FINAL PROOF 2

3  WEEK1—OUTLINE
Do Not Duplicate

Jeremiah,theTenderheartedProphet
oftheTenderheartedGod
ScriptureReading:Jer.1:1,48,10,1819;4:19;9:1,10;13:17

Day1
I. Jeremiahwasbornapriest,buthewascalledby
GodtobeaprophetnotonlytothenationofIsrael
butalsotoallthenations;hence,hewasapriest
prophet—Jer.1:1,48.
II. JehovahappointedJeremiahtobeoverthena
tionsandoverthekingdomstopluckupandto
break down, to destroy and to tear down, and
to buildupandtoplant—v.10:
A. Thepluckingup,thebreakingdown,andthede
stroyingareJehovah’stearingdown,whereasthe
buildingupandtheplantingareJehovah’sexalting.
B. Thiscorrespondstothetwomeaningsofthename
Jeremiah—“Jehovah exalts” and “Jehovah tears
down.”
III. JehovahmadeJeremiahintoafortifiedcity,into
anironpillar,andintobronzewallsagainstthe
wholeland,thekingsofJudah,itsprinces,its
priests,andthepeopleoftheland;theywould
fightagainsthimbutwouldnotprevailagainst
him—vv.1819:
A. Onearththereisalwaysabattleragingbetween
GodandthosewhoopposeHimandfightagainst
Him—Eph.6:12.
B. GodfightsnotbyHimselfdirectlybutthroughHis
servantswhohavebeensentbyHim—1Tim.1:18;
6:12;2Tim.4:7.
C. God sent His army—a young man named Jere
miah—tofightthosewhoopposedHim:
1. JeremiahwasequippedbyGodtosuchanex
tentthathebecameafortifiedcityandaniron
pillarandbronzewalls—Jer.1:18.
2. ThosewhofoughtagainstJeremiah—Jehovah’s
WEEK1—OUTLINE  4
onepersonarmy—wereactuallyfightingagainst
Jehovah—v.19a.
3. NoonewoulddefeathimbecauseJehovahwas
withhim—v.19b.
Day2
IV. JeremiahwasanovercomerspeakingforGod—
vv.910;2:12:
A. In the age of typology, the overcomers were the
prophets;allthegenuineprophetswereovercomers.
B. WhenthemajorityofGod’speopleweredesolate,
therewastheneedforsometoriseuptobeGod’s
overcomerstomaintainthetestimonyestablished
byGod.
C. TheprophetstookcareofGod’soraclefirst,and
basedupontheoracle,theyexercised,tosomeex
tent,God’sauthority,asseenwithDavidtheking
andNathantheprophet—2Sam.7:117;12:115.
D. TheovercomersinRevelation2and3aretheful
fillmentofthetypologyoftheprophets.
E. Asanovercomer,Jeremiahwasanantitestimony:
1. The children of Israel had become desolate,
andJeremiahwascalledbyGodtobeananti
testimony—Jer.27:115.
2. God’speopledidnotrealizethattheyweredeep
insinbeforeGodandthatGodhadalreadyor
dainedthatBabylonwouldbeusedtopunish
them,causingthemtobecapturedtoBabylon—
15:1214.
3. BecauseIsraelhadfallenintosuchabefuddled
situation,Jeremiah,anovercomer,wasananti
testimony,speakingthewordgiventohimby
Jehovahandbeingcontrarytothefalseproph
ets—27:16—28:17.
Day3
V. ThebookofJeremiahhasasitsparticularchar
acteristicandstandingGod’stenderheartedness
plusGod’srighteousness—9:1011;23:56;33:16:
5  WEEK1—OUTLINE
A. OurGodisatenderheartedGod,fullofcompassion
and sympathy, yet He is absolutely righteous—
9:1011;23:6.
B. AccordingtothebookofJeremiah,God’sloveisa
composition of His tender care, compassion, and
sympathy;evenwhileHechastisesHiselectpeople
Israel, He is compassionate toward them—Lam.
3:2223.
C. ThewordsinJeremiah9:1011and1719express
Jehovah’sfeelingconcerningIsrael’ssufferingof
Hiscorrection:
1. AlthoughJehovahwaspunishingIsrael,Hewas
stillsympathetictowardthem.
2. Thewordsusandourinverse18indicatethat
JehovahjoinedHimselftothesufferingpeople
andwasonewiththemintheirsuffering.
3. JehovahHimselfwasweepinginsympathywith
Hispeople.
VI. ThebookofJeremiahisalsoanautobiographyin
whichJeremiahtellsusofhissituation,hisper
son,andhisfeeling,revealinghistenderheart:
A. Godistender,loving,compassionate,andrighteous,
andJeremiah,atimidyoungman,wasraisedup
byGodtobeHismouthpiecetospeakforHimand
expressHim—3:611;4:331;32:2627;33:12.
B. Jehovah is the tenderhearted God, and in being
tenderhearted,Jeremiahwasabsolutelyonewith
God;thus,GodcouldusetheprophetJeremiahto
expressHim,speakforHim,andrepresentHim—
2:1—3:5;4:19;9:1,10.
C. JehovahcameintocorrectHishypocriticalwor
shippers,andJeremiahreactedtoJehovah’scorrec
tion;theprophet’sreactionwasverytender,sym
pathetic,andcompassionate—8:1819,2122;9:12;
10:1925.
D. Jeremiah wept on God’s behalf; his weeping ex
pressedGod’sweeping—4:19;9:1;13:17:
1. InhisweepingJeremiahrepresentedGod—9:10.
2. WemaysaythatGodweptwithinJeremiah’s
WEEK1—OUTLINE  6
weeping,forinhisweepingJeremiahwasone
withGod—13:17.
E. BecauseJeremiahoftenwept,evenwailed,heis
calledtheweepingprophet—Lam.1:16;2:11;3:48:
1. AlthoughGodwasgrievedandhurtbecauseof
Hispeople,Hehadtofindsomeoneonearthwho
hadthesefeelings.
2. WhenHisSpiritcameuponthatparticularone,
Jeremiah,andputHisfeelingsinJeremiah’s
spirit,theprophetcouldthenexpressthesor
rowfulfeelingofGod.
3. AswereadthebookofJeremiah,wecansense
that,althoughhewept,hisemotionhadbeen
disciplined—4:19;9:1,10;13:17.
4. Jeremiah’ssorrowfulandweepingemotionhad
beendisciplinedandrestrictedsothatGodcould
cometohimandusehimtoexpressthesorrow
fulfeelingsthatwereinHisheart.
Day4
VII. InorderthatGodmaybefullyexpressedthrough
us,weneedtohavespiritualemotions,betender
heartedwithoneanother,andbeabletoserve
Godwithtears—James5:11;Exo.34:6;Psa.103:8:
A. Aspiritualpersonisfullofemotions;themorespir
itualweare,thericherouremotionsare—1Cor.
4:21;2Cor.6:11;7:3;10:1;12:15:
1. WeneedtheLordtoworkonusuntilourfeel
ingsarefineandtender.
2. EverytimeGodworksonus,chastisesus,and
dealswithus,ourfeelingsbecomefinerandmore
sensitive;thisisthedeepestlessoninthebreak
ingoftheouterman—4:16.
B. Inthechurchlifeweneedtobetenderheartedwith
oneanother—Eph.4:32:
1. Weshouldnotjudgeandcondemnourfellow
believersbutbekindtothem,tenderhearted,
forgivingthemevenasGodinChristalsofor
gaveus—Luke6:37;Eph.4:32.
7  WEEK1—OUTLINE
2. ThemoreweexperienceChristasourlifesup
ply,themoreourheartsbecometender,andwhen
wearetenderhearted,wewillforgiveothers.
C. TheapostlePaulservedtheLordwithtearsand
admonishedthesaintswithtears—Acts20:19,31;
Phil.3:18:
1. Ifwedonotknowhowtoweeporshedtears,we
arenotveryspiritual.
2. Whenweliveinthespirit,usingthesoulasan
organ,wewillbeabletoservetheLordandad
monishthesaintswithtears—Acts20:19,31.
Day5&Day6
D. “Outofmuchaff lictionandanguishofheart”Paul
wrotetotheCorinthians“throughmanytears”—
2 Cor.2:4:
1. Paul’sexpressionwastenderandfilledwiththe
intimateconcernoftheministeringlife—11:28;
12:15.
2. In2Corinthians7Paulconveyedadeep,tender,
andintimateconcernfortheCorinthians;his
wordwasverytouching—vv.23.
3. BecausePaul’sexpressionwastenderandfilled
withintimateconcern,ithadpowerandimpact,
anditwasabletotouchthebelieversdeeply.
E. When,inthechurchlife,wepassthroughthevalley
ofBaca(weeping),Godmakesthisvalleyaspring;
this spring is the Spirit—Psa. 84:6; John 4:14;
7:3839:
1. ThemoreweweeponthehighwaystoZion(Psa.
84:5),themorewereceivetheSpirit;whilewe
areweeping,wearebeingfilledwiththeSpirit,
andtheSpiritbecomesourspring.
2. Thetearsweshedareourown,butthesetears
issueinaspring,whichbecomestheearlyrain,
theSpiritastheblessing—Zech.10:1;Gal.3:14;
Eph.1:3.
WEEK1—DAY1  8
MorningNourishment
Jer. AndIamnowmakingyoutodayintoaforti
1:1819 fiedcityandintoanironpillarandintobronze
wallsagainstthewholeland,againstthekings
ofJudah,againstitsprinces,againstitspriests,
andagainstthepeopleoftheland.Andthey
willfightagainstyou,buttheywillnotprevail
againstyou;forIamwithyou,declaresJeho
vah,todeliveryou.
[God]calledayoungmannamedJeremiahandcommis
sionedhimtospeakforHim.WhenJeremiahexcusedhim
selfbysayingthathewasayouthandthathedidnotknow
howtospeak,Jehovahsaidtohim,“Donotsay,Iamayouth; 
ForeverywhereIsendyou,youshallgo;AndeverythingI
command you, you shall speak.  Do not be afraid of their
faces,ForIamwithyoutodeliveryou”(Jer.1:78).Jehovah
wentontosaythatHewouldmakeJeremiahintoafortified
city,intoanironpillar,andintowallsofbrassagainstthe
whole land. The kings, princes, priests, and people would
fight against him, but they would not prevail against him
(vv.1819).ThosewhofoughtagainstJeremiahwereactually
fightingagainstJehovah.HewasJehovah’sonepersonarmy.
No one would defeat him because Jehovah was with him.
Thus,JeremiahcouldnotescapeGod’scommissionbutwas
constrainedtoacceptit.(LifestudyofJeremiah,p.64)
Today’sReading
[InJeremiah1:10]weareremindedofthetwomeaningsof
Jeremiah’sname:“Jehovahexalts”and“Jehovahtearsdown.”
Thepluckingup,thebreakingdown,andthedestroyingare
Jehovah’stearingdown.Thebuildingupandtheplanting
areJehovah’sexalting.Surelyeverynegativething—everything
ofSatan,sin,andtheworld—mustbetorndown.Alongwith
thiswehaveJehovah’sbuildingupandHisplanting,bothof
whichinvolveHisword.God’swordisabuildingupofChrist
andaplantingofChrist.ThisisfortheexaltingofChrist.
Jeremiah,whowasbornapriestbutwascalledtobea
9  WEEK1—DAY1
prophet,mighthavebeenatimid,fearfulperson.Thistimid
person was given a charge by Jehovah.…If Jeremiah had
beendismayedbeforethepeople,Godwouldhavedismayed
him[cf.v.17].
Inthematteroffunctioninginthechurchmeetings,…we
shouldnotbedismayedbyanyone,andweshouldnotbeafraid
ofanyone.…Rather,weshouldfunctiontospeakfortheLord.
WhywasitnecessaryforGodtomakeJeremiahintoafor
tifiedcity,intoanironpillar,andintobronzewalls[cf.vv.1819]?
Thiswasnecessarybecauseabattlewasraging.Thekings,
theprinces,thepriests,andthepeopleofthelandwereene
miesnotonlytoJeremiahbutalsotoGod.Theseenemieswere
fightingagainstGod,andJeremiahwassenttorepresentGod
andfightforHim.ThosewhofoughtagainstJeremiahfought
againstJehovahbecauseJeremiahandJehovahwereone.
Forthisreason,GodwantedJeremiahtoknowthatHewas
withhimandthatHehadmadehimintoafortifiedcity,into
anironpillar,andintobrasswalls.
TheBibletellsusthatonearththereisalwaysabattlerag
ingbetweenGodandthosewhoopposeHimandfightagainst
Him.GoddoesnotfightbyHimselfdirectlybutthroughHis
servantswhohavebeensentbyHim.Thiswasthesituation
inJeremiah’stime.GodsentHisarmy—ayoungmannamed
Jeremiah—to fight against those who opposed Him. Jere
miahwasequippedbyGodtosuchanextentthathebecame
afortifiedcity.BecauseGodwaswithhimtodeliverhim,the
opposerswouldnotprevailoverhim.
IntheLord’srecoverytoday,wealsofaceopposition,con
demnation,andrejection,andwealsomustfightforGod.As
wearesentbyGodtofightforHim,Hefightsthroughus.In
thisfightingourweaponsareGodHimselfandthetruthre
vealedintheBible.(LifestudyofJeremiah,pp.35,3738)
FurtherReading:LifestudyofJeremiah,msgs.1,1011,15;
CWWL, 19751976, vol. 3, pp. 2124; Truth Lessons—
LevelOne,vol.1,lsn.12
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WEEK1—DAY2  10
MorningNourishment
Jer. Then Jehovah stretched out His hand and
1:910 touchedmymouth;andJehovahsaidtome,Now
IhaveputMywordsinyourmouth.See,Ihave
appointedyouthisdayoverthenationsandover
thekingdomstopluckupandtobreakdown,to
destroyandtoteardown,tobuildupandtoplant.
ThechurchofGodisdesolate,andthemajorityofGod’s
peoplehavefailed,havelosttheirposition,andareunableto
meetGod’sneed.However,throughoutthepasttwothousand
yearsasmallnumberofovercomershavealwaysbeenraised
uptobeGod’sfaithfulwitnessestomaintainHistestimony.…
Throughouttheagesthelineoftheovercomershasnever
ceased.(CWWL,1954,vol.1,p.437)
Today’sReading
Whenthepeoplesaidthatallwaspeacefulandwelland
thattheycouldresistBabylon,Jeremiahroseupandsaidthat
allwasnotpeacefulandthattheywouldnotbeabletoresist
(Jer.27:115).…Elijahwasacondemningantitestimony;Jere
miahwasaweepingantitestimony.…ElijahtoldtheIsraelites
thattheywereservingBaal,notJehovah;thismatterneeds
condemnation.…However,theantitestimonyofJeremiahwas
different.…Hetoldthemthat…theywouldbehandedover
totheenemy,buttheybelievedthatGodwouldsavethem.
Therefore,Jeremiahweptforthemanddidnotcondemn.
WhenGod’speoplearedesolate,weneedtoriseuptobean
antitestimony.Ontheonehand,weshouldrebukeandcon
demnthemtoshowthattheyarenotservingGodwithapure
heartbutarecaringforthefleshandfollowingtheworldfor
thesakeoftheirownname,takingBaalastheircenter.Onthe
otherhand,weshouldmournfortheirconditionofnotknow
ingGod,fortheyhaveclearlylostGod’spresencealthough
theysaythatGodiswiththem,andtheyhavelostGod’sgrace
althoughtheythinkthatGodisbeinggracioustothem.
TodayweneedsuchovercomersamongGod’speople.…
MartinLutherroseuptocondemntheCatholicChurchas
11  WEEK1—DAY2
idolatrous;thisistheaspectofthecondemningantitestimony
representedbyElijah.Therearealsothosewhoweepbefore
God for the desolate church and the ignorant Christians,
tellingthemthattheyhavealreadylostGod’spresenceand
donothaveGod’sgrace,althoughtheseChristianshaveno
feelingandstillthinkthattheyaregracedbyGod.Thisisthe
aspectoftheweepingantitestimonyrepresentedbyJere
miah.(CWWL,1954,vol.1,pp.432433)
Jeremiahwascontrarytotheprophetswhospokefalse
prophecies:…OnlyJeremiahsaidthatGodwoulddiscipline
themandcausethemtobecaptured.Hewasaweepingprophet
(Jer.14:17;Lam.1:16),whoweptoverIsrael’sstupor,weeping
becausetheythoughttheyhadpeacewhengreatcalamity
wasabouttocomeuponthem.Whileweeping,heprophesied
sothattheymightdetestsinandreturntothetrueGodin
ordertohavetruepeace.However,thechildrenofIsraeldid
notlistentohiswords;instead,theyabhorredandpersecuted
him(Jer.15:15;11:19;18:1823;20:12,710)andevenimpris
oned him (32:15). During his imprisonment the Israelites
weretakencaptive.
Elijah’stestimonywasagainstidols,whereasJeremiah’s
testimonywasagainstfalsepeace.Elijahwasastrongperson
(cf.2Kings1:10,12),whereasJeremiahwasasoftperson.We
shouldnotthinkthatasoftpersoncannotbeanantitestimony.…
AtthetimeofElijahonehadtobestronginordertobeananti
testimonyagainstfalsegods.AtthetimeofJeremiah,however,
theIsraeliteswerepitiful;theywereabouttobeledtoslaugh
ter,yettheystillsaidthatallwaswell.Atsuchatime,there
wastheneedforasoftpersontoweepforthem.Jeremiahcould
notcausetheheavenstorain,but“rain”camefromhiseyes.
Heshedmanytearsandprophesiedintears.Suchaperson
isabletosoftenothers.(CWWL,1954,vol.4,p.551)
FurtherReading:CWWL,1954,vol.1,pp.428437;CWWL,
1954,vol.4,pp.550551;LifestudyofRevelation,msg.12;
CWWL,19751976,vol.3,pp.2124
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WEEK1—DAY3  12
MorningNourishment
Jer. ThussaysJehovahofhosts,Consider,andcall
9:1719 forthemourningwomentocome,andsendfor
theskillfulwomentocome;letthemhastenand
takeupawailingforus,thatoureyesmayshed
tearsandoureyelidsmaypourforthwater.For
avoiceofwailingwasheardfromZion:How
weareruinedWeareutterlyputtoshame…
IntheBiblethereisaweepingprophet…Hesaid,“My
eyerunsdownwithwater”(Lam.1:16),and,“Myeyeruns
down with streams of water” (Lam. 3:48).…The feeling to
weepwasveryheavyinhim.Butwhenyoureadthebookof
Jeremiah,youcansensethat,althoughhewept,hisemotion
hadbeendisciplined.Hissorrowfulandweepingemotionhad
beenrestrictedsothatGodcouldcometohimandusehim
toexpressthesorrowfulfeelingsthatwereinGod’sheart.
AlthoughGodwasgrievedandhurtbecauseofHispeople,He
hadtofindsomeoneonthisearthwhohadthesefeelings.
ThenwhenHisSpiritcameuponthatparticularoneandput
thosefeelingsinhisspirit,hewouldthenexpressthesorrow
fulfeelingofGodoutofhisemotion.IfJeremiahhadbeena
merryandcheerfulprophet,Godwouldnothavebeenable
tousehim.Hence,inorderthatGodmaybefullyexpressed
throughyou,youneedaspiritualemotion.(CWWL,1959,vol. 4,
“LessonsonPrayer,”p.88)
Today’sReading
The book of Jeremiah has as its particular nature and
standingGod’stenderheartednessplusGod’srighteousness.
OurGodisatenderheartedGod,andHeisabsolutelyright
eous.Heisfullofcompassion,sympathy,andtendercare.
ThisbookisalsoanautobiographyinwhichJeremiahtells
usofhissituation,hisperson,andhisfeeling,revealinghis
tenderheart.JehovahisthetenderheartedGod,andinbeing
tenderheartedJeremiahisabsolutelyonewithGod.…Inhis
weepingJeremiahrepresentedGod.Thus,Godcouldusea
prophetlikeJeremiahtoexpressHim,speakforHim,and
13  WEEK1—DAY3
representHimonearth.
AccordingtothebookofJeremiah,God’sloveisacomposi
tionofHistendercare,compassion,andsympathy.Evenwhile
He chastises His elect people Israel, He is compassionate
towardthem.Regardingthis,Godcanbecomparedtoafather
whoweepsashedisciplineshischildbecausehelovesthe
child.…JeremiahweptonGod’sbehalf;hisweepingexpressed
God’sfeeling.WemaysaythatGodweptwithinJeremiah’s
weeping,forinhisweepingJeremiahwasonewithGod.
InJeremiah9weseenotonlyJehovah’scorrectiontoIsrael,
Hishypocriticalworshippers,butalsoHisfeelingconcerning
Israel’ssufferingofHiscorrection.…Jehovahsaidthatfor
themountainsHewouldtakeupaweepingandwailing,and
forthepasturesofthewilderness,alamentation.Hewoulddo
thisbecausetheyhadbeenburnedupsothatnoonepassed
through,andthesoundofcattlewasnotheard.Boththebirds
of the sky and the beasts had fled and gone (v. 10). Then
Jehovahsaid,“IwillmakeJerusalemaheapofruins,Ahab
itationofjackals;AndIwillmakethecitiesofJudahAdeso
lationwithoutinhabitant”(v.11).Thisindicatesthatalthough
JehovahwaspunishingIsrael,Hewasstillsympathetictoward
them.Ontheonehand,HewaspunishingIsrael;ontheother
hand,HewassympathizingwithHispunishedpeople.
[InJeremiah9:1719]Jehovahproposedthatthemourning
women,professionalwailers,comeandwail“forus.”Inthese
versesthewordsusandourindicatethatJehovahjoinedHim
selftothesufferingpeopleandwasonewiththemintheir
suffering.ThesympatheticGodwhopunishedwasalsoamong
Hispunishedpeople.…Eventually,thosewhowailedwerewail
ingnotonlyforIsraelbutalsoforJehovah.JehovahHimself
wasweepinginsympathyforHispeople.Hewaslikeamother
who,whilespankingherchild,weepsalongwithherchild.(Life
studyofJeremiah,pp.1,5,7879)
FurtherReading:CWWL,1959,vol.4,“LessonsonPrayer,”
ch.7;TruthLessons—LevelThree,vol.4,lsn.59
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WEEK1—DAY4  14
MorningNourishment
Jer. Oh that my head were waters, and my eye a
9:1 fountainoftears,thatImightweepdayandnight
fortheslainofthedaughterofmypeople
Acts Serving the Lord as a slave with all humility
20:19 andtearsandtrialswhichcameuponmebythe
plotsoftheJews.
NoproperworkeroftheLordcanbewithouttears.… All
thosewhohaveaheartfortheirworkcannothelpweeping.
Manytimeswhenwetrytodealwithsomeoneandexhaust
allmeans,thereisnoresult.…Sometimeswhennopersua
sionworks,tearsbecomethelastpersuasion.
ThereisnoloveroftheLordwhodoesnotcry.Weshould
acheforsinnerstothepointofweepingforthem.Weshould
weepbecauseGod’sgloryischallenged,andweshouldweep
inanguishthattheenemyisnotyetbound.…Allthosewhose
heartsareintheLord’sworksurelyweep.Jeremiahwasa
prophetwhowasgreatlyusedbytheLord.Hewassuchbecause
ofhistears.HewasanxiousandfeltresponsibleforGod’s
children,andheweptforthemdayandnight.(CWWN,vol. 19,
p.494)
Today’sReading
Tearsareagoodwaytowork.Isayagain,noonecanbe
completewithouttears.Apersonmaybegoodatmanythings,
butifhedoesnotweep,hecannotbeconsideredascomplete.
InservingtheLord,wemusthavetears,bothbeforetheLord
andbeforemen.Ofcourse,suchtearscannotbefabricated.
Theymustflowspontaneouslyoutofourdeepfeelings.
Paulsaidthatforthreeyearshewasintearsforthem
nightandday[Acts20:31].Haveyoushedtearsthiswayfor
yourwork?Allwehavetoaskapersoniswhetherornothe
hasshedtearstofindoutwhetherornotheiszealous,ifhe
issingleforhiswork,andifhisheartofserviceiscomplete.
Imustsayhonestlythatwithouttearsnoworkcanbecome
prosperous.Ifwedonotdothisonethinginsecret,theprogress
15  WEEK1—DAY4
ofourworkwillbehindered.(CWWN,vol.19,pp.495496)
The more spiritual we are, the more emotional we are.
Actually,ifwedonotknowhowtoweeporshedtears,weare
notveryspiritual.However,…ifweshedtearsfromoursoul
asourperson,thisisnottoliveChrist.
WhenIbegantoliveinthespirit,inmynewman,taking
thesoulasmyorgan,Ibegantoshedtears.AtthesetimesI
shedtearsbythesoulasmyorgan,notasmyperson.Theper
sonwhoshedtearswasmyspirit.…Whenwelovesomeone
byoursoulasaperson,thatiswrong.Itmaybelove,butitisof
theoldmanandisstillrelatedtotheflesh.Tolovebyoursoul
asourpersoniswrong,buttolovebyourspiritasourperson
withoursoulasourorganisright.Itisimpossibletolovesome
onewithoutoursoul.Ourspirit,strictlyspeaking,doesnot
havethelovingability.Inordertolove,wemusthavealoving
organ.Thelovingorganisouremotion,apartofoursoul.
Ourspiritbyitselfcannotweeporshedtears.IntheGos
pelstheLordJesuswept(John11:35;Luke19:41).Hewept
fromHisspiritasHispersonwithHissoulasHisorgan.He
didnotlovebythesoulasHisperson;rather,HelovedbyHis
spiritasHispersonwithHissoulasHisorgan.Today,asChris
tians,wearethesameastheLordJesus.InourChristian
lifeoursoulmustbedeniedasourperson,yetoursoulisstill
veryusefulasanorgan.Whenoursoulrisesuptobeourper
son,weshouldtelloursoul,“Dearsoul,youweremyperson
inthepastbutnottoday.Todayyouaremyorganinresurrec
tion,andmypersonismyregeneratedspiritwiththeLord
Jesusasitslife.Thisspiritisthenewman,andthisnewman
ismyperson.You,dearsoul,arenowonlymyorgan.Stayin
yourposition,anddonotproposeanythingtome.WhenIlove
orthink,youmustbemylovingandthinkingorgan.”(CWWL,
1989,vol.3,“TheExperienceandGrowthinLife,”pp.2021)
FurtherReading:CWWN,vol.19,issueno.48;CWWL,1989,
vol.3,“TheExperienceandGrowthinLife,”ch.3;Life
studyofEphesians,msg.48
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WEEK1—DAY5  16
MorningNourishment
2Cor. ButI,Iwillmostgladlyspendandbeutterly
12:15 spentonbehalfofyoursouls.IfIloveyoumore
abundantly,amIlovedless?
7:3 …Ihavesaidbeforethatyouareinourhearts
forourdyingtogetherandourlivingtogether.
Ifwehaveabilitytocarryonaworkbutlackanintimate
concern,ourworkwillbefruitless.Whatisneededtoestab
lishagoodfamilylifeandchurchlifeisintimateconcern.How
fruitfulweare,howmuchfruitwebear,…dependsonwhether
ornotwehaveanintimateconcern.
Aslongaswehavetheproperconcernforpeople,weare
wellonourwaytobequalifiedtobeusedofGodfortheirsal
vation.AverygoodtestimonyofthisisinthebookSeenand
Heard.Inthatbook,thewriter,JamesM’Kendrick,tellsus
ofstandinginfrontofagroupofunbelieversandweeping,
withoutsayingaword.Nevertheless,anumberweresaved,
forhehadadeepconcern.Eloquence,gift,andpowercannever
touchpeopleasdeeplyasyourconcernforthem.(Lifestudy
of2Corinthians,pp.382383)
Today’sReading
Ifwehaveanintimateconcern,weshallbetenderwith
others.Acrude,insensitivepersondoesnothaveanintimate
concern.Ifahusbanddoesnothaveaproperconcernforhis
wife,hemaybeverystrictanddemandingofher.Buthaving
anintimateconcernwillcausehimtobetender.Oncewebe
cometender,ourwayofspeakingwillbesoftandsweet.(Life
studyof2Corinthians,p.389)
SecondCorinthians2:4says,“Foroutofmuchaffl iction
andanguishofheartIwrotetoyouthroughmanytears,not
thatyouwouldbemadesorrowfulbutthatyouwouldknow
thelovewhichIhavemoreabundantlytowardyou.”Weknow
thatPaulwrotethefirstEpistletotheCorinthianswhenhe
heard from the household of Chloe about the condition of
theCorinthianbelievers.Paulpointedoutalltheirmistakes
17  WEEK1—DAY5
andrebukedthemwiththemostsevereandfrankword.Now
inthesecondEpistlehetoldthemhowhewrotethefirstEpis
tle.Hesaidthathediditoutofmuchaffl ictionandanguish
ofheartandthroughmanytears.
Whenyouhearofabrotherorasisterbacksliding,would
youweeplikePauldid?…Brothers,doyouhavethestrength
toweep?YousawhowseverePaul’swordstotheCorinthians
were;theywerelikesharpknives.…Onethingissure:ifyou
wantyourwordstopierceothers,theymustfirstpierceyou.If
theyhaveneverpiercedyou,theycanneverpierceothers.Paul
wasindeedsuchaperson.Whilehewaswritingthestrongest
wordsinthefirstEpistle,hewasdoingitintears.Beforehe
spoke,andbeforeothersfeltthepain,hefeltthepain.There
fore,ifyouwantotherstofeelthepain,youmustfirstfeelthe
pain.Itwillneverworkifyouonlywantotherstobesorrowful.
Forthisreason,everyworkeroftheLordmustbeexperienced
inthematteroftears.Inotherwords,allthosewhodonot
shedtearswhentheyseetheirbrothersfallingandfailingare
notworthytodotheLord’swork,andtheyarenotqualified
torebukeorexhortothers.Ifyouwanttorebukeabrother,
orifyouwanttotellhimaboutsomethingthathehasdone
wrong,youmustfirstfeelthepainandthesharpnessofthe
wordsbeforeyouarequalifiedtorebuke.Itiseasytopointout
others’shortcomings,butitisdifficulttosayitwithtears.
However,onlythosewhohavetearsarequalifiedtospeak.
ThanktheLordthatthebloodofHisSonwasshedonearth
andwasnotretracted.Mancanreceivesalvationthroughthis
blood.ThanktheLordthatthetearsofHisSonwerealso
notretracted.TheytellusthatHeismindfulofus,andthey
alsoinduceustoshedtearsbeforeGodandbeforemen.May
weimitateourLordinourprayersandinourwork,andmay
weshedmoretears(CWWN,vol.19,pp.496497)
FurtherReading:Lifestudyof2Corinthians,msgs.4445;
CWWL,19941997,vol.5,“AWordofLovetotheCoworkers,
Elders,Lovers,andSeekersoftheLord,”ch.2
Enlightenmentandinspiration:



WEEK1—DAY6  18
MorningNourishment
2Cor. …Thecrowdofcarespressinguponmedaily,
11:28 theanxiousconcernforallthechurches.
Psa. BlessedisthemanwhosestrengthisinYou,in
84:56 whoseheartarethehighwaystoZion.Passing
throughthevalleyofBaca,theymakeitaspring;
indeedtheearlyraincoversitwithblessings.
In[2Corinthians]7:2and3Paulsays,“Makeroomforus;
wehavewrongednoone,wehavecorruptednoone,wehave
takenadvantageofnoone.Idonotsaythistocondemnyou,
forIhavesaidbeforethatyouareinourheartsforourdying
togetherandourlivingtogether.”Paul’swordhererevealshis
deep,intimateconcernfortheCorinthians.Thisutterance
isnotmerelysomethingethical,religious,spiritual,oreven
loving.Itispossibletosayawordofloveandfeellovefor
others,butstillnothavemuchconcernforthem.…Paulhad
suchaconcernforthebelieversatCorinth.
Amotherhasnotonlyloveforherchild;shealsohasadeep
concern.…Awomanmaybelackingineducation,butifshe
hasadeepconcernforherchildren,sheisqualifiedtobea
goodmother.Ofcourse,knowledgeandabilityarehelpful,but
theyarenotprerequisites.Theuniqueprerequisiteforbeinga
goodmotherisconcern.Thesameprincipleistrueregarding
caringforthechurch.Itisnotadequatefortheelderssimply
tolovethechurch.Thislovemustbecomeadeepconcern,a
concernforalltheyoungonesandweakerones.Thisconcern
causesourlabortobefruitful.Weallneedthiskindofintimate
concernforothers.(Lifestudyof2Corinthians,p.387)
Today’sReading
In2Corinthians7:2Paulsays,“Makeroomforus.”…Paul’s
longingwasthatjustashehadtheCorinthiansinhisheart,
sohewouldbeintheirheart.ThebelieversatCorinthwere
inPaul’sheartbothtolivetogetherandtodietogether[7:3].
Thissurelyisawordexpressinganintimateconcern.(Life
studyof2Corinthians,p.388)
19  WEEK1—DAY6
[InPsalm84:6a]“Baca”means“weeping.”Ontheonehand,
whenwehadtheintentiontocomeintothechurchlife,we
werestrengthenedinGod;ontheotherhand,wewereopposed
bySatan,whohascausedmanysaintstosufferpersecution.
ThetroubleandpersecutioncausedbySatancanmakeour
highwayavalleyofweeping.
IfwetakethehighwaytogotoGod’shouse,troubleand
persecutionwillcometous,andsuchthingswillcauseusto
weep.ButGodwillturnourtearsintoaspring[cf.v.6b].…
Themoretearsweshed,thegreaterwillbethespring.
Verse6csays,“Indeedtheearlyraincoversitwithbless
ings.”Accordingtoourexperience,thismeansthatourtears
becomeaspringandthatthisspringbecomestheearlyrain
thatcoversthevalleywithblessings.
ThisearlyrainistheSpirit,andtheSpiritisourbless
ing.ThiswasthesituationwithacertainbrotherinChefoo.
BeforehebelievedintheLordJesus,hewasaMuslim.After
hewassavedandcameintothechurchlife,hesuffereda
greatdealofpersecution.Thispersecutionnearlykilledhim,
andheshedmanytears.Butthosetearsbecameaspring;the
springbecametheSpiritastheearlyrain;andasaresult
thisbrotherwasveryliving.
Thosewhocomeintothechurchlifebypassingthroughthe
valleyofweepingwillfindthatthisweepingeventuallybe
comesagreatblessingtothem.ThisblessingistheSpirit.The
tearstheyshedaretheirown,butthesetearsbecomeaspring,
whichbecomestheearlyrain,theSpiritastheblessing.
ThoseonthehighwaystoZionmakethevalleyofweeping
aspring(v. 6b).ThisspringisjusttheSpirit.Howwonderful
TheearlyrainsignifiestheSpirit.Thisindicatesthatthe
moreweweeponthehighwaystoZion,themoreoftheSpirit
wereceive.Whileweareweeping,wearebeingfilledwith
theSpirit,andtheSpiritbecomesourspring.(Lifestudyofthe
Psalms,pp.374375,386)
FurtherReading:LifestudyofthePsalms,msgs.3233
Enlightenmentandinspiration:



WEEK1—HYMN  20 21  WEEK1—PROPHECY

Compositionforprophecywithmainpointand
Hymns,853
subpoints:
1  IloveThykingdom,Lord, 
  ThehouseofThineabode, 
 ThechurchourblestRedeemerbought 
  WithHisownpreciousblood. 

2  Ilovethechurch,OGod 
  HerwallsbeforeTheestand, 
 DearastheappleofThineeye 
  AndgravenonThyhand. 
3  Forhermytearsshallfall, 
  Forhermyprayersascend; 
 Tohermycaresandtoilsbegiv’n 
  Tilltoilsandcaresshallend. 

4  Beyondmyhighestjoy 
  Iprizeherheav’nlyways, 
 Hersweetcommunion,solemnvows, 
  Herhymnsofloveandpraise. 
5  SureasThytruthshalllast,

  ToZionshallbegiv’n

 Thebrightestgloriesearthcanyield,

  Andbrighterblissofheav’n.