. (Rom. 12:17-19) We can
have our say in our heart while in bed. If we
pray about the matter, we may see it in a different
light and be moved to forgive out of
love. (1 Pet. 4:8) Noteworthy in this regard is
the apostle Paul’s counsel, apparently based
on Psalm 4:4: “Be wrathful, and yet do not
sin; let the sun not set with you in a provoked
state, neither allow place for the Devil.”—
Eph. 4:26, 27.
COMMENTS
HITS: 0
Upset us?! How about those who molest our children, defraud us of our money, borrow our things and not return them or damage them and not replace them, who lie to others about our character or the character of our family, who convince others to shun us for things not mandated by the WTS or the Bible….add your own
The idea is here not to gossip. Did you that elders on a judicial committee are not to share the details even with the other elders in the congregation, let alone elders in another congregation. Do you think leaving out the names will conceal the juicy story? Or the elder who tells his chatty wife who gets status from other sisters by revealing juicy details.
How forgiving is the elder body toward each other or are they still arguing with each other over things that happened 20 years ago?
APPARENTLY based on …did you know that the WTS uses these OT scriptures that APPARENTLY are used in NT scriptures to justify putting “Jehovah” in an NT manuscript where it does not appear?
Did Paul pray to see Peter’s shunning of Gentile Christians in a different light?
19. How can Psalm 4:5 help us with regard to our
spiritual sacrifices?
19 Stressing the need for trusting in God,
David sings: “Sacrifice the sacrifices of
righteousness, and trust in Jehovah.” (Ps. 4:5)
Sacrifices offered by the Israelites had value
only if the people had proper motives. (Isa.
1:11-17) For our spiritual sacrifices to be acceptable
to God, we too must have proper motives and must
trust in him completely.—Read Proverbs 3:5, 6;
Hebrews 13:15, 16.
COMMENTS
HITS: trusting in God…trust in Jehovah…trust in him
Proper motives (2) = so God may able to do this since he can read hearts and minds; Jesus may have, but do humans today, even the anointed humans in the WTS?
*** w05 6/1 p. 18 par. 16***Since no human can accurately know the motives of others, however, we must beware of judging others. “Who are you to judge the house servant of another?” we are asked, with the obvious answer: “To his own master he stands or falls.” (Romans 14:4)
20. What is signified by ‘the light of Jehovah’s
face’?
20 David continues: “There are many saying:
‘Who will show us good?’ Lift up the light
of your face upon us, O Jehovah.” (Ps. 4:6)
‘The light of Jehovah’s face’ signifies divine
favor. (Ps. 89:15) So when David prays: “Lift
up the light of your face upon us,” he means
‘show us favor.’ Because we trust in Jehovah,
we have his favor and great joy as we confidently
do his will.
COMMENTS
HITS: trust…confidently
Only jws have God’s favor per the WTS; salvation is only found in the WTS organization.
21. Of what are we assured if we have a full share in
today’s spiritual harvest work?
21 Looking forward to God-given
joys that surpass those of harvesttime,
David sings to Jehovah: “You
will certainly give a rejoicing in my
heart greater than in the time when
their grain and their new wine have
abounded.” (Ps. 4:7) We can be certain
of experiencing heartfelt joy if
we have a full share in today’s spiritual
harvest work. (Luke 10:2) With the
‘populous nation’ of anointed ones
Taking the lead, we now rejoice as the
number of ‘harvest workers’ keeps
growing. (Isa. 9:3) Are you having a
truly satisfying part in this joyful harvest?
COMMENTS
HITS: 0
What does the WTS mean by “full share”? 15 minutes, 1 hour, 10, 30, 50, 70, 75, 90, 100, 120, 130, 140 hours, all monthly goals determined by others to be the “full share” of other jws. Can you find a number associated with “full share” in the Bible? Except for a general counting of those baptized at two occasions, where in the Bible are Christians told to turn in a monthly report slip?
Does that mean judging others motives and circumstances or looking into your own heart? Do you know jws that are happy to judge you and your circumstances and tell you what is in your heart?
Taking the lead = yet the WTS says there are no leaders in their organization.
Confidently Press On With Complete Trust in God
22. In keeping with Psalm 4:8, how did the Israelites
fare when they kept God’s Law?
22 David concludes this psalm with
the words: “In peace I will both lie
down and sleep, for you yourself alone,
O Jehovah, make me dwell in security.”
(Ps. 4:8) When the Israelites kept Jehovah’s
Law, they were at peace with him and
felt secure. For instance, ‘Judah and
Israel dwelt in security’ during Solomon’s
reign. (1 Ki. 4:25) Those trusting in God enjoyed
peace even when neighboring nations
were hostile. Like David, we sleep peacefully
because God makes us feel secure.
COMMENTS
HITS: confidently…trust…trusting
What laws are Christians expected to keep today? Would it not be those things taught and commanded by Christ? So where did Jesus ask his disciples to turn in a time slip, to refrain from wearing a beard (remember beards were common in Roman times just not for Jews), that there would be 5 meetings a week? Where it is not specifically stated the WTS/FDS/GB just cites Matthew 24:45-47 as the scriptural proof…which is all encompassing of everything we do as they take the place of Christ on earth.
23. What will we experience if we have complete
trust in God?
23 Let us confidently press on in Jehovah’s
service. May we also pray in faith and thus
experience “the peace of God that excels all
thought.” (Phil. 4:6, 7) What joy that brings
us! And we can surely face the future with
confidence if we maintain complete trust in
Jehovah.
COMMENTS
HITS:confidently…confidence…complete trust
Face the future…the destruction of all 7 billion plus men, women, children born and in the womb, forever and ever, no hope of any future life because they were born at the wrong time.
How Would You Respond?
HITS: confidence…trust…trust
What problems did David face because of Absalom?
How does Psalm 3 inspire confidence?
In what ways can Psalm 4 strengthen our trust in Jehovah?
How can we benefit from complete trust in God?
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
Next week, THERE IS GOOD NEWS THAT ALL NEED. Would that be the good news that jws look forward to, the eternal destruction of all non-jws, men, women, and children off the face of the earth?
Love, Blondie