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Jehovah Blesses Pure WorshipIsaiah’s Prophecy—Light for All Mankind II
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15. What birth is foretold, and how is this fulfilled in 537 B.C.E.?
15 This restoration is aptly pictured in the following verses of Isaiah: “Before she began to come into labor pains she gave birth. Before birth pangs could come to her, she even gave deliverance to a male child. Who has heard of a thing like this? Who has seen things like these? Will a land be brought forth with labor pains in one day? Or will a nation be born at one time? For Zion has come into labor pains as well as given birth to her sons.” (Isaiah 66:7, 8)
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Jehovah Blesses Pure WorshipIsaiah’s Prophecy—Light for All Mankind II
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16. In the modern-day fulfillment of Isaiah 66:7, 8, what does Zion picture, and how have her offspring undergone a rebirth?
16 In the modern-day fulfillment, Zion represents Jehovah’s heavenly “woman,” his heavenly organization of spirit beings. In 1919 this “woman” rejoiced to see the birth of her anointed sons on earth as an organized people, “a nation.” That rebirth was swift and sudden.c In just a matter of months, the anointed as a group went from a state of deathlike inactivity to one of vibrant, active life in their “land,” their God-given realm of spiritual activity. (Revelation 11:8-12) By the autumn of 1919, they even announced the publication of a new journal to complement The Watch Tower. Called The Golden Age (now Awake!), that new publication was evidence that God’s people were revitalized and once again organized for service.
17. How does Jehovah assure his people that nothing can prevent him from carrying out his purpose regarding spiritual Israel?
17 No force in the universe could prevent this spiritual rebirth. The next verse vividly says as much: “‘As for me, shall I cause the breaking through and not cause the giving birth?’ says Jehovah. ‘Or am I causing a giving birth and do I actually cause a shutting up?’ your God has said.” (Isaiah 66:9) Just as the process of birth is inevitable once it has begun, so the rebirth of spiritual Israel, once begun, was unstoppable. True, there was opposition, and there will likely be more opposition in the future. But only Jehovah can put a stop to what he begins, and he never does that! How, though, does Jehovah treat his revitalized people?
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Jehovah Blesses Pure WorshipIsaiah’s Prophecy—Light for All Mankind II
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Jehovah’s Tender Care
18, 19. (a) What touching illustration does Jehovah use, and how does it apply to his exiled people? (b) How have the anointed remnant today benefited from loving nourishment and care?
18 The next four verses paint a touching picture of Jehovah’s tender care. First, Isaiah says: “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be joyful with her, all you lovers of her. Exult greatly with her, all you keeping yourselves in mourning over her; for the reason that you will suck and certainly get satisfaction from the breast of full consolation by her; for the reason that you will sip and experience exquisite delight from the teat of her glory.” (Isaiah 66:10, 11) Jehovah here uses the illustration of a woman nursing her infant. When a baby feels the pangs of hunger, it wails insistently. But when it is drawn close to its mother’s breast for feeding, its grief turns to happy contentment and satisfaction.
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Jehovah Blesses Pure WorshipIsaiah’s Prophecy—Light for All Mankind II
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19 Spiritual Israel too was blessed with abundant nourishment after the restoration in 1919. Since then the flow of spiritual food dispensed through “the faithful and discreet slave” has been steady. (Matthew 24:45-47) This has indeed been a time of consolation and joy for the anointed remnant. But there have been further blessings.
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