The Voice of Jehovah

“Worship Jehovah in holy array.”—Ps. 29:2, AS.

1. To what publishing are Jehovah’s witnesses dedicated, and so in what way do publishers of a new Bible version appear strange?

JEHOVAH’S witnesses are dedicated to the publishing of Jehovah’s name. His name is clearly indicated in the Hebrew Holy Scriptures by the tetragrammaton יהוה, for which the Latin characters are JHVH, or English YHWH. While the exact pronunciation of the four Hebrew characters for this name is not known, the name of the Sovereign Ruler of the universe as we have long known it is Jehovah in English. Jehovah’s witnesses want all peoples from one end of the earth to the other to become acquainted with that name and its meaning. The inhabitants of all nations should know the divine name in their own languages. But to the reasoning mind it is a strange thing that the religious leaders in Christendom should try to hide, even destroy, that name. This they have done in the recently released Revised Standard Version of the Bible, because the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America wants it removed and so takes the credit and the responsibility for removing the name Jehovah from their new revised English text.

2. How have they degraded God’s name, and yet why without the power to destroy it?

² One wondered how they would make Psalm 83:18 read, where the King James Version states: “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.” This Christian educational committee of the National Council now holding the copyright for the Revised Standard Version says it should read, “whose name is the LORD.” However, that rendering of the Hebrew tetragrammaton does not give any distinction or sovereignty or supremacy to the highest Being in all the universe. “Lord” to the ordinary person of today has many meanings. Is this religious committee trying to make the Sovereign Ruler a common individual or less than that by not letting the people of the world know his real name? Or are they saying that he has no real name? Why hide it? Why let the people think that God Almighty is just another master, ruler or nobleman, by letting the tetragrammaton read as a title, “the LORD,” instead of giving him his actual name? Why this degrading of God’s name by the removal of it? When God spoke to Moses, he said: “And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name Jehovah I was not known to them.” (Ex. 6:3, AS) The Revised Standard Version now reads: “but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.” However, this committee, by a wide circulation of its Revised Standard Version, cannot destroy the name of the only true God of the universe, Jehovah. Why? Because Jehovah’s witnesses are still alive, and they will be busier and more energetic than ever announcing and making known Jehovah’s name to all kindreds and tongues in all nations of the earth.

3. What will the “voice of Jehovah” now do, and for making what decision is it now the time?

³ These religionists of modern days may do what they will with God’s name, Jehovah, but the Great Ruler will see to it that his people proclaim his name and make it known. “The voice of Jehovah” will do this. Nothing, not even Christendom’s religionists, will stop Almighty God from making his name known throughout all the earth, for he himself says: “I will deliver my people out of your hand; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.” (Ezek. 13:23, AS) Jehovah knows that the clergy of Christendom are serving this old system of things, which he himself is going to destroy at the battle of Armageddon. They are certainly not serving him. That is why Jehovah’s Word says to those that love him: “Get out of her, my people.” (Rev. 18:4, NW) The time has come for all persons to make a decision as to whose side they are going to be on, Jehovah’s, or that of those who are against Jehovah.

4, 5. What “sons” does Psalm 29:1 mention, and who could they be? Why?

⁴ Let us listen to what Jehovah himself has to say through his writer, David, when he wrote the 29th Psalm 29. The opening verses of this very descriptive psalm say: “Ascribe unto Jehovah, O ye sons of the mighty, ascribe unto Jehovah glory and strength. Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due unto his name; worship Jehovah in holy array.” (Ps. 29:1, 2, AS) From this description it appears a time has arrived for celebration, a time for a joyous occasion.

⁵ In considering these two Ps 29 verses 1, 2 we might wonder, Just who are these “sons of the mighty”? It could be those who hold very high positions in the theocratic organization of Jehovah God, maybe the powerful servants that Jehovah has appointed to special work. On the other hand, it could mean “sons of God”, as is pointed out in the footnote of the American Standard Version. If that be so, then “sons of God” could take in all the angels of the heavens that are invisible to man but form Jehovah’s universal organization. In the book of Job it is stated: “Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan also came among them.” (Job 1:6, AS) On festive occasions such as this what singing and praise must have been given to the name of the Most High God, Jehovah! It must have been a beautiful, majestic spectacle to behold! Even the rebellious Satan came to look in on this magnificent assembly and to hear the songs the faithful servants must have been singing. On this particular occasion, Jehovah said to Satan, “Whence comest thou?” or “Where did you come from?” to which Satan answered, saying he had been going to and fro in the earth and walking up and down in it. (Job 1:7) What was on the earth was the Devil’s world. He had corrupted it. He had not come to this assembly before the mighty ones of Jehovah to praise the Sovereign Ruler. He was just an observer of the splendor and majesty that surround the Creator of heaven and earth.

6. How does Psalm 89:5-7 show Jehovah’s superiority?

⁶ The psalmist expressed beautifully Jehovah’s superiority over these powerful ones, saying in Psalm 89:5-7 (AS): “And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Jehovah; thy faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies can be compared unto Jehovah? Who among the sons of the mighty is like unto Jehovah, a God very terrible in the council of the holy ones, and to be feared above all them that are round about him?”

“SONS OF THE GODS”

7. What other possible rendering or Psalm 29:1 does the AS footnote show, and who, then, would those sons be?

⁷ There is still another possible rendering of Psalm 29:1, according to a second footnote in the American Standard Version. The Hebrew text could read, “Ascribe unto Jehovah, O ye sons of the gods.” This then would refer to the sons of the nations who have forgotten the first man’s true parentage, the Creator, Jehovah God. Men of all nations have arranged themselves under the imaginary protection of deified heroes. Of course, to help their imaginations, they have made great idols of silver and stone and gold and wood. In this way the peoples of the world have invented and made their own gods. These they have worshiped for centuries; but what has this worship gotten them? The many religions in the world have often been the cause of wars, strifes, hatreds between peoples and nations, class distinction, isolationism. Jesus said to false religionists “You are from your father the Devil.” (John 8:44, NW) The sons of the gods they worship are still carrying on the false religion which began in early mythology, and their doctrines, ideas and philosophies of life have been carried right down to our day. The Sovereign Ruler Jehovah calls on all these sons of the many gods now to ascribe to Jehovah the glory that is due, to ascribe strength to him. Nimrod of centuries past placed himself above God. He wanted to be a mighty one ahead of Jehovah. Where are his strength and glory today? Let the followers of Nimrod and the followers of the many pagan gods, practices and beliefs all forsake their gods and their false religion if they want to live, and give glory to Jehovah, not to some man or image. But the religionists with their many gods will not recognize Jehovah; rather, “modernists” try to hide him.

8. How have the RS translators rendered Psalm 29:2 vaguely, and upon whom does this verse call and to do what?

⁸ Today we have throughout the world many kinds of religions with their many different gods. Even Christendom wants to have many gods and lords, and she wants the sons of these many gods to be satisfied with the latest product of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, their new Revised Standard Version Bible. So they remove the name Jehovah and make it “the LORD”. But their new version or their revision of their old version makes the translators look vague when we read Psalm 29:2 (RS): “Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name.” Hence we ask the Committee, What is his name? Is it the LORD? No! At Psalm 83:18, according to the book entitled “Studies in The Psalms”, by J. B. Rotherham, a very accurate translation is: “That men may know that thou, whose name is Jehovah, thou alone art most high over all the earth.” While Christendom goes on its wayward course, the faithful followers of the Almighty will hearken to the voice of Jehovah, and they will make his message and his name known to the nations. If we allow as possible this third rendering of the text inviting the “sons of the gods” to praise Jehovah, it means that all creation should tremble before him, not only the creatures of the invisible heavens, but all humankind. The writer of the 96th Psalm expresses this thought in Ps 96 verses 7 to 9, where it is stated: “Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. Oh worship Jehovah in holy array: tremble before him, all the earth.” (AS) Here the appeal is to all earthlings to worship Jehovah, and the expression is very similar to that at Psalm 29:1, 2.

9. Who are listening to the praisers of God’s name, and how is their turning and worshiping him foretold?

⁹ While the majority of the peoples of the nations of earth turn a deaf ear to this call, there are many of the other sheep who are listening to the group of praisers in the earth who love to call their God by his name Jehovah, and these sheep are coming to them and joining them in this song of praise. If Jesus said he had “other sheep”, which he must also bring to associate with the “little flock” who are being called out as joint heirs with him in heavenly glory, then these he must bring and make one flock, and Christ Jesus will be their “one shepherd”. (John 10:16) Those whose hearts are right will find Jehovah and know him because of Jesus the Shepherd, and they will be guided to Jehovah’s organization, just as the psalmist pointed out in the 22d Psalm 22, verses 26 and 27: “The meek shall eat and be satisfied; they shall praise Jehovah that seek after him: let your heart live for ever. All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto Jehovah; and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.” (AS) This is in full accord with the expression in Revelation where the thought is brought out that a great crowd shall come from all nations, kindreds and tongues. They will worship before Jehovah, because they know that glory is due to his name. (Rev. 7:9, NW) Jesus their Shepherd acknowledged that there is one living and true God; not many gods, not many lords. And this unique God, the Sovereign Ruler of the universe, has been distinguished from all the false gods by having a name which is worthy of praise on the part of all creatures in heaven and on earth.

10. Why does this crowd or other sheep do this?

¹⁰ Jehovah’s witnesses are not going to be mixed up with a lot of other gods. Now that we are in the last days of the Devil’s organization, the other sheep are seeing the confusion of the worship among the peoples of the nations and they are fleeing from this confusion. Already hundreds of thousands know what Jehovah’s name stands for. They know that Jehovah is revealing his purposes toward his creatures. They know that Jehovah has fulfilled his promises, and they have confidence in him. They have turned to his Word and have found it to be reliable. And who is the one who has done all this for the lovers of right things and truth? Jehovah—that is his name, and they worship him.

11, 12. How and why should Israel have worshiped Jehovah in holy array, and how did they fail to do this?

¹¹ The expression in Psalm 29:2 (AS), “Worship Jehovah in holy array,” takes in so much. It is hard to comprehend the magnificent spectacle that takes place in the heavens and upon the earth when this Psalm comes into complete fulfillment. When Jehovah God had called out the children of Israel as a special people, he had his priests array themselves in holy garments. Aaron’s garments are described at Exodus chapter 28 and they were most beautiful. His garments distinguished him from all the other priests. When he appeared before Jehovah God he was on certain occasions in his robes of glory and beauty. In days gone by when Jehovah’s people were marching through the wilderness, he had them array themselves in proper positions. All this was done according to his direction. It was organization. Each tribe was happy to take its right position. It was not that one tribe was trying to be the first in position. It was that God had placed them by his own direction. Jehovah was their God and he guided them. He led them through the wilderness and eventually into the Promised Land. They should have worshiped him in holy array. So when they went to the worship of other gods, then Jehovah showed his displeasure.

¹² Time and time again the children of Israel went to the worship of false gods, even after Jehovah had provided them with food, with clothing that did not wear out, with shoes that did not get full of holes from walking. Even though they were well acquainted with God’s deliverance of them from Egypt and his power demonstrated in the destruction of Pharaoh and the Egyptians who followed after him, still they forsook Jehovah and went to the worshiping of other gods. These gods were not able to do anything for the Israelites, no more than they were able to do anything for the nations that worshiped them. The prophet Jeremiah put it very forcefully and plainly when he said in his Jer second chapter, verses 26-28 (AS): “As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets; who say to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face; but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us. But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? Let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.”

13. How has it been similar with the worldly nations today, and that with what end near at hand?

¹³ As it was with the children of Israel, it is with the nations of the world today. Where are the powers of the gods of the nations? Where do they bring blessings to the people? The nations of the earth have marched forth with their armies, they have fought their murderous battles, they have taken possession of new countries, their priests and clergymen have blessed them in their actions, but where is the blessing? The priests that blessed the losing nations have become captives with the losers. The religious leaders who have blessed the victorious nations have not brought peace and prosperity to the winners. Why do not the peoples of the world turn from these religious leaders? Some few do, but the majority of the peoples of this earth are following their blind religious guides and when the guides fall into the pit so will the peoples of the nations. (Matt. 15:14, NW) The falling into the pit of all such peoples of the wicked governments along with their rulers is not far distant. The battle of Armageddon is not too far away, when Jehovah God in holy array will strike against all these nations and destroy them utterly.

14. How has Jehovah spoken for centuries, but how will he speak shortly?

¹⁴ The 29th Psalm 29 gives us a beautiful description of the power of God and how he can destroy the nations, and what an easy matter it will be for him to bring low the great power of the organized governments of the world. Jehovah God, through his kindness and mercy, has spoken through his Word and through his people for centuries. Today he has massed together hundreds of thousands of his witnesses for making proclamation of his name to the ends of the earth. They listen to his voice through his Word. But in a short while the voice of Jehovah will speak in an altogether different manner. He will speak from the heavens in thunderous tones.

LIKE THUNDER

15. To what did Jehovah’s voice get likened, and what example of this did Israel have at Sinai?

¹⁵ The 29th Psalm 29 shows that the thunder of the heavens is like the voice of God. The terrible phenomena of the storm in the heavens are an expression of God’s majesty, his eternalness, his sovereignty and his unshakableness. When Jehovah speaks with his voice of authority from heaven, then all the nations of earth will tremble and shake and pass out of existence. Now the time has come for those of sheeplike disposition to heed the voice of God as spoken in his Word before his voice will speak from the heavens at Armageddon. Jehovah’s expressions are powerful. When he gave the Ten Commandments to Moses at Mount Sinai, it presented an awesome spectacle. He had just effected a great deliverance of his people. Probably over two million of them, men, women and children, had been brought out of Egypt now into the wilderness. He was going to lead them on to the Promised Land. They were his chosen ones; they were his theocratic organization. And he showed them his power from the heavens. “And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a trumpet exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled.” (Ex. 19:16, AS) And then, in the 18th Ex 19 verse 18, we read: “And Mount Sinai, the whole of it, smoked, because Jehovah descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.”—See also Exodus 20:18.

16. Why do his witnesses beware when Jehovah speaks?

¹⁶ The great God of heaven is not a soft-spoken individual. He is a God of indignation, a God who will express his wrath against those who do not serve him and who are fighting against him. He is not a god who can be pushed around by those whom he has created. “Behold, the name of Jehovah cometh from far, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is as a devouring fire.” (Isa. 30:27, AS) The God that Jehovah’s witnesses worship is the Sovereign Ruler of the universe and he has shown forth his magnificence and his wonderfulness as the only rightful ruler of the universe. His people are acquainted with his creation, they are acquainted with his Word, they are acquainted with his mighty acts in times past, and they have faith in what he is going to do in the near future. They can say with the psalmist, “Bless Jehovah, O my soul. O Jehovah my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty: who coverest thyself with light as with a garment; who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain; who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; who maketh the clouds his chariot; who walketh upon the wings of the wind; who maketh winds his messengers; flames of fire his ministers; who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved for ever.” (Ps. 104:1-5, AS) So his witnesses beware when Jehovah speaks.

17. What is it that those who have now come to know him want to do?

¹⁷ Those who have now come to know the true God of the universe and his name Jehovah are delighted to honor his name. They want to do something; they want to express to others their knowledge of Jehovah. That is why you will find Jehovah’s witnesses so active. And they say: “I will sing unto Jehovah as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.” (Ps. 104:33, AS) They are anxious to join in the worship of Jehovah in holy array. They recognize that there is an organization that has been formed in the earth, Jehovah’s visible organization.

18. What has Jehovah built up on earth, and so where is our safety?

¹⁸ Just as Jehovah has an invisible organization of principalities and powers, of cherubim, seraphim and angels, all in their proper station in his organization, so upon the earth Jehovah God has built up a great organization. God’s servants in the earth speak one language, the language that Jehovah God teaches in his Word. At the same time they are able to speak these truths from God’s Word in many tongues throughout the earth. God has not gathered his people together into one city or locality or one earthly place of safety and refuge. Through their Leader, Christ Jesus, they are sent forth to the ends of the earth, there to preach the good news of God’s kingdom. But as long as they are in his organization speaking the many tongues of the peoples, they are still sending forth the pure language of God’s Word. It is not a matter of geographic location that brings protection. It is a matter of being faithful to Jehovah God and close to him in his organization, worshiping him in holy array when Jehovah strikes at Armageddon. There must be unity among God’s people; no matter where we find them in the earth, they must see in harmony now that Jehovah has brought forth his organization Zion. Even as the children of Israel were organized in their day for marching from one place to another, and had their respective positions in the camp in the wilderness, so it is today.

19. What groupings are there in this visible organization, and how does it spread into new territories?

¹⁹ We find Jehovah’s people organized in small units where they carry on Bible studies, in larger units where they carry on company organization, and in still larger arrangements where they have their circuit assemblies. Then many circuits are gathered together into district organizations, and all of these districts in certain localities come under the direction of a branch organization. These branch organizations are scattered throughout the world, but they still come under the direction of the home office. All receive the same organizational instructions through the Watchtower magazine. They know how to act, what to say and to do, how to comfort the poor and the meek, how to release the prisoners, how to bring them forth from the Devil’s organization into God’s organization, how to help these take their stand in the midst of God’s people and worship Jehovah in holy array. There are many full-time ministers associated with these company organizations, and they devote their full time to preaching the good news, singing praises continually before the throne of God. Some of these have been trained in the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead and have been sent off into other lands as missionaries. Sometimes they are alone there for a while until they have found the other sheep, and then these assemble with them in a small group for Bible study and eventually a company is started. Then in that part of the earth another segment of Jehovah’s organization grows.

20. What is our common interest, and what do we call on all people now to do?

²⁰ Everyone has his position in God’s organization and all work together in joy and gladness. Whether they be a district servant, a circuit servant, a company servant, a worker in a home or branch office, a pioneer, a missionary or a company publisher, the only thing they all are interested in is to worship Jehovah their God. Their worship is pleasing to the Most High. They know Jehovah has a great work to be done before he strikes in the battle of Armageddon. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so it is now. The warning must be given to the people. Jehovah does not destroy the nations without giving them due information as to what is going to happen. Jehovah’s witnesses know what is going to happen, so they are giving forth the message of doom and at the same time a message of comfort. Jehovah’s kingdom must be announced. When he says that the nations of the earth will be crushed and will be as the dust in the balance of a scale, that is exactly what he means. This is not the time to lull people to sleep, saying that everything is going to work out all right and that peace and prosperity can be brought about by efforts of men of the nations. Jehovah God has declared in no uncertain terms that all must worship him in holy array, and those who do not come forth to worship him he will then shake and destroy.

Hearkening to His Voice

1. What must be ascribed to Jehovah, and why this?

IN Psalm 29:3-9, Jehovah shows how thunderings and lightnings will come forth from the heavens and even the great cedars of Lebanon will be broken like matchsticks. The mountains in the wilderness will shake. In like manner will the nations of earth be shaken by the Sovereign Ruler of the universe, because they will not worship Jehovah God. All the false gods of this world must be destroyed. There is no place for them. When Psalm 29:1 (AS) said, “Ascribe unto Jehovah,” it meant we must give, we must attribute, the right things to Jehovah God. Is it not Jehovah who gave us life? Was he not the Creator of man and all the things in the earth? What else could we give to Jehovah except our praise? We should be grateful. We should show our gratefulness. So worship him, and not false gods.

2. What did Moses, in song, ascribe to Jehovah, and when?

² It is by what we do and say that we can show Jehovah God that we recognize his great power and supremacy, his strength and his glory. When Jehovah God gave Moses the victory when coming through the Red sea and let him see the destruction of Pharaoh and his armies, Moses sang a song to Jehovah. Forty years later Moses sang another song with these opening words: “Give ear, ye heavens, and I will speak; and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain; my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers upon the herb. For I will proclaim the name of Jehovah: Ascribe ye greatness unto our God.”—Deut. 32:1-3, AS.

3. Who today follow Moses’ course in this song, and who not?

³ Today Jehovah’s witnesses proclaim the name of Jehovah, and they ascribe greatness to their God. They appreciate the bounties that fall from God’s throne and the blessings that come down from heaven. They are grateful for an understanding of Jehovah’s teachings and for his instructions as to how we are to live today in a new world society. Oh, there are many who have received the blessings of God who do not give glory to God for the blessings they have received. That was true with the Israelites who turned away from God after having come through the Red sea and after having traveled through the wilderness. They became disgruntled. The song that Moses taught them faded in their minds because they failed to continue in the worship of the Most High. They did not stay close to those who were worshiping Jehovah in holy array, but they isolated themselves and turned away to heathen gods.

4. What miraculous cure by Jesus does this cause us to remember?

⁴ You remember the ten cleansed lepers. Jesus was passing through upper Palestine at the time. There were ten lepers there and Jesus cleansed them all. After he had done that he said: “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” The reason for doing this was so that they could give praise to Jehovah God in the place of worship. They were to offer their sacrifices of praise to God through the priests, which was according to the arrangement of Jehovah. But was it not strange that only one of them, when he saw that he was healed and was overjoyed about the whole matter, came back to Christ Jesus to glorify God with a loud voice? He sought the feet of Jesus, and it was a Samaritan that gave thanks for the blessings that had fallen upon him. Jesus said to this one: “The ten were cleansed, were they not? Where, then, are the other nine? Were none found that turned back to give glory to God but this man of another nation?”—Luke 17:17, 18, NW.

5. How are many today like the nine cleansed ones who went their way, and how are some like the Samaritan?

⁵ There are many today who hear the message of Jehovah, there are many who then have dedicated themselves to God, but for just a short period. Yes, they were healed, but where is their giving “glory to God”? They associate themselves for a few weeks, a few months or maybe a few years with Jehovah’s witnesses, but they do not show lasting gratitude to Jehovah God for being cleansed. They are not worshiping Jehovah. They do not sing praises. They do not go out to the houses of the people, from door to door, and preach to the people the good news they have learned. They do not conduct Bible studies. They do not make back-calls on those who want to hear. They do not even study God’s Word thoroughly. They do not want to worship Jehovah in holy array. They merely associate for a while and then drift away. Like the nine cleansed lepers that came near Jesus and partook of his blessing for a while, they never give glory to Jehovah for his blessing. Today, with all the preaching of Jehovah’s witnesses, there are not very many who turn completely aside from this old world and start worshiping Jehovah with his great organization. The responsibility to do so is theirs, because they have knowledge and understanding. Gratitude is a wonderful thing to have, and those who study God’s Word and worship Jehovah in holy array along with his entire organization happily express to their God in heaven the gratitude they have for having received the truth and for being able to see that God’s kingdom has now been born, that the Kingdom is established and is here, that shortly Christ Jesus in Kingdom power will show forth his strength against the nations of earth, and that he will crush them along with Satan the Devil and all his demon organization.

6. What does it take to pull away from this world, and how is this quality exercised regularly toward becoming mature?

⁶ To pull away from this gaudy tinseled world takes faith on the part of an individual. This faith, though, comes only by a careful study of God’s Word. That is why it is so important for God’s servants in the earth, his slaves, to continually go to Bible studies and meet with their brothers. They must have faith as Abraham had faith. They must appreciate that God’s power can operate on us through his holy Word and make us better servants. One must appreciate that when he comes into the truth he is just a novice. One can grow up. He does not have to be a baby all his life. One can gain more knowledge and understanding of Jehovah’s Word. He can conduct Bible studies if he has the faith in Jehovah God to take a Bible study. He can comment at a Watchtower study if he has faith in Jehovah God that he knows something about his Word. He can come to the meetings of God’s people and there constantly take in knowledge. He can associate himself with the theocratic ministry school of Jehovah’s witnesses and take his part in the speaking program. Eventually, through faith and study and putting forth an earnest effort, one can become a public speaker for Jehovah’s organization. But it takes faith, and you know faith without any effort or works is dead. Make your faith live. Give glory to God like the grateful one, not the nine ungrateful.

7. Whose faith is held up as an example, and in what will the failure or the effort to exercise it result?

⁷ Too many think, “I can’t do it. That work was not for me.” But everyone who comes under God’s organization must eventually become a good minister, a good preacher. That is part of his training in carrying on true worship in holy array. Why, look at Abraham’s faith. He was an old man when God told him Sarah would bring forth the seed of promise, a son from the freewoman. Paul tells us that there was deadness in the womb of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. “But because of the promise of God he did not waver in a lack of faith, but became powerful by his faith, giving God glory and being fully convinced that what he had promised he was also able to do. Hence ‘it was counted to him as righteousness’.” (Rom. 4:20-22, NW) Do you have such faith that what appears to be impossible you can do by Jehovah’s help? The help is there. Use it. Make it work for you in all the meetings you attend. Do you believe you could not be a minister? You could not proclaim the good news for Jehovah God? If so, then you lack faith and you will not be a minister. You will not even try. But if you have faith and believe in Jehovah’s power and you put forth every effort to study, and you come to the study meetings and take in knowledge and learn the truth from God’s Word so as to worship him with all his people, then you will worship Jehovah in his great organization, in holy array. You can bring glory to God.

THE TIME TO LISTEN

8. Against whom will Jehovah’s voice be expressed, as stated at Psalm 29:3, but what will be their reaction?

⁸ Jehovah’s name will be made known, not only to his servants today, but to all the nations of the earth by proclamation of it by his witnesses. But even a greater witness will be made, for he will reveal himself by performing wonderful acts. The psalmist in the 29th Psalm 29 describes a storm, a terrible and mighty storm. It is the power of nature in all its fury, but behind that power stands Jehovah God controlling it at Armageddon to his honor. Ps 29 Verse three says: “The voice of Jehovah is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth, even Jehovah upon many waters.” (AS) Jehovah’s voice is heard in thunder, and at the battle of Armageddon they will know who is striking against the nations of the earth, even as Jehovah struck against Pharaoh in Egypt. In Exodus the ninth chapter, the 23rd verse, it says: “And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and Jehovah sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down unto the earth; and Jehovah rained hail upon the land of Egypt.” (AS) Jehovah’s voice was heard and felt in his expression of wrath upon man and beast and field. However, in the land of Goshen, where Jehovah’s chosen people were, there was no hail nor storm. This plague, along with all the other plagues that were brought against Pharaoh, only hardened his heart. He would not recognize Jehovah’s name, his glory, his power; he would not hearken to the voice of Jehovah. When the battle of Armageddon strikes, the nations of the earth will not hearken either to the voice of Jehovah. Now they can hear it through his faithful witnesses, but then it will be too late. There will not be a last-minute confession on their part that they were wrong and then all running to Jehovah’s side. No, they will harden their hearts as they always had done at hearing Jehovah’s voice.

9. Why is now the time to listen to Jehovah’s voice, and how can one do it?

⁹ Now is the time for the people to listen to the voice of Jehovah. Now is the time for them to study his Word and listen to Jehovah’s servants, his witnesses in the earth who are proclaiming the message of the Kingdom. Now is the time to study and find out. At Armageddon time it will be too late. Why keep hardening your heart now? Why keep pushing Jehovah farther away from you? Why not listen to his voice and hear what he has to say? Those who do listen to the voice of Jehovah now will worship him in holy array. The psalmist was under inspiration when he wrote, “The voice of Jehovah is upon the waters.” He was writing this about the storm out of which Jehovah God would manifest himself. Certainly Jehovah will show forth his power out of the heavens in the battle of his great day. Why wait until then to listen to the voice?—Jer. 10:12, 13; Ps. 24:7.

10. How do people now fail to hearken to God’s voice, and with what consequences to them?

¹⁰ In Psalm 29:4 (AS) David says: “The voice of Jehovah is powerful; the voice of Jehovah is full of majesty.” It is true that very few people in the world today believe the voice of God. They do not hearken to his Word. However, Jehovah God has proved his Word by the things he has done. People in the world despise the Word of God, and those who do are going to take the consequences, just as it is expressed at Numbers 15:31 (AS): “Because he hath despised the word of Jehovah, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.”

11. Can we be choosy about what part of God’s word we want to believe? And what does God require of his sons today?

¹¹ Those who have come to know the Word of God certainly should be obedient to it, because God’s Word means life to those who hearken to it. God does not ask us to just pick out that part of the Bible we want to live by and forget the rest of it. So many of the religious leaders of today are choosy as to what they want to believe, and often when Jehovah’s witnesses discuss matters with clergymen and members of their flock and quote Scripture, they say: “We don’t believe that.” Jehovah is not asking us which part of the Bible we want to believe and which part we do not want to believe. He is giving us his commandments. He expresses the matter very plainly in his own Word: “All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which Jehovah sware unto your fathers.” (Deut. 8:1, AS) Jesus as the Son of God was willing to accept the whole Word of God, that which was given in the Law and the Prophets and the Psalms. He lived by them, and he received eternal life. In fact, it was only three days after he was killed upon the torture stake that his Father in heaven raised him from the dead and gave him the glory which he had before, even greater, for he had him sit down at his right hand until he would make his enemies his footstool. Jehovah God requires of his sons today faithfulness, the same as he required of his Son Christ Jesus. Moses had it clearly in mind when he said: “For Jehovah your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the terrible, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward. He doth execute justice for the fatherless and widow, and loveth the sojourner, in giving him food and raiment.”—Deut. 10:17, 18, AS.

12. For how long must we worship God? and how did faithless Israelites illustrate it to be disastrous to disregard God’s voice?

¹² A person cannot be a servant of the Most High God and carry on worship just for a little while and then expect to go his own way and still expect to get eternal life. It is necessary, therefore, that “thou shalt love Jehovah thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his ordinances, and his commandments, alway”. (Deut. 11:1, AS) What God says is what counts. It is the voice of Jehovah that we should give heed to. It is not for us to run ahead of Jehovah and decide things ourselves and say: “We are going to do them this or that way; God is wrong.” It is better for us to take the counsel of God and listen to his voice. (Deut. 1:41-46) The faithless Israelites on one occasion were told by him not to go out and fight the enemy, but they thought better of it. No, they were going to go up into the mountains and fight those who were opposed to them. And what happened? They were defeated, they were whipped, they were scattered. Jehovah had told them not to go up into the mountain and fight those people. Jehovah said to Moses: “Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.” (Deut. 1:42, AS) They were very presumptuous, and they went up into the hill country against the commandment of God. They rebelled against Jehovah’s voice and hence were smitten.

13. Why should none be disrespectful and haughty toward God’s Word?

¹³ We should always remember that Jehovah’s Word has authority behind it. Jehovah’s Word is right, it is powerful. Believe it. No one should show disrespect for what God has set forth in his Word. It is his voice. He is the most majestic one in all the universe. He is the most authoritative one. No greater knowledge or wisdom is to be found in anyone. He is the Almighty, the Most High; he should have our respect. Those who are proud and haughty will certainly be brought low in the battle of Armageddon, when his voice is heard in the storm in the heavens. The prophet Isaiah said concerning the humbling of the haughtiness of man: “For there shall be a day of Jehovah of hosts upon all that is proud and haughty, and upon all that is lifted up; and it shall be brought low: and upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan.”—Isa. 2:12, 13, AS.

14. What does Psalm 29:5, 6 indicate will happen to the symbolic cedars of Lebanon and the mountain itself?

¹⁴ When that battle of Armageddon strikes men will certainly appear small and puny, even though some may be likened to the great cedars of Lebanon. These mighty trees were there in the high mountains to the north of Israel. Even these mighty trees, great in size and which have stood for centuries, Jehovah will bring low. Psalm 29:5 (AS) said: “The voice of Jehovah breaketh the cedars; yea, Jehovah breaketh in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.” When he breaks them and uproots them they will skip along the snow-covered sides of Mount Lebanon like young calves jumping about. The Ps 29 sixth verse tells us: “He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild-ox.” A small gamboling calf can certainly jump around and be playful. It twists and turns every way. Now, can you imagine a tremendous cedar tree bouncing and jumping around on the side of a mountain? Not one, but all the cedars of Lebanon will be brought low due to a mighty act of Jehovah God. Not only will the trees be moved, but the earth will literally shake. The voice of Jehovah says these things will happen. “The mountains skipped like rams, the little hills like lambs.” (Ps. 114:4, AS) “Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the mountains quaked and were shaken, because he was wroth.” (Ps. 18:7, AS) When Jehovah shows his anger against the nations of earth they certainly will know it. It is not going to be a small thing.

15. How does Psalm 29:7, 8 show over what extent Jehovah will carry the destruction? So what is it now time to do?

¹⁵ “The voice of Jehovah cleaveth the flames of fire. The voice of Jehovah shaketh the wilderness; Jehovah shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.” (Ps. 29:7, 8, AS) This is a poetic expression and describes the lightning darting from the clouds. Surely, too, there will be great earthquakes during the battle of Armageddon, even as there are today, only much worse. Now is the time to make the announcement of these things. Now is the time to give the warning of the impending destruction that is coming upon the world of mankind. Now is the time to tell the people of the coming storm, not when it arrives or after it is over. Psalm 29 shows that the storm does not center itself only around the mountains to the north of Palestine, but it sweeps the whole land from one end to the other, even down to Kadesh in the southern extremity in the wilderness. It shows that Jehovah God will sweep through the whole earth and not one nation will be safe.

PROTECTION DURING THE STORM

16. Amid the storm where is protection, and what do those under it say?

¹⁶ The only ones to come under his protection will be those who have hearkened to the voice of Jehovah. So he says in Ps 29 verse nine (AS): “The voice of Jehovah maketh the hinds to calve, and strippeth the forests bare: and in his temple everything saith, Glory.” This will be such a fearful time that even the animals in the fields carrying calves will bring them forth in premature birth. This storm will be so fierce that even the trees will be stripped of their branches and leaves, even their bark. And while all this storm is going on, this display of Jehovah’s anger against the nations, this display of his power, this voice of Jehovah speaking to the nations in the battle of Armageddon, he says: “And in his temple everything saith, Glory.” Yes, all who understand God and who have come to know him through his Son will say, “Glory,” for the glory belongs to Jehovah. They will worship him in holy array. All creatures in heaven and in earth who have come to worship him will be glad in this day and will rejoice, for it means the vindication of Jehovah’s name and Word. It means the complete destruction of all wickedness and the Devil’s organization.

17. How did Jehovah sit as King at the Flood?

¹⁷ This beautiful description of majestic power in the heavens and upon the earth is now brought to a conclusion in the tenth, and eleventh verses 10, 11 of Psalm 29. It says: “Jehovah sat as King at the Flood; yea, Jehovah sitteth as King for ever. Jehovah will give strength unto his people; Jehovah will bless his people with peace.” (AS) There is certainly no question in the mind of Jehovah’s witnesses that Jehovah was King at the Flood. Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives hearkened to the voice of Jehovah, and it must have been a wonderful array of animals marching into the ark under the direction of these eight persons. And the door of the ark was shut, and then the flood came. Jehovah sat as King at the flood. He had everything under absolute control. When he opened the heavens and the waters poured down on the earth, when the flood came in from all sides, Jehovah was in absolute control, destroying the enemy, bringing to nought all those false gods and their sons, the worshipers of the gods; and there, riding upon the waters, was Noah, his family and all that God desired to have preserved through the flood. He was absolute Ruler; he was King.

18. How will it be likewise at Armageddon, and where will refuge be?

¹⁸ So will it be in the battle of Armageddon. He will have full control, directing his Son as to what to do in destroying the Devil and his organization and preserving his own people. Certainly Jehovah’s witnesses can have full confidence in the Sovereign Ruler, Jehovah. Even while this fearful condition exists in the earth, even while terror is thrown into the hearts of the enemy, his servants will have refuge. The words of the psalmist will come to mind: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though the earth do change, and though the mountains be shaken into the heart of the seas; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains tremble with the swelling thereof.”—Ps. 46:1-3, AS.

19. For how long is Jehovah King, and why do we not fear coming trouble?

¹⁹ It was not only during the Flood that Jehovah was King. He has sat as King and Ruler forever, even from the time that Adam disobeyed God in the garden of Eden. He just allowed Satan and his organization to remain after Satan reestablished it some time following the flood, so that God might show forth his power. He showed his power greatly at the time of the flood. He is going to show forth his power again in the battle of Armageddon. So Jehovah will sit as King then and forever, even throughout all eternity. Jehovah’s witnesses will not be in terror at the things that are going to happen, nor are they fearful of the things that are happening now in the persecution that is brought against them in many lands, because they know that “Jehovah of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge”. (Ps. 46:11, AS) They are fully confident that the end of all this trouble will bring peace, prosperity and blessings in a new world.

20. Why do we look forward to this great battle, and why are we willing to wait till it breaks out?

²⁰ God’s people in the world today meet up with much opposition. They have to work hard to preach this good news of the Kingdom and to make known Jehovah’s name while they are afflicted and persecuted; but they count it all joy. This hatred on the part of the nations is not going to discourage them. They are looking forward to the great battle, this time of trouble, for it means peace to them afterward. They do not look forward to it with an overanxious spirit. They are patient. They are willing to wait until the storm breaks, for they know that between now and the time of that final battle a great work must be accomplished. It is the great work of preaching this good news of God’s kingdom in all the world for a witness, and while they are doing it they are going to worship Jehovah in holy array.

21. Despite what do we continue to preach, and how under circumstances like those of Jehoshaphat’s day?

²¹ So now they have a big work on their hands, and they know the religionists of all lands are against them in getting their work done. They know that the rulers of all nations are against their message. The Communists refuse to let Jehovah’s witnesses preach concerning Jehovah God’s kingdom, for the Communists believe there is but one form of government that should exist on this earth and that is the communistic form. Why then allow anyone to speak of God’s kingdom and its rule of peace? Communistic opposition or anybody else’s opposition does not dishearten Jehovah’s witnesses. They continue to preach despite all the persecution. They are just like Jehoshaphat and his subjects in his day: “They rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem: believe in Jehovah your God, so shall ye be established: believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed them that should sing unto Jehovah, and give praise in holy array, as they went out before the army, and say, Give thanks unto Jehovah; for his lovingkindness endureth for ever.” (2 Chron. 20:20, 21, AS) His people did not slack the hand then, nor will they now, in singing praises to the Most High. They have the grand privilege of preaching the good news to the poor and bringing forth those who are prisoners of the god of this world. Satan is his name.

22. How do we offer ourselves in Jehovah’s service, and what yeartext do we carry out?

²² The time is here for preaching and comforting the peoples of the world and telling them of the God of the new world. Jehovah is his name. God’s servants are offering themselves in his service willingly. They are joyful in going forth. They are mindful of Psalm 110:3 (AS): “Thy people offer themselves willingly in the day of thy power, in holy array.” With real joy and gladness Jehovah’s witnesses go forward in their work today in unity with one another and as one man to sing the praises of the Most High. What joy is theirs because they listen to the voice of Jehovah! So, in the words of the text which Jehovah’s witnesses have chosen for their 1953 calendar, they will “worship Jehovah in holy array”.—Ps. 29:2, AS.

“Few Read the Bible”

Under that heading a New York newspaper reported the statement of Dr. Robert J. McCracken of New York’s Riverside Church that “the Bible-reading habit is passing away”. “Too much should not be made of the fact that the Bible is the world’s best seller,” he said. Also, “All the evidence goes to show that in a disconcertingly large number of homes it is consulted as rarely as the collected works of Shakespeare or the volumes of the classics presented as dividends to members of book clubs. It serves more as an ornament than as an instrument. Brides carry it to their wedding and then put it away among their souvenirs. Politicians swear on it when they take office but seldom swear by it afterwards. Even where church members are concerned, the Bible is largely an unknown book. It is a fact that the majority of the people in this country have only the haziest notion of what the greatest book in the world teaches.”