Comments You Will Not Hear at the 07-08-2012 WT Study (MAY 15, 2012, pages 3-7)(GIFT MARRIAGE)
Review comments will be headed by COMMENTS
WT material from today's WT will be in black
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/
http://www.jw.org/index.html?option=QrYQCsVrGZNT
DO YOU REALLY APPRECIATE
GOD’S GIFT OF MARRIAGE?
“May Jehovah make a gift to you, and do you
find a resting-place each one in the house
of her husband.”
—RUTH 1:9.
OPENING COMMENTS
I grew up in an abusive household, a non-jw abusive father and a jw mother who had one personality at the KH and another at home that conformed to no Christian principles.
Neither at home or at the KH did I see women, single or married, valued or treated as equals in the Christian teaching the WTS said they taught. The most incompetent jw male was one step above the most sincere, competent female jw. I even had elders and COs tell me that even in heaven, the female anointed would only rule over women on earth. I even saw unbaptized male jws only 10 years old time the talks at the Theocratic Ministry School.
Women were “owned” in the OT, could not divorce a husband though men could divorce their wives (remember adulterous wives were executed; unless the king had had been the adulterer). Women could not own property because they were property. Fathers could sell daughters and even today the WTS supports jw women being sold for a bride price as long as they aren’t sold to non-jws (if it is the custom of that country).
START OF ARTICLE
LOOK FOR THE ANSWERS:
Why can we say that past
servants of God appreciated his
gift of marriage?
How do we know that Jehovah is
concerned about our choice
of marriage mate?
What Bible counsel on wedlock
do you plan to apply in your life?
1. Describe Adam’s reaction when he received a wife.
“THIS is at last bone of my bones and flesh of
my flesh. This one will be called Woman, because
from man this one was taken.” (Gen. 2:23)
How happy the first man, Adam, was to receive
a wife! No wonder he waxed poetic! After Jehovah
had caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep, He
created this beautiful woman from one of the man’s
ribs. Adam later named her Eve. God united the two
in happy wedlock. Since Jehovah used Adam’s own
rib as a base for creating her, Adam and Eve were
closer than any present-day husband and wife.
COMMENTS
Remember that Adam was the only human on earth…no one to talk with. Did Adam speak directly with God or through an angel? Was this genetic connection a basis of emotional closeness? Why then is genetic closeness no longer good but bad physically. Adam was definitely ecstatic to have a companion, and obviously God did not tell him about the birds and the bees because no children came until after their “sin”? How long had they been married before sinning? The WTS teaches that the 6 th creative day ended with the creation of Eve.
2. Why are men and women drawn to one another?
2 In his inimitable wisdom, Jehovah planted within
humans the capacity for romantic love—a quality
that would draw men and women together. Says
The World Book Encyclopedia: “A man and woman
who marry hope to share a sexual relationship and
a permanent romantic attraction.” That has happened
countless times among Jehovah’s people.
COMMENTS
Romantic love – and now a quote from a non-jw source, even a non-scriptural source. No mention of romantic love in the bible?
*** w07 2/15 p.19 par.5***
The love-at-first-sight feeling may be enough for a pleasurable romance, but it is not an adequate basis for a happy marriage.
Jehovah’s people = today only jws
THEY WERE GRATEFUL FOR THE GIFT OF MARRIAGE
3. How did Isaac acquire a wife?
3 Faithful Abraham had a high regard for marriage.
Therefore, he sent his eldest servant to Mesopotamia
to obtain a wife for Isaac. Prayer by that
servant brought good results. God-fearing Rebekah
became Isaac’s beloved wife and played a part
in Jehovah’s arrangement for preserving Abraham’s
seed. (Gen. 22:18; 24:12-14, 67) We should not conclude
from this that a person—well-meaning though
he or she may be—should become an unsolicited
matchmaker. In present-day society, many make
their own choice of marriage mate. Of
course, marriages are not made in heaven,
but God will guide Christians in this
and other aspects of life if they pray for
direction and are led by his spirit.—Gal.
5:18, 25.
COMMENTS
“acquire a wife” = like something to be owned, purchased?
But remember Rebekah along with Jacob deceived Isaac as to Jacob’s identity rather than telling Isaac the truth about Esau selling his birthright.
So jws can be a “solicited matchmaker”?
Jw parents are allowed to request a bride price for their daughters….
4, 5. What convinces you that the Shulammite
and the shepherd had special feelings for each
other?
4 A beautiful Shulammite girl of ancient
Israel did not want her friends to
pressure her to become one of King Solomon’s
many wives. She said: “I have
put you under oath, O daughters of Jerusalem,
that you try not to awaken or
arouse love in me until it feels inclined.”
(Song of Sol. 8:4) The Shulammite and
a certain shepherd did have special feelings
for each other. Humbly, she said:
“A mere saffron of the coastal plain I
am, a lily of the low plains.” Ah, but
the shepherd replied: “Like a lily among
thorny weeds, so is my girl companion
among the daughters”! (Song of Sol. 2:
1, 2) They truly loved each other.
COMMENTS
So why were her “friends” pressuring if her parents were to select her mate?
Was love the issue or the bride price?
5 Because the Shulammite and the
shepherd primarily loved God, their
marital bond would be strong indeed. In
fact, the Shulammite said to her beloved
shepherd: “Place me as a seal upon your
heart, as a seal upon your arm; because
love is as strong as death is, insistence
on exclusive devotion is as unyielding
as Sheol is. Its blazings are the blazings
of a fire, the flame of Jah [for it is
from him]. Many waters themselves are
not able to extinguish love, nor can rivers
themselves wash it away. If a man
would give all the valuable things of his
house for love, persons would positively
despise them.” (Song of Sol. 8:6, 7)
When weighing wedlock, why should a
servant of Jehovah settle for anything
less?
COMMENTS
Shepherd primarily loved God = translation: she would always come second…like many elders’ wives know
Among my jw contemporaries who married in the 70’s and 80’s, about 5% are still married to each other. How many divorces have you seen in your congregation?
A CHOICE THAT MATTERS TO GOD
6, 7. How do we know that God cares about
our choice of marriage mate?
6 Jehovah cares about your choice of
marriage mate. With regard to inhabitants
of Canaan, the Israelites were
commanded: “You must form no marriage
alliance with them. Your daughter
you must not give to his son, and
his daughter you must not take for your
son. For he will turn your son from following me,
and they will certainly serve
other gods; and Jehovah’s anger will indeed
blaze against you, and he will certainly
annihilate you in a hurry.” (Deut. 7:3, 4)
Centuries later, Ezra the priest
declared: “You yourselves have acted
unfaithfully in that you gave a dwelling
to foreign wives so as to add to the
guiltiness of Israel.” (Ezra 10:10) And
the apostle Paul told fellow Christians:
“A wife is bound during all the time
her husband is alive. But if her husband
should fall asleep in death, she is free to
be married to whom she wants, only in
the Lord.”—1 Cor. 7:39.
COMMENTS
Deut. 7:3,4 is talking only about Canaanites. But the Israelites could many other non-Israelites.
Why does the WTS leave out Deut. 21:10-13?
(Deuteronomy 21:10-13) 10 “In case you go out to the battle against your enemies and Jehovah your God has given them into your hand and you have carried them away captive; 11 and you have seen among the captives a woman beautiful in form, and you have got attached to her and taken her for your wife, 12 you must then bring her into the midst of your house. She must now shave her head and attend to her nails, 13 and remove the mantle of her captivity from off her and dwell in your house and weep for her father and her mother a whole lunar month; and after that you should have relations with her, and you must take possession of her as your bride, and she must become your wife. . .
Notice though that Ezra had them send away these foreign wives despite Deut. 21:10-13; and he had them send away the children. So are men who become jws to send away their non-jw wives and children or if their wives leave the WTS, divorce them and send away their children?
(Ezra 10:44) 44 These all had accepted foreign wives, and they proceeded to send away wives along with sons.
But what does the NT say?
(1 Corinthians7:12,13)12 But to the others I say, yes, I, not the Lord: If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and yet she is agreeable to dwelling with him, let him not leave her;13 and a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and yet he is agreeable to dwelling with her, let her not leave her husband.
7 If a dedicated servant of Jehovah
married an unbeliever, this would be
an act of disobedience to God. The Israelites
of Ezra’s day acted unfaithfully
by giving “a dwelling to foreign wives,”
and it would be wrong to try to water
down the plain statements of the Scriptures.
(Ezra 10:10; 2 Cor. 6:14, 15) A
Christian who marries an unbeliever is
not exemplary and lacks real appreciation
for God’s gift of marriage. Entering
such a union after baptism can cost
one some privileges among God’s people.
And it would be illogical to expect
blessings while admitting in prayer, ‘Jehovah,
I deliberately disobeyed you, but
please bless me anyway.’
COMMENTS
So would an Israelite be disobeying God if he married a non-believer as Deut. 21:10-13 says?
A Christian = only a jw
Unbeliever = all non-jws
So what privileges would a woman lose? Answering at the meetings, being in the school, going door to door? Never saw it ever. But if a male jw who was an MS or elder did sound, stage, attendant, etc., see men have all the privileges…going d2d is not a privilege evidently.
What about the jws that “deliberately disobeyed” can they expect any future blessings ever from God; will it be held against the rest of their life?
*** w8611/15 pp.27-28?***
But how can you say that?’ someone may ask. ‘I know a brother who did not marry a fellow worshiper, and now they are both serving Jehovah.’ True, in a few cases matters have worked out that way, and we are glad that both mates are now “walking in the truth.” (3 John 4) Nevertheless, the brother who married an unbaptized person was disobedient. Will that independent spirit surface once again? Might he be tempted to think he knows better than God and thus disregard Bible counsel and trust in his own wisdom in yet another situation? We are encouraged to ‘trust in Jehovah with all our heart.’ (Proverbs 3:5) That implies submissive compliance with the divine will in all things. So we should want to develop an obedient heart, one meeting the test of obedience even in small things. (Luke 16:10) If we disobey God, what kind of pattern are we developing? The brother who did not ‘marry in the Lord’ probably now recognizes his mistake in doing things his own way and has sought Jehovah’s forgiveness. But is that how you want to initiate your marriage?
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS BEST
8. Explain why we should follow God’s guidance
on marriage.
8 The maker of a machine knows exactly
how it works. If the device needs
to be assembled, he can provide the
necessary details about it. What if we ignore
the instructions and assemble the
pieces in our own way? The results are
likely to be disastrous—if the machine
works at all. Well, if we are to fulfill a
desire for happy wedlock, we must follow
the instructions provided by Jehovah,
the Maker of marriage.
COMMENTS
So there is only one way to build a house? So the architect can build a house and the builder cannot adjust due to experience. Remember in the OT God gave instructions about having more than one wife, how to regulate marriage to a concubine.
The WTS says that God did not originate polygamy, but he regulated; he did not originate murder, but did he regulate it?
9. Why can we say that Jehovah understands
feelings of loneliness as well as the happiness
possible in marriage?
9 Jehovah knows everything there is
to know about mankind and marriage.
He implanted a sexual need in humans
so that they would “be fruitful and become
many.” (Gen. 1:28) God understands
feelings of loneliness, for prior
to creating the first woman, he said:
“The man’s being alone is not good; I
will make him a helper to match him.”
(Gen. 2:18, Byington) Jehovah is also fully
aware of the joy possible within the
bonds of matrimony.—Read Proverbs 5:
15-18.
COMMENTS
The sex is for procreation not love and pleasure?
Why Byington, what is wrong with the NWT, perhaps the use of the word “complement” which means to make perfect or complete.
(Genesis 2:18, 19)18 And Jehovah God went on to say: “It is not good for the man to continue by himself. I am going to make a helper for him, as a complement of him.”
10. What factors should govern the intimate
relations of Christian marriage mates?
10 Because of the sin and imperfection
passed on to the human race by
sinful Adam, no present-day marriage
is perfect. Among Jehovah’s servants,
however, wedlock can result in true
happiness if God’s Word is followed.
For instance, consider Paul’s clear
counsel on intimate relations in marriage.
(Read 1 Corinthians 7:1-5.)
It is not Scripturally required that marriage
mates limit sexual relations to
efforts to produce offspring. Such intimacy
can rightly fill emotional and
physical needs. But perverted practices
certainly do not please God. Christian
husbands and wives will undoubtedly
want to handle this important aspect
of their life with tenderness, allowing
them to display genuine affection for
each other. And, of course, they should
avoid any actions that would displease
Jehovah.
COMMENTS
So does this imply if a marriage is not happy that the Bible is not being followed…what if the jw husband is abusive…is it the wife’s fault or responsibility to make things happy?
(1 Peter 3:1) 3 In like manner, YOU wives, be in subjection to YOUR own husbands, in order that, if any are not obedient to the word, they may be won without a word through the conduct of [their] wives,
So what scriptures do not require sex to produce offspring?
What actions would displease God…anal and oral intercourse because it is from the homosexual community. One sister told me the elders advised her it was not oral intercourse if she did not get closer than 1 inch with her tongue to the penis!!!!
*** w77 3/15 p.176 par.16***
Perverted practices engaged in by homosexuals, who, in such practice, do not have natural, normal copulation between themselves, have been adopted also by some married couples in search of greater “thrills,” specifically oral and anal copulation.
11. How was Ruth blessed for doing things Jehovah’s
way?
11Wedlock should be filled with joy,
not unhappiness and drudgery. Especially
should a Christian home be a
place of rest and peace. Consider what
happened some 3,000 years ago when
the aged widow Naomi and her widowed
daughters-in-law, Orpah and
Ruth, were on the road from Moab to Judah.
Naomi urged the younger women
to return to their people. The Moabitess
Ruth stuck with Naomi, was faithful to
the true God, and was assured ‘a perfect
wage from Jehovah, under whose
wings she sought refuge.’ (Ruth 1:9; 2:
12) With great appreciation for God’s
gift of marriage, Ruth became the wife
of elderly Boaz, a true worshipper of Jehovah.
When resurrected on earth in
God’s new world, she will be delighted
to learn that she became an ancestress
of Jesus Christ. (Matt. 1:1, 5, 6; Luke 3:
23, 32) What blessings she received for
doing things Jehovah’s way!
COMMENTS
I wonder how many jw husbands do dishes, laundry, change diapers, etc.? drudgery…
So if you do it right, you can find a wealthy husband with status in the congregation with one foot on a banana peel.
I wonder if Ruth will be happy to find out that she won’t have to choose between her 2 husbands because the resurrected won’t marry on earth?
PICTURE: Ruth showed appreciation for God’s gift of marriage (Ruth’s first husband was an Israelite who had moved to Moab with his family. I wonder if Ruth worshipped the Israelite god during that marriage…I don’t think so. I wonder if her Israelite husband was showing appreciation for his god by marrying a non-Israelite despite God’s command?)
SOUND COUNSEL FOR
SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE
12. Where can one find sound counsel on wedlock?
12 The Maker of marriage tells us
what we need to know about successful
wedlock. No human knows as
much. The Bible is always right, and
the only way anyone can direct attention
to sound counsel on marriage is
to stick to the standards set out in the
Scriptures. For instance, the apostle
Paul wrote under inspiration: “Let each
one of you individually so love his wife
as he does himself; on the other hand,
the wife should have deep respect for
her husband.” (Eph. 5:33) There is nothing
about such Biblical counsel that mature
Christians cannot understand. The
question is, Will they apply Jehovah’s
Word? They will if they really appreciate
his gift of marriage.*
*For detailed discussions of marriage, see chapters
10 and 11 of the book “Keep Yourselves in God’s
Love.”
http://www.jw.org/index.html?option=QrYQCsVrGlBBX
COMMENTS
Remember David was a worshipper of Jehovah; he had several wives but still took the wife of another man and had him killed to cover it up. Who knows who was David’s first wife……….Michal…Saul’s daughter….remember she was cursed with infertility by God.
“There is nothing about Biblical counsel that mature Christians (jws) cannot understand.” Of course, only if they go to the WTS publications and the elders for guidance.
I wonder what scripture the elders used for the 1 inch rule?
13. What may result from failure to follow the
counsel found at 1 Peter 3:7?
13 A Christian husband is to deal lovingly
with his wife. The apostle Peter
wrote: “You husbands, continue dwelling
in like manner with them according
to knowledge, assigning them honor
as to a weaker vessel, the feminine
one, since you are also heirs with them
of the undeserved favor of life, in order
for your prayers not to be hindered.”
(1 Pet. 3:7) A husband’s prayers can be
hindered if he does not apply Jehovah’s
counsel. The spiritual condition of both
mates is likely to be affected detrimentally,
possibly leading to great stress,
quarrels, and acts of harshness.
COMMENTS
How many times has the WTS used “weaker vessel” to mean that women are emotionally weak, subject to the “vicissitudes” of their monthly menstruations?
How many husbands think that God even sees or cares about what they are doing? After all the elders excuse their abuses under the umbrella of imperfection.
14. A loving wife can have what influence on
family life?
14 A wife who is guided by Jehovah’s
Word and his holy spirit can do much
to make her home a place of tranquillity
and happiness. It is natural for a
God-fearing husband to love his wife
and protect her physically and spiritually.
She yearns for his love, and that requires
that she be lovable. “The truly
wise woman has built up her house,”
says Proverbs 14:1, “but the foolish one
tears it down with her own hands.” A
wise and loving wife contributes greatly
to the success and happiness of her
family. She also shows that she really
appreciates God’s gift of marriage.
COMMENTS
So this implies if a home is not peaceful or tranquil, it is the wife’s fault. She is there to appease and accept the abuse of her husband. I have known elders who abuse their wives and the other elders know and tell the wife to look at 1 Peter to see that the bible puts the blame on them.
So if a husband is not acting with love toward his wife it is because she is not being lovable?!
A good marriage honors Jehovah and
can bring great happiness to everyone
in the family
15. What counsel is found at Ephesians 5:
22-25?
15 Husbands and wives who base
their union on Jesus’ example in dealing
with his congregation show gratitude
for God’s gift of marriage. (Read Ephesians
5:22-25.) What blessings spouses
enjoy when they truly love each other
and never let pride, the childish silent
treatment, or other unchristian traits
mar their marriage!
COMMENTS
So how are they prideful? And who gives the silent treatment? I know of one husband who went 1 year without talking to his wife, using the children as messengers.
LET NO ONE PUT THEM APART
16. Why do some Christians remain single?
16 Although most people plan to get
married at some point in life, certain
servants of Jehovah remain single because
they cannot find a mate pleasing
to them and to Him. Others have the
God-given gift of singleness, allowing
them to devote themselves to Jehovah’s
service without the distractions of marriage.
Of course, singleness is to be enjoyed
within the limits set by Jehovah.
—Matt. 19:10-12; 1 Cor. 7:1, 6, 7, 17.
COMMENTS
Christians = servants of Jehovah = only jws
What does it mean “singleness is to be enjoyed within the limits set by Jehovah.”
17. (a) What words of Jesus regarding marriage
should we bear in mind? (b) If any Christian
should even begin to covet another person’s
marriage mate, what should he do
without delay?
17 Whether single or married, all of
us need to bear in mind Jesus’ words:
“Did you not read that he [God] who
created them from the beginning made
them male and female and said, ‘For
this reason a man will leave his father
and his mother and will stick to his
wife, and the two will be one flesh’?
So that they are no longer two, but one
flesh. Therefore, what God has yoked
together let no man put apart.” (Matt.
19:4-6) Coveting another person’s marriage
mate is a sin. (Deut. 5:21) If any
Christian begins to entertain such a covetous
desire, he or she should act quickly
to rout out the unclean desire, even at
the cost of great emotional pain because
of having allowed selfish cravings to develop.
(Matt. 5:27-30) It is vital to correct
such thinking and suppress the sinful
yearning of a treacherous heart.—Jer. 17:9.
COMMENTS
Coveting another person’s marriage mate is a sin = what about taking another’s mate like David did, was that a sin, a capitol offense?
Is it true that male jws are more prone to viewing pornography than female jws? Does the WTS consider this a sin?
18. How do you feel that we ought to view
God’s gift of marriage?
18 Even many of those who have
known little or nothing about Jehovah
God and his wonderful gift of marriage
have shown at least a measure of gratitude
for the marital bond. How much
more so should we who are dedicated to
“the happy God,” Jehovah, rejoice in all
of his provisions and give evidence that
we really appreciate God’s gift of marriage!—
1 Tim. 1:11.
COMMENTS
Give evidence = obey the WTS rules even when the change.
There was a time when you could not scripturally divorce a mate who was homosexual…then it changed and you could; but if you had disobeyed before the light shone from the WTS and were divorced and remarried and df’d, the df’ing was still valid.
http://marvinshilmer.blogspot.com/2011/07/watchtower-divorce-homosexual-cheating.html
PICTURE: Do you show you really appreciate Jehovah’s gift of marriage (so how many of you had a nice evening of music, where is a jw encouraged to waste time learning how to play an instrument, I don’t see their lips moving either, is that a WTS approved songbook?)
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
I was told by separate elders that if one jw mate was df’d and then divorced their mate, it was not counted statistically as a jw divorce although a jw marriage was ended. I’m getting the message that troubled marriages continue to be a problem and a growing one in the WTS.
NEXT WEEK, TAKE A POSITIVE VEW OF A STRAINED MARRIAGE.
Love, Blondie