An Urgent Requirement

Those who get out of Babylon to return to Jerusalem have a requirement to meet. Isaiah writes: "Turn away, turn away, get out of there, touch nothing unclean; get out from the midst of her, keep yourselves clean, you who are carrying the utensils of Jehovah.  For you people will get out in no panic, and you will go in no flight.  For Jehovah will be going even before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard." (Isaiah 52:11,12)  The  departing  Israelites must leave behind them in Babylon anything having a taint of Babylon's false worship.  Since they carry the utensils of Jehovah that came from the temple in Jerusalem, they have to be clean, not merely in an outward, ceremonial way, but primarily in their hearts.  (2 Kings 24:11-13; Ezra 1:7)  Further, Jehovah is going before them, so they do  not have to panic, nor do they have to run frantically, as though bloodthirsty pursuers were hard on their heels. The God of Israel is their rear guard. -Ezra 8:21-23.

Isaiah's words about keeping clean have a major fulfillment on the offspring of "Jerusalem above."  When Paul admonished the Corinthian Christians not to become unevenly yoked with unbelievers, he quoted the words of Isaiah 52:11:  " 'Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,' says Jehovah, 'and quit touching the unclean thing.' " (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)  Just like the Israelites heading home from Babylon, Christians have to steer clear of Babylonish false worship.

This was particularly true of those anointed followers of Jesus Christ who fled Babylon the Great in 1919.  They progressively cleansed themselves of all traces of false worship.  (Isaiah 8L19, 20; Romans 15:4)  They also became increasingly  aware of the importance of moral cleanness. Although Jehovah's Witnesses have always  upheld high moral standards, the Watchtower carried articles in 1952 emphasizing the need  to discipline immoral ones to so as to keep the congregation clean. Such disciplinary actions also helps the wrongdoer himself to realize the need for sincere repentance. - 1 Corinthians 5:6, 7, 9-13; 2 Corinthians 7:8-10; 2 John 10, 11,

Anointed Christians together with the great crowd of other sheep are determined to touch nothing that is spiritually unclean.  Their purified, cleansed condition qualifies them to be bearers of  "the utensils of Jehovah"-the precious provisions that God makes for sacred service in the house-to-house and Bible ministry and other forms of Christian activity.  By maintaining a clean standing, God's people today can be confident that Jehovah will continue to go before them as well as be their rear guard.  As God's clean people, they have an abundance of reasons to "cry out joyfully in unison"!

Next time:  Jehovah Exalts His Messianic Servant, Chapter Fourteen

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, Volume II, 2001