PSALMS 142-150 | Treasures from God’s Word: week starting September 26–October 2

BIBLICAL TEXTS AND REFERENCES: TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | PSALMS 142-150

“JEHOVAH IS GREAT AND MOST WORTHY OF PRAISE”: (10 MIN.)

145:1-5
In observing that Jehovah’s greatness is without limits, David was motivated to praise Him forever
145:10-12
Like David, Jehovah’s loyal servants are moved to make His mighty acts a regular part of their conversations
145:14
David was convinced of Jehovah’s desire and ability to care for all of His servants

Ps 145:1-9—Jehovah’s greatness is without limits (w04 1/15 10 ¶3-4; 11 ¶7-8; 14 ¶20-21; 15 ¶2)

New World Translation Psalm 145:1-9
145 I will exalt you, O my God the King,
I will praise your name forever and ever.
ב [Beth]
2 All day long I will praise you;
I will praise your name forever and ever.
ג [Gimel]
3 Jehovah is great and most worthy of praise;
His greatness is unsearchable.
ד [Daleth]
4 Generation after generation will praise your works;
They will tell about your mighty acts.
ה [He]
5 Of the glorious splendor of your majesty they will speak
And on your wonderful works I will meditate.
ו [Waw]
6 They will speak about your awe-inspiring deeds,
And I will declare your greatness.
ז [Zayin]
7 They will bubble over as they recall your abundant goodness,
And they will shout joyfully because of your righteousness.
ח [Heth]
8 Jehovah is compassionate and merciful,
Slow to anger and great in loyal love.
ט [Teth]
9 Jehovah is good to all,
And his mercy is evident in all his works.
The Watchtower (2004) Jehovah’s Greatness Is Unsearchable
3. (a) What view did David have of Israel’s kingship? (b) To what extent did David desire to praise Jehovah?
3 Although David was God’s appointed king, he viewed Jehovah as the true King of Israel. Said David: “Yours is the kingdom, O Jehovah, the One also lifting yourself up as head over all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11) And how David appreciated God as Ruler! “I will exalt you, O my God the King,” he sang, “and I will bless your name to time indefinite, even forever. All day long I will bless you, and I will praise your name to time indefinite, even forever.” (Psalm 145:1, 2) It was David’s desire to praise Jehovah God throughout the day and for all eternity.
4. Psalm 145 exposes what false claims?
4 Psalm 145 is a powerful answer to Satan’s claim that God is a selfish ruler who withholds freedom from his creatures. (Genesis 3:1-5) This psalm also exposes Satan’s lie that those who obey God do so only for what they can get out of it, not because they love God. (Job 1:9-11; 2:4, 5) Like David, true Christians today are supplying an answer to the Devil’s false charges. They treasure their hope of everlasting life under Kingdom rule because they desire to praise Jehovah throughout eternity. Already, millions have started to do so by exercising faith in Jesus’ ransom sacrifice and by serving Jehovah obediently out of love as his dedicated, baptized worshipers.—Romans 5:8; 1 John 5:3.
The Watchtower (2004) Jehovah’s Greatness Is Unsearchable
20, 21. (a) Psalm 145:7-9 magnifies Jehovah’s greatness in connection with what qualities? (b) What effect do God’s qualities mentioned here have on all who love him?
20 As we have noted, the first six verses of Psalm 145:1-6 give us sound reasons to praise Jehovah for things associated with his unsearchable greatness. Ps 145 Verses 7 to 9 magnify God’s greatness by referring to his moral qualities. David sings: “With the mention of the abundance of your goodness they will bubble over, and because of your righteousness they will cry out joyfully. Jehovah is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and great in loving-kindness. Jehovah is good to all, and his mercies are over all his works.”
21 Here David first highlights Jehovah’s goodness and righteousness—qualities called into question by Satan the Devil. What effect do these qualities have on all who love God and submit to his rulership? Why, Jehovah’s goodness and his righteous way of ruling bring such joy to his worshipers that they cannot stop bubbling forth his praise. Moreover, Jehovah’s goodness extends “to all.” Hopefully, this will help many more to repent and become worshipers of the true God before it is too late.—Acts 14:15-17.

Ps 145:10-13—Jehovah’s loyal ones give him praise (w04 1/15 16 ¶3-6)

New World Translation Psalm 145:10-13
10 All your works will glorify you, O Jehovah,
And your loyal ones will praise you.
כ [Kaph]
11 They will proclaim the glory of your kingship
And speak about your mightiness,
ל [Lamed]
12 To make known to men your mighty acts
And the glorious splendor of your kingship.
מ [Mem]
13 Your kingship is an eternal kingship,
And your dominion endures throughout all generations.
The Watchtower (2004) Jehovah Is Great in Loyal Love
3, 4. (a) How does Psalm 145 help us to identify Jehovah’s loyal ones? (b) How do God’s loyal ones “bless” him?
3 Regarding Jehovah God, the prophet Samuel’s mother, Hannah, said: “The feet of his loyal ones he guards.” (1 Samuel 2:9) Who are such “loyal ones”? King David supplies the answer. After extolling Jehovah’s marvelous qualities, he states: “Your loyal ones will bless you.” (Psalm 145:10) You may wonder how humans can bless God. They do so primarily by praising him or by speaking well of him.
4 Jehovah’s loyal ones can be identified as those who use their mouths to speak well of him. In social settings and at Christian meetings, what is a common theme of their discussions? Why, it is Jehovah’s Kingdom! God’s loyal servants share the sentiments of David, who sang: “About the glory of your [Jehovah’s] kingship they will talk, and about your mightiness they will speak.”—Psalm 145:11.
5. How do we know that Jehovah takes note when his loyal ones speak well of him?
5 Does Jehovah take note when his loyal ones praise him? Yes, he pays attention to what they say. In a prophecy relating to true worship in our day, Malachi wrote: “At that time those in fear of Jehovah spoke with one another, each one with his companion, and Jehovah kept paying attention and listening. And a book of remembrance began to be written up before him for those in fear of Jehovah and for those thinking upon his name.” (Malachi 3:16) It pleases Jehovah very much when his loyal ones speak well of him, and he remembers them.
6. What activity helps us to identify God’s loyal ones?
6 Jehovah’s loyal servants can also be identified by their courage and initiative in speaking to people who are not worshipers of the true God. Indeed, God’s loyal ones “make known to the sons of men his mighty acts and the glory of the splendor of his kingship.” (Psalm 145:12) Do you seek and take full advantage of opportunities to speak to strangers about Jehovah’s kingship? Unlike human governments, which will soon pass away, his kingship is eternal. (1 Timothy 1:17) It is urgent that people learn about Jehovah’s everlasting kingship and take their stand as its supporters. “Your kingship is a kingship for all times indefinite,” sang David, “and your dominion is throughout all successive generations.”—Psalm 145:13.

Ps 145:14-16—Jehovah supports and sustains his loyal ones (w04 1/15 17-18 ¶10-14)

New World Translation Psalm 145:14-16
14 Jehovah supports all who are falling
And raises up all who are bowed down.
ע [Ayin]
15 All eyes look hopefully to you;
You give them their food in its season.
פ [Pe]
16 You open your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.
The Watchtower (2004) Jehovah Is Great in Loyal Love
10 Of course, some human rulers are sincerely concerned about the welfare of their subjects. But even the most noble among them do not know their subjects intimately. Indeed, we may ask: Is there any ruler who cares for all his subjects so much that he quickly comes to the aid of each one in times of trouble? Yes, there is. David wrote: “Jehovah is giving support to all who are falling, and is raising up all who are bowed down.”—Psalm 145:14.
11. What trials befall God’s loyal ones, and what help do they have?
11 Many trials and calamities befall Jehovah God’s loyal ones because of their own imperfection and because they live in a world that is lying in the power of Satan, “the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19; Psalm 34:19) Christians experience persecution. Some suffer from chronic illness or because of bereavement. At times, the mistakes of Jehovah’s loyal ones may cause them to ‘bow down’ in discouragement. Whatever trial befalls them, however, Jehovah is always ready to give comfort and spiritual strength to each one of them. The King Jesus Christ has the same loving interest in his loyal subjects.—Psalm 72:12-14.
Satisfying Food in Season
12, 13. How well does Jehovah provide for the needs of “every living thing”?
12 Out of his great loving-kindness, Jehovah provides for all the needs of his servants. This includes satisfying them with nourishing food. King David wrote: “To you [Jehovah] the eyes of all look hopefully, and you are giving them their food in its season. You are opening your hand and satisfying the desire of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:15, 16) Even in times of calamity, Jehovah can maneuver matters so that his loyal ones get “bread for the day.”—Luke 11:3; 12:29, 30.
13 David mentioned that “every living thing” gets satisfied. That includes the animals. If it were not for earth’s abundant vegetation of the land and plants of the sea, aquatic creatures, birds, and land animals would have no oxygen to breathe or food to eat. (Psalm 104:14) However, Jehovah sees to it that all their needs are satisfied.
14, 15. How is spiritual food being provided today?
14 Unlike animals, humans have a spiritual need. (Matthew 5:3) How wonderfully Jehovah satisfies the spiritual needs of his loyal ones! Before his death, Jesus promised that “the faithful and discreet slave” would provide Jesus’ followers with spiritual “food at the proper time.” (Matthew 24:45) The remnant of the 144,000 anointed ones make up that slave class today. Through them, Jehovah has indeed provided spiritual food in abundance.

DIGGING FOR SPIRITUAL GEMS: (8 MIN.)

Ps 143:8—How does this verse help us to live each day to God’s glory? (w10 1/15 21 ¶1-2)

New World Translation Psalm 143:8
8 Let me hear your loyal love in the morning,
For I trust in you.
Make known to me the way I should walk,
For to you I turn.
The Watchtower (2010) Use Each Day of Your Life for God’s Glory
“IN THE morning cause me to hear your loving-kindness,” prayed the psalmist David to Jehovah. “Make known to me the way in which I should walk.” (Ps. 143:8) When you wake up and thank Jehovah for a new day of life, do you, like David, entreat Jehovah to guide you in making decisions and taking the best course of action? No doubt you do.
As dedicated servants of Jehovah, “whether [we] are eating or drinking or doing anything else,” we strive to “do all things for God’s glory.” (1 Cor. 10:31) We realize that the way we live our daily life will either honor or dishonor Jehovah. We also remember that God’s Word states that Satan is accusing Christ’s brothers—and, in fact, all of God’s servants on earth—“day and night.” (Rev. 12:10) Therefore, we are determined to give a reply to Satan’s false accusations and to make Jehovah’s heart rejoice by rendering sacred service to our heavenly Father “day and night.”—Rev. 7:15; Prov. 27:11.

Ps 150:6—What obligation does the last verse in the book of Psalms emphasize? (it-2 448)

New World Translation Psalm 150:6
6 Every breathing thing—let it praise Jah.
Praise Jah!
Insight, Volume 2 Mouth
MOUTH
An organ designed by God to receive and prepare food for the stomach, also, in humans, for speaking. All speech should result in praise to Him. (Ps 34:1; 51:15; 71:8; 145:21) The psalmist declared that everything that has breath will praise Jehovah; therefore humans must use their mouths to do this if they desire to live. The apostle Paul explains that belief in God and his Son, even believing with the heart, is not enough. It has to be accompanied by public declaration in order to bring salvation.—Ps 150:6; Ro 10:10.
In harmony with his purpose and his right and power as Creator, Jehovah can put the proper words into the mouth of his servant. In the case of his prophets, he did so miraculously, by inspiration. (Ex 4:11, 12, 15; Jer 1:9) In one instance he caused even a dumb animal, an ass, to speak. (Nu 22:28, 30; 2Pe 2:15, 16) Today God’s servants can have his words in their mouths, not by inspiration, but from his inspired written Word, which equips them completely for every good work. (2Ti 3:16, 17) They no longer have to wait for Christ to come to provide the good news, nor do they need to go to some other source for what they preach. They have it right before them, ready for them to speak, as they are told: “The word is near you, in your own mouth and in your own heart.”—Ro 10:6-9; De 30:11-14.
Can Bring Life or Death. It follows that the proper use of the mouth is vital, and so Jehovah declares it to be. His Word says: “The mouth of the righteous one is a source of life.” (Pr 10:11) The mouth, therefore, has to be guarded most carefully (Ps 141:3; Pr 13:3; 21:23), for stupid misuse of it can bring its owner to ruin. (Pr 10:14; 18:7) God holds a person accountable for what he brings forth from his mouth. (Mt 12:36, 37) A person may speak hastily, making a rash vow. (Ec 5:4-6) He may flatter another, to that person’s overthrow and his own condemnation. (Pr 26:28) It is especially important to guard one’s mouth when before the wicked, because a slight deviation from what God’s wisdom directs his servant to say can bring reproach on God’s name and may cause that one’s death. (Ps 39:1) Jesus gave a fine example of submissiveness to God’s will without complaint or any reviling of his wicked opposers.—Isa 53:7; Ac 8:32; 1Pe 2:23.
The Christian must exercise constant vigilance, for he is imperfect; therefore he needs to watch his heart. Jesus said that it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes forth from the mouth, for “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Mt 12:34; 15:11) Thus one must be careful not to let anything come forth from the mouth without thought, without considering the consequences. This requires that the person use his mind to apply the good things learned from God’s Word.—Pr 13:3; 21:23.

What does this week’s Bible reading teach me about Jehovah?

What points from this week’s Bible reading can I use in the field ministry?

PSALMS 142-150 | SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR PERSONAL COMMENTS

PSALM 142:SUPERSCRIPTION)
“Masʹkil. Of David when he was in the cave. A prayer.”
it-1 p. 423 Cave
To escape the wrath of Saul, David took refuge in a cave near Adullam and was there joined by “about four hundred men.” (1Sa 22:1, 2) Again pursued by Saul, David concealed himself in a cave in the wilderness of En-gedi, and it was here that David cut off the skirt of Saul’s coat when he “came in to ease nature.” (1Sa 24:1-15) It may have been David’s experiences on these two occasions that prompted him to compose Psalms 57 and 142, as their superscriptions show.
it-2 p. 855 Samuel, Books of
Psalm 142 may reflect David’s thoughts while hiding from Saul in the cave of Adullam (1Sa 22:1) or in the cave in the Wilderness of En-gedi. (1Sa 24:1, 3)
w11 9/15 p. 10 pars. 14-15 Jehovah Is My Share
Young David, the future king of Israel, called God his “share in the land of the living ones.” (Read Psalm 142:1, 5.) At the time that David composed this psalm, he was not in a palace or even in a house. He was in a cave, hiding from his enemies. On at least two occasions, David took refuge in caves—one near Adullam and the other in the wilderness of En-gedi. He may well have composed Psalm 142 in one of those caves.
15 If that was the case, King Saul was the one hounding David, seeking to take his life. David fled to a cave that was hard to approach. (1 Sam. 22:1, 4) In this remote region, it might have seemed to David that no friend was at his side to give him protective support. (Ps. 142:4) That was when David called out to God.
PSALM 142:5)
“I call to you, O Jehovah, for help. I say: “You are my refuge, All I have in the land of the living.””
w11 9/15 pp. 10-11 pars. 14-17 Jehovah Is My Share
Young David, the future king of Israel, called God his “share in the land of the living ones.” (Read Psalm 142:1, 5.) At the time that David composed this psalm, he was not in a palace or even in a house. He was in a cave, hiding from his enemies. On at least two occasions, David took refuge in caves—one near Adullam and the other in the wilderness of En-gedi. He may well have composed Psalm 142 in one of those caves.
15 If that was the case, King Saul was the one hounding David, seeking to take his life. David fled to a cave that was hard to approach. (1 Sam. 22:1, 4) In this remote region, it might have seemed to David that no friend was at his side to give him protective support. (Ps. 142:4) That was when David called out to God.
16 By the time David composed Psalm 142, he may have learned what had befallen High Priest Ahimelech, who had unwittingly given him assistance when he was fleeing from Saul. Jealous King Saul had Ahimelech and his household killed. (1 Sam. 22:11, 18, 19) David felt responsible for their deaths. It was as if he had killed the priest who had helped him. If you had been in David’s position, would you have felt responsible? Adding to David’s stress was the fact that he had no rest because Saul kept on pursuing him.
17 Soon thereafter came the death of the prophet Samuel, who had anointed David to be the future king. (1 Sam. 25:1) That could have added to David’s feelings of helplessness. Yet, David knew whom he could turn to for help—to Jehovah. David did not have the same privilege of service as the Levites, but he had already been anointed to perform another type of service, eventually to be the king of God’s people. (1 Sam. 16:1, 13) Hence, David poured out his heart to Jehovah and continued to look to God for direction. You too can and should have Him as your share and your refuge as you exert yourself in his service.
PSALM 142:7)
“Bring me out of the dungeon To praise your name. May the righteous gather around me Because you deal kindly with me.”
it-1 p. 659 Dungeon
DUNGEON
A dark, small room, usually underground, used as a prison. The Hebrew word for “dungeon” (mas•gerʹ) comes from a root meaning “shut; close.” (Ge 19:6; Jg 3:23) David felt as though he were in a dungeon at the time he was hiding in a cave as an outlaw refugee from King Saul. His circumstances looked very dark, his life was constantly in danger, traps were in his pathway, and there was no other place to flee. He prayed to Jehovah for liberation. (Ps 142:7)
w87 3/15 p. 25 Happy God, Happy People!
♦ 142:7—Why did David think his soul was in a “dungeon”?
He felt all alone with his problems, as in a dark, dangerous dungeon, misunderstood and separated from all humans. When we have similar feelings and think that our “right hand” is open to attack, we can confidently call out to Jehovah for help.—Psalm 142:3-7.
PSALM 143:1)
“O Jehovah, hear my prayer; Listen to my plea for help. In your faithfulness and in your righteousness, answer me.”
w96 12/15 p. 11 par. 9 What Is Paramount in Your Life?
9 Though a sinful mortal, David had faith that Jehovah would give ear to his entreaty. He humbly pleaded: “O Jehovah, hear my prayer; do give ear to my entreaty. In your faithfulness answer me in your righteousness. And do not enter into judgment with your servant; for before you no one alive can be righteous.” (Psalm 143:1, 2) David was conscious of his imperfection, yet his heart was complete toward God. Thus, he was confident that he would receive an answer in righteousness. Does this not encourage us? Even though we fall short of God’s righteousness, we can be confident that he hears us if our hearts are complete toward him. (Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 5:14) While persevering in prayer, we must be intent on “conquering the evil with the good” in these wicked days.—Romans 12:20, 21; James 4:7.
PSALM 143:2)
“Do not enter into judgment with your servant, For no one living can be righteous before you.”
it-1 p. 606 Declare Righteous
God Proved Righteous in All His Acts. It can be seen that in his dealings with imperfect humans, God never violates his own standards of righteousness and justice. He does not declare sinful persons righteous on their own merit, thereby overlooking or condoning sin. (Ps 143:1, 2)
w96 12/15 p. 11 par. 9 What Is Paramount in Your Life?
9 Though a sinful mortal, David had faith that Jehovah would give ear to his entreaty. He humbly pleaded: “O Jehovah, hear my prayer; do give ear to my entreaty. In your faithfulness answer me in your righteousness. And do not enter into judgment with your servant; for before you no one alive can be righteous.” (Psalm 143:1, 2) David was conscious of his imperfection, yet his heart was complete toward God. Thus, he was confident that he would receive an answer in righteousness. Does this not encourage us? Even though we fall short of God’s righteousness, we can be confident that he hears us if our hearts are complete toward him. (Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 5:14) While persevering in prayer, we must be intent on “conquering the evil with the good” in these wicked days.—Romans 12:20, 21; James 4:7.
PSALM 143:3)
“For the enemy pursues me; He has crushed my life into the ground. He has caused me to dwell in darkness like those long dead.”
w96 12/15 p. 11 pars. 10-11 What Is Paramount in Your Life?
10 David had enemies, just as we do. Whether as a fugitive from Saul, forced to seek refuge in lonely, inaccessible places, or as a king harassed by enemies, David had his anxious periods. He described how this affected him: “The enemy has pursued my soul . . . He has caused me to dwell in dark places . . . And my spirit faints away within me; in the midst of me my heart shows itself numbed.” (Psalm 143:3, 4) Have you had reason to feel similarly?
11 Enemy pressure, trials because of severe economic hardship, serious illness, or other worrisome problems have led some of God’s people to feel that their spirit would give out. On occasion their hearts too have been as if numb. It is as if individually they have cried: “Because you have made me see many distresses and calamities, may you revive me again . . . May you surround and comfort me.” (Psalm 71:20, 21) How have they been helped?
PSALM 143:4)
“My spirit is failing; My heart is numb within me.”
w96 12/15 p. 11 pars. 10-11 What Is Paramount in Your Life?
10 David had enemies, just as we do. Whether as a fugitive from Saul, forced to seek refuge in lonely, inaccessible places, or as a king harassed by enemies, David had his anxious periods. He described how this affected him: “The enemy has pursued my soul . . . He has caused me to dwell in dark places . . . And my spirit faints away within me; in the midst of me my heart shows itself numbed.” (Psalm 143:3, 4) Have you had reason to feel similarly?
11 Enemy pressure, trials because of severe economic hardship, serious illness, or other worrisome problems have led some of God’s people to feel that their spirit would give out. On occasion their hearts too have been as if numb. It is as if individually they have cried: “Because you have made me see many distresses and calamities, may you revive me again . . . May you surround and comfort me.” (Psalm 71:20, 21) How have they been helped?
PSALM 143:5)
“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all your activity; I eagerly ponder over the work of your hands.”
w96 12/15 pp. 11-12 pars. 12-16 What Is Paramount in Your Life?
12 Psalm 143:5 indicates what David did when beset with danger and great trials: “I have remembered days of long ago; I have meditated on all your activity; I willingly kept myself concerned with the work of your own hands.” David called to mind God’s dealings with His servants and how he himself had experienced deliverance. He meditated on what Jehovah had done for the sake of His great name. Yes, David kept himself concerned with God’s works.
13 Have we not often recalled God’s dealings with his people? Surely! This includes the record made by the ‘great cloud of witnesses’ in pre-Christian times. (Hebrews 11:32-38; 12:1) Anointed Christians in the first century were also encouraged to “keep on remembering the former days” and what they had endured. (Hebrews 10:32-34) What about the experiences of God’s servants in modern times, such as those recounted in Jehovah’s Witnesses—Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom? Accounts documented there and elsewhere enable us to recall how Jehovah has helped his people to endure bans, imprisonments, mob action, and concentration and slave-labor camps. There have been trials in war-torn lands, such as Burundi, Liberia, Rwanda, and the former Yugoslavia. When opposition manifested itself, God’s servants endured because of maintaining a strong relationship with Jehovah. His hand sustained those who made the doing of his will paramount in their lives.
14 However, you may respond that you have not experienced such brutal abuse, and you may feel that it is unlikely that you ever will. God’s support of his people, though, has not always been in what some might view as dramatic circumstances. He has supported many “average” individuals in “normal” circumstances. Here is just one of many examples: The Watchtower of December 1, 1996, contained an account told by Penelope Makris. What a splendid example of Christian integrity! Can you call to mind what she endured from neighbors, how she battled severe infirmities, and what efforts she put forth to stay in the full-time ministry? What about her rewarding experience in Mytilene? The point is, Do you see such examples as helps for all of us in setting priorities, putting the doing of God’s will first in our lives?
15 It strengthens us to meditate on Jehovah’s activities, as David did. In working out his purpose, Jehovah made provision for salvation through his Son’s death, resurrection, and glorification. (1 Timothy 3:16) He has established his heavenly Kingdom, cleared the heavens of Satan and his demons, and restored true worship here on earth. (Revelation 12:7-12) He has built up a spiritual paradise and has blessed his people with increase. (Isaiah 35:1-10; 60:22) His people are now giving a final witness before the outbreak of the great tribulation. (Revelation 14:6, 7) Yes, we have much on which to meditate.
16 Keeping ourselves concerned with the work of God’s hands rather than becoming preoccupied with human endeavors impresses upon us that Jehovah’s applied power is irresistible. Those works, though, are not limited to the wonderful physical works of creation in the heavens and here upon the earth. (Job 37:14; Psalm 19:1; 104:24) His wonderful works include acts of deliverance for his people from enemy oppressors, as demonstrated in the experiences of his ancient chosen people.—Exodus 14:31; 15:6.
PSALM 143:6)
“I spread out my hands to you; I am like a parched land that thirsts for you. Selah)”
w96 12/15 p. 13 par. 17 What Is Paramount in Your Life?
17 David prayed for aid lest life’s moisture dry up in him: “I have spread out my hands to you; my soul is like an exhausted land to you. O hurry, answer me, O Jehovah. My spirit has come to an end. Do not conceal your face from me, or else I must become comparable with those going down into the pit.” (Psalm 143:6, 7) David, a sinner, knew that God was aware of his situation. (Psalm 31:7) At times we too may feel that our spirituality has reached a low ebb. But the situation is not hopeless. Jehovah, who hears our prayers, may speed up our restoration by refreshing us through loving elders, articles in The Watchtower, or meeting parts that seem designed just for us.—Isaiah 32:1, 2.
PSALM 143:7)
“Do answer me quickly, O Jehovah; My strength has come to an end. Do not hide your face from me, Or I will be like those going down into the pit.”
w96 12/15 p. 13 par. 17 What Is Paramount in Your Life?
17 David prayed for aid lest life’s moisture dry up in him: “I have spread out my hands to you; my soul is like an exhausted land to you. O hurry, answer me, O Jehovah. My spirit has come to an end. Do not conceal your face from me, or else I must become comparable with those going down into the pit.” (Psalm 143:6, 7) David, a sinner, knew that God was aware of his situation. (Psalm 31:7) At times we too may feel that our spirituality has reached a low ebb. But the situation is not hopeless. Jehovah, who hears our prayers, may speed up our restoration by refreshing us through loving elders, articles in The Watchtower, or meeting parts that seem designed just for us.—Isaiah 32:1, 2.
PSALM 143:8)
“Let me hear your loyal love in the morning, For I trust in you. Make known to me the way I should walk, For to you I turn.”
w10 1/15 p. 21 Use Each Day of Your Life for God’s Glory
“IN THE morning cause me to hear your loving-kindness,” prayed the psalmist David to Jehovah. “Make known to me the way in which I should walk.” (Ps. 143:8) When you wake up and thank Jehovah for a new day of life, do you, like David, entreat Jehovah to guide you in making decisions and taking the best course of action? No doubt you do.
w96 12/15 p. 13 par. 18 What Is Paramount in Your Life?
18 Our trust in Jehovah moves us to entreat him: “Cause me to hear your loving-kindness, for in you I have put my trust. Make known to me the way in which I should walk.” (Psalm 143:8) Did he fail Sister Makris, who was isolated on a Greek isle? So will he fail you as you make the doing of his will the paramount thing in your life?
PSALM 143:9)
“Rescue me from my enemies, O Jehovah. I seek your protection.”
w96 12/15 p. 13 par. 18 What Is Paramount in Your Life?
The Devil and his agents would like to hinder or completely stop our work of proclaiming God’s Kingdom. Whether we serve in lands where true worship is generally allowed or we serve where it is suppressed, our united prayers harmonize with David’s petition: “Deliver me from my enemies, O Jehovah. I have taken cover even with you.” (Psalm 143:9) Our security against spiritual calamity lies in dwelling in the secret place of the Most High.—Psalm 91:1.
PSALM 143:10)
“Teach me to do your will, For you are my God. Your spirit is good; May it lead me on level ground.”
w96 12/15 pp. 14-19 Taught to Do Jehovah’s Will
Taught to Do Jehovah’s Will
“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.”—PSALM 143:10.
EVERY day that a person is alive and active, he can be taught something worthwhile. That is true in your case, and it is true of others. But what happens at death? It is not possible to be taught anything or to learn in that condition. The Bible clearly says that the dead “are conscious of nothing at all.” There is no knowledge in Sheol, the common grave of mankind. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10) Does this mean that our being taught, accumulating knowledge, is in vain? That depends on what we are taught and on how we use that knowledge.
2 If we are taught only what is worldly, we have no lasting future. Happily, though, millions of people in all nations are being taught the divine will with a view to everlasting life. The basis for this hope lies in being taught by Jehovah, the Source of life-giving knowledge.—Psalm 94:9-12.
3 God’s firstborn Son, as His first student, was taught to do his Father’s will. (Proverbs 8:22-30; John 8:28) In turn, Jesus indicated that myriads of humans would be taught by his Father. What are the prospects for those of us who learn from God? Jesus said: “It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by Jehovah.’ Everyone that has heard from the Father and has learned comes to me. . . . Most truly I say to you, He that believes has everlasting life.”—John 6:45-47.
4 Jesus was quoting from Isaiah 54:13, which was addressed to God’s symbolic woman, heavenly Zion. That prophecy has particular application to her sons, the 144,000 spirit-begotten disciples of Jesus Christ. A remnant of those spiritual sons is active today, spearheading a global teaching program. As a result, millions of others who make up “a great crowd” also benefit from being taught by Jehovah. They have the unique prospect of learning without death interrupting the process. How so? Well, they are in line to survive the fast-approaching “great tribulation” and to enjoy everlasting life on a paradise earth.—Revelation 7:9, 10, 13-17.
Greater Emphasis on Doing God’s Will
5 During 1997, in over 80,000 congregations worldwide, Jehovah’s Witnesses will keep close in mind the opening words of Psalm 143:10: “Teach me to do your will.” That will be the yeartext for 1997. Those words, prominently displayed in Kingdom Halls, will serve as a reminder that an outstanding place to receive divine education is at congregation meetings, where we can share in an ongoing program of instruction. When joining our brothers at meetings to be taught by our Grand Instructor, we can feel as the psalmist, who wrote: “I rejoiced when they were saying to me: ‘To the house of Jehovah let us go.’”—Psalm 122:1; Isaiah 30:20.
6 Yes, we desire to be taught to do God’s will rather than the will of our adversary the Devil or the will of imperfect humans. So, like David, we acknowledge the God whom we worship and serve: “For you are my God. Your spirit is good; may it lead me in the land of uprightness.” (Psalm 143:10) Instead of wanting to mix with men of untruth, David preferred to be where Jehovah’s worship was carried on. (Psalm 26:4-6) With God’s spirit to direct his steps, David could tread in the tracks of righteousness.—Psalm 17:5; 23:3.
7 The Greater David, Jesus Christ, assured the apostles that the holy spirit would teach them all things and bring back to their minds all the things he had told them. (John 14:26) From Pentecost onward, Jehovah has progressively been revealing “the deep things of God” contained in his written Word. (1 Corinthians 2:10-13) This he has done through a visible channel that Jesus termed “the faithful and discreet slave.” It provides spiritual food that is considered in the teaching program for congregations of God’s people worldwide.—Matthew 24:45-47.
Taught Jehovah’s Will at Our Meetings
8 Material in the weekly congregation Watchtower Study frequently deals with the application of Bible principles. This certainly helps us to cope with life’s anxieties. In other studies profound spiritual truths or Bible prophecies are considered. How much we are taught during such studies! In many lands Kingdom Halls are filled to capacity for these meetings. Yet in a number of countries, meeting attendance has declined. Why, do you think? Might some be allowing secular work to interfere with their assembling together regularly “to incite to love and fine works”? Or might many hours be spent in social activities or in watching television, making the schedule seem too tight to get to all the meetings? Recall the inspired injunction at Hebrews 10:23-25. Is not gathering together for divine instruction even more important now as we “behold the day drawing near”?
9 One of our foremost responsibilities is that of serving as God’s ministers. The Service Meeting is designed to teach us how we can accomplish this effectively. We learn how to approach people, what to say, the way to react when there is a favorable response, and even what to do when people reject our message. (Luke 10:1-11) As effective methods are discussed and demonstrated in this weekly meeting, we are better prepared to reach people not only when going from house to house but also when preaching on the streets, in parking lots, on public transportation, at airports, at businesses, or in schools. In line with our request, “Teach me to do your will,” we will want to take advantage of every opportunity to do as our Master urged: “Let your light shine before men, that they may . . . give glory to your Father who is in the heavens.”—Matthew 5:16.
10 At such congregation meetings, we are also taught to make disciples of others. Once interest is found or literature is placed, our aim when making return visits is to start home Bible studies. In a sense, this is similar to the disciples’ ‘staying with deserving ones’ so as to teach them the things that Jesus had commanded. (Matthew 10:11; 28:19, 20) Having excellent helps, such as the book Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life, we really are well equipped to accomplish our ministry thoroughly. (2 Timothy 4:5) Each week as you attend the Service Meeting and Theocratic Ministry School, endeavor to grasp and then use helpful points that will recommend you as one of God’s adequately qualified ministers, carrying out his will.—2 Corinthians 3:3, 5; 4:1, 2.
11 It is God’s will that we “keep on . . . seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33) Ask yourself, ‘How would I apply this principle if demands at my [or my mate’s] secular job interfered with meeting attendance?’ Many spiritually mature ones would take steps to speak to their employers about the matter. One full-time minister let her employer know that she needed to have time off each week in order to attend congregation meetings. He granted the request. But being curious about what takes place at the meetings, he asked to attend. There he heard an announcement concerning an upcoming district convention. As a result, the employer arranged to spend an entire day at the convention. What lesson do you draw from this example?
Taught Jehovah’s Will by Godly Parents
12 But congregation meetings and conventions are not the only provision for being taught to do the divine will. Godly parents are commanded to train, discipline, and bring up their children to praise Jehovah and do his will. (Psalm 148:12, 13; Proverbs 22:6, 15) Doing so requires that we take our “little ones” to meetings where they can ‘listen and learn,’ but what about teaching them from the holy writings at home? (Deuteronomy 31:12; 2 Timothy 3:15) Many families have conscientiously begun programs of regular family Bible study, only to allow these to fade or fall into neglect before long. Have you had such an experience? Will you conclude that the recommendation to have such a regular study is misdirected or that your family is so different that it just will not work in your case? Whatever the situation, you parents please review the fine articles “Our Rich Spiritual Heritage” and “The Rewards of Persistence” in The Watchtower of August 1, 1995.
13 Families are encouraged to make a habit of considering the daily text from Examining the Scriptures Daily. Just reading the text and comments is good, but discussing the text and applying it is more beneficial. For example, if considering Ephesians 5:15-17, family members could reason on how to ‘buy out opportune time’ for personal study, to share in some form of the full-time ministry, and to care for other theocratic assignments. Yes, a family discussion of the daily text could lead one or many to “go on perceiving [more fully] what the will of Jehovah is.”
14 Parents must be assiduous teachers of their children. (Deuteronomy 6:6, 7) But it is not simply a matter of lecturing or commanding their offspring. Father and mother also need to listen, in that way being better able to know what needs to be explained, clarified, illustrated, or repeated. In one Christian family, the parents stimulate open communication by encouraging their children to ask questions about things that they do not understand or that cause concern. They thus learned that a teenage son had difficulty comprehending that Jehovah does not have a beginning. The parents were able to use information from the Watch Tower Society’s publications showing that time and space are accepted as endless. That served to illustrate the point, and it satisfied their son. So take time to answer clearly and from the Scriptures your children’s questions, helping them to see that learning to do God’s will can be very satisfying. What else are God’s people—young and old—being taught today?
Taught to Love and to Fight
15 In harmony with Jesus’ new command, we are “taught by God to love one another.” (1 Thessalonians 4:9) When things are tranquil and going well, we may feel that we do love all our brothers. Yet what happens when personal differences arise or we become offended because of what another Christian says or does? At this point the genuineness of our love may be put to the test. (Compare 2 Corinthians 8:8.) What does the Bible teach us to do in such situations? One thing is to strive to show love in the fullest sense. (1 Peter 4:8) Rather than looking for our own interests, getting provoked over minor shortcomings, or keeping an account of an injury, we should work at letting love cover a multitude of sins. (1 Corinthians 13:5) We know this is God’s will, for it is what his Word teaches.
16 While many would not link love and warfare, the latter is something else we are being taught, but a distinct type of warfare. David recognized his dependence on Jehovah to teach him how to carry on warfare, though in his time that included literal fighting against Israel’s enemies. (1 Samuel 17:45-51; 19:8; 1 Kings 5:3; Psalm 144:1) What about our fight today? Our weapons are not fleshly. (2 Corinthians 10:4) Ours is a spiritual fight, for which we need to be equipped with spiritual armor. (Ephesians 6:10-13) Through his Word and his congregated people, Jehovah teaches us to wage a successful spiritual fight.
17 In deceptive, subtle ways, the Devil often uses elements of the world, apostates, and other opposers of the truth in an effort to divert us to side issues. (1 Timothy 6:3-5, 11; Titus 3:9-11) It is as if he sees that he has little chance of overcoming us by a direct, frontal attack, so he tries to trip us by getting us to express our pet peeves and foolish questionings, which are bereft of spiritual substance. As vigilant warriors, we should be just as alert to such dangers as we are to frontal assaults.—1 Timothy 1:3, 4.
18 We do not promote the desires of men or the will of the nations. Jehovah has taught us through Jesus’ example that we must live no longer for ourselves; rather, we should be armed with the same mental disposition that Christ Jesus had and live for God’s will. (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15) In the past, we may have lived a very immoderate, profligate life, squandering precious time. Revelries, drinking matches, and immorality characterize this wicked world. Now that we are being taught to do God’s will, are we not grateful to be separated from this corrupt world? So let us wage a hard fight spiritually to avoid getting involved with defiling worldly practices.—1 Peter 4:1-3.
Teaching Us to Benefit Ourselves
19 It is imperative to recognize that being taught to do Jehovah’s will benefits us greatly. Understandably, we must do our part by paying close attention so as to learn and then follow the instructions that come to us through his Son as well as through his Word and congregated people. (Isaiah 48:17, 18; Hebrews 2:1) By our doing so, we will be fortified to stand firm in these calamitous times and weather the storms ahead. (Matthew 7:24-27) Even now, we will be pleasing God by doing his will and will be ensuring that our prayers are answered. (John 9:31; 1 John 3:22) And we will experience genuine happiness.—John 13:17.
20 During the course of 1997, we will frequently have opportunity to read and consider the yeartext, Psalm 143:10: “Teach me to do your will.” As we do this, let us use some of the occasions to reflect on the provisions that God has made for us to be taught, as set out above. And let us use such meditation on those words as a stimulus to act consistently with that entreaty, knowing that “he that does the will of God remains forever.”—1 John 2:17.
w92 9/15 p. 15 par. 8 Jehovah’s Spirit Leads His People
8 To benefit from God’s spirit, we must be as willing to follow its lead as David was. He prayed: “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Your spirit is good; may it lead me in the land of uprightness.” (Psalm 143:10) David, who had been outlawed by Israelite king Saul, wanted God’s spirit to lead him so that he would be sure his course was upright. In time Abiathar came with a priest’s ephod used in ascertaining God’s will. As God’s priestly representative, Abiathar instructed David as to the way to go in order to please Jehovah. (1 Samuel 22:17–23:12; 30:6-8) Like David, Jesus was led by Jehovah’s spirit, and this has also been true of Christ’s anointed followers as a class. In 1918-19, they were in an alienated position before human society, and their religious enemies thought they could destroy them. The anointed prayed for a way out of their inactive state, and in 1919, God answered their prayers, delivered them, and reactivated them in his service. (Psalm 143:7-9) Surely, Jehovah’s spirit was then helping and leading his people, as it does to this very day.
PSALM 144:5)
“O Jehovah, lower your heavens and descend; Touch the mountains and make them smoke.”
it-2 p. 444 Mount, Mountain
Of Jehovah, the psalmist says: “He touches the mountains, and they smoke.” (Ps 104:32; 144:5, 6) This may point to the fact that lightning can set mountain forests on fire, thereby causing a mountain to smoke.
PSALM 144:15)
“Happy is the people for whom it is this way! Happy is the people whose God is Jehovah!”
it-1 p. 871 Freedom
There is a distinction between limited freedom and bondage. Freedom within God-given limitations brings happiness; bondage to creatures, to imperfection, to weaknesses, or to wrong ideologies brings oppression and unhappiness. Freedom is also to be differentiated from self-determination, that is, ignoring God’s laws and determining for oneself what is right and what is wrong. Such leads to encroachments on the rights of others and causes trouble, as can be seen from the effects of the independent, self-willed spirit introduced to Adam and Eve by the Serpent in Eden. (Ge 3:4, 6, 11-19) True freedom is bounded by law, God’s law, which allows full expression of the individual in a proper, upbuilding, and beneficial way, and which recognizes the rights of others, contributing to happiness for all.—Ps 144:15; Lu 11:28; Jas 1:25.
it-2 p. 1038 Storehouse
Apparently King David referred to such material blessings for obedience at Psalm 144:13-15. After rescuing David and his people and giving them victory over their enemies, Jehovah’s blessing would include filling their storehouses with produce and giving them material prosperity. Showing that Jehovah was the true source of their prosperity and happiness, David concludes this psalm with the words, “Happy is the people whose God is Jehovah!”
w06 6/15 pp. 12-13 Yes, You Can Find Happiness
No human relationship, no material possession, and no personal accomplishment can bring the happiness that comes from belonging to “the people whose God is Jehovah.” (Psalm 144:15) The lives of numerous modern-day servants of God bear this out.
Susanne, in her early 40’s, is one example. She said: “Today, many join certain groups to achieve common goals or to share common interests. Seldom, however, do they view everyone in the group as a friend. With Jehovah’s people, it is different. Our love for Jehovah makes us have affection for one another. Among God’s people, we are at home, regardless of where we happen to be at the moment. This unity enriches our life enormously. Who else can lay claim to having friends from totally different social groups and backgrounds and of the widest variety of nationalities? With all my heart, I can say that belonging to Jehovah’s people is what results in happiness.”
w06 9/1 p. 13 Highlights From Book Five of Psalms
Jehovah’s Word Is Alive
Highlights From Book Five of Psalms
THE rich may say: “Our sons are like little plants grown up in their youth, our daughters like corners carved in palace style, our garners full, . . . our flocks multiplying by thousands.” Moreover, the wealthy may exclaim: “Happy is the people for whom it is just like that!” In contrast, however, the psalmist says: “Happy is the people whose God is Jehovah!” (Psalm 144:12-15) How could it be otherwise? Jehovah is the happy God, and happiness is the lot of those worshipping him. (1 Timothy 1:11)
w89 3/15 p. 6 Keep Searching as for Hid Treasures
Of course, when discussing a scripture, we should take note of the context. To illustrate this, let us consider Psalm 144:12-14. These verses represent some people as saying: ‘Our sons are like plants, our daughters like corners carved in palace style, our garners full, our flocks multiplying by thousands, our cattle loaded down with no abortion.’ We might think that these words apply to God’s people, but the context shows that they do not. In verse 11, the psalmist David pleads for deliverance from speakers of untruth. They boasted about their sons, daughters, flocks, and cattle. According to verse 15, such wrongdoers said: “Happy is the people for whom it is just like that!” To the contrary, however, David exclaimed: “Happy is the people whose God is Jehovah!”
PSALM 145:1)
“I will exalt you, O my God the King, I will praise your name forever and ever.”
w04 1/15 pp. 10-11 Jehovah’s Greatness Is Unsearchable
‘I Will Exalt God the King’
3 Although David was God’s appointed king, he viewed Jehovah as the true King of Israel. Said David: “Yours is the kingdom, O Jehovah, the One also lifting yourself up as head over all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11) And how David appreciated God as Ruler! “I will exalt you, O my God the King,” he sang, “and I will bless your name to time indefinite, even forever. All day long I will bless you, and I will praise your name to time indefinite, even forever.” (Psalm 145:1, 2) It was David’s desire to praise Jehovah God throughout the day and for all eternity.
4 Psalm 145 is a powerful answer to Satan’s claim that God is a selfish ruler who withholds freedom from his creatures. (Genesis 3:1-5) This psalm also exposes Satan’s lie that those who obey God do so only for what they can get out of it, not because they love God. (Job 1:9-11; 2:4, 5) Like David, true Christians today are supplying an answer to the Devil’s false charges. They treasure their hope of everlasting life under Kingdom rule because they desire to praise Jehovah throughout eternity. Already, millions have started to do so by exercising faith in Jesus’ ransom sacrifice and by serving Jehovah obediently out of love as his dedicated, baptized worshipers.—Romans 5:8; 1 John 5:3.
5 Think of our many opportunities to bless and praise Jehovah as his servants. We can do so in prayer when we are deeply touched by something we read in his Word, the Bible. Grateful praise and thankfulness can be expressed when we are moved by God’s way of dealing with his people or when we are thrilled by a certain aspect of his marvelous creation. We also bless Jehovah God when we discuss his purposes with fellow believers at Christian meetings or during private conversations. In fact, all “fine works” done in the interests of God’s Kingdom bring praise to Jehovah.—Matthew 5:16.
6 Recent examples of such fine works include the construction of many places of worship by Jehovah’s people in poverty-stricken lands. Much of this has been done with the financial assistance of fellow believers in other countries. Some Christians have provided help by voluntarily going to such areas in order to share in the construction of Kingdom Halls. And the most important of all fine works is to praise Jehovah by preaching the good news of his Kingdom. (Matthew 24:14) As later verses in Psalm 145 show, David appreciated God’s rulership and extolled His kingship. (Psalm 145:11, 12) Do you have similar appreciation for God’s loving way of ruling? And do you regularly speak to others about his Kingdom?
w90 9/15 p. 11 par. 3 Jehovah Deserves Eternal Praise
3 David was a king, but he acknowledged Jehovah’s sovereignty over him, saying: “I will exalt you, O my God the King, and I will bless your name to time indefinite, even forever.” (Psalm 145:1) With similar reverence, Jehovah’s Witnesses lift up the name of God and praise him earth wide. Our life is enriched as we share in such activity. Like David, we owe obedience and subjection to Jehovah as ‘our God the King.’ And why not? He is the “King of eternity.” (Revelation 15:3)
PSALM 145:2)
“All day long I will praise you; I will praise your name forever and ever.”
w04 1/15 pp. 10-11 Jehovah’s Greatness Is Unsearchable
‘I Will Exalt God the King’
3 Although David was God’s appointed king, he viewed Jehovah as the true King of Israel. Said David: “Yours is the kingdom, O Jehovah, the One also lifting yourself up as head over all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11) And how David appreciated God as Ruler! “I will exalt you, O my God the King,” he sang, “and I will bless your name to time indefinite, even forever. All day long I will bless you, and I will praise your name to time indefinite, even forever.” (Psalm 145:1, 2) It was David’s desire to praise Jehovah God throughout the day and for all eternity.
4 Psalm 145 is a powerful answer to Satan’s claim that God is a selfish ruler who withholds freedom from his creatures. (Genesis 3:1-5) This psalm also exposes Satan’s lie that those who obey God do so only for what they can get out of it, not because they love God. (Job 1:9-11; 2:4, 5) Like David, true Christians today are supplying an answer to the Devil’s false charges. They treasure their hope of everlasting life under Kingdom rule because they desire to praise Jehovah throughout eternity. Already, millions have started to do so by exercising faith in Jesus’ ransom sacrifice and by serving Jehovah obediently out of love as his dedicated, baptized worshipers.—Romans 5:8; 1 John 5:3.
5 Think of our many opportunities to bless and praise Jehovah as his servants. We can do so in prayer when we are deeply touched by something we read in his Word, the Bible. Grateful praise and thankfulness can be expressed when we are moved by God’s way of dealing with his people or when we are thrilled by a certain aspect of his marvelous creation. We also bless Jehovah God when we discuss his purposes with fellow believers at Christian meetings or during private conversations. In fact, all “fine works” done in the interests of God’s Kingdom bring praise to Jehovah.—Matthew 5:16.
6 Recent examples of such fine works include the construction of many places of worship by Jehovah’s people in poverty-stricken lands. Much of this has been done with the financial assistance of fellow believers in other countries. Some Christians have provided help by voluntarily going to such areas in order to share in the construction of Kingdom Halls. And the most important of all fine works is to praise Jehovah by preaching the good news of his Kingdom. (Matthew 24:14) As later verses in Psalm 145 show, David appreciated God’s rulership and extolled His kingship. (Psalm 145:11, 12) Do you have similar appreciation for God’s loving way of ruling? And do you regularly speak to others about his Kingdom?
w90 9/15 p. 11 par. 5 Jehovah Deserves Eternal Praise
5 If we truly love our Life-Giver, we will say with David: “All day long I will bless you, and I will praise your name to time indefinite, even forever.” (Psalm 145:2) How barren a day would be if we did not bless God! May we never be so busy or so anxious about material things that we fail to speak well of our heavenly Father or pray to him daily. Jesus implied that we should pray every day when he said in the model prayer: “Give us our bread for the day according to the day’s requirement.” (Luke 11:3) Many in full-time service praise God daily as they engage in the Christian ministry. But whatever our circumstances, our heart should move us to praise God in some way each day. And just think! As Jehovah’s dedicated Witnesses with the hope of eternal life, we have the grand prospect of praising his name forever.—John 17:3.
PSALM 145:3)
“Jehovah is great and most worthy of praise; His greatness is unsearchable.”
w04 1/15 pp. 11-13 Jehovah’s Greatness Is Unsearchable
Examples of God’s Greatness
7 Psalm 145:3 gives a major reason for praising Jehovah. David sings: “Jehovah is great and very much to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.” Jehovah’s greatness is without limits. It cannot be fully searched out, comprehended, or measured by humans. But we will certainly benefit from now considering examples of Jehovah’s unsearchable greatness.
8 Try to recall an occasion when you were away from bright city lights and looked up into a cloudless night sky. Were you not amazed at the multitude of stars visible against the blackness of space? Were you not moved to praise Jehovah for his greatness in creating all those celestial bodies? What you saw, however, was but a tiny fraction of the number of stars in the galaxy of which the earth is a part. In addition, there are estimated to be more than a hundred billion galaxies, only three of which can be seen without the aid of a telescope. Indeed, the countless stars and galaxies that make up the immense universe are a testimony to Jehovah’s creative power and unsearchable greatness.—Isaiah 40:26.
9 Consider other aspects of Jehovah’s greatness—those involving Jesus Christ. God’s greatness was shown in creating his Son and using him for aeons as His “master worker.” (Proverbs 8:22-31) The greatness of Jehovah’s love was manifested when he gave his only-begotten Son as a ransom sacrifice for mankind. (Matthew 20:28; John 3:16; 1 John 2:1, 2) And far beyond human comprehension is the glorious and immortal spirit body that Jehovah fashioned for Jesus at his resurrection.—1 Peter 3:18.
10 Jesus’ resurrection involved many impressive aspects of Jehovah’s unsearchable greatness. God undoubtedly restored Jesus’ memory regarding the work involved in the creation of both invisible and visible things. (Colossians 1:15, 16) These include other spirit creatures, the universe, the productive earth, and all forms of physical life on our globe. In addition to restoring his Son’s knowledge of the complete history of heavenly and earthly life witnessed during the Son’s prehuman existence, Jehovah added what Jesus had experienced as a perfect human. Yes, Jehovah’s unsearchable greatness is evident in Jesus’ resurrection. Moreover, that great act is a guarantee that the resurrection of others is possible. It should strengthen our faith that God can bring back to life the millions of dead people he holds within his perfect memory.—John 5:28, 29; Acts 17:31.
Wonderful Works and Mighty Acts
11 Since Jesus’ resurrection, Jehovah has performed many other great and wonderful works. (Psalm 40:5) At Pentecost 33 C.E., Jehovah brought into existence a new nation, “the Israel of God,” made up of Christ’s disciples who were anointed by holy spirit. (Galatians 6:16) In a mighty way, this new spiritual nation expanded throughout the then known world. Despite the apostasy that led to the development of Christendom after the death of Jesus’ apostles, Jehovah kept on performing wonderful works to ensure the fulfillment of his purpose.
12 For example, the Bible canon was preserved and eventually translated into all major languages on earth today. Bible translation was often carried out under difficult circumstances and under the threat of death from Satan’s agents. To be sure, Bible translation into over 2,000 languages could not have been accomplished if this had not been the will of the unsearchably great God, Jehovah!
13 Jehovah’s greatness has been manifested in connection with his Kingdom purposes. For instance, in the year 1914, he installed his Son, Jesus Christ, as heavenly King. Shortly thereafter, Jesus took action against Satan and his demons. They were ousted from heaven and confined to the vicinity of the earth, where they now await their abyssing. (Revelation 12:9-12; 20:1-3) Since then, Jesus’ anointed followers have experienced increased persecution. However, Jehovah has sustained them during this time of Christ’s invisible presence.—Matthew 24:3; Revelation 12:17.
14 In the year 1919, Jehovah performed another wonderful work that demonstrated his greatness. Jesus’ anointed followers, who had been reduced to a state of spiritual inactivity, were revived. (Revelation 11:3-11) In the years since then, the anointed have zealously preached the good news of the established heavenly Kingdom. Other anointed ones have been gathered in order to complete the number of 144,000. (Revelation 14:1-3) And by means of Christ’s anointed followers, Jehovah laid the foundation of “a new earth,” a righteous human society. (Revelation 21:1) But what will happen to the “new earth” after faithful anointed ones all go to heaven?
15 In 1935, the August 1 and August 15 issues of this journal contained key articles dealing with the “great crowd,” mentioned in Revelation chapter 7. Anointed Christians zealously began to seek out and bring into their association these fellow worshipers from all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues. This “great crowd” will survive the imminent “great tribulation,” with the prospect of eternal life in Paradise as permanent members of the “new earth.” (Revelation 7:9-14) Because of the Kingdom-preaching and disciple-making work, spearheaded by anointed Christians, over six million people now entertain the hope of endless life in an earthly paradise. Who should get the credit for such increase in the face of opposition from Satan and his corrupt world? (1 John 5:19) Only Jehovah could accomplish all of this, using his holy spirit.—Isaiah 60:22; Zechariah 4:6.
w90 9/15 pp. 11-12 pars. 6-7 Jehovah Deserves Eternal Praise
“Jehovah is great and very much to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.” (Psalm 145:3) So great is Jehovah that he is matchless, and his sovereignty is absolute. Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar had to admit: “There exists no one that can check [God’s] hand or that can say to him, ‘What have you been doing?’” (Daniel 4:34, 35) Jehovah “is fear-inspiring above all other gods.” (Psalm 96:4) No wonder he is “very much to be praised.” Why, no words of praise are too lofty when lauding Jehovah! He deserves unlimited, eternal praise.
7 Jehovah’s “greatness is unsearchable.” Regardless of how large he is bodily, his greatness rests in the kind of God he is. Yes, the things he has created are too wonderful for us to understand, and we ourselves are “wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14; Job 9:10; 37:5) Moreover, how grandly Jehovah God conducts himself! He faithfully keeps his promises and lovingly reveals his purposes. Yet, we will never know everything about God. Throughout eternity, we will be able to grow in knowledge of him, his creation, and his purposes.—Romans 11:33-36.
PSALM 145:4)
“Generation after generation will praise your works; They will tell about your mighty acts.”
w04 1/15 pp. 13-14 Jehovah’s Greatness Is Unsearchable
Jehovah’s Glorious Splendor and Dignity
16 Whatever their nature, the “wonderful works” and “mighty acts” of Jehovah will never be forgotten. David wrote: “Generation after generation will commend your works, and about your mighty acts they will tell. The glorious splendor of your dignity and the matters of your wonderful works I will make my concern. And they will talk about the strength of your own fear-inspiring things; and as for your greatness, I will declare it.” (Psalm 145:4-6) Yet, how much could David know about the glorious splendor of Jehovah, since “God is a Spirit” and is therefore invisible to human eyes?—John 1:18; 4:24.
17 Although he could not see God, there were ways for David to grow in appreciation for Jehovah’s dignity. For instance, he could read the Scriptural record of God’s mighty acts, such as the destruction of a wicked world by means of a global flood. Very likely, David noted how Egypt’s false gods were humiliated as God delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Such events testify to Jehovah’s dignity and greatness.
18 David undoubtedly grew in appreciation for God’s dignity not only by reading the Scriptures but also by meditating on them. For instance, he may have meditated on what happened when Jehovah gave the Law to Israel. There were thunders, lightnings, a heavy cloud, and a very loud sound of a horn. Mount Sinai rocked and smoked. Assembled at the foot of the mountain, the Israelites even heard “the Ten Words” from the midst of the fire and the cloud as Jehovah spoke to them through an angelic representative. (Deuteronomy 4:32-36; 5:22-24; 10:4; Exodus 19:16-20; Acts 7:38, 53) What manifestations of Jehovah’s grandeur! Lovers of God’s Word who meditate on these accounts cannot help but be moved by ‘the glorious splendor of Jehovah’s dignity.’ Today, of course, we have the whole Bible, which contains various glorious visions that impress us with Jehovah’s greatness.—Ezekiel 1:26-28; Daniel 7:9, 10; Revelation, chapter 4.
19 Another way that David could have been impressed with God’s dignity was by studying the laws God gave to the Israelites. (Deuteronomy 17:18-20; Psalm 19:7-11) Obedience to Jehovah’s laws dignified the nation of Israel and set it apart from all other peoples. (Deuteronomy 4:6-8) As was true in David’s case, reading the Scriptures regularly, meditating on them deeply, and studying them diligently will increase our appreciation for Jehovah’s dignity.
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“Generation after generation will commend your works, and about your mighty acts they will tell.” (Psalm 145:4) Successive generations of mankind have commended Jehovah’s works and recounted his mighty acts. What a privilege it is to relate these things to those with whom we conduct home Bible studies! For example, we can tell them that God created all things. (Genesis 1:1–2:25; Revelation 4:11) We can speak about his mighty acts at the time he delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, helped them to vanquish Canaanite foes, preserved them from genocide in ancient Persia, and much more. (Exodus 13:8-10; Judges 4:15; Esther 9:15-17) And are we not moved to tell our children about Jehovah’s works and acts? If we give our offspring such instruction and they see us joyously serving God, they are likely to view worship of him as a delight and to grow up with ‘the joy of Jehovah as their stronghold.’ (Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 78:1-4) The anointed remnant constitute one joyful “generation” of Jehovah’s Witnesses that commends God’s works to the “great crowd,” part of the generation that will inhabit the Paradise earth.—Revelation 7:9.
9 As we reflect on God’s works and mighty acts, we become even more convinced that “Jehovah will not desert his people for the sake of his great name.” (1 Samuel 12:22; Psalm 94:14) When we face trials, hardships, and persecution, we can be tranquil and confident that “the peace of God” will guard our hearts and mental powers. (Philippians 4:6, 7) So how fitting it is that we tell others about our loving, protective heavenly Father!
PSALM 145:5)
“Of the glorious splendor of your majesty they will speak And on your wonderful works I will meditate.”
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12 Concerning the great acts that Jehovah performed in behalf of His people, David sang: “The glorious splendor of your dignity and the matters of your wonderful works I will make my concern.” (Ps. 145:5) We show concern for these works by studying the Bible and taking time to meditate on what we read in it. What is the effect of this reflection? Our appreciation for God’s dignity and splendor is increased.
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Jehovah’s Glorious Splendor and Dignity
16 Whatever their nature, the “wonderful works” and “mighty acts” of Jehovah will never be forgotten. David wrote: “Generation after generation will commend your works, and about your mighty acts they will tell. The glorious splendor of your dignity and the matters of your wonderful works I will make my concern. And they will talk about the strength of your own fear-inspiring things; and as for your greatness, I will declare it.” (Psalm 145:4-6) Yet, how much could David know about the glorious splendor of Jehovah, since “God is a Spirit” and is therefore invisible to human eyes?—John 1:18; 4:24.
17 Although he could not see God, there were ways for David to grow in appreciation for Jehovah’s dignity. For instance, he could read the Scriptural record of God’s mighty acts, such as the destruction of a wicked world by means of a global flood. Very likely, David noted how Egypt’s false gods were humiliated as God delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Such events testify to Jehovah’s dignity and greatness.
18 David undoubtedly grew in appreciation for God’s dignity not only by reading the Scriptures but also by meditating on them. For instance, he may have meditated on what happened when Jehovah gave the Law to Israel. There were thunders, lightnings, a heavy cloud, and a very loud sound of a horn. Mount Sinai rocked and smoked. Assembled at the foot of the mountain, the Israelites even heard “the Ten Words” from the midst of the fire and the cloud as Jehovah spoke to them through an angelic representative. (Deuteronomy 4:32-36; 5:22-24; 10:4; Exodus 19:16-20; Acts 7:38, 53) What manifestations of Jehovah’s grandeur! Lovers of God’s Word who meditate on these accounts cannot help but be moved by ‘the glorious splendor of Jehovah’s dignity.’ Today, of course, we have the whole Bible, which contains various glorious visions that impress us with Jehovah’s greatness.—Ezekiel 1:26-28; Daniel 7:9, 10; Revelation, chapter 4.
19 Another way that David could have been impressed with God’s dignity was by studying the laws God gave to the Israelites. (Deuteronomy 17:18-20; Psalm 19:7-11) Obedience to Jehovah’s laws dignified the nation of Israel and set it apart from all other peoples. (Deuteronomy 4:6-8) As was true in David’s case, reading the Scriptures regularly, meditating on them deeply, and studying them diligently will increase our appreciation for Jehovah’s dignity.
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10 We should take time to meditate on Jehovah’s majesty and works, for David added: “The glorious splendor of your dignity and the matters of your wonderful works I will make my concern.” (Psalm 145:5) God’s dignity is fear-inspiring and unequaled. (Job 37:22; Psalm 148:13) Thus, David made the glorious splendor of Jehovah’s dignity his concern. The psalmist also concerned himself with matters of God’s “wonderful works.” These include the exercise of divine justice in destroying sinners and preserving the godly, as at the Flood. (Genesis 7:20-24; 2 Peter 2:9)
PSALM 145:6)
“They will speak about your awe-inspiring deeds, And I will declare your greatness.”
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Surely, then, we are moved to join David in honoring Jehovah and saying: “As for your greatness, I will declare it.” (Ps. 145:6) Meditating on God’s wonderful works should strengthen our relationship with Jehovah and motivate us to tell others about him with enthusiasm and determination. Are you zealously declaring the good news and helping people to appreciate the dignity, splendor, and majesty of Jehovah God?
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Jehovah’s Glorious Splendor and Dignity
16 Whatever their nature, the “wonderful works” and “mighty acts” of Jehovah will never be forgotten. David wrote: “Generation after generation will commend your works, and about your mighty acts they will tell. The glorious splendor of your dignity and the matters of your wonderful works I will make my concern. And they will talk about the strength of your own fear-inspiring things; and as for your greatness, I will declare it.” (Psalm 145:4-6) Yet, how much could David know about the glorious splendor of Jehovah, since “God is a Spirit” and is therefore invisible to human eyes?—John 1:18; 4:24.
17 Although he could not see God, there were ways for David to grow in appreciation for Jehovah’s dignity. For instance, he could read the Scriptural record of God’s mighty acts, such as the destruction of a wicked world by means of a global flood. Very likely, David noted how Egypt’s false gods were humiliated as God delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Such events testify to Jehovah’s dignity and greatness.
18 David undoubtedly grew in appreciation for God’s dignity not only by reading the Scriptures but also by meditating on them. For instance, he may have meditated on what happened when Jehovah gave the Law to Israel. There were thunders, lightnings, a heavy cloud, and a very loud sound of a horn. Mount Sinai rocked and smoked. Assembled at the foot of the mountain, the Israelites even heard “the Ten Words” from the midst of the fire and the cloud as Jehovah spoke to them through an angelic representative. (Deuteronomy 4:32-36; 5:22-24; 10:4; Exodus 19:16-20; Acts 7:38, 53) What manifestations of Jehovah’s grandeur! Lovers of God’s Word who meditate on these accounts cannot help but be moved by ‘the glorious splendor of Jehovah’s dignity.’ Today, of course, we have the whole Bible, which contains various glorious visions that impress us with Jehovah’s greatness.—Ezekiel 1:26-28; Daniel 7:9, 10; Revelation, chapter 4.
19 Another way that David could have been impressed with God’s dignity was by studying the laws God gave to the Israelites. (Deuteronomy 17:18-20; Psalm 19:7-11) Obedience to Jehovah’s laws dignified the nation of Israel and set it apart from all other peoples. (Deuteronomy 4:6-8) As was true in David’s case, reading the Scriptures regularly, meditating on them deeply, and studying them diligently will increase our appreciation for Jehovah’s dignity.
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11 When we speak about God’s dignity and works, we prompt others to talk about them. Said David: “And they will talk about the strength of your own fear-inspiring things; and as for your greatness, I will declare it.” (Psalm 145:6) Rahab spoke of the fright that fell upon Jericho’s residents when they heard how Jehovah had rescued the Israelites at the Red Sea and made them victorious over two Amorite kings. There must have been much talk about such “fear-inspiring things” in Jericho. (Joshua 2:9-11)
PSALM 145:7)
“They will bubble over as they recall your abundant goodness, And they will shout joyfully because of your righteousness.”
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21 Further, when we get an opportunity to talk to others about God’s goodness, we are delighted. Regarding Jehovah’s people, Psalm 145:7 says: “With the mention of the abundance of your goodness they will bubble over.” Every day that we live, we benefit in some way from Jehovah’s goodness. Why not make it a practice each day to thank Jehovah for his goodness, being as specific as possible? Thinking about that quality, thanking Jehovah for it daily, and telling others about it will help us to imitate our good God. And as we seek ways to do good, as Jehovah does, we will draw ever closer to him.
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How Great God’s Moral Qualities!
20 As we have noted, the first six verses of Psalm 145 give us sound reasons to praise Jehovah for things associated with his unsearchable greatness. Verses 7 to 9 magnify God’s greatness by referring to his moral qualities. David sings: “With the mention of the abundance of your goodness they will bubble over, and because of your righteousness they will cry out joyfully. Jehovah is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and great in loving-kindness. Jehovah is good to all, and his mercies are over all his works.”
21 Here David first highlights Jehovah’s goodness and righteousness—qualities called into question by Satan the Devil. What effect do these qualities have on all who love God and submit to his rulership? Why, Jehovah’s goodness and his righteous way of ruling bring such joy to his worshipers that they cannot stop bubbling forth his praise. Moreover, Jehovah’s goodness extends “to all.” Hopefully, this will help many more to repent and become worshipers of the true God before it is too late.—Acts 14:15-17.
22 David also appreciated the qualities that God himself highlighted when He “went passing by before [Moses’] face and declaring: ‘Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth.’” (Exodus 34:6) Thus, David could declare: “Jehovah is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and great in loving-kindness.” Though Jehovah is unsearchably great, he dignifies his human servants by treating them graciously. He is full of mercy, willing to forgive repentant sinners on the basis of Jesus’ ransom sacrifice. Jehovah is also slow to anger, for he grants his servants opportunity to overcome weaknesses that could bar them from his new world of righteousness.—2 Peter 3:9, 13, 14.
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“With the mention of the abundance of your goodness they will bubble over, and because of your righteousness they will cry out joyfully.” (Psalm 145:7) Jehovah’s goodness is so great that we “bubble over” with joyous expressions concerning it. In the Hebrew, the idea is that of water gushing from a fountain. So may we bubble forth grateful praise to God, just like a torrent. (Proverbs 18:4) To their great spiritual injury, Israel forgot Jehovah’s goodness. (Psalm 106:13-43) But let our heart overflow with such gratitude that others repent after they learn how good Jehovah is to his dedicated Witnesses.—Romans 2:4.
13 May manifestations of divine justice and righteousness also move us to cry out joyfully. If we feel this way, we will seek first not only God’s Kingdom but also his righteousness. We will always want our conduct to bring praise to Jehovah. Yes, we will be regular Kingdom proclaimers with plenty to do in God’s service. Our praise to Jehovah will never be buried in a tomb of silence.—Matthew 6:33; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Hebrews 10:23.
PSALM 145:8)
“Jehovah is compassionate and merciful, Slow to anger and great in loyal love.”
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Jehovah Is Great in Loyal Love
“Jehovah is . . . great in loving-kindness.”—PSALM 145:8.
“GOD is love.” (1 John 4:8) That heartwarming phrase proves that Jehovah’s way of ruling is based on love. Why, even humans who do not obey him benefit from the sun and rain that he lovingly provides! (Matthew 5:44, 45) Because of God’s love for the world of mankind, even his enemies can repent, turn to him, and attain to life. (John 3:16) Soon, however, Jehovah will sweep away the incorrigibly wicked so that humans who love him can enjoy everlasting life in a righteous new world.—Psalm 37:9-11, 29; 2 Peter 3:13.
2 Jehovah shows love for his true worshipers in a precious, lasting way. Such love is denoted by a Hebrew word translated “loving-kindness,” or “loyal love.” King David of ancient Israel deeply appreciated God’s loving-kindness. Because of his personal experience and his meditation on God’s dealings with others, David could confidently sing: “Jehovah is . . . great in loving-kindness [or, “loyal love”].”—Psalm 145:8.
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How Great God’s Moral Qualities!
20 As we have noted, the first six verses of Psalm 145 give us sound reasons to praise Jehovah for things associated with his unsearchable greatness. Verses 7 to 9 magnify God’s greatness by referring to his moral qualities. David sings: “With the mention of the abundance of your goodness they will bubble over, and because of your righteousness they will cry out joyfully. Jehovah is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and great in loving-kindness. Jehovah is good to all, and his mercies are over all his works.”
21 Here David first highlights Jehovah’s goodness and righteousness—qualities called into question by Satan the Devil. What effect do these qualities have on all who love God and submit to his rulership? Why, Jehovah’s goodness and his righteous way of ruling bring such joy to his worshipers that they cannot stop bubbling forth his praise. Moreover, Jehovah’s goodness extends “to all.” Hopefully, this will help many more to repent and become worshipers of the true God before it is too late.—Acts 14:15-17.
22 David also appreciated the qualities that God himself highlighted when He “went passing by before [Moses’] face and declaring: ‘Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth.’” (Exodus 34:6) Thus, David could declare: “Jehovah is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and great in loving-kindness.” Though Jehovah is unsearchably great, he dignifies his human servants by treating them graciously. He is full of mercy, willing to forgive repentant sinners on the basis of Jesus’ ransom sacrifice. Jehovah is also slow to anger, for he grants his servants opportunity to overcome weaknesses that could bar them from his new world of righteousness.—2 Peter 3:9, 13, 14.
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Jehovah Is Merciful
14 Citing additional praiseworthy qualities of God, David said: “Jehovah is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and great in loving-kindness.” (Psalm 145:8) God is gracious in that he is wholly good and generous. (Matthew 19:17; James 1:5) He does good things even for those not serving him. (Acts 14:14-17) Jehovah is also merciful, compassionate, “remembering that we are dust.” He does not despise a crushed heart or deal with us according to our sins but is far more merciful than the most loving human father. (Psalm 51:17; 103:10-14) Why, in the greatest display of mercy, he sent his beloved Son to die for us so that we might be reconciled to God and really taste of his graciousness!—Romans 5:6-11.
PSALM 145:9)
“Jehovah is good to all, And his mercy is evident in all his works.”
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Moreover, “Jehovah is good to all, and his mercies are over all his works.” (Ps 145:9) With a purpose he extends good to all, that his goodness may bring many to serve him and that they may thereby gain life. Likewise, any individual exercising goodness is a blessing to his associates.—Pr 11:10.
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8 Everyone who has ever lived has benefited from Jehovah’s goodness. Psalm 145:9 says: “Jehovah is good to all.” What are some examples of his all-embracing goodness? The Bible says: “He did not leave himself without witness in that he did good, giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts to the full with food and good cheer.” (Acts 14:17) Have you ever felt your spirits lift when enjoying a delightful meal? Were it not for Jehovah’s goodness in designing this earth with its ever-recycling fresh water supply and “fruitful seasons” to produce an abundance of food, there would be no meals. Jehovah has directed such goodness not just to those who love him but to everyone. Jesus said: “He makes his sun rise upon wicked people and good and makes it rain upon righteous people and unrighteous.”—Matthew 5:45.
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How Great God’s Moral Qualities!
20 As we have noted, the first six verses of Psalm 145 give us sound reasons to praise Jehovah for things associated with his unsearchable greatness. Verses 7 to 9 magnify God’s greatness by referring to his moral qualities. David sings: “With the mention of the abundance of your goodness they will bubble over, and because of your righteousness they will cry out joyfully. Jehovah is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and great in loving-kindness. Jehovah is good to all, and his mercies are over all his works.”
21 Here David first highlights Jehovah’s goodness and righteousness—qualities called into question by Satan the Devil. What effect do these qualities have on all who love God and submit to his rulership? Why, Jehovah’s goodness and his righteous way of ruling bring such joy to his worshipers that they cannot stop bubbling forth his praise. Moreover, Jehovah’s goodness extends “to all.” Hopefully, this will help many more to repent and become worshipers of the true God before it is too late.—Acts 14:15-17.
22 David also appreciated the qualities that God himself highlighted when He “went passing by before [Moses’] face and declaring: ‘Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth.’” (Exodus 34:6) Thus, David could declare: “Jehovah is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and great in loving-kindness.” Though Jehovah is unsearchably great, he dignifies his human servants by treating them graciously. He is full of mercy, willing to forgive repentant sinners on the basis of Jesus’ ransom sacrifice. Jehovah is also slow to anger, for he grants his servants opportunity to overcome weaknesses that could bar them from his new world of righteousness.—2 Peter 3:9, 13, 14.
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16 In view of God’s mercy, it might be said that he has a big heart. David declared: “Jehovah is good to all, and his mercies are over all his works.” (Psalm 145:9) Yes, God was good to the Israelites. For that matter, “he makes his sun rise upon wicked people and good and makes it rain upon righteous people and unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:43-45) In Eden, Jehovah promised a “seed” that would be a blessing. Later he told Abraham: “By means of your seed all nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves.” (Genesis 3:15; 22:18) And God’s goodness is so great in this “time of the end” that anyone can ‘come and take life’s water free.’ (Daniel 12:4; Revelation 22:17) Jehovah is willing to do good to all intelligent creatures, and his goodness should draw us ever closer to him.
17 Jehovah’s “mercies are over all his works” in that he makes ample provision for humans and animals. He is “the One giving food to all flesh.” (Psalm 136:25; 147:9) God does not honor the rich and scorn the downtrodden, exalt the haughty and despise the humble, elevate the foolish and debase the wise. Sinful men do so but not our merciful heavenly Father. (Psalm 102:17; Zephaniah 3:11, 12; Ecclesiastes 10:5-7) And how great God’s mercy, goodness, and loving-kindness are in making salvation possible through the ransom sacrifice of his beloved Son!—1 John 4:9, 10.
PSALM 145:10)
“All your works will glorify you, O Jehovah, And your loyal ones will praise you.”
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Identifying God’s Loyal Ones
3 Regarding Jehovah God, the prophet Samuel’s mother, Hannah, said: “The feet of his loyal ones he guards.” (1 Samuel 2:9) Who are such “loyal ones”? King David supplies the answer. After extolling Jehovah’s marvelous qualities, he states: “Your loyal ones will bless you.” (Psalm 145:10) You may wonder how humans can bless God. They do so primarily by praising him or by speaking well of him.
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“All your works will laud you, O Jehovah, and your loyal ones will bless you.” (Psalm 145:10) God’s works of creation “laud” him, even as a well-built house is a credit to its builder and a lovely vase to its skillful potter. (Compare Hebrews 3:4; Isaiah 29:16; 64:8.) So wonderful are Jehovah’s creative works that they have moved angels and humans to praise him. Angelic sons of God joyously shouted in applause when he founded the earth. (Job 38:4-7) David said that ‘the heavens declare God’s glory and the expanse tells of the work of his hands.’ (Psalm 19:1-6) We may well laud Jehovah when we see a falcon soaring in the heavens or a gazelle bounding over a verdant hill. (Job 39:26; Song of Solomon 2:17) Praise is fitting when we harvest crops or enjoy a meal with friends. (Psalm 72:16; Proverbs 15:17) Our marvelously designed bodies may also prompt expressions of grateful praise to God.—Psalm 139:14-16.
PSALM 145:11)
“They will proclaim the glory of your kingship And speak about your mightiness,”
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4 Jehovah’s loyal ones can be identified as those who use their mouths to speak well of him. In social settings and at Christian meetings, what is a common theme of their discussions? Why, it is Jehovah’s Kingdom! God’s loyal servants share the sentiments of David, who sang: “About the glory of your [Jehovah’s] kingship they will talk, and about your mightiness they will speak.”—Psalm 145:11.
5 Does Jehovah take note when his loyal ones praise him? Yes, he pays attention to what they say. In a prophecy relating to true worship in our day, Malachi wrote: “At that time those in fear of Jehovah spoke with one another, each one with his companion, and Jehovah kept paying attention and listening. And a book of remembrance began to be written up before him for those in fear of Jehovah and for those thinking upon his name.” (Malachi 3:16) It pleases Jehovah very much when his loyal ones speak well of him, and he remembers them.
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(Psalm 145:11, 12) People talk about things that interest them. So a man speaks of his family, his home, his crops. “A good man brings forth good out of the good treasure of his heart,” said Jesus. (Luke 6:45) If God’s rulership is dear to our heart, we will pray for his Kingdom to come, and we will tell others about the justice, peace, and righteousness that will prevail under its rule. We will praise Jehovah as the “King of eternity,” and we will speak about the expression of his sovereignty through the Messianic Kingdom in the hands of his dear Son, Jesus Christ. (Revelation 15:3; Isaiah 9:6, 7) What a privilege it is to speak about the heavenly glory of Jehovah’s kingship, which will soon be reflected in the beauty of an earthly paradise filled with perfectly happy creatures!—Luke 23:43.
4 Appreciation will also move us to speak about Jehovah’s “mightiness.” Though “he is exalted in power,” he never misuses it. (Job 37:23) He used his power to create the earth and mankind and will exercise it to destroy the wicked. We have occasion to speak about God’s mightiness when we declare the good news. And are we not grateful that this ultimate Source of strength empowers us to do this work? (Isaiah 40:29-31) Yes, as Jehovah’s Witnesses, we are sustained in sacred service by God’s strength and spirit. It is only in this way that the Kingdom message is being proclaimed with marvelous success worldwide.—Psalm 28:7, 8; Zechariah 4:6.
5 There is a need for us to make known to the sons of men the “mighty acts” of Jehovah, even as the Israelites told their children about the way God delivered them from Egyptian bondage. (Exodus 13:14-16) Men build monuments to humans whose deeds they consider notable, but how many know about the mighty acts of God? As one scholar put it: “They inscribe the deeds of their heroes upon brass, but the glorious acts of Jehovah are written upon the sand, and the tide of time washes them from present memory.” Those acts are not really washed away, though they are unknown to multitudes. So in our house-to-house work, when conducting home Bible studies, and on other occasions, let us zealously speak of God’s mighty acts.
6 We should also zealously make known the glory of God’s kingship. Zeal for such Kingdom service surely was evident when, in 1922, J. F. Rutherford, then president of the Watch Tower Society, addressed conventioners at Cedar Point, Ohio, and said: “Since 1914 the King of glory has taken his power . . . The kingdom of heaven is at hand; the King reigns; Satan’s empire is falling; millions now living will never die. Do you believe it? . . . Then back to the field, O ye sons of the most high God! Gird on your armor! Be sober, be vigilant, be active, be brave. Be faithful and true witnesses for the Lord. Go forward in the fight until every vestige of Babylon lies desolate. Herald the message far and wide. The world must know that Jehovah is God and that Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. This is the day of all days. Behold, the King reigns! You are his publicity agents. Therefore advertise, advertise, advertise, the King and his kingdom.”
7 What a joy to ‘think upon God’s name,’ to tell others about his rulership, and to advertise the Messianic Kingdom of his dear Son! (Malachi 3:16) As Kingdom proclaimers and advocates, we cherish our privilege of declaring the good news and turning the hearts of others toward God, Christ, and the Kingdom. Within us, there should be a burning desire to tell others about the glorious splendor of Jehovah’s kingship.—Compare Jeremiah 20:9.
8 We should be moved to announce God’s Kingdom with great zeal, for David next said: “Your kingship is a kingship for all times indefinite, and your dominion is throughout all successive generations.” (Psalm 145:13)
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“About the glory of your kingship they will talk, and about your mightiness they will speak,
PSALM 145:12)
“To make known to men your mighty acts And the glorious splendor of your kingship.”
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6 Jehovah’s loyal servants can also be identified by their courage and initiative in speaking to people who are not worshipers of the true God. Indeed, God’s loyal ones “make known to the sons of men his mighty acts and the glory of the splendor of his kingship.” (Psalm 145:12) Do you seek and take full advantage of opportunities to speak to strangers about Jehovah’s kingship? Unlike human governments, which will soon pass away, his kingship is eternal. (1 Timothy 1:17) It is urgent that people learn about Jehovah’s everlasting kingship and take their stand as its supporters. “Your kingship is a kingship for all times indefinite,” sang David, “and your dominion is throughout all successive generations.”—Psalm 145:13.
7 Since 1914, there has been added reason to speak about Jehovah’s kingship. In that year, God established the heavenly Messianic Kingdom with Jesus Christ, the Son of David, as King. Jehovah thus fulfilled his promise that David’s kingship would be firmly established to time indefinite.—2 Samuel 7:12, 13; Luke 1:32, 33.
8 Proof that Jehovah now reigns through the Kingdom of his Son, Jesus Christ, is seen in the ongoing fulfillment of the sign of Jesus’ presence. The most outstanding feature of that sign is the work Jesus foretold for all of God’s loyal ones when he said: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:3-14) Because God’s loyal ones are zealously fulfilling that prophecy, over six million men, women, and children are now sharing in this grand, never-to-be-repeated work. Soon the end will come for all opposers of Jehovah’s Kingdom.—Revelation 11:15, 18.
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to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts and the glory of the splendor of his kingship.” (Psalm 145:11, 12) People talk about things that interest them. So a man speaks of his family, his home, his crops. “A good man brings forth good out of the good treasure of his heart,” said Jesus. (Luke 6:45) If God’s rulership is dear to our heart, we will pray for his Kingdom to come, and we will tell others about the justice, peace, and righteousness that will prevail under its rule. We will praise Jehovah as the “King of eternity,” and we will speak about the expression of his sovereignty through the Messianic Kingdom in the hands of his dear Son, Jesus Christ. (Revelation 15:3; Isaiah 9:6, 7) What a privilege it is to speak about the heavenly glory of Jehovah’s kingship, which will soon be reflected in the beauty of an earthly paradise filled with perfectly happy creatures!—Luke 23:43.
4 Appreciation will also move us to speak about Jehovah’s “mightiness.” Though “he is exalted in power,” he never misuses it. (Job 37:23) He used his power to create the earth and mankind and will exercise it to destroy the wicked. We have occasion to speak about God’s mightiness when we declare the good news. And are we not grateful that this ultimate Source of strength empowers us to do this work? (Isaiah 40:29-31) Yes, as Jehovah’s Witnesses, we are sustained in sacred service by God’s strength and spirit. It is only in this way that the Kingdom message is being proclaimed with marvelous success worldwide.—Psalm 28:7, 8; Zechariah 4:6.
5 There is a need for us to make known to the sons of men the “mighty acts” of Jehovah, even as the Israelites told their children about the way God delivered them from Egyptian bondage. (Exodus 13:14-16) Men build monuments to humans whose deeds they consider notable, but how many know about the mighty acts of God? As one scholar put it: “They inscribe the deeds of their heroes upon brass, but the glorious acts of Jehovah are written upon the sand, and the tide of time washes them from present memory.” Those acts are not really washed away, though they are unknown to multitudes. So in our house-to-house work, when conducting home Bible studies, and on other occasions, let us zealously speak of God’s mighty acts.
6 We should also zealously make known the glory of God’s kingship. Zeal for such Kingdom service surely was evident when, in 1922, J. F. Rutherford, then president of the Watch Tower Society, addressed conventioners at Cedar Point, Ohio, and said: “Since 1914 the King of glory has taken his power . . . The kingdom of heaven is at hand; the King reigns; Satan’s empire is falling; millions now living will never die. Do you believe it? . . . Then back to the field, O ye sons of the most high God! Gird on your armor! Be sober, be vigilant, be active, be brave. Be faithful and true witnesses for the Lord. Go forward in the fight until every vestige of Babylon lies desolate. Herald the message far and wide. The world must know that Jehovah is God and that Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. This is the day of all days. Behold, the King reigns! You are his publicity agents. Therefore advertise, advertise, advertise, the King and his kingdom.”
7 What a joy to ‘think upon God’s name,’ to tell others about his rulership, and to advertise the Messianic Kingdom of his dear Son! (Malachi 3:16) As Kingdom proclaimers and advocates, we cherish our privilege of declaring the good news and turning the hearts of others toward God, Christ, and the Kingdom. Within us, there should be a burning desire to tell others about the glorious splendor of Jehovah’s kingship.—Compare Jeremiah 20:9.
8 We should be moved to announce God’s Kingdom with great zeal, for David next said: “Your kingship is a kingship for all times indefinite, and your dominion is throughout all successive generations.” (Psalm 145:13)
PSALM 145:13)
“Your kingship is an eternal kingship, And your dominion endures throughout all generations.”
w90 9/15 pp. 17-18 par. 8 Bless Jehovah’s Holy Name!
“Your kingship is a kingship for all times indefinite, and your dominion is throughout all successive generations.” (Psalm 145:13) As the psalmist’s meditations on Jehovah’s kingship continued, he changed pronouns from “his” to “your,” addressing his prayerful words directly to God. Of course, Jehovah’s rulership as represented in the Messianic Kingdom does not replace God’s eternal kingship. In fact, when obedient mankind has been uplifted to perfection, Christ will hand the Kingdom over to his Father. (1 Corinthians 15:24-28) So God does have dominion “throughout all successive generations.” Jehovah was King when Adam was created and will have dominion over righteous humans forever.
PSALM 145:14)
“Jehovah supports all who are falling And raises up all who are bowed down.”
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Benefiting From Jehovah’s Sovereignty
9 If we are dedicated Christians, our relationship with the Sovereign Lord Jehovah brings us many benefits. (Psalm 71:5; 116:12) Because we fear God and practice righteousness, for instance, we enjoy his approval and are spiritually close to him. (Acts 10:34, 35; James 4:8) By contrast, human rulers are often seen in the company of prominent people, such as military leaders, wealthy businessmen, or sports and entertainment celebrities. According to the African newspaper Sowetan, a prominent government official said the following about poverty-stricken areas in his land: “I understand when most of us do not want to go to such areas. It is simply because we want to forget that such situations exist. It pricks our conscience and we are embarrassed by the expensive [automobiles] we drive.”
10 Of course, some human rulers are sincerely concerned about the welfare of their subjects. But even the most noble among them do not know their subjects intimately. Indeed, we may ask: Is there any ruler who cares for all his subjects so much that he quickly comes to the aid of each one in times of trouble? Yes, there is. David wrote: “Jehovah is giving support to all who are falling, and is raising up all who are bowed down.”—Psalm 145:14.
11 Many trials and calamities befall Jehovah God’s loyal ones because of their own imperfection and because they live in a world that is lying in the power of Satan, “the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19; Psalm 34:19) Christians experience persecution. Some suffer from chronic illness or because of bereavement. At times, the mistakes of Jehovah’s loyal ones may cause them to ‘bow down’ in discouragement. Whatever trial befalls them, however, Jehovah is always ready to give comfort and spiritual strength to each one of them. The King Jesus Christ has the same loving interest in his loyal subjects.—Psalm 72:12-14.
w90 9/15 p. 18 Bless Jehovah’s Holy Name!
Jehovah’s Support Never Fails
10 The King Eternal never ignores the plight of his servants. Thus, David could say: “Jehovah is giving support to all who are falling, and is raising up all who are bowed down.” (Psalm 145:14) Since the days of Abel, Jehovah has supported His worshipers. Left to ourselves, we would fall many times under our burdens. We lack sufficient strength to bear all of life’s woes and the persecution that comes our way as God’s people, but Jehovah upholds us. The form of the Hebrew verb used here indicates that God continuously ‘gives us support.’ It may be noted that John the Baptizer and God’s own Son helped to raise up fallen sinners morally. When these individuals repented and became Jehovah’s servants, they enjoyed the wonderful blessing of divine support.—Matthew 21:28-32; Mark 2:15-17.
11 It is comforting to know that ‘Jehovah is raising up all who are bowed down’ by various trials. He cheers the despondent among us, comforts our grieving ones, and helps us to speak his word boldly when we are persecuted. (Acts 4:29-31) Never does he allow our burdens to crush us if only we accept his help. (Psalm 55:22) So, like the “daughter of Abraham” who was “bent double” but was physically cured by Jesus, we should “glorify God” when he lovingly raises us up spiritually. (Luke 13:10-17) Anointed ones bowed down in Babylonish bondage were grateful when God raised them up in 1919, and he has been raising up appreciative “other sheep” since 1935.—John 10:16.
PSALM 145:15)
“All eyes look hopefully to you; You give them their food in its season.”
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Satisfying Food in Season
12 Out of his great loving-kindness, Jehovah provides for all the needs of his servants. This includes satisfying them with nourishing food. King David wrote: “To you [Jehovah] the eyes of all look hopefully, and you are giving them their food in its season. You are opening your hand and satisfying the desire of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:15, 16) Even in times of calamity, Jehovah can maneuver matters so that his loyal ones get “bread for the day.”—Luke 11:3; 12:29, 30.
13 David mentioned that “every living thing” gets satisfied. That includes the animals. If it were not for earth’s abundant vegetation of the land and plants of the sea, aquatic creatures, birds, and land animals would have no oxygen to breathe or food to eat. (Psalm 104:14) However, Jehovah sees to it that all their needs are satisfied.
14 Unlike animals, humans have a spiritual need. (Matthew 5:3) How wonderfully Jehovah satisfies the spiritual needs of his loyal ones! Before his death, Jesus promised that “the faithful and discreet slave” would provide Jesus’ followers with spiritual “food at the proper time.” (Matthew 24:45) The remnant of the 144,000 anointed ones make up that slave class today. Through them, Jehovah has indeed provided spiritual food in abundance.
15 For example, most of Jehovah’s people now benefit from a fresh and accurate translation of the Bible in their own language. What a marvelous blessing the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures has been! Moreover, millions of Bible study aids continue to be published in over 300 languages. All this spiritual food has been a blessing to true worshipers around the earth. Who deserves the credit for all of this? Jehovah God. By his great loving-kindness, he has made it possible for the slave class to provide “food in its season.” Through such provisions, “the desire of every living thing” in the present-day spiritual paradise gets satisfied. And how Jehovah’s servants rejoice in the hope of soon seeing the earth transformed into a physical paradise!—Luke 23:42, 43.
16 Consider a striking example of spiritual food received in the right season. During 1939, World War II started in Europe. In that same year, the November 1 issue of The Watchtower contained an article entitled “Neutrality.” As a result of the clear information presented, Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world saw the need to maintain strict neutrality in the affairs of the warring nations. This brought upon them the wrath of governments on both sides of that six-year conflict. Despite being banned and persecuted, however, God’s loyal ones kept on preaching the good news of the Kingdom. From 1939 to 1946, they were blessed with an amazing increase of 157 percent. Moreover, their striking record of integrity during that war continues to help people to identify the true religion.—Isaiah 2:2-4.
17 The spiritual food that Jehovah provides is not only timely but also richly satisfying. While the nations were in the thick of battle during World War II, Jehovah’s people were helped to focus on something far more important than their own salvation. Jehovah helped them to understand that the primary issue, involving the whole universe, relates to Jehovah’s rightful sovereignty. How satisfying it is to know that by their loyalty each Witness of Jehovah had a small part in the vindication of Jehovah’s sovereignty and in proving the Devil to be a liar! (Proverbs 27:11) Unlike Satan, who slanders Jehovah and his way of ruling, Jehovah’s loyal ones continue to declare publicly: “Jehovah is righteous in all his ways.”—Psalm 145:17.
18 Another example of timely, satisfying spiritual food is the book Draw Close to Jehovah, which was released at hundreds of “Zealous Kingdom Proclaimers” District Conventions held around the world in 2002/03. This book, produced by “the faithful and discreet slave” and published by Jehovah’s Witnesses, focuses on Jehovah God’s marvelous qualities, including those mentioned in Psalm 145. This fine book will surely play an important role in helping God’s loyal ones to draw even closer to him.
w90 9/15 pp. 18-19 pars. 12-13 Bless Jehovah’s Holy Name!
(Psalm 145:15, 16) It is as though the eyes of all living creatures are turned in hope to the Universal Sovereign. The angels look to God for continued life. And as a child looks to a parent for things needed, we look to our heavenly Father. In fact, from him humans and animals alike receive sustenance. No one else can satisfy their needs. God gives them “their food in its season,” that is, when it is needed.
13 God ‘opens his hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing.’ (Psalm 104:10-28) True, some animals die for lack of food. Many humans hunger as victims of selfishness, oppression, and misuse of resources. Moreover, Jesus foretold that “food shortages” would be a feature of “the sign” of his presence in these last days. (Matthew 24:3, 7) But none of this occurs because Jehovah is stingy or unable to provide. Think of the thousands of millions of creatures that are sustained! Moreover, this psalm provides assurance that under Kingdom rule, when ‘man does not dominate man to his injury,’ God will satisfy our material and spiritual needs. (Ecclesiastes 8:9; Isaiah 25:6) Even today, we need not hunger for spiritual food, for God provides it abundantly in its season through “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matthew 24:45-47; 1 Peter 2:2) Spiritually speaking, Jehovah’s Witnesses are the best-fed people on earth.
w90 9/15 p. 18 par. 12 Bless Jehovah’s Holy Name!
“To you the eyes of all look hopefully, and you are giving them their food in its season.
PSALM 145:16)
“You open your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing.”
w04 1/15 pp. 18-19 Jehovah Is Great in Loyal Love
Satisfying Food in Season
12 Out of his great loving-kindness, Jehovah provides for all the needs of his servants. This includes satisfying them with nourishing food. King David wrote: “To you [Jehovah] the eyes of all look hopefully, and you are giving them their food in its season. You are opening your hand and satisfying the desire of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:15, 16) Even in times of calamity, Jehovah can maneuver matters so that his loyal ones get “bread for the day.”—Luke 11:3; 12:29, 30.
13 David mentioned that “every living thing” gets satisfied. That includes the animals. If it were not for earth’s abundant vegetation of the land and plants of the sea, aquatic creatures, birds, and land animals would have no oxygen to breathe or food to eat. (Psalm 104:14) However, Jehovah sees to it that all their needs are satisfied.
14 Unlike animals, humans have a spiritual need. (Matthew 5:3) How wonderfully Jehovah satisfies the spiritual needs of his loyal ones! Before his death, Jesus promised that “the faithful and discreet slave” would provide Jesus’ followers with spiritual “food at the proper time.” (Matthew 24:45) The remnant of the 144,000 anointed ones make up that slave class today. Through them, Jehovah has indeed provided spiritual food in abundance.
15 For example, most of Jehovah’s people now benefit from a fresh and accurate translation of the Bible in their own language. What a marvelous blessing the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures has been! Moreover, millions of Bible study aids continue to be published in over 300 languages. All this spiritual food has been a blessing to true worshipers around the earth. Who deserves the credit for all of this? Jehovah God. By his great loving-kindness, he has made it possible for the slave class to provide “food in its season.” Through such provisions, “the desire of every living thing” in the present-day spiritual paradise gets satisfied. And how Jehovah’s servants rejoice in the hope of soon seeing the earth transformed into a physical paradise!—Luke 23:42, 43.
16 Consider a striking example of spiritual food received in the right season. During 1939, World War II started in Europe. In that same year, the November 1 issue of The Watchtower contained an article entitled “Neutrality.” As a result of the clear information presented, Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world saw the need to maintain strict neutrality in the affairs of the warring nations. This brought upon them the wrath of governments on both sides of that six-year conflict. Despite being banned and persecuted, however, God’s loyal ones kept on preaching the good news of the Kingdom. From 1939 to 1946, they were blessed with an amazing increase of 157 percent. Moreover, their striking record of integrity during that war continues to help people to identify the true religion.—Isaiah 2:2-4.
17 The spiritual food that Jehovah provides is not only timely but also richly satisfying. While the nations were in the thick of battle during World War II, Jehovah’s people were helped to focus on something far more important than their own salvation. Jehovah helped them to understand that the primary issue, involving the whole universe, relates to Jehovah’s rightful sovereignty. How satisfying it is to know that by their loyalty each Witness of Jehovah had a small part in the vindication of Jehovah’s sovereignty and in proving the Devil to be a liar! (Proverbs 27:11) Unlike Satan, who slanders Jehovah and his way of ruling, Jehovah’s loyal ones continue to declare publicly: “Jehovah is righteous in all his ways.”—Psalm 145:17.
18 Another example of timely, satisfying spiritual food is the book Draw Close to Jehovah, which was released at hundreds of “Zealous Kingdom Proclaimers” District Conventions held around the world in 2002/03. This book, produced by “the faithful and discreet slave” and published by Jehovah’s Witnesses, focuses on Jehovah God’s marvelous qualities, including those mentioned in Psalm 145. This fine book will surely play an important role in helping God’s loyal ones to draw even closer to him.
w90 9/15 pp. 18-19 pars. 12-13 Bless Jehovah’s Holy Name!
You are opening your hand and satisfying the desire of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:15, 16) It is as though the eyes of all living creatures are turned in hope to the Universal Sovereign. The angels look to God for continued life. And as a child looks to a parent for things needed, we look to our heavenly Father. In fact, from him humans and animals alike receive sustenance. No one else can satisfy their needs. God gives them “their food in its season,” that is, when it is needed.
13 God ‘opens his hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing.’ (Psalm 104:10-28) True, some animals die for lack of food. Many humans hunger as victims of selfishness, oppression, and misuse of resources. Moreover, Jesus foretold that “food shortages” would be a feature of “the sign” of his presence in these last days. (Matthew 24:3, 7) But none of this occurs because Jehovah is stingy or unable to provide. Think of the thousands of millions of creatures that are sustained! Moreover, this psalm provides assurance that under Kingdom rule, when ‘man does not dominate man to his injury,’ God will satisfy our material and spiritual needs. (Ecclesiastes 8:9; Isaiah 25:6) Even today, we need not hunger for spiritual food, for God provides it abundantly in its season through “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matthew 24:45-47; 1 Peter 2:2) Spiritually speaking, Jehovah’s Witnesses are the best-fed people on earth.
w87 10/1 p. 10 pars. 1-2 Are You Satisfied With Jehovah’s Spiritual Provisions?
IF YOU stop breathing air, you will die in a few minutes. If you stop drinking water, you will die in a few days. If you stop eating food, you will die in a few weeks. If you stop feeding on Jehovah’s spiritual provisions, then when you die you will be dead forever. Jehovah provides the air, water, and food that all living creatures need. Hence, to Jehovah the psalmist says: “You are opening your hand and satisfying the desire of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:16) The desire of most living things is fulfilled by the material provisions. But this is not true of human creatures.
2 Jesus pointed this out when he said: “Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every utterance coming forth through Jehovah’s mouth.” (Matthew 4:4) The lower creations have no concept of eternity, but man does, as Ecclesiastes 3:11 says: “Even time indefinite he has put in their heart.” Or as the Revised Standard Version renders it: “He has put eternity into man’s mind.” Hence, man’s heartfelt desire is to live to time indefinite, even forever. Air, water, and bread alone are not enough for that.
PSALM 145:17)
“Jehovah is righteous in all his ways And loyal in all that he does.”
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17 The spiritual food that Jehovah provides is not only timely but also richly satisfying. While the nations were in the thick of battle during World War II, Jehovah’s people were helped to focus on something far more important than their own salvation. Jehovah helped them to understand that the primary issue, involving the whole universe, relates to Jehovah’s rightful sovereignty. How satisfying it is to know that by their loyalty each Witness of Jehovah had a small part in the vindication of Jehovah’s sovereignty and in proving the Devil to be a liar! (Proverbs 27:11) Unlike Satan, who slanders Jehovah and his way of ruling, Jehovah’s loyal ones continue to declare publicly: “Jehovah is righteous in all his ways.”—Psalm 145:17.
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14 Our foolishness may ‘distort our way’ and bring hardships upon us, but never should we blame God for these difficulties. (Proverbs 19:3) David shows why when he says: “Jehovah is righteous in all his ways and loyal in all his works.” (Psalm 145:17) God always acts in an upright, just, and merciful way. Especially is his mercy evident in his provision for salvation through Jesus’ ransom sacrifice. (Acts 2:21; 4:8-12) Jehovah is also “loyal in all his works,” always faithful, loving, and impartial. As “imitators of God,” then, let us be upright, just, merciful, impartial, and loyal.—Ephesians 5:1, 2; Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 7:10; 25:8; Isaiah 49:7; Acts 10:34, 35.
PSALM 145:18)
“Jehovah is near to all those calling on him, To all who call on him in truth.”
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A Time to Draw Closer to Jehovah
19 A crucial stage in settling the issue of Jehovah’s sovereignty is drawing near. As foretold in Ezekiel chapter 38, Satan will soon complete his role as “Gog of the land of Magog.” This will involve a worldwide attack on Jehovah’s people. It will be an all-out attempt on the part of Satan to break the integrity of God’s loyal ones. As never before, worshipers of Jehovah will need to call upon him earnestly, even crying for help. Will their reverential fear of God and love for him prove to be in vain? No, indeed, for Psalm 145 says: “Jehovah is near to all those calling upon him, to all those who call upon him in trueness. The desire of those fearing him he will perform, and their cry for help he will hear, and he will save them. Jehovah is guarding all those loving him, but all the wicked ones he will annihilate.”—Psalm 145:18-20.
20 How thrilling it will be to experience Jehovah’s nearness and his saving power when he annihilates all the wicked! At that crucial time now so near, Jehovah will listen only to “those who call upon him in trueness.” He certainly will not listen to hypocrites. God’s Word clearly shows that any last-minute use of his name by the wicked has always proved to be in vain.—Proverbs 1:28, 29; Micah 3:4; Luke 13:24, 25.
21 Now more than ever before is the time for those who fear Jehovah to “call upon him in trueness.” His loyal ones delight to use his name in their prayers and in the comments they make at their meetings. They use the divine name in private conversations. And they courageously declare Jehovah’s name in their public ministry.—Romans 10:10, 13-15.
22 To continue benefiting from our close relationship with Jehovah God, it is also vital that we keep on resisting such spiritually detrimental things as materialism, unwholesome entertainment, an unforgiving spirit, or indifference toward needy ones. (1 John 2:15-17; 3:15-17) If not corrected, such pursuits and traits can result in the practice of serious sin and the eventual loss of Jehovah’s approval. (1 John 2:1, 2; 3:6) It is the course of wisdom to bear in mind that Jehovah will continue to show loving-kindness, or loyal love, toward us only if we remain faithful to him.—2 Samuel 22:26.
w90 9/15 p. 19 par. 15 Bless Jehovah’s Holy Name!
“Jehovah is near to all those calling upon him, to all those who call upon him in trueness.” (Psalm 145:18) In getting baptized as dedicated believers, we called on the name of Jehovah. (Acts 8:12; 18:8; Romans 10:10-15) Since we thus drew close to God, he draws near to us. (James 4:8) We “call upon him in trueness” because we do so in the true way, through Jesus Christ. And Jehovah will remain near if we worship him “with spirit and truth,” exhibit “faith without hypocrisy,” and ‘continue steadfast as seeing the One who is invisible.’ (John 4:23, 24; 1 Timothy 1:5; Hebrews 11:27) Then we will not pray in vain or have to face Satan’s world alone, but we will continue to enjoy divine help and guidance. (Psalm 65:2; 1 John 5:19) What security that means!
PSALM 145:19)
“He satisfies the desire of those who fear him; He hears their cry for help, and he rescues them.”
w04 1/15 pp. 19-20 Jehovah Is Great in Loyal Love
A Time to Draw Closer to Jehovah
19 A crucial stage in settling the issue of Jehovah’s sovereignty is drawing near. As foretold in Ezekiel chapter 38, Satan will soon complete his role as “Gog of the land of Magog.” This will involve a worldwide attack on Jehovah’s people. It will be an all-out attempt on the part of Satan to break the integrity of God’s loyal ones. As never before, worshipers of Jehovah will need to call upon him earnestly, even crying for help. Will their reverential fear of God and love for him prove to be in vain? No, indeed, for Psalm 145 says: “Jehovah is near to all those calling upon him, to all those who call upon him in trueness. The desire of those fearing him he will perform, and their cry for help he will hear, and he will save them. Jehovah is guarding all those loving him, but all the wicked ones he will annihilate.”—Psalm 145:18-20.
20 How thrilling it will be to experience Jehovah’s nearness and his saving power when he annihilates all the wicked! At that crucial time now so near, Jehovah will listen only to “those who call upon him in trueness.” He certainly will not listen to hypocrites. God’s Word clearly shows that any last-minute use of his name by the wicked has always proved to be in vain.—Proverbs 1:28, 29; Micah 3:4; Luke 13:24, 25.
21 Now more than ever before is the time for those who fear Jehovah to “call upon him in trueness.” His loyal ones delight to use his name in their prayers and in the comments they make at their meetings. They use the divine name in private conversations. And they courageously declare Jehovah’s name in their public ministry.—Romans 10:10, 13-15.
22 To continue benefiting from our close relationship with Jehovah God, it is also vital that we keep on resisting such spiritually detrimental things as materialism, unwholesome entertainment, an unforgiving spirit, or indifference toward needy ones. (1 John 2:15-17; 3:15-17) If not corrected, such pursuits and traits can result in the practice of serious sin and the eventual loss of Jehovah’s approval. (1 John 2:1, 2; 3:6) It is the course of wisdom to bear in mind that Jehovah will continue to show loving-kindness, or loyal love, toward us only if we remain faithful to him.—2 Samuel 22:26.
w90 9/15 pp. 19-20 pars. 16-18 Bless Jehovah’s Holy Name!
Said David: “The desire of those fearing him he will perform, and their cry for help he will hear, and he will save them.” (Psalm 145:19) Jehovah ‘performs our desire’ because we have deep reverence for God and a wholesome fear of displeasing him. (Proverbs 1:7) Our obedient heart has moved us to make a dedication to Jehovah, and our attitude is, “Let your will take place.” Since it is his will that we declare the Kingdom message, he fulfills our desire to do that work. (Matthew 6:10; Mark 13:10) God ‘performs our desire’ because we do not pray selfishly but ask for things in harmony with his will. He grants what is in accord with his will and is for our good.—1 John 3:21, 22; 5:14, 15; compare Matthew 26:36-44.
17 As Jehovah’s loyal Witnesses, we may also be sure that our “cry for help” will never fall on deaf ears. God delivered David from calamity and saved Jesus, even resurrecting him from the dead. Under enemy assault, especially during Gog’s attack, we may be sure that Jehovah will deliver us. (Ezekiel 38:1–39:16) In fact, during any time of trouble, like David we can confidently pray: “Show me favor, O Jehovah, for I am in sore straits. . . . I have heard the bad report by many, fright being on all sides. When they mass together as one against me, it is to take away my soul that they do scheme. But I—in you I have put my trust, O Jehovah. I have said: ‘You are my God.’”—Psalm 31:9-14.
18 Jehovah God is always ready to help us.
PSALM 145:20)
“Jehovah guards all those who love him, But all the wicked he will annihilate.”
w04 1/15 pp. 19-20 Jehovah Is Great in Loyal Love
A Time to Draw Closer to Jehovah
19 A crucial stage in settling the issue of Jehovah’s sovereignty is drawing near. As foretold in Ezekiel chapter 38, Satan will soon complete his role as “Gog of the land of Magog.” This will involve a worldwide attack on Jehovah’s people. It will be an all-out attempt on the part of Satan to break the integrity of God’s loyal ones. As never before, worshipers of Jehovah will need to call upon him earnestly, even crying for help. Will their reverential fear of God and love for him prove to be in vain? No, indeed, for Psalm 145 says: “Jehovah is near to all those calling upon him, to all those who call upon him in trueness. The desire of those fearing him he will perform, and their cry for help he will hear, and he will save them. Jehovah is guarding all those loving him, but all the wicked ones he will annihilate.”—Psalm 145:18-20.
20 How thrilling it will be to experience Jehovah’s nearness and his saving power when he annihilates all the wicked! At that crucial time now so near, Jehovah will listen only to “those who call upon him in trueness.” He certainly will not listen to hypocrites. God’s Word clearly shows that any last-minute use of his name by the wicked has always proved to be in vain.—Proverbs 1:28, 29; Micah 3:4; Luke 13:24, 25.
21 Now more than ever before is the time for those who fear Jehovah to “call upon him in trueness.” His loyal ones delight to use his name in their prayers and in the comments they make at their meetings. They use the divine name in private conversations. And they courageously declare Jehovah’s name in their public ministry.—Romans 10:10, 13-15.
22 To continue benefiting from our close relationship with Jehovah God, it is also vital that we keep on resisting such spiritually detrimental things as materialism, unwholesome entertainment, an unforgiving spirit, or indifference toward needy ones. (1 John 2:15-17; 3:15-17) If not corrected, such pursuits and traits can result in the practice of serious sin and the eventual loss of Jehovah’s approval. (1 John 2:1, 2; 3:6) It is the course of wisdom to bear in mind that Jehovah will continue to show loving-kindness, or loyal love, toward us only if we remain faithful to him.—2 Samuel 22:26.
w02 12/15 pp. 14-16 “He Will Draw Close to You”
“Jehovah Is Guarding All Those Loving Him”
8 Those who are close to Jehovah enjoy another blessing—divine protection. The psalmist David, who was no stranger to adversity, wrote: “Jehovah is near to all those calling upon him, to all those who call upon him in trueness. The desire of those fearing him he will perform, and their cry for help he will hear, and he will save them. Jehovah is guarding all those loving him.” (Psalm 145:18-20) Yes, Jehovah is near to those who love him and therefore can be swift in responding to their cries for help.
9 Why do we need divine protection? In addition to feeling the effects of living in these “critical times hard to deal with,” true Christians are a special target of Jehovah’s chief Adversary, Satan the Devil. (2 Timothy 3:1) That crafty enemy is out “to devour” us. (1 Peter 5:8) Satan persecutes, pressures, and tempts us. He also looks for attitudes of mind and heart that he can exploit. He has an objective in mind: to weaken our faith and consume us spiritually. (Revelation 12:12, 17) Since we have such a powerful foe to contend with, is it not reassuring to know that “Jehovah is guarding all those loving him”?
10 How, though, does Jehovah guard his people? His promise of protection does not guarantee us a problem-free life in this system; nor does it mean that he is obligated to work miracles in our behalf. Nevertheless, Jehovah does provide physical protection for his people as a group. After all, he would never allow the Devil to efface true worshipers from the earth! (2 Peter 2:9) Above all, Jehovah protects us spiritually. He equips us with what we need to endure trials and to safeguard our relationship with him. In the long run, spiritual protection is the most important kind of protection. Why? As long as we have our relationship with Jehovah, nothing—not even death—can do us lasting harm.—Matthew 10:28.
11 Jehovah has made abundant provisions for the spiritual protection of those who are close to him. Through his Word, the Bible, he grants us wisdom to cope with various trials. (James 1:2-5) Applying the practical counsel found in the Scriptures makes a difference. In addition, Jehovah gives “holy spirit to those asking him.” (Luke 11:13) That spirit is the most powerful force in the universe, so it can certainly equip us to face successfully any trial or temptation that may come our way. Through Christ, Jehovah provides “gifts in men.” (Ephesians 4:8) These spiritually qualified men endeavor to reflect Jehovah’s own heartfelt compassion in helping fellow worshipers.—James 5:14, 15.
12 Jehovah provides something else to safeguard us: spiritual food at the proper time. (Matthew 24:45) By means of printed publications, including the journals The Watchtower and Awake!, as well as by meetings, assemblies, and conventions, Jehovah supplies us with what we need when we need it. Can you recall an occasion when you heard something at a Christian meeting, an assembly, or a convention that touched your heart and strengthened or comforted you? Have you ever read an article in one of the above-mentioned journals and felt that it was written for you?
13 One of Satan’s most effective weapons is discouragement, and we are not immune to its effects. He well knows that prolonged despondency can rob us of strength, even making us vulnerable. (Proverbs 24:10) Because Satan is trying to capitalize on negative feelings, we need help. The Watchtower and Awake! magazines have occasionally featured articles that help us to combat discouragement. Regarding one such article, a Christian sister wrote: “I read the article almost every day, and the tears still well up. I keep it by my bed so that I can have it with me whenever I am feeling down. Through articles like these, I can just feel Jehovah’s protective arms embracing me.” Are we not grateful to Jehovah for supplying us with timely spiritual food? Remember, his provisions for our spiritual well-being are evidence that he is close to us and has placed us under his protective care.
w90 9/15 p. 20 par. 18 Bless Jehovah’s Holy Name!
18 Jehovah God is always ready to help us. As David says: “Jehovah is guarding all those loving him, but all the wicked ones he will annihilate.” (Psalm 145:20) Yes, if we love God, he will bless and keep us. (Numbers 6:24-26) He ‘rewards the haughty exceedingly’ but safeguards his humble servants, letting nothing happen that will do them permanent injury. Since Jehovah is with us, let us be courageous. (Psalm 31:20-24; Acts 11:19-21) ‘No weapon formed against us will succeed.’ (Isaiah 54:17; Psalm 9:17; 11:4-7) That is the experience of those who prove their love for God as his faithful dedicated servants. As a group, Jehovah’s Witnesses will safely pass through “the great tribulation” brought upon the wicked. (Revelation 7:14) And what a blessing the settling of the great issue of Jehovah’s universal kingship will be to “all those loving him”!
PSALM 145:21)
“My mouth will declare the praise of Jehovah; Let every living thing praise his holy name forever and ever.”
w04 1/15 p. 20 par. 23 Jehovah Is Great in Loyal Love
23 Let us therefore keep our thoughts centered on the grand future that awaits all of Jehovah’s loyal ones. By doing so, we have the wonderful prospect of being included among those who will exalt, bless, and praise Jehovah “all day long” and “even forever.” (Psalm 145:1, 2) May we therefore ‘keep ourselves in God’s love with everlasting life in view.’ (Jude 20, 21) As we continue to benefit from our heavenly Father’s marvelous qualities, including the great loving-kindness he displays toward those who love him, may our sentiments always be like those expressed by David in the final words of Psalm 145: “The praise of Jehovah my mouth will speak; and let all flesh bless his holy name to time indefinite, even forever.”
w90 9/15 p. 20 Bless Jehovah’s Holy Name!
Continue to Bless Jehovah’s Holy Name
19 David concludes this moving psalm with the words: “The praise of Jehovah my mouth will speak; and let all flesh bless his holy name to time indefinite, even forever.” (Psalm 145:21) As Jehovah’s Witnesses, we appreciate God’s greatness, goodness, benevolent kingship, unfailing support, and tireless watchcare. So, like David, our mouths speak the praises of God. We are moved to give him exclusive devotion, thank him for his many blessings, and praise his “beauteous name.”—1 Chronicles 29:10-13; Exodus 20:4-6.
20 Since Jehovah blesses us daily, let us regularly bless him, or speak well of him. Let us preach the good news zealously in praise of God, telling others that soon ‘all flesh will bless his holy name.’ How splendid it will be to live when all inhabitants of the earth—indeed, all intelligent creatures in the universe—will sing praises to our heavenly Father! (Psalm 148:1-13) Blessed be Jehovah for revealing his name and granting us the privilege of being his Witnesses. (Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 43:10-12) May we deport ourselves in a manner befitting those who hold that name sacred and pray for its sanctification. (Luke 11:2) Let us serve God loyally, so that in his new system, our voice may be heard in the chorus of those who bless Jehovah’s holy name forever.
PSALM 146:3)
“Do not put your trust in princes Nor in a son of man, who cannot bring salvation.”
w05 12/15 pp. 21-22 pars. 10-12 Whom Do You Obey—God or Men?
Wealthy Joseph Caiaphas was placed in his position by Valerius Gratus, and he held that post longer than many of his predecessors. Caiaphas likely attributed this accomplishment to his skill as a diplomat and his personal friendship with Pilate rather than to divine providence. In any case, his confidence in men proved to be misplaced. Just three years after the apostles appeared before the Sanhedrin, Caiaphas fell out of favor with the Roman authorities and was removed as high priest.
11 The order to strip Caiaphas of his office came from Pilate’s immediate superior, Lucius Vitellius, governor of Syria, and Caiaphas’ close friend Pilate was unable to prevent it. In fact, just one year after Caiaphas’ downfall, Pilate himself was removed from office and was recalled to Rome to answer serious charges. As for the Jewish leaders who put their trust in Caesar, the Romans did take away ‘both their place and their nation.’ This occurred in the year 70 C.E. when the Roman armies completely destroyed the city of Jerusalem, including the temple and the Sanhedrin hall. How true the words of the psalmist proved to be in this case: “Do not put your trust in nobles, nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs”!—John 11:48; Psalm 146:3.
12 In contrast, God appointed the resurrected Jesus Christ as High Priest of a great spiritual temple. No man can cancel that appointment. Indeed, Jesus “has his priesthood without any successors.” (Hebrews 2:9; 7:17, 24; 9:11) God also appointed Jesus as Judge of the living and the dead. (1 Peter 4:5) In that capacity, Jesus will determine whether Joseph Caiaphas and Pontius Pilate have any possibility of future life.—Matthew 23:33; Acts 24:15.
w98 8/15 p. 6 Confidence Can Be Restored!
Psalm 146:3 advises us: “Do not put your trust in nobles, nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs.” And at Jeremiah 17:5-7, we read: “Cursed is the able-bodied man who puts his trust in earthling man and actually makes flesh his arm, and whose heart turns away from Jehovah himself.” On the other hand, “blessed is the able-bodied man who puts his trust in Jehovah, and whose confidence Jehovah has become.”
Granted, putting confidence in humans is not always wrong. Those texts are simply making the point that confidence in God is never misplaced, but putting confidence in imperfect humans can at times lead to disaster. For example, people who trust humans to achieve what only God can do—provide salvation and bring full peace with security—are headed for disappointment.—Psalm 46:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:3.
w88 4/15 p. 10 In Our Fearful Times, Whom Can You Really Trust?
“Do not put your trust in nobles, nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs.”—PSALM 146:3.
w88 4/15 pp. 10-12 In Our Fearful Times, Whom Can You Really Trust?
Diminishing Trust
3 In these fearful times, we very much need others whom we can trust, those who will be loyal, a help in time of need. But many feel let down by the ones whom they trusted. A newspaper in one land declared: “People Don’t Trust Most Public Institutions.” The least trusted were political and business leaders. Distrust has increased in the family too, as evidenced by high divorce rates. In some nations, there is one divorce for every three marriages or even one for every two. In one country, 70 percent of all new marriages end in divorce within ten years! So trust is a growing casualty. Distrust is taking its place. No longer unusual is the comment of a person who said: “I don’t trust anyone anymore.”
4 There is so much distrust because this is the most fearful time in all human history. This century has seen two world wars and scores of other wars that have taken over a hundred million lives. Now, nuclear weapons threaten to annihilate all life on earth. And this affects the trust of even the very young. A medical journal reported: “More and more children, even toddlers, are becoming frightened by the threat of nuclear holocaust.” A Canadian newspaper said that there is now “a cynicism, sadness, bitterness and sense of helplessness” in many young people. One youth said: “We just don’t feel protected by the adult population. We may grow up to be the most cynical generation ever.”
5 And what would another group of young ones say—if they could speak—about not feeling protected by adults? We mean those who are killed by abortions before they are born. One estimate puts the number of abortions worldwide at about 55 million every year. What a betrayal of the most innocent and helpless part of humanity!
6 Distrust has increased because of another growing fear in our day: the fear of becoming a victim of crime. Many now do like the woman who said that she sleeps with a revolver under her pillow. Another fearful woman said: “I resent it. . . . My grandmother never locked her doors.” Thus, a newspaper editorial in Puerto Rico declared: “The ones who are imprisoned are us,” yes, in our own barred and locked homes. These fears are well founded. In the United States, for example, one woman in three is likely to be assaulted during her lifetime. The surgeon general there noted that “some four million Americans fall victim to serious violence every year—murder, rape, wife-beating, child-abuse, muggings.” Such crime is common in many lands, further damaging the trust that people have in others.
7 In underdeveloped nations, most people live in poverty. Few trust anyone to get them out of it. The president of one such country said that in one province, out of every 1,000 babies born, 270 die before they are one year old. Only one out of every 100 houses has water. Another country’s government says that 60 percent of its children are needy, and seven million abandoned children “are growing up as illiterate, alienated and unemployable outcasts.” In the United States, the number of homeless youths is estimated to be 500,000, but some say the real figure is much higher. How much trust can such young ones have in their parents, in society, in law and order, or in the promises of leaders?
8 Economic problems plague even wealthy nations. Recently, the United States had the largest number of bank failures since the Great Depression of the 1930’s. An economist wrote: “The net result is a banking system that is surely as fragile today as it was in the 1920’s,” just before it collapsed. An observer spoke of “a potentially devastating approaching storm” in the world economy. Another said: “The feeling of urgency comes because these strains in the international system are no longer looming; they have arrived.” Can economists be trusted to guide the nations out of this trouble? One of them said that their forecasting record “is so appalling that there is no doubt they are mostly spreading confusion.”
Misplaced Optimism
9 How different all of this is from the optimism that existed when the world entered the 20th century. There had been decades of comparative peace, and it was felt that peace and prosperity would reach new heights. But in 1914 World War I shattered that outlook. In 1945, after a more terrible second world war, the United Nations Charter was signed. The nations put into writing their vision of a postwar world of peace, prosperity, and justice. A recent report said: “The final document was signed by 51 countries, representing every continent, race and religion.” Yet there was one religion that was not represented, nor wanted to be, Jehovah’s Witnesses. They knew that those promises of peace, prosperity, and justice would not be realized by any nation of this world or by any association of them, such as the United Nations.
10 That same report says: ‘Forty years later it seems appropriate to review the realities against the ideals. The evidence is sobering. A less equitable, less secure world, and growing violence, are the realities. The population lacking food, water, shelter, health care, and education is steadily growing larger. This was not in the dream of 1945.’ It adds: ‘Forty years after nations joined together to ensure that all people could live in freedom from fear and want, the real world of the 1980’s is one of crushing poverty for at least one quarter of humanity. Deaths related to hunger average 50,000 a day.’ Yet, the nations spend over a hundred million dollars every hour on war!
11 In view of this dismal record after centuries of opportunity, can we trust human promises to solve these problems? Such promises are about as trustworthy as the words of the captain of a large ocean liner who said: “I cannot imagine any condition which would cause a [large] ship to founder. . . . Modern shipbuilding has gone beyond that.” A crew member of that vessel said to a passenger: “God himself could not sink this ship.” Yet, that ship, the Titanic, sank in 1912 with the loss of 1,500 lives. In 1931 the National Education Association in the United States said that by means of education “crime will be virtually abolished before 1950.” In 1936 a British journalist wrote that “food, clothing and shelter will cost as little as air” by 1960. Do you not agree that today’s realities belie those promises?
w87 3/15 p. 25 Happy God, Happy People!
♦ Psalm 146:3—Why not put confidence in human leaders?
Human leaders are mortal. They can save neither themselves nor those trusting in them. Thus, confidence in human leadership is undermined by the eventuality of death. But “happy is the one . . . whose hope is in Jehovah his God.” (Psalm 146:5, 6) The psalmist saw the need for guidance superior to what humans themselves can give.
PSALM 146:4)
“His spirit goes out, he returns to the ground; On that very day his thoughts perish.”
it-1 p. 596 Death
From the Biblical viewpoint, what is death?
It is of interest to note the correspondency of these Biblical points with what is known scientifically of the death process. In humans, for example, when the heart stops beating, the blood ceases to circulate nourishment and oxygen (obtained by breathing) to the billions of body cells. However, The World Book Encyclopedia (1987, Vol. 5, p. 52b) pointed out: “A person whose heart and lungs stop working may be considered clinically dead, but somatic death may not yet have occurred. The individual cells of the body continue to live for several minutes. The person may be revived if the heart and lungs start working again and give the cells the oxygen they need. After about three minutes, the brain cells—which are most sensitive to a lack of oxygen—begin to die. The person is soon dead beyond any possibility of revival. Gradually, other cells of the body also die. The last ones to perish are the bone, hair, and skin cells, which may continue to grow for several hours.” Thus while the vital importance of breathing and of the blood in maintaining the active life-force (ruʹach chai•yimʹ) in the body cells is evident, at the same time it is also clear that it is not the cessation of breathing or of heartbeat alone but the disappearance of the life-force or spirit from the body cells that brings death as referred to in the Scriptures.—Ps 104:29; 146:4; Ec 8:8.
it-2 p. 1025 Spirit
Thus, Psalm 146:3, 4 says that when man’s “spirit [form of ruʹach] goes out, he goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish.” The spirit, or life-force, that was active in man’s body cells does not retain any of the characteristics of those cells, such as the brain cells and their part in the thinking process. If the spirit, or life-force (ruʹach; pneuʹma), were not impersonal, then it would mean that the children of certain women who were resurrected by the prophets Elijah and Elisha were actually in conscious existence somewhere in the period during which they were dead. So, too, with Lazarus, who was resurrected some four days after his death. (1Ki 17:17-23; 2Ki 4:32-37; Joh 11:38-44) If such had been the case, it is reasonable that they would have remembered such conscious existence during that period and upon being resurrected would have described it, told about it. There is nothing to indicate that any of them did so. Hence, the personality of the dead individual is not perpetuated in the life-force, or spirit, that stops functioning in the deceased person’s body cells.
w99 4/1 pp. 16-17 Life After Death—What Does the Bible Say?
What About the Spirit?
11 The Bible says that when a person dies, “his spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground.” (Psalm 146:4) Does this mean that a disembodied spirit literally departs and lives on after a person’s death? That could not be, for the psalmist next says: “In that day his thoughts do perish” (“all his thinking ends,” The New English Bible). What, then, is the spirit, and how does it ‘go out’ from a person at the time of his death?
12 In the Bible the words translated “spirit” (Hebrew, ruʹach; Greek, pneuʹma) basically mean “breath.” Thus, instead of “his spirit goes out,” the translation by R. A. Knox uses the phrase “the breath leaves his body.” (Psalm 145:4) But the word “spirit” implies much more than the act of breathing. For example, in describing the destruction of human and animal life at the time of the global Deluge, Genesis 7:22 says: “Everything in which the breath of the force [or, spirit; Hebrew, ruʹach] of life was active in its nostrils, namely, all that were on the dry ground, died.” So “spirit” may refer to the life-force that is active in all living creatures, both humans and animals, and that is sustained by breathing.
ie p. 24 What Happens to the Soul at Death?
What Is the Spirit?
11 The Bible says that when a person dies, “his spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground.” (Psalm 146:4) Does this mean that a disembodied spirit literally departs and lives on after a person’s death? That could not be, for the psalmist next says: “In that day his thoughts do perish” (“all his thinking ends,” NEB). What, then, is the spirit, and how does it ‘go out’ from a person at the time of his death?
12 In the Bible the words translated “spirit” (Hebrew, ruʹach; Greek, pneuʹma) basically mean “breath.” Thus, instead of “his spirit goes out,” the translation by R. A. Knox uses the phrase “the breath leaves his body.” (Psalm 145:4, Knox) But the word “spirit” implies much more than the act of breathing. For example, in describing the destruction of human and animal life at the time of the global Deluge, Genesis 7:22 says: “Everything in which the breath of the force [or, spirit; Hebrew, ruʹach] of life was active in its nostrils, namely, all that were on the dry ground, died.” So “spirit” can refer to the life-force that is active in all living creatures, both humans and animals, and that is sustained by breathing.
13 To illustrate: Electric current powers a piece of equipment. If the current stops, the equipment ceases to function. The current does not take on a life of its own. Similarly, when a person dies, his spirit ceases to animate the body cells. It does not leave the body and move on to another realm.—Psalm 104:29.
kl chap. 9 pp. 81-82 pars. 5-6 What Happens to Our Dead Loved Ones?
But what is the “spirit” referred to at Psalm 146:4? That verse says of one who dies: “His spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish.” When the Bible writers used the word “spirit” in this way, they did not have in mind a disembodied soul that continues living after the body dies.
6 The “spirit” that departs from humans at death is the life force that originated with our Creator. (Psalm 36:9; Acts 17:28) This life force does not have any of the characteristics of the creature it animates, just as electricity does not take on the features of the equipment it powers. When someone dies, the spirit (life force) ceases to animate the body cells, much as a light goes out when the electricity is turned off. When the life force stops sustaining the human body, man—the soul—dies.—Psalm 104:29; Ecclesiastes 12:1, 7.
rs p. 379 par. 1 Soul
Ps. 146:4: “His spirit [Hebrew, from ruʹach] goes out, he goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish.” (NAB, Ro, Yg, and Dy [145:4] here render ruʹach as “spirit.” Some translations say “breath.”) (Also Psalm 104:29)
rs p. 382 par. 6 Spirit
Ps. 146:4: “His spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish.” (The Hebrew word here translated “spirit” is a derivative of ruʹach. Some translators render it “breath.” When that ruʹach, or active life-force, leaves the body, the person’s thoughts perish; they do not continue in another realm.)
rs p. 385 par. 2 Spiritism
Ps. 146:4: “His spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish.” (When the spirit is said to ‘go out’ of the body, this is merely another way of saying that the life-force has ceased to be active. Thus, after a person dies, his spirit does not exist as an immaterial being that can think and carry out plans apart from the body. It is not something with which the living can communicate after a person’s death.)
PSALM 147:4)
“He counts the number of the stars; He calls all of them by name.”
cl chap. 5 p. 50 par. 7 Creative Power—“The Maker of Heaven and Earth”
7 Isaiah 40:26 answers: “Raise your eyes high up and see. Who has created these things? It is the One who is bringing forth the army of them even by number, all of whom he calls even by name.” Psalm 147:4 says: “He is counting the number of the stars.” What is “the number of the stars”? That is not a simple question. Astronomers estimate that there are over 100 billion stars in our Milky Way galaxy alone. But ours is just one of many galaxies, and many of those swarm with even more stars. How many galaxies are there? Some astronomers have estimated 50 billion. Others have calculated that there may be as many as 125 billion. So man cannot even determine the number of galaxies, let alone the exact sum of all the billions of stars they contain. Yet, Jehovah knows that number. Moreover, he gives each star its own name!
w04 6/1 p. 11 Creation Declares the Glory of God!
The Awesome Stars and Galaxies
11 Without a telescope, David could see only a few thousand stars. However, according to one recent study, the number of stars in the universe visible by means of modern telescopes is 70 sextillion—7 followed by 22 zeros! Jehovah indicated that enormous numbers were involved when he linked the number of stars with “the grains of sand that are on the seashore.”—Genesis 22:17.
12 For years, astronomers observed what was described as “small luminous regions with a nebulous, not resolved appearance.” Scientists presumed that these “spiral nebulae” were objects in our Milky Way galaxy. In 1924, it was discovered that the closest such nebula, Andromeda, was actually a galaxy itself—some two million light years away! Scientists now estimate that there are billions of galaxies, each containing thousands—sometimes billions—of stars. Yet, Jehovah “is counting the number of the stars; all of them he calls by their names.”—Psalm 147:4.
PSALM 147:16)
“He sends the snow like wool; He scatters the frost just like ashes.”
it-1 p. 1126 Hoarfrost
Of Jehovah, the psalmist says: “Hoarfrost he scatters just like ashes.” (Ps 147:16) Jehovah gives forth the hoarfrost with as much ease as a man scatters ashes with his hand. It covers, or encrusts, such things as trees, grass, and houses with a covering, just as though ashes had been scattered over them by Jehovah’s invisible hand.
it-2 p. 1200 Wool
Jehovah gives “snow like wool,” blanketing the land as with a warm covering of white wool.—Ps 147:16.
g96 2/8 p. 31 A Winter Blanket
However, snow often plays a role in preserving life rather than in bringing destruction. For example, the Bible says that God “is giving snow like wool.” (Psalm 147:16) How is snow like wool? The Bible uses both snow and wool to represent whiteness and purity. (Isaiah 1:18) But there is another important similarity. Both snow and wool act as insulators. The World Book Encyclopedia says: “Wool . . . insulates against both cold and heat.” And of snow, World Book notes that it too “serves as a good insulator. Snow helps protect plants and hibernating animals from the cold winter air.”
g87 2/22 p. 31 The Marvel of Snow
The Marvel of Snow
Many consider the earth to be at its prettiest when it is draped by a blanket of dazzling snow. But snow provides more than beauty. Animals can burrow into this fluffy natural covering and keep warm. Snow holds heat in the lower ground levels, and preserves seeds from freezing to death. It provides such fine insulation that Eskimos within their igloos can keep warm from the heat of their own bodies. It is with significance, then, that the Bible says that God “is giving snow like wool.”—Psalm 147:16;
PSALM 147:17)
“He hurls down his hailstones like morsels of bread. Who can withstand his cold?”
it-1 p. 1166 Ice
The psalmist speaks of Jehovah’s “throwing his ice like morsels.” This evidently refers to hail or sleet.—Ps 147:17; see HAIL.
PSALM 147:19)
“He declares his word to Jacob, His regulations and judgments to Israel.”
it-2 p. 965 Sin, I
During the approximately 2,500 years between Adam’s deflection and the giving of the Law covenant in 1513 B.C.E., God had not given mankind any comprehensive code or systematically arranged law that specifically defined sin in all its ramifications and forms. True, he had given certain decrees, such as those given to Noah following the global Flood (Ge 9:1-7) as well as the covenant of circumcision given to Abraham and his household, including his foreign slaves. (Ge 17:9-14) But concerning Israel the psalmist could say that God “is telling his word to Jacob, his regulations and his judicial decisions to Israel. He has not done that way to any other nation; and as for his judicial decisions, they have not known them.” (Ps 147:19, 20; compare Ex 19:5, 6; De 4:8; 7:6, 11.) Of the Law covenant given Israel it could be said, “The man that has done the righteousness of the Law will live by it,” for perfect adherence to and compliance with that Law could be accomplished only by a sinless man, as was the case with Christ Jesus. (Ro 10:5; Mt 5:17; Joh 8:46; Heb 4:15; 7:26; 1Pe 2:22) This was true of no other law given from the time of Adam to the giving of the Law covenant.
PSALM 147:20)
“He has not done so with any other nation; They know nothing about his judgments. Praise Jah!”
it-2 p. 965 Sin, I
During the approximately 2,500 years between Adam’s deflection and the giving of the Law covenant in 1513 B.C.E., God had not given mankind any comprehensive code or systematically arranged law that specifically defined sin in all its ramifications and forms. True, he had given certain decrees, such as those given to Noah following the global Flood (Ge 9:1-7) as well as the covenant of circumcision given to Abraham and his household, including his foreign slaves. (Ge 17:9-14) But concerning Israel the psalmist could say that God “is telling his word to Jacob, his regulations and his judicial decisions to Israel. He has not done that way to any other nation; and as for his judicial decisions, they have not known them.” (Ps 147:19, 20; compare Ex 19:5, 6; De 4:8; 7:6, 11.) Of the Law covenant given Israel it could be said, “The man that has done the righteousness of the Law will live by it,” for perfect adherence to and compliance with that Law could be accomplished only by a sinless man, as was the case with Christ Jesus. (Ro 10:5; Mt 5:17; Joh 8:46; Heb 4:15; 7:26; 1Pe 2:22) This was true of no other law given from the time of Adam to the giving of the Law covenant.
PSALM 148:4)
“Praise him, O highest heavens And waters above the heavens.”
w87 3/15 p. 25 Happy God, Happy People!
♦ 148:4—What are the ‘waters above the heavens’?
The psalmist apparently meant the water-carrying clouds above the earth that empty themselves from time to time in the form of rain, which eventually flows back into the oceans. This cycle is essential to life, and its very existence gives praise to the Creator. Since the atmospheric expanse between the earth and the clouds can be spoken of as heavens, the psalmist referred to the clouds as the ‘waters above the heavens.’
PSALM 148:6)
“He keeps them established forever and ever; He has issued a decree that will not pass away.”
it-1 p. 1063 Heaven
Unlike God’s eternal existence, the permanence of any part of his physical creation is not independent. As seen in the earth, the physical creation must undergo a continual renewing process if it is to endure or retain its existing form. That the physical heavens are dependent on God’s will and sustaining power is indicated at Psalm 148, where, after referring to sun, moon, and stars, along with other parts of God’s creation, verse 6 states that God “keeps them standing forever, to time indefinite. A regulation he has given, and it will not pass away.”
PSALM 148:7)
“Praise Jehovah from the earth, You great sea creatures and all deep waters,”
cl chap. 5 p. 54 par. 17 Creative Power—“The Maker of Heaven and Earth”
17 Psalm 148:7 says that even the “sea monsters” praise Jehovah. Consider what is often thought to be the largest animal ever to live on this planet, the blue whale. This “monster” of the deep may reach a length of 100 feet (30 m) or more. It may weigh as much as a herd of 30 adult elephants. Its tongue alone weighs as much as one elephant. Its heart is the size of a small car. This huge organ beats only 9 times per minute—in contrast with the hummingbird’s heart, which may beat some 1,200 times per minute. At least one of the blue whale’s blood vessels is so large that a child could crawl inside it.
w04 6/1 p. 12 Creation Declares the Glory of God!
The Earth and Its Creatures Glorify Jehovah
16 Psalm 148 enumerates other ways in which creation declares God’s glory. Verse 7 reads: “Praise Jehovah from the earth, you sea monsters and all you watery deeps.” Yes, the “watery deeps” are full of wonders that highlight God’s wisdom and power. The blue whale has an average weight of 120 tons—as much as 30 elephants! Its heart alone weighs over 1,000 pounds [450 kg] and is able to pump some 14,000 pounds [6,400 kg] of blood through its body! Are these mammoth sea monsters slow and clumsy in the water? Hardly. They “zip around the oceans” at impressive speeds, says a report by European Cetacean Bycatch Campaign. Satellite tracking showed that “one animal migrated more than 10,000 miles [16,000 km] in 10 months.”
17 The bottle-nosed dolphin normally dives to depths of 150 feet [45 m], but the deepest recorded dive for a dolphin is 1,795 feet [547 m]! How does this mammal survive such a dive? Its heartbeat slows down during the dive, and blood is diverted to the heart, lungs, and brain. Also, its muscles contain a chemical that stores oxygen. Elephant seals and sperm whales can dive to even greater depths. “Instead of fighting the pressure,” says Discover magazine, “they let it collapse their lungs completely.” They store most of the oxygen they need in their muscles. Clearly, these creatures are living testimony to the wisdom of an all-powerful God!
18 Even seawater reflects Jehovah’s wisdom. Says Scientific American: “Every drop of water in the top 100 meters of the ocean contains thousands of free-floating, microscopic flora called phytoplankton.” This “invisible forest” cleans our air by drawing out billions of tons of carbon dioxide. Phytoplankton generates more than half of the oxygen we breathe.
PSALM 148:8)
“You lightning and hail, snow and thick clouds, You storm wind, carrying out his word,”
w04 6/1 pp. 12-13 par. 19 Creation Declares the Glory of God!
19 Psalm 148:8 says: “You fire and hail, snow and thick smoke, you tempestuous wind, accomplishing his word.” Yes, Jehovah also uses the inanimate forces of nature to accomplish his will. Consider fire. In decades past, forest fires were viewed only as destructive. Researchers now believe that fire plays an important ecological role, eliminating old or dying trees, promoting the germination of many seeds, recycling nutrients, and actually reducing the risk of wildfire. Snow is also vital, watering and fertilizing the ground, replenishing rivers, and insulating plants and animals from freezing temperatures.
g95 11/8 p. 8 The Most Neglected Artist of Our Time
We can perceive God’s power in a thundering waterfall, the turning tides, the pounding surf, or the towering trees of a forest swaying in a gale-force wind. This dynamic artistry can be just as impressive as a tranquil scene. Famous American naturalist John Muir once described the effect of a storm on a group of Douglas firs in the Sierra Nevada of California:
“Though comparatively young, they were about 100 feet high, and their lithe, brushy tops were rocking and swirling in wild ecstasy. . . . The slender tops fairly flapped and swished in the passionate torrent, bending and swirling backward and forward, round and round, tracing indescribable combinations of vertical and horizontal curves.” As the psalmist wrote thousands of years ago, ‘the tempestuous wind praises Jehovah’—it gives us a sample of his extraordinary power.—Psalm 148:7, 8.
PSALM 148:9)
“You mountains and all you hills, You fruit trees and all you cedars,”
it-2 p. 446 Mount, Mountain
The mountains rejoice and praise Jehovah. When Jehovah turns his favorable attention to his people, this has a good effect upon the land. Cultivated and cared for, mountain slopes cease to have an unkept appearance, as if mourning in a state of desolation or plague. Therefore, figuratively, the mountains “cry out joyfully” and their beauty and productivity praise Jehovah.—Ps 98:8; 148:7-9; compare Isa 44:23; 49:13; 55:12, 13; Eze 36:1-12.
w04 6/1 p. 13 pars. 20-21 Creation Declares the Glory of God!
20 “You mountains and all you hills, you fruit trees and all you cedars,” recounts Psalm 148:9. Majestic mountains are a testimony to Jehovah’s great power. (Psalm 65:6) But they also serve a practical purpose. A report from the Institute of Geography in Bern, Switzerland, says: “All the major rivers in the world have their headwaters in mountains. More than half of humanity relies on the fresh water that accumulates in mountains . . . These ‘water towers’ are crucial to the welfare of humankind.” Even the commonplace tree is a glory to its Maker. A report by the United Nations Environment Programme says that trees “are important for the well-being of people in all countries . . . Many tree species are of major economic importance as the source of products such as timber, fruits, nuts, resins and gums. Worldwide, 2 billion people depend on wood for cooking and fuel.”
21 Evidence of a wise creator is seen in the very design of a tree. Consider a simple leaf. The outside has a waxy coating that keeps the leaf from drying out. Right under the coating on the upper side is an array of cells containing chloroplasts. These contain chlorophyll, which absorbs light energy. Through a process called photosynthesis, leaves become “food factories.” Water is taken up through the tree’s roots and transported to the leaves by a sophisticated “plumbing system.” Thousands of tiny “valves” (called stomata) on a leaf’s underside open and close, letting in carbon dioxide. Light supplies the energy for water and carbon dioxide to combine and produce carbohydrates. The plant can now feed on the very food it has created. Yet, this “factory” is silent and beautiful. Instead of polluting, it emits oxygen as a by-product!
PSALM 148:10)
“You wild animals and all you domestic animals, You creeping things and winged birds,”
it-1 pp. 316-317 Birds
The psalmist called upon the “winged birds” to praise Jehovah (Ps 148:1, 10), and birds do this by their very structure and their complex design. A single bird may have from 1,000 to over 20,000 feathers. Yet each feather is composed of a shaft from which branch out hundreds of barbs forming an inner web, each barb containing several hundred smaller barbules and each barbule having hundreds of barbicels and hooklets. A single six-inch wing feather of a pigeon is thus estimated to contain some hundreds of thousands of barbules and literally millions of barbicels. The aerodynamic principles built into birds’ wings and body design surpass in complexity and efficiency that of modern-day aircraft. A bird’s hollow bones contribute to its lightness, and thus the skeleton of a frigate bird with a 2-m (7 ft) wingspan may weigh only about 110 g (4 oz). Certain wing bones of large soaring birds even have trusslike supports, like the struts inside airplane wings, within the hollow portions.
w04 6/1 pp. 13-14 par. 22 Creation Declares the Glory of God!
22 “You wild animals and all you domestic animals, you creeping things and winged birds,” says Psalm 148:10. Many land animals and flying creatures display amazing abilities. The Laysan albatross can fly enormous distances (in one case 25,000 miles [40,000 km] in just 90 days). The blackpoll warbler makes the trip from North to South America, staying aloft for over 80 hours nonstop. The camel stores water, not in his hump as commonly thought, but in his digestive system, allowing him to go for long periods without becoming dehydrated. Little wonder, then, that engineers carefully observe the animal kingdom when designing machines and new materials. “If you want to build something that will behave well . . . and fit flawlessly in its environment,” says writer Gail Cleere, “chances are you’ll find a good example somewhere in nature.”
PSALM 149:2)
“Let Israel rejoice in its Grand Maker; Let the sons of Zion be joyful in their King.”
w86 1/1 p. 30 Jehovah—Simply Grand!
According to Job 35:10, Psalm 149:2, and Isaiah 54:5, Jehovah is also the “Grand Maker.” The latter two texts refer to Jehovah’s making Israel into a nation to serve his interests. Thus, besides being able to create, Jehovah is also able to cause his creations to become whatever he desires them to be in order for his purposes to see fulfillment. This is in harmony with the very meaning of the divine name: “He Causes to Become.”
PSALM 150:5)
“Praise him with ringing cymbals. Praise him with crashing cymbals.”
it-1 p. 563 Cymbals
Psalm 150:5 indicates that more than one type of cymbal may have been known in Israel. The first occurrence of the term in this text describes “cymbals of melodious sound,” while the second reference is to “clashing cymbals.” Because each stanza of verses 3 and 4 of this song refers to one or more different musical instruments, the two stanzas of verse 5 could quite consistently be referring first to smaller, tinkling cymbals and, second, to cymbals of a larger diameter producing louder, deeper-toned sounds, when clashed together in heavy strokes.
PSALM 150:6)
“Every breathing thing—let it praise Jah. Praise Jah!”
it-2 p. 448 Mouth
The psalmist declared that everything that has breath will praise Jehovah; therefore humans must use their mouths to do this if they desire to live. The apostle Paul explains that belief in God and his Son, even believing with the heart, is not enough. It has to be accompanied by public declaration in order to bring salvation.—Ps 150:6; Ro 10:10.
w87 3/15 p. 25 Happy God, Happy People!
The Psalms make this truth self-evident: To be truly happy, we need a good relationship with Jehovah. Thus, the whole aim of God’s people and the purpose of our existence can be summed up in the psalmist’s concluding call: “Every breathing thing—let it praise Jah. Praise Jah, you people!”—Psalm 150:6.

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