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Singing FightersThe Watchtower—1953 | March 15
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23. Where in Scripture is Jehovah referred to as singing, and for what reason and with what encouragement to us?
23 Finally, you remember we mentioned early herein about the one instance in Scripture where Jehovah himself is referred to as singing. This is found at Zephaniah 3:14-17 (AS). First, for our encouragement as singers, comes the command to ‘sing and shout, and to be glad and rejoice with all the heart’. Why? Because “Jehovah hath taken away [“set aside,” Ro] thy [adverse] judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy [the Babylonish and Pharaohlike oppressors]: the King of Israel, even Jehovah, is in the midst of thee; thou shalt not fear evil [“calamity,” Ro] any more.” Then, for our encouragement as fighters, comes the thrilling command: “In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not; O Zion, let not thy hands be slack. Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a mighty one who will save [from the enemy]; he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing.” On what more stirring and exalted note could we conclude this study?—Compare Psalm 132:13-18, AS.
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A Singing LessonThe Watchtower—1953 | March 15
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A Singing Lesson
1. In the main, what is our responsibility, and how is it to be viewed?
OFTEN enough, but not once too often, the dominant theme of The Watchtower has been a call to render praise to Jehovah. In our previous study, reasons for this were considered, in conjunction with fighting, from the general or collective viewpoint. The focus now narrows down more particularly to the individual viewpoint as to what you, personally, can learn for your encouragement and guidance from this singing lesson.
2. What quotation did Paul make revealing God’s purpose respecting Pharaoh?
2 Let us take as our keynote pretty much the same starting point as before, namely, God’s announced purpose as expressed to Pharaoh through his servant Moses, as quoted by Paul: “For this very purpose I have let you remain, that in connection with you I may demonstrate my power and that my name may be published throughout all the earth.” (Rom. 9:17, NW) But this time let us examine this expression from the apostle’s own viewpoint, seeing why he made this quotation, also seeing why his argument contains excellent material for our singing lesson.
3. How did Paul develop his preliminary argument concerning fleshly Israel?
3 In the opening five verses of Romans chapter 9, Paul expresses his great grief for his fleshly kinsmen, the Israelites, who enjoyed such golden advantages and opportunities under the Law, but missed them, as mentioned earlier in his letter. Fleshly Israel thought that they alone had the right of inheritance to God’s favor by reason of their fleshly descent from Abraham and by reason of their works under the Law. But, in verses 6 to 8 of this chapter, Paul explains that “not all who spring from [fleshly] Israel are really ‘Israel’,” that is, the true Israel, or chosen people of God, as purposed by Jehovah and foretold in his Word. Then, after a reminder that the seed of Abraham was to come through Isaac’s line, whose birth was in fulfillment of God’s promise and would not have been humanly possible otherwise, the apostle then says that “the children in the flesh are not really the children of God, but the children by the promise are counted as the seed”. By the latter he is referring to those who become members of spiritual Israel, the true congregation under Christ the Head, and who become God’s children only by reason of God’s undeserved kindness and promise, and not because of anything they have done or inherited.—Compare Galatians 3:16, 29; 4:28, NW.
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