Wednesday, September 2
No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him. —John 6:44.
We can play a part in helping others learn about God, but we do not play the most important part. (1 Cor. 3:6, 7) Jehovah is the one who draws people. In the end, each individual will respond to the good news based on his or her heart condition. (Matt. 13:4-8) Remember that most people did not accept Jesus’ message —and he was the greatest Teacher who ever lived! Really, then, we should not become discouraged if many of the people we try to help do not respond favorably. We will see benefits when we show fellow feeling in our ministry. We will enjoy our preaching work more. We will experience the greater happiness that comes from giving. And we make it easier for those who are “rightly disposed for everlasting life” to accept the good news. (Acts 13:48) So “as long as we have the opportunity, let us work what is good toward all.” (Gal. 6:10) Then we will have the joy of bringing glory to our heavenly Father.
The Watchtower article from which the Daily Text was taken was published in March 2019. Exactly one year later it was as if someone flipped a switch and suddenly the world stopped. Everything was shut down. Planes, trains, cruise lines, factories, schools, stores, everything except hospitals and so-called essential organizations. And the Watchtower not only locked up every kingdom hall but Bethel also suspended the public ministry. And even though the state-mandated shutdowns are being lifted the Watchtower’s restrictions remain in place.
So, according to what is stated above, JW’s are no longer in a position to make it easier for persons to accept the good news. That should be obvious. By their own words, Jehovah’s Witnesses no longer bring glory to the heavenly Father. They have been disallowed from doing so by the Governing Body. That is a very serious matter.
In the book of Malachi Jehovah takes his nation to task for not giving him the glory he deserves. In the first chapter of the book, Jehovah charges his priests with negligence for offering up lame animals in sacrifice. In the last verse of the first chapter God reminds them of His position, saying to them: “For I am a great King,” says Jehovah of armies, “and my name will be awe-inspiring among the nations.”
In the opening verse of the second chapter God goes on to say: “And now, O priests, this commandment is for you. If you refuse to listen and to take it to heart to glorify my name,” says Jehovah of armies, “I will send on you the curse, and I will turn your blessings into curses. Yes, I have turned the blessings into curses, because you are not taking it to heart.”
Although the book of Malachi is ostensibly addressed to the Israelite priests who were the descendants of Levi, who was the father of the tribe bearing his name that was appointed as priests to the nation of Israel, in truth, Jehovah is speaking far into the future to anointed Christians who, according to the apostle Peter, comprise a royal priesthood and holy nation. The epistle goes on to say, that they should declare abroad the excellencies of the One who called them out of darkness.
It is evident from the fact that “Levi” is considered to be God’s high priest and the messenger of the covenant. Concerning him, Jehovah said: “My covenant with him was one of life and of peace, which I gave to him, along with fear. He feared me, yes, he stood in awe of my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and no unrighteousness was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and in uprightness, and he turned many back from error. For the lips of a priest should safeguard knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth, because he is the messenger of Jehovah of armies.”
In reality, Jesus is the high priest and mediator of the new covenant. It cannot be said of any imperfect human, that the law of truth was in his mouth. Conversely, Jesus said of himself: ‘I am the truth.’ Also, how could it possibly be true concerning Levi, that “no unrighteousness was found on his lips”? The Christian writer truthfully said of all men: “But no human can tame the tongue. It is unruly and injurious, full of deadly poison. With it we praise Jehovah, the Father, and yet with it we curse men who have come into existence “in the likeness of God.” Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing.” — James 3:8-10
So, without dispute, the underpriests of “Levi,” which is to say, Christ, are anointed Christians who officiate at the symbolic spiritual altar. Since in the Christian arrangement animal sacrifices are no longer required, the real sacrifice is the so-called fruit of lips that glorifies God. That being true, it is evident that the organization’s “priests” are offering up lame sacrifices to Jehovah. Letter writing and telephone soliciting? Is that it? How lame!
Just as is demonstrated in the text today, God has already turned their blessing into a curse. Though they speak of glorifying the Father in the public ministry that is not true. There is no public ministry. Their own words are a curse upon themselves.
But that is not the end of it. Consider Malachi 2:3: “Look! I will ruin your sown seed because of you, and I will scatter dung on your faces, the dung of your festivals; and you will be carried away to it. Then you will know that I have given this commandment to you so that my covenant with Levi may continue,” says Jehovah of armies.
Again, we are not talking about literal seed sowing or animal sacrifices. Thankfully, we are not required to offer animal sacrifices, which amounted to butchering an animal, which would involve the unpleasant task of disposing of the carcass and dung. Visualize Jehovah being so incensed at the disrespect shown him that he smears the dung of a slaughtered animal on the faces of the priests! Yikes!
In the Christian arrangement, the “seed” symbolizes the truth that we sow in the field. For Jehovah’s Witnesses, the “seed” comes in the form of Watchtower literature, Bibles, magazines, tracts and books, and more recently, online videos. The ancient festivals prefigured modern assemblies and conventions. Besides the Memorial, the annual regional conventions are considered the most important event of the year. Like many prophecies, foremost Joel, and a good portion of Isaiah, the prophecy of Malachi has to do with the violent end of the Watchtower.
Because the Governing Body and all associated with them have treated God with such contempt Jehovah has determined to return the treatment —as if smearing dung on their faces! God will use the now-emerging eighth king to utterly trample the spiritual estate that Jehovah’s Witnesses have inhabited.
Like Jesus said, “many will be stumbled,” the eighth verse goes on to say: “But you yourselves have turned aside from the way. You have made many stumble with regard to the law. You have ruined the covenant of Levi,” says Jehovah of armies. “So I will make you despised and low before all the people, because you did not keep my ways but showed partiality in applying the law.”
The facts are plain for all to see. The Watchtower has ruined the truth they had been entrusted with. Even though there is no state prohibition against the public ministry that Jehovah’s Witnesses have carried on for decades, the priests of Bethel are content to have the army of publishers under their authority offer up lame sacrifices. The punishment for treating Jehovah with contempt shall be severe.