stood up and exhorted the marchers in obedience to Deuteronomy 20:5-9, saying: “Believe in Jehovah your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets [such as Jahaziʹel], so shall ye prosper.” At the same time, to strengthen their belief and confidence in Jehovah, King Jehoshʹaphat stationed Jahaziʹel and his fellow Levite singers in their holy array at the very head of the marching column. Instead of a shout following a trumpet alarm, these holy Levites marched forward, singing: “Give thanks unto Jehovah; for his loving-kindness endureth for ever.” King Jehoshʹaphat and the army followed, taking a secondary position. This emphasis on the holiness of the war was not misplaced, for we read: “And when they began to sing and to praise, Jehovah set liers-in-wait against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, that were come against Judah; and they were smitten. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.” Arriving at the watchtower in the wilderness, the theocratic procession came in view of the slaughter that had occurred.

 9. How did they celebrate Jehovah’s victory, and what was the ancient world given to know by his victory?

⁹ All they now had to do was to despoil the dead bodies. After three days of this they assembled at the valley of Berʹacah and blessed Jehovah, and then to sacred music they returned to Jerusalem and its temple, rejoicing, “for Jehovah had made them to rejoice over their enemies.” What was the result of Jehovah’s holy battle against the ungodly aggressors? The Record answers: “And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of the countries, when they heard that Jehovah fought against the enemies of Israel.” (2 Chron. 20:1-29, AS) The ancient world was given to know that Jehovah is no pacifist but is a fighter, a fighter who always wins and who is therefore to be feared. Woe to the fighters against God; they are in a losing fight! But not so those who are fighting Jehovah’s battles. These are the ones who give themselves wholly to the Christian theocratic warfare. Exclusively for this warfare they are sanctified, because it is holy, it being authorized by the Holy One of the universe and backed up by him with victory in view.

Solving Problems Between Brothers

● Is there someone in the Christian congregation with whom you have a longstanding cause of contention? Have you applied the Christian principle to it, or are you still following the way of the old world—telling others about it rather than going to the one who offended you? The Christian principle was stated by Jesus in Matthew 18:15 (NW): “Moreover, if your brother commits a sin, go lay bare his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.” If the problem is not important enough to be settled in this proper way, then why keep it on your mind, letting it separate you from your brother?

Immortality of the Soul

A popular book on religion says: “That the human soul will survive after death in the possession of an endless conscious existence, is one of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity.”

The Bible says: “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”—Ezek. 18:4, 20.

Which do you believe, the religious theory or the inspired Record?