Single PDF Jan19 25

8/10/2019 Single PDF Jan19 25

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Week ofJanuary 19-25, 2015

Draw Close to Jehovahcl chap. 19 1-8

Opening Song: 47

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SONG 47

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(Proverbs 25:2)It is the glory of God to keep a mattersecret, And the glory of kings is to search through a

matter.Paragraph 2

(Ephesians 1:9)by making known to us the sacred secretof his will. It is according to his good pleasure that hehimself purposed

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(Genesis 3:15)And I will put enmity between you and thewoman and between your offspring and her offspring. Hewill crush your head, and you will strike him in the heel.

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(1 Corinthians 2:7)But we speak Gods wisdom in asacred secret, the hidden wisdom, which God

foreordained before the systems of things for our glory.

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(Daniel 2:28)But there is a God in the heavens who is aRevealer of secrets, and he has made known to KingNebuchadnezzar what is to happen in the final part ofthe days. This is your dream, and these are the visions ofyour head as you lay on your bed:

(Proverbs 4:18)But the path of the righteous is like thebright morning light That grows brighter and brighter untilfull daylight.

(Daniel 12:4)As for you, Daniel, keep the words secret,and seal up the book until the time of the end. Many willrove about, and the true knowledge will becomeabundant.

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(Hebrews 6:16-18)For men swear by someone greater,and their oath is the end of every dispute, since it is a legalguarantee to them. 17In this same way, when Goddecided to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs of thepromise the unchangeableness of his purpose, heguaranteed it with an oath, 18in order that through twounchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to

lie, we who have fled to the refuge may have strongencouragement to take firm hold of the hope set before us.

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(Genesis 22:17, 18)I will surely bless you and I will surelymultiply your offspring like the stars of the heavens andlike the grains of sand on the seashore, and your offspringwill take possession of the gate of his enemies. 18And bymeans of your offspring all nations of the earth will obtain

a blessing for themselves because you have listened tomy voice.

(Genesis 17:1, 2)When Abram was 99 years old,Jehovah appeared to Abram and said to him: I am God

Almighty. Walk before me and prove yourself faultless. 2I

will establish my covenant between me and you, and I willmultiply you very, very much.

(Hebrews 6:13-15)For when God made his promise toAbraham, since he could not swear by anyone greater, heswore by himself, 14saying: I will surely bless you and Iwill surely multiply you.15So after Abraham had shownpatience, he obtained this promise.

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(Genesis 21:12)Then God said to Abraham: Do not bedispleased by what Sarah is saying to you about the boyand about your slave girl. Listen to her, for what will becalled your offspring will be through Isaac.

(Genesis 28:13, 14)And look! there was Jehovahstationed above it, and he said: I am Jehovah the God of

Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land onwhich you are lying, to you I am going to give it and toyour offspring. 14And your offspring will certainly becomelike the dust particles of the earth, and you will spreadabroad to the west and to the east and to the north and tothe south, and by means of you and by means of youroffspring all the families of the ground will certainly beblessed.

(Genesis 49:10)The scepter will not depart from Judah,neither the commanders staff from between his feet, until

Shiloh comes, and to him the obedience of the peopleswill belong.


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Highlights for theWeek of January 19-25, 2015 Judges 1-4

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PLEASE NOTE- The references below are taken fromthe 86-14 Index. Many verses have additional referencesthat have not been included due to time & space. We areencouraged to do additional personal research.

Jg 1:2,4 - *** w05 1/15 p. 24 par. 5 Highlights From theBook of Judges ***

(Judges 1:2-4)2Jehovah replied: Judah will go up. Look!I am giving the land into his hand.3Then Judah said to hisbrother Simeon: Come up with me into my assignedterritory to fight against the Canaanites. Then I will go withyou into your assigned territory. So Simeon went withhim. 4When Judah went up, Jehovah gave theCanaanites and the Perizzites into their hands, and theydefeated 10,000 men in Bezek.

1:2, 4Why is Judah designated to be the first tribeto take possession of the land allotted to it?Normally,this privilege would go to the tribe of Reuben, Jacobsfirstborn. But in his deathbed prophecy, Jacob foretold that

Reuben was not to excel, having forfeited his right as thefirstborn. Simeon and Levi, who had acted with cruelty,were to be scattered in Israel. (Genesis 49:3-5, 7) Hence,the next in line was Judah, the fourth son of Jacob.Simeon, who went up with Judah, received small areas ofland scattered throughout the large territory of Judah.Joshua 19:9.

Jg 1:6,7 - *** w05 1/15 p. 24 par. 6 Highlights From theBook of Judges ***

(Judges 1:6, 7) 6When Adoni-bezek fled, they chasedhim and caught him and cut off his thumbs and his bigtoes. 7Then Adoni-bezek said: There are 70 kings

whose thumbs and big toes were cut off and who arepicking up food under my table. Just as I have done, soGod has repaid me. After that they brought him toJerusalem, and he died there.

1:6, 7Why were the thumbs and the big toes ofdefeated kings cut off?A person who lost his thumbs andbig toes apparently was incapacitated for military action.Without the thumbs, how could a soldier handle a sword ora spear? And the loss of the big toes would result ininability to maintain ones balance properly.

Jg 1:8 - *** gm chap. 7 pp. 95-96 pars. 19-21 Does theBible Contradict Itself? ***

(Judges 1:8) 8Furthermore, the men of Judah foughtagainst Jerusalem and captured it; they struck it with thesword and set the city on fire.

19Sometimes, all that is needed to resolve apparentcontradictions is to read the account carefully and reasonon the information provided. This is the case when weconsider the conquest of Jerusalem by the Israelites.Jerusalem was listed as part of the inheritance ofBenjamin, but we read that Benjamins tribe was unable toconquer it. (Joshua 18:28; Judges 1:21) We also read thatJudah was unable to conquer Jerusalemas if it were partof that tribes inheritance. Eventually, Judah defeated

Jerusalem, burning it with fire. (Joshua 15:63; Judges 1:8)Hundreds of years later, however, David is also recordedas conquering Jerusalem.2 Samuel 5:5-9.

20At first glance, all of this might appear confusing, butthere are in reality no contradictions. In fact, the boundarybetween Benjamins inheritance and Judahs ran along theValley of Hinnom, right through the ancient city ofJerusalem. What later came to be called the City of Davidactually lay in the territory of Benjamin, just as Joshua18:28 says. But it is likely that the Jebusite city ofJerusalem spilled across the Valley of Hinnom and thusoverlapped into Judahs territory, so that Judah, too, had towar against its Canaanite inhabitants.

21Benjamin was unable to conquer the city. On oneoccasion, Judah did conquer Jerusalem and burn it.(Judges 1:8, 9) But Judahs forces evidently moved on,and some of the original inhabitants regained possessionof the city. Later, they formed a pocket of resistance thatneither Judah nor Benjamin could remove. Thus, the

Jebusites continued in Jerusalem until David conqueredthe city hundreds of years later.

Jg 2:3 - *** si p. 47 par. 9 Bible Book Number 7Judges

(Judges 2:3)3That is why I also said, I will not drive themaway from before you, and they will ensnare you, and theigods will lure you away.

9Conditions in Israel at the time of the judges(1:12:23). The tribes of Israel are described as they spread outto settle in their assigned territories. However, instead ofcompletely driving out the Canaanites, they put many ofthem to forced labor, permitting them to dwell among theIsraelites. Therefore Jehovahs angel declares, They must

become snares to you, and their gods will serve as a lureto you.(2:3) Thus, when a new generation arises thatdoes not know Jehovah or his works, the people soonabandon him to serve the Baals and other gods. BecauseJehovahs hand is against them for calamity, they get invery sore straits.Because of their stubbornness andrefusal to listen even to the judges, Jehovah does not driveout a single one of the nations he has left to test Israel.

Jg 2:11 - *** si p. 50 par. 26 Bible Book Number 7Judges ***

(Judges 2:11)11So the Israelites did what was bad in theeyes of Jehovah and served the Baals.

Judges is most beneficial in its forthright advocacy ofJehovahs worship and its powerful warnings concerningthe folly of demon religion, interfaith, and immoralassociations. Jehovahs severe condemnation of Baalworship should impel us to stand clear of the modern-dayequivalents of materialism, nationalism, and sexualimmorality.2:11-18.


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Jg 2:16 - *** w86 6/1 p. 31 Questions From Readers ***

(Judges 2:16) 16So Jehovah would raise up judges whowould save them from the hand of their plunderers.

After Joshuas death, Israel fell away from true worshipand came to be afflicted by other peoples. Judges 2:16says: So Jehovah would raise upjudges,and they would

save them out of the hand of their pillagers.Jehovah firstraised up as a judge, or savior,the man named Othniel.

(Judges 3:9) After that came Ehud, Shamgar, Barak,Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, andSamson.

Aside from these 12, the Bible mentions Deborah, Eli,and Samuel in connection with judging. (Judges 4:4;1 Samuel 4:16-18; 7:15, 16) However, Deborah is calledfirst a prophetess, and she is linked with Judge Barak, whoparticularly took the lead in delivering the people fromoppression.

Jg 3:1,2 - *** it-1 p. 404 Canaan ***

Judges 3:1, 2 states that Jehovah let some of theCanaanite nations stay so as by them to test Israel, that is,all those who had not experienced any of the wars ofCanaan; it was only in order for the generations of the sonsof Israel to have the experience, so as to teach them war,that is, only those who before that had not experiencedsuch things.This does not contradict the earlier statement(Jg 2:20-22) that Jehovah allowed these nations to remainbecause of Israels unfaithfulness and in order to testIsrael, whether they will be keepers of Jehovahs way.Rather, it harmonizes with that reason and shows that latergenerations of Israelites would thereby be faced with theopportunity to demonstrate obedience to Gods commandsconcerning the Canaanites, putting their faith to the test tothe point of endangering their lives in war in order to proveobedient.

Jg 3:13 - *** w97 3/15 p. 29 EhudA Man of Faith andCourage ***

(Judges 3:13)13Furthermore, he brought against them theAmmonites and the Amalekites. They attacked Israeland captured the city of palm trees.

With the help of Ammon and Amalek, Eglon attackedIsrael and set up his palace in Jericho, the city of palmtrees.How ironic that the first Canaanite city to be

conquered by Israel now housed the headquarters of onewho worshiped the false god Chemosh!Judges 3:12, 13,17.

Jg 3:15 - *** w04 3/15 pp. 29-30 Ehud Breaks theOppressors Yoke ***

The record states: The sons of Israel began to call toJehovah for aid. So Jehovah raised up for them a savior,Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a left-handed man. Intime the sons of Israel sent tribute by his hand to Eglon theking of Moab.(Judges 3:15) Jehovah must have madecertain that Ehud was selected to present the tribute.

Whether he had ever performed that duty before is notstated. However, the way that Ehud carefully prepared forthe meeting and the tactics he used suggest that he mayhave had a certain familiarity with Eglons palace and whathe could expect there. In all of this, his being left-handedwas significant.

A Disabled Man or a Warrior?

Literally, the term left-handedmeans shut, lamed, orbound in the right hand.Does this mean that Ehud wasdisabled, perhaps with a deformed right hand? Considerwhat the Bible says about the left-handed seven hundredchosen menout of the tribe of Benjamin. Every one ofthese was a slinger of stones to a hairbreadth and wouldnot miss,states Judges 20:16. Very likely they wereselected for their prowess in battle. According to someBible scholars, left-handeddenotes one who used theleft hand as well as the right,that is, an ambidextrousperson.Judges 3:15, The Douay Version.

The tribe of Benjamin, in fact, was renowned for its left-

handed men. First Chronicles 12:1, 2 tells of Benjamitemighty men, the helpers in the warfare, armed with thebow, using the right hand and using the left hand withstones or with arrows in the bow.This ability could havebeen achieved, says one reference work, by binding theright arms of young childrenhence bound as to his righthandand inculcating dexterity with the left.Israels foeswould normally be trained to meet right-handed warriors.Hence, much of an enemys training could be nullified if heunexpectedly met a left-handed soldier.

Jg 3:16,17 - *** w04 3/15 p. 30 Ehud Breaks theOppressors Yoke ***

(Judges 3:16, 17)16Meanwhile, Ehud made for himself atwo-edged sword, a cubit long, and he strapped iunderneath his garment on his right thigh. 17He thenpresented the tribute to Eglon the king of Moab. NowEglon was a very fat man.

Ehuds first step was to prepare a sword for himselfa doubled-edged sword that was short enough to beconcealed under his clothes. He may have expected to besearched. Swords were normally worn on the left side ofthe body, where right-handers could quickly draw them.Being left-handed, Ehud hid his weapon underneath hisgarment upon his right thigh,where the kings guardswere less likely to search. Without hindrance, therefore,he proceeded to present the tribute to Eglon the king ofMoab.Judges 3:16, 17.


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Jg 3:18 - *** w04 3/15 p. 30 Ehud Breaks theOppressors Yoke ***

The details of the initial events in Eglons court are notprovided. The Bible simply says: It came about that when[Ehud] had finished presenting the tribute, he at once sentthe people away, the bearers of the tribute.(Judges 3:18)

Ehud presented the tribute, accompanied the bearers ofthe tribute to a safe distance from Eglons residence, andreturned after dismissing them. Why? Did he have thosemen with him for protection, because of mere protocol, orperhaps simply as porters for the tribute? And did he wantthem out of the way for safety before carrying out his plan?Whatever his thinking was, Ehud bravely retraced his stepsalone.


[Ehud] turned back at the quarries that were at Gilgal,and he proceeded to say: I have a secret word for you,

O king.How he managed to regain entry to Eglonspresence is not explained in the Scriptures. Should not theguards have been suspicious? Did they think that a singleIsraelite presented no threat to their lord? Did Ehudscoming alone create the impression that he was betrayinghis countrymen? Whatever the case, Ehud sought a privateaudience with the king, and he got it.Judges 3:19.


The inspired account continues: Ehud came to [Eglon]as he was sitting in his cool roof chamber that he had to

himself. And Ehud went on to say:A word of God I havefor you.Ehud was not referring to a verbal message from

God. What Ehud had in mind was using his sword.Perhaps expecting to hear some message from his godChemosh, the king rose up from his throne.

Jg 3:21 - *** w05 1/15 p. 26 par. 3 Highlights From theBook of Judges ***

(Judges 3:21)21Then Ehud drew the sword from his rightthigh with his left hand and plunged it into his belly.

3:21.Ehud wielded his sword proficiently and withcourage. We must acquire skill in using the sword of thespirit, that is, Gods word.This means that we must use

the Scriptures courageously in our ministry.Ephesians6:17; 2 Timothy 2:15.

Jg 3:20-22 - *** w04 3/15 p. 30 Ehud Breaks theOppressors Yoke ***

The sword apparently had no crosspiece. Hence, thehandle kept going in also after the blade so that the fatclosed in over the blade, . . . and the fecal matter began tocome out,either through the wound or because of aninvoluntary discharge from Eglons bowels.Judges 3:20-22.

Jg 4:4 - *** w86 6/1 p. 31 Questions From Readers ***

(Judges 4:4) 4Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife ofLappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.

Jehovah first raised up as a judge, or savior,the mannamed Othniel. (Judges 3:9) After that came Ehud,Shamgar, Barak, Gideon, Tola, Jair, Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon,

Abdon, and Samson.Aside from these 12, the Bible mentions Deborah, Eli,

and Samuel in connection with judging. (Judges 4:4;1 Samuel 4:16-18; 7:15, 16) However, Deborah is calledfirst a prophetess, and she is linked with Judge Barak, whoparticularly took the lead in delivering the people fromoppression. Similarly, Eli was principally a high priest, not asaviorwho led Israel to freedom through battle.(Nehemiah 9:27) Hence, while Deborah and Eli had a rolein judging Israel, there is reason not to list them with the 12men who clearly and primarily were especially raised upas judges.

Jg 4:8 - *** w05 1/15 p. 25 par. 4 Highlights From theBook of Judges ***

(Judges 4:8) 8At this Barak said to her: If you go withme, I will go, but if you do not go with me, I will not go.

4:8Why did Barak insist that the prophetessDeborah go with him to the battlefield?Evidently, Barakfelt inadequate to go up against Siseras army by himself.Having the prophetess with him would reassure him andhis men that they had Gods guidance and would give themconfidence. Baraks insistence that Deborah accompanyhim, then, was not a sign of weakness but of strong faith.

Jg 4:9 - *** w03 11/15 p. 29 Through Faith, BarakRouted a Mighty Army ***

And what can be said of Deborahs attitude? She didnot attempt to take over. Rather, she remained a modestservant of Jehovah. Without fail I shall go with you,shetold Barak. (Judges 4:9) She was willing to leave homeaplace of greater securityto join Barak for the impendingbattle. Deborah too exemplifies faith and courage.


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Jg 4:13 - *** w90 5/1 pp. 16-17 On From Tabor toVictory! ***

(Judges 4:13) 13At once Sisera assembled all his warchariots900 chariots with iron scythesand all thetroops that were with him from Harosheth of the nations togo to the stream of Ki shon.

An awesome military machine came against them.Jabins general Sisera brought heavily armed Canaanitewarriors to the Valley of Jezreel. They must have lookedsomewhat like the armed men shown in the wall carvingfrom Egypt illustrated on the next page, top right. The warequipment of Egypt influenced that used in Canaan,including the most terrifying part of Siseras weaponry900 war chariots!

Those Canaanite chariots would have been veritablemobile firing platforms. The driver might have wrapped thereins around his waist so that his hands were free forhandling weapons. Or he might have concentrated on hischarging horses while a companion employed the

weaponry. The chariots had iron scythes extending fromthe wheel hubs. To Baraks men looking down from Tabor,the massed chariots must have seemed frighteninglyunstoppable, invincible.

Yet, Jehovah had promised Barak: I shall certainlydraw to you at the torrent valley of Kishon Sisera . . . andhis war chariots and his crowd.At the right moment, thevaliant Israelites poured down the side of Tabor.Judges4:1-14.

Of more value than the mere advantage of surprise wasthe help Israel received from their powerful God in heaven.Deborah later sang: From heaven did the stars fight, from

their orbits they fought against Sisera. The torrent ofKishon washed them away . . . You went treading downstrength, O my soul.(Judges 5:20, 21) Yes, though thelightly equipped but courageous Israelites put the armedCanaanites to flight, God determined the real outcome. Hecaused a sudden overwhelming torrent in the dry riverbed,immobilizing the frightful chariots.

Below you see part of the river Kishon. In the rainyseason, it can overflow its banks and turn the area into amarsh. Picture the Canaanite war chariots trying to escapethrough such mud. The raging waters carried off somefleeing soldiers or chariots, or both. Israels victory evenovertook General Sisera, who had abandoned his chariot,

escaping on foot from the scene of battle.

Jg 4:14 - *** w98 12/15 p. 12 par. 9 Salvation Belongs toJehovah ***

(Judges 4:14) 14Deborah now said to Barak: Rise upfor this is the day that Jehovah will give Sisera into youhand. Is Jehovah not going out before you? And Barakdescended from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men followinghim.

But a torrential downpour swells the Kishon withoverwhelming floodwaters. As Barak and his men marchdown Mount Tabor under cover of the storm, they witnessthe havoc wrought by Jehovahs unleashed fury. Baraksmen pick off the terrified, fleeing Canaanites, and noneescape. What a warning for our oppressors who presumeto fight against God!Judges 4:3-16; 5:19-22.


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Week of January 19-25, 2015 TMS Study References

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Theocratic Ministry School Schedule:

Bible Reading: Judges 1-4Number 1:Judges 3:1-11Number 2:How Can You Learn About God?nwtpage 8 paragraphs 1-4Number 3:AhithophelTheme: Jehovah Thwarts

the Schemes of Traitors

it-1 pages 65-66

Talk #2 How Can You Learn AboutGod?

This book of the Law should not depart fromyour mouth, and you must read it in anundertone day and night, in order to observecarefully all that is written in it; for then your waywill be successful and then you will act wisely.

Joshua 1:8 [Page 325]

They continued reading aloud from the book,from the Law of the true God, clearly explainingit and putting meaning into it; so they helped thepeople to understand what was being read.

Nehemiah 8:8 [Page 677]

Happy is the man who does not walk accordingto the advice of the wicked . . . , but his delight isin the law of Jehovah, and he reads His law inan undertone day and night. . . . Everything hedoes will succeed.

Psalm 1:1-3 [Page 753]

Philip ran alongside and heard him reading

aloud Isaiah the prophet, and he said: Do youactually know what you are reading?He said:Really, how could I ever do so unless someoneguided me?

Acts 8:30, 31 [Page 1473]

Talk #3 AhithophelTheme: JehovahThwarts the Schemes of Traitors

*** it-1 pp. 65-66 Ahithophel ***

A native of Giloh in the hills of Judah (2Sa 15:12),father of one of Davids mighty men named Eliam, and

possibly the grandfather of Bath-sheba. (2Sa 11:3;23:34) As Davids personal adviser, Ahithophelssagacious counsel was esteemed as if it were thedirect word of Jehovah. (2Sa 16:23) Later this once-close companion treacherously turned traitor and

joined Davids son Absalom in a coup against the king.As a ringleader in the rebellion, he advised Absalom toviolate Davids concubines, and he asked permissionto raise an army of 12,000 and immediately hunt downand kill David while David was in a disorganized andweakened state. (2Sa 15:31; 16:15, 21; 17:1-4) WhenJehovah thwarted this bold scheme, and the counsel ofHushai was followed, Ahithophel evidently realized that

Absaloms revolt would fail. (2Sa 15:32-34; 17:5-14)He committed suicide and was buried with hisforefathers. (2Sa 17:23) Apart from wartime, this is theonly case of suicide mentioned in the HebrewScriptures. His traitorous act is apparently recalled inPsalm 55:12-14.

NOTES:


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Week of January 19-25, 2015 Service Meeting References

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Service Meeting Schedule:

Song: Song 7710 minutes:Are You Using the Glossary?

Discussion based on the following questions: (1)How can the glossary in the revised New WorldTranslation help us when reading (a) Exodus28:30, (b) Matthew 16:6, and (c) 2 Peter 2:4? (2)

How can we use the glossary to help our Biblestudent clearly understand such terms as (a)covenant, (b) ransom, and (c) soul? Concludeby encouraging all to make use of this tool.

10 minutes:Slaving for the Lord RequiresPersistence and Initiative. Discussion based onthe 2014 Yearbook, page 59, paragraph 1, topage 62, paragraph 1; and page 67, paragraph 2.Invite audience to comment on the lessonslearned.

10 minutes:Keep Progressing as a Minister.Questions and answers.

Song 20 and Prayer

10 Min - Are You Using the Glossary?

How can the glossary in the revised New WorldTranslation help us when reading (a) Exodus 28:30?

How can the glossary in the revised New WorldTranslation help us when reading (b) Matthew 16:6?

How can the glossary in the revised New WorldTranslation help us when reading (c) 2 Peter 2:4?

How can we use the glossary to help our Biblestudent clearly understand such terms as (a)covenant,

How can we use the glossary to help our Biblestudent clearly understand such terms as (b)ransom,?

How can we use the glossary to help our Biblestudent clearly understand such terms as (c) soul?

10 Min - Slaving for the Lord RequiresPersistence and Initiative.

YB 2014, pg 59, par 1, to pg 62, par 1

Help for a Man Who Is Blind, Deaf, and Mute

In 1999, the sign-language congregation in Kobe,Japan, learned of a deaf man named Hirofumi. Whena brother tried to call on Hirofumi, his mother refusedto let the brother see him. The brother calledrepeatedly and pleaded with the mother, andeventually she brought Hirofumi to the door. His hairand his beard were long and unkempt. He looked likesomeone who had been stranded on a deserted

island for decades. His face was expressionless. Notonly was Hirofumi deaf but he was also blind. Thebrother was stunned but then took Hirofumis handsand began to do tactile signing. There was noresponse of any kind. Hirofumi had been isolatedfrom people and had not communicated with anyonesince he lost his eyesight ten years earlier at the ageof 31.

The brother returned two days later. Hirofumismother was amazed, having assumed that thebrother would give up after seeing her sonscondition. Again the brother pleaded with the motherto allow him to see Hirofumi, so the mother brought

him to the door. After a month of visits and still noresponse from Hirofumi, the mother told the brothernot to bother to come anymore. Nevertheless, thebrother persisted. He took cakes to the home and didwhat he could to show that he cared. After two moremonths and still no response from Hirofumi, thebrother felt that he was getting nowhere.

The brother decided to make one last visit. Beforegoing to the house, he prayed to Jehovah for help todetermine if he should keep calling on Hirofumi.


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When the brother arrived at the house, he tookHirofumis hands and signed that there is a Godnamed Jehovah who was constantly watching himfrom heaven and Jehovah cared about him andwanted to deliver him from distress. That was whyone of his Witnesses had come to him. At firstHirofumi showed no reaction; but then he gave thebrothers hand a firm handshake,and a tear trickleddown his cheek. Moved by this, the brother shedtears with him. A Bible study was started.

After studying 11 years, Hirofumi began toassociate with the local congregation instead oftraveling the long distance to the sign-languagecongregation as he had been doing. No one in thelocal congregation knew how to sign, but over thenext 18 months, 22 brothers and sisters in thecongregation learned to sign so that they could helpHirofumi. In January of 2012, Hirofumi handled hisfirst assignment on the Theocratic Ministry School,with someone interpreting his signs. In October of the

same year, he became an unbaptized publisher.

Agnes with the book that she gave as a gift

YB 2014, pg 67, par 2

I Have Been Looking for It for 30 Years!

Agnes, a missionary in Indonesia, used to witnessto a middle-aged woman who was expecting a baby.The woman sold vegetables in a local market. Sheloved reading our magazines and enjoyed havingBible discussions when she was not too busy. Oneday when Agnes went to the market to visit thewoman, she was not there. Her husband told Agnesthat his wife had just given birth. Agnes decided tovisit her. She brought the book My Book of BibleStories wrapped as a gift. The

woman was pleasantlysurprised that Agnes had come to see her and thebaby, but she was even more surprised when Agneshanded her the gift. The woman unwrapped the book,

looked at it with disbelief, and said: Where did youfind this book? I have been looking for it for 30 years!I visited all the bookshops and asked everyone.Nobody had it, nobody knew about it, and no otherbook even came close to i t. It turns out thatwhen thewoman was a child, her uncle had the Bible Storiesbook, and she loved reading it. Now the woman isagain reading the book, and her eldest daughterloves reading it too. A Bible study was started withboth of them.

NOTES:

10 Min - Keep Progressing as aMinister.

question1. What examples from the firstcentury indicate that we should progress asministers?

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/,Q-&'$1%' +9 ($1 0++. *15'N 51 *11. (+:+*(&*,1 '$)%/1*&*0 +,% /%1):$&*0 ';&--'3(Luke 9:1-5)Then he called the Twelve together andgave them power and authority over all the demonsand to cure diseases. 2And he sent them out topreach the Kingdom of God and to heal, 3and hesaid to them: Carry nothing for the trip, neither staffnor food pouch nor bread nor money; neither havetwo garments. 4But wherever you enter into a home,stay there and leave from there. 5And wherever


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people do not receive you, on going out of that city,shake the dust off your feet for a witness againstthem.

(Luke 10:1-11) After these things the Lorddesignated 70 others and sent them out by twosahead of him into every city and place where hehimself was to go. 2Then he said to them: Yes, the

harvest is great, but the workers are few. Therefore,beg the Master of the harvest to send out workersinto his harvest. 3Go! Look! I am sending you out aslambs in among wolves. 4Do not carry a money bagor a food pouch or sandals, and do not greet anyonealong the road. 5Wherever you enter into a house,say first: May this house have peace. 6 And if afriend of peace is there, your peace will rest uponhim. But if there is not, it will return to you. 7So stayin that house, eating and drinking the things theyprovide, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Do notkeep transferring from house to house. 8Also,wherever you enter into a city and they receive you,eat what is set before you 9and cure the sick ones init and tell them: The Kingdom of God has come nearto you.10But wherever you enter into a city and theydo not receive you, go out into its main streets andsay: 11We wipe off against you even the dust thatsticks to our feet from your city. Nevertheless, knowthis, that the Kingdom of God has come near.

(Acts 18:24-26)Now a Jew named Apol los, a nativeof Alexandria, arrived in Ephesus; he was aneloquent man who was well-versed in the Scriptures.25This man had been instructed in the way ofJehovah, and aglow with the spirit, he was speakingand teaching accurately the things about Jesus, buthe was acquainted only with the baptism of John.26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, andwhen Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took himinto their company and explained the way of Godmore accurately to him.

(1 Timothy 4:13-15)Until I come, continue applyingyourself to public reading, to exhortation, to teaching.14Do not neglect the gift in you that was given youthrough a prophecy when the body of elders laid theirhands on you. 15Ponder over these things; beabsorbed in them, so that your advancement may beplainly seen by all people.

question2. How can we learn from others?J !"#$% '$() *+,"$-. T*1 5)6 (+ $+*1 +,%

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Week ofJan 19-25, 2015

The People Whose God Is JehovahHappy is the people whose God is Jehovah!PS. 144:15.

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(Romans 4:11)And he received a signnamely,circumcisionas a seal of the righteousness by the faithhe had while in his uncircumcised state, so that he mightbe the father of all those having faith while uncircumcised,

in order for righteousness to be counted to them;(Genesis 14:14)Thus Abram heard that his relative hadbeen taken captive. With that he mobilized his trainedmen, 318 servants born in his household, and went inpursuit up to Dan.

(Genesis 21:22)At that time Abimelech together withPhicol the chief of his army said to Abraham: God is withyou in everything you are doing.

(Genesis 23:6)Hear us, my lord. You are a chieftain ofGod among us. You may bury your dead in the choicest ofour burial places. None of us will hold back his burial placefrom you to prevent you from burying your dead.

(Genesis 17:1, 2)When Abram was 99 years old,Jehovah appeared to Abram and said to him: I am GodAlmighty. Walk before me and prove yourself faultless. 2Iwill establish my covenant between me and you, and I willmultiply you very, very much.

(Genesis 17:19)To this God said: Your wife Sarah willdefinitely bear you a son, and you must name him Isaac.

And I will establish my covenant with him for aneverlasting covenant to his offspring after him.

(Genesis 17:10, 11)This is my covenant between me andyou, that you and your offspring after you will keep: Everymale among you must get circumcised. 11You mustcircumcise the flesh of your foreskins, and it will serve as a

sign of the covenant between me and you.(Genesis 17:24-27)Abraham was 99 years old when hehad the flesh of his foreskin circumcised. 25And Ishmaelhis son was 13 years old when he had the flesh of hisforeskin circumcised. 26On that very day, Abraham wascircumcised and also his son Ishmael. 27All the men ofhis household, anyone born in the house and anyonepurchased with money from a foreigner, were alsocircumcised with him.

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(Genesis 35:10)God said to him: Your name is Jacob.Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel will be your

name. And he began to call him Israel.(Genesis 35:22)Once while Israel was dwelling in thatland, Reuben went and lay down with Bilhah his fathersconcubine, and Israel heard about it. So there were 12sons of Jacob.

(Acts 7:8)He also gave him a covenant of circumcision,and he became the father of Isaac and circumcised him onthe eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, andJacob of the 12 family heads.

(Genesis 41:39-41)Pharaoh then said to Joseph: SinceGod has caused you to know all of this, there is no one as

discreet and wise as you. 40You will personally be overmy house, and all my people will obey you implicitly. Onlyin my role as king will I be greater than you. 41AndPharaoh added to Joseph: See, I am putting you over allthe land of Egypt.

(Genesis 42:6)Joseph was the man in authority over theland, and he was the one who sold grain to all the peopleof the earth. So Josephs brothers came and bowed low tohim with their faces to the ground.

(Genesis 48:4)And he said to me, I am making youfruitful, and I will make you many, and I will transform youinto a congregation of peoples, and I will give this land toyour offspring after you as a lasting possession.

(Acts 7:17)Just as the time was approaching to fulfill thepromise that God had announced to Abraham, the peoplegrew and multiplied in Egypt,

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(Genesis 45:9, 10)Return quickly to my father, and youmust say to him, This is what your son Joseph has said:God has appointed me lord over all Egypt. Come down tome. Do not delay. 10You must dwell in the land ofGoshen, where you will be near meyou, your sons, yourgrandsons, your flocks, your herds, and everything youhave.

(Genesis 47:1-6)So Joseph went and reported toPharaoh: My father and my brothers and their flocks andtheir herds and all that they possess have come from theland of Canaan, and they are in the land of Goshen. 2Hetook five of his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh.3Pharaoh said to his brothers: What is your occupation?They replied to Pharaoh: Your servants are herders ofsheep, both we and our forefathers. 4Then they said toPharaoh: We have come to reside as foreigners in theland because there are no pastures for the flock of yourservants, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan.So please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.5At that Pharaoh said to Joseph: Your father and yourbrothers have come here to you. 6The land of Egypt is atyour disposal. Have your father and your brothers dwell inthe very best part of the land. Let them dwell in the land ofGoshen, and if you know of any capable men amongthem, put them in charge of my livestock.

(Genesis 46:31-34)Joseph then said to his brothers andto his fathers household: Let me go up and report toPharaoh and tell him, My brothers and my fathershousehold who were in the land of Canaan have comehere to me. 32The men are shepherds, and they raiselivestock, and they have brought their flocks and theirherds and all that they have. 33When Pharaoh calls youand asks, What is your occupation? 34you must say,Your servants have raised livestock from our youth untilnow, both we and our forefathers, so that you may dwellin the land of Goshen, for every herder of sheep isdetestable to the Egyptians.


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(Exodus 1:8, 9)In time there arose over Egypt a newking, one who did not know Joseph. 9So he said to hispeople: Look! The people of Israel are more numerousand mightier than we are.

(Exodus 1:13, 14)Consequently, the Egyptians forced theIsraelites into harsh slavery. 14They made their life bitterwith hard labor, as they worked with clay mortar and bricksand in every form of slavery in the field. Yes, they madethem toil in harsh conditions in every form of slavery.

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(Exodus 1:15, 16)Later the king of Egypt spoke to theHebrew midwives whose names were Shiphrah andPuah, 16and he told them: When you help the Hebrewwomen to give birth and you see them on the stool forchildbirth, you must put the child to death if it is a son; butif it is a daughter, she must live.

(Exodus 2:1-10)About that time, a certain man of thehouse of Levi married a daughter of Levi. 2And thewoman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Whenshe saw how beautiful he was, she kept him concealed forthree months. 3When she was no longer able to concealhim, she took a papyrus basket and coated it with bitumenand pitch and put the child in it and placed it among thereeds by the bank of the Nile River. 4But his sister stoodat a distance to see what would happen to him. 5WhenPharaohs daughter came down tobathe in the Nile, herfemale attendants were walking by the side of the Nile.

And she caught sight of the basket in the middle of thereeds. She immediately sent her slave girl to get it. 6Whenshe opened it, she saw the child, and the boy was crying.

She felt compassion for him, but she said: This is one ofthe children of the Hebrews. 7Then his sister said toPharaohs daughter: Shall I go and call a nursing womanfrom the Hebrews to nurse the child for you? 8Pharaohsdaughter said to her: Go! At once the girl went and calledthe childs mother. 9Pharaohs daughter then said to her:Take this child with you and nurse him for me, and I willpay you. So the woman took the child and nursed him.10When the child grew older, she brought him toPharaohs daughter, and he became a son to her. Shenamed him Moses and said: It is because I have drawnhim out of the water.

(Hebrews 11:23-25)By faith Moses was hid by his

parents for three months after his birth, because they sawthat the young child was beautiful and they did not fear theorder of the king. 24By faith Moses, when grown up,refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter,25choosing to be mistreated with the people of God ratherthan to have the temporary enjoyment of sin,

(Exodus 2:24, 25)In time God heard their groaning, andGod remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, andJacob. 25So God looked on the Israelites; and God tooknotice.

(Exodus 3:9, 10)Now look! The outcry of the people ofIsrael has reached me, and I have seen also the harshway that the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10Nowcome, I will send you to Pharaoh, and you will bring mypeople the Israelites out of Egypt.

(Exodus 15:13)In your loyal love you have led the peoplewhom you have redeemed; In your strength you will guidethem to your holy place of dwelling.

(Deuteronomy 15:15) Remember that you became aslave in the land of Egypt and that Jehovah your Godredeemed you. That is why I am commanding you to dothis today.

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(Exodus 15:1-4)At that time Moses and the Israelitessang this song to Jehovah: Let me sing to Jehovah, for hehas become highly exalted. The horse and its rider he hashurled into the sea. 2My strength and my might is Jah,since he has become my salvation. This is my God, and I

will praise him; my fathers God, and I will exalt him.3Jehovah is a powerful warrior. Jehovah is his name.4Pharaohs chariots and his army He has cast into the

sea, And his finest warriors have sunk into the Red Sea.

(Exodus 19:5, 6)Now if you will strictly obey my voiceand keep my covenant, you will certainly become myspecial property out of all peoples, for the whole earthbelongs to me. 6You will become to me a kingdom ofpriests and a holy nation. These are the words that youare to say to the Israelites.

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(Genesis 8:20)Then Noah built an altar to Jehovah and

took some of all the clean animals and of all the cleanflying creatures and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

(Genesis 18:19)For I have come to know him in orderthat he may command his sons and his household afterhim to keep Jehovahs way by doing what is right and just,so that Jehovah may bring about what he has promisedconcerning Abraham.

(Job 1:4, 5)Each of his sons would hold a banquet at hishouse on his own set day. They would invite their threesisters to eat and drink with them. 5After a series ofbanquet days was complete, Job would send for them inorder to sanctify them. Then he would get up early in themorning and offer up burnt sacrifices for each of them. For

Job said: Maybe my sons have sinned and have cursedGod in their heart. That is what Job would always do.

(Deuteronomy 4:5-8)See, I have taught you regulationsand judicial decisions, just as Jehovah my God hascommanded me, so that you may observe them in theland you will take possession of. 6You must carefullyfollow them, because this will show wisdom andunderstanding on your part before the peoples who wilhear about all these regulations, and they will say, Thisgreat nation is undoubtedly a wise and understandingpeople. 7For what great nation has gods as near to it as


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Jehovah our God is to us whenever we call on him? 8Andwhat great nation has righteous regulations and judicialdecisions like this entire Law that I am putting before youtoday?

(Psalm 147:19, 20) He declares his word to Jacob, Hisregulations and judgments to Israel. 20He has not done sowith any other nation; They know nothing about his

judgments. Praise Jah!

(Deuteronomy 25:7, 8)Now if the man does not want tomarry his brothers widow, his brothers widow should thengo to the elders at the city gate and say, My husbandsbrother has refused to preserve his brothers name inIsrael. He has not consented to perform brother-in-lawmarriage with me. 8The elders of his city must call himand speak to him. Should he insist and say, I do not wantto marry her,

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(Exodus 9:20)Anyone among Pharaohs servants who

feared Jehovahs word quickly brought his own servantsand his livestock into the houses,

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(Deuteronomy 10:17-19)For Jehovah your God is theGod of gods and the Lord of lords, the God great, mighty,and awe-inspiring, who treats none with partiality and doesnot accept a bribe. 18He executes justice for the fatherlesschild and the widow and loves the foreign resident, givinghim food and clothing. 19You too must love the foreignresident, for you became foreign residents in the land ofEgypt.

(Leviticus 24:22)One judicial decision will apply for you,

whether a foreign resident or a native, because I amJehovah your God.

(Ruth 1:16)But Ruth said: Do not plead with me toabandon you, to turn back from accompanying you; forwhere you go I will go, and where you spend the night, Iwill spend the night. Your people will be my people, andyour God my God.

(Exodus 12:48, 49)If a foreigner resides with you and hewants to celebrate the Passover to Jehovah, every male ofhis must be circumcised. Then he may come near tocelebrate it, and he will become like a native of the land.But no uncircumcised man may eat of it. 49One law willapply for the native and for the foreigner who is residing

among you.

(Numbers 15:14, 15)If a foreigner who is residing withyou or one who has been in your midst for many of yourgenerations should also make an offering by fire, as apleasing aroma to Jehovah, he should do just as you do.15You who are of the congregation and the foreigner whois residing with you will have one statute. It will be a lastingstatute for all your generations. The foreign residentshould be the same as you before Jehovah.

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(2 Chronicles 6:32, 33)Also concerning the foreignerwho is not part of your people Israel and who comes froma distant land because of your great name and yourmighty hand and your outstretched arm, and he comesand prays toward this house, 33may you then listen fromthe heavens, your dwelling place, and do all that theforeigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earthmay know your name and fear you, as your people Israeldo, and may know that your name has been called on thishouse that I have built.

(John 12:20)Now there were some Greeks among thosewho had come to worship at the festival.

(Acts 8:27)With that he got up and went, and look! anEthiopian eunuch, a man who had authority underCandace, queen of the Ethiopians, and who was incharge of all her treasure. He had gone to Jerusalem toworship,

Paragraph 15(Isaiah 46:5-7)To whom will you liken me or make meequal or compare me, So that we should resemble eachother? 6There are those who lavish gold from their purse;They weigh out the silver on the scale. They hire ametalworker, and he makes it into a god. Then theyprostrate themselves, yes, they worship it. 7They lift it totheir shoulders; They carry it and put it in its place, and it

just stands there. It does not move from its place. They cryout to it, but it does not answer; It cannot rescue anyonefrom distress.

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(Jeremiah 31:31-33)Look! The days are coming,declares Jehovah, when I will make with the house ofIsrael and with the house of Judah a new covenant. 32Itwill not be like the covenant that I made with theirforefathers on the day I took hold of their hand to leadthem out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that theybroke, although I was their true master, declaresJehovah. 33For this is the covenant that I will make withthe house of Israel after those days, declares Jehovah. Iwill put my law within them, and in their heart I will write it.

And I will become their God, and they will become mypeople.

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