THEOCRATIC MINISTRY SCHOOL REVIEW (Week starting April 30) 1. *** si p. 129 par.

36 Bible Book Number 24Jeremiah *** This inspired prophecy is altogether upbuilding and beneficial. Look at the courageous example of the prophet himself. He was fearless in proclaiming an unpopular message to a godless people. He spurned fellowship with the wicked. He appreciated the urgency of Jehovahs message, giving himself wholeheartedly to Jehovahs work and never quitting. He found Gods word to be like a fire in his bones, and it was the exultation and rejoicing of his heart. (Jer. 15:16-20; 20:8-13) May we ever be as zealous for the word of Jehovah! May we also give loyal support to Gods servants, as Baruch did to Jeremiah. The sincere obedience of the Rechabites is also a splendid example to us, and so is Ebedmelechs kindly consideration for the persecuted prophet.36:8-19, 32; 35:1-19; 38:7-13; 39:15-18. 2. *** w05 12/15 pp. 23-24 par. 18 Whom Do You ObeyGod or Men? *** God told the prophet Jeremiah: I am with you to deliver you. (Jeremiah 1:8) How might Jehovah deliver us from persecution today? He might raise up a fair-minded judge like Gamaliel. Or he may see to it that a corrupt or antagonistic official is unexpectedly replaced by a more reasonable one. At times, though, Jehovah may permit the persecution of his people to run its course. (2 Timothy 3:12) If God allows us to be persecuted, he will always give us the strength to endure persecution. (1 Corinthians 10:13) And no matter what God permits, we have no doubt as to the final outcome: Those who fight against Gods people are fighting against God, and fighters against God will not prevail. 3. *** w05 11/1 p. 24 par. 12 Will You Walk With God? ***
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Since late in the 19th century, Christs anointed followers have applied the counsel of Jeremiah 6:16 to themselves. As a class, they have led the way in a wholehearted return to the roadways of long ago. Unlike apostate Christendom, they have faithfully adhered to the pattern of healthful words that was established by Jesus Christ and upheld by his faithful followers back in the first century C.E. (2 Timothy 1:13) To this day, the anointed help one another as well as their other sheep companions to pursue the healthful, happy way of life that Christendom has abandoned.John 10:16. 4. *** w10 6/1 pp. 22-23 Balsam of GileadThe Balm That Heals *** Balsam for a Sick Nation

Why, then, did Jeremiah raise the question, Is there no balsam in Gilead? To understand that, we have to look at the nation of Israel back then. Earlier, the prophet Isaiah gave a vivid description of their deplorable spiritual state: From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no sound spot in it. Wounds and bruises and fresh stripesthey have not been squeezed out or bound up. (Isaiah 1:6) Rather than recognizing their pitiable condition and seeking a cure, the nation continued in their wayward course. By his time, Jeremiah could only lament: They have rejected the very word of Jehovah, and what wisdom do they have? If only they had returned to Jehovah, he would have healed them. Is there no balsam in Gilead? What a thought-provoking question!Jeremiah 8:9. In many ways, todays world is full of wounds and bruises and fresh stripes. People are suffering from poverty, injustice, selfishness, and a lack of kindness, all because love of God and neighbor has cooled off. (Matthew 24:12; 2 Timothy 3:1-5) Many feel rejected on account of their race, ethnic background, or age. On top of that, famine, sickness, war, and death add to their pain. Like Jeremiah, many sincere believers wonder if there is no balsam in Gilead with which to bind up the emotional and spiritual wounds of those who are suffering. The Good News That Heals In Jesus day, the same question was on the minds of humble ones. But it was not left unanswered. In the synagogue in Nazareth at the beginning of the year 30 C.E., Jesus read from the scroll of Isaiah, saying: Jehovah has anointed me to tell good news to the meek ones. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted. (Isaiah 61:1) Jesus then applied those words to himself, presenting himself as the Messiah with the commission of making known a message of comfort.Luke 4:16-21. Throughout his ministry, Jesus zealously preached the good news of the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 4:17) In the Sermon on the Mount, he promised afflicted ones that their situation would be changed: Happy are you who weep now, because you will laugh. (Luke 6:21) By announcing the coming of the Kingdom of Goda message of hopeJesus bound up the brokenhearted. In our day, the good news of the kingdom remains just as comforting. (Matthew 6:10; 9:35) Take, for example, the case of Roger and Liliane. In January 1961 they first learned about Gods promise of everlasting life, and it was like soothing balsam to them. I danced around the kitchen at the thought of what I was learning. I was so happy, recalls Liliane. Roger, who at that time had been partially paralyzed for ten years, adds, I found great joy, the joy of living, thanks to a marvelous hopethat of the resurrection and the end of all pain and sickness.Revelation 21:4.

In 1970 they suffered the loss of their 11-year-old son in death. But they did not sink into despair. They personally felt that Jehovah is healing the brokenhearted ones, and is binding up their painful spots. (Psalm 147:3) Their hope comforted them. For nearly 50 years now, the good news of Gods incoming Kingdom has brought them peace and contentment. A Healing Yet to Come So is there balsam in Gilead today? Yes, today there still exists spiritual balsam. The comfort and hope provided by the good news of the Kingdom is able to bind up broken hearts. Would you like to experience such healing? All you need to do is open your heart wide to the comforting message from Gods Word and allow it to fill your life. Millions of people have already done so. The healing by this balsam provides a foregleam of greater relief that is still to come. The time is fast approaching when Jehovah God will bring about the curing of the nations, with everlasting life in view. At that time, no resident will say: I am sick. Yes, there still is balsam in Gilead!Revelation 22:2; Isaiah 33:24. 5. *** jr chap. 12 p. 151 Was Not That a Case of Knowing Me? *** [Box on page 151] HOW DOES JEHOVAH FEEL REGRET? The greatness of Gods forgiveness comes into focus in his treatment of those who practiced sin but who later have a change of heart. When he observes that they turn their lives around and obey him, he comes to feel regret. (Jer. 18:8; 26:3) In what way? God is perfect and never errs in judgment, so it is not that he feels regret in the way that a human does when he has completely misjudged a matter. Rather, Jehovah feels regret by adjusting his dealings, responding to the change of heart he observes. This is not just a cold rescinding of a sentence. Jehovahs feelings change toward repentant sinners. According to some scholars, the origin of the Hebrew verb translated feel regret in the verses cited above is thought to reflect the idea of breathing deeply, maybe with a sigh. This may indicate that when Jehovah sees genuine remorse in a human heart, figuratively he breathes deeply, as with a sigh of relief. God can show the repentant person the loving attention enjoyed by those having His approval. That sinner may still face certain consequences, yet God is pleased with his change of heart. He softens the calamity, or divine discipline, that otherwise might be due. (Jer. 26:13) What human judge is inclined to recognize true repentance in this way? Jehovah takes delight in doing so. Jer. 9:24.

6. *** jr chap. 3 p. 36 par. 8 You Must Say to Them This Word ***
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Jehovah had definitely not tricked or deceived Jeremiah by using some crafty, underhanded scheme against him. Rather, God fooled his prophet in a positive, beneficial sense. Jeremiah felt that the opposition was too great, that by himself he could no longer fulfill his God-given assignment. But fulfill it he did, with the Almightys support and help. Hence, you might say that Jehovah overpowered him, proving far stronger than Jeremiah and his human inclinations. When this man of God thought that he had reached his limit and could not keep going, Jehovah exercised a persuasive force so that Jeremiah was fooled, as it were. God proved stronger than the prophets weaknesses. Even in the face of apathy, rejection, and violence, Jeremiah was able to continue to preach. 7. *** it-2 pp. 1166-1167 War *** When it was necessary to punish unfaithful Israel, those foreign armies bringing the destruction were viewed as sanctified, in the sense that they were set apart by Jehovah for the execution of his righteous judgments. (Jer 22:6-9; Hab 1:6) Similarly, those military forces (principally the Medes and Persians) who brought destruction on Babylon were spoken of by Jehovah as my sanctified ones.Isa 13:1-3. 8. *** jr chap. 12 pp. 142-145 Was Not That a Case of Knowing Me? *** TO TIME INDEFINITE IS HIS LOVING-KINDNESS! The facet of Gods personality known as loving-kindness, or loyal love, defies concise definition in many languages. According to one Bible dictionary, the Hebrew term involved describes the interaction of strength, steadfastness, and love. That dictionary goes on to say: Any understanding of the word that fails to suggest all three inevitably loses some of its richness. Thus, someone showing loving-kindness is more than a nice person. With deep concern, he tries to help others satisfy their needs, especially their spiritual needs, as best he can. His main reason for acting in such a selfless manner is his desire to please Almighty God. The best way to grasp the essence of the Biblical expression lovingkindness is by studying how God treated his true worshippers down through the ages. Jehovah protected and fed the Israelites while they spent 40 years in the wilderness. In the Promised Land, God provided judges to rescue them from their enemies and to bring them back to true worship. Because Jehovah stuck with them through good times and bad during all those centuries, he could tell the
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nation: With a love to time indefinite I have loved you. That is why I have drawn you with loving-kindness.Jer. 31:3. In our day, God continues to show loving-kindness in ways that directly benefit his worshippers. Consider the matter of prayer. Jehovah takes note of all sincere prayers, but he pays special attention when his dedicated servants pray to him. Even if for years we keep praying about the same chronic problems, he does not lose patience with us; nor does he tire of hearing our prayers. Once, Jehovah had Jeremiah send a message to a group of Jews already captive in Babylon. They were over 500 miles [800 km] away from the temple, far from family and friends in Judah. Their being far from the temple, however, did not keep Jehovah from hearing their requests for his favor and their expressions of praise. Bearing in mind your sincere prayers, think of the comfort the Jews felt when they heard Gods words, as found at Jeremiah 29:10-12.Read. We see another evidence of Jehovahs loving-kindness in his positive outlook. As the fall of Jerusalem approached and the citys inhabitants continued their rebellion, which amounted to a rebellion against God, what did the future hold for them? Perhaps death from famine or a Babylonian sword? At best, they might experience a long exile and death in a foreign land. Jehovah, however, held out a positive good word for those who repented and changed their lives. He promised to turn his attention to them. He would bring them back to this place, their homeland, from faraway Babylon. (Jer. 27:22) As a result, they would cry out: Laud Jehovah of armies, for Jehovah is good; for to time indefinite is his loving-kindness!Jer. 33:10, 11.
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9. *** w07 3/15 p. 11 par. 2 Highlights From the Book of Jeremiah *** 31:33How is Gods law written in hearts? When a person loves Gods law so much that he has a fervent desire to do Jehovahs will, it can be said that Gods law is written in his heart. 10. *** *** w07 3/15 p. 11 par. 3 Highlights From the Book of Jeremiah

32:10-15What was the purpose of making two deeds of the same transaction? The deed left open was for consultation. The sealed deed served as a backup to verify the accuracy of the open one if needed. By following reasonable legal procedures even when dealing with a relative and fellow believer, Jeremiah set an example for us.