So, too, God said to King Saul through his prophet Samuel that if he had continued faithful his kingdom would have continued to the indefinite future. But God did not indicate by that statement that he would have made the same arrangement with King Saul’s family that he later did with David; namely, that if Saul’s family would deflect from God’s service, God, nevertheless, would not remove his kingdom from them but would merely chastise the disobedient monarchs of Saul’s line. As it was, Saul deflected and his son Ish-bosheth succeeded him to the throne for only two years, and the kingdom rulership of all Israel was later turned over to the tribe of Judah in the person of the shepherd of Bethlehem, David.

Exercise of rulership was not given initially to the tribe of Judah because of the words spoken by the same prophet who foretold Judah’s eventual rulership over Israel, namely, Jacob. This prophecy, recorded at Genesis 49:27, 9, indicated that Benjamin would have the first opportunity as king in the morning of Israel’s experience as a royal nation, leading Israel against its enemies, particularly the Philistines, during which time Judah would be like “a lion cub.” Thus Judah initially was not to be like a full-grown lion, the king of beasts, but would be like “a lion cub,” indicating it would have a secondary position while undergoing training and until it grew up. Interestingly, when the people demanded that there be a king over Israel, David had not yet been born. David was born eight years after King Saul had turned unfaithful, so that Jehovah God waited himself to pick the man agreeable to his own heart. But this waiting period was a fine time of training for the tribe of Judah; and after David was anointed by the prophet Samuel he underwent persecution that tested his godly qualities. Thus in God’s due time the tribe of Judah did receive the kingdom, just as the prophet Jacob foretold.

Announcements

FIELD MINISTRY

Men of faith turn to God for guidance. Regularly they talk to God in prayer, and they walk with God by ordering their lives in harmony with his Word. During August, Jehovah’s witnesses will continue to help others to appreciate the wisdom of walking and talking with God by presenting to them the 704-page Bible-study aid “Babylon the Great Has Fallen!” God’s Kingdom Rules!, along with a booklet, on a contribution of 75c.

ANNUAL MEETING

Yearly the annual meeting of the members of Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania is held on October 1, and in 1964 this date falls on Thursday. The meeting will be at ten o’clock in the forenoon on Thursday, October 1, and will be held at the office of the Society located at 4100 Bigelow Boulevard, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213.

A regular letter of notice of annual meeting will be sent to each of the members of the corporation. The members will wish to be certain that these letters of notice reach them by seeing to it that the secretary’s office has their present mail address to which to send the notices.

As is the usual procedure, the notices will be accompanied by proxies. The proxies should be returned by the members promptly in order to reach the office of the secretary of the Society not later than September 15. The proxy should be returned by each member whether the member is going to be at the meeting personally or not.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE LORD’S PRAYER?

How many times have you repeated the Lord’s prayer? Do you know what the two expressions mean or how God will answer such parts of that prayer: “Hallowed be thy name,” and, “Thy will be done in earth”? Here are two books written especially to show what the Bible has to say on these vital points: “Let Your Name Be Sanctified” and “Your Will Be Done on Earth.” Both are hard bound and total 768 pages. They can be yours for a contribution of only $1. Send today. You will be glad you did.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS

September 13: The Identifying Mark of Love. Page 489.

September 20: “Love Never Fails.” Page 495.