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“Obey, Please, the Voice of Jehovah”

God’s Word for Us Through Jeremiah
- 12. What must the elders sometimes do to protect the congregation?
  
  ¹² Many Jews scorned the help Jehovah offered time and again through Jeremiah. Similarly, one guilty of serious sin today may be unrepentant, rejecting the help of the elders. In that case, the elders must follow the Scriptural direction to protect the congregation by disfellowshipping the wrongdoer. (1 Cor. 5:11-13; see the box “Living Without Law,” on page 73.) But does that mean that he or she would be forever beyond hope, never able to return to Jehovah’s favor? No. The Israelites were long rebellious; still God said: “Return, you renegade sons. I shall heal your renegade condition.” (Jer. 3:22)a Jehovah invites wrongdoers to return to him. Indeed, he directs them to do so.
  
  LIVING WITHOUT LAW
  
  What was life like among the Jews after Jerusalem’s destruction? Jeremiah provides us with a partial description at Lamentations 2:9. The walls of the city were broken down, perhaps including the gates that formerly protected the city. But worse than that, there was “no law.” Did Jeremiah mean that the survivors had become an uncontrollable mob? More likely he was referring to the loss of the spiritual security and comfort that the Jews had once enjoyed when faithful priests and prophets instructed them in God’s Law. The false prophets who now had their attention were offering no real ‘vision,’ or direction, from Jehovah; what they “visioned” was worthless.—Lam. 2:14.
  
  One who has been disfellowshipped from the Christian congregation may sense himself in a similar situation. The warm friendship he once enjoyed with his spiritual brothers and sisters is gone, as is the loving attention from the elders. And he is away from the vital spiritual instruction he had enjoyed. In the world, where there is “no law” from Jehovah, he probably feels a great sense of loss. Nevertheless, he can return to an approved condition before Jehovah and enjoy rich blessings again. (2 Cor. 2:6-10) You certainly must agree, though, that obeying Jehovah and never coming to be without law is much to be preferred.

“Obey, Please, the Voice of Jehovah”

God’s Word for Us Through Jeremiah
- a Jehovah was here addressing the northern kingdom of Israel. Those of that ten-tribe kingdom had been in exile for some 100 years when Jeremiah delivered this message. He acknowledged that down to his day, that nation had not repented. (2 Ki. 17:16-18, 24, 34, 35) Nevertheless, individuals could return to God’s favor and even return from exile.