Isaiah 29-33Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)http://infoglobal.altervista.org/blog/

Isa 30:21—In what ways does Jehovah communicate with his servants? (w14 8/15 21 _2)

2 Today, Jehovah guides his people by means of the Bible, his holy spirit, and the congregation. (Acts 9:31; 15:28; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17) The guidance that we receive from him is so clear that it is as if ‘our own ears hear a word behind us saying: “This is the way. Walk in it.”’ (Isa. 30:21) In effect, Jesus also conveys Jehovah’s voice to us as he directs the congregation through “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matt. 24:45) We need to take this guidance and direction seriously, for our everlasting life depends on our obedience.—Heb. 5:9.

Isa 33:22—When and how did Jehovah become Judge, Lawgiver, and King for the nation of Israel? (w14 10/15 14 _4)

4 The Law covenant went into effect at Mount Sinai in 1513 B.C.E. By means of that covenant, the ancient nation of Israel was set apart as God’s chosen nation. Jehovah now became ‘their Judge, their Lawgiver, and their King.’ (Isa. 33:22) The history of Israel provides a record of what happens when God’s righteous standards are either observed or ignored. Since the Law forbade intermarrying with pagans and participation in false worship, it was designed to prevent Abraham’s line of descent from being contaminated.—Ex. 20:4-6; 34:12-16.

What does this week’s Bible reading teach me about Jehovah?*** w16 January p. 13 par. 6 Be Compelled by God’s “Indescribable Free Gift” ***

6 Jehovah’s gift includes the curing of all our sicknesses, the transformation of our earth into a paradise, and the resurrection of the dead. (Isa. 33:24; 35:5, 6; John 5:28, 29) We surely love Jehovah and his dear Son for giving us what is an “indescribable free gift.” Yet, the question remains, What will God’s love move us to do? Let us consider how God’s love moves us (1) to follow the steps of Christ Jesus closely, (2) to

express love for our brothers, and (3) to forgive others from the heart.

*** w16 March p. 18 pars. 1-2 Jehovah Guides His People in the Way of Life ***“STOP, LOOK, LISTEN.” Those

words have saved countless lives. More than 100 years ago, large signs bearing those words were posted at railroad crossings in North America. For what reason? So that vehicles on the road would not be crossing railroad tracks at the wrong moment and be struck by a speeding train. Yes, paying attention to that warning has saved lives.

2 Jehovah does something better than posting safety signs. He stands before his people, as it were, pointing them toward everlasting life, away from dangers. More than that, he acts like a loving shepherd to his flock, calling out to the sheep proper direction and warnings so that they can avoid dangerous paths.—Read Isaiah 30:20, 21.

*** w16 May p. 25 par. 9 Benefit Fully From Jehovah’s Provisions ***9 What does this tell me about

Jehovah? By giving this list of qualifications, Jehovah reveals that he has a high standard for those who serve in an appointed capacity. He expects them to set a good example, and he holds them accountable for the way they treat the congregation, “which he purchased with the blood of his own Son.” (Acts 20:28) Jehovah wants us to feel safe in the care of the appointed

undershepherds. (Isa. 32:1, 2) From that standpoint, the Scriptural qualifications for Christian elders remind us of how much Jehovah truly cares for us.

*** w15 1/15 p. 12 par. 14 Give Thanks to Jehovah and Be Blessed ***14 Throughout history, Jehovah’s people have

rejoiced in their blessings. For example, after being delivered from Pharaoh and his armies at the Red Sea, the Israelites expressed their joy in songs of praise and thanksgiving. (Ex. 15:1-21) Today, among our most treasured blessings is our sure hope of deliverance from everything that causes us pain and distress. (Ps. 37:9-11; Isa. 25:8; 33:24) Imagine how we will feel when Jehovah crushes all his enemies and welcomes us into a new world of peace and righteousness. What a day for thanksgiving that will be!—Rev. 20:1-3; 21:3, 4.

*** w15 2/15 p. 9 par. 17 Imitate Jesus’ Humility and Tenderness ***17 Elders, Jehovah expects you to treat his sheep with tenderness. (Acts 20:28, 29)

Remember, it is your responsibility to nourish, encourage, and refresh his sheep. ( Isa. 32:1, 2; 1 Pet. 5:2-4) Hence, an elder who is tenderly compassionate does not try to control the sheep, making rules or using guilt to pressure them to do more when their circumstances do not permit them to. Rather, he endeavors to bring joy to their hearts, trusting that their love for Jehovah will move them to serve him as fully as possible.—Matt. 22:37.

*** w15 4/15 p. 26 par. 9 Always Trust in Jehovah! ***9 When relief does not immediately follow our prayers for help, let us wait on the One

who knows just when to act in our behalf. Remember that he too is exercising patience, for he is ever eager to come to our rescue. “Jehovah is waiting patiently to show you favor, and he will rise up to show you mercy. For Jehovah is a God of justice. Happy are all those keeping in expectation of him.”—Isa. 30:18.

*** w15 5/15 p. 22 par. 15 They “Saw” the Things Promised ***15 On the other hand, as Christians we are encouraged

by visualizing our hope, whether it is heavenly or earthly. Can you see yourself enjoying the things that God has promised? Contemplating what you may do as God fulfills his promises undoubtedly brings joy to your heart. Perhaps you “see” yourself living on earth forever. Think about cooperating with others in making this globe into a paradise. Your neighbors love Jehovah, even as you do. You are healthy, energetic, and have a bright outlook. Those supervising the work of restoration make life a pleasure because they genuinely care about you. And

you are happy using your talents and skills because everything you do is benefiting others and honoring God. For example, you are helping newly resurrected ones to come to know Jehovah. (John 17:3; Acts 24:15) No, this is not a dreamworld. This appealing

mental picture is based on Scriptural truths about the future.—Isa. 11:9; 25:8; 33:24; 35:5-7; 65:22.

*** w15 6/15 p. 31 “You Need Endurance” ***God has provided another source of support within the Christian congregation—the

elders. These spiritually mature men can be “like a hiding place from the wind, a place of concealment from the rainstorm, like streams of water in a waterless land, like the shadow of a massive crag in a parched land.” (Isa. 32:2) What a refreshing assurance! Have you taken advantage of this loving provision? The encouragement and support of the elders can help you to endure.

*** w15 12/1 pp. 8-9 Hypocrisy! Will It Ever End? ***When the ancient nation of Israel fell

into the trap of false worship and spiritual hypocrisy, God repeatedly warned them of the consequences. Through the prophet Isaiah, Jehovah God declared: “This people approaches me with their mouth and they honor me with their lips, but their heart is far removed from me.” (Isaiah 29:13) When the nation failed to turn around, God allowed foreign powers to destroy Israel’s religious center—Jerusalem and its temple—first by the Babylonians in 607 B.C.E. and ultimately by the Roman armies in 70 C.E. Clearly, God does not tolerate hypocrisy indefinitely.

*** w14 6/15 p. 16 par. 19 “You Must Love Jehovah Your God” ***19 Show appreciation for God’s

arrangement for shepherding his flock. (Acts 20:28) Christian elders are a provision from Jehovah, who always acts in our best interests. The elders are “like a hiding place from the wind, a place of concealment from the rainstorm, like streams of water in a waterless land, like the shadow of a massive crag in a parched land.” (Isa.

32:1, 2) How we appreciate a shelter from a strong wind or from a chilling rainstorm! When the hot sun is beating down on us, we are grateful for the shade provided by a crag. These figures of speech help us to see that the elders provide needed spiritual help and refreshment. By obeying those taking the lead among us, we show how much we appreciate these “gifts in men” and give evidence of our love for God and for Christ, the Head of the congregation.—Eph. 4:8; 5:23; Heb. 13:17.

*** w13 6/15 p. 8 par. 4 Appreciate Jehovah’s Qualities to the Full ***

4 How does Jehovah demonstrate that he is approachable? Although he is the almighty Creator of our vast universe, Jehovah assures us that he is willing and eager to listen to our prayers and to respond to them. (Read Psalm 145:18; Isaiah 30:18, 19.) We can speak to God at length at any time or place. We can approach him freely, knowing that he will never reproach us for doing so. (Ps. 65:2; Jas. 1:5)

*** w12 7/1 p. 21 “Whenever You Pray, Say, ‘Father’” ***When a little child senses

danger, he may run to his father for protection. A child finds security in the loving embrace of his father. Jesus fully trusted in Jehovah as a protector. (Matthew 26:53; John 17:15) We too can find

security under our heavenly Father’s protection. The protection Jehovah now provides is primarily spiritual. In other words, he protects us from spiritual harm by equipping us with what we need in order to avoid danger and to safeguard our friendship with him. One way he provides protection is through Bible-based counsel. When we receive such counsel, it is as if Jehovah were walking behind us, saying: “This is the way. Walk in it.”—Isaiah 30:21.

*** w12 8/15 p. 13 par. 7 Carry On as Kingdom Citizens! ***7 To remain Kingdom citizens, we need not only to

know God’s standards but also to love them. Many citizens of human governments say that they agree with the laws and standards of the country in which they live. However, when they find a requirement to be inconvenient and feel that nobody is looking, they break the law. Often, these people are “men pleasers.” (Col. 3:22) Kingdom citizens live by a higher standard. We gladly obey God’s laws, even when no other human is looking. Why? Because we love the Lawmaker.—Isa. 33:22; read Luke 10:27.

*** w11 7/15 p. 10 par. 1 Will You Follow Jehovah’s Loving Guidance? ***IMAGINE this: You need to travel to a certain destination. For guidance, you turn to a

trusted friend who knows the way. As he gives you thorough directions, he might say something like this: “Be careful about that next turn. The sign is misleading. A lot of people follow it and wind up getting lost.” Would you appreciate his concern and heed the warning? In some ways, Jehovah is like that friend. He gives us careful directions about how to reach our destination of everlasting life, but he also warns us about bad influences that could cause us to go the wrong way.—Deut. 5:32; Isa. 30:21.

*** w11 8/1 p. 28 A Day of High Hopes and Happy Expectations *** Isaiah 30:19First, Brother Jackson said, “You can expect that Jehovah will hear your prayers.” He

pointed out the assurance found in verse 19: “[God] will without fail show you favor at the

sound of your outcry.” Noting that in the original Hebrew, the pronoun “you” in this sentence is singular, not plural, Brother Jackson said that Jehovah treats our prayers individually. “As a Father, Jehovah doesn’t ask, ‘Why can’t you be strong like that other person?’ Instead, he listens attentively to each one. And he answers.”

*** w11 8/1 p. 28 A Day of High Hopes and Happy Expectations *** Isaiah 30:20Second, the speaker acknowledged that we

can expect problems. “Jehovah doesn’t promise that life will be easy, but he will help us.” As verse 20 shows, God foretold that when Israel came under siege, distress and oppression would become as familiar as bread and water. Still, Jehovah would always be ready to come to the people’s rescue. The Gilead students too will face problems and challenges, though not necessarily the ones they expect! Brother Jackson added, “But you can expect that Jehovah will be there for you to help you handle each challenge.”

*** w11 8/1 p. 28 A Day of High Hopes and Happy Expectations *** Isaiah 30:20, 21

Third, Brother Jackson reminded the students that as verses 20 and 21 show, “you can expect direction—so look for it!” Today, he noted, each Christian needs to listen carefully as Jehovah speaks through the pages of the Bible and through Bible-based publications. The speaker warmly urged the students to keep applying themselves to daily Bible reading, for it means life.

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

*** w16 April p. 21 par. 13 Why Should We Meet Together for Worship? ***13 Our meeting attendance shows

Jehovah that we want to draw close to him and his Son. At our meetings, our Grand Instructor directs us through the pages of his Word, the Bible. (Isa. 30:20, 21) Even unbelievers who attend our meetings may conclude: “God is really among you.” (1 Cor. 14:23-25) Jehovah blesses meetings with his holy spirit and actively directs the Scriptural teaching program. At our meetings, then, we are listening to Jehovah’s voice and sensing his loving care. Consequently, we

draw close to him.

*** wp16 No. 1 p. 14 How to Overcome Feelings of Insecurity ***There is also a lasting solution. The Bible describes a coming new world, where each

one of us will feel secure. God’s Word promises: “They will sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one will make them afraid.” (Micah 4:4) At that time, nobody will make us feel unprotected, nor will anyone do us harm. Even deep-rooted traumas of the past “will not be called to mind.” (Isaiah 65:17, 25) God and his Son, Christ Jesus, will establish “true righteousness.” The result “will be lasting tranquillity and security.”—Isaiah 32:17.

*** w15 4/15 p. 20 par. 3 How Real Is Your Relationship With Jehovah? ***3 Having regular communication with Jehovah is a vital part of

drawing close to him. How can you communicate with God? Well, how do you communicate with a friend who lives far away? Likely, you write to each other and talk on the phone, perhaps quite often. You talk to Jehovah by means of your frequent prayers to him. (Read Psalm 142:2.) And you allow Jehovah to talk to you, as it were, when you regularly read his written Word and meditate on it. (Read Isaiah 30:20, 21.)

*** w15 6/15 p. 12 par. 16 He Loved People ***

16 If we maintain our Christian integrity, we may well witness one of the greatest miracles of all time—the miracle of surviving the great tribulation. Soon after the war of Armageddon, more miracles will occur, restoring humans to good health. (Isa. 33:24; 35:5, 6; Rev. 21:4) Imagine watching people discard eyeglasses, canes, crutches, wheelchairs, hearing aids, and the like. For good reason, Jehovah will bring Armageddon survivors to a state of good health. Those survivors will have work to do. They can move forward with zest to make our planet, a gift from God, into a global paradise.—Ps. 115:16.

*** w15 8/15 p. 11 par. 7 Meditate on Jehovah’s Enduring Love ***7 We should value the Bible highly because God

communicates with us primarily by means of it. Meaningful and compassionate communication between parents and their children is essential to building mutual trust and developing a feeling of being loved. What can we expect of Jehovah? Although we have never seen him or heard his voice, he “speaks” to us through his inspired Word, and we

need to listen. (Isa. 30:20, 21) Jehovah desires to guide us, his dedicated people, and to protect us from harm. He also wants us to know him and to put our trust in him.—Read Psalm 19:7-11; Proverbs 1:33.

*** w15 8/15 p. 14 par. 1 Keep in Expectation! ***JEHOVAH’S worshippers have long lived in

expectation of the fulfillment of inspired prophecies. For example, Jeremiah prophesied that Judah would be desolated, and that is what occurred at Babylonian hands in 607 B.C.E. (Jer. 25:8-11) Isaiah, who was inspired to foretell that Jehovah would bring about a restoration, declared: “Happy are all those keeping in expectation of him.” (Isa. 30:18) Micah, whose prophecies also involved God’s ancient people, personally resolved: “I will keep on the lookout for Jehovah.” (Mic. 7:7) For centuries, God’s servants also lived in expectation of the fulfillment of prophecies concerning the Messiah, or Christ.—Luke 3:15; 1 Pet. 1:10-12.

*** w15 9/1 p. 15 Are You Disappointed in God? ***How, then, will God bring the human condition in line with his purpose? Recall that

Jesus taught his followers to pray: “Let your Kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also on earth.” (Matthew 6:10) Yes, in due time God, through his Kingdom, will remove all causes of suffering. (Daniel 2:44) Poverty, disease, and death will be things of the past. Regarding the poor, the Bible indicates that God “will rescue the poor who cry for help.” (Psalm 72:12-14) As for the sick, the Bible promises: “No resident will say: ‘I am sick.’” (Isaiah 33:24) Even concerning the dead ones who are in God’s memory, Jesus said: “The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out.” (John 5:28, 29) What heartwarming promises!

*** w15 10/1 p. 4 Is Anyone Listening? ***Some people feel that prayer is just a waste of time, that no

one is listening. Others have tried to pray but feel that they got

no answer. One atheist conjured up an idea of what he imagined God to be and then prayed: “Just give me a little whisper.” But he said that God maintained “stately silence.”

Yet, the Bible assures us that there is a personal God and that he does hear prayers. The Bible records this statement to a people long ago: “He [God] will surely show you favor at the sound of your cry for help; he will answer you as soon as he hears it.” ( Isaiah 30:19) Another Bible verse says: “The prayer of the upright is a pleasure to Him.”—Proverbs 15:8.

*** w14 3/1 p. 16 Bible Questions Answered ***How does Jesus’ death benefit us?When God created humans, he intended for them to live forever

on earth without ever suffering sickness or death. However, the first man, Adam, disobeyed the Creator and lost the prospect of living forever. As descendants of Adam, we inherited death from him. (Romans 5:8, 12; 6:23) The true God, Jehovah, sent his Son, Jesus, to the earth to die and redeem what Adam had lost.—Read John 3:16.

Jesus’ death makes forgiveness of our sins and life without end possible for us. The Bible gives us a picture of what life on earth will be like when we are no longer afflicted by aging, disease, and death.—Read Isaiah 25:8; 33:24; Revelation 21:4, 5.

*** w13 6/1 p. 16 Bible Questions Answered ***Why is world peace so elusive?The Bible points to two main reasons. First, although humans have accomplished

marvelous things, they are not created with the ability to direct their own steps. Second, human schemes have failed because “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one,” Satan the Devil. Thus, human efforts have not been able to bring world peace.—Read Jeremiah 10:23; 1 John 5:19.

Human self-interest and ambition have also made world peace elusive. Only a world government that can teach people to love what is right and care for one another will bring world peace.—Read Isaiah 32:17; 48:18, 22.

*** w13 7/1 p. 16 Bible Questions Answered ***How can we gain eternal life?Not everyone will be set free from sickness and aging. In fact, people

who disobey God, as Adam did, will lose the privilege of life. Only people who are forgiven for their sins will enjoy eternal life.—Read Isaiah 33:24; 35:3-6.

To be forgiven, we must take action. We need to get to know God by studying his Word, the Bible. It teaches us how to enjoy a better way of life and also how to gain God’s favor and eternal life.—Read John 17:3; Acts

3:19.*** w12 10/1 p. 16 Can You Live Forever? ***

2. Can we really live forever?Jehovah lives forever. He does not die. He is the Source of life, so he can give

everlasting life to others. (Psalm 36:9; Habakkuk 1:12) Furthermore, he has promised to grant everlasting life to those who obey him. He will reverse the process of aging.—Read Job 33:24, 25; Isaiah 25:8; 33:24.

Jesus demonstrated by his powerful works that we can trust God’s promise of everlasting life in perfect health. Jesus cured many types of diseases and even resurrected people who had died.—Read Luke 7:11-15, 18, 19, 22.

*** w11 4/1 p. 17 What Is God’s Purpose for the Earth? ***4. When will suffering end?

During the 1,000 years, Jesus will rule from heaven over the earth and restore it to a paradise. Also, he will cancel the sins of those who love God. Jesus will thus eliminate sickness, aging, and death.—Read Isaiah 11:9; 25:8; 33:24; 35:1.

When will God destroy evil on earth? Jesus gave a “sign” to indicate when the end is near. Present world

conditions threaten man’s survival and show that we now live in “the conclusion of the system of things.”—Read Matthew 24:3, 7-14, 21, 22; 2 Timothy 3:1-5.